Jega Threatens Southern Commissioners

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From left: Mr Henry Egbiki, Managing Partner West Africa, EY, Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Honeywell Group and Mr Segun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment, when Oba Otudeko was presented with Ernst and Young Lifetime Achievements Award.

Itsekiri youths yesterday at the palace of the Olu of Warri protesting President Goodluck Jonathan's call-off of the groundbreaking for the Ogidigben EPZ project.

2015 APC PRESIDENCY

Fierce battle for Tinubu’s endorsement

By Our Reporters

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RESH facts emerged yesterday that contenders for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have intensified their bid to get the endorsement of Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The five contenders – former military Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah – are said to be appealing to various sentiments with a view to getting the former Lagos State governor, who is the most prominent APC leader but who is yet to come out openly to any of them.

As the deadline for the presentation of a presidential flag-bearer inches clos-

er, Sunday Vanguard learnt that all the contenders for APC’s ticket are now pulling all possible stops ranging from family linkages, to political alliances, business relationship as well as sentiments bordering on contemporary realities.

In fact, aspirant by aspirant, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that the pre-eminence of their relationship with Tinubu would play a major role in determining who gets the ticket.

Most importantly, leaders of the APC are agreed on a common possibility: That managing a post-presidential convention rancor could cost the party more, than having a house where interests are subsumed for the larger good of the party.

For instance, the Buhari camp is said to be banking on the very obvious fact that, without Tinubu and the former military head of state, there could never have been any party in the first

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

EMPTYING YOURSELF—1

By Richard Eromonsele

I guess you know what is meant to empty oneself? It simply means giving every thing you have. The question is how do you give everything you have? And which of the things can you give? Some will argue they don’t have anything to give but that is not correct. Every human being at birth came into this world with something he must give to the world. If you have not given anything to the world it is probably because you have not yet discovered your vision on earth.

instance because “it was the merger between the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, that gave birth to the APC”. An aide to Buhari said, And you cannot talk of APC without talking about Tinubu and Buhari. How that important relationship would today be sacrificed on the altar of mere exigency is unfathomable”.

For Kwankwaso, it was learnt that the relationship between Tinubu and the Kano State governor did not just start in APC. “Mind you, both men were in the National Assembly during the turbulent days of the Third Republic.

And both men are united in pursuing the need to ensure that the APC wrests power from Jonathan next year because they both have come to realize that the only way to rescue Nigeria from total collapse is to remove Jonathan from office. The feeling is mutual and the respect is also mutual. Both men are in talks and nothing is etched in stone regarding where the interest would swing”, a Kwankwaso ally said.

Sam Nda-Isaiah’s decision to pitch his tent with the APC, sources said, may not be unconnected with his progressive ideals

which he continues to propagate in his column. But beyond that, a Tinubu confidant said that “people on the outside seem to forget that Ashiwaju has a way of keeping his cards close to his chest and, just as Babatunde Raji Fashola emerged from the blues and became the Lagos State governor in 2007, all the contenders for the presidential ticket of the party today stands almost an equal chance of getting Ashiwaju’s nod”.

The most interesting of the permutations is the relationship between Tinubu and Atiku.

In fact, Sunday Vanguard gathered from a Tinubu insider that “Atiku’s decision to finally dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the APC was never a flight of fancy”. The insider added: “Recall that the fight to stop Olusegun Obasanjo’s impunity as President which Atiku spearheaded got the support of Tinubu.

And whereas both men were in different political parties, their relationship dates back to their days in the Social Democratic Party, SDP. The Tinubu that some people do not know is more potent that the Tinubu that people see at political rallies or social gatherings. What the Turaki and Tinubu have agreed on is that a level playing field is

Adigwe promises to bring back the glory of Delta North

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

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HE PDP Delta-North senatorial hopeful, Hon. Pascal Nwaoranine Adigwe, says he will bring back the glory of the senatorial district if elected.

Adigwe made the promise at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja when he submited his nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the 2015 polls.

He stated that he decided to join the Delta North senatorial race as a result of the years of experience garnered during his tenure as member of the House of Representatives for Aniocha/Oshimili federal

constituency, adding that in keeping with the ethics of equity, fair play and justice, it is the turn of Aniocha/Oshimili to produce not just any politician but one with vast knowledge in politics and the general welfare of the people.

“I am, without mincing words, the most qualified and has all it takes to represent the good people of Delta North”, he asserted.

Also speaking, a chieftain of the party and former minister, who did not want his name in print, described Adigwe as a seasoned, tested and grassroot politician who, if given the opportunity to serve, would bring abundant smiles to his people.

a condition-precedent to having a united house”.

In the case of Tambuwal, APC sources said that unlike others who went for the purchase of the presidential nomination forms, the Speaker of the House of Representatives had the form bought for him. “That in itself speaks volume of the goodwill he has. But he has himself said he is still consulting. And he knows that quicksand of politics makes the game a very dicey one so nothing can be cast in stone”, one of his aides said.

Indeed, Tambuwal’s emergence as Speaker against PDP’s zoning arrangement could not have been possible without the support of opposition reps in ACN and CPC. Last night, one of Tinubu’s very associates disclosed to Sunday Vanguard that even as the APC National Leader keeps his card close to his chest, “one thing is paramount: The overall interest and success of the party supersede anybody’s ambition”

2015: GLEEHD Foundation Holds Election Forum Series

BY EMMANUEL ASUQUO

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LEEHD Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with headquarters in the United Kingdom and an African Secretariat in Nigeria, putting together a 12-week election series.

The Foundation, chaired

by Dr. Christopher Kolade, a former Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, with an advisory board chaired by Chief (Mrs.) Opral Benson, Liberian Honorary Consul to Nigeria, was established to promote Africa’s renaissance by fostering good governance and democracy, advancement of economic and entrepreneurial development, promotion of

human and children’s rights, and advocacy for youth development and participation in Africa through partnership with African public institutions, civil societies, regional and international development partners.

According to the Foundation’s Programme Lead, Dr. Kiki Olurore, “as part of our good governance and democratic values promotion agenda, GLEEHD Foundation is introducing the 2015 election forum series to bring together political thought leaders, politicians, public servants, journalists, stakeholders and citizens to address issues that surround the 2015 election in Nigeria”.

Otudeko bags Ernst & Young award

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r. Ayoola Oba Otude ko, Executive Chairman of Honeywell Group, has emerged the winner of the 2014 Ernst & Young (EY) Lifetime Achievement award for creating wealth, value and employment. The Award was conferred on him at the just concluded 2014 West Africa EY Entrepreneur of The Year Award ceremony held at the Eko Hotel Lagos.

The award was instituted in recognition of highgrowth entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and

personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Presenting the Award, Ernst & Young Regional Managing Partner for West Africa, Henry Egbiki, noted that winners were chosen based on the critical factors of value creation, wealth management and employment generation among other things.

The contribution of Oba Otudeko has impacted on the immediate community of Honeywell Group through wealth and value creation in addition to a pool of highly motivated workforce.

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

•All Progressive Congress, Lagos State, gubernatorial aspirant, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon (left), submitting his nomination form to the party’s National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Kari, at the APC national headquarters in Abuja, last week.

•L-r: Anthony Owumi, Health Safety Security & Environment Manager, Seplat; Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, General Manager, Exter nal Affairs and Communication; Charles Ifediba, CSR; Chief Vincent Omorie, SSA to Delta State governor; and Mr. Elias Erukanure, CSR Coordinator, Seplat, at the flag off of this year’s Safe Motherhood Programme in Sapele.

EPZ controversy: NNPC invites Itsekiri, Ijaw leaders for talks in Abuja

By Emma Amaize & Egufe Yafugborhi

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HE Nigeria National P e t r o l e u m Corporation, NNPC, has invited Itsekiri and Ijaw leaders in Delta State to a meeting in Abuja tomorrow over the contentious ownership of the $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project site.

President Goodluck Jonathan abruptly cancelled his visit to Delta State to perform the ground breaking ceremony of the project, renamed Delta Gas City by the Federal Government, on Friday, following a threat by the Ijaw of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri SouthWest Local Government Area to unleash violence if he came without first resolving their grievances.

It was the second time Jonathan cancelled the ground breaking ceremony, having done so in June, based on the same reasons advanced by the Ijaw.

Secretary of the Leaders of Thought, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, confirmed to Sunday Vanguard, last night, that he was aware to tomorrow’s meeting.

An Ijaw leader, who confirmed that he was already in Abuja for the meeting, said, “The meeting is summoned by the Group Managing Director, GMD, of NNPC. They are saying they did not know that Ijaw actually own part of the land acquired by the Delta State government for the project and they did not even know that there is crisis of this dimension over the project site until we protested, last Wednesday.”

The Federal Government, in a C M Y K

statement, last Thursday, formally announcing the postponement of the ground breaking ceremony of the Gas Revolution Industrial Park, GRIP, said the decision was taken by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, after consultations with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State.

Sunday Vanguard was reliably informed that Uduaghan, who had stated 24 hours earlier that nobody could stop Jonathan from coming to Delta to perform the ground breaking ceremony, was taken aback at the postponement contrary to the claim that the decision was taken after consultations with him.

In fact, the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT, an influential Itsekiri group, led by Pa J.O.S Ayomike, never knew the President had cancelled the trip to the state until the day of the ceremony.

The Friday’s failure of Jonathan to perform the ground breaking ceremony of the project

had sparked controversy with many asking why the President would suspend a ceremony because of a threat by his kinsmen.

“President Jonathan’s refusal to perform the ground breaking ceremony of the project as fixed for Friday was a

show of cowardice unexpected of his office which should stand for the rule of law. He has shown that he has joined the Ijaw militants in building fences among the ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta and Nigeria”, the ILT said.

An Ijaw leader told

Boko Haram: CAN directs churches to collect special offering for the persecuted Church

By Sam Eyoboka

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S Christians in northern Nigeria continue to die in the hands of Boko Haram in its quest for an Islamic state, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has declared a day to raise money to alleviate the suffering of the brethren in that region.

Acknowledging the plight of displaced men, women and children scattered across the northern region, especially the three north-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and

Adamawa, CAN directed all churches in the country to collect a special offering on Sunday, December 7, to cushion the effect of the war.

Addressing 943 delegates from 29 states of the country and Cameroon to the 27th Word of Life Bible Church annual convention, tagged Jubilee Word Festival, at the International Gospel Centre, Warri, founder of the church and President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, confirmed that Boko Haram insurgents have shut

2015: ‘APC will win in Ondo’

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

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chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, Lucky Ayedatiwa, says the change Nigerians are yearning for would become a reality after 2015 general elections.

Ayedatiwa, eyeing the House of Representatives seat in Ilaje/ Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, gave the assurance while submitting his nomination form at the APC secretariat in Akure.

He pointed out that the

Sunday Vanguard, yesterday, “We are not against the EPZ project, what we are saying is that the project is on Ijaw land as well as it is on Itsekiri land. So it should not be named after Ogidigben, an Itsekiri community alone.”

The Ajuwaoyiboyami of Warri Kingdom, Chief

Ayiri Emami, alias Akulagba, lambasted Jonathan for abandoning the ground breaking ceremony because of threat by some Ijaw exmilitants.

He said, “The truth must be told that Itsekiri people can no longer fold our arms and watch Government Ekpemupolo in collaboration with some of his Ijaw brothers and a few Itsekiri dissidents continue to take what God has given to us.”

ruling PDP government, led by President Goodluck Jonathan, has failed Nigerians in all sectors and would be kicked out next year.

Nigerians, according to him, have not benefited from his transformation agenda as it has further impoverished them.

“By the special grace of God, the change Nigerians are yearning for will materialise in Febuary next year ”, the aspirant stated.

On next year’s elections in Ondo, Adedatiwa was optimistic that the APC

will dislodge the ruling party.

He pointed out that the APC would cash on the crisis within the PDP occasioned by the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to PDP to harvest members of the party.

According to him, the state will witness mass exodus of members of the PDP to APC in no distant period.

He said some leaders of the PDP had been negotiating with the leadership of APC in the state in their bid to defect.

down several churches in the region.

The delegates, made up of 584 male and 360 females, at the Friday morning interactive session, took turns to narrate their different ordeals, commending the CAN President for giving them a voice and hope where there was none. One after the other, they solicited the support of southern

Christians because, according to them, they do not see the relief efforts by the Federal Government.

R e s p o n d i n g , Oritsejafor announced that CAN had sent letters to all the churches in the country, asking them to collect a special offering on December 7 to alleviate the hardship of the brethren in the North.

2015: Why I’m contesting against Senator Tinubu — Odutola

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AGOS lawyer and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adetokunbo Odutola, says he is in the race for Lagos Central Senatorial District to give good representation and meet the yearnings of the people of the area.

Odutola, who spoke at a formal declaration of his ambition in Surulere, was deputy executive secretary of Surulere local government area and a senior special assistant to Governor Tinubu in 2004.

The aspirant, contesting the ticket with Senator Oluremi Tinubu, said, “I’m in the race to win our party’s primary ticket and the election proper because my people in Lagos Central are yearning for a better

representation in the Senate. They need a leader they can have access to and who would not be intimidated by the PDP government or give excuses for any inadequacy. I’ve offered myself and since I showed interest, the support of our party members and the masses has been immense. And I want to assure them that I’ll not disappoint them.”

He said the contest is an indication of the new trend of positive change in the APC, stressing: “Our distinguished Senator Tinubu came out to confess that her work in the Senate has been too depressing and as such she wouldn’t want to return for second term.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 7

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PAGE 8—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

•Scenes from the operation by South African to repatriate corpses of the Synagogue building collapsed home yesterday.

South Africa evacuates 74 Synagogue corpses

By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna, Evelyn Usman & Monsur Olowoopejo

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N a remarkable style, the government of the Republic of South Africa, yesterday, took back home 66 embalmed bodies of victims of the September 12 Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, building collapse.

The identified bodies, which had been under the care of the Lagos State government at the mortuaries of the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, and Isolo General Hospital, Isolo, were part of the 80 victims from Nigeria and neighbouring countries who lost their lives in the incident that is undergoing a coroner’s inquest.

As early as 4am, an entourage of South African government officials, medical and health workers, military and plain clothes security personnel, among others, began taking possession of the bodies at the Mainland Hospital morgue and Isolo General Hospital, from a special medical team set up by the Lagos government.

It was gathered that the high-powered entourage, estimated to number over 100, touched down shortly before midnight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos in a South African Airways passenger aircraft.

Soon thereafter, a South African Airways cargo plane landed at the airport, bearing a comprehensive shipment of incident response equipment that included four state-of- the-art refrigerated mass disaster, four pick-up

vans, waste disposal trucks, collapsible airconditioned tents, refuse bins, trolleys, body bags, generators, Personnel Protective Equipment, PPEs, etc.

When Sunday Vanguard arrived the morgue of the Mainland Hospital around 7am yesterday, it was a beehive of activities as not less than 50 members of the South African retrieval team were on ground.

Heavy guard The approach to the morgue was under heavy guard by a detachment of the Lagos State security Outfit, OP MESA ,who checked unauthorised entry into the premises even as no less than 10 South African men and women, dressed in military fatigues, were seen keeping watch as health officials dressed in PPEs loaded the corpses wrapped in sealed and labelled body bags, one after the other, into the waiting refrigerated mass disaster trucks.

The manual loading of the bodies, arranged in rows inside the specially designed trucks, each with capacity to hold 23 bodies, took over 10 hours, as the personnel who worked in teams, took scheduled rests in between.

Solid wastes generated from the activity were packed in tightly sealed bags and loaded into a refrigerated waste disposal truck for onward transmission to South Africa, while two collapsible airconditioned tents, one for decontamination of the personnel, the other for their relaxation were also set up on the premises.

Speaking on the incident, Lagos State

Chief Pathologist, Prof John Obafunwa, however, said it was in order and in no way suggestive of a vote of no confidence on Nigeria by South Africa. Obafunwa, a professor of forensic pathology, who supervised the handover of the identified bodies, told Sunday Vanguard that there was likelihood that more bodies would be identified in due course.

“We have been on ground since last night.

My colleague, who led the other team to the Isolo mortuary is also on ground. The success of this exercise is due to combined efforts of the South African authorities with the Lagos State government.

“The South African government decided to take this trouble because it is at liberty to do so. To the best of my knowledge, the South Africans have not complained of the

way the rescue was handled. We have been working together. If there are issues, I believe those involved in the rescue will talk and the issue may come up at the inquest,” he pointed out.

Collaboration Giving a rundown of the identification process, he recalled that five families of the victims had earlier presented themselves at the state government’s centre for collection of tissue samples for DNA identification.

It would be recalled that during his inaugural lecture on disaster preparedness seven years ago, Obafunwa had recommended the need for the procurement of similar refrigerated vans for mass disasters in the state, saying it would have been in order if Nigeria could boast 10- 20 of such vehicles.

Also speaking, the Chief

Executive Officer, TOS Funerals, Mrs Taiwo Ogunsola, praised Lagos State government for its prompt and sustained response.

Ogunsola, whose outfit embalmed all the victims of the Synagogue collapsed building, however lamented challenges faced in the preservation of the bodies for the two-month period.

Meanwhile, a minister in the Presidency, Mr. Jeff Radebe, who led the country ’s repatriation delegation disclosed, at a press briefing in Lagos, last night, that the process of identifying all the corpses from the Synagogue building collapse had not ended.

He said: “Of the 85 South Africans, we have received 74 bodies from Lagos State government and would be flown to South Africa at 10:50 pm from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, to arrive at the early hours of Sunday (today). This would be

Thugs invade INEC centre in Abeokuta, injure ten

By Daud Olatunji, Abeokuta

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ANDEMONIUM broke, yesterday, in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, when thugs invaded a centre of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Oke-Efon in Abeokuta North local government area of the state, leaving no fewer than ten persons seriously injured.

An eyewitness said the suspected thugs, armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, stormed the CVR centre located at the St. Mary African Church Primary School, Oke-Efon, Abeokuta at about 10:00am and allegedly attacked residents

already on the queue and being attended to by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Sunday Vanguard gathered that INEC officials and a policewoman attached to the centre immediately took to their heels during the melee.

The hoodlums were alleged to have dispossessed residents caught in the violence of their mobile phones and cash.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sam Olumekun, described the incident as skirmish, saying the situation had been brought under control.

Meanwhile, a coalition

of non-governmental organisations in Ogun and the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center, WARDC, yesterday, said the development had shown that INEC was not prepared for the general elections in 2015.

The two groups decried the shortcomings of the Commission over the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voter Card, (PVC) in the state.

Speaking at a press conference held in Abeokuta, Executive Director of WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi said the lapses during the distribution exercise had shown that the electoral body was not prepared to conduct the 2015 polls.

through a chartered plane.

“And on arrival at the airport, short ceremony would be organised for the victims and the bodies would be handed over to their relatives.

“The process of identifying all the 85 victims including the three from Zimbabwe has not ended.

He explained that those identified were through DNA test, adding: “The test would be conducted to identify others who died in the tragedy.”

The minister added: “Of the 26 persons who were injured and repatriated to South Africa, 20 have been discharged after they have been certified okay by our medical experts.”

Army College Students in Ondo

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TUDENTS of the Nigerian Army College of Logistics arrive Akure, the Ondo State Capital today on a five-day study visit to the state.

According to the state’s Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, yesterday, the study team will visit the Medical Village in Ondo, the Agric Village and the Independent power in Ore, Agro Business City , Epe and Idanre Resort and Habitat.

The team will also visit mega schools in Akure and Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba, Akoko, while there will be presentations for the visitors on the 3i’s c o m m u n i t y development and people oriented health care programme of the government.

SUND AY Vanguard , NO VEMBER 16 , 2014, P AGE 9 SUNDA NOVEMBER

2015: Why Jonathan should be supported -Ogbemudia *Says search for Oshiomhole’s successor in progress

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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WO-time former governor of old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, has urged Nigerians to see the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan as an investment in the long term inclusiveness and cohesiveness of the nation.

Ogbemudia, who broke his silence on the politics of Edo State, also hinted that the Edo Mass Movement, a political group across the three senatorial districts of the state, has names of credible governorship aspirants who will succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole in 2016, adding that the group will vigorously campaign for the candidate who will be chosen among them irrespective of the political party the person may belong to.

In a statement signed by the elder statesman, he urged Nigerians to support the fight against insurgency embarked upon by Jonathan, saying that the doggedness which the President has exhibited despite the crisis he is encountering shows that he “is that President we all can trust”.

On his search for Oshiomhole’s successor, Ogbemudia said, “The sitting government of Edo State is also midway into its second term and final term.

We now have some 18 months to prepare for our desired goal of electing a worthy successor to the O s h i o m h o l e administration. It is therefore a good time to reveal the broad results of the background that have taken place during the period of my silence”.

Disclosing that the Edo

Mass Movement, a dominant plank of the PDP in 1999, has been revived, he said: “The EMM has been

equipped for consequential grassroots mobilization. It is work for President Jonathan’s re-election in February 2015.

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

Another Samuel steps forward to lead his people (1) I feel qualified to write about Sam Nda-Isaiah, as a candidate because I was among the first few people who knew about his ambition to run for the highest office in the land.

It was a venture which many people considered quixotic. One old boy of one of our best secondary schools, reminded me of the story of Don Quixote, written by the unforgettable Miguel de Cervantes, 1547-1616. He thought the matter was a joke. But, I reminded him of Napoleon Bonaparte, who rose from such obscurity to greatness and Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer and Governor of Georgia, who, against all odds, became President of the USA. I was an early convert to Sam’s quest for two reasons – his courage and the chance for a clean break with the past which his candidacy offers Nigerians. Courage, to me, allied with vision and a sense of justice, is the rarest of all human attributes and I immediately enlist in the army of anyone who possesses that attribute.

‘My heartfelt sympathy‘we’ve heard it before “All cruelty springs from weakness.” ¯ Seneca RAGEDY once again has revisited our shores and being in the UK watching the news, makes me feel saddened and despondent. Yet, again there is no decisive plan as to what will be done to rid the country of these nefarious cold blooded murderers.

So we do what we do best.

We pray that never again that evil would blight our people. This has not been the case as we have become so accustomed to the daily diet of disaster and once again, we adjust our already battered psyche, shrug our shoulders and carry on, sleep-walking into another crisis until the next disaster and the cycle repeats itself, only to react with indifference again.

Do you get what I mean?

This is not normal and we should not treat it as normal. We are traumatised and there is no respite in sight. We cannot rely on our leaders, they tell us they are working hard to eliminate this pernicious affliction, they have not done so.

What they are doing is scrabbling for power and siphoning our commonwealth, diverted

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funds that should fully kit out our defence forces into their already bulging pockets and we have instead, a rag tag, demoralised army.

President Goodluck Jonathan issued a statement offering his “heartfelt commiserations” to those affected in Yobe State. And although he admitted that Nigeria had seen setbacks in its fight against terror, the president maintained that those responsible would be “brought to justice and made to pay for their atrocious crimes”.

