Ebola: Hope crashes as US declares drug pesticide

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2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

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SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014 —3

EBOLA ALERT!

Family of five found dead in Abeokuta DAUD OLATUNJI, ABEOKUTA

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RAGEDY struck yesterday, at Temidire Community, in Sabo, Abeokuta North Local Government area of Ogun State yesterday when a family of five including father, mother and their three children were found dead in their room.

The incident which occurred at No 3, Ireti Akinbode area of the community involved the death of Aliu Adeboye , his younger wife identified as Iya Aliya and the three children.

Findings have shown that, the late Adeboye had two wives and six children before the incident .

Further findings have also revealed that, the first wife, and her three children who slept in another room in the same six-room bungalow were alive.

It was gathered that the whole community woke up and found out that the five people were dead while the first wife and her children were safe.

The people in the community were said to be suspecting a foul play as the two wives were said to always be at loggerheads.

Some people alleged that chemical odour was being perceived in the house of the deceased, while some

others said the deaths could be as a result of the fumes from the generator at the back of the building.

A resident in the area who lived directly in front of the building who pleaded for anonymity said it was the wailing of the first wife that woke up members of the community who found out that the

people were dead.

A source said, “ The wives are always fighting, cursing each other, it got to a stage that the community leader had to intervene.”

Sources within the community said the first wife whose name could not be ascertained was almost lynched but she was saved

by policemen from nearby Ilupeju divisional police headquarters.

A zonal leader in the community, Abubakar Olowoorioke, explained that they were in the mosque in the early hours when a woman alerted them about the tragic incident.

Boko Haram: Ali Modu Sheriff visits Jonathan •Offers tips to security agencies

BY BEN AGANDE

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ORMER governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff has offered to avail security agencies with useful tips on how to combat the Boko Haram insurgency drawing from his governorship experience.

Sheriff, who noted that difficult terrain of Borno has made it difficult for security agents to rout the insurgents, spoke with State House Correspondents after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the presidential Villa, yesterday.

He urged all Nigerians tojoin the fight against Boko Haram because it is a Nigerian problem. ”It is a serious concern to every Nigerian. It is a serious concern to you, me and everybody and it

needs everyone of us as Nigerians to put ourselves in a position to see what we can do to help this nation come out of this problem” he said.

Interestingly, Sheriff has variously been accused of establishing a campaign team that transformation into Boko Haram when he was governor of Borno State.

The former governor said the difficult terrain of Borno state has further compounded the fight against the terrorists because those fighting the insurgents must have a good knowledge of the state. ”Borno state is a difficult state compared to any other state in Nigeria. Borno has the biggest landmass bordering Niger, Chad and Cameron.

It is an open border.

Borno is not like the Re-

public of Benin with only one entrance into Nigeria. In Borno, you can enter from 20 different points into the country.

EFCC arrests former bank manager over alleged N81m fraud

BY SONI DANIEL, ABUJA

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FORMER branch manager of one of the new generation banks, (EcobankPlc),VictorAmushie has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for an alleged credit fraud in the sum of N81 million.

The suspect allegedly packaged loan facilities for himself, using several names and accounts of some customers of his bank, with whom he shared the proceeds.

The loans went bad and the bank had to hold Amushie, who was on the verge of running out of the country before being apprehended by operatives of the EFCC. Details of the loan disburse-

ment showed that he granted a total sum of N57, 979, 024. 07( Fifty Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Nine Thousand, Twenty Four Naira, Seven kobo only) to Onezh Oil and Gas Limited; N11, 317, 562.73( Eleven Million, Three Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Two Naira, Seventy Three kobo) to Esubeb Staff Multipurpose Cooperative and N11, 728, 162. 48 (Eleven Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Two Naira, Forty Eight kobo only) to Ogochukwu Amanda.

Amushie is in the custody of the EFCC and will be charged to court as soon is investigation is concluded.

Northern leaders insincere about Chibok school girls — Kuku

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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PECIAL Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr Kingsley Kuku, yesterday accused North-East leaders of being economical with the truth over the actual number of the missing Chibok school girls.

Noting that the Americans have used their Drones to conduct search for over one month with-

out finding the abducted girls, Kuku, who spoke while delivering a lecture entitled “Challenging Current Security Issues For National Transformation: The Way Forward”, at the 10th Convocation ceremony of the Benson Idahosa University, Benin City.

He alleged that the plot of those opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan was to continue to cause confusion and create a state of war, asserting however that the President will run for a second term no

matter the threats.

He lamented that NorthEast leaders have failed to find solution to the insecurity problem in the region, recalling that during the militancy era in the Niger Delta and the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) struggle in the West, Niger Delta and Yoruba leaders met with leaders of the groups and stopped the crises in their various areas, wondering why it has been difficult for Northern leaders to stop the Boko Haram insurgency.

4— SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

Ebola: Hope crashes as US declares drug pesticide

STUDENTS PROTEST IN OGUN

•Fashola intervenes, appeals for volunteers •61 patients under monitoring released so far • 2 million complainants call Ebola help line •Disease ‘ll take 6 months to be controlled –Experts •Lagos yet to get experimental drug, FG fund •To sanction those defecating and urinating in public

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE, CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, OLASUNKANMI AKONI, ADEKUNLE ALIYU MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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OPES of immediate relief for victims of the Ebola Virus Disease following reports that doses of an experimental drug, nano-silver, had been delivered were dimmed yesterday. The United States Food and Drug Administration said the drug is a pesticide and warned those claiming that it could prevent or treat Ebola to desist from doing so.

The US agency said it had received consumer complaints about the Ebola claims. “Individuals promoting these unapproved and fraudulent products must take immediate action to correct or remove these claims or face FDA action,” it said.

Silver has been used as antibacterial for centuries.

Tiny silver particles known as nano-silver have controversially been incorporated into a variety of consumer products such as socks and bedding to help block odours caused by bacteria and mold.

This came as doctors and nurses attending to victims of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, at Mainland Hospital, Lagos isolation centre, downed tools following allegation of negligence by concerned relatives and associates of the female medical doctor and health

workers who contracted the EVD from the late Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer.

The concerned group of persons at a media briefing in Lagos, last Thursday, shared gloomy experiences while sending an SOS to the international community on behalf of the victims who they alleged were not being given adequate attention and care they deserved.Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, who disclosed the development at a media briefing in Lagos, however, said he had appealed to the health workers on the need to get back to work.

This came amid cheering news that 61 of the over 198 people under surveillance have been released and experts said that the disease might be controlled within 180 days.

Meanwhile, Governor Fashola said yesterday that Lagos State was yet to receive the experimental Ebola drug and a kobo out of the N1.9 billion Federal Government intervention fund.

Speaking on the health workers’ strike that would have worsened the situation but a prompt intervention, the governor said: “The report reaching me about two hours ago was that some of the health workers at the centre felt unappreciated and decided to stop work because of media reports

that they were not working effectively to save the lives of the victims. We do not need that at the moment. While we sympathise with the victims, the health workers are doing their best to care for the victims. We sympathise with the victims who were affected by the virus, we understand the trauma and concern the family members are going through. But when all of that is taking into account, it is not true that that we are not taking care of the patients.”

On the reality on ground, he stated :”We are gaining capacity daily.

This is not what we expected and it is not what we planned for and getting people who are s u f f i c i e n t l y knowledgeable and skillful to go into the isolation centre is quite challenging. It is a matter of monumental courage for those people who have signed up and we commend them for that.

“There is personnel capacity issue of those who can go into the centre and care for the patients, in a way that they will not be infected by the virus.

The Personally Protective Equipment, PPE, they use is very real so that they are protected. The issue we have now is that teams are working flat-out and therefore there will be no opportunity to segregate any patients.

There will be no such opportunity.

Appeal “My appeal to the people is that more health workers should sign up and from what I was told by experts, even if one is the best physician in the world, the person cannot enter the isolation ward.

He or she has to be trained on how to kit up and get out of the centre and the training takes between five and seven days to achieve.

“People must understand the process required. And when it appears to the people that

nothing was being done, it was because we are still building up capacity at the facility. We are better off today than 10 days ago.

We know that it is a complain that comes out of empathy but it is a complain that does not focus on the reality of what is going on.”

Fashola who described the reports as “disheartening”, also cautioned the media against sensational reports on the Ebola virus disease.

Lagos yet to receive FG intervention fund On the N1.9 billion intervention fund approved by the Federal Government to fight Ebola in Nigeria, Fashola said, “At the moment, we are yet to receive any money.

What we have done is to work with our resources.

The isolation centre and other facilities were done by our personnel working with officials of the federal health facilities in Lagos.

“It is not a money issue now. At the moment, it is a personnel, control, knowledge and system issue. It is only when we have put all these into place that we can now beginning to say how much does it cost. It is not money issue. It is not the kind of money that Lagos State government cannot afford. Every help from the Federal Government will be useful. I think what is important is not the money but the fact that even President Goodluck Jonathan has shown some concern to call all the governors and commissioners of all the 36 states to get a full briefing on the risk, process and others.

“I think that is important and that is the kind of leadership that one will expect in this kind of circumstances. ” 61 people certified free Fashola said there is little silver lining since many people who had contacts with victims were not infected. “At the mo-

Chaos as students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, clash with police during a protest in Abeokuta yesterday leaving vehicles and other property damaged ment, 61 people have to evacuation.”

Igando been certified negative On the suspected case and they have been freed. of Ebola patients at the This is a virus that will Igando general Hospital, run a maximum of 21 he said he had called the days. What we must do is MD of the hospital and people show some signs of illness should come in the doctor denied the very early so that we can case.

Nano Silver drug continue to hydrate them, Asked if Lagos had regive electrolyte balance so ceived the experimental that their nervous system drug, he said: “We had do not go into shock and that the drugs in on its wherever it is necessary way to Lagos but we are to provide antibiotics for patients; and their body yet to take delivery of the can fight the virus which drugs. When I go for the in the event last no evening briefing, I will get a full detail on the longer than 21 days. drugs. But we have sent our pharmacist to the Calls for volunteers Earlier, at a media manufacturers of both briefing at state secre- drugs to inquire on how tariat, Commissioner for best to get the drugs.”

Ebola help line Health Dr. Jide Idris, On the complaint that stressed the need for residents do not get prompt more volunteers. He said response from the help line, contrary to reports that the commissioner said, facility at the infection con- “The help line is jamtrol centre did not have packed. At evening session, basic amenities,itt has 40 those managing the Ebola bed-Complex with male helpline, the face book and female wards for con- page, twitter handle give us firmed cases; eight bed statistics and sometimes the isolation ward upgraded number of people accessto suspected cases, ing this forum are over two backed up by two emer- million. They show maps to gency tents to hold addi- buttress their point.

We established this tional 24 suspected cases.

There are also “dedi- facebook, twitter handles cated borehole; dedicated and helpline; we pay for the 60 KVA generator backed helpline. This is the only –up by a 250 KVA unit for helpline used nationally. the entire; involvement of They get calls from other Lagos State Waste Man- states. We will improve the helpline to ensure that peoagement Authority ple can have quick access (LAWMA); two 5000 litre to it.” septic tanks one each for urine and faeces, which are decontaminated prior continues on page 5

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014 — 5

How Nyako beat security, escaped to Britain

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

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OW did ousted gov ernor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Hammanyero Nyako, escape from Nigeria a few hours before his impeachment despite the presence of eagle-eyed security agents waiting to arrest him to answer for his actions?

This is a question that has continued to prop up within the security establishment in Nigeria now that it has become clear that the former governor had fled the country and settled in Europe, apparently to avoid being prosecuted or persecuted by his traducers.

Nyako, according to findings by Saturday Vanguard, escaped from Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in a private jet on July 15, 2014.

The former Chief of Naval Staff’s successful flight from the country at the time he did, is said to be causing unease and serious embarrassment to the nation’s security establishment, as it is being suspected that the man could not have taken off without the support of insiders.

Saturday Vanguard was told by competent sources that Nyako was assisted to flee by those who were also detailed to stop him from slipping off their hands.

It was learnt that Nyako had sought the assistance of some sympathetic security agents and secured their subtle support on how

to leave the country undetected just before his ouster by the House of Assembly and beat the hordes of security agents, who had been detailed to arrest him.

The former Chief of Defence Staff is said to have made arrangements to leave Yola, the state capital for Abuja a day before his impeachment, having been convinced that the sevenman panel raised by the House of Assembly had indicted him on many fronts.

It was learnt that on the day of the impeachment, Nyako had prepared a phantom convoy of about 10 cars, which he used in confusing security agents to believe that he was still around in the country, many hours after he had sneaked out of town.

According to a competent source, who was privy to the movement, Nyako had earlier that morning of July 15, 2014, left his Abuja residence with some of his close aides in a private car and was ushered into a waiting private jet at the NAIA Abuja.

The jet, according to the source, is owned by a top Nigerian, who is sympathetic to Nyako and believes that he was hounded out of office because of his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The source explained that since the former governor’s flight from the private wing of the NAIA Abuja was prearranged, security agents, who would have arrested

Nyako on arrival at the airport, rather gave him a quick pass and he flew out of the airport in a jiffy.

Findings show that about an hour after Nyako’s plane had taken off from the private wing of the airport, his phantom convoy made its way to the airport giving security agents the erroneous belief that he was inside his official car.

The security agents waited for the governor to arrive so as to stop him from flying. It was too late.

In the convoy, a Land Cruiser Jeep emblazoned with the Coat of Arms and Marked “Adamawa State Governor”, occupied the space meant for Nyako but the former governor was not in any of the vehicles.

On stopping the convoy and searching, the security men, who had now been alerted to grab Nyako, only found some of his aides in his official car. They were livid.

One of Nyako’s aides told Saturday Vanguard that the security men had to quickly ferry the former naval officer out of the country because they feared for his life.

The source explained that there were unconfirmed reports that the man could be harmed after being removed from office.

“We had information that they would deal with Nyako in ways he did not anticipate because of the letter he wrote accusing the Federal Government of committing genocide in the North under the guise of fighting terrorism,” one of his aides

Hope crashes as US declares drug pesticide continued from page 4 MOE trains 800 health workers, volunteers Meantime, as parts of measures to contain the rampaging deadly Ebola Virus Diseases in the state, the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of the Environment, MOE, yesterday trained about 800 health workers and volunteers in all the 57 Local Government and Local and Local Council Development Areas on preventive measures.

The state Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, who made the disclosure at a sensitisation campaign tagged: “Train the trainers’ Educative programme”, also said that government would not hesitate to invoke any relevant section of the laws on anyone who flouts the environmental laws.

Speaking on the theme of the training, entitled” Creating an Army of Ad-

vocacy to Curb the Spread of Ebola Virus through Effective Enlightenment at the Grassroots”, Bello insisted that government would henceforth, sanction anyone who engages in open defecation and urination, saying such practices could further lead to the spread of the diseases.

It may take 6 months to control Ebola –Experts Meanwhile experts said yesterday that the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa will take at least six months to bring under control.

Speaking in Geneva, medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) President, Joanne Lui called for strengthened international co-ordination led by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The epidemic began in Guinea in February and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. So far, 1,069 peo-

ple have died.

Ms Lui said that controlling the outbreak in Liberia – which has recorded more than 300 deaths – was vital to containing the epidemic.

“If we don’t stabilise Liberia, we will never stabilise the region. In terms of timeline, we’re not talking in terms of weeks, we’re talking in terms of months.

We need a commitment for months, at least I would say six months, and I’m being, I would say, very optimistic,” she said.

Ms Lui also called for more action from the international community, led

by WHO – the UN’s health agency. “All governments must act. It must be done now if we want to contain this epidemic.

WHO needs to take leadership and bring some strong elements into the field at all operational levels. It’s already started but it needs to happen at all levels. ”

President, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Mr Kayode Obembe (middle) addressing journalists during the Resident doctors’ protest in Abuja yesteray Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan said. “That is why it was imperative for the security officials, who knew the plot to harm him to assist him out of the country. Indeed, we can say that it is the same people, who had the duty to arrest him that as-

sisted him to leave the country because of the fear that he could be harmed because of the gamut of security information at his disposal,” another source said.

A few days after Nyako

had left Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said it was finding it difficult to track down the former governor for arrest over alleged misappropriation of funds.

EBOLA: Enugu residents live in fear •Bitter Kola now N100 •NMA unsettled

BY TONY EDIKE

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HE people of Enugu State were stunned by media reports on Wednesday regarding the return to the Coal City of a nurse infected by the deadly Ebola virus in Lagos. Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who made the startling revelation while briefing newsmen after the Federal Executive Council meeting, said the nurse was one of the primary contacts of the late American-Liberian, Patrick Sawyer. The report said that the nurse was tracked to her residence at Trans-Ekulu area of Enugu by officials of the National Centre for Disease Control, who quickly conveyed her and her husband in a special ambulance back to Lagos.

The number of days she spent in Enugu before she was bundled back to Lagos was not disclosed but information available to the Enugu State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, indicated that the nurse and her husband attended a wedding somewhere at New Haven area last week and mingled with the crowd of celebrants.

The information minister had said 21 persons who had direct contact with the nurse had been placed on surveillance and 15 of them have been released after testing negative to Ebola virus. Speaking on the Ebola scare in Enugu, the

State Commissioner of Health, Dr. George Eze, confirmed that the nurse and her spouse were taken back to Lagos.

Residents panic The anxiety created by the report has continued to engender fear, panic and concerns among Enugu residents.

The development forced many gullible Nigerians to drink and bath with salted water, slowed down economic activities especially in the entertainment industry.

Many drinking and bush meat joints in Enugu were deserted just as popular spots like Otigba and Ogui junctions where the goodevening-girls loiter around were deserted. Many people were visibly scared of having bodily contact with anyone. Handshakes were stopped, while bus commuters devised means of traveling without any direct contact with their fellow passengers. In fact, everybody became a suspect. Some rushed to Kola nuts sellers and bought bitter kola which they believe could neutralize the virus while those who could afford hand sanitiser procured and moved around with them.

A survey conducted by Saturday Vanguard within Enugu metropolis showed that a bitter kola nut now sells for between N50 and N100 while a small bottle of hand sanitiser goes for N1,000 and above.

One of the residents, who identified herself as Mrs

Ngozi Obiefuna, told Saturday Vanguard that though it was difficult to identify carriers of the Ebola virus, she and members of her family had learnt how to isolate themselves from other people including those well known to them.

She said: “The situation in town has become very worrisome because since we heard about the escape of the nurse from Lagos to Enugu, we felt nobody is safe here. We are even more worried that no one has told us where the said nurse visited during her presence in Enugu and the actual number of people that encountered her.”

NMA worried The NMA Enugu State Chapter appeared more worried over lack of preparations for the state to handle the situation if the Ebola disease developed to an epidemic level in the state.

Chairman of the Association, Dr. George Ugwu, told Journalists in Enugu that his members were totally oblivious of what they are expected to do should any carrier of the virus or people with the symptoms approached them.

“Several of my colleagues have been calling to know what we are doing. Today alone, several people will have fever and fever and vomiting are common ailments. We in NMA are ready but we want to know how to protect ourselves and where they should go when identified”.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

BRIEFS A’Ibom raises Ebola alert

BY TOM MOSES

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EAR of spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EDV) Friday forced the Akwa-Ibom State Government to issue a directive to indigenes and residents of the state to confide in the government and report persons who travelled or returned from any EVD endemic area to authorities.The government, it was gathered, would use such timely information to provide clinical and remedial services to such persons to avoid the spread of the EVD to unsuspecting family members, friends and their associates. The Akwa-Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah expressed the government’s concern in statement made available to the Vanguard in Uyo, warning of the deadly implications in contacting the disease.

Uduaghan picks voter’s card in Abigborodo

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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that have registered to take part actively in the exercise.

The Governor admitted that the period of exercise was short, but charged Deltans to make the best use of the period

so as to vote for candidates of their choice in the forthcoming elections.

He said; “As you can see, I have just picked up my voter’s card, the process is very simple.”

‘’I am appealing to Deltans once again to make the best use of this period to go for their cards that will enable them vote in the forthcoming elections,” he added.

O V E R N O R Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has urged Deltans to take the ongoing collection of voters’ cards as important.Speaking to journalists, Friday, in his community, Abigborodo shortly after picking his card, the governor harped on the need for Deltans to avail themselves of the ongoing exercise and pick up their voters’ cards.

Uduaghan, who picked his card at exactly 2.20pm, said he was impressed with the massive turnout of members of his community and appealed to all registered Deltans to go out and collect their voters’ cards. According to him, he declared People's Democratic Party, PDP gubernatorial aspirant in Kwara State, Alhaji Friday as work free day Jani Ibrahim after collecting his Permanent Voter's Card at his Ahmadu in the state to enable all Bello Ilorin Polling unit yesterday.

Orubebe donates Bible, food to widows

BY EMMA AMAIZE and AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

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ORMER Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe, weekend, said he resigned to contest the Delta State governorship election in 2015 following an order from God. Speaking at his country home, Ogbobagbene, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, where he donated food items and Bible to 2,000 widows and widowers from 99 Ijaw communities across the Niger Delta region, he said, “I am not an accidental politician, God told me clearly that I should go into it. If the election will be by selection, it will be me, if it is by voting, it will be me, politics is not a dirty game, but it is the individual that is dirty, that is why God-fearing people like me should rule,” he asserted.

Orubebe said that caring for the aged, widows, widowers and less privileged in the society was a direct mandate given him by God and promised to continue with the vision when he becomes Governor of Delta State.

His words, “We have completed the assignment of God today, we have been doing it in the past years. Every beneficiary will go home with a bag of rice, a can of vegetable oil, a packed salt, a

wrapper, a Bible and an envelope for their transportation.

“This is a vision from God. God gave me three visions which are; to gather and equip men of God for winning souls for

his kingdom, God said we should take care of widows, widowers, orphans and the aged people, and to give support to Churches with Bible, instruments and pilgrimages,” he said.

Orijin fetes consumers across 14 cities

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T was an electrifying atmosphere in Benin, when Orj i n , the iconic drink from the stables of Guinness Nigeria, hosted the city to an exquisite party at the prestigious Indigo Lounge, Benin. It was a night with lots of music and entertainment as famous disc jockey, DJ Neptune turned the music table to its height while rave of the moment, Orezi ensured the esteemed guests got nothing less than a spectacular performance with his superb rendition. The party at Benin is part of the 18 parties slated by the brand to herald its national launch across 14 cities around the country. In the next two weeks, the party train will move around Port Harcourt, Onitsha and other cities. i

CCRP tasks citizens on voters registration

BY JACOB AJOM ISING from its inaugural summit which held at the Transcorp Hotels in Calabar last week, the Conference of Cross River State Professionals has called on all eligible adults to troop out and register in the ongoing voters’ registration exercise in the state.

Speaking in Calabar after the summit, Convener of CCRSP, Effiong Nyong told journalists that contrary to insinuations from certain quarters that the group was being championed by individuals with some political ambitions, the Conference of Cross River State Professionals was out to enlighten citizens on their rights and let them know that the power to effect change in the society resides in them.

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2015: UPU told to endorse Amaechi-led NGF congratulates Aregbesola, Omo-Agege for guber

BY FESTUS AHON, Ughelli

INEC

BY HENRY UMORU

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HE Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF under the leadership of Governor Chibuike

Amaechi of Rivers State has congratulated Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State over his victory at last Saturday’s gubernatorial election.

2015: SURE-P beneficiaries support Jonathan

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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HOUSANDS of beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s SURE-P programme in Edo state yesterday expressed their support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid.The beneficiaries who bared their mind when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Rural Development visited the state to access the situation with the programme in the state, said for the first time in the history of the country,

they have felt the direct impact of government and appealed to the President to urgently declare his intention for 2015 presidency.

Addressing the crowd, the Edo state chairman of SURE-P and the chairman of all the chairmen of the programme in the states, Mr Lucky Imasuen, urged the beneficiaries to be wary of people who might want to dupe them under the guise that they will be registered into the programme, saying that the programme was for all Nigerians who are above the age of 18.

In a statement by the forum’s Director-General, Asishana Okauru, the NGF hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for conducting a peaceful and fair election and urged security agencies not to be partisan.

Okauru said: “While we congratulate the governor for his victory, we also salute the people of Osun state for their conduct during the election. We also congratulate all the other 19 candidates and their parties for their peaceful conduct before, during and after the election, and for demonstrating a rare spirit of sportsmanship by accepting the outcome of the poll. We urge them all to work with Governor Aregbesola in taking Os un state forward.”

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PUBLIC commentator and notable writer, Miss Annabel Ogheneganre has described Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege as the best 2015 governorship aspirant in Delta State, urging the leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU to endorse him as its consensus candidate.

Ogheneganre in a statement said; “ Obaisi Ovie OmoAgege is the Delta Central best hope to clinch the PDP gubernatorial ticket for 2015 general election, adding that “after a careful study of all the Urhobo aspirants in the race for the governorship ticket of PDP in the 2015 gubernatorial polls, I am convinced that Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege is the aspirant with the best chance to win the ruling party ticket from Delta Central and urge Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, to adopt him as the sole candidate of the Urhobo nation in the PDP primaries immediately.”

Catholic Knights offer free health services to Jeddo

BY AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE, Warri

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HE Knights and Ladies of St Mulumba of the Catholic Church have embarked on free blood pressure ,weight measurement as well as mosquitoe treated nets to indigenes of Jeddo community in Okpe Council Area of Delta State.

The Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba gave out the free medical treatment during its Health Week held at Our Lady Queen of Apostolic Catholic Church, Jeddo.They also gave free long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets to the people.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014 — 7

New IGP denies misappropriating police fund

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI,ABUJA

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CTING Inspector General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba yesterday denied allegations that funds deducted from salaries of police men for the ‘police cooperatives’ of which he is Chairman of the board was being siphoned through misappropriation.

Speaking during the distribution of shares certificates of Nigeria Police Mortgage Bank to police men, the IGP said, “I must tell you the system in handling deductions in police cooperatives has been going on for many years; if anybody is complaining or is having problems with crediting his account I think something is really wrong.”

IGP Abba noted that: “Even if it exists it may not be unconnected with the fact that “we have been struggling to computerize the activities of the cooperative, he said adding

that, “There may be delay but not that anybody is tampering with funds.”

“I must tell you, I was worried because up till last week some of us were complaining, that it was

fraudulent and if I tell you I wasn’t worried I will be telling lies, because my hands were in it,” he said.

Violence in Abeokuta as students, Police clash

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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ANDEMONIUM broke out yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as students and Police in the state clashed, leaving four people hospitalised.

The protest which was staged by the students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, was for further reduction of school fees after government had reduced the fees.

The students had on Thursday morning stormed the entrance of the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, protesting the reduction of school fees in all the state-owned institutions.

The situation yesterday, however, turned chaotic

when the students attempted to block the Ibara Government Reservation road, in order to ground vehicular movement.

The students in their hundreds blocked the Presidential Boulevard along Moshood Abiola Stadium, Kuto,with their school buses, causing girdlock along the ever busy road.

The development paralyzed commercial activities in the area as shop owners, commercial motorcyclists and newspaper vendors left their wares and scampered for safety.

It took the prompt intervention of combined security operatives which include the men of the Nigerian Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to forestall any breakdown

of law and order.

An Armoured Personnel Carrier(APC) manned by mobile policemen was stationed in front of the stadium.

This action forced the Police to fire teargas to disperse the angry students from the road , the development led to the collapse of four of the students who were rushed to the state hospital where they were revived.

In the new school fees regime, which will take effect from the 2014/2015 academic session, some students will pay 61 percent less than they are currently paying, while some others will be paying as low as N29,700.

In a statement signed by Barrister Segun Odubela, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, the government stated that medical students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), who are paying N301,610 will now be paying N176,596, a 41.4 percent reduction.

Also, students of the Faculty of Arts in the same university will be paying N81,112 instead of the current fee of N126,540, a 35.9 percent reduction.

In Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, the school fees had been reduced from N71,300 to N40,000 for Higher National Diploma (HND) while Ordinary National Diploma (OND) students will enjoy a reduction of N22,300, a reduction of between 31.1 and 9.6 percent respectively.

Students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) will enjoy a reduction from N103,435 for the first year students to N75,000, representing 27.5 percent reduction, while returning students who are paying N93,465 will now be paying N65,000, representing 30.4 percent reduction.

Higher National Diploma (HND) students of Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, who are currently paying N118,000 will now be paying N46,000, a reduction of 61 percent.

BRIEFS APC Benue Executive members decamp to Labour Party

BY PETER DURU, MAKURDI

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HE crisis rocking the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue state has deepened following the mass exit of the former executive members of the party in the state.

The former executive members who were a block of the defunct Action Congress of Nigerian, ACN, that coalesced into the APC, renounced their membership of the party and pitched tent with the Labour Party, LP in Benue state Saturday Vanguard gathered yesterday, in Makurdi, the State capital, from Mr. Tersoo HaaOrpin, a former Deputy Chairman of the defunct ACN, that he and other executive members have left the APC for Labour Party because they were dissatisfied with developments in the party.

Haa-Orpin stated that other leading members who left included, Mr. Jonathan Gyuse, a fomer State Secretary of the ACN who is now the Secretary of the Labour Party.

EBOLA: Use military to check victims — Ekhomu

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

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HE Ebola virus that has claimed four lives in the country has been described as a ‘germ warfare against Nigeria’. Reacting to the death of the fouth person in Nigeria, the President of Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), Dr. Ona Ekhomu said: “The Ebola pandemic is germ warfare against Nigeria and Nigerians and it must be defined as the national security threat and combated vigorously in order to save Nigerian lives.” He said that the response by governments at all levels to Ebola was too little, too late. He said that as far back as June 2014, the Nigerian authorities should have called in the military, declared a national emergency and closed the land borders – in order to prevent entry of the deadly disease into Nigeria. The air-borders should have been shut against countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea that were experiencing the pandemic.

Singles day with the Archbishop

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HE Catholic Lay Apostolate Centre of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos in conjunction with the Catholic Young Adults Association(CYAA), St Vincent De Paul and Purgatorian Society is inviting all to its annual programme “Singles day with the Archbishop” with the theme of this year ’s event tagged “singles, the family and the church,establishing the link.”

The main purpose of this yearly event is to create an opportunity for singles to have interactions with the Archbishop and also have the opportunity of interacting with other singles from different parts of Lagos and from other states.

Business community lauds CAC head

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

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HE business community in Asaba and environs of Delta State has lauded the overall commitment, zeal and patriotism displayed by the zonal head of the Corporate Affairs Commission,CAC, in the state, Barrister Mary Ndoma-Egba and her team.

The commendation was made by a cross section of Deltans during an interview conducted by a media consultant, Mr. Emma Fejokwu recently. The business community remarked that since the inception of Mrs. Ndoma-Egba as head of the zone of the commission, the entire members of the public drawn from different parts of the state have never had it so good. While calling on the authorities of the commission to upgrade the Asaba zonal head of the commission and her team for a job well done, the business community stated that the gesture would go a long way to encourage workers and enable them leave a lasting legacy in the commission.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

BRIEFS Ndigbo Assembly to be unveiled in Enugu

Obi resigns as APGA BoT chairman

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

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HE former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has tendered his resignation letter as leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT. In a letter addressed to the National Secretary of the party and submitted in the party’s Abuja office yesterday, Obi said he was resigning as leader and BoT chairman into which he was appointed in January 2014 by the National Executive Council of the party in Awka.