We have heard this before and these sound bites carry no weight. It seems there is no real will or commitment to eradicate this act of wickedness.What is the government waiting for? If they have not done anything now why should the people wait for the end of this administration to act? Do people need more of the same next time around?

We have responsibilities to our children that their generation will be protected. Actually, we are responsible to ensure that they are protected and improve their living conditions. Alas, this is not the case and we have heard

The Declaration itself was not different from others in many respects.

The most remarkable being that it was not made in Abuja, but Minna because Sam is from Niger State and the Kakaki Nupe, a high class chief. He had simply ensured that his charity

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, had made a lot of noise about reform. But, it has been just a lot of hot air. The big investors still manipulate share prices, drive them up furiously and then off-load at a peak leaving gullible investors with losses to deal with

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began at home – instead of Abuja – which is the destination of this one man’s odyssey.

I made no contribution directly to the content of the address – so nobody can accuse me of grading my own paper. But, I am convinced that it touched on the most important issues affecting, and the

in Gombe State, approximately 127-130 kilometers from Adamawa State. To reach Ashaka, Boko Haram operatives passed through almost 130 kilometres of Gombe and the capital of Gombe State. Obviously, only a deluded person would fail to understand that Gombe might be the

all these pandering. It is not good enough.

I understand that there is a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. But how do you become a refugee and a sitting duck in your own country?

So pardon me,for stating the obvious but there is no amount of heartfelt commiseration statement from the President that could bring back the dead and heal the injured.

Communities are grieving for their abducted daughters, sons, brothers and fathers. What part of this tragedy can we say is someone else’s problem and not ours?So now we have enemies in our midst, they have taken to dressing up as school children and blowing up school age children. Where do we draw the line? What part of this disaster can be normal?

When is enough, enough?

There comes a time when the rose tinted glasses of tribal kinship, political and religious affiliation is taken off and we face reality. We have to stop living in a bubble and realise we are Nigerians.

Nigerians, this is not OK and this is not right. We cannot blame people that are guilty by association simply because they are living in an area when the marauders and cold blooded murderers are allowed to carry out their nefarious activities unabated.

It makes mockery of the national security and personnel. We need to ask ourselves who is really in charge? And is this the best we can expect from the government?.

The last couple of days

has been littered with tragedies you have to leave your blind loyalties behind and be humane, if we do not feel then, there is something seriously wrong with us as a people.

In Potiskum, bomb that exploded on the Assembly ground of the Government Senior Science Secondary School claimed the lives of at least 48 students and injured many others .The bomb went off from the bag of a young boy who walked up to the assembly ground after an unidentified car dropped this has become a brazen modus operandi.

The sources said the suicide bomber was dressed in white shirt and black trousers which is the official

,

A

nd Samuel spake unto all the [house(s) of Nigeria] saying, “President Jonathan had not been able to perform the most basic responsibility of any leader, which is provision of security to the people of this country”. I Samuel 7:3 joined with the third paragraph of the Declaration Address by Samuel Nda-Isaiah, APC, Christian, Northerner, presidential candidate, Minna, Tuesday, November 4, 2014.

There are two “Sams” prominent in the Bible – Samson, signifying power and Samuel, the visionary prophet and law enforcer.

Because most people tend to assume that Sam means Samuel, I had to ask Nda-Isaiah which was his own Sam; I already write for a Samson – our own Uncle Sam. I was not too surprised when he told me Samuel – the man who rose from obscurity to lead the house of Israel at a time they were under siege and getting slaughtered by worshippers of strange “gods”.

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most virulent social and political maladies, afflicting Nigeria today.

Let me briefly address three.

Security challenges have escalated from skirmishes, with Boko Haram, in Maiduguri metropolis in 2009 to stolen dynamite at Ashaka Cement and attempt to detonate a bomb at Apapa in Lagos in 2014. Take a look at the map of Nigeria, and you will discover that the two most distant state capitals are Ikeja and Maiduguri.

That partly defines the extent of escalation of insecurity.

Most Nigerians are still under the impression that only Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states are under fire.

Ashaka Cement is located

next state to fall.

Meanwhile, the dynamite sticks, stolen from the cement plant, could blow up structures (beidges, buildings, airports, power plants etc) anywhere in Nigeria. That was not the situation in 2010 when Yar ’ Adua passed on.

Surely somebody must be goofing for us to have lost so much ground to the enemy.…

NSE: WILL THE LAST TO GET OUT TURN OFF THE LIGHTS “Who will bell the furious bear? ..as stock market tumbles 11.52% in a week.” MERISTEM, PUNCH, November 9, 2014, p 58.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, made investors poorer by 8.88% in October. The first week of November slashed another 11.52%.

Cumulative loss now stands at 20.40%. On the aggregate, Nigerian shareholders have lost one fifth of the paper wealth in just five weeks. And the end is not in sight.

Incidentally, managers of large portfolios – pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds etc – whose assets are being savaged have not yet woken up to the fact that this is not a seasonal correction but a fundamental decline in the trust which shareholders have in the Nigerian capital market to deliver value over the long term. Furthermore, they have not noticed that foreign investors are once describe what followed; “the teacher on duty called his attention, asking him why he had to bring his bag to the assembly ground, but the bomber remained silent, ignoring the teacher.

His attitude towards the teacher drew the attention of other students who milled around him to find out who he was. The teacher then moved closer to him, thinking he might be a new student on transfer since most of the students could not recognise him”.

Those that gathered around this person, challenging his belligerence caught the full blast of the explosion. The dead were innocent school children and teachers who

We need to ask ourselves who is really in charge? And is this the best we can expect from the government?

dressing code for all senior students, and that he was hanging a heavy school bag on his shoulder. A witness said; “Many of us sighted him as he was dropped off by the car and watched how he confidently walked up to the assembly ground pretending to be one of the students, but unfortunately, he was immediately spotted by one of the teachers on duty who noticed his odd appearance amongst other students, by carrying a bag to the assembly ground, even though the school is a boarding school”.

And they went on to

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were in school to learn and teach. Those that survived their living hell have only just begun, they will have to deal with the daily trauma of survival’s guilt, anger, sadness, anxiety not to mention the flash backs they will suffer without any intervention.

Their families and loved ones will have to deal with this for a long time to come.

One student told the BBC he saw the mutilated bodies of fellow students at the scene. A resident reported seeing parents wailing at the sight of their children’s bodies at the hospital.

You wonder why the

again exiting the NSE in droves. They will not soon return – not as long as crude oil prices remain below $80; because of its implications for the Nigerian economy.

Nigeria’s economic policy managers must be the only people left on this planet who cannot read the “hand-writing on the wall”. Further declines in the price of crude will only accelerate the rate of sell-offs by investors. Those who delay will find no buyers, at any price, for their shares. That was what sent Transcorp from N7.50 to underN0.60 before it started a recover y, based on nothing substantial, reaching as high as N5.25; and now is heading back to the basement at N3.08.

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, had made a lot of noise about reform. But, it has been just a lot of hot air. The big investors still manipulate share prices, drive them up furiously and then off-load at a peak leaving gullible investors with losses to deal with.

LAST LINE: If in doubt about what to do, don’t ask your stock broker, he is part of the conspiracy; ask us. We represent the small investors who are being fleeced. We will tell you the truth always.

V i s i t : www.delesobowale.com or Visit: w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / biolasobowale soldiers who attended the site of the explosion were dealt understandably by the assembled crowds who pelted them with stones and accused them of not doing enough to halt Boko Haram’s insurgency. They were right when they said; “the government needs to be more serious about the fight against Boko Haram because it is getting out of control”. I think that is an understatement.

One of this that survived said: “I thank God that I am alive; but the deafening sound of the bomb affected my auditory system for several hours and “even from the distance that I stood before the blast, I found myself sprawling on the ground after the blast; that made me believe that the blast might have come from a huge explosive device”. And a grieving relative said his brother as a student in the school, died in the blast and he was about 16 years old.

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam in a statement , said: “Urgent action must be taken right now to restore a fast-waning public confidence by doing whatever it takes to stop the escalating violence.”

I won’t hold my breath and you wonder why people will keep their children at home and not send them to school. We know how much education means to our country,it will help lift our people out of poverty. May be, the powers that be don’t want that.

Imagine the knowledge and empowerment in the country, maybe then wecan really vote in the right people!

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 11

It would be recalled that Justice Olotu had among other top offices, served as

Solicitor General in our State - Edo. Why would such a beacon of hope of our people engage in selfdestruction just for materialism? I gave up on her when after reading several reports of how she was allegedly among some corrupt judges being investigated; I got to hear of her premature retirement. With a curious mind I still reached out in search of the official reason for her sack. What I found

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BOUT a year ago, the learned K. S. Okeaya Inneh, a renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and leader of the Bar in the South-South had declared that he had in his privileged position recommended Justice Gladys Olotu of the Federal High Court to be elevated to the Court of Appeal.

The recommendation according to the learned SAN was informed by what he described as the “outstanding judicial qualities” of the lady.

However, the SAN had to change his mind when he read a newspaper report that the lady had degenerated into gross financial corruption. Like Okeaya Inneh, this writer who has known the judge from when she was a young school girl and had also held the judge in high esteem has had to keep his distance from her.

was that her sack was due to her failure to deliver judgment in a particular case at the appropriate time. According to media reports, the National Judicial Council (NJC) was

The question concerning miracles (2) N otherwords, when people claim they have received a miracle in one form or another, a sufficient number of critical and well-educated people of trustworthy character and good sense to occlude the possibility of deliberate deception invariably dispute such claims - and for good reasons too, because appearances do not always reflect reality.

Human beings, especially in underdeveloped communities where majority of the population are poor and undereducated cling dogmatically to the teachings of Holy Scriptures concerning miracles, even when the phenomena in question are amenable to scientific explanation.

Hume argues further that reputable individuals who have a great deal to lose in case their claims turn out to be false hardly make testimonies of miracles, and the setting for the socalled divine interventions is hardly such that makes detection of false claims unavoidable.

Naturally, people are attracted to the unusual, the marvellous, and the extraordinary. As Hume maintains, the emotion of surprise and wonder, arising from miracles and being an agreeable emotion, generates a strong tendency to believe the events from which it

Perhaps some people

What this case suggests from our basic knowledge of the law of defamation is that the attack on the reputation of Justice Olotu was hateful

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

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dissatisfied with her lateness to deliver the said judgment for as long as 18months contrary to the constitutional provision that judgment should be delivered within a period of 90 days from the close of final addresses. Did it therefore mean that Olotu’s retirement did not concern her much publicized illegally acquired stupendous wealth?

originated. This tendency is more pronounced in religion, where the question of systematic empirical corroboration is considered irrelevant and unnecessary. Thus, if the love of wonder combines with religious devotion, the believer enthusiastically imagines that she experiences something whenever her beloved and highly respected pastor prays animatedly under Holy Ghost anointing, or “speaks in tongues.”

Moreover, the prestige factor, the acknowledged dignity of authority possessed by popular religious leaders and their overconfident repeated affirmations of divine healing through faith increases suggestibility of the devout, thereby making it extremely difficult for them to doubt promises of miraculous interventions in their lives.

On a general note, Hume acutely observes that, “The many instances of forged miracles and prophesies of supernatural events, which in all ages have been detected by contrary evidence, or which detect themselves by their absurdity, prove sufficiently the strong propensity of mankind to the extraordinary and the marvellous, and ought reasonably to beget a suspicion against all relations of this kind.”

Human beings interpret

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imagined that her retirement was an undeserved soft-landing gift from the judiciary because many people were convinced until about a month ago that the many their experiences based on the contents of their epistemic repertoire built on intelligence, memory, imagination, knowledge, experience and other mental powers. Thus, because these factors differ from person to person, what A interprets as miraculous to B may be just an instantiation of previously i l l - u n d e r s t o o d manifestation of a natural propensity. That said, air travel, space exploration, the wonders of modern electronic communication and medicine would seem utterly miraculous to someone who lived before the nineteenth century. To such a person, the very sight of an aeroplane landing and passengers disembarking from it, or organ replacement in an excellent hospital, would be extraordinary, because such events are not part of the normal experiences of life for him and his contemporaries.

Most claims of miracles in Nigeria pertain to health issues, both physical and mental, although a sizeable number of the faithful eagerly expect supernatural intervention in their businesses, family and employment problems. Sometimes, during special miracle sessions, people blind or crippled from birth claim to have been healed completely and instantaneously. Now, the pertinent question arises: How is it possible for someone who has never seen or walked to identify colours or move about in an instant?

These deceptively simple activities require prolonged learning experience to accomplish, during which the relevant

What this case suggests from our basic knowledge of the law of defamation is that the attack on the reputation of Justice Olotu was hateful. In which case, those of us to whom her reputation was unduly lowered should neither agree to shun nor avoid her and that we should ignore the deliberate attempt to expose her to hatred, contempt or ridicule as there is no basis to disparage such a reputed and honourable judge. This position is further organs of the body, including the brain, develop capacities for efficient sight and locomotion respectively.

Hence it is virtually impossible for someone with congenital blindness or severe deformity of the legs to identify colours or walk instantaneously.

Of course, a believer can always maintain that instantaneous healing was the miracle, which is beyond the reach of scientific comprehension.

However, he cannot have it both ways: if God suspends the laws of nature whenever

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What is the exact offence of Justice Gladys Olotu?

houses the media said she owned had in several places as well as huge cash amounts in different currencies must have been her undoing. Alas, last Sunday, we read the published judgment of the libel case she instituted against one newspaper in respect of the subject. The judgment which was in favour of the embattled judge had 3 main issues.

First, Olotu was awarded the sum of one hundred million naira (N100, 000,000) being damages for the libelous publication. Second, the offending newspaper was directed to appease the lady by publishing in full, an unqualified apology.

For effect, the said apology was also to be published in 6 other widely read newspapers as well as the internet. Third, a perpetual injunction was made restraining the newspaper from further publishing defamatory or libelous materials about Olotu

Most claims of miracles in Nigeria pertain to health issues, both physical and mental

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he chooses in order to effect a miracle, then he is capricious; if he allows phenomena to occur according to divine plan he established before creation, then either every occurrence is miraculous or nothing is.

Anyway, the miracles advertised on television seem to be stage-managed.

I believe that religious leaders desperate for converts sometimes pay unemployed and poor people to pretend to be blind, crippled, and deaf etc., so that during religious gathering or special healing programmes they can claim miraculous cures. Ironically, the

enhanced by the fact that the retirement of Olotu by the NJC was reportedly based on a different reason.

Could it be that no one in the NJC read about those weighty allegations? If so what could they have gathered about a judge being investigated? Could it be that the allegations were investigated but she was not found guilty of any of them? Thus, anyone who is unsure of the real offence of the lady has a point.

Under the circumstance, what she deserves is our pity and not anger.

personally responsible for ‘purchased’ delays or in fact purchased judgments should be similarly retired.

Unfortunately, that might leave us with no judge!

At the same time, we cannot afford to dismiss the revelation that Justice Olotu unduly delayed judgment in a case as being insufficient to annoy the NJC. On that score it may not be rational to plead for pardon for her considering that delayed justice has been part of the culture of our justice system for too long. To start with, whereas delayed justice in Nigeria occasioned by unnecessary adjournments is often caused by several factors, the failure to deliver a ‘ ready ’ judgment is the fault of the judge concerned. To that extent, NJC’s anger with Olotu may be justified. The Council is indeed free to assume that the delay was commercially influenced and proceed to sanction the offender but should it attract complete retirement from service?

Again, should the NJC deal with just one or two culprits? We submit that all judges that are often

If the NJC is courageous enough to set up a panel to examine valedictory speeches of retiring judges, it would find documentary evidence that many judges engage in unethical practices at the instance of the higher courts. Again I agree with those who believed that the delay by the Court of Appeal to deal with the Appeal instituted with respect to the Adamawa election petition of 2012 was a premeditated delayed judgment. In that case, the Court of Appeal was fully aware of Section 285 of our Constitution which states that an appeal from an election tribunal must be heard and disposed of within 60 days, yet the court waited till 72 hours to the deadline when it was cajoled to act by the Chief Justice of Nigeria before hastily ‘considering’ and delivering a ‘fait accompli’ judgment. But then nothing was done to those responsible for the delay.

The plaintiffs were only made to accept that the time was up - what took the time?

While waiting for an answer, we need to attack other unethical practices in our justice delivery system; otherwise the retirement of Justice Olotu could confirm the impression in some quarters that justice has a geo-political coloration in our clime.

miracle workers seem unable to heal family members, friends and loved ones with genuine health challenges, which strongly suggests, as already indicated, that public display of miracles are stage-managed to hoodwink the unwary.

Let us now beam our searchlight on the mechanics of miraculous healing involving large crowds of enthusiastic believers. According to M.B.O. Danmole, in God, Religion & the Scientific Environment, after a pastor or religious healer had, through whatever means, determined that a patient has the appropriate level of faith, what happens subsequently is neither magic nor miracle. The great irruption of anticipatory excitement and confusion characteristic of such gatherings generates a huge amount of emotional energy, which activates volleys of self-sustaining stimuli to the sensory organs.

Once the emotional state of the expectant crowd, including that of the sick person, is brought to this level of excitement and its p h y s i o l o g i c a l reinforcement in heart action and adrenal response, together with other physiological mechanisms in the sympathetic nervous system, the stimulus becomes selfconsolidating. This affects the peripheral muscles, which contracts and provides additional stimulus to the impaired organs, adding to the aggregate volleys of impulses delivered to the nervous system along welldetermined pathways.

Under the emotional effusion required for physical reinforcement, the lame and people with paralysis originating from cerebral lesions walk and move briefly during the healing session.

Incidentally, most times when the excitement subsides, the paralysis relapses. For the dogmatic faithful, such temporary healing, which is explainable scientifically, constitutes a miracle. Now, if the disability in question stems from habit or from contrived behaviour such as hysteria, the temporary stimulation achieved during a healing session may effect a permanent cure. Of course, faith healing can also cure severe disabilities but only on the level of subjective behaviour integration, that is to say, the sick person may accept or ignore the disability.

Many instances of purported miracle or faith healing are instances of spontaneous remission, autosuggestivity, and placebo effect. Our bodies and minds repair themselves naturally through these mechanisms studied by experts in psychology and related medical sciences. extraordinary justification of unusual occurrences.

In conclusion, charlatans masquerading as miracle workers would continue to exploit the gullibility and intellectual laziness of Nigerians by reinforcing belief in miracles through legerdemain. As Bertrand Russell wryly remarked, folly is perennial; but the consolation is that not everyone can be fooled with exaggerated and irrational claims of miracles.

Concluded.

PAGE 12 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

WE ARE ALL BOKO HARAM President who was defeated by Boko Haram, and that under his watch a small rag tag army of insurgents grew into the wind that lifted the feathers that hid Nigeria’s sovereign anus – the rot in Nigeria’s national security and defense administration; the fact that Nigeria’s Armed Forces was perhaps, after all the “gra-gra” of brutal military dictatorships, no more than a rag tag force with limited operational capacity.

Now, where did all those billions in National Defence budgets over the

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OKO Haram’s latest onslaughts in Potiskum and Mubi this past week draw our attention once again to the growing strength and defiance of its terrorist operations. If anything has defined the Jonathan presidency, it has been the Boko Haram insurgency, the single most dangerous political development in Nigeria since the civil war.

In a sense, Jonathan is struggling with history, and the nature of his presidential legacy.

Years from now, when all the dust settles, Goodluck Jonathan will be remembered not by how under his watch, Nigerian contained the spread of the Ebola virus, and effectively managed a potentially dangerous public health disaster; he would not be remembered for his government’s commitment to reviving the National Rail Services, long abandoned by regimes before him, nor his significant investment and success in rebuilding public infrastructure.

People will not remember that the Lagos – Benin Federal highway was impassable before its rehabilitation by the Jonathan administration, and that it once took seven hours to get to Benin from Lagos on that same road; they will not remember some of the obvious successes of the Jonathan administration. But they will remember him as the

motivated. Nigerians will only remember that under his uncertain, and rather wishy-washy national defence and security policy, Boko Haram became uncontainable. His legacy will also be marred by the perceived depth of institutional corruption in his administration. This perception that Jonathan’s government has not only tolerated unbridled corruption, but has shielded and in fact legitimized some of the most corrupt figures in Nigerian history haunts his administration, and many Nigerians connect it with the

Who is to blame? The president? No. Nigerians have proved incapable of compelling their reps in the National Assembly to demand clear action from the president, or failing which impeach him for incompetence

years go? Nigerians will not remember even as Olatunji Dare has let us know last week in his column in the Nation that for years as Babangida’s Defence minister, Sani Abacha “chopped” money budgeted for military equipment, or that even the last President, Obasanjo, systematically defanged the Armed Forces, and that Jonathan inherited a very skeletal and operationally weak force – ill-trained, illequipped and ill-

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perceived inability of his government to deal forcefully with Boko Haram’s funding source. It is true that the president has on many occasions declared himself personally innocent of corruption, and has even gone further to claim that he has neither a foreign bank account, nor has he sent any of his children to school outside the shores of Nigeria as further indication of his commitments to nation,

and has on many occasions challenged his traducers to bring any proof otherwise of his personal corruption.

Yet a number of actions taken by his administration, his critics say, has legitimized corruption as the official policy of the administration. Three examples: the administration continues to run NNPC and the Petroleum ministry as hermetically sealed places.

Jonathan certainly inherited Obasanjo’s model of a secretive and unaccountable oil ministry which has made Diezani Madueke Nigeria’s most powerful Oil Minister to date.

The President’s public pardon of his corrupt former boss, Dipreye Alamieyeseigha, under whose tenure he first served as Deputy governor in Bayelsa, and who had been jailed for serial acts of corruption was a huge public relations mistake, as well indeed as his government’s pay-off in billions in Ports contracts and oil bunkering to former Niger-Delta “militants” like Tompolo who have become the scowling faces of “resource control.”

The cozying-up with the former armed militants from the Niger Delta who staged kidnaps, burned oil pipelines, and conducted terrorist attacks on government facilities, many say laid the initial grounds for Boko Haram fighters, who saw clearly, in the Federal government’s policy of appeasement, that it pays in the long-run to raise arms against Nigeria and foment terror, at the end of which you negotiate armistice and get your huge pay off, and become “government pikin.” It was this model of appeasement

or as Babangida once put it, “settlement,” that was behind the failed ceasefire bid with Boko Haram; which had the administration confidently declare an end in the insurgency, only to have within the same day, Boko Haram widen its operations, capture new towns, and send out new suicide bombers. There are those who have described Boko Haram as a mere fissiparous movement in the North, which is funded by a discontented, and shadowy Northern political class bitter about its absence from the center and commanding heights of Nigeria’s political power since the end of military rule. I’m afraid Boko Haram can longer be so easily dismissed and described in those weary terms. I think it is now fair to say that every Nigerian is now Boko Haram.

I will return to this shortly. But let me touch on Jonathan’s perceived failures to act. In fact, Odigie Oyegun, National Chairman of the opposition APC was quoted in the papers saying that on Boko Haram, “Jonathan has abandoned us all” – meaning ordinary Nigerians, particularly up there in the North. The trouble with Oyegun’s declaration is that, in none of this does he state his party’s alternative policy.

APC has never come out with a clear alternative framework on how an APC government would deal with Boko Haram. We do not have APC’s word on this; not even a clear-eyed policy critique by the party’s National Defence and Security Policy Commission on this administrations policy, but always a harangue. But that said, here is what should rile Nigerians: last week, Nigeria’s

Ambassador to the US declared at the US Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, that the US refusal to sell arms to Nigeria to combat Boko Haram amounts to some kind of “American wonder.”

Duh! I say. America is not obligated to sell arms to Nigeria, neither is South Africa. There is a free arms market; Nigeria can go to China or Korea or even Zimbabwe to buy arms.

America has acted on its own highest principles and Adefuye and his principals should live with it. Indeed, Nigeria should be ashamed that it has to depend on other nations to supply it with the tools and equipment it needs to defend its own people.

Nations that depend on others to supply its instrument of war and selfdefence become slaves to others. Why has Nigeria been unable to produce its own military equipment?

Why does Nigeria have Universities, Polytechnics, and Research Institutes?

These are questions Nigerians do not ask. Who benefits from Nigeria’s arms importation rather than production? President Jonathan is fighting with what he has: an incompetent security protocol, and an underequipped force – and the results are glaring. Who is to blame? The president?

No. Nigerians have proved incapable of compelling their reps in the National Assembly to demand clear action from the president, or failing which impeach him for incompetence.

Why can’t Nigerians summon their sovereign will? Because, all things considered, we are all Boko Haram. Because in our various little corners, we are all too busy fighting our small, insurgent battles with the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

DINNER IN HONOUR OF THE LATE TAYO AKPATA A concert dinner was held in honour of the late Chief Omotayo Osayande Akpata in Lagos at the weekend.

L-R: Mr. Olabode Emmanuel, Dr. Gabriel Soyoye and Mrs. Sijuola Soyoye.

L-R: Mrs. Biodun Akinfenwa; widow of the deceased, Mrs. Olabisi Akpata; and Mrs. Omotunde Sobo

L-R: A former Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Femi Okunnu; Prof. Theo Ogunbiyi and a former Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Philip Asiodu.

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L-R: Hon. Chevalier Uduimo Itsueli; a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia; and his wife, Awuneba.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 13

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Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 15

the query, in the possession of Sunday Vanguard, is seething with rage. Issued on November 11, 2014 – the day the Commission bowed to national pressure on the lopsided allocation of the PUs – it was signed by Jega himself.

Dependable sources at the INEC Zambezi Street headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, disclosed that “shortly after Tuesday’s stormy meeting, the Turks who have remained adamant in their own vision and mission of how next year’s election should be determined, made the Chairman understand that he needed to demonstrate that he was in charge”. How the man believed to be cerebral, energetic and visionary as well as integrity-filled allowed himself to become a tool in this unfolding drama may be a mystery psychologists would have to conduct a research into.

The query was titled, ‘QUERY FOR REFUSAL TO SUBMIT REPORTS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECONFIGURATION OF POLLING UNIT STRUCTURE AND CREATION OF ADDITIONAL POLLING UNITS’.

It read: “The Commission, by letter dated 16th October 2014, directed all Resident Electoral Commissioners to submit your respective reports on the reconfiguration of Polling Units structure and creation of Polling Units on or before 30th October, 2014. “At the Commission Meeting today, 11th November

•Jega

PLO UNITS FAILED RIGGING PL OT AND 30,000 POLLING UNIT S

Jega Threatens Southern Commissioner s •Logistics Committee as the new game- changer •How INEC broke the law

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BY JIDE AJANI

AVEAT: The expose on INEC is not about personalities; but about the need to ensure that an enduring process based on equity and fairness is bestowed on the nation.

At a time when Nigerians were just heaving a sigh of relief that, at last, Professor Attahiru Jega, National Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yielded to the voice of reason by suspending the controversial allocation of the additional 30,000 Polling Units, PUs, there are strong indications that there is yet no retreat no surrender on the part of those pushing an agenda to use INEC as an instrument of rigging next year’s general elections. This fresh discovery by Sunday Vanguard is going to the wrought through the instrumentality of the distribution and allocation of

voting materials on the day of election (read logistics). That is not all. The main drivers of the Commission are also set to redeploy Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, of northern origin to the South to handle the 2015 elections because of the belief that some RECs in the South did not go along with the disguised rigging plot based on the lopsided allocation of the PUs. Already, Jega has sent out a threat to the RECs in the South.

Professor Attahiru Jega, National Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has issued a query laden with an ultimatum to Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, in some southern states of Nigeria. This is not unconnected with the failed attempt by some individuals at the Commission,

INEC has no legal basis for proposing to use criteria such as the unexplainable ratio of 85%,15% as well as additional 121 polling units to all states on the basis of equality of state because where the Constitution stipulated equality of state such as three senatorial districts, it was clearly written who misled its Chairman, to create additional 30,000 Polling Units, PUs, which were then shared in a most bizarre manner, giving the North over 21,000 and allocating a little over 8,000 to the entire South of Nigeria. A copy of

2014, it was observed that you have refused, failed or neglected to comply with the above directive within the deadline given or since then”. That was not all. The query then set an ultimatum as follows: “The Commission has directed

that you explain, in writing, the reasons for your conduct within 7 days from the date of this letter.

“Yours sincerely, “Professor Attahiru M. Jega, OFR Chairman.”

For those who may not have been following the reported hidden agenda in INEC, the “reports on the reconfiguration of Polling Units structure and creation of Polling Units”, which Jega referred to in his query are nothing more than the warped allocation that an INEC Commissioner in Abuja described to Sunday Vanguard as “meaningless and ungodly”.

Indeed, the said memo was issued after an inconclusive meeting on how to proceed. The memo itself, sources further disclosed, did not set out any particular criteria on how to establish the PUs but, rather curiously, expected the RECs to fashion out the execution of an agenda they are not a part of. Interestingly, the RECs in the North carried out “their master’s wish”. However, because the agenda was meant to peddle false altruism hinged on a supposed need to get PUs closer to the electorate, daylight came upon Jega’s magic.

HOW INEC BROKE THE LAW INEC is in breach of the law.

Section 42 of the Electoral Act is the legal basis for the creation/ allocation of units. The Section specifically refers to Registration Areas (RAs) as the basis for creating PUs. The creation of new PUs on state basis is faulty and contrary to the law. For the purpose of clarity, Section 42 states: – “The Commission shall establish sufficient number of Polling Units in each registration area and shall allot voters to such Polling Units”. Therefore, INEC has no legal basis for proposing to use criteria such as the unexplainable ratio of 85%,15% as well as additional 121 polling units to all states on the basis of equality of state because where the Constitution stipulated equality of state such as three senatorial districts, it was clearly written.

Not using the RAs as prescribed by law led to the now suspended inequitable and arbitrary allocation of PUs. There are 8,809 RAs in Nigeria, of which 4,611 (52%) are in the North and FCT, and 4,198 (48%) are in the South.

If 30,027 PUs are to be created, using the appropriate legal requirement, RAs, it follows that 15,614 of these PUs i.e approximately 52%, should be allocated to the North and 14,413, i.e approximately 48%, should be in the 17 states of the South. This is the only legal, fair, just and equitable distribution that will be acceptable, using RAs as stipulated by law.

IN JEGA’S OWN WORDS It would be recalled that shortly after his assumption of office, one of the early steps taken that started the process of restoration of public confidence in INEC, before the nationwide voters registration, was Jega’s declaration that it had commenced the process of verification and relocation of PUs nationwide to ensure that PUs in

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Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

Continued from page 15 the homes, compounds, places like Okija Shrine, traditional rulers/ emirs palaces, and places of worship were relocated to open and accessible public places.

This was commended by Nigerians who know that truly PUs were located in the premises of powerful politicians and these were used to rig elections.

After the 2011 elections, the Chairman of INEC, in his keynote address on the role of editors during elections, at the 7th All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC, Benin 2011), on Thursday, September 22, 2011, further confirmed what his Commission had told Nigerians when he said: “Before embarking on the registration of voters, the Commission established the exact location of PUs throughout the country and verified the number to be 199, 976 - which is 24 short of the 120,000 that was on record”.

What should be of serious concern to Nigerians is the revelation from the meeting of last Tuesday where the PUs’ proposal was suspended. At the meeting to consider reports from the states, almost all the states from the North each presented reports of relocation of over 1,000 PUs from inappropriate locations to accessible and open places whereas the states in the South did not have such reports. There are questions Jega must, therefore, answer, in the light of this revelation: *How do Nigerians reconcile this revelation of this new relocation of inappropriate location of PUs in the northern states if it had been done in 2011 as publicly declared by INEC as noted previously? *Does this mean that these states did not carry out this directive prior to the 2011 elections and voting took place in those places? *Could it be that after the 2011 elections, these thousands of PUs were returned to these inappropriate locations warranting this relocation now? *Does the absence of such reports from the South indicate that it was carried out as at that time and there was nothing to relocate again? *What does INEC intend to do with these revealed and identified PUs that hitherto had been in secret or inappropriate places given the suspension of the PUs creation exercise?

To now properly situate the malady in INEC’s northern flank, please read carefully Jega’s announcement of the suspension of the allocation of the 30,000 PUs: “The Commission met today and reviewed reports from the State Offices on Reconfiguration and Creation of Additional PUs. The Commission decided, in view of time constraint and the controversy over the matter that is overheating the polity, to: 1) suspend the creation of new PUs until after the 2015 general elections; 2) continue with the existing practice of using Voting Points to decongest PUs; 3) as much as possible relocate all PUs in unsuitable locations to more suitable locations and 4) ensure that as much as possible PUs in open spaces are moved to classrooms or suitable enclosures, such as tents. Formal communication will follow asap.

Jega Threatens Southern Commissioners Best regards.” Now these posers: *If the directive to move PUs to another location is carried out just two months to election, what name shall it bear now? *How would this change to another location be reflected on the register of voters that bears the old names? *What happens to the PVC that bears the codes of the locations already given to voters? *What happens to those Guides to Polling Units that INEC normally gives to journalists and election observers would these sudden changes be reflected? *How would voters know that their PUs have been re-located when these same apathetic voters, despite INEC’s publicity, have not responded impressively to the collection of PVC? *Above all, except for inappropriate location of PUs, has INEC thought of the reaction of stakeholders (political parties, election monitors, journalists, et al) to this idea?

THE SUPER COMMISSIONERS INSIDE INEC There are three National Commissioners at INEC who can be described as operating like Nigeria’s post-civil war Super Perm Secs. These three people were the ones who pushed, last Tuesday, for a hard line against RECs from the South. Their offence was that they failed to go along with and be complicit in the lopsided allocation of PUs. The suggestion was first put forward by Hajia Amina Zakari. But you need to understand these individuals: *Engr. Nuru Yakubu This very intelligent individual hails from Yobe State in Nigeria’s North-East. He is at the head of the team that provides the intellectual content. However, starting from failed delimitation and review of wards to the controversial lopsided allocation of the 30,000 PUs, using invidious criteria of an unexplainable ration of 85% and 15% that gave the North more, there seems to be a driving force. He is reputed to be very ambitious – there is no crime in that. But there is said to be mutual suspicion between him and Jega. INEC insiders disclosed last week to Sunday Vanguard that as close as both men are, this ambitious disposition made the Chairman not to allow him act on his behalf whenever he is not on seat. Again, it was revealed that some elders had to call both Jega and Yakubu to quench what was being perceived as a rivalry in view of the power game ahead of 2015.

So far, Yakubu has done well in advancing the cause of the job he appears to be set out for at INEC. Last Tuesday, Jega empowered

way for alleged northern control of the recruitment of new staff into INEC. *Amb. Mohammed Wali An ardent promoter of the previous allocation of the PUs, he never gave up until the policy was reversed last Tuesday.

What should be of serious concern to Nigerians is the revelation from the meeting of last Tuesday where the PUs’ proposal was suspended. At the meeting to consider reports from the states, almost all the states from the North each presented reports of relocation of over 1,000 PUs from inappropriate locations to accessible and open places whereas the states in the South did not have such reports him with the headship of the Committee of Logistics in addition to the Operations Committee that he heads. By this development, Yakubu is now effectively in charge of the heart and soul of the 2015 elections.

This even becomes more egregious because if a man has tried to set a template of PUs distribution in a manner that presents the impression that the North must by all means lord it over the South of Nigeria, to now hand him the responsibility of logistics, election materials and staff deployment, what guarantees are there that the same South of Nigeria would not be de-supplied election materials on election day?

Worse still, the Nigerian Constitution mentions “substantial compliance” and not full compliance when issues of election disputes are taken to court. All these are happening despite the fact that Jega has no executive power but his colleagues have all surrendered to him and are treated like mere staff of INEC

and not equals wherein the Chairman is just the first.

Hajia Amina Zakari She once worked with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari at the PTF and is referred to at INEC as “Madam Know All”.

She is described as a National Commissioner who wants to do the job of everybody. This is a complement in a situation where things may appear not to be moving in the right direction.

But determining the right direction in the light of a shambling and shambolic election management body may itself be foggy. Even though she was the chair of election and political monitoring committee until last Tuesday when she was reassigned, she took charge of the recruitment exercise carried out last year whereas she was not the head of the Human Resources Committee that led previously by Mrs. Thelma lremiren who was removed by Jega ahead of the recruitment exercise to pave the

JOB FOR HIRE The further empowerment of the northern Turks to organize and control the 2015 elections creates the anxiety that this may be another phase of the project which motivated the lopsided PUs creation that has polarized the Commission along regional lines because it allocated to the NorthWest 7,906, the North-East 5,291, and the North-Central 6,318, while it allotted to the South-West 4,160, South-South 3,087 and South-East 1,167 and the FCT 1,120 which led to the following clear disparities: § 11 out of the 12 states which got over 1,000 new PUs were in the North § States such as Katsina, Kano, Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara, just like the FCT Abuja, EACH got more new PUs than the entire South-East. § INEC prepared new facilities for over 500,000 new voters in 11 states in the North and only Lagos in the South § Borno and Yobe States, with over 400,000 internally displaced persons who have moved to several states in the Middle Belt and South, got 1,333 and 790 new PUs allocations, respectively, when peaceful states with larger numbers of eligible voters in the South from data used by INEC got nothing. The clear inequities, which the issue raised, led to several actions to stop the creation of the new polling units by prominent leaders in the SouthWest, South-East and SouthSouth including a challenge in court brought forward by the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, led

by Chief Fredrick Fasheun.

Currently, it is doubtful if INEC has actually put the matter to rest to concentrate on the important issues of the Permanent Voter Cards distribution and Continuous Voters Registration process which have been bedeviled by scheduling failures.

As at the time the Commission suspended the creation of the new PUs, Jega had indicated in a national newspaper interview that the new PUs had not been created and there was no evidence to show that INEC used the reports submitted by some RECs to any effect. Today’s INEC, courtesy of Jega leadership attitude and the northern Turks around him, has become so polarized that the fairness of next year’s general election may suffer integrity discount. National Commissioners are polarized along North/South faultlines and this goes all the way to RECs, the staff, National Assembly members, and even the Senate Committee on INEC. When the Committee sent the INEC boss a letter suggesting that the PUs allocation should be suspended, it was a few northern senators who counselled Jega to ignore the suggestion.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 17

bb pin: 20C37A25

H

ow many movies have you done so far?

I can’t trace them because when I started initially, it was just minor roles I was doing.

If you’re talking about self produced movies, I would say, three. My first movie production was Arewa Onijogbon, produced in 2010 or thereabout, then I did Corper Jide and now I have Bella that is yet to be released How was growing up like for you?

I grew up in a polygamous family. I stayed with my mom all through and it wasn’t easy because I was never allowed to mingle and go out. I don’t know how I’ll put it but it was just challenging Were your parents strict when you were growing up?

Yeah, my mom was extremely strict; they call her ‘Thatcher’. She is a kind of mom who wouldn’t allow you to mix with others. After school, she would tell you to stay put in your room and even restrict you from visiting family members. Back then I saw her as just being wicked but honestly now, I think I really appreciate the fact that she did all those things. Now I’m beginning to see the good part and the result so far and I thank God my mom was like that. Maybe if she hadn’t been strict with me I wouldn’t have turned out as good as this today.

Did you ever protest or fight with her?

I didn’t do any kind of fighting with her but at one point I started sneaking out of

I didn’t do any kind of fighting with her but at one point I started sneaking out of the house to go for shows and all that the house to go for shows and all that. Then one day somebody brought pictures I took at an event to my house and gave them to me in my mom’s presence. The pictures had dates on them and when my mom saw them she was surprised and asked how I was able to be at the events on such days. Even when she started seeing me on TV she wasn’t impressed, to her, she thought I was just going wild. But in my mind I knew what I wanted to do. She would abuse me, fight me, talk and talk, but I kept on with what I was doing. Thank God all is history now.

She now supports me.

I’ve done movies with so many people. In the movie Molewa, I acted alongside Odunlade Adekola, we both played the lead. I’ve also acted with Femi Adebayo, Yemi Blaq, he was a star actor in my movie, the yet to be released Bella. We both also played the lead in Ewu Loko Longe. I’ve acted with loads of them Between English and Yoruba movies, which one do you enjoy more?

The English movie, that’s where I started from, I got so good I’ve started doing the both of them all over again. I like the English movie because that’s just me;

Have you worked with any big actors?

Sexual harassment made me abandon acting for a while

— Sotayo Sobola

By DAMILOLA SHOLOLA

A

t first glance, Sotayo Sobola looks like one of those girls who have eight packs of cigarettes in their purse, ready to smoke and party from dusk till dawn, getting into all sorts of trouble. On getting closer to her, you realise that she’s just the regular girl next door. Sotayo is beautiful, eloquent and ready to take Nollywood by storm, starring in both Yoruba and English movies. Her movie Corper Jide is getting a lot of positive response and she is set to release her latest movie titled Bella very soon. In this exclusive interview with Potpourri she talks about her life, career and more.

C M Y K

Continues on page 20

•Sotayo Sobola

PAGE 18 — SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Behold the best butts of Nollywood

During the maiden edition of Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award, AMVCA, in Lagos, one of the top entertainment entrepreneurs, Alisa Adibua, described Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde’s walking by and seeing her from behind as ‘wonder in motion’, not because the mother of four has suddenly turned a locomotive machine hurtling by, but because of the elixir her well-shaped backside seems to bring when she walks by and you have to look at her from behind.

She isn’t the only one. Nollywood has so many. There are the likes of Ini Edo, Mercy Johnson and many other older girls but they are gradually leaving the stage for younger faces. Here are a list of some actresses drawn up by more than 20 of their colleagues:

Why Amaka Obi is ‘Miss Endowed’

C

urvaceous Nollywood producer, actress and big boss at Dove House Productions, is a woman who lives in the eye of the storm.

If people are not talking about her tiny waist and massive backside, then it is something the backside has done to some hapless guys. Even top singer, D’Banj dropped a line on her on his hit single ‘Miss Endowed’. She is the ‘Amaka Endowed’ the singer sang about.

Though she is more preoccupied with the release of her latest work ‘Lagos Housewives’ and would rather want to talk about that than her bum, but her name came up anyways.

“I didn’t go through any surgery, neither am I wearing any artificial bum or whatsoever. I grew up seeing myself like this” she told those doubting whether her butt is real or not.

G

oogle this girl’s name and see if you have not biten more than you can chew. All that would come greeting you is butt, butt and butt in different shades of lusciousness. She is a native of Akwa Ibom and a graduate of Linguistics and Communications.

This lady who has been touted as the one with the best butt in Nollywoos has starred in movies such as Escort Service, Royal Rituals, Brazilian Hair Madness.

•Amaka Obi

Empress Njamah’s hot goods

A

ctress and businesswoman, Empress Njamah has moved from that girl who never stayed out of trouble to the quiet woman who would rather pet you than bite you.

She is more concerned with helping the less-privileged these days and running her House of Empress than globetrotting the fast lanes of clubs and parties.

But is it easy to forget those Empress tempestuous days?

Not a chance. She got many guys doing erotic frog jumps and doing more hard than good to their image. No thanks to her sexy emerald eyes and the backside that moves with a wand to control the menfolks.

C M Y K

Is Didi Ekanem really new queen of Nollywood’s best butt?

•Didi

•Anita Joseph

How embarrassing is Evia Simon’s butts?

E

via Simon is relatively new on the scene but fast becoming an item that cannot be ignored. Her talent for acting is as decent as her butt is dangerous. The Three Generals act, When Love Dies, Girls’ Cot once told Potpourri that men go crazy over her butts, adding that even other women embarrass her over the size of her butt.

She related an experience where a woman followed her from a considerable distance just to touch her ass and confirmed it was real.

•Evia Simon

Is Anita Joseph’s backside really bum-bastic?

A

nita Joseph, clearly isn’t a woman who believes women should be seen and not heard. This opinionated actress and singer is ever ready to air her opinion on any issue regardless of how sensitive the issue is. She once told Potpourri that she can never be a complete housewife and she meant it because those words came out of her after she turned down a marriage proposal that came with a ‘full housewife’ offer.

As much as she prides herself of having both back and front in good measure, she would be quick to remind you it is her backside that gets in line after her.

She once told Vanguard that her backside is bumbastic, meaning it is hot.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE — 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

How mean is Daniella Okeke Okeke’s ass?

Biodun Okeowo:

Wh Whyy the theyy call her `Hips Don’t Lie’

D

aniella Okeke has actually warned me not to talk about her sexuality anymore. But how could anyone blame me when her name keeps popping up.

Honestly, I haven’t picked her, 8 out of 10 actresses I asked to come up with names of Nollywood actresses with best butts did.

But it is impossible to ignore this Lagos Cougar actress. Even she had boasted on Instagram that she has a mean ass!

Nobody prompted her, it was something that must have been playing on her mind and she posted it on her Instagram page.

Is it just possible to ignore this piecce of art crafted by God? Daniella, forgive me again.

S

ultry Yoruba actress, Biodun Okeowo is a sight to behold. She’s beautiful, friendly and with curves so captivating that her friends have come to name her ‘Hips Don’t Lie’.

At least she once told me that in an interview.

She’s an actress as well as a producer. She once disclosed in an interview that men come with all sorts of offers just to sleep with her.

Would one have to be a soothsayer to known what they are all after? If her beautiful face doesn’t do it, Biodun’s voluptuous hips must be the thing.

•Angel Christopher

I have got wonderful buts, Angel Christopher boasts

I

have got wonderful hips and boobs.