According to him, the appointment was yet to be ratified by a Convention of the party as stipulated by the constitution several months after it was made.

Obi also cited family and personal reasons, but did not give details.

He however wished the party well in her future endeavours, reiterating the fact that he remains an ordinary APGA member.

The former Governor was recently denied appointment as a minister

Pix2- R-L; Rasbiel Ghanem, Project Coordinator, Gitto Construction firm, Dr. Steve Oru, Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Daraus Iskaku, Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs and Edward Eresu Deekae, Relationship Manager, RCC all watching Gitto's laying of a section on the Eket Bridge above Kwa-Iboe River, Akwa Ibom State during Oru's monitoring of progress on the East West Road Project yesterday.

by President Goodluck Jonathan because he allegedly refused to defect from APGA to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Obi’s media aide, Mr. Valentine Obienyem confirmed the development yesterday.

His words: “ If you recall, my boss was nominated the leader of the party and the chairman, Board of

Trustees in January.

“The nomination was yet to be ratified by a Convention of the party at the time he submitted his letter of resignation.

“Since the convention will take place next year, people have found it convenient to blame him for the woes of the party, saying that he had failed to intervene on matters affecting the party, not

knowing that without ratification of his nomination, he had no platform under which to intervene. Obienyem said that his boss remained an APGA member, and would continue to support the party at all times.

Only recently, four members of the party in the House of Representatives resigned their membership and declared for the PDP.

Enugu Dep. Gov’s absence: Impeachment panel adjourns till Monday

BY TONY EDIKE

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HE impeachment panel investigating allegations against Enugu State Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, yesterday, adjourned further proceeding till Monday next week to enable him complete his medication.

The deputy governor slumped while testifying before the Franklyn Uche Oraekeiyi –led 7-man panel on Wednesday and was rushed to a private hospital where he was revived.

He is said to be on medication for low blood pressure since then a development that is forcing the panel to suspend further proceedings.

According to one of the lawyers who spoke with newsmen at the end of yesterday’s brief sitting of the panel, Counsel for Enugu State Government, Mr. Nduka Ikeyi, submitted that they had on Thursday requested the panel to direct that a cardiologist or specialist physician in the relevant field of medicine

from the state governmentowned health facility especially the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital be given access to the Deputy Governor to

evaluate the state of his health. He said that the formal report to be issued by the physician would guide the panel in forming a view as to how to proceed

with the situation, adding that the report would be sent to the panel and not that a witness would be called to tender it.

S the current news on Ebola virus makes wave in Enugu State, some citizens have resorted to taking precautionary measures to protect themselves from contracting the disease.

Our correspondent who monitored activities in Enugu yesterday, reports that people were seen wearing hand gloves to markets and their offices as well as buying hand santisers.

We gathered that people who use public transportation now put on long laboratory coats to avoid body contact with other passengers.

Mr Ndubuisi Iloh, a civil servant, who wore white gloves to an event in Enugu, told NAN that it was a protective measure due to his usual culture of shaking hands with people.

“I usually forget that I should not shake people and because of that, I wear my gloves so that even if I shake, I will not contract Ebola virus.

“There are some elders you cannot afford not to shake because they will read a different meaning to it. “Although they said it is when a person is down with sickness that he or she can transmit the virus, but how will you know if someone is sick or not when you see him outside,” he queried.

Mrs Ezinne Uduma, a house wife, who also wore white gloves to the market, said the gloves had become necessary, to avoid unnecessary contact at the markets.

“I thank God because I heard that the woman who sneaked out from her surveillance place in Lagos

A

FTER months of consultations and human reengineering, the stage is finally set for the unveiling of the umbrella body of all Igbo organizations, named Ndigbo United Peoples Assembly.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos, the Assembly’s spokesman, Mr. Ambrose Njoku said the unveiling will take place in Enugu, South East Nigeria. Njoku said, the final date of the unveiling will be chosen by the Board of Trustees of NUPA at a meeting to be held in Lagos to ratify the recommendations of the Unveiling Committee headed by Barr. Marcel Ali, two time Commissioner in Ebonyi State.

“The BOT of Ndigbo United Peoples Assembly ( NUPA ) will meet to approve the recommendations of the Unveiling Committee of the Assembly set up by Stakeholders to fashion out modalities for the Unveiling of this unique organization. The date of the unveiling will be finally set by the BOT and the unveiling will be at Enugu, South East Nigeria,” the statement read.

2015: We may push Oduah to Senate —- Anambra Elders

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

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LDERS of Anambra North Senatorial Zone of Anambra State and Town union leaders in the zone have stated that they might consider the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah as the most credible person from the zone to become their next senator during the 2015 national assembly elections in the country.

The seat is presently occupied by Mrs. Margery Okadigbo, wife of late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, a one-time Senate President. The zone is made up of seven local government areas, including Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Anambra East, Anambra West, Oyi, Ayameluma and Ogbaru. Margery is from Oyi, while Oduah is from Ogbaru.The elders and town union leaders who gave this indication yesterday during a consultative forum in Onitsha, said since it was because of how Oduah brought an international airport to Igboland that led to her sack as a minister, they might consider paying her back for the good works she did for Ndigbo during her ministerial days.

ABIA 2015: Aspirant disowns posters

BY ANAYO OKOLI

Ebola scare: Enugu residents wear gloves to work, markets

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BY ONOJA INNOCENT

has been taken back; but the problem is that they said some people are under surveillance.

“We don’t know them and it is possible they are people we relate with; so I take precautionary measures to protect myself.

“I also bought hand gloves and sanitiser for my children because they attend holiday lessons. We are scared, but it is only God that can save us,” Uduma said.

Also commenting, Miss Ogechi Nwachukwu, an Economics student at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), said:“I go to school at Agbani campus and we usually struggle for bus.

Many people sweat after this and inside the bus, especially when you are seating down.

A

GOVERNORSHIP aspirant under the ruling PDP in Abia State, Dr. Uche Ogah has disowned his posters pasted in many parts of the state, saying he did not authorize any person or group to do that.

Ogah, said he suspected that his political enemies were at work and behind the posters as he urged his supporters and well wishers to wait for INEC’s go-ahead before pasting his campaign posters.

According to him, as a law abiding citizen of the country, he would wait for INEC to officially give the go-ahead for campaigns for 2105 elections before he begins to make moves.

MASSOB image maker raises alarm over its imminent collapse

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

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HE Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) may be heading to extinction if the marching order given to some key officers of the Movement by the Leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike was allowed to stand, the organization’s image maker, Mr. Uchenna Madu has said. The officers recently sacked by Uwazuruike include the National Chief Security Officer, Chief Security Driver, National Secretary, Chief Intelligent Officer, four National Commanders and over two hundred security men camped at MASSOB headquarters, Okwe in Imo State since 2006.

The affected officers were given one week to vacate Okwe.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014—9

EBOLA:

Businessmen, Bankers, Transporters, Sportsmen tell their stories M

onday, August 11, Victoria Island, Lagos. An elegant woman hurried into a gym, met her husband working out and dragged him out of the place, saying: “You need to be alive to lose weight. You must avoid gyms for now.” Only last night, life appeared to be dimming in a popular night club in Victoria Island. Before now, it was always jammed up with people sweating and dancing.

Panic and unprecedented fear has gripped many Nigerians over the deadly Ebola Virus. Social life is changing.

From commercial banks to local markets; from recreation and leisure places like restaurants, sports clubs, bush meat spots,

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BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO, ISHOLA BALOGUN, EBUN SESSOU, LAJU ARENYEKA, ANOZIE EGOLE, ADERONKE ADEYERI, JULIET EBIRIM AND IYABO AINA

...bars and ‘joints’ including markets and other public places have employed precautionary measures so as not to contract the virus

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bars and pepper soup joints, businesses and social activities especially in Lagos are waning. Daily life activities are now being followed with utmost caution in order to prevent the virus that has claimed a number of lives in the country. In the banking sector, cashiers who pay customers cash across the counters now wear hand gloves to avoid infection, just as bush meat sellers lament low patronage across the country. Our checks reveal that bars and ‘joints’ including markets and other public places have employed precautionary measures so as not to contract the virus. Apart from avoiding bush meat delicacy and avoiding crowded places, many have resorted to wearing hand gloves and bidding farewell to handshakes.

At the Ikeja Tecno office, visitors and customers are subjected to various processes of checks and sanitisation before admittance into the office. At some bus terminals instant temperature checks

are carried out on passengers. Any with high body temperature is asked to drop.

There is also high demand for hand gloves and sanitizers, thereby making them essential commodities.

Commercial banks In Markurdi, banks are asking customers to wash hands before entering the banking halls. The ever busy Shoprite in Ikeja had few customers on Friday. People are avoiding crowding that could lead to body contacts.

A banker in one of the commercial banks at Agbara, a border town between Lagos and Ogun State told Saturday Vanguard that the wearing of gloves was a precautionary measure because cash deposited or withdrawn could have been contaminated.

Continues on page 10

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

EBOLA : Changing social life in Nigeria

Victim of Ebola virus being taking away .

Continues from page 9

Effect on religious activities Earlier this month, the Catholic Archbishop of Metropolitan Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev (Dr) Alfred Adewale Martins had issued a health alert to priests, religious and the faithful, informing them of the need to maintain proper hygiene. People were warned to avoid eating bush meat especially monkeys, grass cutters, bats, chimpanzees and so on.

Shortly before Holy Communion in a Roman Catholic Mass, the priest often invites the congregation to offer each other a sign of peace. However, what began as a simple handshake has become in many churches, an exuberant exchange of kisses and hugs and now the Vatican wants to stamp out the boisterous practices as it detracts from the solemnity of the service. In Lagos, giving sign of peace through hand-shaking is now

,

Attendance to church services has dropped. People are avoiding crowds.

Many families did not go to church last Sunday for fear of Ebola virus.

A supermarket manager, Miss. Ada said supply of hand gloves and sanitizers have been badly hit. It is now almost out of stock because people have resorted to using them for preventive measures.

avoided.

Evidently, if attendance at the church service, whether orthodox or pentecostal, drops, it could adversely affect the collections, tithes and other revenues. No thanks to Ebola.

We have reduced the quantity of bush meat we used to buy from our suppliers because patronage has dropped

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Travelers and bush meat delicacy Saturday Vanguard visited the interstate motor parks at Mile 2, Lagos to talk with travelers going to the East and South-South. Those traveling along the Lagos-Benin axis said that they no longer stop at the popular Ore and Ofosu points to patronize bush meat sellers as a precautionary measure against the Ebola disease.

A passenger said: “We told our driver last week not to stop at Ore to buy food because no person, since the outbreak of Ebola virus, would want to think of eating bush meat or even any type of food on the road. One can not be so sure of the kind of meat used to prepare the food. Again, one is not sure of the people that prepared the food if they had Ebola without even knowing,” adding, “abstinence is the best thing for now.”

The loss of revenue for these bush meat sellers and food vendors at major stops along the inter-state highways can better be imagined as it could amount to several thousands of naira on a daily basis.

The same situation can be attributed to restaurants, pepper soup joints that serve bush meat as delicacy across towns. There is a popular beer spot that is known for

bush meat pepper soup in Surulere. Fear of Ebola has killed the bush meat business there.

Decline in bush meat business One of the sellers, Madam Ngozi, a household name in bush meat ‘joint’ in Ikeduru, Imo State said patronage has dropped since the outbreak of the virus.

“Bush meat is being treated like a taboo since the Ebola alert. Although people are still coming to eat meat here, but not as much as before. Most customers are avoiding it now.”

Another bush meat seller, Madam Do Good, also complained bitterly about poor patronage.

She said: “People are no longer buying bush meat. We have reduced the quantity of bush meat we used to buy from our suppliers because patronage has dropped.

Even people who used to eat bush meat before now have stopped eating it. They would rather eat goat meat or beef, but not bush meat. The bulk of my daily income comes from bush meat, but now sales have reduced from N20,000 to N5,000. Only a few people who are yet to believe in the spread of the virus still patronesses us” Also, in Oleh, Delta State, the consumption of various kinds of bush meat such as antelopes, grass-cutter, squirrels and others, has dropped.

At one joint, popular for bush meat

Continues on page 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014—11

Group of medical doctors equipping themselves against Ebola virus

EBOLA: Fear of the virus spreads Continues from page 10

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pepper soup and palm-wine, the seller said she had to stop losing money by removing bush-meat from her list of delicacies.

She laments: “Most of our customers have stopped coming. My family resorted to eating what I should have sold because customers are avoiding it, thereby making me incur huge losses. Now I’ve stopped selling bush meat entirely, till this whole thing ends. I sell goat meat and beef. The Ebola virus has affected my business so much.”

In the remote area of Abule Egba, popularly known as Ejo (snake) village bars and beer parlour business are still active with people found in groups having their drinks with some plates of bush meat pepper soup.

At a spot located on Alafia street, Meiran road, Abule Egba, it was a beehive of activities with good patronage. The reporters were welcomed by the manager of the bar who said their menu had varieties of bush meat pepper soup and drinks.

Adegoke, who has been involved in the business of buying bush meat from hunters and processing same as pepper soup for about 20 years also stated that some people still do not believe the virus can be contracted from handling and eating bush meat.

You people should first of all find out if the late Patrick Sawyer ate bush meat, for me, nothing will discourage me from eating any kind of bush meat

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An okada man in the area who confessed he had an insatiable taste for bush meat argued that eating bush meat had nothing to do with Ebola virus. “You people should first of all find out if the late Patrick Sawyer ate bush meat. For me, nothing will discourage me from eating any kind of bush meat. In the past, it was HIV/ AIDS and today, it is Ebola,” he stated.

Also, Mama Onigba in her 60s has been in the business of selling bush meat for the greater part of her life. She said that her customers still patronize her despite the linking of Ebola virus to the consumption of bush meat.

Said she: “My customers will continue to eat bush meat. There are people who cannot do without bush meat on daily basis and that has been my means of livelihood. “I’ve been in the business of selling bush meat before I got married at the age of 22. I go as far as Ondo state and even to Cotonou to get these animals.

They are not easy to get. It really costs me a lot to preserve the meat because it easily attracts flies”.

She, however, complained that the Ebola virus has reduced her sales which is making life a bit difficult for her.

In the same vein Iya Titi, a bush meat seller in Ikotun, thought it was a story that would soon fizzle out without any pain.

She maintained that until she began to record a downward slide in her daily sales, she never knew it would have a great effect on her business.

“I am really finding things very difficult with my business now because of this Ebola virus. People are scared to come to my shop now because of the fear of Ebola.

I hardly make up to N5,000 as against my normal daily sales of N20,000. I don’t know what to do,” She decried.

Caution in market and other public places It is either the level of awareness is low amongst market women or outright disregard for preventive measures as far as body contact is concerned. Most markets in Lagos and environs are still active with less caution and preventive measures. A visit to Abule Egba and other areas where second hand cloths are sold showed that body contacts were still common and that people moved freely.

Mrs Okafor, who deals in second hand female shirts at the market urged customers to put the clothes on to test the sizes before payment.

In contrast, a woman who sells pepper at Oke odo food market, Mrs Olagunju maintained that many market women need to be oriented as many do not understand messages in the media.

Chinasa Ikebi who also helps her auntie at a popular saloon in Lagos lamented low patronage.

She said: “some people don’t want to come out to make their hair because they

Continues on page 12

12 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

Continues from page 11 feel that if they come in contact with people they will catch the illness. The ones that come to make their hair want us to wash our combs, towels and all our other implements all over again before using them on them,” Chinasa said.

EBOLA : Killing more and changing social life in Nigeria

Local bars For Mike Okems (Not real name), who operates a beer popular joint, in Ikotun Lagos, “it is really affecting us here especially, in the area of meat selling. Here in this place, we mostly sell Nkwobi, and many other things but, since this Ebola virus, sales have dropped. Even with reduced prices, things are getting bad. Ebola is bad.

Similarly, a club operator along Ibeju Lekki, Mr. Raymond said, the development has affected his business negatively as the bar records low patronage since the news of Ebola broke.

“For two weeks, the bar has recorded massive low patronage because people are afraid of contracting Ebola”.

Sporting activities on the decline?

Holiday coaching affected Summer lessons are not left out. One parent who did not want his name in print told our reporters that he had withdrawn his children from the holiday sports programmes because of Ebola.

Private Hospitals Rita Edet lamented that going to the hospital is dangerous now because you don’t know who might be a carrier in the hospital.

“Right now, we have to be careful of going to hospital. We don’t know the hospital Ebola patients use.

“Health workers are the primary target C M Y K

Ebola Patient receiving treatment from a doctor and that is the reason why patients need to be vigilant not to contract Ebola virus”.

For Dr.Olafisoye, medical director, Awoyaya hospital, every consultation with any patient must go with washing of hands regularly with soap under a running tap.

On the alleged fear of contracting the virus in the hospital, he said, “staying at home and not going to the hospital when someone is ill might be dangerous.

“It is difficult to tell where or what a particular person has touched before coming to the hospital and that is why it is compulsory wear gloves and also to wash our hands thoroughly after attending to a patient. Nobody has a label showing that he or she has touched an Ebola patient.

“The people at risk are those who have primary contact with a very sick Ebola patient. In this hospital, we organised workshop to sensitise our staff. The doctors must wear protective apparatus.

There are limited protective kits in the

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Even sports is not left out; on an international scale, Togo has called for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations game in Guinea to be moved because of fears about the Ebola virus. The match, the responsibility of the Confederation of African Football, is scheduled for 5 or 6 September and is in the first group round of qualifiers. More than 300 people have died from Ebola in Guinea, the origin of the outbreak which is also now fast spreading in neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Besides, most sporting arenas have recorded low patronage as sports lovers have restricted their activities to individual games and at least games with limited players where contact with each other is minimal.

Recreational centres, amusement parks and places of fun often visited by young people are now deserted, even swimming pools and gyms often patronized by the elites and middle class are no longer attracting customers. Sporting activities have significantly reduced especially football, basketball and other sports with high physical contact. Ebola is changing life in this part of the world. It is said to spread through contact with blood, sweat, saliva, urine or semen of an infected person or animal.

...staying at home and not going to the hospital when someone is ill might be dangerous

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country and that is dangerous. We have face mask, gloves and ward coat. The cleaners too must wear gloves. There is a point that is connected to everybody and this is the entrance of the hospital. The cleaners are instructed to always clean the entrance with bleach every hour.”

Commercial transit buses A bus passenger, Mr. Johnson said, it is not safe to board buses in Lagos because of the fear of contracting Ebola virus. And that is why, government should set up task force to monitor transportation system in order to regulate sitting arrangement of the passengers so as to check transporters who, for example, carry five people on a row meant for three or four people. Body contacts should be avoided.

Some buses including BRT, TM allow people to stand in the bus. This is pathetic. Government needs to enforce discipline and decency. Government should also engage the services of police and LASMA to checkmate transporters.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014—13

Prof. Gambari

Ibrahim Gambari lists Confab’s controversies, achievements *Speaks on President Jonathan and the 2015 elections

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rofessor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, academic and former diplomat, was Nigeria’s Minister of External Affairs and subsequently, a senior official of the United Nation’s bureaucracy, rising to the post of Under-SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations (USG) for the Department of Political Affairs (DPA).

Gambari is presently the Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Issues for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and at the same time, the Chancellor of the newly established Kwara State University.

Gambari was a nominee of the Federal Government to the National Conference in the category of elder-statesmen and was one of the leaders of the Consensus Group that worked to unify positions of the various stakeholders at the conference.

In this interview he speaks on the controversies at the conference, the conduct of the delegates and the next course of action for the country. Excerpts: How would you assess the conference?

F

irst of all, many people at the begin ning didn’t think much will come out of this conference for good reasons.

First, we were not elected.

Two, they have seen the history of conferences in this country because almost all the previous conferences mostly ended in disarray.

Three, there is always the suspicion of hidden agenda by people who convened the conference. Four, there is the feeling that the National Assembly is there and so, why should there be another, almost a legislative body to discuss and make recommendations on the governance of Nigeria when we have the National Assembly.

So, all those misgivings and suspicions and the history of

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BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

Don’t forget also that we are 492 delegates, who for the most part are meeting themselves for the first time and two, representing various interests

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such conferences have not been always a happy one.

Now, against that background, the conference convened on March 17, didn’t have much chance of success. Don’t forget also that we are 492 delegates, who for the most part are meeting themselves for the first time and two, representing various interests. I think, it is only one group that is not really interestbased and those are the Elder Statesmen. They were picked one from each state but not actually representing the state. I belong to that group. But then, at the beginning we had a rough time which was to be expected because we couldn’t pass the rules. But wisdom prevailed, there was a committee of 50 wise men and women and a consensus was arrived at on how to pass the rules. I am happy to say that the spirit of

consensus was tested in the committees and overwhelmingly, almost all the committees adopted their reports.

Specifically, what will you highlight as major achievements of the conference?

If you look at some of the issues, the most contentious is state police and because it is a fact of life that the Nigerian Police as constituted are incapable of addressing all the security challenges facing this country alone.

A proof of this is the number of soldiers that are now doing essentially police work. Secondly, almost all the states of the federation are in some ways supporting the activities in their states or in some cases have an auxiliary arrangement. This is Federal Republic of Nigeria. I think, the time has come to really look at how to complement the work of Nigeria Police Force, strengthen and also compliment their work. Secondly, the issue of immunity clause. In my view, one of the biggest challenges that this country has is not ethnicity, not so much religion but poor governance and impunity and lack of accountability in government. And this is anchored on this immunity.

We have to hold our leaders accountable even while in office. What in my view will address the issues of poor governance, corruption, and promote transparency is really removing the immunity clause, not impeachment.

Continues on page 14 C M Y K

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

Ibrahim Gambari lists Confab’s controversies, achievements Continues from page13

What’s your take on the recommendation to create 18 additional states?

You know when a conference decision is made by consensus, it doesn’t mean everybody is happy with it. I have my reservations about 18 additional states.

Although, I supported it in principle, the idea of an additional state for the south east for equity purposes, though, the idea is not always popular in this part of the country but I am in support of that. I have reservations about that large number of states. Recall that the conference recommended that those states that want to come together, provided that the allocation they will receive from the federal government is not increased.

You stirred up controversy when you presented the report of the special committee that intervened on derivation. Some felt you misrepresented the position of the committee by saying that the 5% of the special fund which was for national emergencies was for the Northeast, Northwest and NorthCentral zones. How was that?

This group is a voluntary group of what C M Y K

Prof. Gambari

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Thirdly, look at the form of government.

The conference has agreed to retain the presidential system but modified such that we will be closer to the model in France, South Africa where the Legislature and the Executive are brought much closer and two; where most of the ministers will be appointed from the legislature because right now, you have a presidential system where all the ministers are appointed by the president but representing no particular constituency in the parliamentary sense and therefore, they don’t feel a sense of responsibility to any constituency other than the president once they pass the screening and the confirmation process.

Now, you have the ministers answerable on a continuous, consistent basis, to the legislators. Again, if you look at the committee which I was privileged to chair, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, we have three major achievements. One is that we have agreed to reprofessionalize the diplomats and diplomacy of the country by creating a separate foreign service and separate foreign service commission . The commission will appoint, promote, discipline the staff of the ministry and therefore enhance professionalism. Two, funding.

If you look at countries of similar status in the world, the proportion of the budget that is devoted to foreign affairs is extremely low. We have recommended an increase. More important, on the diaspora issue. We have recommended the right of Nigerians in diaspora to vote. Of course, subject to enhancing the capability of INEC and using our embassies abroad to be able to permit them to vote. It is done for the Europeans, the Chinese, Indians and all the countries that have allowed their people in diaspora to be able to exercise the right to vote and also, of course, we supported the acceleration of the process for the establishment of the diaspora commission. Finally, I will say perhaps on one of the most contentious issues: religion, we reached consensus.

Then we had the issue of derivation.

Where there was a disagreement within the group was whether to just limit it in the first instance to the Northeast of Nigeria and any other part of the country or to spell it out to include Northeast of Nigeria, North-Central, Northwest and any other part of the country

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we call consensus bridge-building group and we have been meeting almost through out the conference to promote the spirit of consensus. We have northern delegates, southern delegates, south south, south east, middle belt. Of course, we have Mus-

lims, Christians, civil society groups, the youth groups etc. So, the idea is to promote consensus because we know that if we don’t do that and we go to vote on every item, it will give a very bad impression of the conference and the decision of the conference will not carry weight with Nigerians. For the three months we met and I was privileged to be the chair and co-convener of that group. Now, we realised that one of the most contentious issues was going to be the issue of derivation. People forget that there is actually a conference committee on that headed by former Governor Victor Attah, co-chaired by former IGP, Ibrahim Coomassie. These are the officials. Now, many delegates particularly from the South-South were very unhappy because in 2005 conference, before it went katakata, there was actually a promise of 18% derivation. We were represented by 3 persons each from the six geo-political zones of which I was a member. So, we began to work on this. We got to the point where we were willing to recommend the following: 18% for derivation, 5% for solid mineral development and 5 % for intervention fund for the stabilization, rehabilitation and reconstruction of those parts of the country affected by Boko Haram and insurgency. Now, that was the general agreement. When I made an oral presentation which was supposed to be followed by the written

presentation, it was not clear that this was a national intervention fund but in the first instance, it has to be for those who are most affected by it. And I didn’t get an opportunity to also explain to delegates. They saw it as another fund.

You know, typically, everybody wants some share of the fund. But why do you want a situation where you will actually have access to that fund? Who wants insurrection? Who wants Boko Haram?

And this fund is not supposed to be forever. So, we went back when we saw how people reacted and said, OK, let us now redefine what I presented orally and submit it in a written form because it has to be in form of an amendment of the report of the committee on Devolution of Power. They were some very innovative things we agreed. One: 18 percent of the revenue accrued to the federation account directly from any micro resources. Two: not less than 50 percent of the total derivation fund accruable to the mineral bearing states shall be due and payable to the host communities within states where the resources were derived in accordance with the production quota contributed by such communities. Then, we said there should be established a solid mineral development fund. Actually such exists at 3%. But we said it should be moved to 5% and should be applied to solid mineral developments in the states so that we will begin to get away a little bit from the concentration on oil.

This is where there was a problem. And the refined formulation was that there shall be a national intervention fund which shall be 5% of the national revenue accruable to the account of the federal government, not federation account, for the stabilization, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the areas affected by terrorism and insurgency in the first instance, in the north east of Nigeria and any other part of the country. Where there was a disagreement within the group was whether to just limit it in the first instance to the Northeast of Nigeria and any other part of the country or to spell it out to include Northeast of Nigeria, North-Central, Northwest and any other part of the country. And we were going to now present it to the plenary but by that time, all hell had broken loose. So, you know the rest of the story. The “wise men” met on this issue and they decided in their wisdom to leave the percentage of the intervention fund to the President to possibly appoint a technical committee to handle.

What is your take on President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition in 2015 and the north’s agitation?

For me, the most important thing is that there should be free and fair elections in this country. This is very important. If President Jonathan who has the constitutional right to contest wins in a free and fair elections, I have no problem with that. But up till now, no one has declared. The president himself has not said he is going for re-election.

But if he decides to run as he has constitutional right to do so and other parties nominate their candidates; what is most important is to have a free and fair election. Any Nigerian has a right, under the constitution, to run. I can run also. But we must insist on free and fair

election.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 16, 2014 — 15

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FTER 151 days of i n t r i g u e s , manoeuvrings, backstabbing, threats, shouts, grandstanding, sentiments, show of patriotism, show of activism associated with Students and unionists, political compromise, among others, the 2014 National Conference finally came to a close.

The Justice Idris Kutigi led National Conference was inaugurated March 17, 2014

by President Goodluck Jonathan to among others objectives, expand the space for political and social discourse, to determine the future of Nigeria and to create a new political direction for Nigeria.

As delegates round off the assignment and return to their homes, places of work, a lot of issues were raised and agreed on for a better Nigeria.

Delegates unanimously agreed that immunity for elected public officers be expunged and if the decision sails through, it means that the president of the country, the governors and all elected officers will no longer enjoy immunity.

It was recommended thus, “the Immunity Clause should be removed if the offences attract criminal charges to encourage accountability by those managing the economy.”

The Conference approved that all the three senatorial districts would now have the opportunity of producing governors as against the present arrangement in some states where it is close to a taboo for some senatorial districts to think of it, while that of the local government chairmen shall be rotated among the local government area.

The Conference also threw out the contentious issue of six- year single tenure for President, governors; it recommended an additional state for the South East geopolical zone of the country as well as additional 18 states for the zones with a zone getting three new states each, just as it reverted to the old National Anthem as against the present one.

The very thorny issue of revenue Sharing could not be resolved by the delegates even with the intervention of the Elder Statesmen Committee.

The Elder statesmen came up with harmonised position of 18 percent derivation resource control as against the present 13. 5 percent for exploration and development of all mineral resources, not solid minerals as against the present 4.5 percent and 5 percent federal revenue for rehabilitation, stabilisation of and construction of areas

As 2014 Confab Ends, What Next?

From left: Idris Kutigi (SAN) and Prof. Akinyemi affected by insurgency in the North East. They also recommended, as part of the consensus, that 50 percent of money allocated to each state on derivation must go directly to the communities from which the mineral resources are extracted.

At the end of the day, it was a case of back to sender as the conference pushed same problems President Jonathan had asked them to solve for the country to him. A position was taken that he should set up a Technical Committee that would advise the federal government on revenue sharing formula, the percentage of derivation to oil producing states, the mineral resources fund as well as the Special fund for reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas affected by problems of insurgency and internal conflict.

These were considerations agreed upon by the delegates following completion of debate and adoption of resolutions arising from reports of 20 committees that considered critical issues considered to have given rise to the convocation of the Conference.

The main report which is in two volumes with Volume one

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By HENRY UMORU, Assistant Political Editor

It was recommended thus, “the Immunity Clause should be removed if the offences attract criminal charges to encourage accountability by those managing the economy

made up of 528 pages, Volume two, 906 pages, the draft constitution is 357 pages while the bill is 47 pages.

Other documents given to the Delegates were votes and proceedings for the months of April, May, June and July.

The 357 page draft constitution as produced by the Secretariat did not go down well with the Northern delegates who described it as a plot to introduce third term agenda and dissociating themselves from the document.

Addressing Journalists in Abuja Tuesday, August 12 at at Gombe Jewel Hotel, Wuse11, Abuja, the Northern

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delegates noted that the draft Constitution as prepared by the Justice Idris Kutigi led Secretariat was a third term agenda designed primarily to allow for President Jonathan, other incumbent elective office holders whom they alleged as not qualified to contest to run for the election.

Speaking for them, the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF and former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Coomasie warned that if the document which the Northern delegates described as a third term agenda was not killed at the conference, it would like in 2005, lead to anarchy,

violence and chaos, adding, "Given the observation under (iv) above, adopting a new Constitution is therefore calculated to enable incumbent elective office holders who are statutebarred from going for 3rd Term at both Federal and State levels, to run for offices again under the guise of running under a new Constitution.

Flanked at the briefing after the over two hours meeting of the Northern Delegates by Mohammed Umara Kumalia; Lt. Gen. Jerry Useni; Prof.

Iyorchia Ayu; Bashir Dalhatu; Gen. Salihu Ibrahim; Amb. Ibrahim Gambari; Air Vice Marshal Mutari Mohammed; Emir of Askira, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibn Muhammed, Coomasie continued, "If not arrested, the 3rd Term agenda, as in the past (2005), is capable of plunging Nigeria into another circle of political chaos with potential of violence and anarchy.

"We, Northern Delegates to the Conference wish to assure patriotic Nigerians, and all lovers of democracy, that we are neither privy to, nor were we accessory to the emergence of the controversial "New Draft

Continues on page 17

16—SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, AUGUST 16, 2014

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received a very good news a couple of weeks ago.A childhood friend’s child had just been given a new life; literally. This person had a birth defect that was seriously incapacitating and had been a source of concern for the parents and some of us who regard ourselves as uncles and aunties.

Now, thanks to a new technology, the miracle of God had been made manifest in all our lives.

That this person had been selected as a guinea pig for this new procedure was in itself a miracle.

I shall not talk more about this until I receive a go ahead from the parents who are very close and dear to me.

Then — and only then— should I chronicle a life time brought to them went beyond of struggle, faith and the call of duty. They gave patience. courage and hope to the To watch them, especially concerned parents. But then, their attitude to other people’s that is essentially what you children even during those expect from professionals. difficult times, was to be Any professional without inspired by them. But that, passion for his vocation is just like I said, is a story for marking time and destined another day. for mediocrity. And any Suffice for now, is the fact we human being without were all very elated and compassion is worse than an excited by this new gift of life a n i m a l . from God. Surprisingly, the It is my passion for journalism specialists— doctors and care that has kept me in the givers— were as elated and as excited as we were. When things were not going too well, they tried to mask their disappointment while encouraging the parents.

What are we without passion and compassion?

nd when things turned around for good, they could not hide their joy under a professional mien. Never mind that it wasn’t their first procedure. But then every farmer knows that it is not every seed that is planted that takes root. And like a seed, this person had to literally die before being given a new life.

We thank the Lord for this His g i f t .

The passion exhibited by these professionals immediately the case was

W

e bring to you today God’s word for the hour to bless, transform, increase, restore and encourage you that the best is yet to come.

Are you in the impossible place,where all doors are locked against you? Perhaps, doctors have given up on your case. That is they have carried all manner of test and treated you to the best of their ability. Perhaps the sickness as doctors would say is terminal. They have said, all you have left is a couple of weeks, months or one to two years to live.

Well, this is an impossible situation but then I want you to know that doctors and medical scientist are limited in their

Jesus is waiting for you right now to turn your face to Him and trust Him to heal you, change your situation, and make you who He has purposed you to be

,

,

knowledge. However, there is one, who is not limited, His name is Jesus. He is a miracle worker.

If you can put your trust in Him, He will heal you of that sickness or disease for which doctors say cannot be cured. Our text today is taken from Isa. 38:1-6. It says “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death, and Isaiah the prophet came unto him, and said unto him, “thus saith the Lord,

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life and death in foreign countries, of precious family time—that I have had to make.

It is this passion that has seen me within a walking distance to the top of my chosen profession. Even today, after forty years, I am still in awe when I read some writeups and marvel at the display of talent in the way words have been woven together.

While it is true that most of us picked our professions without any serious mentoring—many

The fact that the Jonathans, the Marks, the Tinubus and the like will not take their money to heaven gives me comfort

profession these past forty years, despite the common knowledge that it is not the most lucrative of professions.

For me, I was being paid for what I would have done for free. This passion has gotten me interested in almost every aspect of journalism— from basic reporting to publishing.

It is this passion that has allowed me to make the sacrifices— of detention, of police and security harassment, of court cases, of

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are doctors and engineers simply because they were good in the sciences— many, it must be said, have developed the compassion and passion that made the inevitable odds around their jobs surmountable.

I know doctors who treat patients on compassionate grounds and lawyers who treat cases on ‘pro bono’. I also have the story of a policeman who made a financial sacrifice to help me when I needed

help that will forever live within me.

This is why the recent news that the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association refused to call off the strike of medical doctors even in the wake of the Ebola outbreak was very distressing.

T

he fact that not one dissenting voice reportedly came up among the Executive was most upsetting.

Their decision to continue with the strike was unanimous although prior to this, their President, Kayode Obembe, had resigned following disagreement with his colleagues over the strike.

Where is their passion? Their compassion? What makes them get up in the morning to go to work? Is it only the pay cheque? I couldn’t imagine doing a job that I had no passion for.

It is true that a lot is wrong with the Nigerian structure. A structure that allows a Local Government official to earn more than a University professor is dysfunctional. A structure that allocates so much of the commonwealth to the political class is doomed to

pare his house for he was going to die. Which means there was no more hope for him to live; but Glory be to God, King Hezekiah refused to receive the words from God’s prophet that he was to die? He must have looked at himself and said that now I am in an impossible situation, the only thing set thine house in order; for thou him and the man of God allowed left is for me to turn shalt die, and not live. Then him to travel to Germany for more to God. Hezekiah immediately Hezekiah turned his face to the medical checkup and treatment. turned to God in prayer and praise wall and prayed unto the Lord. After some weeks, he returned Beloved, in your present imposAnd said, remember now, o Lord, back to Lagos without a solution sible situation, whom have you I beseech thee, how I have and met again with God’s servant turned to? Have you turned to walked before thee in truth and who earnestly prayed for his man? The bible says that the arm with a perfect heart and have healing and he was healed. This of flesh will fail you. done that which is good in thy gentleman now asked the man of The bible says that Hezekiah did sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. God, why did you allow me to not turn to man; rather he turned Then came the word of the Lord travel to Germany and back when his face towards the wall and to Isaiah , saying, go and say to you could have prayed for him to called upon the one that knoweth Hezekiah, thus saith the Lord, the be healed. The man of God no impossibility. The one that is God of David thy father, I have replied because the man was still the miracle worker and the miracle heard thy prayer, I have seen thy trusting medical aids for his worker responded immediately by tears: Behold, I will add unto thy healing, but now that his back was sending back His prophet Isaiah days fifteen years. And I will against the wall, he had no choice to inform King Hezekiah that he deliver thee and this city out of than to trust the Lord. will not die and that He has addthe king of Assyria and I will Our text says the king Hezekiah, ed fifteen more years to defend this city”. was sick unto death. As a king, his days.

I remember some years back, a the best medical facilities would You that is reading this wonderful gentleman was sick. have been used to heal him to no now, who is in an imHe went to the best hospitals in avail. Now, King Hezekiah was possible place, if you this country but could not be in an impossible situation. To will turn your face away cured. He came to the man of God make matters worse, God sent His form man to God and and discussed the situation with prophet to King Hezekiah to pre- call upon Him in prayer a n d For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard praise, Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town He will or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 08023062635 08168955932; 08033378769. E- perform a mail: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org. miracle Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust for you Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C just as He 1011711622. did for Worship with us on Sundays, 1st Service: 745am-9:15am; 2nd Service 9:15- Hezekiah 11:30am. Wednesdays Word Revelation 6pm. Counseling days Tuesdays, when he Thursdays and Fridays. 11am-5pm daily or by appointment. Showers of blessing turned his every 2nd - 4th Sat. of each month, 6 a.m - 7.15 am. face to

The impossible place (2)

fail. But I am resolved on my part to do my bit to make humanity better. The fact that the Jonathans, the Marks, the Tinubus and the like will not take their money to heaven gives me comfort.

This is why it is confounding that professional doctors will ignore a clarion call to serve humanity on the grounds that the government is not serious. Members of ‘Doctors without borders’ are risking their lives because of the passion for the jobs not minding the working conditions or the pay cheque.

Foreign care givers who come from more equitable societies are here risking their lives because of compassion.

It would make more sense if the doctors suspended their strike in order to contain the epidemic —which by the way, can strike closer home than they realize— and resumed their agitations thereafter.

They all swore to an oath; the Hippocratic Oath to save lives.

This strike in the face of an epidemic is a direct violation of the oath, of everything that is decent. Only mercenaries show no compassion to any humanitarian cause. And if they continue this strike rather than help contain the looming epidemic in the country, then they are not better than mercenaries.

In fact, I think they are s u b h u m a n .

NB. Dr Ukpabi Asika was the Administrator for the East Central State, not the South Eastern State as this column stated last week. I thank the numerous writers who pointed it out.

God. Jesus is waiting for you right now to turn your face to Him and trust Him to heal you, change your situation, and make you who He has purposed you to be.

Remember, Jesus is the only true worker of miracle and He is eager to make your impossible place, a place of possibilities.

Trust Him, He can and will do it. God bless you, our great nation and President Goodluck Jonathan.

We are trusting God to make a way for us to go on radio and television with the same message of His reality and we count on your financial support in bringing this vision and mission to pass. You can call us on phone to discuss with us or you can send your donations in cheques and cash to our contacts at the end of this message. The mission is estimated to cost about N7.5m (Seven million, five hundred thousand naira). As you support our vision to take His reality to the world, the Lord will supernaturally turn around every impossible situation in your life and family.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014—17

As 2014 Confab Ends, What Next?

Continues from page 15 Constitution 2014". We, therefore, unequivocally disown it, and emphatically disassociate ourselves from it.

Accordingly, we will have nothing to do with it, for the following legal, moral and political reasons."

The next day, Wednesday, August 13, Southern and Middle Belt delegates led by former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South leader, Chief Edwin Clark who addressed Journalists, replied the northern delegates supporting the draft Constitution, saying there was no hidden agenda behind the draft Constitution produced by the Secretariat of the Conference, adding that it was an insult to allege that President Goodluck Jonathan was planning third term using the delegates.

The Southern delegates made up of South- South; South East and South West geo- political zones of the country and the Middle Belt described the draft Constitution as a product of resolutions reached by all delegates including the Northern delegates and stressed that if the entire report produced by the Conference was fully implemented by President Goodluck Jonathan, it would give birth to a new Nigeria.

With Chief Clark at the briefing were the leader of South West delegates, Chief Olu Falae; leader of the South East, Gen Ike Nwachukwu; Secretary General, Middle Belt Forum, John Dara; Prof.

Anya O. Anya; Chief Raymond Dokpesi; Senator Aniete Okon; Charles Edosonwan, SAN; Col. Tony Nyiam; Ann Kio Briggs; Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN; Yinka Odumakin; Chief Femi Okunrounmu; Prof.Ihechukwu Madubuike, among others.

According to Chief Clark, rather than castigate the Chairman of the Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi and the Secretariat, they ought to have been commended for

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I assure you that if the resolutions contained in the report are implemented by government a new Nigeria would be born

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President Goodluck Jonathan producing a perfect and very intelligent report, adding, "Fellow delegates. I think today is a happy day for all of us have being away for some time. And by the grace of God we’ll finish our work tomorrow. There are no issues that are controversial. We met for about four months and various issues were discussed, debated and about 600 motions passed by consensus. Everybody agreed.

At the end of that we went on two weeks leave.

"We were surprised when we came back, volumes of papers reports, looking through them, we want to say it was a very good job. The chairman, Justice Kutigi, his deputy and the Secretary and the entire secretariat, we congratulate them. The reports are three in volume and there are other ancillary papers. I assure you that if the resolutions contained in the report are implemented by government a new Nigeria would be born.

We have all learnt a lot for the last months, having been a politician for 50 years, what I learnt in this period is fantastic, so we congratulate the management headed by Kutigi.

"It was very unfortunate to learn yesterday that some delegates addressed a press conference on a so called new constitution. When we were discussing during the conference, we touched on many issues, some of which suggested constitutional changes, some policies.. What they have done is to put together all the proposed amendments to the 1999 constitution.”

Delegates on Thursday adopted the final report of the

conference having resolved for the minor alteration of the title from "draft constitution" to

"Draft proposals to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999".

With that, the report was unanimously adopted by the delegates thereby bringing to an end, a 151 day 2014 national conference and the fulfilled and accomplished Delegates stood up and enthusiastically sang the old National Anthem “Nigeria We Hail Thee” and chants of labour solidarity songs also followed.

The oldest delegate and former Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide, SAN was called by Kutigi to move for the adoption of the final report while the youngest delegate to the conference, Miss.

Yadomah Bukar Mandara seconded it.

A delegate on the platform of former Governors' Forum and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, gave the vote of thanks which received spontaneous applause from delegates and soon after the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of the day sequel to a motion by Iyom Josephine Anenih and seconded by Dr. Bello Mohammed, Justice Kutigi called on the Lamido

Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkido Mustapha to move a motion for the closure of the Conference.

Chief Mike Ahamba while seconding the motion, described Thursday, August 14 as a day of pride and honour because “when we came here, nobody expected us to end this way. We have disappointed the skeptics.”

History was then made as delegates took turn to pour encomium on the leadership of the Conference for their maturity in steering the conference proceedings and they embraced one another.

President Goodluck Jonathan, like the way he started the Conference March 17, and expected to close it on Thursday, August 21, 2014, it is hoped that at the end of the, the resolutions reached would be implemented; it is hoped that the President would subject the outcome to a Referendum as the view of delegates and Nigerians; it is also hoped that a better Nigeria will come as the resolutions will be implemented. Kudos to Kutigi, Prof. Akinyemi, the very diligent Madam Azinge, Akpandem, Indabawa, Yakubu, delegates and the media.

Political notes A contest averted by death in Niger

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any stakeholders had been looking forward to what was bound to be an interesting battle for the Niger East Senatorial seat in 2015. The battle was to be between Governor Babangida Aliyu who is now serving his second term in office and Senator Awaisu Kuta, a former labour activist who bestrode the Senate as a comrade and his constituency with passion.

Given the trend of many second term governors, suspicion had arisen about three years ago about the intention of Governor Aliyu who is from Niger East to take the seat from Senator Awaisu. That suspicion had led to a political chasm between the two men leading to subtle battles between the two politicians and their followers. Governor Aliyu was expected to use his power of incumbency to confront Awaisu who was expected to defend himself using his connections with the grassroots.

As political stakeholders looked up to the coming battle, no one considered the input of death which took away Senator Awaisu on June 12.

Now the bye-election to find a replacement for the seat has opened a dilemma for those who were championing the Aliyu for Senate crusade. How do you find somebody who will agree to vacate the seat next year without causing troubles for their man?

BYEMMANUELAZIKEN, Political Editor The immediate past deputy governor of the state, Dr. Zagbayi Nuhu was adopted by stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the seat at a stakeholders meeting that some alleged was stage managed. Not surprisingly, a disputant, Abdullahi Musa, a former member of the House of Representatives, has emerged setting the stage for a fight that many thought had been buried with the death of Senator Awaisu Kuta.

Dr. Ike Ekweremadu (PhD in view) Fiscal Federalism

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the man who has championed the cause for the implementation of federalism in its true shape and structure may have surprised many with the news that he is a doctoral student of the University of Abuja.

Ekweremadu, a constitutional lawyer who taught law at the University of Nsukka in the late nineties before the advent of the Fourth Republic, according to reports, recently successfully defended his doctoral thesis at the University of Abujaay.

The gist of the defence is the fact that the focus of Ekweremadu’s thesis is on Fiscal Federalism, a subject that he has severally defended with passion. In his pursuit, Ekweremadu has rubbished the

system as obtainable in Nigeria as Feeding Bottle Federalism.

Congrats, Dr. Ekweremadu

Whither Marwa?

President

When the erstwhile military governor of Lagos and Borno States, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, entered the political arena in the middle of the last decade, it was with great aplomb. Many considered that the solid record of the man were assets for a good presidential material. Marwa’s proposal on security in the run up to the 2007 presidential primaries of the PDP was exceptional as he drew from the blueprint implemented in the well applauded Operation Sweep which he masterminded as governor of Lagos State.

However, President Olusegun Obasanjo at that time thought otherwise as he looked beyond Marwa and another well prepared prospect, Alhaji Mohammed Makarfi for Alhaji Umaru Yar‘adua who was not less good, but for the circumstances of his health.

Following his failure, Marwa has resorted to his native Adamawa State where he has prospected since then for the governorship. It is a sad tale that a man that should be looking up to provide leadership at the national level has been constrained to provincial squabbles.

18 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

By BENHAMIN NJOKU

Living in two worlds hepled to shape my future B — Former Miss Nigeria-Canada, Foluke Why are you in in the country?

I am in Nigeria to promote my new single titled Take my Heart. I am a singer and a songwriter. I play gospel music. I am in the process of releasing an album, but this is the single that I have been working on for a few months now. I have released a few singles in the past, but this will be the first single that I will be releasing officially in Nigeria.

Take my Heart is about coming together as a nation. Right now, there are a lot of things happening in Africa. The Ebola virus is one of them and other issues we are facing as Africans and as Nigerians. So, this song talks about coming together as a nation,and as a continent.

orn and raised in Toronto, Canada to Nigerian par ents, Foluke was former Miss Nigeria-Canada . She grew up in a christian home where her early childhood days were spent mostly in the church. Her passion for singing started at the very tender age of 7 where she would listen to her favorite gospel artistes like Commission, Yolanda Adams, Bebe and Cece Winans, Kim Burrell, Donnie McClurkin and Ebenezer Obey to name a few. Growing up in Canada with Reverend Parents in ministry exposed her to an early Christian upbringing combined with the Canadian Fashion Lifestyle; giving her the best of both worlds. The ex-beauty queen is currently in Nigeria to promote her latest single,Tkae My Heart. We caught up with her at the arrival hall of the Murtala Mohamed International Airport last Sunday, where she shares her story with us.

When you have the word of God, every other things would fall in place. It doesn’t matter what challenges you are facing in life. It’s a great thing for me to grow up in the Church.

What was it like growing up in two different cultures?

It’s very tough because most times, people would want you to identify with one culture or the other. But I have been able to live with the two cultures comfortably. I am NigerianCanadian. The experience has helped to shape my future.

Do you have the intention to collaborate with the local artistes?

If the opportunity presents itself, why not? If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.

Who among the artistes would you like to work with?

I would have loved to work with the late Kefee. I consider her to be one of the biggest gospel artistes in Africa. I met her and her husband in Canada last year. May her gentle soul rest in peace. She was a great artiste and I had my respect for her. In fact, we were planning to work on a pageant project back home before she passed on. But God knows the best.

You were one-time Miss Nigeria Canada. What got you into the pageant life?

I entered for the competition and won the Miss Nigeria-in Canada pageant. Through the pageant exposure, I was able to lend a hand by increasing awareness about Sickle Cell Anemia in Nigeria.

My friends and family members encouraged me to enter for the pageant which I did.

While growing up, did you dream of becoming a beauty queen?

Honestly, while growing up, I was more into sports-basketball and soccer. I wasn’t really the pageant type. But I just gave it a shot. That was what happened.For now, it’s all about my music.

Why did you delve into music, is it in your blood?

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What was your most hilarious backstage experienced as a beauty queen?

There was a time I was supposed to perform on stage. I didn’t know where I kept my shoes and my sister was assisting me to prepare for the performance. Thank God, we both wear the same size but her feet are a bit bigger. I quickly put her own shoes and went on stage. Unfortunately, I didn’t move well on stage because I didn’t want to fall.

I hail from a very religious family.

My father is a pastor and growing up in the church, singing in the choir, and leading praise and worship songs really helped to influence my career in music. Music is a part of my life and a part of my family. That’s how the whole thing started.

Who are some of the big artistes that influenced your kind of music?

In Nigeria, I would give it to Ebenezer Obey. My dad loves him so much. But if you are talking of the new generation of Nigerian artistes, Tuface and Lara George. In North-America, I’m influenced by gosepl artistes like Cece Winans, Commission, Yolanda Adams, Bebe and Cece Winans, Kim Burrell and Donnie McClurkin.

Why did you choose to become a gospel singer?

Having come from a religious background, I couldn’t imagine singing in any genre than gospel music. In other words, what I sing represent what I believe in, and what I stand for. So, I represent positivity, moving forward, having

faith in God and following your dreams despite whatever challenges and mistakes you might have made in life.I want to give people hope with my music. For me, it’s about spreading a positive message of hope to the people.

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ou were 2 years old when your parents moved you to Nigeria, and you stayed in the country for six years before returning to Canada and reimmersed into Canadian lifestyle.

Was in those six years that you got acquainted with your roots?

One of the greatest gifts my parents ever gave to me is the fact that they brought me back to Nigeria while I was still a young girl. This is because they gave me the opportunity to speak and understand the Yoruba language. I was raised by my grandmother who was only communicating to me in Yoruba. She forced me to learn the language. Even my parents over there communicate to us in our local language. Though I spent only six years in the country, it really helped to shape who I am today. Apart from that, the second greatest gift they gave to me is introducing me to the word of God.

What gave you the confidence that you were going to win the pageant?

I don’t think I had confidence that I was going to win the contest. But I think I had confidence that I was going to be the best that I could be. I felt that my best would be good enough. So, I wasn’t thinking that I was competing with anybody. I wanted to put my best forward, and because of that, I was successful.

Did winning Mis Nigeria-Canada pageant change anything about you?

I think what it changed about me is the fact that it increased my love for Nigeria. This is because one of the prizes I got was a trip to Nigeria. However, embarking on that trip made me to want to come back to Nigeria and do more things with Nigerians.

What’s your best beauty secret?

Be yourself; be natural. That’s my best beauty secret.

What’s your perception about Nigerian music?

Nigerian music is really growing.Our artistes are recognised all over the world for their works. I think it’s a great achievement for the country.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014—19

JULIET EBIRIM 08137897935

Would you marry someone who practices a different religion?

TRULY, love is difficult to find, yet we know that love is one thing virtually everyone believes should be shared by humans. We all believe it is good to love and be loved, because love can heal all wounds. However, it seems there are situations where love is ignored and it is often denied its rightful place due to religious reasons. For most people, the God they serve and their faith, is at the core of their essence. Cases abound where love has been denied because of religious differences. For instance, a young man who is a Christian fell in love with a Muslim girl. The girl’s family insisted that the man must convert to Islam before he can marry their daughter. The man couldn’t do that, and that was the end of the relationship. Also, it is said that the Jehovah’s Witness do not allow their members to marry a non-member, except the person will convert and become a witness. Some entertainers shared their opinions on this issue. Excerpts...

I would if my family approves — Adokiye, Singer/ Actress

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ove they say knows no boundary, language or barrier, but I would say that sometimes someone’s got to give. Any marriage that would cause me to have problems with my family or vice versa would not be ventured into at all. If my family blesses my marriage with a man from a different religion, why not? Frankly, I won’t marry a man that my family doesn’t approve of or whose family doesn’t approve of me.

I believe every marriage must have both parents’ approval and blessings, since I didn’t bring myself to this world.

I’m indifferent to it

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’m indifferent about marry ing so m eo ne fro m a di ffe re nt religion. It’s not an issue I would want to worry myself ab out. I really don’t care.

Only if our children are given due consideration — Kehinde Bankole, Actress would prefer to marry someone I share the same religion with. However, if I decide to marry someone with another religion, then it’s important that we sit and talk and have an agreement on the plan for the upbringing and training of the children,because

As long as we both respect each other’s religion — Biola Ige, Actress

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— Lilian Esoro, Actress

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•Adokiye

can marry someone from a different religion, if we both respect each other’s religion. Understanding is the key to everything in life. As long as both parties are in love and can’t live without each other, religion should not be a problem. We all did not choose our religion from heaven, it’s a matter of choice and part of what we inherited from our parents. Who says you can’t choose what you want and rewrite your own rules, inasmuch as you can carry your problems and not disturb anyone with it.

You are responsible for your life.

religion plays a large and pivotal role in the development, training and forming of social patterns and behaviours of the children,who are the future leaders and final stakeholders.

Even though adults may be able to cope well in such marraiges, but children must be taught in one voice. Not with two voices and conflicting ideologies.

•Biola Ige

•Kehinde Bankole

I don’t mind

— Kelly Blind, Co median

have no proble I from a different m with marrying someone religion, what m person. R atters

eligion is the though I’m a ch has nothing to do with it. Even What really matteristian, I can marry a muslim. rs is the love we ha ve for each other.

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20 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

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With Florence Amagiya Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, former minister of states, Educa tion, no doubt, is one of the richest law yers in Nigeria without taking any loan from any bank in the world.

Yet he has made billions of hardearned naira as a business mogul.

He is an hotelier, attorney, criminologist and a politician who is living a dream of a fluence while providing jobs for the youths.

Kenneth Gbagi may not be fully appreciated by those who do not know him, but he has afffected the lives of people in Delta State and beyond. Through his deep-rooted humanitarian gesture, scores of ailing persons ranging from traditional rulers to clergymen, and many others, have been flown abroad for treatment.

Documented evidence shows that the exminister who refused ministerial appointments twice accepted to serve as a chairman of Legal Aid Council where he went physically to wash prisons, vaccinate prisoners and release illegally detained prisoners all over the country by quashing the obnoxious law of “with-holding charge” Through his several business outfits, he has empowered youths who are in need of it.

His yearly charity programmes are presently helping so many children and youths go back to school, graduate, and become useful people in the society. As a Rotarian, he became the first black man in the world ever to have donated more than $250,000 to help eradicate polio as a humanitarian gesture to become an AKS member of Rotary worldwide. Now, he has his eyes on becoming the governor of Delta State come 2015.

In this edition, we present to you an icon who was so scared of poverty that he fought so hard to achieve a dream of living a wonderful life of wealth, luxury, and of philanthropy.

GBAGI:

estate

•Golden Tulip Warri

decided that only the first child of each wife, out of his 21 children, will be sent to school. Being his mother’s third child, he wasn’t sent to school by his father.

Kenneth struggled to pay his way to school by doing the worst of odd jobs

only boys of his age with his drive could do.

He left home at the age of 11 to become a sailor. After completing his primary education, he landed in Argentina, traveled to Montevideo

and some other countries. But his thirst for education prompted his return to Nigeria where he succeeded in enrolling in a secondary school even when his mates were already in class 3.

The ex-minister was already 14 years old when he attended Kosofe Secondary School, Mile 12. Interestingly enough, he sponsored himself to secondary school

Biography of Kenneth Gbagi Kenneth Gbagi was born in Sapele, Delta state in a Catholic hospital by the Cemetery at Ogodo road. He attended Bishop Johnson Memory Primary School also in Sapele. Kenneth was born into a polygamous home where his father C M Y K

His house

•Silverbird Cinema Warri

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014 — 21

Real e mogul

banks and to the high and mighty in the society. He has investments in real estate with over 700 properties to his name. His Robinson Plaza, Warri branch, is a magnificent work of art; ten times bigger than the popular computer village in Lagos state. It has over 500 shops that generate billions of naira yearly. His properties alone is worth billions of naira. He singularly built two churches, his hotels, cinemas and other

hotels in the 3-7 star classes. The Woodridge Hotel, Warri is worth N50N60 billion. There is also WoodRidge hotel, Lagos, The Woodridge Cottage, Abuja. The Golden Tulip, Effurun, Warri is not less than N6 billion in construction alone. The Diamond Tulip, Abuja in aviation village still under construction is expected to cost about N72 billion.

several companies, hotels, and establishments. He runs a scholarship scheme where 2000 students are sponsored to various schools and trades yearly.

Cars Kenneth Gbagi sees himself as a car freak, saying he has driven all sorts of automobiles, including planes. To him the inside of a vehicle may just be the only reason

He gained admission into one of the oldest universities in the world, Sans Thomas University in Philippines, to read political science. He left Sans Thomas University and graduated as a criminologist from the Philippine College of Criminology. He returned to Nigeria for his National Youth Service. He served with the Police Force and taught many important persons in the Police Force.

Career He received his first appointment as a lecturer at the advanced wing of the Police College, Ikeja because the Police Authority was impressed with his performance during his Youth Service •One of his houses in Abuja

, through working as a bus conductor. Upon finishing his secondary education, Kenneth worked with a Foreign Service before travelling abroad to further his education. While in Hong Kong, he shot a movie titled The birth of Hong Kong in 1993. This gave him some money to pay his tuition fee.

He has given jobs to so many youths; as he is one who believes in showing a man how to catch fish instead of giving the man fish to eat

program. They discovered that he was a very sound criminologist with foreign ideas. Along the line, he went back to School and made distinction at the faculty of law, University of Lagos.

Later he went to the Law School and returned. Afterwards, he registered a security outfit and grew it to a highest point in Nigeria. He accepted and worked with the legal aid council in Nigeria.

He became the Minister of Education, while making millions of naira through his security outfits, which helps banks with their security operations nationwide.

Investments

•One of his SUV

Charity

He is the proud owner of a security company called GKO Security Nig. Ltd. He supplies security materials to

,

He has provided jobs to so many youths, being one who believes in showing a man how to catch fish instead of giving the man fish to eat. He has employed these youths at his

for buying a particular car as he loves amazing interiors.

His garage is quite an entertaining spectacle for the eyes as they hold cars like the jaguars, the Lexus SUVs, the Range Rover SUVs, the Mercedes 560 SE SUVs and more.

businesses too numerous to mention. According to him, “my properties are so many to the extent I do not even remember some of them. Just the other day, l asked my manager to bring out a file of my properties, I couldn’t recognize some of them!” Kenneth Gbagi is the owner of WoodRidge hotel in Warri, Delta state; he is also the owner of Geekay Hotel, Warri.

Recently, he became the first man in Warri to invest in a 5star hotel when he became the owner of Golden Tulip hotel franchise in Warri. He also has a franchise that established the Silverbird Cinemas at Warri.

He has lots of business plazas that he rented out and which rake in billions of naira yearly.

Hotels Kenneth Gbagi has invested a lot in tourism. He has so many

•Kenneth Gbagi and Children

22 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014 KEHINDE AJOSE 08024212530

Iyanya and Oritstefemi

tell a Story

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oth Kukere crooner, Iyanya, and Double Wahala master, Oritsefemi, are top guns in their separate necks of the wood, making wave and running parties with their sweet tunes. As if they are not doing enough on their individual levels, the two party bangers have come together to do a collabo titled Story Story.

The new song which is produced by DJ Coublon and brewed under the label of Made Men Music Group, is a slow-paced highlife song which is a total departure from Iyanya’s frenetic Soukous brand and Oritsefemi’s Afrobeat.

*Oritsefemi

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ale Adebayo of Sango fame has been unveiled as compere to host the 8th Nigeria Media Nite Out coming up at the end of the month at the Times Event Centre in Ikeja, Lagos.

The award is set to reward performing media personalities, corporate bodies and outstanding individuals. Over the last 8 years, many individuals have been rewarded and the organisers are still working to ensure the media industry is getting the necessary accolades it deserves.

Brilliant journalists from various media houses would contend for prizes in various categories. The theme for this year ’s award is titled: “The role of journalism in the promotion of democracy, individual rights and civil liberty in Nigeria” with a special keynote address to be delivered by Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu.

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– Lola Savage

elekele Love crooner, Tiwa Savage, and Lola Savage, who is relatively unknown in Nigeria are not exactly blood sisters but share same surname. Relating her how she is related to the top act Lola said Tiwa has influenced her career in many ways. “ It’s more of an extended relation thing, but I still respect and look up to her as my big sister. She paved the way for many aspiring artistes like me and I am grateful,” said the Chicago based Lola who just released video of her hit single Dem Say. On her wave-making song, Lola said the way people gossip over other people’s matters inspired the song, stating that the song is a way of getting back to them; that she doesn’t care.”To be honest, what inspired the song was realizing how my close ones and peers, including myself go through so much with naysayers and gossipers. And I felt the need to vent my displeasure. Luckily for me, my producer created the beat.”