Whenever I walk along the streets, guys stop whatever they are doing just to stare at me. Both the young and old are captivated by my curvy body. I am blessed with a sweet body” so declared Angel Christopher, an upcoming Nollywood actress who is fast becoming an item on social media for sharing her butts and boobs shots.

She once shared a photo shoot with Anita Joseph and you wouldn’t be able to tell apart who has a bigger or better butt.

Crystal Okoye’s best figure challenge

•Ronke Odusanya

Ronke Odusanya’s butt brought her fame

I

f Anita Joseph can beat her chest that she is well equipped front and back, Ronke Odusanya should climb the rooftop to tell the whole world that she has more than that. She is a voluptuous beauty whose sensual curves have brought more attention than her talent.

Not even many of her fans know her by her real name, they call her Flakky Ididowo, a Yoruba name for a woman who is blessed with sexy ass.

It was the name she got in her most popular film where she played a role of a woman who flaunts her big butt to entrap men and trick them into parting with their hard-earned wealth.

Halima Abubakar’s vital assets?

C

rystal Okoye hasn’t got a profile as long as an arm but her profile is rich, unusual and fascinating. She came under fire when she said that even Mercy Johnson’s figure cannot compare with her’s. That was sometime ago, but right now some people are beginning to see that Crystal could be making sense.

Barely a year on the scene, the curvaceous twenty-something appeared in more than18 movies with more than 5 of those as the leading lady- now, that’s a profile even the best in the industry will gawk at.

•Biodun Okeowo

•Crystal Okoye

NOLLYWOOD actress, Halima Abubabar caused a media uproar recently when she posted a butt-flaunting picture of herself on Instagram. As if her butt alone wouldn’t be enough prospect for weak hearts, Halima even adorned a mini-skirt that added not only spark to the rude butt but attitude many men would take to their sleep. She once admitted that she knows her butt has rousing effect on men, but it does seem Halima isn’t done with letting some off the hook.

•Halima Abubabar C M Y K

PAGE 20 — SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Continues from page 17 I get to speak the normal way I know how to speak. I’m very comfortable and I’m myself but when it comes to Yoruba movie, I have to try to blend into it, though I’m Yoruba but there are some things I can’t bring out well in Yoruba. I feel more comfortable speaking in English than in Yoruba. Hey, I speak Yoruba very well, for crying out loud I am Yoruba.

But when it comes to the dialectical part of it then it becomes an effort to speak the language.

What do you consider a challenging role in a movie?

The ability to do something that you don’t do normally, doing something out of your box, something you don’t do regularly. Like in Corper Jide, I was toned down to another character entirely, a girl suffering and all that, my look and everything had to change. There was this other movie I did that I just finished recently Moremi and the Fighting Chance I had to go all down to the Ghetto, I had to speak the ghetto language and cut my hair low. Everything had to change about me and I didn’t even recognise myself the next day.

Can you kiss a girl in a movie?

Kissing a girl in a movie, I don’t know if I can. I’m always careful when it comes to picking my scripts. I ask them I hope there’s no kissing scene? If there’s a kissing scene I tell them I can’t do it.

Can you do something like a moaning scene in the bedroom?

Yes I can, sure I can. Why can’t I? It’s not like I’m doing sex for real so it’s just for me to make the sound and all that. I think I did that some couple of weeks back in a movie.

When is your latest work set for release?

Bella is going to be released sometime in December or January but I’m premiering it at 10 Degrees event center on the 28th of December which is my Birthday. It’s going to be an ‘All White Party’ and strictly by invite. Red carpet starts for 2 o’clock. Denrele Edun is the host for the ‘gold carpet’ then we have MC Abbey and Eniola Badmus as the hosts of the day. We have musical performances by Pasuma, Olamide, Jaywon, W4, Orezi, and many others.

How would you describe yourself off camera?

I wouldn’t want to rate myself as ‘a down-to-earth C M Y K

‘Sexual harassment made me abandon acting for a while’ person but the truth is, I’m actually a very free person. I laugh with everybody, I talk to people and my arms are actually wide open to everyone. I’m just me, like every normal person you meet in the street From your point of view, do you believe sex should be before marriage or after marriage?

Before marriage, because you don’t know how good or how fertile the person is and you should know that before you just get into marriage.

It’s not like you’re trying to get pregnant before wedding, what I’m just trying to say is, you have to know how healthy a person is before you can say you want to go into marriage. Marriage is not something you pop in and pop out just like that, so you have to know your partner very well, sexually and otherwise before you jump into it.

Who do you feel enjoys sex more, men or women?

Both of them, I wouldn’t say men or women. It depends on the part or the side it’s coming from and where your mind is set. I wouldn’t say it’s the lady or the man Because some women act as if sex is evil, like it’s just for childbirth?

Don’t mind them, they are just pretenders.

Most people pretend to hate sex when they actually enjoy it than most others.

Is having tattoos not a

•Sotayo Sobola

wild thing to do?

Well, for me, I love tattoos, so I decided to go out and get few ones. I don’t think it makes anybody wild. If you’re trying to look down on some people for the fact that they’ve got tattoos, I think you’re off point because some don’t have tattoos on them and they’re very evil. Tattoos have nothing to do with someone being wild or not.

Apart from the tattoo on your arm, do you have any hidden tattoos?

My tattoos are not hidden, I have got just 3; one on my left arm, my right leg then behind my right shoulder You were seen in a photo shoot smoking a cigarette, do you smoke?

I don’t smoke, that was just an electronic cigarette. What I did was a photo shoot with an e-cigarette to see how it would turn out. ,

Most people pretend to hate sex when they actually enjoy it

We’ve been hearing of sexual harassment in Nollywood, has anyone ever harassed you sexually?

It is normal. That sexual harassment thing I keep hearing it every time. Sexual harassment is everywhere, not just in Nollywood, it happens everywhere even in Churches and Mosques. It now depends on you to make a decision if you want to buy into it or not.

Has anyone ever harassed you before?

Yes o, except I want to lie.

That was a long time ago, like in 2004; it has happened to me before but I’m not going to mention names. I know one day I’m going to run into that person and look straight into his eyes again Can we share your experience?

I’ll give you an example.

You’ve been cast for a role, you’ve been given the role and the next thing you hear is: ‘If you know you can’t come and meet me in my hotel room or come and date me then you should bring back my script’. It was part of the reason why I stopped acting English movies. I just stopped acting and went to complete my education. I had a diploma in Law from Lagos State University and got my first degree in Public Administration from Onabisi Onabanjo University.

Because of sexual harassment I just stopped everything that had to do with entertainment.

I was so discouraged. You’re being casted for a role and because you refused to sleep with a producer or something, next minute you won’t even know, you’ll just hear that they’ve started shooting the job or they ask you to bring back the script for someone else.

Do you know anybody that has gotten a role by sleeping with a producer?

So many, I’m not going to mention names but it happens every day. Some did it successfully and some failed. Some did it and dropped it and some are still doing it, so, it’s a normal thing.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 21

Why women don't want sex

H

i!

After my two-part article on why women have sex, I received several messages from readers who were interested in knowing quite the opposite, why women don't want to have sex. One guy said if it was true that women have sex for all the reasons mentioned, then, they have enough reasons to have sex almost ever y day. Another wanted to know why once married, most women lose interest in sex and all they do is find excuses for their lack of interest. He went on to postulate that if women gave enough sex to their husbands, then they would be less tempted to cheat on them. I told him I did not totally agree with that position.

How does one determine the quantity of sex that a partner needs to be satisfied? Having sex with a partner every time it is demanded does not mean that the sex is satisfactory or that it will hold him down. Even the most beautiful vaginas have been cheated on and it is hardly all of the time that sex is the reason for cheating. besides, lack of interest in sex is not limited to the female partner alone. Like it or not, men also do lose interest in sex with their partners and are partly responsible for their women's lack of interest in sex sometimes too. I thought we could run through some of the reasons women often do not want sex; from the commonly given reasons to less talked about

emotional and psychological inhibitors. *Always, communication tops my list in all relationships. If the communication is good, the two way channels are open and fluid, there is trust and honesty on both sides, the first hurdle has already been conquered.

Lack of adequate and meaningful communication is a key problem in relationships

Laumann of the Medical Centre, University of Chicago which are published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 47 percent of women suffer sexual dysfunction compared to 31 percent of men. Also, 43 percent women reported low libido, 34 percent were unable to reach orgasm and 39 percent had vagina dryness problems. Some of the reasons

Though sex might not actually be the most important part of marriage, it is the oil that lubricates the wheel that moves a relationship and it affects both partners.

Often times, couples can't honestly discuss their sexual preferences. A number of men force theirs on their women, while the women find it difficult to turn them down or insist on how they want the sex performed. Another common error on the part of women is that they assume that their man must figure out how to provide good sex that they will enjoy without them having to spell things out. We forget that guys are human and lack the powers to read minds. *Medical and psychological issues may often result in loss of sexual desires. In a study carried out by Dr. Edward

listed for these include medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, anaemia, hormonal disorder, pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, hysterectomy, Vaginal disorder such as Vaginismus or Biathlon's cysts, lack of sensation due to decrease muscle tone in the vagina, aging, obesity, or medical problems that affect the sex hormones, (estrogen and testosterone) among others.

Emotional, physical or psychological issues such as low self esteem, bad body image, stressful lifestyle, depression, anxiety and sexual abuse.

Female sexual dysfunction according to Cindy

•Rebecca, 25, needs a loving male friend, aged 30-35, in Lagos. 08187447682 •Lilian, 18, needs friends who are single, God fearing, cute and nice, aged 24-30.

08135383952, 08140785226

•Amaka, 27, a graduate, needs a man for marriage, aged 35-45.08175769226 •Lauren, 36, fair in complexion, average height and a mother of four kids, needs a responsible man who is similar to her, for marriage.

08071494684 •Data, 20, sexy, fair in complexion and resides in Lagos, needs a mature, rich and caring man, for a romantic relationship.

07069000077 •Chioma, 25, chocolate in complexion, a graduate from Delta state, needs a God fearing man, who is loving, caring and also a graduate, aged 26-29.08135097860, 07058669351 •Chichi, 26, a single mother of one, who is in to business from Imo state, but resides in Delta, needs an Igbo single father, aged 30-45, for marriage.07050481706 •Debra, 22, from Delta state, needs a God fearing and caring guy, for a relatiuonship that will lead to marriage aged 27-30.

08133481626

Meston, a Psychology Professor from the University of Texas, is characterised by a lack of desire, libido and orgasm and it affects about one-third of women at some point in their lives. Still wondering why some women often don't want sex? *The psychological composition of the two sexes are quite different. Women are more emotionally involved in sex while it is more physical for men. While men think about the places to have sex, women think more about the reasons to have sex. Sometimes, if a woman is not convinced of the need to have sex, she is likely to turn a guy down. God or bad, some women think of sex as a reward versus punishment process. If the guy has been good to them, then he deserves a treat, otherwise, he can stew for a while to get his priorities right. *This next one might seem over flogged but it is true nonetheless.

The daily routine of life may sometimes be so overwhelming that sex is removed off the front burner of important issues of life. After all, who has ever paid for goods and services with sex all the time? Even a prostitute has to part with money at some point if she wants to get things done. Pressure from work, taking care of the children and the house, financial issues and juggling to make ends meet, family and in-law pressure all can take its toll on anyone, this time guys inclusive. God forbid if there are special challenges involved, eg, a special need child, loss of job or a medical challenge. Pressure and stress from these situation often override the need for sex, which is often seen as a pleasure ride by women rather than a need.

*Sexual incompatibility is another problem. This could mean that one partner desires or need to have sex more often than the other, or one does not have need for it at all. yes, there are people who are asexual and have no interest in sexual activities. It is obvious that sexually incompatible partners will have problems in their relationship. Sometimes, a loss of affection might be a reason.

A sexual relationship must be full of intimacy. There must be regular touching, hugging, kissing, endearments, gifts, (they don't have to be expensive) dates, (even after marriage).

Often times, couple simply settle into a routine after getting married. For some men, the reason could be that once the courtship period is over, it is time to settle into real life situation of home and family building, the monkey business is over. so, they no longer create time and attention to do all those things they did to woo their spouses in the first place.

Women also have been known to become complacent with their men, believing that with the ring now on their finger, the man is theirs and have nowhere to go. The premarital sex and over flowing show of affection and love was to hook him to them or negotiate a ring on their fingers.

Though sex might not actually be the most important part of marriage, it is the oil that lubricates the wheel that moves a relationship and so, its importance cannot be undermined. Sex may not become a problem until one of the partners begin to complain about it.

Do have a lovely Sunday!

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•Seyi, 31, a businessman and Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of resides in Ibadan, needs an requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to employed lady, for a serious enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For relationship, that can lead to marriage.08054119722 enquiries, text or call 08026651636

DISCLAIMER!

PAGE 22—SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com

L

ast week, to the dismay and pleasure of many, President Goodluck Jonathan finally declared his ambition to run for re-election in 2015. Mixed feelings have no doubt trailed his performance as president since his election in 2007. In this interview, Hajia Bilikisu Ohiani-David, National Coordinator, Goodluck Initiatives ’15 (Gio 15), fields questions on why Jonathan deserves a second term, citing instances of his work in the lives of women and youths. It would be recalled that Gio was one of the few groups that campaigned for Jonathan's election in 2007.

By JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE You’ve always said that Goodluck Jonathan has done well for youths and women. Now, two basic areas that even oppositions are crying foul are security and electricity supply. With these also gravely affecting women and youths, how will you convince an average Nigerian to still support Jonathan in 2015?

When you talk about youths, in agriculture for example, he has touched them through the Youth Enterprises with Innovation in Nigeria (YOU WIN) which is the administration’s job creation masterpiece.

Talking about youths again, as of last year alone, we produced 1.1million metric tonnes through dry season rice.

Now, majority of farmers and youths from the North who usually wait for raining season before farming, will tell you that they now profitably engage in farming during the dry season. That alone has created job

for them.

Now, talking of security, Goodluck Jonathan is in fact the first president that has built 127 almajiri schools.

This will not only benefit these children but also help curb insecurity. Now, most of these children know their right from left and cannot be used to perpetrate evil.

In the area of electricity, if we choose to be sincere, we will agree

*Hajia Bilikisu Ohiani

that the situation is better now.

Talking about women, Jonathan is the first president that signed into law 35% appointment in government for women. He has been able to give to women about 15 to 20%

allocation so far and we know he will do as he has said.

This is not just about supporting but voting. Now that permanent voters card are being distributed, what should be the response of youths and women?

Thank you very much. We have over 10 million members across the country and they have their voters card and that is what we are working on because supporting without a voter’s card is useless. We have 36 state coordinators enlightening the grassroots about what Goodluck is doing. We know what we are saying and we are praying Almighty Allah will empower Goodluck Jonathan to complete the work he has started in Nigeria.

Even the poorest have enjoyed plenty of food this year — Hajia Bilikisu,

Coordinator, Goodluck Initiatives ‘15

I learned you voluntarily joined Jonathan train simply because he declared we were all

We know what we are saying and we are praying Almighty Allah will empower Goodluck Jonathan to complete the work he has started in Nigeria

one Nigeria, irrespective of ethnic diversities. Talk, like we know, is cheap. How has he proved this oneness since 2007?

Look at what he has done with almajiris. His predecessor, late President Musa Yar ’Adua, nursed and shared this dream of salvaging almajiris and despite his death, Jonathan has kept this dream alive. See how he has also empowered farmers in the North to make sure farming continues even in dry season. Even the poorest in Nigeria will attest that there have been plenty of food for Nigerians this year without any scarcity. This is a man from the Niger Delta, remember. Look at what he is doing in various sectors. We know that if he is re-elected, he will do more to unite Nigeria and that is what we stand for; divided will fall.

He is uniting Nigeria, you claim. But how come crisis has not eluded the North since he came into office?

A lot of people have publicly vowed to make this government ungovernable for him.

But despite these challenges, he struggles and still succeeds in fulfilling his plans for our general good. To be sincere with ourselves, is he touching lives in each sector of the economy or not? Imagine the heat from oppositions wasn’t there.

He would have done perfectly well.

Hundreds of lives have been lost since he came into power and there are indicators and prophecies that this might worsen in his next tenure. Don’t you think sacrifice is a hallmark of leadership and Jonathan should sacrifice whatever desire for power he has and step down to prevent more deaths?

He cannot dance to the tune of enemies. He will continue to stand strong and do all he can to fight insurgency. His zeal is to curb this glitch and we believe things will be better if he is reelected.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 23

08112662589

Friends who think nothing of destroying your relationship

I

’ve done something really terrible, Aunty C”, Joanne said, looking really contrite. I’d never seen a sober look on her until now. She’s a friend of Deola, daughter of a good friend. They’d both been born months apart and went to the same private primary school.

Deola went on to an overpriced private secondary school which fees Joanne’s parents couldn’t afford. They sent her to a ‘government’ secondary school renowned for unruly pupils and bad results. That was when the problems started. Joanne was excessively jealous of her friend’s toffee-nosed attitude and turned into a bully overnight -her only way of getting back at Deola and making her feel inferior.

Joanne’s parents later split up and Deola’s mother became apprehensive of their friendship. “Joanne’s become really wild,” she complained. “She’s always wearing garish make-up and talking back to her mother. She’s also hanging around with some troublemakers at school and I wouldn’t be surprised if she hasn’t had sex yet.” The girl was 15, for goodness sake, I reminded her. “Some start earlier than that,” she sniffed. “What’s more, whenever she comes to ours, she’s always bragging of not doing her homework and

having detention. I even heard he, telling Deola how she and some friends regularly bunked off school. I’ve told Deola to cut her off; girts like her are nothing but trouble. I won’t sacrifice my daughter’s future because of the friendship I share with Joanne’s mum”.

Now Deola’s almost finishing her degree course at the university whilst Joanne works as a receptionist after finishing a one-year computer course. They still remained friends but you could hardly call them close.

Once in a while, I get treated to Joanne’s appalling behaviour in an effort to get. back at Deola for getting all those goodies virtually on a platter - a reliable steady boyfriend, good friends and nice clothes - whilst Joanne had to hunt down bargains at various ‘bend down’ boutiques. Once in a while, Deola gave her some handouts which she was grateful for, but which made her more resentful.

When next I had a chat with Deola and asked after Walter, her boy-friend, she looked really angry. “He’s sleeping with Joanne and I never want to see the two timing bastard again/” “Steady on”, I admonished, “are you sure of what you’re saying?”

“Course I’m sure. I called Walter first thing last

Saturday morning and I could hear Joanne’s voice urging him to tell me about her. I was shocked. I asked Walter what she was doing at his place. He explained a load of his friends and girl- friends had stayed the night after a friend’s stag night, and they had all gone home. Joanne was about to leave. `Why don’t you tell lover-girl what happened last night?’ Joanne had taunted in the background. `Oh shut up’. Walter had snapped at her. ‘Deola knows I’d never go out with you.’ ‘So why are you stammering all of a sudden?’ she jeered. ‘I had heard enough and switched off my phone. ‘What a humiliation? I’ve tried

being a good girl and it’s obvious men prefer tramps.

I’m not without male admirers and from now on, I intend to give a couple of them a chance. I cautioned her on the dangers of being hasty and that no romance really works when you’re on the rebound. She just shrugged. So it came at no surprise to me when Joanne called; confessing she’d done something terrible.

“Shouldn’t you have found a man of your own instead of sleeping with Walter?” I chided her. “That’s the problem Aunty C, I didn’t sleep with him. Better put, he wouldn’t even touch me with a berge pole no matter how hard I chased after him. That got me mad. So

when next I saw Deola and she said she wanted to be sure I was having an affair with Walter, I lied it was true, that he was cheating on her with me. The hurt and disappointment on her face made me smirk. Only Walter is now furious with me, telling all our friends what I’d done and they ’re all giving me a wide berth. Can you have a word with Deola please and tell her I’m sorry?

She wouldn’t pick my calls and looked through me the only time we ran into each other .. :’ She looked so distraught I promised to give it a go.

I later asked Deola to see me and the moment she sailed through the door, she told me how elated she felt.

“1 recently met an old classmate who’d been chasing after me for years”, she bragged, “and I agreed to go out with him. He was pleasantly surprised as I agreed to go to a show with him and even more! So, when I went back to his flat with him, it was sweet revenge and he rocked my world. For him, Christmas must have come early.- If Walter could do it, so could I. Believe me Aunty C, it was well worth it too. Revenge was sweet, so very sweet .. :’I felt really sad that a jealous friend’s thoughtlessness had caused so much anguish.·As I told her about Joanne’s confession, she looked very embarrassed. Her socalled;revenge was nothing

more than a cheap fling.

She burst into tears. “To be honest Aunty C, after I slept with the other bloke, I really hated myself ”, she said. Especially, when Walter kept phoning and texting, wanting the relationship to continue, I had to tell him I needed time to clear my head instead of admitting to not believing him after he’d sworn there was nothing between him and Joanne.

How could she even lie about such an important thing? I’ve shown her nothing but kindness. Why does she hate me so much?” She needed to make her peace with Walter and she called him there and then. Sensible girl, she didn’t breathe a word about the incident with Deola and gave him a cock-and-bull reason why she’d stayed away these few days ... She told him where she was and put off her phone, a relieved smile on her face.

Minutes later, Romeo was at my place and they were instantly in each other ’s arms. “You know I’d never have cheated on you,” he chided quietly, suspecting that was why she refused to meet up until now. I’d warned her not to breathe a word about her betrayal -let her chuck that up to one of the lessons she’d have to learn on the pains of growing up.

08052201867(Text Only)

The Head-to-Knee pose

improving the way the body handles nourishment.

In the womenfolk, this pose is said to help painful periods and eventually stop it completely. It’s also a great exercise for long

,

The effect of “doubling up” lends a gentle massage to the digestive organs improving the way the body handles nourishment

,

The Head to knee Posture Technique: IT down with feet stretched in front of you and rather close together.

Now raise both hands over-head and gently ease the trunk and hand as far down as you can then return upright with hands still overhead and then go back down

S

C M Y K

again. Do this for a couple more times to limber the back and hamstrings for the head to knee pose. In the final stage of the posture you form a ring with the fore-finger and thumb around the big toes with the forehead resting on the knees and the elbows touching the floor.

In the initial stages when it’s impossible to assume the full posture, it will do to hold as far down the legs as you can and lower the trunk as well. Stay in the position for as long as 10 seconds and eventually hit the target of two minutes in one stretch.

It is good to allow the

circulation to stabilise and also get a little rest.

Benefits: The Head-to-Knee Pose tones up the muscles of the back, the arms and the hamstrings. The effect of “doubling up” lends a gentle massage to the digestive organs

distance runners as the hamstrings are where the long distance runner is most likely to develop muscle pulls.