For stunning Lola who believes she has great looks, she feels it’s her sex appeal that gets things going for her instead of fame or fortune. “Fame...not at all.

19-year-old Stephanie Ezeani becomes Miss Charismatic Nigeria 2014

* Iyanya

Wale Adebayo set to host Nigeria Media Nite Out Awards

Sex appeal is what works for me

*Adebayo

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ast Saturday, August 9th, wasn’t just another day in the life of Stephanie Ezeani. It was the day she was crowned Miss Charismatic Nigeria 2014. The beautiful and intelligent Stephanie represented Kastina state during the pageant. The event took place at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. She went home with a grand prize of N500,000, a brand new Kia car, an all expense paid trip to Dubai and other perks including a one year free hairstyling and makeup.

Twenty one years old Jessica Fefe Antak representing Ogun State snatched the 1st runner-up prize while 19 years old Zibiri Omoye representing Bayelsa State was crowned the 2nd runner- up.

Speaking on what led to the creation of Miss Charismatic Pageant, Aderonke Tiamiyu, the organizer of the pageant says: “The Miss

Charismatic Nigeria beauty pageant is a contest borne out of a genuine desire to promote young talents, showcase inherent beauty in the Nigerian woman, and to establish standards that will ensure increased quality of life for tomorrow’s woman. It is targeted at the female child to help her rise to the ever increasing challenges of societal demands, which unconsciously is dominated by the male child. I won the very first Miss Charismatic award in MBGN 2013 and then went ahead to create my own pageant, Miss Charismatic Nigeria.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014 — 23

By AYO ONIKOYI, 08052201215

Yes, sex sells in entertainment -Yvonne Vixen S

he charms her audience easily whenever she gets in front of the cameras .TV personality and red carpet host, Yvonne Vixen Ekwere, has opened up exclusively to Showtime on what she has been up to and what it takes to succeed in the entertainment terrain.

“The Vixen brand is growing stronger by the day. As a creative person, you have to take time out to hibernate from all the noise and activities of the showbiz industry to find yourself so you can come back bigger and that is what Vixen is currently doing,” she said.

Then concerning whether sex sells or not in the entertainment business, the TV star was as explicit as she could get, airing her opinion without any inhibition.

“Of course it does. Sex sells, but not in the literal sense. You have to have sex appeal in the business. If the ladies like you as a guy, if you are handsome and they find you sexually attractive, you will go far. If the guys have imaginations about you as a lady, you are pretty and you have a nice body, it’s going to help you move faster. I think sex appeal with moderation and a sense of class helps you move far in the industry,” she opined.

With ‘Redi’ video, I want to connect with my fans - Sledje H

aving scored a big success with his rap hit, Oga Remix, new boy on the block, Seldje, has just shot the video for his new song, Redi, which is ready for release soon.

According to him, “my fans should expect lots of fun and energy from the video. Redi is a feelgood, party song, so the video is full of energy. I want to be able to connect with my fans in this video. The song and video is the fun loving and energetic side of Sledje and I want my fans to be able to relate with it. It is also an avenue for me to bring out something beautiful and unusual.”

Speaking on the video, an official of Bigsam Media said “Redi video would soon be out and Sledje would be dropping his album very soon.

He is in this industry to make a statement. He has the talent, passion, and creativity to make it in this industry.”

Sledje is an all-round entertainer as he can rap, write, sing and entertain. The graduate of economics from Covenant University, who came into the music industry in 2010 has three singles to his name and would be dropping his debut album in September. He has worked with big names in the industry like Cobhams Asuquo, Masterkraft, and Vector.

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I want my music to be famous, not me –Simi E

ndowed with a voice that can move mountains, singer Simisola ‘Simi’ Ogunleye is fast becoming one of the hottest divas to watch out for in the Nigerian music scene. Simi, whose two singles, Tiff and E No Go Funny are becoming a must-have on radio playlist, is signed on to X3M music and a label mate to R n B crooner Praiz.

In an exclusive chat with Showtime, Simi speaks on her career and her person, revealing her true nature and mission in the music industry. “I remember there was a time I used to say I wished I could sing and nobody will know who is singing but the music will go far,” she offered.

“Seriously, I want my music to outlive me. I want my music to be famous, not necessarily me. Fame is actually lots of hard work and you hardly get to have your own privacy.

Money doesn’t drive me, even though I want to make money. If money were driving me I would have given up because there was a time things were not going as I wanted. I have been frustrated severally but I have never thought of giving up on music. What is driving me is the love for the arts,” she said.

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

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BY IKEDI ISIGUZO

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Nollywood needs a more reactive leadership

e need to have more focused, more responsive, more reactive leadership in Nollywood.” This was stated by the popular actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo (KOK) while speaking at the July edition of the Filmmakers’ Forum of the Nollywood Studies Centre of the School of Media and Communication.

The session which was centred on reviewing the actor’s years in Nollywood, was titled “From Living in Bondage to Apaye: 22 Years of Plying the Thespian’s Trade.” KOK took members of the audience down history lane as he spoke about the development of the industry.

In responding to a question on leadership in the Nigerian film industry, he decried the lack of trust and togetherness in the industry today.

Looking back to the early days of the industry, he agreed that “there was no leadership, but to dupe them. This led to the advent out of government business!” there was love. of the filmmaking marketer because, What the industry requires from People trusted each to avoid being cheated, they went government, he said, is not other then,” he •Kanayo O. Kanayo into filmmaking on their own welfare packages handed out to said. However, account. delegations but access – access to “mistrust crept in, KOK then spoke about some of the locations, equipment, uniforms, lack of confidence… key stages in the growth of etc., to facilitate shoots. With a whole lot of stuff,” Nollywood. Some of the notable reference to the difficulties the such that people tend to be more film, KOK stated, established at that moments he spoke about included filmmaker faces in getting focused on looking for a means of time some of the elements of what a the rise of the guilds (as from 1999) funding from financial gaining things for themselves and good film set up should be.

He went and the recess that was declared in institutions, he stressed that, not for the industry. He went on to on to salute the enterprise of the the industry in 2002. He also spoke “The industry must be built. It is add that collaboration and private citizens who got involved about the problems of creating the very important. We need to partnerships are the only way to financially, without fully structures and localise or indigenise the overcome this, but there needs to be understanding the film business.

The sub-structures that the industry collateral thing for movie a return to the camaraderie that traders that provided the funds that requires for its development. He making.” It is a real challenge, he existed in the early years of the facilitated film production, he said, noted, however, that the resolution said, to ask filmmakers to provide industry. should be commended. They were of such problems lies with the collateral in the form of buildings KOK spoke about those early years quick to provide the money and private sector and not with the because they do not possess such and his entry into what were the showed a lot of trust in the filmmakgovernment. He criticised the properties. beginnings of the industry. “Were we ers.

Unfortunately, some of the excessive dalliance that practitioners The Forum ended with a jobless before 1992?” he asked filmmakers, taking advantage of the of the industry were tending cocktail during which members of rhetorically. Not at all, he added, trust imposed in them by the traders/ towards with the government. “If the audience were able to explaining that he and the other producers and their ignorance of Nollywood must survive, it must get interact on a one-on-one basis early entrants into the then budding filmmaking issues, eventually began with KOK. Nollywood had already spent quite a few years working in television productions such as Ripples and Checkmate. According to KOK, he began working with the television in 1982. His first role came in 1984 when he appeared on New Masquerade.This was followed by many other opportunities that opened to him during his television t was another successful outing for the DelAPTV, Nigeria’s first 24years and which he made the most York Creative Academy as its month-long third hour Pidgin Language of. film making training programme ended yesterTV Channel, attained another milestone The subsequent move to video film day in Lagos. on 7th of August, 2014, by becoming the First The graduation ceremony, held at the MUSON came as a natural transition. The privately-owned Nigerian cable TV channel to Centre, Onikan, witnessed the presentation of move “was not seen as anything big. awards to the students who were outstanding have over 100,000 Likes on Facebook.

It was just in the normal line of during the programme. Also, some of the best This also makes wapTV the fifth Nigerian TV things.” However, Living in Bondage films produced during the programme were channel-across Terrestrial and Cable Platformsopened the vistas of opportunities. premiered at the event. to cross the 100,000-Like Mark via its Before then, there was nothing to be The programme themed, “Film Made in Facebook Page www.facebook.com/ talked about.” He narrated that the Nigeria” commenced on the 21st of July, at the waptvs selling point, which captured the Digital Bridge Institute, Oshodi.

According to Wale Adenuga, audience’s attention, was to put on While it lasted, the participants numbering Managing Director of wapTV, “We are over 75 were taught production techniques in screen the kind of story people had excited at this milestone as it is a clear film making through well-structured courses always heard Wale Adenuga such as Producing, Directing, Acting, Digital testament that our viewers enjoy the about but never seen. People had Film Making, Broadcast Journalism, Setchannel’s Content which we work very always heard of human ritual designs, Screen Writing, Costume design and hard on. wapTV is less than two years sacrifices and secret societies, but Make-up, 3D animation, Cinematography, old but it has already received so much commendation Living in Bondage was the first time Editing, Graphics and special effects. This year, from TV Viewers and Practitioners all over the world.

We are grateful for that it was being put on screen in entertainment and culture journalists joined the this level of Acceptance and we assure all our viewers that there a lot that way. The fact that the language industry professionals at the first class workshop. more to come.” The multi-award-winning wapTV was established in 2012, They were drawn from various groups including of the film was also in “good Igbo

by Wale Adenuga Productions Ltd. dialect” was an added clincher. That Continues on page 25 “

WAPTV sets Facebook record in Nigeria

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Empowering filmmakers at Del-York creative workshop

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SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014 — 25

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Eddie Ugbomah writes to Uduaghan, Fashola ...blasts their aides V

eteran film maker, and chairman, Board of Trustees of Association of Movie Producers (AMP) Chief Eddie Ugbomah has written an open-protestletter to the governors of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and his Lagos State counterpart, Babatunde Raji Fashola, expressing his disappointment over the attitude of their aides who are bent on frustrating his moves to meet with them in connection with the celebration of his 50 years as an entertainer.

He writes: It is a National shame and mistreat that the Aides to Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State will deny a living legend like me (Chief Eddie Ugbomah) the celebration of his 50 years in the entertainment industry.

After coming and waiting to meet with the two Governors, as they had personally asked me to, their aides have technically failed to book a date for me to see their bosses. I was told by these men in the Governor ’s Office, the head in the Lagos Office, SA, PA in the Governors offices said that they are very busy and have

refused to confirm any date for me to see any of the Governors.

The usual proverb or saying that if one door closes, another one will open. The Nollywood delegates led by Zik Zulu Okafor joined by several stars have started plans to celebrate their Icon, legend and Father of Entertainment. This is a man that pioneered World class musical promotion in the sixties and joined to pioneer Movie making in Nigeria after his sojourn in US and Britain. These aides, says Chief Ugbomah, in a matter of months, will join him in the streets of Lagos and Asaba. Life is a joke, now the situation is being saved by the Old school Musicians, Comedians and selected young stars that will organize the ‘Rumble in Lagos’ Concert. This is a big example of not relying on our officials for any programme.

We thank God as usual that the Presidency has agreed to join in the special celebration. We expect the governors to find out the atrocities their aides commit in their names. Or are these Governors Monsters as the aides are trying to make us to believe? There is going to be a three-day celebration. Day one - Opening and induction of Music Makers Hall of Fame, the Grand Patron, three Patrons, twenty Posthumonous Musicians and fourty-five living music icons like Ebenzer Obey, Baba Sala, Sunny Ade, Shina

Empowering filmmakers at Del-York creative workshop

Participants at the workshop Continued from page 24 the Directors Guild of Nigeria, The Nigerian Society of Editors, Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria, Screenwriters Guild of Nigeria, Nigerian Society of Cinematography, Actors Guild of Nigeria and the Association of Movie Producers.

The film making class had 25 students, the production design class, 14 Students, while two students registered for screen writing.

Cinematography class attracted six students, while the editing class had 18 Students. “With a penchant for quality training, the Academy engaged trainers from Los Angeles and New York who have since arrived Lagos and are excited and overly ready to impact the students and expose them to high-tech equipment and methods that will make them equal contenders with their international counterparts,” remarked Dr. Linus Idahosa, CEO of Del-York International.

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•Eddie ugbomah

Peters, Bongos Igwe, Tee Mac, Danny Wilson, Blackky, Oris Wiliky, Daddy Showkey, Ras Kimono, Onyeka Owenu, and other living Icons. There are going to be 15 comedians led by their Father, Ali Baba, and 10 young musicians would be invited. So I am using this open letter to appeal directly to my Governor Dr. Emmaunel Uduaghan and my personal

friend, Governor Raji Fashola (SAN) to stand up and join this celebration of living Legend and save their names from being dented by their aides.

Whatever they give will go to the setting up of an Entertainment Centre for posterity and we must learn to celebrate and appreciate ourselves in this country for Christ’s sake.

Lasbrey, Melody Axed From Project Fame

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fter David’s exit, the competition took a new turn as the remaining contestants strived to be at their best. The show this time had Melody and Lasbrey sadly saying goodbye. It was quite an emotionally tensed one as the pain of saying farewell came to bare. However, the contestants were quick to conform to reality and stood up to the new challenge that is about to come their way.

Meanwhile, the judges in the course of the week evaluated the numerous Wildcard competition entries uploaded on Youtube by individuals who have been vying for a spot in the Academy. These hopefuls who were pruned to five came on the show to battle it out for the vacant Wild Card entry into the Academy. After their performances, they were left in the hands of the audience to determine who makes it into the Academy by their votes. This was immediately followed by an amazing group performance by all contestants not on probation who did a medley, paying special tribute to some legends of Motown.

Then, came the dreaded moment when the contestants on probation had to know

their fate. The studio was in a state of ‘pindrop’ silence and the heartbeats of these five could be heard from afar. Flourish emerged the first lucky one among the five as she came through viewers votes. The Faculty decided to save Ugo; so Melody, Lasbery and Debbie could only count on the contestants’ votes as a life saver. Alas! Debbie beat the other two to it with 5 votes, while Lasbrey and Melody got two votes apiece. This sadly, brought Melody and Lasbrey’s sojourn on Project Fame West Africa 7.0 to an abrupt end.

26—Vanguard, SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

Tony Payne takes on ladies

T

ONI Payne, estranged wife of Nigerian hip-hop star, 9ice, seems to have the explanation concerning why most women are confused sometimes on choosing the right man.

According to her, “Sometimes, women find it difficult choosing the right man to spend the rest of their lives with. This is because they don’t know how to detect the sincere man. This happens because these ladies find out there are many guys around them, while others don’t just know what they want. I think when you have a good number of men chasing you all at the same time, it makes it complicated to know who is sincere. Make your choice and know what you want.”

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He said, his desire is to bring change to the union, a change that will hopefully attract younger musicians to the union, after which he would retire to his business. “I have my family to take care of, and my business too. I do not have the intention to contest for PMAN prseident come next year,” he declared.

On the proposed peace campaign for the nation, Lucciano said, Nigerian musicians are determined to use their talents to preach for peace and Some of the artistes lighting up the unity in the country. “ I unity flame at the event. have called all of you here today to join the PMAN family in lighting a candle of prayer for our country and raising the flame of unity that will burn from city to city, house to house, state to state, churches to mosques and schools to shelters.

We are joining President Goodluck Jonathan who has called for prayers for our beloved country,” he stated. According to PMAN interim the troubled union come next year boss, the flame will make its return when they will be conducting their to Abuja National Stadium on the 1st general elections. of October, where a concert Lucciano made this declaration, while speaking at the flagging off, of featuring about 30 Nigerian artistes, motivational speakers and religious “Light up the Unity flame for leaders will light up an enduring Nigeria” campaign, being flame through their prayers. championed by the Nigerian artistes under the aegis of PMAN.

PMAN set to unite Nigeria with music

...as Kevin Lucciano plans to step aside

Q

uestionmark Entertainment boss, Kevin Lucciano Gabriel, who recently emerged the new interim president of the Performing Musician Association of Nigerian (PMAN) shocked the industry watchers during the week when he openly declared that he has no intention to run for the president of

My career has received a boost — Rodney R

odney Brown Edemhanria a.k.a ‘Rodney the Monster’ could be described as a rapper with a difference.

Until he emerged the winner of this year ’s edition of the Street Music Talents hunt, Naija Street Champ, which held recently in Lagos, nobody could believe, the singer who represented Ikeja zone in the competition has something to offer.

Rodney who was excited winning the show thanked Unmissable Incentive, organizers of the event for giving him such an opportunity. “ I am very excited to win the show. To the organizers, I am very grateful because I believe this competition will help to discover raw talents in the streets of Lagos. I am also sure this platform will give my musical career a great boost. I want to congratulate other contestants for their wonderful performances, courage and showmanship. I am promising my fans the best version of myself, “Rodney said. He went home with N1million and a three year recording deal.

Annie Idibia’s fear of Ebola!

N

ollywood actress and wife of music icon, 2face, Annie Idibia, is scared. The deadly Ebola virus which is currently threatening the entire West African sub-region has forced many celebrities to develop cold feet, and Annie Idibia is no exception.

The mother of two confessed that she is scared following the spread of the virus in West Africa subregion. The sexy actress took to her Instagram page to express her fear. “About last night… was out for only an hour and ran back home for the fear of #Ebola #lord please deliver the world from this virus# please Lord # save our children # It feels like a very horrifying movie.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014—27

BY IYABO AINA 08184172548

Lady gaga hospitalised over altitude sickness

A

merican singer and songwriter, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known by her stage name Lady Gaga fell ill in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday night when she was hit with a bout of altitude sickness.

The Born This Way hit-maker brought her art-rave The Artpop Ball world tour to the city’s Pepsi Centre but the city’s high altitude took its toll on the singer. After the show Gaga posted a picture of herself breathing through an oxygen mask on photo-sharing site Instagram.com, writing in the caption, “Altitude sickness is no joke!’

Denver is located on the edge of Colorado’s high plains and is nicknamed the Mile-High City because it is exactly a mile above sea-level.

ls more e c n a c n io Celine D throat problem show over cords.

C

anadian singer C é l i n e Marie Claudette Dion popularly known as Celine Dion has axed more shows in Las Vegas after she failed to recover from a throat condition.

The My Heart Will Go On hitmaker called off a series of Sin City concerts earlier this month, putting her residency at Caesar ’s Palace’s The Colosseum venue on hold as she battled inflamed vocal

A statement posted on the singer ’s website reads, “Celine has been receiving treatment for acute inflammation and swelling in the muscles adjacent to her vocal cords. After being examined by her physician, it was determined that she will require further rest in order to achieve a 100 per cent recovery,” She wrote.

ye n and Kant ia h s a d r a s Kim K ve net in May, s nehowtielo d in f the kno om, Kris t d s e W n's m s, w

wed ashia in he newly living with Kard orth was born N n r ee te b h g ve u a h da ir e th am since their dre E! Jenner, . building 3 om June 201 , the pair were orts gathered fr that p ll h Althoug t according to re ing to finally se in a n u home, b couple are plan ing a fresh start ith a k e w News th in favour of ma ode that comes b property n Los Angeles a nd o li e il acr s, a s $20 m sit on 3.5 spa . vineyard abode is said to two pools, two h The new y equipped wit ll ed to comes fu arbeque centres. rdashian, relay ould a b w K o d n a tw a iv d d usb an e screen and the h hough Also, th gazine that she place "soon," alt wly a 's ne ir e th People m out of her mom s g e. ry far a be movin 't be going ve ar Jenner's hom ian sh n e they wo house is still n ng place," Karda ove, d zi m purchase und a new, ama nths before we o fo "We just ight be a few m m said. "It re."

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Remy Ma finally released from prison after six years G

rammy-nominated American rapper and former member of Big Pun's rap crew, Terror Squad, Reminisce Smith, better known by her

Robin Williams reportedly hanged self to death!

R

eport gathered from Marin County Sheriff ’s Lt Keith Boyd said, famed actor and comedian Robin Williams who took his own life at his California home, after he was treated for depression.

The celebrated entertainer was last seen alive by his wife on Sunday evening, and was found dead at about noon on Monday, Lt Boyd said.

Lt Boyd said Williams's wife saw him before she went to bed the evening before and left the house at 10:30 the next morning, believing he’s still asleep in another room.

Just before noon California time (19:00 GMT), the actor's personal assistant became

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concerned when he did not respond to knocks on the door, he said. The assistant entered the room and found Williams dead and cold to the touch.

After a p o s t mortem examination on Tuesday morning, investigators

determined the preliminary cause of death to be asphyxia by hanging, but officials were waiting on the results of toxicology testing before making a final ruling.

Williams was famous for films such as Good Morning Vietnam and won an Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting.

Recall that Williams,63, had talked, and even joked, about his struggles with alcohol and drugs. His representative said on Monday he had also been "battling severe depression."

He had recently returned to a rehabilitation centre to "finetune" his sobriety, the Los Angeles Times reported in July.

stage name Remy Ma, has been released from prison after serving six years of an eight-year sentence for shooting a woman in the abdomen.

The Lean Back hit-maker, real name Reminisce Smith, was jailed in May, 2008, after she was found guilty of assault, weapons possession and attempted coercion during an altercation in 2007.

The 34 years old was scheduled for an early release on Thursday, but she was told she’d have to spend another week at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women in New York following a phone violation on 21 July.

She walked free on Friday afternoon and announced the news by posting the message “I’m back” on

Instagram.com.

Her husband Papoose, real name Shamele Mackie, who married Remy Ma while she was incarcerated, added his own Instagram note, writing, “Congratulations to the #Queen happy to see you walk out that cage. Time to begin a new chapter, it’s your time.”

28 — Vanguard, SARTURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

By DAMILOLA SHOLOLA What have you been up to?

Work work work… Movies and music but I’m still recording How many movies have you done so far?

The one that just came out is Akpabio, the Calabar Boy. Then, there’s Hips Don’t Lie, Festival of Village Girls, Wannabe Girls, Who runs the Village, Twins Blood, and lots of others. I can’t really count.

What is your style of music?

I do Hip-hop, I do slow songs, blues, I do every kind of music Which songs have you released this year?

I’ve done Long Time and Go Gaga Have you featured any artiste in your songs?

In ‘Nyem Something’ I featured Flavour. The video came out two years ago You and Afrocandy were recently seen together, are you guys doing a movie?

Yes, we are. We’ve not done the job yet. She just did an audition and I was invited over to help in the casting. We did an audition at Excellence Hotel so I went there to help her cast and I’m part of the movie too Is it a porn movie?

God forbid. It’s an African movie. Afrocandy does other movies too. The one she’s going to do soon is an epic movie like a village kind of movie. Then the other one is another kind of movie, we call it Glamour.

Glamour is the one you have many rich people but the epic is the village one.

It’s not a porn movie, don’t mind what people are saying. I assure you it is not porn. Anita cannot do porn. You know why I can’t do porn? Because the money will finish but the movie won’t go.

It’s not something I would like to do. Everybody in life has what he or she wants to do. I don’t care what anybody does. Some people say you’re friends with Afrocandy and all that, So What?

Do you believe Nigerians are hypocritical about sex?

Oh yes they are, some of them do worse things behind closed doors. So don’t judge me. I do what I want to do but I can’t do porn. Anita is C M Y K

Why I allowed Nkem Owoh to touch my boobs A

nita Joseph is a talented Nollywood actress known most ly for her controversial nature. The actress has over the years grown a thick skin to criticisms and wants people to know that she’s in the movie industry to be an actress in the true sense of the word.

She has the ability excel in any role she is assigned and she has been a good source of entertainment for many fans.

In this encounter with Showtime celebrity Anita opens up on her music and movie career viv-a-vis other issues:

crazy, Anita is this, Anita is that, but I can’t do porn. There are some kinds of things I can’t do. If I’m doing business with Afrocandy, it’s movie business not porn and it’s my business. Nobody has the right to tell me I shouldn’t do it because she’s this, she’s that. That’s their business.

Can you do sex in a movie?

No, I can’t Not even kissing?

That’s a normal thing.

There’s a way we do kissing in the movie industry, we don’t really do the real kissing but there’s a way we do it. It’s acting.

There was

a movie I saw you,where Nkem Owoh was touching your boobs, what movie was that?

That movie was The Gamblers. In the script, they said he was supposed to touch my breasts; we have to make it real so I gave him my breast to touch and that thing blew people’s minds. That was the whole idea, he touched it for real.

Have you done any other stuff like that?

I do lots of stuffs like that. It doesn’t matter; it’s the kind of job I do, so it depends. It depends on what the script says, sometimes you just have to pretend to be there.

Its pretense, Acting is all about pretense.

Which actor do you have chemistry working with?

I have chemistry working with everybody but there are some people you work better with, lots of them. If I start mentioning the names, you won’t leave here

•ANITA... I love my critics because if they don’t criticise me, I won’t get better

What do you consider the sexiest part of your body?

Everywhere is sexy because everybody has what trips him or her. Some like the boobs, some like the back, some like my legs, I’ve seen somebody that loves my palm. My fingers are very sexy You say you love tattoos, how many tattoos do you have?

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014 — 29

Where is the most hidden place you’ve done a tattoo?

No hidden place, the most hidden one is the one on my waist and on my boobs What do you find attractive in a man?

I love men that are simple. I don’t like men that are too loud, I love it simple When did you get into music?

I started music professionally four years back but I’ve not released an album yet. I’ve not really been serious with my music because the movies took over but I’ve released two videos, Time No Dey and Nyem something Are you currently in a relationship?

I’m single and not searching Have you ever done a movie outside Nigeria?

Yes, I have, in South Africa. I did the movie last year but it’s not out yet How do you handle your male admirers?

They’re not easy to handle but I handle them well enough. In this kind of job, you have to be strong and bold because if you’re not, they’ll just mess you up. So, I handle them perfectly. I try not to be insulting in as much as some of them are very unbearable. Those that are unbearable, you just try and be subtle and manage them with a good smile.

What of your critics?

I love my critics because if they don’t criticise me, I won’t get better Do you take to their advice?

I do listen but some of them don’t make sense.

Some of them are beef, maybe it’s somebody that doesn’t like you, you didn’t do anything to the person but the person doesn’t just like you. They did it to Jesus Christ. He didn’t do anything to them but some people hated him, so it happens. Sometimes when you read some things you know that it’s just beef. You might C M Y K

not know the person but the person is beefing you. I don’t care about what they say. What I care about is I take from the ones that are good, I try to amend what is not right but the ones that I know that I’m doing right, I don’t bother What is the craziest thing a fan has ever done when he saw you?

Hitting my bum. Someone has seen me in Shoprite before, hit my bum and ran away. There was nothing I could do. There was a movie I did Open and Close. I was a

was to tap my ass. I wanted to pursue him but I wore heels so I couldn’t pursue him.

If it were before, I would have chased him all the way.

Another day someone called me and started moaning ‘Anita you’re killing me, Anita whine for me’, I said hello, he said ‘Oh please, it’s me please you don’t understand’.

It was one of my pictures he saw. He uses my pictures to work on himself and he told me. Mostly he uses private numbers to call me so I wouldn’t be able to call back.

That ‘s why I sometimes don’t

,

I used to love tattoos. But I don’t do tattoos anymore and I’m trying to remove them. I’m not a tattoo freak anymore; I’ve grown out of that. In fact the tattoos on my body are mistakes. I advise people not to do tattoos. Tattoos are addictive. If you do one you want to do another, at the end of the day you’ll start regretting them. I don’t love my tattoos anymore. I wish I can clean them out.

A man cannot just come out and tell me to stop what I’m doing because he wants to marry me. I’m not desperate for marriage. Marriage will come when it will come

,

nymphomaniac in that movie, I had sex with everybody around me because it was the story. The guy said that thing you did in Open and Close, can you just do it to me? He started whining in Shoprite, mimicking everything I did in the movie, the way I was doing. I just turned to leave and the next thing he did

pick private numbers.

What is the craziest thing you have done to a fan ?

There was this crazy guy that got my number from somewhere. This guy sends me message everyday of my life, everyday. Telling me how he loves me and how he wants to marry me, till date.

At a point I had to call him and invited him over. I mean this guy has been sending me messages for more than two years straight,

everyday.

My sisters, everybody in my house knows about it. One day I decided to invite him over but when I came out to receive him, he was nowhere to be found. He later called that he could not face me.

What is the worst scandal of your life?

There was a time I was in South Africa, they wrote something about me that an Alhaji and I were getting married in America. It wasn’t true, I was in South Africa and they said I was in America. Then I was working in South Africa. They said that I went to his office and his wife saw me in the office and embarrassed me. They said me and the wife got into a fight, that people had to come to separate us. I had a relationship and I was very heartbroken. I’ve had lots of them like that. Some people actually believed that story but there was a mix up. That story shattered me at the time.

Why did you refuse a marriage proposal from your boyfriend A man cannot just come out and tell me to stop what I’m doing because he wants to marry me. I’m not desperate for marriage. Marriage will come when it will come. My man will come when it’s the right time for him to appear.

When my husband comes, he won’t tell me to stop what I’m doing. My husband would be my fan and love what I’m doing, my husband would encourage me.

Your boyfriend was telling you to leave acting for him?

Yes, and become a complete housewife. I’m an Anambra girl, we don’t do like that.

We’re hardworking women.

That’s the kind of blood I’m born with; I can’t just leave what I’m doing. Marriage is not a do or die affair What about dating Senators, Governors and Politicians, is it true or false?

I have friends all over. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re dating the person but you know how the world is, if they see you with someone or you’re friends with someone, they conclude you’re dating the person.

What more should people expect from you?

Lots of new things, it would be a surprise package.

30—SATURDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

H

ow much sex are you getting? Do you take a roll in the hay every night, once or twice a week, monthly or at no particular time? For the good of your own relationship, how much sex should you be having?

Many couples do find infrequent sex to be an issue. While some are fine with the occasional 5minutes romp under the sheets, others wish they were getting a whole lot more.

There are women who worry that their men demand too much sex and secretly wish they’d slow down. But a lot more men complain that it is their women that are not giving it up as often as they (men) desire.

More than next door On the whole, the average couple is happy if it thinks it’s getting more sex than the couple next door regardless of how much it’s actually getting.

Having more sex than your neighbours can actually make you happy, and research shows that couples who have sex at least two to three times a month are more likely to report a higher level of happiness than those who who’ve had no sex during the previous 12 months.

The more sex people have, the happier they tend to be, even when factors like income, marital status, health and age are taken into account.

What is more surprising is that even people who have reasonable amounts of sex report lower levels of happiness if they think there is a chance they could be having less sex than their peers.

Conversely, people who think they are getting more sex than their peers report higher levels of happiness, even if — in the great scheme of things— they aren’t having that much sex.

Lifeline

How much sex should you be having?

Essentially the amount of sex you have will depend on you and your relationship, and that the ideal frequency is tricky to pin down.People tend to have more sex in the early stages of a relationship and less lately on.But the average does suggest that a natural sexual frequency is something like once or twice a week in a committed, long term relationship. Many couples will be happy with less, and others will be at it every night, but if you’re up with the average at least you can stop stressing about what’s happening next door and start enjoying what’s happening in your own bedroom.

At least once a week Every relationship is different, and the amount of sex you need is the amount that makes both partners happy. While there may be no one right answer to the question of how often couples should have sex, they should to try to do it at least once a week. Pencilling in sex at least once a week means sex becomes a habit, something you fit in however busy or stressed you are.

Once a week means you’ll

s noise – unlike rs

,

How much is normal?

This sounds like a simple question, but there are no right answers. What happens when a couple has what is called mismatched libidos? If she likes to have sex four times a week and he only once or twice, of course they want to find out who is the abnormal one.

•The more you have the better...

Essentially the amount of sex you have will depend on you and your relationship

get all the health and wellbeing benefits, too. So the more you have the better.

Sexless marriages Generally speaking, a sexless marriage is one in which a committed couple has sex less than 10 times per year. About 1 in five couples fall into this category. This may or may not be an issue, depending on the couple. Some couples, especially older pairs who’ve been together a long time, are perfectly fine with once or twice a year or even

,

not at all, thank you very much. Not having sex doesn’t mean these couples aren’t deeply in love, monogamously committed and happy together. It just means that sex isn’t as high a priority for them as it is for some of their friends, neighbours or people they see on TV and in the movies.

Spice up your flagging sex life If you and your partner have gone several weeks or even months without sex and the lack of activity is troubling you, usually a little

bit of effort is enough to revive your flagging sex life, especially if the emotional connection between you and your partner remains strong.

Try one or more of the following tips Schedule it: Sounds horribly unromantic, but really it’s quite the opposite. Plan a relaxing shower and mutual massage as part of foreplay.

After all, who doesn’t look forward to a massage? Couples who search together for the right scent of massage oil are off to a great start.

Mix it up: Perhaps you’ve always had that special secret fantasy, but you’ve never mentioned it or acted on it.

Now is the time to talk about it with your partner. Who knows, maybe he or she is willing to try it. And be sure to

ask about his or her secret fantasy. It might be a turnon for you, too. Just make sure that if you both say yes, you really mean to say yes. No regrets, please.

Go away. If you’ve always done it in the bedroom, try another room, the kitchen, or a hotel, or a cabin in the woods. It’s amazing what a little change of venue can do for a stale sex life.

Be romantic Give your partner a gift “just because.” Write a list of things you love about your partner and give it to him or her. Plan a surprise date that involves an activity you know your partner enjoys (even if it’s not your favorite thing to do).

SATURDAY

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Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014—31

illions of persons suffer from chronic, recurring headaches. Clinically about 150 diagnostic headache categories have been established. What is your own headache and what should you do about it?

Tension headaches Also called chronic daily headaches or chronic nonprogressive headaches, tension headaches are the most common type of headaches among adults and adolescents. These muscle contraction headaches cause mild to moderate pain and come and go over a prolonged period of time.

What is your headache? headaches most commonly result in a visit to the pediatrician’s office and/or the emergency room. If there are no neurological signs or symptoms, the most common cause for acute headaches in children and adolescents is a respiratory or sinus infection.

Migraines The exact causes of migraines are unknown. A popular theory is that various triggers cause abnormal brain activity, which in turn causes changes in the blood vessels in the brain. This is called the neurovascular theory.

Migraine pain is moderate to severe, often described as pounding, throbbing pain.

When a person is having a migraine, he or she often looks pale, feels dizzy, has blurred vision, fever, stomach upset, along with the symptoms listed.

Hormone headaches Headaches in women are often associated with changing hormone levels that occur during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Chemically induced hormone changes, such as with birth control pills, also trigger headaches in some women.

•Headache aches that have a characteristic grouping of attacks.

Cluster headaches occur one to three times per day during a cluster period, which may last two weeks to three months. The headaches may disappear completely (go into “remission”) for months or years, only to recur.

Sinus headaches Sinus headaches are associated with a deep and constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead, or bridge of

the nose. The pain usually intensifies with sudden head movement or straining and usually occurs with other sinus symptoms, such as nasal discharge, feeling of fullness in the ears, fever, and facial swelling.

Acute headaches Seen in children, these are headaches that occur suddenly and for the first time and have symptoms that subside after a relatively short period of time. Acute

Chronic progressive headaches Also called traction or inflammatory headaches, chronic progressive headaches get worse and happen more often over time. These are the least common type of headache, accounting for less than 5 percent of all headaches in adults and less than 2 percent of all headaches in kids. Chronic progressive headaches may be the result of an illness or disorder of the brain or skull.

Rebound headache Rebound Headache results from taking too much caffeine in concert with caffeine-laden painkillers. If you’re already taking a painkiller with caffeine as an ingredient, there’s no need to drink extra coffee or energy drinks containing caffeine,

Dos & Don’ts to Combat Kitchen Germs T

Tips for coping with headaches Identify the type of headache you’re experiencing.

Most headaches are tension or lifestyle induced and aren’t harmful, even though they’re painful and can prevent you from fulfilling your tasks. If you experience frequent headaches, a severe headache, a headache that won’t respond to analgesics, or the headache is accompanied by other symptoms, consult your doctor or health professional for immediate investigation and a proper diagnosis.

Exercises:

Mixed headache syndrome Mixed headache syndrome is a combination of migraine and tension headaches. Both adults and children experience this type of headache.

Cluster headache The least common — although the most severe — type of primary headache, the pain of a cluster headache is intense and may be described as having a burning or piercing quality that is throbbing or constant.

The pain is so severe that most cluster headache sufferers cannot sit still and will often pace during an attack. The pain is located behind one eye or in the eye region, without changing sides. The term “cluster headache” refers to head-

as this may lead to rebound headache.

he kitchen is the heart of the home.

It is where food is often kept and meals prepared. Unfortunately, due the combination of food preparation, warm temperatures, and moisture, the kitchen tends to be a popular germ hangout.

You can keep bacteria at bay with simple, green kitchen dos and don’ts.

before microwaving to avoid a fire haz- after chopping raw meat, poultry, or ard— and discarded after a month of use. seafood — which should be prepared on their own dedicated cutting surSink face. Plastic boards can go in the Don’t forget to take care of your kitchen dishwasher. sink’s faucet handles and drains. These are two areas which accumulate a masPoultry handling sive amount of bacteria.

Don’t wash poultry before cooking.

Do wipe all parts of the kitchen sink While rinsing raw chicken or turkey Sponge or dish cloth well with vinegar and baking soda for under running water removes some Don’t hand wash dishes using a natural sanitisation. If you have a remov- surface bacteria, these organisms can sponge or cloth without finishing up able sink strainer, pull it out and scrub end up all over you, your sink and with a hot water final rinse. Research thoroughly, especially the grimy under- counters, and everything nearby. has found that there are 10 million side.

Instead, put the meat directly into bacteria on every square inch of your your pan or roaster; any bacteria will kitchen sponge, and about a tenth of Cutting board be killed by cooking to an interior that figure on your dish cloth.

Don’t just give your cutting board a temperature of 165 degrees FahrenDo clean your dish cloth or sponge quick rinse after use. Whether it is made heit. frequently; keep a few on hand to of wood or plastic (the jury is out as to Do buy from a reliable source. Store switch off. Germy cloths are easy to which is more hygienic), the board fresh poultry in the refrigerator and throw into the washing machine every should be cleaned and disinfected after cook promptly (within two days). time you do a hot water load. Sponges each cutting session.

Defrost frozen chicken below 40 F, not should be sanitized in the dish washer Do sanitise cutting boards with white at room temperature. or microwave — make sure they are wet vinegar. Swab with hydrogen peroxide

Stretch If you have a tension headache, stretching your neck and back muscles might improve your headache, especially if you have physical tension such as aching shoulders.

Do yoga Yoga aimed at reducing tension can remove or minimize headaches. Simple neck rolling or relaxation yoga exercises are best.

Brisk walk This can be especially effective if you’ve been sitting hunched up for a while and you have a lot of challenging thoughts circulating in your head. The exercise will get the blood moving, the new scenery will refresh your outlook, and the fresh air will awaken you.

Take regular breaks Get away from all desk work and computer use.

Exercise your eyes by looking at different distances for a few minutes every hour and do some basic body stretches.

Change your diet Although this won’t alleviate your headache straight away, making dietary changes in the longer term can potentially remove a source of headaches for you in the future. If you don’t know where to begin, see your doctor, a dietician/nutritionist, or a naturopath.

Reduce intake of caffeine.

Caffeine can induce headaches. Ironically, withdrawal from caffeine will probably cause a temporary headache but once you’re through the withdrawal period, you’ll notice a positive difference. specialist such as a physiotherapist, chiropractor, or osteopath to assess and treat your condition.

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

Eku Edewor

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Boarder or day student? fore you send him/her to the dormitory. I will not encourage parents who have children with health challenges to send them to the dormitory, except the school has a high standard of care and excellent health facilities.

Also if the child is bed-wetting, can he/she survive the taunts that will inevitably come from other students? If he/she has a rhino-thick skin, then he/she can go to the dormitory, but if he/she is very sensitive, maybe he/she needs to be a day student until he/she stops bed-wetting.

In addition, if your son is very attractive or femininelooking, you really need to tutor him on how to resist predators that abound in some secondary schools.

They usually target goodlooking and vulnerable young students. You might want to investigate whether such acts take place in the would-be school, but experience has shown that when you bunch people of the same sex in an enclosed environment over time (be it school or prison) homosexual tendency begins to emerge. It might not be obvious, but it

is there. Thankfully, many of these youngsters outgrow it when they get older and start interacting with the opposite sex. That is why I am against labeling such young, impressionable minds as homosexuals, the early tendency notwithstanding. But parents need to be sure that their children are strong-willed enough to fend off predators before sending them to the dormitory. Prevention, they say, is better than cure. Did somebody say mixed schools to the rescue? Well, maybe, but they come with

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oon, schools will resume for the new session and parents will be coughing out thousands, hundreds of thousands and millions of naira in school fees, depending on where they hung their hats. In addition, parents of new entrants are going to make the critical decision whether their children should be boarders or day students.

What factors guide parents in making that decision? The convenience and economic circumstances of some parents determine where the pendulum swings. In truth, schoolruns can be very disruptive and inconveniencing for parents whose children are day students. But ideally the needs, strength and overall personality of the child in question should guide parents in taking a worthwhile decision.

Many children start secondary school between ages 10 and 12. Where the child is outgoing, sociable and secure, sending him/her to the dormitory is a less difficult decision.

Schools with good boarding arrangements teach children at an early age to be independent, disciplined, organized and to relate well with people of different backgrounds and orientations. They also help to build long-lasting bonds that can come handy in the future.

But if the child is introverted, insecure and vulnerable, you need to take your time and find out if the child is ready for the outside world without parental cover.

You also need to consider the health status of your child be-

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014—33 suicide as a result of bullying. before sending them to the Even when some children sur- boarding house; sometimes it vive the bullying, they imbibe is to give the children more it and bully their younger ones time to master their indigwhen they come home on holi- enous language. Some childays. Incidentally, some of dren are easily influenced and these the schools are very the parents decide they go to good in academics and other school from home to reduce areas, so parents are forced to bad external influences pendstick with them and manage ing when they become selftheir children’s bullying atti- assured.

I left home for secondary tude.

Some parents shirk their pa- school when I was 11 years rental responsibilities at the old. That was the first time of early stages of their children’s staying and sleeping outside development and push their my home. I was vulnerable, ill-mannered children to the but my parents had no choice; dormitory for reformation. This there were very few secondis very common in mission ary schools then and admisschools. I do not know how sion was hard to come by. Life these parents want a few clergy in the hostel was tough. A men and religious women, week later, when my father who oversee thousands of stu- visited, I felt like going home dents, to accomplish what they, with him but did not have the who oversee only three or four courage to tell him. Worsenchildren, could not accom- ing my dormitory experience plish. Sometimes children from was a senior student who such homes become pollutants hated me at first sight. He in the school environment. practically turned my life upEnsure that your child has that side down. He never flogged me, but that would have been preferable to the mental torture he put me through. It was a horrendous introduction to the outside world. He eventually graduated and I also became a senior student and strength of character to lived happily thereafter.

Whatever the challenges, no counter their negative influences before you put him/her normal child remains under in the dormitory. It is not as if the protection of the parents he/she is totally immune to for ever. At some point, the bad external influences as a eaglet must leave the eagles’ day student, but it is more nest. A stint in the dormitory when he/she is in the dormi- is good for a child’s all-round development. When? That is tory.

Sometimes parents keep the issue. Keeping the best their children at home for a interest of your child in mind while to enable the parents enhances your decision makdeepen certain values in them ing.

Whatever the challenges, no normal child remains under the protection of the parents for ever

their own baggage and challenges, teenage pregnancies being an example. Moreover, are homosexual tendencies absent in all mixed schools?

Some schools are also filled with bullies; can your child survive the onslaught? Constant bullying can easily cause personality disorder. Some school children, not necessarily in the dormitory, in the US are known to have committed

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(Text Only)

Rejuvenate back, shoulder, abdominal muscles

The Bow

thighs and chest off the floor.

Technique: Lie face down. Bend the knees and hold the ankles with corresponding hands. Now breathing in deeply, lift the

Benefits: The bow stretches the back and shoulder muscles easing the tension in those areas. The effect of this exercise on the spine releases energy.

A good posture to be practiced at lunch break to

}

•The Bow

get rid of sluggishness.

afternoon

Leg and Trunk Raise

Technique: Lying on your back, interlace the fingers of both hands and place them behind the back. Breathing in, lift both legs and trunk off the floor.

Now breathe normally. Stay in the position for 5 seconds or more.

Benefits: This posture firms up the muscles of the abdomen and upper back.

Technique: Standing with the feet quite wide apart, lower the upper body till the hands are on the floor. Now, with the body in an inverted V, push back the trunk without bending the knees or hands.

Maintain the pose for about 10 seconds and

returning to the upright position, rest a bit and repeat.

Benefits: The Back Stretch eases the stifness in the spinal column. It stretches the hamstrings, back and shoulder muscles.

•The Back Stretch

The Back Stretch

}

Leg and Trunk Raise

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

34—SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 16, 2014

My marriage is suffering Dear Julie, have been having a lot of trouble with my husband.

It’s not necessarily trouble, but I’ve been unhappy for a long time. Lately, nothing seems good between us anymore. He doesn’t want to do anything.

Our anniversary came and went without a card. So did Mother’s Day and my birthday. We haven’t exchanged a hug or a kiss in I don’t know how long, and sex between us doesn’t even exist. What am I going to do? Please help.

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Funmilayo, Lagos.

Dear Funmilayo, Being unhappy is trouble. Ups and downs are a natural aspect of all relationships, especially long-term relationships where some of the flash and dazzle subdues into the more

sustained benefits like steadiness, trust, and reliability.

But that certainly doesn’t mean you should live without happiness or the physical intimacies and affectionate gestures that can make love such a pleasure.

Rather than speculating about what may be going on with your husband, talking openly about your concerns could help clear the air. Have you told your husband how you’re feeling?

Have you asked him why he isn’t interested in doing things together, acknowledging important dates, and why his lust seems to have faded? He may be under unusual pressure at work, having a physical problem that he’s not discussing, or experiencing a host of other challenging, embarrassing, or painful issues.

Asking him what he’s feeling,

Why did she break up with me Dear Aunty Julie, don’t know what I did wrong. My girlfriend of one and a half years broke up with me out of the blues. We never fought or argued. I asked her why, she said “I don’t know.” I asked her what did I do wrong and she said “nothing.” She was my first ever girlfriend and I was planning to ask her to marry me. I don’t understand what I did wrong. There has to be a reason. Why won’t she tell me?

Ibrahim, Auchi.

I

Dear Ibrahim, Breaking up is hard to do, especially when you are the one left wondering what went wrong. This must be a tough time for you, especially considering that you were planning on proposing. It can appear challenging to start over when you thought you had your life all squared away. But start over you must! Have faith

and believe in yourself — it will become easier with time.

What really matters is that you realize you did nothing wrong and that you couldn’t have prevented the break up. In order to heal, it may help to have a sense of closure. Why it ended needs to be clear to you; otherwise, you may have doubts about the relationship and yourself for a long time. Do you feel comfortable letting your exgirlfriend know that an explanation, or one reason, for breaking up with you will help you to go on with your life? Even if it has nothing to do with you, you deserve to know at least part of the reason why. It is possible that she may not even know why she broke up with you.

Have you considered the possibility that your ex-girlfriend may not be willing to speak to you? Perhaps she needs some personal space and time to reflect on her needs and desires.

What an insult “HARRY,” whined Mary, to her husband of 20 years. “What should I do?! I’m not ready for old age! I’m only 40 years old but I look and feel like I’m over 55! My face is all wrinkly, my back is bent over, and my hair is all thinned out.” “Well,” said Harry after looking her up and down, “There is one thing about you that still works as good as new.” “Oh Harry!” said Mary sitting down next to her husband, “ you always know just what to say! What are you referring to?” “Never mind” said Harry looking down. “C’mon Harry, please tell me what you were referring to.”

“Mary, please don’t make me.” “Harry I insist.” “Well I was going to remark about how your eyesight seems to be working just fine!”

While unpleasant to think about, it is always good to have a back-up plan in case she won’t give you an answer.

Your family and friends may help you to reaffirm your selfconfidence and move forward in life and new fulfilling relationships.

Although you need to grieve for this loss, make sure that it doesn’t consume you. You may want to participate in activities that you enjoy to keep your mind off of your lost love or perhaps introduce you to new and exciting people. Perhaps you can talk with friends and family about how you feel. For many knowing that people in your life love, support, and care about you can be comforting.

Know that you will be okay on your own, and that someday, you may meet that special someone who will feel the same way as you do about sharing your lives together.

I want space Aunty Julie, y boyfriend and I have been together for four years. We have been a very happy couple.

We love the companionship and we get along really well. Everything was perfect until we both found jobs in the same area and decided to move in together. Our relationship was still strong, but I have been feeling like I need space.

Space to be alone. I told him how I felt. Without a doubt, he was hurt, but he packed his stuff and left.

Now I feel like I made a mistake and I’m missing him so much.

I just turned 26 and have been with this guy for a pretty long time now. He is my first love. I see myself marrying him in the future. Yet, I am still so young and need to explore to experience other things.

He is 100% sure that he wants to be with me, wants to marry me, and loves me so much. He has dated girls and has been in a serious relationship before. He got to see what is out there. So basically, we both see a future together, but I feel that we need some time to be alone for once. We are the type

M

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juliecoker100@yahoo.com

how he’s experiencing the relationship, and then sharing your side of things might help you two come to a new understanding of the state of your marriage, and decide on a course of action to make things better.

Remember to try not to attack or accuse him, but to discuss diplomatically how you’ve been acting towards each other.

Find a time when you can sit down quietly and calmly to talk about some of these things. You might want to start off by preparing your husband for a serious conversation. Some examples of relatively easy ways to start a conversation like this might be, “I love you and our marriage is really important to me, so I want to talk to you about some things I’ve noticed.” Or, “Would you be willing to talk with me about some things that have been hard for me recently?”

Often, acknowledging that a problem exists is a first major step towards solving it. You sound like you’re aware of aspects of your relationship you’d like to change, and that is a great place to begin.

Sharing your feelings with your husband, and trying to come up with ways to create those changes can lead to a revitalized marriage with renewed sexiness, thoughtfulness, and affection.

He has dated girls and has been in a serious relationship before

of couple to see each other everyday, but we both work full-time and have our own hobbies. Why did I feel so trapped?

Liberty, Benin City.

Dear Liberty, Moving in with a significant other can be a big step, even for couples who’ve been together for a while. In your case, the transition seemed to be a shock to your system! The decision to marry or spend the rest of your lives together can feel overwhelming, and moving in together may have felt like a big step toward committing yourself

C O C K - T A L E S Legends of the game “SO Grandpa” asked Dave at his engagement party “ your marriage to Grandma is legendary everyone talks about how you two get along so well and never fight, what’s the secret to your marital success?” “Well” said Grandpa Joe after taking a deep puff on his cigar “it all started on the way home from our wedding, we hadn’t gone but a mile when the horse started giving us trouble I gave the horse a little whip and that’s when I heard your Grandma say in a low voice “that’s strike one.” A bit later the horse stopped again “that’s strike two” she said. The third time it stopped she grabbed my shotgun out of my holster and shot it in the head. I was in shock!

“What in the world was that all about?” I had protested at the time. “That’s strike one!” she said back to me. “And that is what I owe our marital success to.”

to that path. Maybe it’s time to have a heart-to-heart about how your desires for space and exploration affect the future of your relationship.

You seem to have some conflicting feelings about the relationship: it’s happy, and you both think it has potential, but you have a desire to experience being with other people. What do you want to experience before setting down? If you have doubts about what you want, you could take time apart to explore some options. Some people feel that they learn valuable things from being with different people.

Every relationship is different and may help you realize things about yourself, characteristics that you value in a partner, or dynamics between two people that you want in a relationship.

There’s also a possibility that one of you might meet someone else and decide you don’t want to be together. Or, you might discover that you really do want to be together, and you can get rid of your doubts.

Maybe you want to be together but still live apart.

Separate places nearby could let you slowly transition to living together. This way, you both can spend time at each others’ houses and still have a refuge when you need alone time. If you do go back to living

together, you could purposefully schedule some alone time.

Having time to yourself at home and time apart from your partner to pursue your own interests and friendships may help both of you maintain a healthy relationship.

It sounds like a strength of your relationship is that you’re able to express your needs and your boyfriend listens and respects them. A good partner will also value the fact that you take the time and space you need to make sure that you make the best decisions for yourself. Giving yourself time and space to think about your priorities and what you want from the future can help you build a solid relationship with anyone you choose.

Beggars and players JOHN Sam and Abe, 3 retired friends,would get together every night, rain or shine, to play poker. It was a nice way to pass the time and the men enjoyed it immensely. John’s wife wasn’t so fond of her husband’s poker playing. She thought it was a dirty and low way to fill his time, but she had long ago resigned herself to her sorry fate, although inside of her, there was always a low flame on the back burner waiting to erupt. One Wednesday night, after a few nights of boring games, something exciting happened.

Sam watched in amusement as John and Abe, each convinced that they had the better hand, slowly put their life savings into the pot. Things started to get really intense when John, running out of available cash, added his car and house into the pot. When there was no money left to bet on they each showed their cards. As soon as John saw Abe’s cards and realized he had lost, he had a heart attack and died. “Sam,” asked Abe “how are we going to tell his wife?” “Don’t worry I’ll take care of it” Abe replied. Abe knocked on John’s door. “John just lost all of your life savings in a poker game,” said Sam when the door was opened. “He’s afraid to come home.” John’s wife was fuming “HE DID WHAT?!” She screamed. “TELL HIM I DON’T WANT TO EVER SEE HIS FACE AGAIN! TELL HIM TO JUST DROP DEAD!” “Ok,” said Sam

nodding his head, “I’ll tell him just that!”

C M Y K

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SATURDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014—35

The betrayal of a husband-snatching friend

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HE more friends show the depth of their betrayal, the more shocked you are. Instead of their escapades diminishing, it grows in leaps and bounds, leaving you wondering if the word, ‘Friendship’ shouldn’t be re-defined.

When Raymond lost his well paid job after the IT company he headed folded up, it was left to Saudat, his wife to financially tide over the family until Raymond found another job.

“Only it took a while for him to”, Saudat said, “and his resentment at having to keep his wife caused a friction in the marriage. I was tired because of the stress of trying to cope, which did nothing for our love life. The grumpier my husband got, the angrier I became. I wasn’t responsible for his plight, so why should I suffer?

“Shortly after, I met Andy who was visiting Dupe, a very good friend of mine. I jokingly told her I found Andy attractive and she encouraged me to go on a date with him. She was quite aware of my problem with Raymond but I was skeptical about Andy’s tempting offer. In the end I decided to have some fun when next Andy asked me out. It was an intense fling. We made love on several occasions always snapping at me and the her conscience for sleeping until Andy relocated to another children. with my husband? Mad town.

“It was shortly after this that with rage, I phoned Dupe. he got another job better than She denied everything but t was a shock when the one he lost. As soon as he when I told her who told Raymond told me a week started work, he came home at me, she confessed, begging after Andy left that he knew funny hours and I had this me to forgive her. Like about my affair, but refused to strong suspicion that he must shameless backstabbers say who told him. He had too be having a serious affair. I before her, she blamed it on much fact for me to deny confided in another friend who the ‘Devil’s work.’ It takes anything, so I begged for mopped the bombshell that two to tango, she said, and forgiveness. He looked really Raymond and Dupe had Raymond was as much to beaten that I felt sorry for him. started an affair months ago— blame as she was for the It was no excuse that during the about the time she encouraged affair they had. months he had no job, we my fling with Andy. Did she “I was really gutted and I scarcely made love and he was encourage this fling to salve felt betrayed. Raymond

You have a moment of madness by having a fling, and the rest of your life is restructured for ever

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showed no remorse whatsoever and it was him who told me Dupe was expecting his child. I was really bitter. So, I had an affair I was sorry for, but it was obvious Dupe set me up so she could steal my husband. A single mother, the father of her son had abandoned her when he travelled abroad. ‘’In spite of my protest, Raymond spent most of his time with Dupe who finally had a daughter. I refused to have anything to do with her and her child. Thank goodness all I had were two children. I couldn’t care a hoot what Raymond did. I refused to prepare any special meals for him,

Drinks that are good for your health ertain foods are par ticularly healthy but, what’s less well known is that the same is true for some drinks. Here’s what experts advise you should be drinking to stay in top form.

Red Wine: It enables you not only to relax and join in the fun of the party, but it’s a powerful antioxidant that can reduce your risk of heart disease. To get the benefit, though, you need to drink in moderation — certainly not more than 21 units a week, if here a unit is a small glass. Play safe and aim for not more than one to two glasses a day, and have a couple of alcohol-free days a week. Drink any more and you’ll damage your health — and put on weight!

Water: Each day, we need to replace lost body fluids, and water is the best way to put up fluid levels in the body. It

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C

It’s been blamed for causing all sorts of health problems and some people can’t stomach it because they’re lactose-

You need eight glasses of fluid a day —more, if you’re exercising — so, have at least a third of this as water

doesn’t contain sugar or calories, ensures the body works properly, stops you getting dehydrated and prevents constipation. You need eight glasses of fluid a day —more, if you’re exercising — so, have at least a third of this as water. It doesn’t matter whether it is bottled or tap, just go for what you like.

Cow Milk:

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intolerant (can’t digest milk properly), but this drink is in fact, one of the nutritionally complete foods. It contains protein; A, D and B vitamins, and calcium and two 250ml glasses daily gives you most of the 700mg calcium recommended for women. Since whole milk contains a lot of fat, opt for semi-skimmed milk

which has half the amount.

Soya Milk: It’s a good source of plant oestrogen known as isoflavones which relieves menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and can also help reduce cholesterol levels.

A glass a day gives you most of the 40mg of isoflavones you need, and about a third of the amount of soya protein recommended for lowering cholesterol levels.

Soya has lots of goodness in it but, it doesn’t naturally contain calcium so; if you’re using it as an alternative to cow milk, make sure it is fortified with calcium.

whatever he found in the house he ate, if he felt like eating anything that is. I was sure he was being taken care of at the second home he now have with Dupe. It has gotten to a stage where I thought of him as nothing but a lodger.

“In the end I told him I’d had it with his treating the house like an hotel, that he was free to leave if he wanted to. The flat belonged to me anyway and he would have to be the one to leave if he were fed up with our marriage. He did within the week and moved in with Dupe. He didn’t bother to even see his children and apart from seeing the two of them once or twice at parties, I had no contact with my husband. Then about two years later, Raymond turned up at the door. He looked really sorry for himself. ‘I’ve come to apologize for the way I treated you’, he said.

He’d apparently confided in the pastor of his church who insisted he had to ask for my forgiveness and participate actively in bringing up his children. Gradually, we rekindled our friendship — and became lovers again.

Raymond claimed his relationship with Dupe was a disaster but I didn’t care, I still hated her. So, lying in my husband’s arms knowing she would be seething at being abandoned settled old score in my mind. And it felt fantastic when Dupe called to see Raymond about their daughter and I shut the door in her face.

“We’re gradually rebuilding what is left of our marriage. No matter how bitter I feel towards Dupe, the fact remains her child will always be a part of my husband. For now, I feel better knowing that this time around, I’m back in control of my husband — Dupe is the one left wondering what he was up to and what the future has in store for her.

“Yet, victory has come with such an emotional price. You have a moment of madness by having a fling, and the rest of your life is restructured for ever. My marriage is not the care-free one we once had in our first years, yet we’re stronger and a bit wiser. Would I have another affair? I don’t think so. The price is too high for a woman for a few moments of passion ...”

36—SATURDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

YETUNDE AREBI

My husband is not good on bed - Wife with Vibrator A couple of weeks back, I featured a story about a young couple whose relationship was steering close to rock bottom. The young man who had approached me complained that ever since he caught his wife with a vibrator alone in bed, things have not been the same for him, more so, that she has continued to lie to him and hold on to the offensive toy. According to him, he does not want to discuss his problem with his pastor or mother and had been reading my column for a long time and therefore believe I could be of help.

Several readers have responded to our call and some of their contributions have even been published. I sought the worried guy’s wife out to get her own side of the story and see how we can help out, with your support of course.

My findings are reproduced below. As it turns out, I think our guy has a lot of bucking up to do if he wants this marriage to work. The good thing is, both of them are very eager and ready to redirect their energies into making up for the lapses. Dear readers, if you still have some words of advice for this lady or couple, please feel free to send in your contribution. The address is yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk and it will be passed on. Thank you, remain blessed and have a wonderful weekend.

I cannot blame anybody or anything for my problem. I am guilty and I have apologised. He said he has forgiven me, but I was surprised to discover that deep down he has not. I noticed that he has not been as warm to me as he used to before the whole problem started and even called his attention to it, but it did not help matters. Since I didn’t know what to do again, I just decided to allow him some peace. I pray to God to touch his heart soon. Also, I have stopped complaining about sex. I just allow him to do whatever he wants to do and accept it like that. I have also not been using the vibrator again since it is obvious that he doesn’t believe that it has nothing to do with our marriage.

Though, I have not thrown it away.

We went for marriage counselling, but it was not to go and discuss what we have been doing before we met.

Even if they ask, there is no way I will tell the women in church such things.

After all, how many of them got married as virgins too? Everybody has his personal problem and nobody has the right to pry into mine if I don’t want them to. We were asked the usual questions to ascertain if we knew what

marriage entailed. The things I love about him and those I would like him to change and what is expected of me as a woman in matrimony. I don’t think I have done anything contrary to what we were told. I have not denied him my body at anytime. He is the one who hasn’t been listening to me. And I don’t know what else to do. I have not reported the matter to anyone and I was surprised when he told me he’s been talking to you. I can’t report to anyone because I know what they will say.