Physical benefits: Powerfully massages all the abdomi-

nal organs, * Stimulates and tones the digestive organs, increases peristalsis, and relieves constipation and other problems. * Counteracts obesity and enlargement of the spleen and liver. * Regulates the pancreatic function, providing a valuable aid for those with diabetes or hypogly-caemia. * Mobilises the joints and increases elasticity in the lumbar spine. * Relieves compression of the spine and sciatica. * Strengthens and stretches the hamstrings.

Mental benefits: * Greatly enhances concentration and mental endurance. * Invigorates the mind and nervous system, controlling many nervous complaints.

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

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Is it selfish to walk out on so much wealth to be with another man?

D

ENIKE’s life was a blessed life. She lived in an imposing fivebedroom home - a house surrounded by a beautiful garden where she and her three children relaxed most afternoons. Her husband earned a lot of money running a lucrative haulage business and Denike had to leave her air-hostess job to go into the sort of selfemployment that would leave her plenty of time for the children. Lucky her? You might think so, but not Denike. She walked out on this very scenario - leaving behind her two sons and a daughter along with her elderly mother who’d been living with them to start a new life with an old flame! Even more surprising is the fact that she did it for a man whose infidelity broke her heart some 24 years ago.

“I don’t for one moment regret leaving my seemingly perfect life,” she said. “It was the best thing I’ve ever done and was surprisingly easy once I’d made up my mind. But before I’m condemned for breaking up the perfect family, I need to stress that my children mean the world to me and leaving the life I had with them has never been about leaving them as people. It’s about grabbing on to happiness - and giving the man who once broke my heart a second chance. To many, this may sound selfish, but it’s a choice a lot of modern women are making: the pursuit of ‘happiness’ at any cost.

True love is such a rare thing, if you find it,you have to grab it with both hands”., Brought up by wellheeled parents, Denike

hankered after a glamorous existence and landed an air-hostess job straight from the university. She was on a long haul international flight when she met Gbenga, her first husband. The fact that he was married with a four-year-old son didn’t faze her, so they started an affair. “I was pursued

by Gbenga - a very charming man. I was flattered and being young and selfish, I didn’t give much thought to the fact he was already married. Six months later, we were living together and I was expecting our first child together. My dad died a few years after and I sold the house he left me to help complete payment for the family house which was big enough to accommodate us and my mother.

“To anyone looking on, my life must have seemed perfect. I shopped in designer clothes stores, we travelled abroad from time to time and our home was beautiful. But for all my material possession, I wasn’t really happy. Over time, my marriage to Gbenga cooled and the passion dwindled. I was bored. I had this feeling that

Y

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

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

Right here waiting for you!

My affection for you grows each and everyday. I

there was something missing in my life.

Divorce was not an option at this juncture. I wanted to make my marriage work. Gbenga had left his wife for me.

And he was a good father who worked hard to provide for his family.

“Then six years ago, at a close friend’s birthday party, another friend told me she ran into my childhood boyfriend at a shopping mall. We’d had a passionate nine-month fling when I was 18.

Zac, then 28, was a ladies’ man who oozed charisma. He had a good job then but I came tumbling down from cloud nine after discovering he’d slept with another girl. So I wasn’t all that impressed when this friend told me she saw Zac, six months later, she brought him to my office. He was as flirty as ever and when my friend told him I was married with three kids, he retorted he was divorced with four. We chatted away like old friends and I never let on I was unhappy in my marriage.

“Four months after, we met again at a mutual friend’s house. As soon as it was ‘safe’, he moved in to kiss me and I responded. I knew it

could be a life-changing moment, we were kissing like teenagers. It was hard to tear myself away, but I’d arranged for my husband to pick me up and I left as soon as he came in. I did feel a bit guilty on the way home.

My marriage may not have been the best Gbenga was possessive and there were rows - but I adored my children. I ‘t want to hurt them, but all that night, I couldn’t sleep for thinking about Zac. next day, Zac that he too had been sleepless, thinking of me. We chatted as often as we could on the phone until we arranged to have lunch a few weeks later, Zac booked a hotel near the restaurant. I couldn’t help going to the hotel with him afterwards. Zac he was in love with me and that afternoon marked the start of our affair.

“It was just a matter of months before Gbenga cottoned on to what was going on. Mum had collapsed one afternoon and was rushed to the hospital. He tried to get in touch with me but my phone was in the silent mode. By the time I got home, mum had been hospitalised for a minor heart attack. Enraged, he asked me if I was seeing

am totally addicted to you, and you're the only drug that kept me from dying. When I looked into those eyes of yours, I saw the real me, a person that lives for a goal and a purpose. I pray hard each day, just to hope that you and I can be in a relationship that is more than just friends someday.

For now, I've written this love note to declare my love for you and I will be right here waiting for you!

CENT OBAMA +2348061379003

My paragon of beauty

My paragon of beauty, nothing seems to interest me other than your love. And nothing boost my joy

someone else and I couldn’t deny it. ‘How could you do this to me?’ he raged. He slept in the guest room and the next day, after we’d had a talk on the affair, he said he couldn’t be with me any more,that he left his first wife for the same reason..

“Since mum lived with us, Gbenga said I couldn’t take the children. I didn’t put up any protest - the children had grown up in a lovely big home, went to great schools and had all their friends nearby. It wouldn’t be fair to them more because I wouldn’t be able to provide all that for them where I was going. Zac’s a digital media company in another state, so I moved in to be near his job - some 50 miles away from my family.

“My friends were appalled by my behaviour and openly accused and criticized me. They thought I was insane to even be thinking about leaving my family and beautiful home for a less successful man. My best friend was horrified and asked: ‘How do you know Zac has changed?

It’s not worth the risk.

But I knew Zac was worth taking the risk - I was madly in love with him. When I eventually left, I was so guiltyriddled that I visited the children often. They took the break-up badly. They were naturally upset and although they never asked me not to go, they did ask why I was leaving. I told them frankly I no longer loved their father and that I’d fallen for another man. He was a good man, I stressed, and I was sure they’d like him.

There were a few tears mainly mine - but I put my arms around them and reassured them how

much I loved them.

“The divorce was finalised four years ago and we got married shortly after. At 47, I’m lucky to find deep love again. I believe that women who leave a marriage are much more harshly criticised than men who do the same thing. I did not leave on a whim: “My relationship with the children is stronger than ever. Despite what people may think, my children have adapted quickly. Their father has moved on; and is in another relationship and he and I get on well for the sake of the children.

I know I can hold my head high because I’ve done what’s best for them.”

Don’t Forget To Call Home! (Humour) The phone rang and Matthew picked it up.

“Son, it’s your father here. I’m afraid I’m divorcing your mother.”

“What! Dad, you can’t!

You’ve been together 40 years!” exclaimed the shocked son. “It’s no good. I’m going to see a solicitor tomorrow,” said dad. “But let me speak to mum,” wailed the boy.

“No, not now. She can’t come to the phone.”

“Listen, dad, don’t do anything till I see you, please. I’ll drive up tomorrow.”

“Well... alright, but will you tell your sister, this is all too painful.” With that, Matthew’s father rang off. Half an hour later, the phone. rang and dad picked it up. “Dad, it’s me,” said Matthew. “I’ve spoken to Clair and she’s coming with me so we’ll be with you tomorrow afternoon.” Dad put down the phone and turned to his wife. “Well, it worked. They’re both coming tomorrow, though I don’t know what we will do next year to get them to visit.”

than thinking about you for you have remade and reawaken my heart with so much happiness . And if am to die and resurrect again, I will still love you again, again and again.

Akachukwu Ferdinand.

08063819314

I love three things I love three things: the sun, the moon and you, the sun for the day, the moon for the night and you forever.

Apena Samuel apenasamuel1@yahoo.com

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 25

Again, trouble in hospitals !

•Empty wards everywhere

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

I

N Nigeria, the word “strike” is like a broken record where the Joint Health Sector Workers’ Union of Nigeria, JOHESU, a conglomerate of healthcare associations in the health sector, is concerned. To the average Nigeria, strike means a number of things, none of which is encouraging, complimentary or healthy to say the least.

For years, the body of health workers has been engaged in a running battle with the authorities often leading to paralysis of activities in the health sector. In seeking balance and harmony in the health sector, JOHESU, among other demands, unwittingly rocks the ship of the house of health in several respects.

Health workers under the aegis of the JOHESU, have been spoiling for a showdown over nonimplementation of the May 10, 2012 Collective Agreement that caters for promotion of members under the controversial CONHESS 14 to 15, among plethora of issues.

On March 18, 2013, JOHESU declared a nine-point trade dispute upon which it issued a 15-day ultimatum to Federal Government to implement the May 10, 2012 Collective Agreement, among others.

Earlier this year, JOHESU,

backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress, demanded to have consultants among its nonmedical staff members, the payment of specialist, call duty/ shift and other professional allowances as enjoyed by doctors.

Spirited moves to resolve the dispute at the highest levels have routinely hit the rocks and Thursday last week, the JOHESU, which many believe has had more than its fair share of strikes over the years to push for improved welfare of health workers, commenced yet another indefinite strike action. Among others, JOHESU is seeking promotion of their members from salary level 14-15 on the CONHESS, immediate release of circular on adjustment of salary since January 2014, the reversal of a decision of the Federal Ministry of Health that only those registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria could be referred to Consultants, and the release of circular on extension of retirement age to be backdated to February 2014.

Prior to the last but one strike action, JOHESU had dragged the Federal Government before the National Industrial Court where judgment was issued in favour of the health workers. JOHESU later met with a government delegation headed by Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka

•Workers in solidarity march

The umbrella body of health workers had insisted that government had reneged on its promise and turned a deaf ear to its appeals to do the needful, to prevent the strike Wogu, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation following which the signing of a five-page Memorandum of Understanding between the parties, led to suspension of the strike.

JOHESU President, Dr Ayuba Wabba, had told Nigerians that decision to suspend the strike was borne out of the need to move the nation ahead, while government said it was implementing the judgment of the court as a mark of respect for the rule of law. A Presidential Committee to fashion out ways to guarantee a harmonious relationship between government and JOHESU and other

professionals in the health sector.

But all these arrangements soon hit a brick wall as the failure of government to implement the judgment led to the current nationwide strike.

The umbrella body of health workers had insisted that government had reneged on its promise and turned a deaf ear to its appeals to do the needful, to prevent the strike. Similar agreements from the past were yet to be fulfilled following the October 9 meeting during which government asked for more time to work out things.

Now healthcare services in hospitals are grounded, patients are suffering, the sick cannot

obtain care and lives are on the line. Nigerians are suffering, and those without the means to patronise private hospitals or travel abroad are the hardest hit.

The argument is that the seemingly intractable crisis can be resolved amicably, if agreements in respect of level skipping for health workers, the withheld arrears and other issues are addressed. But government appears to disagree. Describing the strike action as unjustifiable, unnecessary and unfortunate, Minister of State for health and Supervising Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, says the strike as unnecessary because there are ongoing negotiations between the union and the government.

Nevertheless, the union has vowed to continue with the strike until government implements the agreements. Although a circular has been released on the consultancy issue, the matters bordering on retirement age and salaries remain outstanding. The face off continues.

PAGE 26 — SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

O

ld students of Ekiti Parapo College, Ido Ekiti (EPCOSA) have inaugurated a four-point developmental road map for their alma mater, which will focus on the need to promote, sustain and preserve the sociocultural legacies of the 60-year historic institution.

President of the College’s Old Students Association, Ogbeni Lanre Adesuyi, made the intentions of the Association known at a press briefing held in Lagos to announce the 60th anniversary celebration of the College.

“Our abiding faith in the shining future of our alma mater has prompted us to institute a plan to celebrate the coming of age of our great College. The celebration of EKPACO’s Diamond Jubilee will hold from November 24 – 30, 2014 on the College premises in Ido Ekiti. At 60, Ekiti Parapo College is worthy of a gift from all of us because we all cherish our time in the College,” he said.

Adesuyi stressed that the anniversary, which derived its theme “Celebrating the Past, Consolidating the Present, Building the Future” from the lessons of history, will among other things help to foster existing good relationships amongst members of the Old Students Association in accordance with the school’s motto ‘Agbajopo Owo’.

He further explained that the four-point objectives of the developmental plan are “to reflect on the evolution of EKPACO over 60 years; to

Ekiti Parapo College marks 60th anniversary; future under focus

still is located in Ido Ekiti, the home town of prominent educationist and pioneer Principal of the school, Chief Ade Akomolafe, who I am happy to report, is alive and well at age 97,” he said, adding, “The College has had about 17 Principals since its inception.” “The first set of students wrote the West African School Certificate Examinations in November, 1958 while the most recent set of graduates wrote the Senior EKITI PARAPO COLLEGE @ 60 (L – R): Member, Ekiti Parapo College, Ido Secondary Certificate Ekiti Old Students Association, Chief Michael Olorunfemi; President, Ogbeni Examinations in Lanre Adesuyi and Treasurer, Comrade Sola Ogunsina, at the press 2014. In all, the conference on the college’s 60th anniversary held in Lagos. school has sent forth about 55 sets of students into the world. These hitherto young self-sacrifice of the highly refresh old school ties/ boys and girls have, today, progressive Ekiti people.” friendships; to support the school Whilst tracing the history of the become distinguished men and by investing in its development women who have made College, Adesuyi explained that and to mentor current students of profound marks in their the school started with 25 the institution who are personal and professional pioneer students; the founding tomorrow’s leaders.” callings,” he said. He used the Principal and two teachers and According to him, several opportunity to formally invite that College was formally eminent Nigerians had visited all old students of EKPACO at the school over the years amongst opened on August 5, 1954 by then Hon. Minister of Education, home and in the Diaspora to who were: The former Military join in the celebration, Western Region, Nigeria, Chief Governors of the old Western S.O. Awokoya. “Many years after stressing that the general reRegion, the late Lt. Col. union will not only engender the famous Ekiti Parapo or Kiriji Adekunle Fajuyi and Col. Robert building stronger relationships War war, distinguished Ekiti Adeyinka Adebayo; The indigenes, under the auspices of amongst members, but that it Honourable Commissioner for will provide an avenue for the Ekiti National Association Education of Western State, networking to advance (ENA) and Ekiti Progressive Professor F.O. Dosekun and, professional callings just as it Union (EPU) had a vision to particularly, the Premier of the will be a platform for them to establish the first and only Western Region, Nigeria, the late sow seeds of faith to uplift community secondary school Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who EKPACO and make the future owned by all the people of Ekiti. described the College as “a very of their alma mater more courageous and impressive effort; This led to the birth of Ekiti outstanding.

Parapo College, which was and a monument to the foresight and

Adeyeye’s mandate to fix S-West roads

By OLU AYELA THE notion that the average politician must be dyed in the hue of opposition and be constantly set in a combative mode against the government at the center as a means of demonstrating one’s love for his kith and kin, especially in the way it is promoted in the South west, is an idea that is repugnant to Hon. Adedayo Adeyeye, the Minister of State for Works.

His distaste for the style of politics of the politicians that people the APC dates back to the period of his romance with opposition politics. Being fully persuaded by the thoughts, writings and actions of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who translated every of his passion into concrete achievement which truly empowered many in the South west, Adeyeye believed that the legacy of the Yoruba elder statesman should be preserved through those of his generation and into the Alliance for Democracy (AD) he stepped to cut his political teeth.

Adeyeye, a pioneer member of the AD when the party swept the polls through the South-west in 1999 general elections, was bubbling with

Hon. Adedayo Adeyeye ideas about how the goodwill given to the party could be converted for the good of the present and future generations in the way Awolowo did it in the 1950s but that was not to be as the party had other plans for him.

Although he was better positioned in terms of contributions and popularity in his Ise-Ekiti local government and

environs in 1999 and 2003, a grand conspiracy orchestrated by the party big wigs, derailed his aspiration.

It was a lesson he learnt the hard way and he is passionately preaching the gospel to his people in the Southwest to remove the veil over their eyes to see the APC which somehow managed to also swindle the AD out of existence as a collection of men and women who play politics devoid of principle and essentially without love for anybody but what they can get.

In 2007, Adeyeye with some like minds formed Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Ekiti State branch. This time, Adeyeye wanted to be governor. He was the most popular choice within the group but fate had a different script for him when another aspirant emerged as the party’s candidate.

Out of the ashes of these near misses and the monumental deception, despair and seeming defeat, Adeyeye has emerged as a key member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) even before his current position as the Minister of State for Works. Under his portfolio are projects that can positively impact the region and knowing his commitment to the development of the region, he is leaving no stone unturned

to achieve his goals.

He is saddled with the supervision of federal roads in the South-west which includes the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway which is experiencing a new lease of life and for which the Federal Government has received so much applause even from hardened critics of this administration. Other roads covered by his office and slated for repairs are the Oshodi/Apapa Road, the stretch of road from Ibadan through Ile-Ife to Akure down to Owo as well as the Sagamu Ore Road.

Adeyeye has set his mind to use his office for the good of all people from the South-west and there could be no better vehicle than the development and sustenance of road infrastructure in the region to convince his people that the best party to bring dividends of democratization to them is the PDP and not APC. He is urging the people not only to reject them but to also take a step further to disgrace them at the polls come 2015.

For Adeyeye, there is no nobler way to make in-road into the heart and soul of the South-west than to construct roads and bridges which are likely to bring ancillary develop-

Harmony Life Family’s Save a Child seminar

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armony Life Family Magazine, a magazine dedicated to helping the African family by proffering solutions to their challenges and upholding eroding societal values, is to hold its second “Save a Child” seminar under the theme: “Child Sexual Abuse And Trafficking - Its Implication On The Society ”, on November 24, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Chairman of the occasion is Professor Pat Utomi.

Partnering with the magazine for the event are NIIA, Arco Group Plc, National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters, NAPTIP, Chi Ltd, Veleta Wine, HiMalt, DaViva, Mimee Noodles, Haansbro Ltd., Hip TV, City People Magazine and 97.3 Classic FM. According to the magazine’s Editor-inChief, Mercy Ighofose, about 500 students from different secondary schools and other stake holders will be at the event. Renowned experts in different fields of endeavour are also expected. mental programmes to the region.

He credits President Goodluck Jonathan whom he described as a true patriot and a democrat as being the force behind the work in his ministry. Adeyeye explained that the president’s passion for the development of Nigeria is legendary. “Now we can see LagosIbadan Expressway constructed 38 years ago being reconstructed, Benin-Ore Road has been made motorable, the Second Niger Bridge is being constructed, EastWest Road is being done, construction of Abuja-Lokoja road is going on at a very fast space, IleshaAkure road is being reconstructed, rail transportation is being revamped and so much more is going on in every sector due to the vision of the president”.

Projecting into the future, Adeyeye said: “The Yoruba people will be freed from the lord who sees himself as an emperor that must be worshipped. There are some evil forces in this South-west that we must not allow to expand. We know the way they are treating this region as a conquered territory and next year, by the grace of God, we are going to roll them away”. * Ayela is a Lagos based journalist.

SUNDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 27

O

N the last Sunday of every October , the UK clock is set back by an hour. Three Sundays ago, on the 26th October, 2014, we observed this act which signifies the start of the British winter period. No surprise therefore when after this annual “set back” the cold settles in immediately. This year was a bit different though, winter did not set in as fast as it does yearly. The sun is still out and the cold is bearable with a light jacket.

It sounded strange to me when at the turn of the millennium I arrived in Edinburgh the last Saturday of October and I was informed that the clock would be turned back in the night.. As a born and bred Nigerian I never knew the clock could be adjusted to suit the weather. You only “set” the “grandfather’s clock” forward or backward when it has missed its “beat” or you forgot to service it for a long time. So, to me, you don’t fiddle with clock when there is no need to. However, it is said, when you are in Rome you behave like the Romans.

Among the events that come on the heels of the clock change is the Halloween. I heard about Halloween while in Nigeria. I read it was a night for pagans to celebrate witches. As a result of the “dark” connotation to it, I did not take much interest in it.

Though it was not uncommon to see some Nigerian “celebrities” dress up as “masquerades” in the hot weather and pretend to be halloween “buddies”. To me, while in Nigeria, I always thought they all needed psychiatric evaluation.

DIASPORA

Ericsson 2014 report index ranks 40 cities, measures ICT maturity

By EMEKA AGINAM

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atest report by the Ericsson 2014 Networked Society City Index has ranked forty cities, measuring their ICT maturity in terms of leverage from ICT investments in economic, social and environmental development: the “triple bottom line” effect.

The Ericsson Networked Society City Index has been developed in close collaboration with Sweco, the sustainable engineering and design group.

According to the report, cities with a low ICT maturity tend to be improving their ICT maturity faster than high performing cities, indicating a catch-up effect.

The report included three predictions for the future of cities, around the growth of smart citizens, a redefinition of GDP, and the power of collaboration.

Johannesburg and Lagos were amongst cities ranked in the report.

In the latest report, nine cities have been added to the 2014 edition of the Networked Society City Index report.

Meanwhile, the top five cities , Stockholm, London, Paris, Singapore and Copenhagen, according to the report, remained the same, though Paris has now surpassed Singapore to take the number three slot.

The nine new cities added in this year ’s report will include Berlin, Munich, Barcelona, Athens, Rome, Warsaw, Muscat, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Among these, Munich enjoys the highest ranking, followed

by Berlin and Barcelona.

In addition to the topthree ranking cities, Stockholm, London and Paris, the following cities were also part of the index: Abu Dhabi, Athens, Barcelona, Beijing, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Copenhagen, Delhi, Dhaka, Dubai, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Karachi, Lagos, Los Angeles, Manila, Mexico City, Miami, Moscow, Muscat, Mumbai, Munich, New York, Oslo, Rome, São Paolo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo and Warsaw.

However, key findings in the report showed that cities with low ICT maturity were improving their ICT maturity faster than high performing cities, indicating a catchup effect, and a potential for cities to leapfrog by moving straight into advanced mobile technology Many cities, according to the report, also have the opportunity to leapfrog others by avoiding expensive and increasingly obsolete physical infrastructure, instead moving straight into innovative applications using advanced mobile

From left: Chief Executive Officer of Terragon Group, Elo Umeh and John Orajiaka, Chief Executive Officer of Adnol Multimedia Limited at the just concluded GSMA Mobile 360 Africa held in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: EMEKA AGINAM technology.

The Networked Society Evangelist and driver of City Life at Ericsson, Monika Byléhn, while explaining the importance of ICT in the development of cities said that, “Today, we are seeing so many new opportunities which are more or less provided by ICT. The way that cities are lead is increasingly built on ICT to provide efficiency and innovation, in basically all areas of a city, from health care to transport to utilities.”

For Patrik Regårdh, Head of Ericsson’s Networked Society Lab, “Cities will be the major arena in which ICT can bring solutions for

economic, social, and sustainable growth. As a leader in ICT development, solutions and implementation, Ericsson is playing a major role in realizing the Networked Society and paving the way for more efficient, effective cities.