Even my own family will speak against me. So, in a way, I am happy that he has talked to you. I am not trying to vindicate myself, only that I am happy that he is now seeing the matter from a different view point from what he initially thought.

I knew he was a virgin because he told me so, but I did not really believe him at the time. You see, many young Christians like to pretend that they are very holy when in reality they are not.

If you make the mistake of telling them

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Hi!

He knows where to put it to do it and it takes him less than five minutes to finish all the process from foreplay to ejaculation

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your secrets, many of them will use them against you whenever the opportunity arises. So, many of the young sisters don’t always tell the truth. Unless something happens to expose them. A brother and sister who are sleeping with each other are not likely to tell the counsellors that they are, or that they have had other partners besides each other. Besides, once you become born again, are old things not supposed to have passed away? I did not tell him I was a virgin, I told him I had only done it once when I was in Secondary School and that I did not

enjoy it because the boy forced himself on me. After that, we didn’t discuss it again because he didn’t want to upset me..In a way it is true. However I did not tell him about the vibrator. And after I was caught, I told him the whole truth and since then, things have not been the same again. I know that what I did was bad, but just help me beg him to forgive me. In fact, I’ve even told him I will throw the thing away but he said I could keep it since it seems I like it so much. Yet he is still angry.

I know that as a woman, I am not supposed to openly discuss that I like sex. I am aware that I should discuss my sexual preference with my husband. But it is not that easy. My husband knows next to nothing about sex, which I did not discover until after we got married. He only knows that to have children, we must have sex. He knows where to put it to do it and it takes him less than five minutes to finish all the process from foreplay to ejaculation. He just gets into bed, kisses me a little, rubs my back and sucks my nipples and then he gets on me and is done. It seemed like a joke at the beginning and I thought he would change once the initial anxiety wore off, but things did not change. In fact, it was only getting worse because the more I tried to make him do things my way, the more I seemed to annoy him. He would sometimes caution me that we must not behave like sinners and everything we do must exalt the glory of God. Sometimes, even merely seeing people kissing in the open repulses him and he calls them useless people. I have tried to tell him several times before the vibrator issue that he should take his time but I also had to be careful so as not to arouse his suspicion or make him think I am a maniac.

Again, he is always complaining of tiredness. I know he works hard and he is trying to complete his professional exams. All these take a lot of his time.

The last exam he had, he left home for two weeks to stay with a colleague so that they could study together. At a point, he told me they both slept in his car for two nights at the venue of the exams. So, I know he is really trying.

Most nights when he comes back from work, he is so tired that he spends half of the night sleeping on the chair in the sitting room until I drag him to the room. Sometimes when I am annoyed and just leave him to sleep, he will not wake up until 2 am or 3 am before staggering in. Sometimes, he falls

asleep right after eating without washing his hands and I will be the one to help him wash his hands. It is that bad. In fact, he behaves like a baby most of the time. But he is very caring. He buys me things. There is no month that he will not bring home some stuff from the office for me, at least twice. He tells me there are people who bring them to the office for sale and the female colleagues help him to choose what they think will suit me. He takes care of me very well and I doubt if I lack anything.

I can’t report him to his mother because I believe she caused most of the problems we have. He grew up not really knowing how to do anything for himself. His mother and two sisters did virtually everything for him. Before we got married, his mother would wash and iron his clothes. He had never really left home until we got married.

He went to school all his life in Lagos and stepped out for the first time during his NYSC to the South-East. Even at that, his mother went to see him twice and linked him to another family whose sister also attends their church here in Lagos. I think she did not really like me right from the first time we met. The same for his older sister. She and their mother are almost birds of the same feather. He is not domesticated in any way, neither can he take care of himself properly. All he knows is work, school and church, nothing else. Their father died when he was very young and their mother raised them alone. * am happy about the way things have turned out and I thank everyone for their support too. With your prayers, I know we can pull through.

Update: *They are keeping the vibrator until worried guy feels safe enough to handle it. * They have both agreed to hold their peace and learn to trust each other again. * Since worried guy is on the last stage of his professional exams, they have both agreed that he should complete the project. * To keep herself busy, wife has decided to pursue a Masters Degree. * They have both started medical examinations to be sure they have no problem, after which, they will wait on the Lord for a while longer since they are both going to be busy in the next one and half years. * Both have agreed never to discuss this issue or any related matter with their family members.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Mofe Edu takes wife in style

The couple , Mr and Mrs Omarmofe Oyinmisan Edu (M) with both parents; left, Mr Adeyemi Oyebade, rep resenting the late bride’s father , Mrs Alero Edu, groom ‘s mother, Mrs Keji Oyebade, bride’s mother with Mr Jolomi Ogisi, representing the late groom’s father.

L-R: Chief (Mrs) Tessy Ikimi, Mrs Bose Clarke, Mr Paddie Oko and Mr Ali Mallam Idi .

I

t was indeed celebration of love when Funke Oyebade, daughter of late Mr Timothy and Keji Oyebade and Mofe Edu, son of late Mr Johnson and Alero Edu consummated their romantic relationship in a Holy matrimony. The lovebirds, Mofe and Funke took their vows before their families and friends at Anglican Church of the Ascension, Ikeja, Lagos, Saturday, August 2, 2014. Reception of guests followed immediately at the Events Centre, Ikeja G.R.A. Many top personalities witnessed the union. Photos by Sola Oyelese

Vanguard, A UGUST 16, 2014—37 AUGUST

Hon Ojodu’s gif ts gifts

T

he employment programme of Hon. Pastor Olayiwola Ojodu, a member of Ogun State House of Assembly, held at Oba Odeleye park, Ita-Iyalode, Sokori, Abeokuta, Thursday, July 31, 2014. Photos by Wumi Akinola

L-R:Speaker Suraj Adekunbi of Ogun State, Mrs Funso Amosun, Guest of Honour, Hon. Pastor Olayiwola Ojodu, and Chief Ruqeeb Adeniji, State Chairman, APC

L-R: Mr Abdul Umar, Mrs Roseline Umar and Mr Peter Arigbe .

L-R; Oba Dr. Dapo Tejuoso, Osi-Ile Oke Ona, Egba, Deceaness Doyin Ogunbiyi and Chief Doja Adewolu, Baba-Oba

.

L-R: Mrs Rita Osibodu, Mrs Roli Graig and Mrs Biodun Ogisi.

L-R:Chief ( Mrs) Jean Anishere,Mrs Alero Edu, groom's Mother, Chief (Mrs) Sena Anthony and Mrs Promise Afenkhe

L-R:Oba Halidu Laloko, Agura of Gbagura and Olori with Oba Onijaye of Ijaye.

At P acif ic Sc hools’ vvaledict aledict or ty Pacif acific Schools’ aledictor oryy par party

I

t was fanfare all the way recently when Pacific Schools, Shaha held its valedictory party at the school ground. Parents, students and staff of the school came together in an atmosphere of conviviality to enjoy themselves

Graduating set of Pacific School, Shasha, during their valedictory service C M Y K

Cross section of dignitaries with School principal (middle) .

Chairman of Pacific School, Shasha Remigious Omosowon,flanked by Andrew Mekwunye Principal and Olasoji Adetuberu.

38—SA TURD AY 38—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 16 AUGUST 16, 2014

PATHETIC: How a movie star contracted HIV in the church BENJAMIN NJOKU

H

er story runs like a novel, yet it is no fiction. It underscores the saying ‘misfortunes bring out the best in a person.”

For Ghanaian actress cum singer, Joyce Dzidzor Nartey, the unfortunate turn of events in her life marked the ultimate beginning of a new dawn.

The 27 year-old mother of two battled growing up. Her humble background challenged her and she pulled many strings to escape poverty. She was determined to part with poverty. And she felt her skill in dancing could expose her to the entertainment world and possibly to stardom. The fund to pursue university education was not there but she believed in her skills.

Although she became vulnerable, exposed to rape and many vices the irony was that she ran to a church where salvation ought to beckon on her but doom followed. A church member who was expected to preach salvation to her played A Patrick Sawyer to her. Just like the American Liberian who knew he was infected by

,

I contacted the disease in 2007, through a member of my church

,

the Ebora virus but who, full of evil, deliberately arrived Nigeria to spread it, the church member was infected by HIV virus and he decided to spread among members of the church.

And so Ghana’s Dzidzor Nartey contacted HIV in her church but today she is a star in many ways and the virus in her has been contained to the extent that she is living a normal life.

She is HIV/AIDS Awareness Ambassador who has travelled to many parts of the world to create awareness on the virus and preach against stigmatisation. She is married

and a happy mother.

Joyce is also a backup singer and has backed top Ghanaian musicians in her quest to make a profession.

Last year, she delved into movie production to intensify education and to complement the government’s effort to sensitize the public of the dangers of the disease. It is also to strengthen education on pre-marital sex and the dangers involved. The movie titled, ‘My Cross Roads’ featured herself, and top Ghanaian film stars like Ekow Smith Asante, John Dumelo and Vicky Zugah. She also has a new movie in the market titled, “Jewel of the Waters”which she is using to further propagate her campaign against the spread of the HIV virus.

Interestingly, for the past seven years, Joyce has been living with the disease and on anti-retroviral therapy.

She tells her story on DSTV’s AfricaMagic channel.

Living with HIV virus I have lived with HIV/AIDS virus for seven years now. I contacted the disease in 2007. But I’m just a normal person. When people meet me and tend to find out how I’m feeling, I always tell them I’m a normal person. As a matter of fact, I visited a school to educate the students. After talking to them they were keen to test for HIV. I also joined the queue and got tested but it was negative. It means one must stay with one’s medication forever.

Regular medication can make it read that way. It doesn’t mean such a person is no longer a career.

How she contacted the disease I contacted the disease in 2007, through a member of my church. I was to spend a night with him in his house.

When he removed his clothes, I saw some kind of rashes all over his body. I was terrified, as I innocently asked him why he was like that. He covered up, saying it was a minor skin infection and that it was nothing serious. But when he wanted to make love to me, I insisted that he must used condom. He told me that he didn’t like using condom.

However, when I insisted, he agreed but he never used it. He removed it while entering into me. We did it several times that night. After few

Joyce Dzidzor Nartey weeks, I became pregnant for him.

When I told him, I was pregnant, he advised me to abort the baby. But I refused, insisting on keeping the baby. He later warned me that if insisted, I would have myself to blame in future. I never knew what he meant until I was diagnosed HIV positive.

He also infected other ladies in the church before he died.

Growing up Growing up was in a very poor

background. I discovered my love for music and dance. I was very ambitious, passionate about my dance skills. All efforts to get help to go to school failed. I was vulnerable, most times raped. I had to attend all kinds of events in my neighbourhood to exhibit my skills in dancing. In my case, there was no one to confide in. I hawked all kinds of things to make

Continues on page 39

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 16 AUGUST 16, 2014—39

Continues from page 38 ends meet’.

Platform and the benefits I started sensitising the people on the streets. I went to a business district in Accra, and my purpose of going to the area was to share my story, as well as sell some copies of my music which I had on CD to enable me realise some money to feed myself. The first person I approached when I got there shouted, and never allowed me to utter a word. The moment I mentioned I was HIV positive, he shouted at me, and warned me to leave the place immediately. But I wasn’t discouraged. Later, I went to Dacuma, another area. At the place, whenever there was traffic congestion, I would start to tell my story, “I’m HIV positive, you have to be very careful with your life,” I would start.

In addition, I had copies of my CD, but nobody was buying them from me.

Some people thought I was lying, and that was when I met a certain pastor in the a traffic. I was moving from one vehicle to another, sharing my story with who cared to listen. When this pastor heard me, he parked and was ready to listen to me. Then, he was running a TV programme in Amsterdam. At that moment, he took my contact, and later, he sent me some money to process my International Passport. He told me that he had a TV station as well as a radio station in Amsterdam, and he would want me to come over there and share my story the way I did in the traffic. Without hesitation, I applied for visa and travelled to Amsterdam in 2010. That was how my story changed.

Sharing her story on TV A Ghanaian TV host, popularly known as KSA invited me to his programme, “Future Leaders” to share my story on air. I rejected the idea, insisting that I could only speak in schools and churches. I told him that appearing on his show would be a very difficult one for me. But he insisted, advising that I should be bold about it. When I finally agreed to go on air, I requested that my face be covered as well as my voice distorted.

He agreed to my condition, and I went on air to share my story. But then, I was still afraid to unveil my face to the world because of the stigma that is associated with the disease.

That was how I went on air for the first time in Ghana to share my story.

It went on like that, until I suddenly made up my mind to come out. The reason being that I needed to educate

Nartey with her baby

Church, a secrad place of worship the general public, and in addition,I realised that if you have a talent and you don’t have money, it would be very difficult for one to make head way in life. So, I pondered over it and resolved within myself to come out. It was my belief that it would draw attention to me and by so doing, I could start singing, or acting for people to reckon with my talent. So, I saw two opportunities at the same time; educating people as well as getting exposure for my musical career. That’s why I became popular.

When she returned from Amsterdam I returned from Amsterdam to continue what I started in Ghana. I was invited by different organisations.

Later, I travelled again to speak on the topic “30 years of HIV, the way forward.”In 2012, I went for the AIDS conference in America. Recently, I was in the UK, where I premiered my movie, “My Cross Roads” which captures my story. The movie was first premiered at the National Theatre in Ghana and it recorded a huge turn out of dignitaries. The storyline of the movie is basically about me. It’s a true life story of Joyce Dzidzor Nartey but currently, I have a new movie in the market titled, “Jewel of the water.”

,

Why she became HIV/AIDS Awareness advocate I was driven by the need to help other carriers of the HIV/AIDS virus.

This is because most AIDS patients are brought to the hospital when they are almost dead. Victims find it difficult to undergo medical test to determine their HIV/AIDS status. I realised when people get to know about their HIV status at the early stages and they are put on medication, they wouldn’t die. They would live their normal lives. So, I decided to use myself as an example.

That was what motivated me to begin the campaign against HIV/AIDS virus.

HIV positive man can marry an HIV negative woman, and they can still make babies without him infecting the wife or the baby

There is life after contacting the deadly disease. The HIV virus can be found in the semen in the man, and not in the sperm because the sperm is what goes to form a baby. It doesn’t carry the HIV virus, but the semen is what contains the HIV virus. So, HIV positive man who is on medication

HIV Husband and wife Before we got married, my husband was educated about the deadly disease. But he is also a carrier of the disease. At the moment, medically both of us are negative to HIV virus.

This is because we have been put on medication for long. But that does not mean, we should stop taking our medication. Even though we test negative now, we keep taking our medication. We had one child together who did not test positive to HIV because of the medication.

Life after contacting HIV/AIDS virus That’s not the end of the world for any carrier of the HIV/AIDS virus.

,

Nartey and her family

can share sexual activity with an HIV negative woman, and they both can produce an HIV negative baby. You can see that there is life after contacting the HIV virus. HIV positive man can marry an HIV negative woman, and they can still make babies without him infecting the wife or the baby, just as an HIV positive woman can also marry an HIV negative man. There are a lot of couple today who wouldn’t come out to share their stories, but who are living with HIV/AIDS virus. They are keeping the secret to themselves.

Marriage life Marriage for me was normal but they say, in every marriage there are challenges. Things have happened in the past which I wouldn’t want to talk about here. Talking about the stigma, there was one day, my seven-year old son came from school and told me to stop that HIV thing that I am doing.

According to him, his friends said, they wouldn’t play with him because his mum is HIV positive. There are challenges but life must go on.

40—SATURDAY

Vanguard , AUGUST 16 16, 2014

FREE MATERNAL HEALTHCARE:

Uduaghan tells pregnant women to resist extortion

D

ELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has warned pregnant women and nursing mothers not to give money to anybody since the cost of their Medicare was covered by the State Government's Free Maternal and under-five Healthcare programmes.

Dr. Uduaghan gave the warning on Tuesday while giving antenatal talk to pregnant women at the Mother and Child Centre of the Central Hospital, Warri.

Governor Uduaghan, who inquired from the women if doctors and nurses were collecting money from them and was answered in the negative, urged them to resist any action to the

contrary. "You are not to give money to anybody, you should not make any payment, even if it requires operation, it is free and your children who are five years and below have free medical attention," the governor said.

He advised the expectant mothers to keep their antenatal clinic appointments religiously in the interest of their health and their unborn babies.

He added: "You must come here and deliver your babies, do not register for ante-natal and when it is time for delivery, you will leave the hospital and go to meet one woman because everybody (nurses) you see here are professionals,"

reiterating, "keep your regular appointments so that you will have safe delivery."

The governor also charged the women to ensure that their children get routine immunization, noting, "you must immunize your children, you must breast feed your children."

Dr. Uduaghan also urged women who have four children to meet nurses and doctors in government hospitals for counseling on effective family planning while also stressing the need for proper child spacing.

Women who spoke at the occasion thanked Governor Uduaghan for providing state of the art facilities freely for them and their children.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, a medical doctor examining a patient in a Delta hospital

Governor Uduaghan of Delta State lecturing women who came for ante-natal at the Mother and Child Centre, Central Hospital, Warri

Ugborodo Community Ugborodo Community in Warri-South West Council Area of Delta State is the host community to Chevron Nigeria Limited, an oil giant multinational company, the community has no semblance of its title as host to the great oil giant.

Vanguard AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE capture the state of the community through photographs.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014—41

By Clifford Ndujihe

T

•Jonathan

•Akpabio

Will PDP governors endorse Jonathan? aghan (Delta), Idris Wada (Kogi), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Seidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Ibrahim Dakwambo (Gombe), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Mukhtar Shagari.

If things go according to plans, the president is expected to declare his intention this month or early next month after the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party would have summoned a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to approve the guidelines for the presidential, governorship, National and State Assembly elections.

The Calabar endorsement The South-South PDP leaders and members’ endorsement of Jonathan on August 5 in Calabar, Cross River State, sources said, is a peep into what is to be expected across the country very soon.

Speaking at the Calabar stakeholders meeting, con-

vened by the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu as part of his tour of the six geo-political zones of the country, members of the party assured Muazu that the South-South zone will vote overwhelmingly for President

,

HOSE opposed to Pres ident Goodluck Jonathan spending another four years at Aso Rock have some high hurdles to scale. One, they must stop him from agreeing to run. If that fails, they must stop him from picking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket. If they stumble on this hurdle, then they must mobilize Nigerians and vote him out at the election proper.

A host of opposition politicians across the country have been working on the first hurdle for a while, moving from advice to criticism and threat.

Some have even gone to court to determine whether or not Jonathan’s re-election is not equivalent to a third term.

Although, President Jonathan has not said whether or not he is going to seek re-election events indicate that he is likely to run. That leaves his opponents with stopping him in the PDP or the election proper.

As things are, stopping him at the polls is the only option left if the avalanche of endorsements the president is getting across the country is anything to go by. Most of the people that would have made it difficult for President Jonathan to get the PDP ticket have left the ruling party for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Currently, he has the support and endorsement of most of the PDP governors. He also has the South-East and SouthSouth PDP. Penultimate week, South- South leaders and members of the PDP in the zone adopted President Jonathan as their presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections.

Most of the 18 PDP governors and governor-elect (Ayo Fayose) are in support of Jonathan. If the entire PDP Governors Forum (PDP-GF) buys into the move, which was part of the resolve of the Governor Godswill Akpabio-led body months ago the party’s presidential primaries will be a coronation ceremony for Jonathan.

At a meeting mid-July between the President and the PDP Governors led by the Akwa Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio and PDP members of the House of Representatives, Jonathan was also endorsed to proceed with his second term ambition.

The meeting was reportedly attended by Governors Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Theodore Orji (Abia), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi) and Emmanuel Udu-

Anenih and other officials of the party including political office holders.

Commending the people for their confidence in President Jonathan’s administration, Mu’azu called for caution to check destabilizing moves of

Our leader, President Jonathan has performed creditably well and we must work and have respect for one another, we must work together for the purpose of today and the future generation

Jonathan in 2015.

The meeting was attended by Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta State), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and the host, Senator Liyel Imoke as well as the Chairman,Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony

,

the opposition political parties, saying: “You must not allow opposition to put us on coalition course. We must be very careful as we move ahead, if you have facts and figures, challenge me or those who matter but don’t spread rumours. Our leader, President

Jonathan has performed creditably well and we must work and have respect for one another, we must work together for the purpose of today and the future generation.”

On his part: Chief Anenih said: “South-South is the home of PDP, I want the national chairman of our party to go home with a word from the father of President Jonathan that come 2015, Dr Jonathan will run for the Presidency.”

Governor Akpabio stated: “In our state, there is no shaking when it comes to victory for the PDP. Akwa Ibom is safe for the President and our state will be among the first states to give the PDP more than one million votes in the 2015 Presidential elections.”

On his part, Dickson said: “We in Bayelsa are very happy with the support you are giving Mr. President who is building a new Nigeria; Bayelsa is safe and steady for the PDP.” Also, Imoke noted, “the cry of endorsement shows that President Jonathan is performing, we thank the president for bridging every gap that has existed and we will work with you to deliver our successors to the PDP.” Others who spoke at the occasion and enumerated reasons Jonathan should re-contest and be re-elected in 2015 include, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Deaconess Elizabeth Essien, Senator Ita Enang and Chief Dan Orbih.

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

Stories by EVELYN USMAN

P

olicemen attached to the Special Fraud Unit, Milverton, Ikoyi and those of the Rivers State Police Command, are currently on the trail of a fleeing wife of the General Overseer of a popular Pentecostal Church (name withheld) in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, alleged to be operating the biggest baby factory in the southern part of the country.

The suspect identified as Emeka Precious Chinyere, was alleged to have sold babies to desperate women between N 2.5 million and N6million. Her beneficiaries, we gathered, come from all parts of the world.

Her modus oparandi as gathered, included giving desperate women concoction which would make their stomachs to start protruding, until the day of delivery.

However, the delivery process is said to shrouded in mystery which the Police is trying to unravel.

It was gathered that most of the beneficiaries were women who had waited for years without bearing children. The amount paid for each pregnancy as gathered, varied according to the age of the individual and the period of waiting.

This illicit business has reportedly been going at God’ s Gift Clinic and Maternity home located at number 16 School Road, Elelenmo area of Port Harcourt , Rivers State, for years until the bubble burst, following a petition to the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Special Fraud Unit, by the United States of America Consulate, to investigate an America basedNigerian woman who applied for American passport for her little baby. The US-based Nigerian identified as Christiana Ogeyi Omagu, with Nigerian passport number AO49173747 and US passport

General Overseer’s wife in baby factory scandal, flees to USA •We pay N2.5m, N2.9m to get pregnant- victim

Baby Factory claimed that she was taken there at night and that she left very early the next morning.

But a combined team of operatives from the Unit and those of the Rivers state Police command stormed the maternity home recently where a near gun battle was reportedly averted, following resistance from armed policemen from the Special Protecting Unit , who blocked access to her.

God Gift Clinic and Maternity 458926040, according to the US Rivers State.

However, when a DNA Consulate, appeared at the paternity and maternity test was consulate in pursuance of a result US passport for a male child conducted, the according to the embassy, she claimed to have delivered at God’ s Gift Clinic and indicated that the applicant and Maternity, Port Harcourt, her husband, Donald Omagu, were not the biological parents of the baby.

In spite of the result, the embassy said Mrs Omagu insisted that a certain doctor she identified as Chinyere Precious, took her delivery at God’ s Gift Clinic and Maternity in Rivers State, hence, the petition to ascertain her claim.

During preliminary investigation, the Police Special Fraud Unit reportedly discovered that several embassies had petitioned them over similar cases, with the mention of the General Overseer’s wife as the doctor that delivered them of their ‘miracle babies’ It would be recalled that a similar instance was that of one Esther Soyebo, who , two years ago, was arrested following a petition from the US embassy over same reason. During interrogation, the woman told journalists that she was introduced to Pastor Chinyere by a friend in the USA who claimed to have had her three children miraculously from her. The suspect also stated that she paid N2.5 million for the prepared concoction she took , after which her stomach began to bulge . But efforts by operatives to locate the maternity home were futile as the woman claimed not to know the exact location of the centre. She

I

have

witness any delivery- Nurse

never child

However, a nurse identified as Peace Effiong and a supposed expectant mother were arrested at the maternity home in Rivers state and brought to SFU, Lagos.

In her statement to the Police, the arrested nurse revealed that no child had ever been delivered in the maternity since she was employed.

According to her: “I was employed just six months ago and I have never witnessed any child birth there. Anytime a pregnant women is due for delivery, she is usually taken to Dr Chinyere’s home at Harvest Assembly Avenue, Stallion Road, Elelenwo.

That is all I can say “

I paid N2.5 million for pregnancy and delivery On the part of the Americabased Nigerian suspect, she disclosed in her statement that she paid N 2.5 million to the fleeing doctor before she got pregnant..

She explained that she came to Nigeria in February last year, after she was introduced to Dr Chinyere. “ One month later, the doctor said I was pregnant and I went back to my base in the USA

, with the hope of delivering the baby in one of the hospitals over there. But several medical tests carried out in the United States indicated that I was not pregnant and I began to doubt. Dr Chinyere who visited America at that time, assured I was pregnant and advised me to come down to Nigeria to deliver the baby . By February this year, she called and informed me to come down to Nigeria, that I was due. I was delivered of a baby boy on February 16, 2014, at the maternity home.”

But the result of the DNA test by the embassy showed that neither she nor her husband were biological parents of the supposed baby. Asked if the delivery was a normal one or through caesarian, the suspect kept mute.

Another paid 2.9million Another pregnant woman, Victoria Acholonu, who was arrested at the maternity home, told operatives that “ I paid N2.9 for the pregnancy. Dr. Chinyere called me on the phone to inform that my delivery was due. That was why I came to her hospital, only to be arrested. Again, when a text was conducted to ascertain her true state, the result showed that she was not pregnant, even with the evident bulging stomach.

Sounding frustrated, Acholonu disclosed that she was not the only one that had fallen a victim. “ I know some people who said they paid more that N2.5million. Some claimed to have even paid N6 m, depending on their condition.

Information at the operatives disposal indicated that the wife of the general overseer had fled to the United States of America.

Police sources hinted that several attempts to arrest her proved abortive as some eminent Nigerians in key positions always intervened. Police sources said: “the woman is very powerful, that is why she has managed to beat police arrest. She has been very evasive to the police at PSFU despite the numerous evidences against her. She was once arrested by the Police at Elelenwo divisional police station , after one of her victims’ husband became suspicious and invited the police , who invaded her home at the point of delivery but she escaped justice after an unidentified‘ powerful man from ‘above intervened.“ However the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin has assured his command would ensure the suspect is arrested. As first step, he said the command would ascertain id the woman was a medical doctor.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , AUGUST 16 16, 2014—43

While he was in our custody, he received an alert of N50million deposit on his mobile phone and Rufus asked him to give us N30 million out of it. He agreed and wrote a cheque of N30 million on his wife’s name, with a letter informing his wife that he has been kidnapped and that she should hurriedly get the money to him. We gave the letter and cheque to his driver and asked him to go along with their car, to deliver it to his boss’s wife.

BY IFEANYIN OKOLIE

Recently, the Lagos State Police Command paraded three suspected members of a deadly kidnap gang who confessed to have masterminded the kidnap of the wife and daughter of a sitting Supreme Court Judge, Justice, Bode Rhodes Vivour and the gruesome murder of a former Deputy Governor of Anambara State, Chudi Nwike. ut in this interview with Crime Guard , the suspects shared an untold detail of how the former deputy governor was murdered. They also disclosed that two errand men who came with the supposed ransom were killed alongside their boss, owing to what they described as failure on the part of the deputy governor’s family to meet their demands.

The suspects who also confessed to have been masterminds of several kidnaps within the South-South and SouthEast region of the country , revealed that, aside kidnapping, they were also responsible for several robbery operations within these regions.

They further confessed to have worked for the dreaded Delta State born kidnap kingpin Kelvin Oniarah, whose arrest took the combined efforts of operatives of the Department of State Security, DSS and personnel of the Nigeria Army,at a popular hotel in Port Hacourt, Rivers State, last September.

Kelvin who was rumored to

B

T

Untold story of how and why dreaded kidnapers killed former Deputy governor members of his gang who were tracked and arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Lagos, led

by Sp Abba Kyari, have so far shed more light as to how Kelvin ran and operated his gangs.

One of the suspects, 32-yearold Monday Odiete, told Crime Guard during an in-

,

I was also responsible in providing registered sim cards which members of the the gang used for negotiation. After I joined, we did a couple of kidnappings but some of our victims were not too prominent

have maintained and coordinated over 50 kidnapping and robbery cells within the 12 states of these regions, as well as declared himself a freedom fighter in 2013, formed a movement called the ‘Liberation Movement of the Urhobo People, LIMUP, demanding for amnesty for himself and members of his gang.

He was also said to have enjoyed a very large support from his kinsmen in Ikokori, Eathiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, who felt neglected by the Federal Government in its Amnesty Program on Militants, at the Niger Delta Region. They supported his supposed agitation for a better life for the Urohbo people without taking into consideration the level of atrocities he committed in those regions.

The confessions of three

,

teraction, that Kelvin was elusive because he had trusted surbodinates. Odiete who said he operated one of the cells in Benin, Edo State, disclosed that Kelvin coordinated his gangs from any part of these regions. “ He did not always show up at the scene of operations but he usually coordinated our operations on phone. For instance, anytime a victim is kidnapped , it was his responsibility to negotiate and arrange how the ransom would be paid.”

Narrating how they kidnapped and killed the ex Anambara Deputy Governor and the two men who brought the ransom, Odiete said: “ I am a native of Kokori and Kelvin is my brother. We are both age mates. I joined in 2012 and I reside in Lagos. But when Kelvin became a ‘don’ in kid-

nap, he invited me to join him.

Because we were very close, he told me that I won’t be going out for operation with them but that my job would be to look after victims at our camp at Upper Saopa Road, Benin.

I was also responsible in providing registered sim cards which members of the the gang used for negotiation. After I joined, we did a couple of kidnappings but some of our victims were not too prominent and it didn’t make much headlines in newspapers and television stations.

B

ut in March 2013, Kelvin started communicating with one of our members known as Rufus who was in prison. I was told that Rufus introduced kidnapping in Kokori and that he was the one who trained Kelvin and others but was arrested by the Police in Delta State and was taken to prison in 2012.

One night ,I over heard Kelvin discussing with Rusfus on the phone .Kelvin assured that he would rescue Rufus from prison. He asked Rufus when he would be taken to court and Rufus gave him the date and the route they usually took. Two days before that day, he called some of our boys in Edo state including one of Rufus younger brothers and briefed them on his plans to free Rufus from prison. They left Benin in two vehicles a day before the attack and I was told that they ambushed the prison warders on their way to

•Murdered deputy governor

court and killed seven of them before rescuing Rufus and Big Frank, who is another member of the gang.

They brought them to our base in Benin the next day and Rufus called a meeting and briefed us on how to stay away from arrest. He advised us to make sure we used two mobile phones. He said one of the phones would be for our family and friends while the other would be for the job. He also told us to be very careful of issues we discussed on the phone because our calls could be tapped.

After that, Rufus took charge of the entire cell in Benin,while Kelvin went to Port Hacourt.

Rufus then led the team to Benin Bypass one day, where they kidnapped a man, his driver and an estate agent based in Porth Harcourt.