“Besides our reports like the City Index, we are engaging in public-private partnerships to drive progress such as the New Cities Foundation, and collaborate with agencies such as the UN-Habitat-the agency mandated by the United Nations to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities.”

Ebola fight: MTN asks customers to donate $1 through SMS

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HILE committing $10 million on the fight against Ebola virus, MTN Group has invited its customers to participate in an SMS campaign to donate a minimum of US$1.

The three months campaign is expected to begin next month to raise funds for a “United Against Ebola” initiative.

Meanwhile, responding in an appeal from the African Union (AU), MTN and other leading companies in Africa had committed logistical support and in kind contributions as part of the first wave of pledges at a recent Africa Business Roundtable hosted by the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Accordingly, the companies also agreed to leverage their resources and capacity to help galvanise citizen action around a “United Against Ebola” campaign, and to provide individuals across Africa and globally with an opportunity to contribute.

MTN in a statement disclosed that it was also working with some of Africa’s most celebrated musicians to produce an inspirational song for digital download on its MTN Play store.

All proceeds from sales, post publishing rights and subscription payments, according to the mobile operator would be donated to the AU campaign.

It would recalled that

MTN has been an integral part of efforts to tackle the spread of Ebola in countries where the company operates, with special emphasis on Guinea-Conakry and Liberia.

“MTN is supporting this campaign to give further impetus to concerted efforts aimed at combating the Ebola epidemic and saving lives. As MTN, we believe the only way to start reversing the devastating effects of the outbreak is to come together to tackle the spread of the disease, and ease the suffering it continues to inflict on families and communities,” Sifiso Dabengwa, MTN Group President and CEO., said.

In affected countries where MTN operates such as Guinea Conakry and Liberia, MTN is working closely with authorities to curb the spread of the disease. MTN has set up a number of interventions to assist staff, their families and communities.

Some of the measures include distributing information about the disease, its transmission and preventative measures. Working with International SOS, MTN has set up a website where staff can access up-to-date information on the disease and its management. As part of this partnership, a medical response team has been set up to offer advice and referral to medical care, if required.

ily’s residency in Edinburgh, we made it an annual event to look forward to. I will confess, the impression of the first night was the magnet that always drew me to Bonfire Nights. I was mesmerised by the colourful firework displays. I saw fireworks display like I had never done before in my life. Edinburgh was lit up by fireworks. It was very captivating a spectacle for a Nigerian who had just “landed” in the UK. After moving to England, I have always enjoyed the Bonfire Night, but none has been as good as my first one in Edinburgh or the subsequent ones I attended in the city. Last week Wednesday was this year ’s Bonfire Night and as usual it was a fun night.

FUEL PRICE REDUCTION Moving on from the Bonfire Night you woke up to the good news that four supermarkets have cut the prices of petrol and diesel. I sighed to myself and said “good things are coming out this season.” These four supermarkets decided to cut one penny off each litre sold. This may “seem” rather small a cut, but it is indeed a big deal, considering the fact that drivers in this country pay one of the highest in Europe for these products. This is why any reduction in price, whether in fraction or whole does have huge impacts.

The recent reduction was however indirectly forced down the throat of the oil companies by government pressure asking them to pass on the benefits of the falling oil prices to UK drivers. It took the intervention of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, and the Chancellor, George Osborne, to influence these oil companies’ price reduction. Still we need to thank the supermarkets for bringing forecourt prices to under £1.20, the lowest in recent years.

As The UK Clock Changed, Milliband Almost Got Sacrificed for Halloween

HERE COMES HALLOWEEN

As a JJC in Edinburgh, I noticed immediately days preceding the Halloween that all stores stocked and displayed the “ingredients” of Halloween - from pumpkin, cobwebs, witches’ hats, fireworks, costumes to good bargains on beer and spirits, especially cider drinks. Every where I turned to, the spirit of Halloween lurked. Schools encouraged children to come dressed in their halloween costumes. And every kid on the street was looking forward to the “trick or treat” which to them is a classic event that gives the liberty to knock on neighbours’ doors and demand sweeties or gifts. For strange reasons, this brings back, every year, the memories of my youth - Christmas in the village visiting Uncles and Aunts.

After I witnessed my first Halloween I tried to justify the hype about it, but till this moment I still cannot understand. And every year, I try very hard not to scream “get away” on the hapless kids that keeps the age long tradition of “trick or treat” going when ever they knock on my front door.

BONFIRE NIGHT

In the same season is the Bonfire Night. My initial idea of a bonfire night was the type we engaged in as Boy Scouts. Go into the bush, sing a few war songs while dancing round an open fire. I was wrong.

There were preparations both by individuals, corporate organisations and local councils before the D-day. The police, fire services etc are usually involved in the planning. My first experience of Bonfire Night was indeed a teachable moment, one that lives on in my mind.

Bonfire Night in Edinburgh was on a different level. I have asked myself many times if it was because that was my first experience. No, I usually answer myself. For five years of the fam-

HALLOWEEN SCARE FOR ED MILLIBAND

The Labour leader got seriously ruffled when news leaked last week that some Labour MPs were calling for “his head” and already lining up behind candidates to replace him. It has always been said that Ed MIlliband is not a Prime Minister material, principally for his failure to connect with voters. This recent threat was set off some weeks ago by a story in a leading UK newspaper claiming that former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed concern that if Ed remains as the party leader for the 2015 election Labour is as good as losing to David Cameron. Although the Blair’ camp denied this, analysts felt that was an honest assessment of the situation.

The events to unseat Ed is still unfolding. However, there are strong indications that the election date might be too close for Labour to change Ed for the likes of Andy Johnson or Yvette Cooper or better still Andy Burnham.

Moreover the party constitution would have to be changed for this to happen.

I do not pity Ed though. His emergence as Labour leader did leave sour taste in the mouths of some long time Labour supporters. Some have not forgiven him for the “card he dealt” his brother David MIlliband during the election.

It is not as if Ed is not trying though, it’s just that he is seen more as an illusionist than a Prime Minister in waiting. And to be frank, Labour Party does need a fighter as a leader to shrug off UKIP trying to “encroach” it’s domain.

The time shall pass for The Man called “Wallace”.

PAGE 28— SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

FAILURE TO ATTEND JONATHAN’S DECLARATION

My emotion would have failed me — E. K. Clark •Says attacks dogging President’s events curious Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, Ijaw leader, in this encounter, explains why he was absent at the Tuesday event where President Goodluck Jonathan declared his re-election. He speaks against the backdrop of the position of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that the president ought not to have declared a day after the massacre of students in Potiskum, Yobe State?

By Henry Umoru

Y

OU can imagine my joy. I was not there.

Even though I was not feeling too fine, I felt I would be too emotional to be present at the arena.

I could remember that on my 85th birthday, I went to the St James Anglican Church to give thanks to God. In my speech at the occasion, I thanked God for making it possible for everybody in Nigeria to aspire to the highest position in this country by making every Nigerian to vote voluntarily and willingly for Mr President in 2011.

And Mr President has one more term to go according to the Constitution.

For you to be disqualified as a presidential candidate, you must have contested two elections. So I prayed that God should hear our prayer that Jonathan completes his term. So you can therefore imagine my joy that Nigerians from all walks of life, party men, non-party men, on their own, crowded the Eagle Square to celebrate the declaration of President Jonathan.

The minority issue I want to use this

medium to express my profound gratitude to our people, the minorities who felt they will never become the President of this country, and Nigerians who have made it possible.

And the crowd that we saw at the Eagle Square on that day was wonderful, unprecedented.

And I hope that Nigerians, as they did in 2011, will also give Mr President their massive vote because Mr President has performed, he has shown that he is a humble President and he has not created crisis on his own.

And even though some people felt they will make Nigeria ungovernable for him, he has continued governing this country. He has not treaded on anybody’s toes.

People have abused him, the opposition who felt they should be the President of Nigeria have stopped at nothing.

They have carried their campaign outside of this country to the United States of America, to Great Britain and other parts of the world.

To imagine that nationals of a country could leave their country for other countries to condemn their country simply because they want power is the height of lack of patriotism. But I am

happy that Nigerians are not listening to them. If they were listening to them, the crowd that came to the Eagle Square that day couldn’t have been there.

Curious bombings •Chief Clark The issue that children died a day after he children done to them? declared, they know that They only want to draw the main purpose of insurgency, the terrorism is to attention of create a the people situation to what they where are doing, government their evil. At would be the Eagle paralyzed, Square, the where the President President felt it and would be asked frustrated, Nigerians to where the observe onePresident minute would get silence for To imagine angry, where them. There that nationals the President was a time of a country will not be the able to do President could leave anything and was going their country to do that that to Kano to for other means you attend a have countries to public rally, surrendered then the condemn their government to country simply Nyanya them. bombing because they And that is happened. what they are Anytime the want power is looking for.

President the height of Killing of little wants to do lack of children, what anything, patriotism have the they will do

something to make the country ungovernable for him. But thank God Nigerians are understanding.

The insurgents will be wiped away in the name of God so that we will have peaceful elections come February 2015.

And I want to once again to thank Nigerians for the love they have for Jonathan, for seeing Jonathan that he is a peaceful President, a man of the people, the man who has performed, the records are there.

So like I said, I was in a dream world that day, my dreams were fulfilled like many other Nigerians.

I want to specifically thank northerners who have been given the wrong impressions about Jonathan. I am happy that majority of northerners, Nigerians are with Jonathan; we have no quarrel with anybody.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 29

Life as a homeless princess

— Genevieve, daughter of the late Obi of Agbor Kingdom

•Plans foundation for abused girls, the under privileged underprivileged

A

rmed with awful memories of growing up in Nigeria as an orphan despite being a princess, Genevieve Ikenchuckwu, second child of the late Obi of Agbor Kingdom, Obi Ikenchukwu I, has decided to return home. Genevieve, who has since 1999 found succour in the UK, is coming back to Nigeria solely to rescue vulnerable orphans and victims of abuse on the platform of the Obi Ikenchukwu Foundation which she is floating in memory of the late Obi and his queen, Grace.

The princess, whose younger brother is the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Keagborekuzi I, is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Whales. In this interview, Genevieve talks about the rigours of growing up without parents, her consequent abusive marriage, life in Edo State University, and more.

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE It is 15 years since you left for the UK. What is this foundation you’re coming back home to set up all about?

This foundation is in memory of my late father, HRM Obi Ikenchukwu 1 of Agbor Kingdom and my mother, Queen Grace Ikenchukwu (nee Isedeh), also late. That is the father to the current monarch, the Dein of Agbor. The Queen died in 1977 while the King died two years after, 1979 precisely. The foundation is in honour of the both of them and what they stood for within their short period of life and reign in Agbor- their altruistic approach to life: investing in the lives of others and ensuring the education of their people. The king apparently spent most of his life doing that. He believed C M Y K

that education was the key to a better life and one that his people, the people of Agbor, deserved. That’s a legacy I believe should be continued and that’s what the Obi Ikenchukwu Foundation, OIF, has come to do.

Your father died in 1979.

Why did it take about 40 years to remember you have to sustain his legacy?

All my life, I’ve always wanted to do this. I just didn’t know how to go about it or where to start. Don’t forget that by 1979 when they both died, we were kids. I was only eight when dad passed and six when mum passed. Now, not only am I an adult, I’m also a solicitor and I understand the importance of education and the plight of orphans. The foundation, you’ll find, is aimed at promoting the welfare of the orphan child and female

•Genevieve with brother, incumbent Obi of Agbor

victims of domestic violence. So, for me, these are very important issues to be addressed. Yes, it took me this long because I needed to grow from the child I was when my parents passed on. Now, as a professional, specialising in housing litigation and domestic violence, I’m able to appreciate the plight of these vulnerable groups of people more because this is an aspect that I am familiar with and actually make a living from in the UK. I have always dreamed of helping orphans by giving them a home and education however possible.

How does that work- living in the UK and running a foundation in Nigeria?

This is my first step to relocating to Nigeria and my little way of giving back to my community. I’m in Nigeria now and I might just remain here, depending on how things go.

The foundation could of course be run with or without my presence because there are people who are very much on board in terms of staffing. I also have members of the royal family, including the late Queen’s family, who are excited about this project. More importantly, this is going to benefit not just the Agbor people but the people of Delta State, the South-South and the entire nation. If it becomes necessary for me to remain here, then I would be happy to remain.

You’re of royal blood and a successful professional, but we know man’s needs are inexhaustible. Isn’t this foundation another moneymaking strategy?

position/responsibilities within the orphanage. Being an orphan myself, I will not want to be used as a bait to make money. I feel like this might be my niche and perhaps my purpose here on earth.

This is my first step to relocating to Nigeria and my little way of giving back to my community. I’m in Nigeria now and I might just remain here, depending on how things go That’s a question I’ve had to answer repeatedly. They argue that orphanages, like I plan to set up, are being established to make money. I don’t need to set up an orphanage to make money. I’m a successful solicitor and valued in my office in the UK. I own my own property and advice the government on housing related matters. For me, this is simply my way of giving back to my people. As a professional, I am versatile and can blend in pretty much any area of work, aside law. So, I take exception to being compared with one of those who set up foundations to make money. In fact, it is a criminal offence in my opinion to make money off vulnerable individuals in the guise of setting up an orphanage.

However, I am not opposed to receiving honoraria or salary payment consequent to your

What do you remember about your dad and mom since you were quite tender when they passed on?

My memory of my mum is quite vague. All I remember about her is the tall lady in the blue lace, that’s all. All I have now are photographs of her but I do remember my dad’s smile and how he was always dressed in white. He loved to play lawn tennis and he wore white shorts and t-shirts. I remember a man who came across as a free spirit. I also recall that people loved to gather each time he came to see us at my aunty’s where we lived. Apparently, the king’s children customarily did not live in the palace. I remember him in a light blue Mercedes and a convoy of few other cars usually Mercedes too. He was very generous as well because he used to buy us and our cousins loads of clothes and gifts each time he came.

What beautiful memories!

Becoming an orphan must have been a nightmare…

Being of a royal background sort of cushioned the effects.

Though, it also had its downs. I won’t wish such on anyone because it means a total lack of parental presence, love, attention, guidance and more. I never had that and will never know what that means.

Growing up as an orphan means moving from home to home, it means uncertainty most of the time. But what hurts me the most about the

Continues on page 30

PAGE 30—SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

Continued from page 29 orphan child is the complete lack of care. It can never be the same as having maybe a parent by your side. So, for me, growing up as an orphan is tough business, it’s being left on your own to grope in the dark until you find your way all by yourself. It’s learning to be self-dependent, sufficient and determined.

Determination, as a matter of fact, got me to where I am today. Growing up as an orphan means learning from very, very silly and sometimes stupid errors and avoidable mistakes. It means making wrong choices that may have been avoided if only you had a parent to point you in the right direction. It often means being taken advantage of with the resulting effect of being abused.

Did you have to at any point pay your own bills?

My aunt made sure we went to good schools throughout pre-nursery, nursery, primary and secondary years of our lives. I believe my dad made provisions for this before his demise. Once we finished secondary school, we began to see life for what it really was.

We suddenly realised what it meant to be orphans. From then onwards, we were passed from home to home and it continued that way until we got to the university. My first year at the university was tough. I attended the Edo State University, EDSU, precisely where I had my first degree, LLB. I recall seeking sponsorship for myself and my three siblings. I had approached the state government via a local government office in Agbor in the first instance. Then, on one of my visits to my aunty’s in Surulere, Lagos, I heard about a prominent Agbor man who sponsored just about anyone. I located one of his companies on Olosa Street, in Lagos, known at the time as “Institutional Investors” where I completed an application on behalf of the four of us directing the manager to my siblings’ various universities to be contacted. Our application was approved once they knew who we were and to date, I feel like I owe this man a big “thank you” for his generosity and kind gesture toward us and possibly other orphans. It was not a lot of money but it covered our tuition and accommodation. We had to basically help ourselves for every other thing. So, here is a “humongous thank you” to “you know who you are”. The greatest challenge for me was that when everyone went home on holiday, I didn’t have a “home” to go to. So, every holiday, I would have to choose carefully where to go to and remaining on campus was not an option (those who attended EDSU knew how dangerous it was). Relatives were not always welcoming or warm towards us.

So, you can imagine my relief when I got married, hopeful about going to build my own

'I was ashamed of being regarded as a divorcee' somehow you just never feel totally isolated. I speak from experience because I have met such Nigerians as Mr. Niyi Otunla, the Accountant General of the Federation, who continues to play the role of a father and has remained ever so constant in his care.

So, what’s the concept behind the OIF Village?

The idea is to provide a settlement, like a home, for orphans and victims of domestic violence, especially underaged abused girls.

Within the OIF Village, we would have structures such as the “OIF Residence” which will house the children/orphans.

•Genevieve....Compared to the western world, Nigeria is a more caring society I was eventually able to home. Little did I know that I sponsor myself through the was going to be exposed to Law School and my Masters violence of a different nature in program at the University of my marriage. Following my Westminster. I was determined abusive marriage, I travelled to succeed and never to seek abroad for a couple of reasons assistance from anyone back I was ashamed of being home. I worked full time and regarded as a divorcee and I studied part time at the law felt the need for a change of school. For my LLM, I studied environment especially for my and worked full time - never try mental health. I had been it! I had no need to rely on called certain names repeatedly anyone and the UK gave me in my marriage besides the an opportunity to be physical abuse that I could not independent and I achieved a get those names out of my lot based on merits and not head. I am convinced that what who you are or who you know. happened to me in my I purchased my first property in marriage would not have the city of London barely four happened if my parents were years after I arrived. The UK around. This is an example of became my first “true home” the “wrong choices” referred to and I was thankful to God for above that might have been the opportunity to be able to avoided with parental own my own home. It was a guidance. The idea behind OIF tiny apartment in central is to give the closest we can to London but it was the best a normal life to the children in thing that happened to me at our care. To prevent the the time and a great children from being passed achievement. In England, I from home to home because built a home for myself based they’ve offended aunty A or on merits and I felt like I uncle B. That can only be deserved it. With Nigeria, possible when there is stability however, things are a little and the children have a roof different. Given the challenges over their heads. That is the that I was faced with at the idea behind the “OIF time, I didn’t think that it was VILLAGE” which I’m setting possible to achieve in Nigeria up. I never had any form of what I was able to achieve in stability in my life except from England, through sheer when I moved to London hardwork and determination. following my marriage in However, Nigeria has many 1999. strengths that anyone can tap into to become someone in life.

How easy was life in London For instance, Compared to the compared to Nigeria which western world, Nigeria is a was supposed to be home? more caring society and

The foundation will be launched on the 14th of December 2014, at the Civic Centre in Lagos at which we also hope to raise funds to commence construction of the village.

The construction work should start sometime in the new year depending on how much we are able to raise

We also have the Rehabilitation Centre for girls rescued from child trafficking or the sex trade industry, called the “Grace Isedeh Centre”, GIC, named after my mother. Apparently, child trafficking is a major problem in Nigeria, in particular Edo and Delta States. I understand that some states are ill equipped for these eventualities and little provisions are made for the rehabilitation of these girls when rescued. Sadly, I understand that Delta State is one of such states. Hence, the incorporation of GIC within OIF. The idea is to rehabilitate these girls and send them back home as self-confident, new individuals. Those who do not have homes will remain in the OIF Village and be educated or

trained in various skills. Within the Village, we also have a Vocational Centre called the “Obi Ikenchukwu Development Centre”, OIDC. Here we hope to identify and build special skills and talents of the children who will then be transferred from the OIF Residence to the OIDC to be properly mentored. We presently have about four people who have volunteered as mentors for these kids. My desire is to see these disadvantaged children grow and become what they are meant to be. To help them fulfil their purpose in life. Long term plans within the village will be the inclusion of a school, inter alia, which should start in the next two years. There are so many other plans for the village and you should see them unfold between now and the next five years.

When will this village become reality?

The foundation will be launched on the 14th of December 2014, at the Civic Centre in Lagos at which we also hope to raise funds to commence construction of the village. The construction work should start sometime in the new year depending on how much we are able to raise.

Is there land readily available?

We have acquired a land being, courtesy of my brother the Dein of Agbor. So, we are hoping to start work as soon as possible in 2015. All things being equal, the village should be ready toward the end of the year 2015. The plan is to have a temporary site pending the completion of the village, then we transfer the kids. I am hoping that by the end of next year, we would be commissioning the completed village.

And what if the launch doesn’t provide enough money for the village?

That’s why I’m in Nigeria.

I’ve been talking to people and corporate bodies to partner with us because this project is for the good of the society. I understand this is the first of its kind in the whole of the Delta region, and I hope the people of Delta State, especially the people of Agbor, including the government, will see reasons to partner with us and assist us in making OIF a reality and giving the less privileged a better life. So far, responses have been fairly encouraging and we are happy that more and more people are signing up. We are hopeful and like my father once said during his last interview in the summer of 1978, “I know the people of Agbor will come through” for us. Not for me, for the “crown”, for their late Obi whom they love and miss so much and what he stood for. According to my dad, “the people of Agbor are loyal”. And I am very optimistic that their legendary loyalty will play out this time in a big way. I hold on to my father’s words and remain hopeful.

C M Y K

Vanguard, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 31

By Simon Ebegbulem, Benin-City t was the first time Governor IState Adams Oshiomhole of Edo will be blowing so hot

against President Goodluck Jonathan. Unlike other governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Comrade Governor had hardly attacked the President publicly even though he may not be satisfied with the way the country is being run. He apparently tried to avoid situations that will warrant him attacking Jonathan. And that was why his recent tirade against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government came as a shock to many. Oshiomhole’s perceived support for the President had earned him names in some of quarters.

Some said he was not a committed APC member and that, that is why it had been rumoured that he may follow the footsteps of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State by joining the PDP. Even though his supporters both in the Edo House of Assembly and his cabinet have been hounded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the police following the bitter rivalry between the APC in the state and the PDP, the governor has maintained his cool with the President. But as it seems, Jonathan murdered sleep recently during the PDP South-South rally held in Benin City, when he came to Oshiomhole’s back yard to taunt him, declaring that come 2015 and 2016, Rivers and Edo will “fall” to the PDP. Oshiomhole did not immediately respond to the comment. He may have been digesting it while monitoring the actions of the President to be sure whether he actually meant what he said or was only playing politics. And after that comment from the President, the governor must have observed that several people close to him have been either arrested by the EFCC or the police. As a matter of fact, the PDP lawmakers in the state House of Assembly have received tremendous support from the police ever since the crisis in the parliament and that gave them the impetus to flout every court order. Meanwhile, APC lawmakers are being treated like second class citizens. The principal officers of the House, including Speaker Uyi Igbe, son of the Iyase (Prime Minister) of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, the Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu, and others, flew to Abuja almost on a weekly basis as guests of the EFCC until the Federal High Court granted an injunction stopping further investigation of the lawmakers.

While the APC chieftains pass through this hell, the PDP in the state celebrate what is described as the “Federal Might” being used to intimidate the governor and his supporters. Some PDP members in the state have used C M Y K

2015: How Jonathan, Oshiomhole fell apart — My scorecard six years after – Gov

Jonathan Oshiomhole

every means to disrespect the governor even to the point of calling him ole!ole! when the President visited Edo recently at the Benin airport. Going by what is happening around him, it was clear to Oshiomhole that the attacks against him and his supporters were actually geared towards ensuring that Edo falls as boasted by Jonathan. This coming after he helped the President to win Edo in 2011. Oshiomhole, known to be at his best when he perceives intimidation against him, therefore, used the last Wednesday’s mega rally of the APC to commemorate his six years anniversary to reply the President and to also inform him how Edo will vote come 2015.

The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was filled to capacity and in attendance were the two leading presidential aspirants of the APC, Gen.Muhammadu Buhari and former VP Atiku Abubakar. Others in attendance were Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; Chief Audu Ogbe; Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu; Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Ali Wamakko of Sokoto State; the deputy governor of Kwara State, Elder Peter Kisira; a, former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylvia; a,

We have connected communities that have been abandoned, Edo is on the march. We have demonstrated that no government anywhere in the planet will have all the resources it needs to meet all the challenges it faces former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo, House of Representative members, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Edo State House of Assembly members; market women; students; civil society groups amongst others. To the admiration of the crowd, Oshiomhole mounted the podium to reel out his achievements in the past six years, insisting that his achievements will guarantee victory for his party despite alleged plot by the PDP to win the state. The governor said: “We are here to mark six years of revolutionary changes in Edo State. When I stood here six years ago, everybody reminds us that our state was ground zero. Our children were in class rooms without

roofs. Our roads were hopeless.

Our moats were blocked, children were lost to flood. In Esanland, there was no water, our politics was managed by three families. You cannot survive without worshiping the godfathers. But I told my people that poverty cannot be described as an act of God. Today, across Edo, life is back.

Our children now attend schools with red roof, with aluminium windows. We have connected communities that have been abandoned, Edo is on the march. We have demonstrated that no government anywhere in the planet will have all the resources it needs to meet all the challenges it faces. But with creative management of the little that we had, I made bold to say that

many of our neighbours have more money but do not have the level of determination to apply resources judiciously and intelligently to achieve the kind of result that we have achieved in Edo. I want to appreciate the support that you have all continued to give because one man cannot make a forest.

“I want to ask, if you listened to President Jonathan when he was here in September to launch what they called the South-South rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, he was reported as saying that Edo State, our own great state, the Heartbeat of the Nation, will fall to PDP. Let me ask you, can Edo State fall? Can the President fall any of you? He even went on to say that Rivers State will fall to PDP. I need you to mark the word ‘fall”and go back home, take your dictionary and look at the ordinary and special meaning of the word ‘fall’. To fall is to collapse, to fall is to speak in the language of soldiers.

When they have used the force of firearms to overcome their enemies and they capture them with the aid of guns after killing many, they can say that the territory has fallen.

“So is the President going to use the armed forces to fall

Continues on page 32

PAGE 32— Vanguard, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

Continued from page 31 the people of Edo State? I want to put him on notice that Edo State is not an enemy territory to be felled by armed forces and the Commander-in-Chief must not target Edo for falling.

Edo will stand and march on.

On the contrary, APC will defeat the President in Bayelsa State, APC will defeat PDP in Rivers State, and APC will defeat PDP in Cross River State.

APC will defeat PDP in Delta State, APC will continue to bury and bury PDP in Edo State.

What is the scorecard of the PDP in Edo State and in Nigeria? The PDP has commissioned the resurfacing of Ofosu to Benin Road in a period of 16 years. That is all PDP has to show in Edo State for over a period of 16 years. The PDP led Federal Government controls 52.8 % of declared federal collections and Edo State’s share of that 52.8 % and all they have to show in 16 years is the resurfacing of Ofosu-Benin old carriage way.

My challenge to my opponents in whatever name they are called, people who spent 10 years in Edo deceiving people, we have shown that they wasted our 10 years but we were not deterred by their failure but rather inspired by the opportunity that we have to reposition Edo State. I have made the point that we can reposition Benin- City, deal with the crisis of flooding, not on the basis of random approach but by taking a holistic view on the flooding problem and applying searchable solutions that are informed by scientific mandate. We challenge our main opponent, leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP at all levels to come out and refute all that I said we have done that we didn’t do”.

Oshiomhole continued: “Never again shall we be buffeted by people who remember us once in four years when they bring a version of the stolen money to buy guns and distribute to young men to kill people. We have moved away from the politics of sharing salt, banana and sugar cane at the eve of election. Today, the Edo woman understands that providing school for her child is better than giving her a bag of salt once in four years. As long as the PDP has power, the Nigerian people will never have power. Even as we speak, this stadium is being powered by generator.” According to him, in the name privatization of electricity distribution companies, the Federal Government handed over power to people who know next to nothing about electricity and power generation. “ But today, from our 26 per cent, we have built roads across all the nooks and crannies of Edo state.

Because of our commitment to politics without bitterness, we built roads to the villagers of PDP leaders which they did not do. So I ask the President, with all due respect, with profound respect for the President and his office, to show us what his party, the PDP, has done in Edo. I want to remind you of those

Jonathan

Oshiomhole

2015: How Jonathan, Oshiomhole fell apart powerful statements made by the Edionwere of Benin Kingdom, Chief Edebiri, who said that this generation of Edo people will never again vote for anybody who carries an umbrella that is torn. In 2011, the President scored 96 per cent in this state. Let him show us the 96 per cent contribution of development from PDP. All we see is PDP appropriating federal money in the name of a government body. They gave the money to a former public official who was rigged into office and we had to vanish him. When we use individuals rather than state institutions to distribute public funds that is the height of corrupt practices. I have stated my testimonial I ask you to ask the PDP their testimonial. By the special grace of God, by February next year, we will not vote on the basis of tribalism, we will vote on the basis of who provides power.

For 16 years, PDP keeps promising power but it is clearly power to their stomach. As long as PDP is in power, Nigerian people will be out of power. For as long as PDP has power, Nigerian people will never have power. In the name of privatization of the distribution companies, they have handed over the assets to individuals who know next to nothing about power and electricity. Today, they collect money when they deliver darkness, they collect money for power when they deliver frustration. We are the father of change. Edo will not fall, Edo will stand and we will decide the President. APC will win the presidential election, APC will win senatorial election and we will never be intimidated. I am at my best as a person when you intimidate me. I have nothing else to live for but to stand on the truth and fight for change and change must come.

The PDP are boasting they are going to rig the election, but let me put them on notice.

Nobody born of a woman will rig and govern Nigeria with a

I want to put the President on notice that Edo State is not an enemy territory to be felled by armed forces and the Commander-in-Chief must not target Edo for falling. Edo will stand and march on stolen mandate. We want to warn them, we will defeat them with the ballot not with guns.

The Nigeria armed forces belong to the Nigerian nation, they do not belong to any political party. Any attempt to misuse the armed forces to rig election, it will be fire for fire.

Only a coward dies several times before his death, we will stand as soldiers of democracy.

We will fight for our fatherland and victory shall come”.

Oshiomhole then threw a challenge to the opposition party which he said spent ten years deceiving people: “Those papas who have spent ten years deceiving pikin and even those pikin who grew old under papa now also deceive papa by whatever name you call them, they have shown that they wasted our ten years. Today, we have liberalized our politics.

The son of a cassava farmer can contest election without a god father. We have moved on from a party of deceit to a party that has the vision and determination to move Nigeria forward.

Our report card in Edo is clear, we have moved politics away from the tradition of government earmarking money for schools, for River Niger Bridge, for fertilizers. We earmark roads, we earmark schools, we earmark what we have done, not what we promised to do.

So, today, we challenge our

opponents, leaders and members of the PDP, at whatever level, to say that everything I said we have done we did not do them”. On his part, Tambuwal blasted the PDP-led Federal Government, saying, “the system we have in place today is malfunctioning”. The House of Reps Speaker added: “The government at the center has failed in several ways and when you have a system that is not working, what do you do, you change to a better system that will deliver. The objective is to deliver good roads, provide security, enhance development in this country. What we have at the moment is a cabal that hijacked the instrument of authority of the Nigerian people and we will do everything humanly possible come May 2015 to ensure that they are out of the Villa and what we have is a progressive government of APC. When they came here last time, they said you should vote for him that he is from the South-south. But what have the people of the South-south benefited from this Presidency?

When he came he rode on the sentiment of being a minority, what have the minorities of Nigeria have to show in the last four years? Don’t be deceived again, all of us have been deceived before when we were persuaded that we needed to have this personality in govern-

ment for some reasons. But it has been proven beyond reasonable doubt that sentiments do not provide good governance. All of us must agree that what we need in Nigeria is good governance and whoever can provide that should be the leader of this country not minding where he is from. I therefore commend the good people of Edo for the support that you have been giving our leader here, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. In the past administrations, Edo was not like this but when Adams assumed office in the last six years we have seen real transformation not the type that is being canvassed by the so called ambassadors of transformation in Abuja.”

Tinubu, who commended Oshiomhole for his achievements in Edo, said President Jonathan made a blunder by declaring openly that the school girls abducted in Chibok by Boko Haram were either killed or yet to be found. “Jonathan is stepping on the blood of Nigeria children and dancing on their graves by declaring for re-election yesterday. A wise President will stay in the Villa and declare his intention to run in the memory of those children. He said he will not step on the blood of anybody to be re-elected but he is dancing on their blood. On his watch, he will want to blackmail the opposing party, no leadership of any nation will sit idle and watch any part of its own territory being taken away by the so- called insurgents. Mubi is the second largest commercial town in Adamawa, if it has been taken by insurgents, then this President should resign. If a military barrack that was equipped with our weapon to fight the insurgents, that barrack the armoury there was abandoned and they fled, you leave the weapon for the insurgents, under your watch, and you said you want to run again, no. God forbid, if you refuse to go, we will sweep you away. We will beat their tyranny, we will show them that the power of the people is greater than the barrel of their gun. You cannot enslave us anymore,”the APC leader said.

National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, who declared that Oshiomhole’s score card in Edo was unprecedented, stated: “His six years has transformed the face of politics permanently in Edo. six years of bringing hope to the life of the ordinary man and woman in Edo State.

God spare him and give him the resources in the remaining two years so that when we will be campaigning for governorship it will be no contest.

Because like Oshiomhole himself said, we can eye mark our achievements. The PDP can only earmark achievements and that is not real. You are one of our star governors. The governor said just now that when the President was here, he said Edo will fall. But it is the PDP that is falling. We have promised you a new Nigeria. Today the country is being destroyed. Totally clueless Federal Government but by the special grace of God they will leave Aso Rock come 2015”.

C M Y K

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 33

•Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

BY SAM EYOBOKA

N

ational President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, on Monday, celebrated his birthday by giving out cheques of N50,000 each to about 30 disabled individuals from different parts of Delta State. In this interview, he laments that for two years now, Nigeria Inter-religious Council, NIREC, has not seen the need to meet despite the growing menace of insurgency in parts of the country. When asked whether constant attacks on his person will deter him from speaking his mind, his answer was: “God forbid. It cannot!” Excerpts...

What’s your birthday wish for Nigeria?

My birthday wish for Nigeria is that we will have a nation where everyone is equal; not just by national anthem, not just in words, but in deeds.

That Nigeria will be a nation where people are not judged by tribe or by religion, but purely on the quality of their character, their person. My wish is to have a nation where anybody can go from Sokoto to Calabar and be accepted as a Nigerian. I don’t have to change my religion to live in a certain part of the country.

To mark your birthday, you gave out cheques to disabled people in Warri. What inspired it?

That is my life. The major thing that gives me joy in life is to give joy to other people.

When I have opportunity to do that, I jump at it because it does something to me. I feel fulfilled. Yes, I’m a Christian, I’m spiritual, but I feel like a human being when I touch other people. It reminds me of my own humanity. It reminds me that if not for God, I will not be who I am; I will not be where I am today. You saw a woman giving testimony and then she said she had stopped doing business. Whatever stopped her from business, obviously stopped her from a livelihood. It just occurred to me there, ‘why don’t you just

Don't negotiate with Boko Haram – Pastor Oritsejafor

•Says negotiation is waste of time •Lists four ways to stop insurgency •Explains why the Sultan, himself, others have not met over killings

help her?’ She is healed, she is happy, but why not just take it a step further and help her to have a livelihood? And you could see her reaction. That gives me fulfilment. December 26th is an incredible day for me here in Warri. I did not fully understand the word Boxing Day. I thought it was a feast thing, but then I began to understand that it is a day where many things are packaged; it’s a day of boxing things to give to people. So we do that here every December 26th. We give out cars, tricycles. That’s my joy. I’m a pastor. How much do I have?

What can I do? Very little. But there are big businessmen, big companies; if we all try to do a little; everybody seems to be pushing it all to government but government can’t do everything. We can all do

I am as puzzled as you are because the Sultan and I are cochairs of that organisation.

We’ve not had a meeting now for almost two years and I’m puzzled because at least three times I have been informed of a meeting something. If I do a little something, and somebody else does, and everybody else does, you would be surprised how many people we can take out of poverty, how many people we can actually put on their feet so they can stand for themselves and fend for themselves. It will change this country.

The theme of the Jubilee: Talitha Cumi Arise 2015, does it have anything to do with next year elections? What’s the purpose of the theme?

I have a chair in my bedroom where I kneel to pray, but sometimes I sit if I’m praying for long, it’s like a rocking chair. I was sitting there

meditating some five months ago. I can’t explain whether it was a trance, but I saw something like a screen, and written on it were the words: ‘TALITHA CUMI’. I happen to know that phrase because I’ve preached from it for years and I know that it means, `Damsel arise’. Underneath it I saw ‘ARISE 2015’. I know we are in 2014, why 2015? And the impression from God came to me that this year is preparatory towards 2015. Many things have been predicted about 2015, but the Lord impressed on me that many things that were dead will come alive. Hopeless situations, God will bring life into them.

But also that Nigeria will arise.

This nation will not go under. Nigeria will not be consumed. Nigeria will survive. It will be tough, but God says we will arise. So it’s very prophetic. It will definitely affect 2015.

Call it the election, call it the aftermath of the election, call it whatever, but we will survive 2015. When Nigeria survives 2015, Nigeria will survive anything.

In view of the growing insurgency in parts of the country, why has NIREC not held any meeting to address the challenge?

I am as puzzled as you are because the Sultan and I are co-chairs of that organisation.

We’ve not had a meeting now for almost two years and I’m puzzled because at least three times I have been informed of a meeting. We were supposed to meet in Gombe, only for the Secretary/coordinator, Prof.

Ishaq Oloyede, to call to tell me it won’t hold, something happened, the governor was going somewhere or something. We fixed another date, he came up with something again. We fixed a third date; they came up with something again why it could not hold. At a point, they even said there was no money. But early this year, I was told that there was some money now, so I said let’s do it. I talked with the two very important people involved. I suggested some dates; they said those dates were not good. So I’m still waiting for a date.

So it has nothing to do with me. I would love that we sit and talk. And we should be able to put these issues on the table and put timeline and agree on how we want to solve some of the problems facing Nigeria today. The traditional rulers, the religious leaders and political leaders; these three groups of people are very crucial to solving the problems facing Nigeria today.

Recently we heard that there was a ceasefire, later we were told that there was no ceasefire whatsoever......

I think I’m the wrong person to ask this because, first of all, I was not part of it. I don’t know

Continues on page 34

PAGE 34—SUND AY 34—SUNDA

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

Continued from page 33 anything about any ceasefire.

You people should ask the relevant authorities to explain what they meant by ceasefire because I have no idea. What I know from what some very devout Muslims have told me is that when a Jihad starts, they don’t stop. The Jihad has to be completed. They either die or they achieve their goal. And the goal is to Islamize Nigeria.

The real war is a war between the ideology of Sharia and the ideology of democracy. This is the war that is going on, and it is a worldwide war.

In Nigeria, we are ostriches; we put our heads in the sand.

The western world is doing the same. They think as long as they are hiding in the sand, their problems will vanish. It’s not going anywhere. We have to face reality. The problem is real. Boko Haram will not negotiate with anybody. It’s a waste of time, energy and effort. They may end up talking with some people. But the problem is there are people who are still killing people and raising up their flags every day in different places. This is the reality on ground. Let’s stop the deception. Let’s stop the games. What is happening is real. People are being killed on a daily basis. So what ceasefire? There’s nothing like that anywhere. Shekau himself has been coming out almost every day, saying he doesn’t know anything about any deal.

What deal is anybody going to strike with you that is going to stop this trend now that is going on?

Four-way solution To me, there are three or four things that should be done to solve this problem of insurgency in Nigeria. I don’t know if we can ever totally eradicate it but I think we can reduce it drastically and isolate it.

Number one, Christians must not relent in their prayers.

There has to be a divine input into what is happening. I have a feeling that God has helped us as a country; if not, the situation would be worse. So I want to plead with every wellmeaning Nigerian to pray and pray harder.

Number two, the military must not relent. They must buckle up. I find it very difficult to criticise them and just pull them down to say they are useless and all that. I’m not telling you that I’m satisfied with what I see, but I find it difficult to do that. There are many reasons for that. Number one, these men are Nigerians like us. The difference is that they signed to become soldiers.

They are married with wives and children. They are being killed also and their wives made widows and their children orphans. Why should I stand here now to say that they are useless? Having said that, there is a serious problem in our security agency, the problem of sabotage. I’ve been crying out about this for almost two years now, now a lot of people are talking about it.

There is serious sabotage. It’s been there, it is just being magnified more and more. All our security agencies have this

Oritsejafor: Four-way solution to Boko Haram insurgency problem. There are people sympathetic to Boko Haram; some of them are even literally Boko Haram themselves. They leak information every day. It has become so bad that even reporters now get the stories.

The other day I read where a plane was to go and bomb a Boko Harm stronghold which could have stopped the recent invasion of Mubi; but as the plane was approaching its destination, the pilot got a call that he should return to base and he returned to base and these people did all they wanted to do, then they said he should go. So who made that call? Well, I don’t know if they’ve found out who made the call now. There was also an armoured car that was abandoned intentionally. When journalists report and say the soldiers ran away, they make it sound too simple. That’s not what really happened. From the information I have sometimes, there are some commanders, not all, who will refuse to give the command. By military operations, soldiers cannot attack or respond without a command. Now, if the man who is to command them is not giving them command, and it’s obvious they are going to kill them, what do you expect them to do? So some of them drop their weapons and run. The picture has to be painted correctly. So that’s why some of them run away like that. Then there are some who the thing has been arranged, the people want to leave these weapons for the other people, so they are instructed to run. So they just run away and leave the weapons. It’s not really that they are afraid or can’t fight, but it’s still this sabotage issue.

They have to work out the mechanisms by which they can fish out these people.

No matter the equipment you buy; you can buy all the modern equipment, it is getting to a point where the problem is not of poor equipment, the problem is that these saboteurs are using these equipment against government in the sense that they are handing them over to the insurgents. So these crazy people use these same equipment bought with Nigerian money to kill Nigerians. This is an issue that must be looked into seriously and addressed urgently.

Now the third thing; this is also very important, Nigerians, I beg us, let us stop this pretence. It is either we are totally ignorant, which I will be surprised of, or we are totally wicked and pretentious. We keep saying that this thing is not religious; it’s an insult to the sensibility of the average Nigerian. So when will we agree that this is a religious problem? When Nigeria is wiped out? When these people overrun the whole nation before we will know? I read in

•Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

What I know from what some very devout Muslims have told me is that when a Jihad starts, they don’t stop. The Jihad has to be completed. They either die or they achieve their goal. And the goal is to Islamize Nigeria the papers today that an insurgent was walking around the streets of Mubi preaching.

The report states that Boko Haram patrol captured towns preaching to residents. Are they going round begging for food? They are preaching.

Preaching what? Don’t we know what they are preaching?

They are preaching Sharia.

Why are we pretending to be politically correct?

Doctrines There are Muslims that are good friends and I associate with. I love them. I cannot hate Muslims. Why should I? My religion forbids me to do that, but I am begging these people that Muslim clerics, the notable ones from all the denominations of Islam, because Islam has denominations; all the Muslim clerics, all the Muslim political leaders, all the Muslim traditional rulers; these three groups should please for God’s sake and for the sake of Nigeria and for the sake of

their own future and their own children and children’s children, they should come together.

Boko Haram will not listen to me. Boko Haram is an ideology. Please ask this question, what is the Salafi ideology in Islam? What is the Wahhabi doctrine in Islam? Are there doctrines like that? Yes. What are the doctrines that these terrorists around the world believe in? The doctrines they are teaching, are they not coming out of this Wahhabi and Salafi doctrines? Boko Haram is basically an ideology. To defeat an ideology, you need a superior ideology. Many of our Muslim brothers have come to say to those of us who don’t know much about Islam that these people are not Muslims.

Alright, but what are these people preaching? Is it not from the Quran? Now you say you have the real thing that this is not the real thing. Then match the real thing with the unreal thing or with the fake.

In other words, they must

engage these people. There are few Muslim clerics that these people respect till tomorrow. From what I hear, they like discussing the Quran, up to Shekau himself. They must find ways to engage them. I will never have access to them. They don’t even want to hear anything about me because I’m an infidel. But they would listen to some of these clerics. They must locate them, find ways to engage them probably through some of these their Quranic studies and scholars, they may be able to get to a point where they can discourage some of their activities and gradually get them to become sane again.

Local intelligence Number four will be for these same religious clerics to help us go to the grassroots and start convincing the average person on the streets probably in the mosques, that they are Nigerians and Nigeria is a good place to belong to.

Because certain things are being told to the people; they should start telling them that this is a great country to believe in. They should make them understand that Boko Haram is not fighting for them or for their good. They are the ones that can say these things to those people. If they gradually do that, a lot of them, even at the risk of their lives, will give out better information to our security agents. Because you can’t fight a war like this successfully without getting good intelligence from the local people. Some are afraid. If there is nothing you can die for, then you really have nothing to live for. The reality is if you don’t give out these information, one day, these same people will kill you. If you give out information and they catch you, they kill you. If you don’t give out information, one day, they will still kill you.

Is it not better to give out information? They have to try to convince them, to make them feel that they are Nigerians.

Government will also play their part. But it is not about poverty. They are destroying all the infrastructures that would help put food on people’s table, so it’s not about poverty. If you buy car for every single one and build a house for every one of them, it’s not going to solve the problem because it’s a problem of ideology. So they have to bring some reorientation. These things must happen. So there must be a grassroots work. Like I said, government has a part, but to me, government’s part in this thing is not as strong as religious leaders, political leaders and traditional rulers.

They have a greater part to play in solving this problem.

Government will arm the military and all that stuff, but all these three groups are the ones that need to help us to get to the grassroots.