When they brought them to our camp we didn’t know he was an ex deputy governor, until 24 hours after, when it was all over the news.

he estate agent on his part, said he had no money . But he wrote a N3million cheque with a letter, which we took to his house and gave it to his wife. Three days later, they sent the money to us and we all shared it. I got N100,000 out of it.

But the deputy governor ’s wife was so stubborn that she refused to comply. Rufus pressurised her for close to one week , before she managed to send just N5million,which infuriated Rufus.

Rufus drove the two men who brought the money , with the former deputy governor away.

While he drove, he called the deputy governor ’s wife on phone and threatened to kill her husband.

At a point, he told the driver to pull up in a narrow street on Agbo road. When we got to the spot, he ordered the errand men and their boss to get down from the car. He thereafter, took them to a corner. Ggunshots followed. When he came back to the car, he called the deputy governor’s wife and told her to go and bury her husband with the money she refused to give to us. When Kelvin heard about this, he wasn’t happy with Rufus.

How we kidnapped Supreme Judge’s wife, daughter, others On their parts, Godspower Ovwigho 31, and Stanley Efetobo, 29, also narrated how they kidnapped Justice Bode Rhodes Vivour ’s wife and daughter.

According to them; After the quarrel between Kelvin and Rufus over the deputy governor’s killing, Kelvin came back to Benin and led his boys to another operation, where they kidnapped two white men who were expatriates working at Port Harcourt, a woman and her daughter who were going for a wedding ceremony and a Pastor.

As usual , we waited for news of missing persons to know the status of our victims. The expatriates told us whom they were and Kelvin took them to Port Hacourt to negotiate their ransom, while the Justice’s

Continues on page 44

44—SA TURD AY 44—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , AUGUST 16 16, 2014

‘ Police in Anambra know who planted human heads in my hotel – hotelier •Says Governor ordered demolition of his hotel in error prompted the Anambra state Attorney -General to send back the case file to Akwuzu SARS for real investigation”, he said.

However, one year into the demolition of his hotel, justice according to him had not prevailed. Part of what the justice he expected was compesation from Anambra State govern-

BY EVELYN USMAN

R

The general public now know that Mr Nnalue Okafor, whom I was accused of killing by the Police was a front line MASSOB member in charge of where they termed as barracks

,

EMEMBER Upper Class Hotel, situated on 8 Old Market Road, in the commercial city of Onitsha , Anambra state that was demolished on the order of Mr Peter Obi, the immediate past governor of the state, following the discovery of human heads and ammunitions inside one of the hotel rooms?

A team of policemen from the dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad,SARS of the Anambra State Police Command, Awkuzu, had stormed the hotel on August 1, 2013, where the hotelier, Bonaventure Mokwe, his wife and some of his employees among who was a PhD student of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University were arrested , including the hotelier’s wife.

While Mrs Mokwe was reportedly released hours later, her husband and his employees reportedly remained in detention at SARS Akwuzu for 81 days over alleged murder and unlawful possession of human heads and arms. They were thereafter , arraigned at a magistrate court on a fourcount charge of conspiracy and murder, unlawful possession of two human heads and two AK 47 rifles with rounds of live ammunition.

There was, however, a twist in the whole detention and consequent demolition exercise, following claims by Mokwe that the whole scenario was a set up. The human skulls recovered in his hotel according to him were by some persons he alleged the Police

opened up on how the set-up was organised. The principal suspect was one of the people I mentioned in my petition that was never investigated” Awkwuzu SARS knows the name of every single person that participated in the set-up.

But arresting them will further compound the embarrassment of the state government” Torture in detention “My case would have been settled while I was detained at Awkuzu SARS. Instead, in their attempt to save the state government the embarrassment, SARS Awkuzu made a U-turn and set about manufacturing evidence .That included the near death tortur-

•Bonaventure Mokwe knew.

In addition, Mokwe stated that the said Nnalue Okafor, whom he was accused of killing by the Police, was confirmed by his parents in a news paper publication, to have been arrested April last year by operatives of SARS Awkuzu and wondered why he would be accused of killing him in August.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, on what he described as injustice meted to him, Mokwe posited that : “The general public now know that Mr Nnalue Okafor, whom I was accused of killing by the

Police was a front line MASSOB member in charge of where they termed as barracks, at Silas Works road , Fegge, Onitsha. He was arrested by the Police on April 29 near his barrack and has not been sighted ever since. It was during the period of supremacy tussle between MASSOB and another group called ‘Igbo Youths’, a MASSOB faction that emerged for political purpose towards the period of last Anambra State governorship election.

“All these embarrassing scenarios in their investigation

ment for the demolition of the hotel which he said was built in 1976,when he was barely nine years , by his late father.

He blamed the Police for the cause of injustice, as he accused them of knowing the truth but failed to state it. For instance, Mokwe stated that the man who planted the human skull in his hotel room had owned up but that nothing had been done.

“My hotel demolition is over one year now and not a single charge is pending against me.

Why then was my hotel illegally demolished? Manufacturing another case is certainly an option but then again how did the first attempt play out? I am vigilant and waiting in every corner. That was why I was able to inform the InspectorGeneral of Police recently that one principal participant in the planting of the exhibits in my hotel room, a native of Onitsha was detained at cell 5 Awkwuzu, SARS and has equally

Untold story of how and why dreaded...

Continues on page 43 wife and daughter were taken to Kokori, Delta state,where Rufus took charge of the negotiations.

On the day they brought them to the camp, the Justice wife offered to give us N5million in order to allow her go but Rufus refused. He called her husband on the phone and made his demands. After a while they agreed on a price and Rufus asked the man to bring the money to Benin. “ Rufus was in a car trailing the man with the money while one other member and I were on a motorbike taking instructions from Rufus. After a long trail to ascertain that the man with the money was alone, Rufus asked the man to wait inside a fillings station very close to the University of Benin,where he told me to collect the money from him. I drove straight to the man who saw me and tossed the bag containing the money to me. I collected it and rode straight to Ekosodi Village,where I brought out the money which was in foreign currency and spread them on the ground to check for tracker, before putting them back into a bag and took it to

Rufus.

That operation didn’t go well with us because after their release security operatives invaded Kokori in search of us and in the process, Rufus was killed at a check point by policemen,while on his way to Delta State from Benin.

Kelvin at that time started receiving calls from security operatives to surrender but he refused. But after a while, he called the DPO in charge of Isokolo Police Station and told him that he wanted amnesty. The DPO gave his number to an Army officer who called him and he told them that he wanted amnesty. When I saw the situation on ground, I relocated to Lagos “ On how he was arrested Odiete, said: “ I never knew that the police in Lagos were on my trail. They tracked the number Rufus used in the negotiating with the Justice’s wife to a man who registered the sim card for me, at Oba Market Ring Road, Benin city. The man sold over 50 registered sim cards to me for N1,000 each and they were all registered in fake names and photographs. He called me to see him at his shop . I thought it was to buy sim cards. But when I got there, I discovered he was with some policemen. That was how I was arrested”, he said remorsefully.

,

ing of of my land agent , Chibueze Ikemene, to append his signature to an already written statement that I was responsible for the death of one Nnalue Okafor.

I was taken to the back of of their torture chamber and my trouser was taken off and wrapped around my neck,with a green rope wrapped around it .They started pulling from both sides of my neck till I fainted . My thumb print was then inserted in an already written statement collaborating that of Chibueze Ikemene But the statement with my thumbprint and the one hand -written by myself after a strong protest from my lawyers were both filed in court by the Police. Which one will they rely on?

One incident stands out in my mind during my ordeal. On our way to SARS Awkuzu , on August 1, 2013, one of the operatives told me that ‘ I will kill you,whether your hands are clean or not. If your hands are clean, may your blood be on me and my children.”

Pacified “When I was granted bail by the High court, it was at the height of the Anambra State governorship election and I was prevailed upon not to make public statements and that I will be paid after the election. The election has come and gone .

My wife, Barr. Mrs N.J Mokwe sent several texts to the former governor and nothing came out of it. Our mutual friends also approached the former governor , yet nothing was done. He admitted to have been misled

by Onitsha natives but said that I should be grateful that he did not allow Awkwuzu SARS to kill me. Contemporaries of my late father that are household names in Onitsha city, not minding the challenges of their age, also tried to make the former governor see reason but he never bulged”

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014—45

FG urged to create er vention FFund und Int Inter ervention for private schools

Nigerian pupils

University campus

Before Ebola goes to school

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

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With three deaths and eight confirmed infected cases, the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, has tragically taken centre stage in the Nigerian sphere. This is a truth that cannot be overemphasized. But the silver lining in this dark cloud, experts say, is that the virus could have come into Nigeria at a worse time—with primary and secondary school students back from the holidays.

The recent decision by the Federal government to extend the current holidays of primary and secondary schools across the country in order to prevent an outbreak of the disease among students seems like a timely solution, but might not necessarily be a lasting one argues Mr. Michael Alogba, the National Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT. ‘Asking schools to close down will not solve the problem,’ he said, ‘there isn’t a cure for the disease yet, and the rate of spread is very high. We must avail ourselves of all the sensitization efforts being made by the government and other agencies. But if we close down our schools, it will jeopardize our results, and reduce the rate of achievements in education.’ To prevent Ebola from resuming school when the children finally do, there is need to maintain proper sanitation and avoid contact with the bodily fluids of others, says Prof. A.T Onajole, the coordinator for the Mass Mobilization and Communication Committee of the Ebola Emergency Operations Committee.

Speaking on the need to keep the schools closed for now, Onajole told Saturday School Life: ‘For now, we are in the teething stage; we are trying as much as possible to reduce gatherings around the country until the situation is intact.

Nigerians can help us get rid of this by visiting www.ebolaalert.org or call 0803ebolaalert.’

Another public health professional who did not want his name in print, told our reporters that the risk of catching the disease is the same for children and adults. ‘It just depends on how susceptible they are to the risk factors,’ he said, ‘for example, students who school in the villages are more likely to have access to monkeys, fruit bats etc. The ones in the city are also less likely come in contact with such, and more likely to keep better personal hygiene. Any crowded area or environment that fosters close contact could be breeding ground for transmission; whether it is school, the

It is necessary for individuals and schools to intensify the efforts of the ministry of health to create massive awareness about the disease

office, the airport or the car park.

It is a good thing that the schools are still on the holidays, but if they resume before the epidemic is over there are some measures that must be put in place. Care givers will need to recognize signs and symptoms early enough, report suspicious cases, school authorities will need to educate students constantly. Another thing that must be put into consideration is improving the health facilities in schools across the country. Schools should endeavour to promote hand washing, proper sanitation and hygiene.’

Students in tertiary institutions are not left out of the equation. The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, speaking at a forum recently, said the current outbreak of Ebola virus disease across the sub-region makes it imperative that institutions must take the health of their students seriously. He said: “Students are prone to being in over-crowded

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classes, bus stops, and dining areas, it is therefore necessary that all risk factors must be understood.’ For some, an understanding of the risk factors might not be enough as the facilities in the especially in the nation’s tertiary institutions are at the very least overcrowded. So, should the tertiary institutions be vacated until further notice as well?

Deputy Dean, Student Affairs, University of Lagos, Dr. Anthony Adebayo in response to this said: ‘There is no need to close down the universities. I can understand that the primary and secondary schools might need to stay on holidays for longer because they are children. But we are adults here and we have been listening to campaigns and advice going round, and students and staff are mature enough to take the necessary precautions. But it is necessary for individuals and schools to intensify the efforts of the ministry of health to create massive awareness about the disease. It is true that the schools are cramped; these are basic facts but it is important that we do not panic. The best thing is to understand the prevalent challenges and intensify our efforts at personal hygiene and public awareness. We cannot leave our homes, because they are also cramped.

At our level as student affairs as well as the level of student associations, we’re making information available per second. At the moment now, I am at a retreat with students. They are using hand sanitizers and washing their hands often, and although we’re joking about it, we’re using the ‘Ebola salute’—greeting with elbows or knuckles barely touching, waving or greeting without shaking hands or hugging— and limiting bodily contact.’

Mr. Okpara Roberts, the proprietor of Fresh Dew nursery and primary school in Lagos, says that his students are also practicing the ‘Ebola salute’ during their ongoing summer lessons. ‘We have summer lessons at the moment, and during assembly every day we educate children about the situation, telling them to wash their hands regularly, use sanitizers and avoid unnecessary body contact.’

During sporting activities and assembly gatherings, in classrooms and hostels, in dining halls and restrooms, students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions have from time immemorial had typical moments of physical contact. The stakes to limit such contact on such a large scale have never been so high…until now.

The Federal Government has been urged to create a special intervention Fund to assist Private owners of primary, secondary and Tertiary Institutions of learning in the country.

Proprietress of Hasab Heritage School, Mrs. Hassanat Abubakar who made the call at the 4th graduation and prize –giving Day ceremony of the school in Abuja explained that such Fund would reduce the cumbersome, difficult and limited access of private companies to credit facilities from commercial Banks.

Abubakar said the Education Intervention Fund being proposed should be tailored after the Textile Resuscitation Fund and Nollywood Entertainment Industry Fund.

According to her, the Bank of Industry can be mandated to provide the Fund from which private school owners can obtain soft loan to develop infrastructure and learning facilities in their school.

“The Private School owners which constitute more than 70 percent of Primary and Secondary Schools nationwide should be encouraged and supported by Government because of the vital role they have played in filling the void in school enrolment and improving education standard in the country,”.

God First International at es ffour our th celebrat ates ourth celebr graduation ceremony

BY ADERONKE ADEYERI It was a display of young and hidden talents at God First International school Itele, Ogun state during its fourth graduation and price giving ceremony held recently at the school auditorium in Ogun state. The children in their various groups and different attires showcased a high marking of excellence both in academic and social activities.

The director of studies who also doubles his position as the President and Chairman of the governing council of International University, PortoNovo, Prof. Muhammad Omolaja while addressing the graduating students disclosed that many reputable universities in Nigeria and even abroad have promised instant admission to graduating students based on the good performance of the students at different competitions and integrity of the school. He also admonished them to put God first in all their endeavours as they have been given all it takes to outshine their counterparts whether in Nigeria or anywhere in the world.

46—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

08 116759 759 081 6759759

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hinese girl, 11, successfully undergoes surgery to remove 33 pound tumour bigger than two footballs after family is forced to travel 2,500 miles to hospital willing to perform operation.

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an Bingbing, an 11-year-old girl from China, has successfully had a 33 pound tumour removed from her abdomen.

The girl, from Heilongjiang in the north-east of the country, underwent eight hours of surgery to remove an intraperitoneal tumor.

After four years, the tumor had grown to the size of two footballs. As of June 18th, the tumor filled five-sixths of Bingbing’s abdomen and was causing her internal organs to gradually collapse.

The Xukecheng Health Care Corporation raised £11,000 that went towards Bingbing’s surgery.

‘My entire house has been stolen’ A

Romanian visited his holiday home only to find a completely empty plot of land with a field of corn planted in its place after his house had been stolen by thieves.

Police in the Romanian port city of Braila got a call from Andy Pascali, 40, complaining that his holiday house on the Danube Delta had been stolen.

At first they thought it was a joke, but when they turned up at the nearby village of Baldovinesti they found not only that there was no property where there should have been a three-bedroom building, but that a field of ready-to-harvest corn had

Man with no legs becomes push-up record holder

A

double amputee soldier from Georgia, who was seriously injured while serving in Afghanistan, has set a world record for planche push-ups.

Corporal Temur Dadiani, 22, lost both his legs after standing on an improvised explosive device while serving in Helmand province in August 2011.

Cpl Dadiani has now successfully set a new world record by performing 36 planche push-ups in just 38.25 seconds.

The ‘amputee push-ups’ record attempt was held at The Ministry of Defence of Georgia, in Tbilisi, yesterday.

A planche push-up is a difficult form

of exercise which requires good strength and balance in order to hold yourself up using your arms only.

Cpl Dadiani was watched in his world record attempt by friends, colleagues, and Vakhtang Kapanadze, Chief of General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces.

The soldier lost both his limbs while on patrol during the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.

ISAF is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the UN Security Council in 2001.

Its main purpose is to train the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and aid in rebuilding key government institutions, but has engaged in combat.

All NATO member states contribute with troops to ISAF, as well as a number of nonmember states including Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and Finland.

The brave schoolgirl was first diagnosed with ovarian teratoma in 2009. Since then, her family have run up considerable debts trying to fund their daughter’s medical bills for her ongoing treatment.

The youngster has suffered with the condition for the past five years, defying the expectations of many doctors.

Several clinics refused to treat Ms Bingbing until her family found a hospital, 2,500 miles away in Guangzhou, southern China.

been planted in its place.

A shocked Mr Pascali, who posted the image of the cornfield on his Facebook page, said: ‘I think this could only happen in Romania.

‘My entire house has been stolen and my neighbours have taken advantage of the opportunity to plant a field of corn instead.

Absolutely incredible.’

He said that he believed the crooks had probably managed to recycle just about everything after slowly taking the house apart while he was not there.

He said the property that he had inherited from

his parents who had built it in 1986 had also been fully furnished with a brand-new fitted kitchen and bathroom.

He added: ‘I had been worried about thieves maybe breaking in and stealing the television or something, and so I put a barbed wire fence up around the house for added security. But they stole that as well.’

A local man admitted he decided to take advantage of the fact that the ground was no longer being used to plant a field of corn but denied knowing anything about the theft of the house in the first place.

Mother ‘left her two young children unattended in car while she performed a sex act on woman has been arrested after allegedly leaving A her two young children alone in her car while she her performed oral sex on her boyfriend. claim they swooped on Princess Marks, 25, as boyfriend in shePolice pleasured the man in his vehicle in a store parking in Lake Charles, Louisiana, following a report of the parking lot children left unattended in an SUV. Officers say Marks admitted she had been unable to see the children, aged seven and five, or her SUV from lot’ her boyfriend’s vehicle.

The windows of the SUV where the children were found had been left down and the engine was not running. The incident happened shortly after midnight on Friday last week.

Marks was charged with child desertion and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center. She was later released on a $5,000 bond set by Judge Clayton Davis.

The children were placed in the care of family members.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014 — 47

Ogoni now in double struggle

see things for themselves, except the government is saying that the over 2000 Ogoni lives lost to military repression and the continued death of our people due to pollution of our land is of no concern to them.”

Senator Magnus Abe, Prof Ben Nanee, Prof. Roselyn Konya were among prominent sons and daughters of Ogoni at the meeting.

At the meeting, federal government said the fund was ready and would be disbursed as soon as the multi Stakeholders committee to drive remediation exercise in the area was ready.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Mr Danladi Kifasi assured that the fund would be used for the purpose it was released.

“The federal government is mindful that the funds meant for remediation and restoration activities in Ogoniland are used for that purpose.

The funds are ready. Soon, we will be working with the UN, Ogoni communities and the relevant Nigerian agencies to pull our collective knowledge and construct a road map to deliver a comprehensive remediation programme with a focus on immediate delivery and restitution”, he said.

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME Assistant News Editor

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•Polluted river in Ogoni

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•Mr Bariaria Bkpalap of MOSOP showing a river with oik spill in Ogoni government and Ogoni in Bori, headquarters of Khana local government area last week lamented delay in the implementation of the report by the federal government.

Pyagbara who read out the position of the Ogoni called on the government to immediately declare Ogoni an environmental disaster, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan and his Minister of Petroleum should visit the area so as to appreciate the content of the UNEP report on the level of pollution in the area.

T

he people further urged the government to immediately dissolve HYREP and replace it with Ogoni Environment and Restoration Authority.

His words, : “We are calling on the Federal Government to declare Ogoni an environmental emergency because of the level of degradation here as discovered by UNEP. UNEP submitted its report on the pollution in our land three years ago and we are surprised that the federal government has not implemented that report. What has caused this long delay? The $1billion which UNEP said would be needed to clean-up the area is not much for the federal

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UGUST 4 marked the third year anniversary of the formal release of the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Program on Ogoni to the Federal government.

The government had in 2007 commissioned UNEP to do a credible environmental assessment of Ogoni.

It would be recalled that Ogoni, under the aegis of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP had alleged gross pollution of their environment arising from oil exploration. Among other things, the movement then led by a foremost environmentalist and writer, late Kenule Sarowiwa had demanded commercial compensation for the destruction of the environment.

There were series of protests by the movement which finally forced Shell to shut down oil exploration in the area in 1992.

The Ogoni apex body, MOSOP was later enmeshed in internal conflict that resulted in circumstances that culminated in the death of some of its leaders, including Sarowiwa in 1995 who was executed by the Sani Abacha regime.

Keen observers of developments within MOSOP then traced the crisis that resulted in the death of the leaders largely to external manipulations intended to weaken cohesion and resolve of the people to sustain their agitation for economic justice.

The death of the leaders provoked bitterness and anger against the multinational oil firms doing business in the area.

The engagement of UNEP by the federal government in 2007 to determine the degree of environmental degradation and destruction of the area and what could be done to redress the problem was part of a conscious effort by the government to assuage the bitterness.

The report which was formally handed over to the federal government on August 4, three years ago among other things, called for an approach that would be driven by all stakeholders. They should include Shell, government, community and other stakeholders. It also noted the massive challenge posed by oil spill and called for a clean up of the area.

According to the report redressing challenges of environmental pollution in Ogoni will require some years. It called on the federal government, NNPC and Shell Joint venture to set up an Environment Restoration Fund with a takeoff amount of 1 billion US dollars which should be used for remediation exercise among others.

Three years after release of the report , nothing concrete seem to have been done by the government other than the introduction of HYREP, a body the Ogoni have called for its dissolution.

President of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Legborsi Pyagbara at a consultative meeting between the federal

The engagement of UNEP by the federal government in 2007 to determine the degree of environmental degradation and destruction of the area and what could be done to redress the problem was part of a conscious effort by the government to assuage the bitterness

,

government.

Why has the President who is from the Niger Delta failed to release the funds meant for the clean-up and start the process of implementation? We want HYPREP scrapped and replaced with Ogoni Environment and Restoration Authority in line with the UNEP report.

We therefore call on President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister for Petroleum to visit Ogoniland and

eanwhile, the Ogoni have in several statements issued by MOSOP and other allied organisations stressed that the environment was no longer safe for habitation because of the degree of pollution in the area.

An environmental rights activist from the area and Coordinator, Ogoni Solidarity Forum, Celestine Akpobari said farms were no longer yielding desired harvest because of the ugly situation.

“The devastation of Ogoni environment has caused us so much pains. Ogoni farmlands no longer yield healthy fruits due to degradation. I believe that one day, they will clean up Ogoniland. Nigeria owes Ogoni a lot.”, he said.

Vanguard gathered that Rivers and wells in the area have been largely polluted by benzene, a substance according to the UNEP report with capacity to cause cancer when consumed over time.

“We cannot drink water from our wells because of pollution traced to benzene. You see oil when you fetch the water from the stream, river and wells. So we cant drink it”, a native of Ogale, Eleme told Vanguard.

According to the UNEP report on Ogoni “ the ground water is contaminated with BTEX, Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes and PAHS – polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons. From prolonged consumption of the water. the benzene agent is known to cause cancer in humans”.

As the Ogoni continue agitation for immediate commencement of work on the UNEP report they are also engaged in another struggle to see an Ogoni succeed Chibuike Amaechi as governor come 2015. They have dominated the political space in the state with the mantra that no Ogoni had been governor or Deputy governor of the state since its creation so they should be allowed to succeed Amaechi.

48—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

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‘My dead mother came back to help me give birth’ …British woman stuns Europe her. I didn’t feel excited but terrified.

Despite the speed of all my births, each one has still been excruciatingly painful; although I’m not sure that ‘pain’ is really the right word to describe the extraordinary, physical violence that overtakes the body in labour.

G

ripping the edge of the hospital bed, I focused on the marbelled back of a blue plastic chair to distract me. I knew from past experience that moving towards the pain, rather than trying to resist it, would take me further into labour.

But as the contractions peaked every three, then two, minutes and despite the presence of my husband Pete beside me, and the soothing words of reassurance from the midwife I suddenly felt more alone than ever.

The pain enveloped me, and I had a sense of the room kaleidescoping away as I

turned to the wall, tears coursing down my cheeks, overwhelmed by the task in front of me.

I wanted to escape, and somehow leave the labour room to retreat back into my safe life, before childbirth. But

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y memories of Mum will always be colored by the fact that she had a terrible accident when she was 52, and I was just 16, which left her profoundly mentally and physically disabled, incapable of looking after herself in any way for the rest of her life.

The long-term consequences of her accident were particularly cruel, since she was never able to take an active role in her grandchild’s lives.

Though Charlott never met her youngest grandchild Dash, Clover feels especially close to her mother when she looks at him She had been the most amazing mother to me, and always longed for me to be a mother myself yet, when I had visited her with Jimmy, 13, Dolly, ten, and Evangeline, 22 months, she was incapable of expressing happiness, sadness, or, indeed, anything else. When the spirit finally slipped from her poor, damaged body last December, I was distraught, but took comfort in seeing the strength of love she had given me as a child living on in my own three children, and tried my best to focus on the fourth little person who would soon be joining us, in May. One night, as we lay in bed, surveying the swollen contours of my belly in the 37th week of pregnancy, Dolly asked me if I was scared. I smoothed a look of anxiety from her brow and smiled.

I wanted her to know the truth that labour is the hardest and strangest thing I’ve ever experienced but I also wanted to tell her that it is, without question, the most extraordinary, enlightening and wonderful thing I’ve ever done, too.

So I told her that, yes, I was scared, since giving birth certainly hurt a lot, but really, I was more excited than frightened.

Because, despite the pain that giving birth unquestionably represents, my experience of childbirth is overwhelmingly positive.

Jimmy was born after eight hours of labour, and I know I’m lucky that each successive baby has arrived faster than the last, with no complications. Evangeline was born in two hours, only just long enough to get to the hospital in time.

A week after my conversation with Dolly, I went into labour a fortnight early, at 38 weeks.

And, as the familiar pain of a contraction coursed through my body like fire, I suddenly questioned what I had told

‘Come towards me,’ she said; her voice, which I had not actually heard for 22 years, so familiar it sounded like my own. ‘Come here.

Come over and meet me.’

For a moment I wondered, through the fog of pain, why

I feel as if her dealth and his birth have brought us all together, in a continuous, human experience that is much bigger than any of us can rationalize

then, at the moment I felt most hopeless, I became quietly aware of a third person in the room with us,wearing a long, denim skirt and a familiar, knitted waistcoat I’d last seen her wearing when I was a teenager, just as I had remembered her before the accident, my mother smiled at me.

,

Pete or the midwife hadn’t said anything about Mum appearing in the room, since she was so clearly there with us.

She smiled at me again as another contraction rushed up to me. ‘I’m here, just come towards me,’ she said, simply.

Four months after her death,

she had come back only for me. Far from scared, I felt nothing but relief when I saw her. I did not for a minute think that I was hallucinating.

It was not as if I simply had an awareness of her, a feeling she was present in some imprecise, spiritual sense, or that she appeared as a ghost.

But as I moved further into labour, I could see her, clearly, standing beside me at each step. When I felt scared, I looked at her, and she smiled a little brighter so that my fear subsided.

S

ince Mum’s accident, I’d always longed to see her again, as she once was. Since she’d died, I’d treasured the dreams I’d had about her, when, for a brief glimpse of time, it would be as if the clock had been rewound and the accident had never happened.

So, why was it during Dash’s birth that she finally

Continues on page 49

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014 — 49

British woman stuns Europe Continues from page 48 appeared to me, just as I had always wished?

‘Women in late labour are at the outer reaches of human endeavour, and can therefore have unexpected and extreme moments of heightened awareness,’ explains Virgil Clarke, an antenatal teacher with more than 30 years’ experience of working with pregnant women. ‘Biologically, these could be accounted for purely in rational terms by the cascade of endorphins and other hormones that are released in the later stages of childbirth, which act as pain and stress relief.

‘But, while we can pin these experiences down to a chemical reaction in the body, we also cannot discount the idea that, sometimes, a woman might have a profoundly spiritual experience.

I suppose it is worth saying that I believe firmly that our bodies are vessels for the spirit, and that, after death, we are, in one form or another, reunited with the people we love the most.

So, perhaps there was almost an inevitability to Mum’s arrival: she’d come to help me through the birth, something she had never been able to do during my previous three labours, while she was alive

Clover and her mum although barely.

I understood, unquestionably, that it was only in death that she could make herself clear to me.

And I knew, too, that there was no point in saying anything to Pete or the midwife, because she was not there to visit them.

Bridging the gaps between worlds: Clover’s experience shows that although labour is painful and frightening, it can also be extraordinary Her presence was deeply reassuring, just as her presence to me had always been before the accident. There was a sense of warm, cosy love emanating from her.

Between each contraction, I looked towards her.

What I remember most clearly was her smile: she seemed so alive and electric, I knew I had nothing to be afraid of. I felt both like a little girl again, but also more of a woman than I’d ever been.

With her beside me, the pain stopped being a terrifying force I wanted to resist; now, it was a force for good, taking me further from the room and closer to my mother out into the further realms of life that is the extraordinary experience of childbirth.

‘I felt like a little girl again, but also more of a woman than I’d ever been’ says Clover. Mum left the room as seamlessly and as quietly as she had arrived. When the moment came to push, she had simply gone.

NMA calls for reversal of resident doctors’ sack ...action is unstatesmanly, unsustainable and ill-advised - Enebulele

BY CHIOMA OBINNA, VICTORIA OJEME & RAPHAEL IZOKPU

T

HE Nigerian Medical Association NMA, has called for the immediate withdrawal of the suspension circular and unconstitutional reinstatement of the socalled sacked resident doctors, by the federal Government. Even as Vice President of the Commonwealth Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele described the sack of 16,000 residents as most unstatesmanly, unsustainable and illadvised.

NMA, National President Dr. Kayode Obembe who made the call in Abuja while briefing journalists said instead of sacking the resident doctors, government should improve the nation’s health facilities with a view to discouraging medical tourism aboard.

It will be recalled that two days ago, the Federal Government in a circular, directed through the Federal Ministry of Health sacking, all resident doctors in the country indefinitely.

According to a seven-point communique issued by the National Officers Committee meeting of NMA, the body condemned in totality the alleged presidential directive via the Federal Ministry of Health suspending resident training programme in Nigeria.

It said: “*NMA demands immediate withdrawal of the suspension circular and unconstitutional reinstatement of the socalled sacked resident doctors.

“Government should show commitment on her part in resolving the current impasse with the NMA rather than

resorting to punitive measures that will only further aggravate the already deplorable situation.

“Rather than abolishing residency training programme, government should show more commitment towards improving the already poorly funded programme.

The association noted that despite the strike action, it has been actively involved in the treatment of bomb blast victims and contributing to the control of Ebola virus disease epidemic in the country”.

It directed that no doctor should accept or collect any sack letter or sign any register opened by the government or her agents in the hospital.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no medical doctor no matter how hungry, should pick up any locus appointment with the government hospitals as directed by the circular.

“Any doctor who flouts this directive, does so at his/ her on own peril.

Reacting to the sack order, immediate past NMA president, Dr Osahoh Enebulrle said the decision of the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan-led Federal Government to suspend Residency Training Program (RTP) in Nigeria and sack over 16, 000 Resident doctors was not the best approach towards the resolution of the challenges in the health sector.

According to him, “It is undoubtedly an unproductive decision capable of further worsening the crisis and the challenges in the health sector.

“This latest action of the Federal Government clearly indicates that most of

our political office holders hardly learn lessons from history, or else why would a government in this 21st century apply a most draconian option that never succeeded even under the military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari in 1985 or the infamous authoritarian dismissal of

I wasn’t upset by her leaving, or surprised. She had come to guide me to that point, but delivering my baby was something I had to do alone.

Minutes later, a primal and ancient force overtook me, as my body let out an unearthly howl and my new son appeared and was placed, wet and slithering, in my arms, blinking and perfect, as if he’d always known me.

Dash may never have met my mother.

But since he experienced my grief at her loss inside the womb, it just seems to fit that she would come to me to help his safe passage into the world.

I feel as if her death and his birth have brought us all together, in a continuous, human experience that is much bigger than any of us can rationalize.

I know that meeting my mother after her death might seem improbable, but trying to understand, or account for, the powerful, mysterious force of the human spirit feels futile beyond scientific reckoning.

Yet it has strengthened my belief that giving birth is an experience that women should be encouraged to look forward to, rather than fear, as is so often the case.

Of course, labour is painful and frightening.

But my experience shows that it can also be extraordinary, bridging the gaps between this world and another lesson I hope to pass on to my own daughters.

Culled from Daily mail 774 doctors by the Babatunde Raji Fasholaled Lagos state government in 2012,” he stated.

He said: “I am most appalled by the use of an extreme, unwarranted and retrogressive measure by the present federal government, especially at this time of public health emergency when members of the Nigerian Medical Association across the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory are visibly in the field contributing their quota towards the containment of the Ebola virus disease outbreak, irrespective of the nonprovision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and a miserable hazard allowance of N5, 000:00k per month.”

Northern leaders insincere about Chibok school girls continued from page 3 His words: “Look at the issue of Chibok girls: they said they were 273 writing Physics, all the girls in one common village called Chibok. I am from Ondo state and our only resource is education. Let us think well, I am not saying that there are no Chibok girls. But in your own village where education is revered, since 1970, have you really seen 50 girls writing Physics in one day? Let us think about it, 273 girls writing Physics; that means there is need for science in Nigeria.

“I used to join the protest ‘Boko Haram release our girls’ but I got home and thought about it. The next thing America started abusing us, they even made American First lady to join the protest but later she stopped. And Americans came and started complaining that we don’t have equipment to search for the girls, then the President said okay please come and help us. They roamed the airspace and for over one month Drones were used but they could not find one girl. And I replied Senator Mccain, who was describ-

ing our President as one guy, and I told him, ‘your country came but could not find traces of these girls for one month so what are you saying?’ I said, please America come back and find these girls for us you are our father. They said they could not wait again and they left.

“And as at that time, the government of Russia made a statement on the internet that they will not waste time to join in this dream journey and that if Nigeria was serious and the international community wanted the truth that they should see what exactly was happening in the premises of the government of Borno State. People underplayed that statement but the whole world came and the girls are yet to be found.

“In Abia state today, the highest enrollment for WAEC, we assessed Umuahia which is the capital, we did not go to a community like my community, we did not find 70 students enrolling for Physics in a school but in Chibok, a community I first heard in my life when this incident happened, we saw 273. Then you can see the gimmick, they will come up to say seven came out, they escaped.

50 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014 —51

Ebola: We ‘ll begin clampdown on indecent public acts — Fashola

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has urged chairmen of the 20 Local Government Areas, LGAs, and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, to ensure strict adherence to hygienic environment as part of measures against the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. The State government however, said it was considering the enforcement of the 2003 Public Health Law, PHL, against any person suspected to have contacted the virus and failed to submit himself for screening and necessary test.

“The law empowers Commissioner for Health to compulsorily apprehend any person suspected to constitute danger to the society because he or she can lead to the spread of epidemic in the state and put such person

under isolation.”

Fashola who disclosed this while addressing health workers from the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, said the move was meant to ensure that residents who have contacted epidemic disease are quickly treated to avoid spread.

He directed council chairmen in the state to begin clampdown on the indecent acts of public defecation and urination, saying it “is not only unhygienic but could aid the spread of Ebola in the state.”

Fashola lamented that environmental officers were not forthcoming in the fight against the EVD, saying, “Environmental workers need to join in the fight for many reasons.”

The governor, while warning on the danger of not getting enough manpower to tackle the Ebola Virus scourge, declared, “If Nigerians are reluctant

to take the front seat for action that involves guaranteeing the safety and well being of fellow Nigerians and leaving same to foreigners, they would have no justification to being regarded as true professionals. The danger is that when it gets out of control, it may prove difficult for anyone to control the spread”.

The governor, who assured the workers not to entertain any fears about their safety, said they would always have full protection with the Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) provided in the hospital adding that they would always stay outside of the isolation centre.

He also expressed delight that some doctors and health workers are showing up to help in the battle against the EVD, adding that the Nigerian medical personnel are going to be in the first line of defense.

3million residents travel on water monthly * Cable cars underway too

By Monsur Olowoopejo espite several boat mishaps on the water ways, over three milD lion people travel on water month-

ly around the State. This was part of the disclosure by the State Governor, Babatunde Fashola while addressing business executives at a session organized by Mail and Guardian Africa held in Lekki recently.

The Governor, speaking on the theme, ‘How African cities will be the biggest drivers of the rising Africa story, said internally effort made on infrastructure, the governor said that. “Though. we are yet to complete our redevelopment of the water transportation in the state, our monthly ridership on ferries has increased from two million to over three million monthly.

According to him, “At least, 200 boats are operating on our waterways,” adding that more jetties and terminals would be build to further enhance the activities of the operators on the state.

On why the government decided to build jetties and terminals and not the operators, he said “It was clear to us that the boat operators could not afford to build the ferry terminal but when they discovered that the state government was committed to building these facilities, they began to bring their boats for operation.”

Fashola added, “And after we built it, they argued that they could not maintain the terminals, we decided to concession it out to private sec-

tor, who will manage the ferry terminals. The operators will pay parking charges while the government regulates their activities.”

The governor stated that the state government has commenced efforts to offer residents choices to select

their preferred mode of transportation apart from the overstretched road, adding, “The six Lagos cable car, the first of its kind in Nigeria is underway and we are in partnership with private organization to fast track its completion.”

Religious leaders, law enforcement agents, others parley on traffic compliance, security

By Olasunkanmi Akoni eligious leaders in Lagos State have appealed to the public, inR cluding members of the National

Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, as well as market men and women, to cultivate the habit of love and strive for harmonious relationship between them and the law enforcement officers in the state.

The call was made during a community outreach programme organized by the Lagos State Law Enforcement Training Institute, LETI, at Ojodu Berger Motor Park, as part of the efforts of the state government to stimulate seamless relationship between law enforcement agents in the state and the various communities where they serve.

The religious leaders include, the Chief Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen, Sheik Abdulrrahman Ahmad, former Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Sunday

Ola Makinde, National Chief Missioner of NASFAT Alhaji Abdullahi Akinbode and Senior Apostle Ajibade who represented Pastor G.O. Fakeye of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, (Ayo-ni-o) were unanimous in their call for cordiality and harmonious relationship between the law enforcement officers and the public.

According to Sheik Abdulrrahman, mutual understanding and acceptable communication is necessary for cordiality to exist between all the parties, saying failure to communicate properly and adequately can easily lead to misunderstanding.

On his part, National Chief Missioner of NASFAT, Alhaji Abdullahi Akinbode enjoined the people to always obey the traffic rules and listen to LASTMA and KAI officials when they give directives, saying obeying the enforcement officers is another way of being obedient to God.

Gov Fashola Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser to the governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina warned against touching corpses dumped on the road, adding that when such corpses are seen, contact should be made with the Ministry of Health or the State Environmental Health Management Unit, (SEHMU).

Ejigbo Fire station in limbo, five months after commissioning

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

T

he newly constructed and com missioned Fire Service Station built by Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, led by Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan is presently, lying down idle as it lacks right personnel and basic working tools for operation.

It will be recalled that on April, 20th, 2014, on a Sunday to be precise, the council, handed over the Fire Service Station located at the Council Secretariat to representatives of state Fire Service at an elaborate commissioning ceremony in commemoration of his 2,000 days in office.

The station had been left fallow as there are no personnel to man operations. Also, the fire engine promised by the state fire service is yet to be available.

It was however, learnt from a source that none of the several appeal letters sent to the office of the governor by the council boss was yet to be responded to.

One of the reasons adduced for non response was that if the governor takes active part in the project all other councils will come forward to seek such support in the areas which would have grave consequences on the financial purse of the state government.

Also, another reason gathered while the fire station is still not functioning is the allegation that state fire service authorities asked for N5.2 million for the training of about 20 personnel that will be working at the station which the council could not afford.

However, efforts to speak with council chairman and Director of the state fire service was to no avail as at press time.

52—SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 16, 2014

How ffirms irms cchec hec oduct heckk pr product faking and IDL ’s IDL’s repositioning move

Small businesses are the real engine that propel every super economy —Jacob hidi Jacob is an entrepreneur and author, then business and career development trainer and coach. He is the country director of HDF Projects International based in Abuja and Maryland, USA. Again, he founded www.findyourbestfit.com , a platform dedicated to helping Christian professionals with business, career, and relationship development opportunities. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard Business, he reveals the factors responsible for low performance of Nigerian development. Excerpts: You settled at training business owners, job seekers, career development, etc. what is your motive?

Business and career development training is only an outlet for a deeper desire to help empower people and organisations to develop their full capacity. Often times, life in a tough environment such as ours can force us to forgo who we are and what we can become. When survival is our highest priority, it is often difficult to see possibilities. Therefore, helping people see, pursue, and attain great possibilities is extremely fulfilling.

In a system like ours, how best do you think youths can be developed?

I have been working directly with Nigerian youths for many years now and I can tell you that the problem is much deeper than you think. Therefore, while we must continue to put out the flames of unemployment and restiveness, we need to thoroughly evaluate the damage our environment is doing to our young people.

A fruit never falls too far away from the tree just as it is impossible to get a good fruit from a bad tree. Unmotivated teachers cannot produce super talents, neither will an education system such as ours produce the Einstein’s and Bill Gates of this world.

Before you complain about the performance of our graduates, why don’t you take a look at what we are offering them?

As a nation and as a people, we, and I mean all of us, have failed them.

Therefore, we must first see them as unfortunate victims of our actions and treat them as such. Youth development is not only about empowerment programs, it is also about building and upholding systems of accountability for them to emulate. It is for us all leading the way for them to follow. Otherwise, we will build by day and destroy by night.

Nigeria is experiencing high rate of unemployment, how can it be solved?

One reason we have a high rate of unemployment is because there are

Jacob more people looking for work without the ability and/or enablement to create jobs. In practical economic terms, it is not really Dangote or the large corporations, rather, small businesses hold the key to job creation and sustainable economic growth. It is the real engine that propels every super economy. Therefore, the government must intensify efforts towards creating an encouraging environment for small businesses to bud and succeed.The present administration has done well with programs such as Youwin and other small to medium business support initiatives; much more needs to be done, but they cannot do it alone. All

,

other sectors including faith based institutions can no longer only criticize the government but take strategic steps to empower those around them. For example, in our church, we have created a strategic ministry unit responsible for the social and economic empowerment of our members.

We have completed a development centre and currently training and giving out interest free small scale loans to help our members with small businesses.

Diamond Bank ello Account Bank,, MTN launc launchh Diamond YYello

L

eading retail bank, Diamond Bank Plc, has launched an innovative banking product: Diamond

Y’ello, as part of its financial inclusion programme to reach the unbanked.

The Diamond Y’ello Account, DYA, which is run in partnership with MTN Nigeria, is a hybrid account that offers over 58 million MTN subscribers a fusion of financial services and telecoms incentives such as money transfer and withdrawal, account statements confirmation and airtime purchase amongst a host of available features and benefits.

Speaking at the launch of the account, Dr. Alex Otti, Group Managing Director/CEO, Diamond Bank Plc, said the Diamond Y’ello Account is part of the bank’s strategic programme to reach the unbanked population with innovative and easily accessible financial solutions.

According to Dr. Otti: “The Nige-

rian banking industry is over a hundred years old, but can only boast of only about 40 million bank accounts.

In the 14 years of mobile telephony in Nigeria, the telcos have grown to a robust subscriber base of 120 million customers and still counting.

That is why we decided to partner with MTN to bring our banking services closer to people who would like to bank with us but are limited by challenges within their environment.

Explaining the rationale further, Dr. Otti said: “What we have done is to make banking more accessible to Nigerians. To open a Diamond Y’ello account, a customer only needs to have a registered MTN line and by dialing the short code *710#, the subscriber gets a full NUBAN account number delivered by SMS to his mobile phone within minutes”.

The Diamond Y’ello Account is open to all. The youth and mass market segments of the MTN subscriber base as well as the unbanked

Overtime, companies have as a matter of policy decided to reposition their product (s) to the rising demands of the market.

The reason companies do the above is in two folds; to give consumers a new feeling, thinking, as well as giving the brand an edge in the market, and or to stem product (s) adulteration or faking.

While some companies undertake re-labeling, logo change or re-bottling to give drive to their product (s), if particularly the product’s market share is depreciating, or share of voice is being affected.

For some companies these activities are critical because consumers are always seeking for new ideas, innovation, and activities that will stir curiosity.

Consumers don’t want to see old images for too long, and that is why communication materials keep changing from time to time, a local manufacturer said.

As strategic as this exercise may seem, companies spend fortune to reach the predestined pinnacle of an anticipated level to bring back the product on track as a result of the above mentioned marketing alterations.

Several other companies have undertaken this step, and it has worked for them, giving imitators restless night, the closer the imitators come, the further brand owners move, whilst keeping them at bay.

Recently, Intercontinental Distilleries Limited, IDL changed the look of three of its flagship brands; Squadron, Chelsea and Veleta, the company said it is important at this period to redesign the bottles of the products to give consumers a new feel comparable to other foreign brands in the spirit and wine market in Nigeria, said the Managing Director of the company, Engr Patrick Anegbe.

Consumers Like he said during the don’t want to unveiling of the brands in Lagos, which was see old images characterised by artistic for too long, display of dances and and that is why fireworks at the 2013/14 customers Award night, communication where the company spent materials keep over N200milion in Lagos changing from massaging the business of time to time its trade partners, while pointing out that fighting adulteration in the market is in two phases. First, change of bottles which leads to checking activities of imitators.

The Managing Director who noted that the company’s strength lies in creativity and innovation, said; “from time to time we have to do that, and apart from doing that to make our product look more premium and more appealing on the shelf, it is also a way of checkmating adulteration. if we don’t do that, before you know it, they are almost swallowing you up. We make sure from time to time we are always a step ahead what imitators can do.”

The IDL boss who declined to give the cost of changing the bottles, agreed that it is expensive moving from one position to another, “but I don’t think it is very important now telling you exactly the cost of doing that.”

He went further to say that fighting adulteration in the market is in two phases, first we change bottles and also to check the activities of fakers.

Speaking on copying other brands bottling style, General Manager, Audit &Control of the company Umoren Akpan, denied saying: there is no way we can copy other brands in this market.

,

C

By Princewill Ekwujuru

and under-banked subscribers are especially invited to take advantage of the favourable account opening requirements and convenient features of the service.”

Reacting, CEO of MTN Nigeria, Mike Ikpoki disclosed that the Diamond Y’ello idea is driven by a commitment from Diamond Bank and MTN to ensure that technology is used to make life easier for people, saying further that, technology is a tool that should make life easier for people. This product is simple and accessible to all customers on our network.”

Also speaking, Dr. Pascal Dozie, Founder, Diamond Bank Plc and Chairman, MTN Nigeria, said that Diamond Y’ello is a hybrid account produced by two outstanding companies in their separate industries.

MTN spends 9 billion on corporate responsibility

MTN recently donated security vehicles to Cross River State even as it states that over nine billion naira has been spent in executing its social corporate responsibility on projects cutting across health, education and empowerment in the country.

Mr. Dennis Okoro, the Director MTN Foundation who handed the vehicles to the Cross River State government at the Government House Calabar on behalf of the company said the vehicles are meant to enhance the security network of the state and make it crime free.

Mr. Okoro stated that MTN decided to set up the foundation to meet its social corporate responsibility to the people and it has so far given back to the society a large part of its profit. “It is believed that MTN makes money in Nigeria and through the foundation, a large percentage of the profit is given back and we have sponsored one hundred and three projects in the areas of education, health and empowerment so far and over 9 billion naira has been invested in these projects”.

He said one hundred and eighteen vehicles have been given to eighteen states across the country and in the third phase which Cross River is benefitting, Edo , Ebonyi and Abia are also being handed five vehicles each.

The Cross River State governor, Senator liyel Imoke said in view of the large business portfolio of MTN, the state requires a more robust partnership with the company.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 16, 2014 — 53

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54—SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 16, 2014

Dedevbo to effect changes against N/ Zealand

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ESTERDAY the Su per Falconets of Nigeria arrived in Moncton as they prepare for Sunday ’s quarterfinals against New Zealand at the ongoing FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

The team topped Group C with seven points and is taking on New

Zealand, who came second in Group D. The Falconets left Edmonton on Thursday at about 11:30am local time, flew through Montreal and arrived at Moncton at 21:15pm local time.

The team already had a training session on Friday morning at the Harrison Trimple High School pitch.

All the players are in

good health and Osarenoma Igbinovia who was absent in the match against England due to injury, returned and joined the team in training.

The Falconets, on the other hand, have made progress in its previous appearances reaching the finals in Germany in 2010 and the semifinals in 2012.

Head coach, Peter Dedevbo says he needs to re-organize the defence before the game against the New Zealanders.

“We have to make some corrections in our defence,” he said.

“We had some problems during our last match as one of our defenders had to be moved to play in midfield because Osarenoma Igbinovia was absent but we thank God she is back.

Loveth Ayila of the Super Falconets reacts after scoring a goal against England with Asisat Oshoala and Courtney Dike during the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada . Nigeria won 2-1

MTN WGC: Port Harcourt hosts Eastern qualifiers the Eastern qualifiers of sponsorship, restated the

N

IGERIAN golfers are in for another weekend of excitement as

Nigerian Sports Awards restates call for nominations

U

NMISSABLE Incen tives Limited, organizers of the annual Nigerian Sports Awards have restated the call on Nigerians to nominate their favourite sports personalities for the 2014 edition of the awards.

In the press statement issued in Lagos and signed by the General Manager, Unmissable

Incentives Limited, Mr. Kayode Idowu, the nomination phase is the most important phase of the award process as no winner can emerge without being nominated.

Idowu added that the impressive performance of Team Nigeria at the just concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland is enough

motivation for Nigerians to nominate these exceptional athletes for the awards.

He stressed further that the awards is the best form of rewards and motivation that can be given to any athlete adding that the award will not only encourage them to strive to achieve greater

Ogunkoya burns with anger ...Says Nigeria not developing young talents

A

S the African Champi onships ended Thursday in Marrakesh, Morocco Seun Ogunkoya nursed nostalgic feelings.

At the same time, regrets rummaged through his mind because no Nigerian male sprinter could put up any serious challenge in the 100m final; an event Nigerians were once untouchables.

Ogunkoya during his time was the most feared sprinter in the world as fellow competitors like Maurice Greene and Ato Boldon showed him a lot of respect. Sadly though, Ogunkoya did not achieve his true potentials in track and field. He pressed a self-destruct button as it were and Nigeria, a nation full of dream killers helped him on the way to doldrums.

This is why today Ogunkoya is fuming. He argued that Nigerian officials have not really departed from the past, a de-

velopment that has hindered countless athletes from reaching the climax of their careers.

“We are just paying lip service to athletics development here,” said Ogunkoya who held the African record of 9.92 seconds from 1998 to 2006 when Olusoji Fasuba broke it with a 9.85 seconds run in Doha.

“Between that time and now what have we been doing? Does it mean that there are no longer talents in Nigeria? Must we now be pinning our hopes on only one woman?”

Ogunkoya, the first Nigerian to win the African Championships back to back 1996-98 queried.

He submitted that there are many athletics potentials in all states of the federation. He added that all that was needed was proper guidance; just like it was given to him when he rose from the junior ranks to become a world beater.

Ogunkoya rose to fame in 1996 after he won the National Sports Festival in Makurdi. At a tender age of 19 he became the youngest sprinter to break the 10 seconds barrier with 9.97 seconds run in 1997.

Under the tutelage of late coach Samuel Akinyemi and later Tony Osheku, Ogunkoya made quite an appreciable impact in world athletics, before personal tragedies, lack of encouragement and poor management put paid to his career. His attempt to re-launch his once promising career in 2001 failed to blast off the blocks and he retreated to his native Akure.

“We still have sprinters like me out there in the grassroots. This is why I have taken to coaching and my aim is to produce another quality runner just like me and also to honour late coach Akinyemi who was like a father to me.

things but also ginger other athletes, especially the young and upcoming to aspire for greatness.

He assured that the organizers and the award panel will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that this third edition will be better than the previous edition.

“So far I have two boys and one girl I am training.

They are doing well but I found out that, those in authority do not pay attention to what the coaches are doing and they seem not to care how the young athletes are groomed.

“Imagine the last golden league in Warri, some junior athletes including mine were not allowed to run. “ These athletes paid their way to the place on the premise that they will compete based on their previous performances in the golden league only for them to be denied. This is not very good for the growth of these youths,” Ogunkoya stated.

the MTN World Golfers Championship tees off today at the Port Harcourt Golf Club, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

At the Western qualifiers which held at Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Club, Lekki, Lagos, last month, golfers were treated to an enormously great time, playing the game they loved, networking and wrapping up new business deals.

The General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Mr Kola Oyeyemi, while speaking recently about the involvement of MTN with Golf

company’s resolve to always enrich the lives of its customers by constantly identifying with their passion points and delighting them at all times.

According to him, “MTN is the only consistent corporate sponsor of golf tournaments in Nigeria because the brand is always ready to identify with the passion point of its esteemed customers.

The fact that MTN is ready and willing to invest hugely in the game of golf explains the importance of the relationship between us and our valued customers.

He lamented that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria hierarchy is not looking inwards for genuine talents adding that the recent hiring of Greene by the AFN was a misnomer.

“If we had the money to pay Greene, then why don’t we have money to spend on our local athletes?

“Greene is my good friend. We used to speak on the phone, but I was not comfortable with him coming to coach our relay teams.

“What did he achieve with the team that the local coaches had not done in the past? If Greene was so kind to have come why did he not reveal to the

AFN the programme that was used by his coach to nurture him to greatness?

I bet he wouldn’t.

“If that money that was paid him was given to local coaches here it would have been better used. Nigerian coaches and their athletes are in dire need of support. We should look inward and do what we are supposed to do to get results.

“We do not need to recruit athletes from abroad.

It was from here that I was raised to become an international athlete. I still believe that we have athletes and coaches who can do it,” stated the former athlete.

•STRETCHING TO THE PAST... Seun Ogunkoya

Vanguard, SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014—55

MAN U VS SWANSEA

12.45 pm

ARSENAL VS. PALACE

Van Gaal banks on Rooney A

S Mancheter United play Swansea in the Premier League opener today at Old Trafford, Louis van Gaal has told Wayne Rooney he must relax if he is to be a successful leader of Manchester United.

Van Gaal believes Rooney has the potential to be an excellent United captain, but the Dutchman thinks the striker must not be overawed by the responsibility.

“I said to him (after the Valencia game): ‘Maybe it was too much for you as a cap-

Gunners eye three points

A

RSENAL kick off the new season against manager-less Crystal Palace today at Emirates Stadium.

This summer has seen Arsenal get their business done early and on Saturday The Emirates faithful will be rewarded with 3 new signings certain to start.

Debuchy is a like for like replacement for Sagna and has so far fitted in seamlessly in the right hand side of defence.

Alongside him Calum Chambers will be trusted to deputise for Per

tain’,” Van Gaal told a press conference. “But I said to him — ‘let it fly ’, because when we were (on tour) in the US, he scored a lot of goals, and made a great amount of assists so I wanted to say that.

That is in the pitch and on the training ground and I have explained to him also outside the pitch is also very important for me.

“And he accepted the responsibility and I like very much how he did train and also how he performed in the game and how he performed to hisfellow players.”

WEST HAM VS. TOTTENHAM

3 pm

Spurs seek win at West Ham T

OTTENHAM Hotspur will enter another new era today as they visit West Ham United for Mauricio Pochettino’s first competitive game in charge.

Spurs’s 10th manager in 13 years begins their Premier League season with a London derby at Upton Park as they again go in pursuit of a topfour finish.

Maigari

Continues from BP However, there was no member of the Chief Mike Umeh group even as Danagogo said he had earlier held a similar meeting with them and that they have agreed to work with Maigari. ”The NFF president has come to pay a courtesy call on me.

What all well meaning stakeholders have been trying to do all this while is tto ensure that all the problems we are talking about are resolved. We have got the commitment of him and his board members. You must be aware that I met with the other

5.30 pm

EPL kicks off

Mertesacker. An outstanding display at Wembley last weekend has left Arsenal fans raving over the 19 year old and hopeful that he can follow in the footsteps of Arsenals other Southampton recruits Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott.

Another position that is seemingly sewn up is the one of centre forward. Despite scoring 4 goals against Benfica and starting last weekend against Manchester City, Sanogo will surely pass the baton back to last season’s top scorer, Olivier Giroud.

Giroud has had less time on the training field as Sanogo but his awesome strike against City showed the class that he possesses. Dislodging him from the team will take something special.

Continues from BP

group a couple of days ago and they all have resolved that they are going to work together peacefully and they are going to make sure that the electoral process goes on with more people giving the opportunity to have forms to contest to ensure that the best materials will emerge as the next leaders of our football federation without any form of bias or restrictions.

"As a Nigerian, Maigari has the right to run or not to. It is his decision to make, he also has the right to resign or not to, it is not the minister that would decide for him. Whatever he would decide, he will announce it at the appropriate time", he said.

tania Stadium.

Osaze, who had a good performance for Nigeria at the last World Cup in Brazil will be inching to lead Stoke City ’s attacking assault on Aston Villa.

The former Lille, CSKA Moscow and West Brom forward, netted five times in 15 appearance for Stoke City last term and will be raring to improve on his goals record for Stoke.

Osaze’s former club West Brom host Sunderland, Tottenham are on the road to b a t t l e We s t H a m w h i l e Community Shield winners, Arsenal entertain Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal fans will be particularly keen to see if Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez will score in his first EPL match and lay the marker in the race of who emerges the top scorer when the league ends next year.

Ebola: Lesotho pull out of F/Eagles tie L

ESOTHO have been una ble to travel to Nigeria to play in an African Under-20 Championship qualifier on Sunday.

The Lesotho government has put a travel ban in place for people arriving from areas with Ebola cases.

“If we left for the game we would not be allowed back into the country because of the government order,” Lesotho FA general secretary Mokhosi Mohapi told BBC Sport.

“We won’t be forfeiting this game without a fight.”

Mohapi added that the LFA has written to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) about this chances of playing the game at a later date.

However they were yet to

get a response from Caf. that says they have not yet forfeited the match If Lesotho are forced to forfeit the qualifier it would mean that Nigeria qualify for next year ’s African Under-20 Championship finals in Senegal.

Lesotho were due to play Nigeria in Kaduna on 16 August, the Senegalese match officials has already arrived.

So far there have been three confirmed deaths from Ebola in Nigeria, with all of the cases linked to the death of a Liberian visitor to Lagos on 25 July.

The outbreak has claimed the lives of more than a thousand people, mainly in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 16, 2014

Ebola: Lesotho pull out of F/Eagles tie — P.55 Today’s EPL Fixtures Man U Leicester QPR Stoke West Brom West Ham Arsenal

EPL party kicks off in style

v v v v v v v

Swansea Everton Hull Aston Villa Sunderland Tottenham Crystal Palace

12:45pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 5:30pm

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

T

HE fun, glitzz, dra ma, razzmattazz, dribles, saves and breathtaking goals of the most captivating and entertaining league in the world, the English Premier League return to the stable today, with record champions Mancheter United kicking off the 20142014 season, with an home game against Swansea.

Mancheter United had a miserable 2013/2014 season, which resulted in the sack of Coach David Moyes. Dutch tactician, Luis van Gaal has been drafted in to tinker the English giants to winning way again, with anxious Red Devil fans waiting to see their team dismantle Swansea in

the lnchtime kickoff match at Old Trafford.

On the strength of what they saw in the pre-season, where Red Devils were unbeaten, fans are seemingly optimistic of a greast season under the guandance of van Gaal. With Wayne Rooney wearing the

caotain’s armband, expectations are high that the former Everton striker will fire in the goals that will lift United to the summit of the table, pend-

Maigari resumes on Monday

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

T

HE crisis rocking Nigeria football may be over as the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Tamuno Danagogo yesterday directed that embattled NFF president Aminu Maigari who was impeached last month by some board members should return to office on Monday in line with a letter from FIFA. The Minister who alongside Maigari briefed the media after a meeting that also had suspended members of the board, Ahmed Yusuf, in attendance said the development was in line with efforts made by stakeholders to bring the crisis to an end.

Continues on Page 55

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.National President, Labour Party, Chief Daniel (10) 7.Hausa Word for “Ten”? (4) 8.Kano State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi (7) 11.Former Brazil “Samba Stars” Skipper, Marcos (4) 13.Former Minister of State for Health, Mohammed Ali (4) 15.Country in Africa (5) 18.Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo (3) 19.Expert (3) 20.Newt (3) 21.Super Eagles Coach, Steven (5) 22.Police Public Relations Officer, Frank (3) 23.Devil (3) 24.Greek Alphabet (3) 25.Former Minister of Transport, Mr. Okechukwu (5) 28.State in Nigeria (4) 30.Germany Skipper and Bayern Munich Defender, Phillip (4) 32.Italian “Serie A” Premiership Club Side (7) 34.Traditional Ruler of Kano (4)

ing the outcomes of the other six fixtures holding later today.

In other games, Everton will travel to face Leicester City, QPR tackle Hull City, while Stoke City, parading Eagles forward Osaze Odemwingie host Aston Villa at the Brit Continues on Page 55

35.Bayelsa United Striker, Peter (10) DOWN 2.Kogi State Governor, Idris (4) 3.L.G.A in Enugu State (4) 4.Assistance (3) 5.L.G.A in Akwa-Ibom State (4) 6.Tanzanian Capital City (10) 9.Former CBN Director of Currency Operations, Muhammad (3) 10.Akwa-Ibom State Capital (3) 11.Denmark Capital City (10) 12.Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu (7) 14.First Chief Justice of Nigeria, Chief Adetokunbo (7) 16.L.G.A in Kebbi State (5) 17.Nigerian Currency (5) 26.Rug (3) 27.Relation (3) 29.Land Measure Unit (4) 30.Ethnic Group in Kenya (4) 31.He invented the Sewing Machine, Edward (4) 32.Objective (3)

SOLUTION on page 16

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