A lot of Almajiri schools have been built everywhere, how many schools have been built for Christians? Do you think a Christian can go to almajiri school? Are there no Christians in the North? Who is crying out for them? Who is speaking out

Continues from page 35

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Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 35

Continued from page 34

that was just taken over; there was an Emir of Mubi. In a place that is also over 80 per cent Christians. Can it be the other way round? Can you try it?

Can you go to Sokoto and say that from now it’s a Christian traditional ruler that will rule over a particular area? The only Christian in Bauchi State House of Assembly is a woman and she was thrown out. What did she do? The House woke up one day with the governor, and decided that a local government area headquarters that was located in a Christian area be relocated to a Muslim enclave. And they just did it like that. The woman got up and said no. They said she insulted the House. Her tenure is almost over, they took her security, took her car, no salary for almost three months. What has anybody done? All kinds of things have happened.

for them? Their own children are roaming the streets.

Anti-Christian moves Are we not all aware of what the nice governor of Bauchi State did in Tafawa Balewa and other areas dominated predominantly by Christians?

How he went and closed down a girl’s secondary school 2011.

Most of the students are Christians. He took the Muslim students from there and put them into other Muslim schools and abandoned all the Christian students. They have nowhere to go till today. Who cares? Where are our human rights organisations? Where are our civil society groups? Is it that they became deaf and dumb intentionally? Those girls are roaming the streets. If they want, we can go and show them. They are all over the place. I can go on and on and show you some of these things.

There is also the challenge of porous borders that need to be properly policed. Those are government issues too. The borders are porous and they need to look at the kind of people they post to those borders too; not people who are sympathetic to this madness.

You post the same kind of people to the borders wearing government uniforms but working for Boko Haram, they will go there and just be telling people to pass with all the big trailers allegedly carrying food, cow and other things whereas they are loaded with equipment that are coming into this country from different directions.

Are you not aware that Libyans have joined them? Are you not aware that Somalians are among them now? Are you not aware that Tunisians are among them? From different parts, they are there among them now, fighting alongside the insurgents. Our borders are so porous. Not only the land borders, but even the air and sea. What of all the weapons that were found in Lagos, where are the weapons till today? Iran was indicted.

Where are those people that were caught? What has happened to them? What about the ones found in Kano? We were later told that they were linked to certain Lebanese people based in Kano and Abuja. What has happened to all those things? What has happened to all those people?

Have some of those places not been reopened in Abuja? What are we doing to this country?

And we say we want to fight insurgency. All these problems are there. If we look at all these things realistically, holistically, genuinely, honestly, with integrity, we may wipe out insurgency and probably, if nothing else, reduce it to the barest minimum.

Otherwise, you think Nigeria may go the way of Turkey?

Turkey, some time ago, was 100 per cent Christians. The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire that was a neighbour to Constantinople was a 19-yearold boy. And the Christians were warned of what was going to happen, they said it could not happen. They sent

•Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

emissaries to him. He received them. They said ‘we told you, they are so nice’. When the boy turned 21, he invaded Constantinople. Guess who helped him? Christians. The cannon with which he blew down the walls were invented by a Bulgarian Christian that was even inside Constantinople. He invented this thing and approached the king of Constantinople for money in exchange for the weapon, the man said he didn’t have.

The inventor sneaked out of town with his invention, went to the Sultan and the Sultan gave him money and collected the equipment and helped to lead the troops to blow down the whole wall. In the meantime, Christians inside had been fighting each other, talking nonsense about nothing. When they saw the invaders approaching, they held hands to say they were praying. Which prayer? And they came in straight, and the first place they went to was the church. And the Sultan walked into the church shouting ‘Allah Akbar’; and made his way to the pulpit, made some rituals and turned it into a mosque.

For the next 1,000 years, that building was used as a mosque. The man who started the modern day Turkey by introducing democracy, what he did was to stop the place from being used as a mosque but he didn’t return it to the church. Instead he turned it into a museum. So inside that museum, you will see Muslim things and you will see Christian things. Do you think if that place was originally a mosque and was changed to a church, and they came and stopped the church, you think they will not change it back to a mosque?

Arab colonisation Look at what is happening in Jerusalem. When we talk like this, some people will attack me. Look at the Al-Aqsa Mosque; was there not something in that place before that mosque? There was a Jewish temple there before that mosque. Why is it that the world never ask questions? If the original thing there was a mosque, and the Jews came and built a synagogue or a

‘Why the Sultan, I, others can’t meet over Boko Haram’ temple on top of it, you think it will stand? They would have blown it up by now. Everybody is talking about the mosque.

What about what was built there before the mosque?

Nobody is asking, nobody is talking.

We talk about western colonization; what about Arab colonization? We never talk about it. We pretend that it doesn’t exist or it didn’t happen. What happened to Egypt? Is it not the same thing that happened in Turkey? For over 1,000 years, Egypt was totally a Christian nation. The Arabs invaded. They came in.

In the usual stupidity of Christians, they said it could not happen. They killed them like rats. And brought in a lot of Arabs within 50 years. Today, Egypt is known as an Arab country. Were the Pharaohs Arabs? Please let’s be realistic.

They were real Africans, black people. Is that what you have there today?

What happened in Sudan?

Why is it that Sudan split? You have Southern Sudan and Sudan. The whole of Sudan was pure black people. The same thing, they came in from Egypt and raided that place, took it over. Killed the men, dashed themselves the women, and brought in a lot of Arabs.

Within 50 years or thereabouts, it became Arab Republic or Islam Republic or something.

Today, everybody is seeing Sudan now as an Arab country.

But was it really an Arab country? Is Sudan really an Arab country? Nobody asks questions.

I can push it further. Fulani herdsmen kill innocent natives across the nation, rape women and do several despicable things to people in the nation,

I can push it further.

Fulani herdsmen kill innocent natives across the nation, rape women and do several despicable things to people in the nation, but what do we hear ? Calls for compensation for them but what do we hear ? Calls for compensation for them. People clamour for grazing land for them as if to say the nation should compensate them for killing innocent Nigerians.

Nobody has asked the question as to where herdsmen get sophisticated weapons like AK47 from? Do you know that for the past 30 to 40 years, no church organisation has been issued a certificate of occupancy to build a church in the far North?

Go to the North of Nigeria and see the suffering of Christians. Are you aware that generally across the North, you cannot be a traditional ruler except you convert? Go to Gwoza. Gwoza is 80 per cent Christians, but they have an Emir of Gwoza. Does it make sense? That a place where 80 per cent of the people are Christians, you start an emirate, and there’s an emir who is a Muslim over 80 per cent Christians. Look at Mubi

We have a Christian President and all these things are happening to Christians.

People are complaining that the President is weak, he doesn’t act. What do you think?

Well, personally, I will say that people’s styles are different. All leaders will not operate the same way. So don’t rule out that possibility. Also, because personalities and style would be different, you also discover that there could be a leader who feels that because I’m a Christian, I should not do things that will make people think that I’m favouring Christians and would bend backwards to satisfy the Muslim side so that they will be happy. All I will tell you is that the man is bending backwards to satisfy these our brothers. He is the President of both Christians and Muslims.

But the funny thing is our Muslim brothers complain that he is not treating them well.

You sit back and wonder, it’s puzzling.

Look at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which is supposed to care of refugees, give relief to internally displaced persons when all these things are going on. I think the Director General or whatever of NEMA is a Muslim. Five out of six of the zonal coordinators in the six geo-political zones are Muslims. Only one is a Christian. My people especially in the North complain every day that the relief materials meant for displaced persons don’t get to them. In fact, as we sit here today, there were about five or six of them in this office today from Mubi and other places to see me. A pastor from Mubi told me that the clothes with which he managed to escape death was what he was still wearing. They told me that in some of the camps where they claim to take relief materials to, they don’t give relief to Christians. They told me that there are Muslims who come from their homes to collect the relief and go back home while the displaced Christians in the camp are wallowing and struggling and nothing is getting to them.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

I am not super human, says Pastor Adeboye other passengers until God assured him that he was not going to die and that the situation occurred so that God can communicate with him.

“When God gave me that assurance that we will not die that He only wanted to have a conversation with me, I felt relaxed and as God would have it, the Lord took charge of the plane and we landed safely," he narrated.

In another related account, Pastor Adeboye explained that because of his previous experience which God took control of, he was not disturbed.

“In another of my travels, the pilot had announced that there would be a lot of storm at the arrival terminal going by the weather report. The implication is that there will be trouble while landing.

“When I heard that announcement I knew God was in charge. I took the little meal they served because I ride in economy; but the man that sat beside me could not eat. I asked why he was not eating and he replied: 'so you understand English; don’t you hear what the pilot just said that there will be a lot of storm at landing because of the bad weather.'

"I said I heard." He was confused thinking what kind of human being is this? But he insisted he was not going to eat. So I offered to help with his food since I was still hungry and he freely gave me the food.

“I ate the food and slept off. God took

when his faith was not strong enough to receive his healing. The Shunammite woman told Elisha not to deceive her when Elisha gave a prophecy she would have a child. But the Lord still went ahead to give her the child. At a point, John the Baptist doubted if Jesus was the messiah or not.”

The man of God recalled an incident long ago when a woman came to the church’s maternity in Ilorin to deliver and said she had made a covenant to die on the day of her delivery.

"I was invited to the scene and wondered why the woman who was about to put to bed would decide to die in our maternity.

So I prayed for her and came to Lagos. A day after the woman brought forth a baby and the midwives observed there was another baby inside her who was not coming forth. And this woman refused to be taken to the hospital. Some brethren came to Lagos to report the incidence and wanted my intervention and prayers.”

Adeboye said when the brothers came he had to put up a bold face and reprimanded them for traveling all the way from Ilorin to Lagos because of the issue.

He said he prayed with them that the woman would have delivered before they got to Ilorin.

According to him; “When the brothers left, I went to my room and locked the door and prostrated before God, crying to Him to intervene in the matter. God answered me and said but I just dismissed those people and assured them that the woman would be delivered her baby before they get back to Ilorin. Why do you still doubt the prayers you said earlier?

"The Lord rebuked me. I tried to excuse myself and said I just had to dismiss them so I could really settle the matter with you, Lord. The Lord asked me to go and eat. I replied, Lord I have been fasting but He said go and eat. Till today I did not know if the food passed through my mouth or nose.

“But the truth is that God still went ahead and answered the prayers even when I was in doubt of the prayers I had prayed. The woman was delivered of the second child in her womb and two more babies making four babies from her,” Pastor Adeboye emphasized.

We have our moments of doubts and worry but God will still do what He would do. The leper that came to Jesus was healed even when his faith was 2015: Cleric counsels not strong enough to politicians receive his healing

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

G

Pastor Adeboye.... I am human and I have my fears too

By OLAYINKA LATONA

C

ONTRARY to popular opinion that influential ministers of God are superhuman and immune from challenges which mere mortals face, the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye recently shocked members when he declared that he was susceptible to fear, including other human weaknesses.

Ministering at the November monthly Holy Ghost Service with the theme: 'Great Expectations', Daddy G.O., as he is fondly called by members and non-members, at the Redemption Church revealed to the mammoth crowd how he was gripped with the fear of death during one of his numerous ecclesiastical trips outside the country.

Known for using personal experiences to illustrate his sermons despite series of criticisms from such personal testimonies, Pastor Adeboye recalled how he was gripped with fear and close to death during one of his trips with the then Nigeria Airways.

In his words: “Contrary to what many of you may think I am human and I have my fears too. There were times I have had cause to fear and doubt because I am human but God always ended up disappointing my fears and doubts.

"In one of my trips with the then Nigeria Airways, the pilot had announced, when we were already airborne, that there were indications that the plane would crashland. Immediately the pilot made the announcement, I was afraid and as if that was not enough, he said there were expert fire fighters who would put out the fire when the plane crashes."

Continuing, Pastor Adeboye said: "Immediately I embarked on a quick run through my life just to be sure I was ready to meet my Maker. I also told God that I never knew this was how I would end my race. I was really afraid," noting that there are some things that will happen to people that will make them to be really afraid, anointing or no anointing.

Laughing over the situation which has become a testimony, Adeboye said the fear of death temporarily took over him and

charge. By the time we were about to land, the pilot announced to us that the weather forecast was wrong. We got down safely. I looked at the face of the man sitting beside me and he looked at my face and laughed. But then the Lord told me that the weather forecast was not wrong that He was the one who diverted the storm”.

Linking another personal story with that of Abraham and his wife, Sarah, Adeboye explained that there were many instances where he had doubted God "but some times God looks beyond our faith to bless us and do His wonders in our lives because of His mercy."

Adeboye maintained that Abraham, described as father of faith, doubted God when he fell on his face after God had told him his children would be as the stars; Sarah laughed when the Lord told her she would have a son but God still went ahead to bless her.

Stressing that as individuals, we have our moments of doubts and worry, he said “God will still do what He would do. The leper that came to Jesus was healed even

ENERAL Overseer of Abundant Life Gospel Church, Rev. (Mrs.) Jane Onaolapo, has counselled Nigerian politicians to put the interest of the masses above their personal interests as we approach another elections.

Addressing a news conference in Ilorin ahead of the 30th anniversary celebration of the church, the woman of God expressed disappointment that several Nigerian leaders have failed to deliver quality leadership despite their frequent travels to countries where democracy is working for the benefits of the people.

According to her, Nigerian politicians should emulate the virtues of statesmen like Nelson Mandela who with selfless sacrifice developed their countries, noting, however, that those who are expecting Nigeria to break up in 2015 will be highly surprised by the wonders of God. Speaking on the corporate social responsibility of the church, she said,"boreholes have been sunk for our host communities in Ibadan and Ilorin respectively as well as sand filling and grading of a one kilometre road from Oko-Erin junction at the cost of N300,000, in addition to 1,150 bedsheets given to Ifako Ijaiye general hospital.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 37

show; just for me. He told me to look out of the bay window in our living-room. There they were all these very tiny little birds. There were so many of them, all there in our small garden. They flew up and down; making a strange melody of chirping noises. Where, Daddy; where did they all come from?

I

was a baby Christian, basking in newborn fel lowship with the Lord. I woke up one morning to discover I was singing a new song. I had never sung it before; but it was clear I had been singing it in my sleep and continued now awake. How do you sing a song you never knew before? How come you know the words?

I was flabbergasted. So God teaches us songs we do not know and we just sing it wordfor-word miraculously? I spent the entire morning singing the song; dancing all over the house. From the shower, to my dressing, to my breakfast: I sang; I hummed; I danced. I was a total nuisance.

Holy Ghost uproar My wife and Femi-Kevin stared at me and looked at one another knowingly. It was Sunday morning, so we were going to church. At the time, our preferred church was some 30 minutes from our house. I continued singing in the car at the top of my lungs. I left no one in doubt that the Spirit of the Lord was indeed upon my soul.

When we got to the church, something strange happened.

Little Femi-Kevin was the first to get out of the car and go in.

What he saw was so amazing; he immediately rushed out to tell us. “Daddy, Daddy!” he shouted, his eyes big with excitement; a smile of incredulity on his lips. “They are singing the same song!”

We walked into the church to find it in something of a Holy Ghost uproar. People were jumping up and down. Some were clapping their hands with great fer vour. Others had turned the church into a disco and were dancing aggressively. Everyone was singing the same song the Lord had just taught me: “When the Spirit of the Lord is upon my soul, I will dance like David danced.”

Call it a coincidence; call it what you will. It was a setup.

The Lord had orchestrated everything just to confirm he is, indeed, the shepherd and bishop of my soul.

Love of my life It was the saddest day of their lives. Jesus suddenly said he was going away. Peter wanted to go with him. But Jesus said “No. Not yet. Not now.” He said: “Actually, I have a better plan. Although I’m going away, I’m coming right back.”

Mary ’s favourite place was down at his feet; taking in every word. She would not leave his side, not even for a minute.

Jesus said: “Don’t worry Mary; I have a special way for you to enjoy me even more. I will be one with you. I will be in you and you in me.”

Thank you, Jesus. Thanks to you, God is one big secret

to be in Christ.

,

Elihu says God gives us songs in the night. (Job 35:10). I consulted a Pentecostal Hymnbook; checked the index and found the song: “When the Spirit of the Lord is Upon My Soul.”

I opened the book and confirmed I had been singing it word-for-word: “When the Spirit of the Lord is upon my soul, I will dance like David danced.”

“I will d-a-n-c-e; I will d-a-n-ce.”

THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY: THE LOVE OF MY LIFE I’m in love and it’s out of control. It’s so overwhelming, I am lost but found

,

locked deep in our heart.

How can I talk to men about you? How can I tell them how beautiful you are? How can I describe your loving-kindness?

How can I explain the joy of your presence; the warmth of your embrace; the heart-skip that comes from hearing your voice?

I love you, and love you and love you; with every fibre of my being. I want everyone to know you are the love of my life.

Enjoying God It’s raining cats and dogs. It’s dark and eerie and noisy and windy. It’s pouring down; stoning the roof; whistling past the windows. But I am all safe and dry and home; tucked up in my warm and comfy bed. Surrounded by the sound and fury of pouring rain, I feel so nice; so protected; so secure. So it is

Elect God-fearing people, group urges Nigerians By

T

CALEB

AYANSINA

HE Fellowship of Chris tian Students,FCS, has urged Nigerians to shun money bags and elect God-fearing politicians in the forthcoming general elections.

The National Chairman of FCS, Prof. Istifanus Dafwang also called on Nigerians to change their attitude towards elections in the country.

Dafwang, who is also the Resident Electoral Commissioner, representing Gombe State in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) charged them to fully participate in the process of choosing their leaders, quoting the scripture "when the righteous rules, people rejoice."

He was speaking at the sideline of the National Open House 2014 tagged: 'Contending for the Faith', organized by the Fellowship of Christian Students in Abuja, stressing that people have a responsibility to ensure that the forthcoming general elections brings the desired results, by participating fully to elect credible people.

According to the Gombe REC the Fellowship was complementing INEC's voters education programme to ensure full participation of every eligible voter in the election, pledging to reach out to over one million youths

before 2015 general elections.

"Part of our goal in FCS is to change people's attitude towards election. Electoral process begins with voters' registration and

in all the activities, we will continue to tell people including politicians that they have obligations and rights.

"Whenever and wherever I have

I’m in love and it’s out of control. It’s so overwhelming, I am lost but found. I am lost in a love as mysterious as it is real.

I don’t know where I end and where he begins.

Sometimes, I catch him looking through my eyes. Suddenly, I hear him speaking through my lips. Occasionally, I even listen to his heartbeat. He is pained and moody and subdued. But he’s always there, a jealous lover; reading my letters, rummaging through my thoughts, breathing down my neck.

I love him oh so much, and yet I want to break free. I love him dearly, yet I want my freedom back. He wants all of me but I want some of me. It’s never enough with him. If I read one chapter, he pleads and cajoles for two. Where has he been all my life. How come, all of a sudden, he is everything to me?

Sharing intimacies I sat down to spend some time with the one I love. That voice again: the one that speaks my peace. "Femi,” he said, “let me show you something.” I asked him what it was. He showed me a bright streak of sunlight shining on some leaves. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

Another time, he put on a live

opportunity to talk to people, as INEC Electoral Commissioner, I do tell them things they (people) need to do; 'you need to pray, register during voters' registration, vote your choice, monitor your vote, say no to violence and rigging," he warned.

Bishop urges Nigerians to turn to God By

Olayinka

B

Latona

ISHOP of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria (LCN), Western Zone, Rt. Rev. Gabriel Sadadi, has urged Nigerians to turn to God in finding solutions to some of the recurring problems in the country.

Sadadi made the call during the church's annual convention which took place at Lutheran Church of Nigeria (Resurrection Cathedral), Surulere Lagos.

Theme of the event was; “Christ lives in me”.

The bishop assured Nigerians that despite the current challenges facing the country, Nigeria would overcome if only the citizens would put their trust in God, adding that Nigerians must pray fervently for God to intervene in the affairs of thee country.

"No one can do good by his or her strength; it is the spirit of God that leads and directs one to do the right thing. We are suffering as a nation today because people have vehemently refused to do good.

"People engage in corruption

and other vices because we have refused to do the will of God. But if we can forsake our evil ways

and shun evil, then things will change for better in our country,” he maintained.

First Nigerian Sign Language Bible out By

S

Olayinka

Latona

UCCOUR recently came the way of deaf and dumb in the society as a Christian ministry, Deaf Opportunity Outreach International, (D.O.O.R International, Africa) in collaboration with The Christian Mission for the Deaf Church, Nigeria, The Presbyterian Church Nigeria and The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) recently dedicated the first Nigerian Sign Language Bible DVD. The sign language bible unlike the usual scripture book which consists of chapters and verses, contains bible stories which were signed on video and distributed on DVD for the various users.

Expressing joy over the success

of the project, General Secretary of The Bible Society of Nigeria, Rev. Dare Ajiboye said: “Today is the happiest day of my life because if you check the King James Version of the bible, it made mention of the deaf 15 times and in the book of Leviticus it stated that we should not curse the deaf.

“Those who cannot physically hear can now through sign language read and understand the word of God. It is quite significant because before now, only the sighted can read the bible, the blind have their bible which is the Braille Bible but today the deaf too can read the bible through sign language bible DVD and that mean everybody either deaf, dumb, physically sighted have no excuse of not hearing or understand the bible”.

He plays a game with me, this lover of my life. He wraps himself around me. It started with him just holding my legs. Then he would enclose me all over in some kind of warm blanket. He would say nothing at all and I would have to be completely still. If I moved, even a little, he would immediately withdraw.

Darling Jesus, why are you so sensitive? Why do I always seem to grieve your spirit?

A letter from God I got the shock of my life.

There was a letter addressed to me. When I saw the forwarding address, I could not believe it.

God wrote me a letter. It was not typed but handwritten. He addressed me by name. He told me how much he loved me. Me. Imagine it. God loves me. He loves me. He loves me.

He invited me to a party. He wanted to know if I would come.

I said of course I am coming. I would not miss it for the world.

But what would I wear? I certainly cannot go in those old suits of mine.

So I spoke to him on the phone.

He said not to worry. “I am making you a beautiful outfit.

Just trust me. When the time comes, you’ll be dressed to the nines, just the way I want you to be.”

I can hardly wait. I wish the party were tonight. I am so excited, I can’t keep it in. Everyone knows I’m in love. It’s all I talk about.

This wonderful, wonderful, love of God.

Johnny's wedding holds Nov 23

T

HE marriage ceremony between prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Michael Johnny of Okerenkoko and Beauty Uyabor of Oporaza Town, Gbaramatu both in Warri South West local government area of Delta State, holds on Sunday 23 November in Warri.

Chief Johhny in a statement in Warri, said the wedding will hold at Cherubim & Seraphim Church of Zion Land, Canaan Ministry, Otokutu, and the reception at Ishaka Hotel, along Refinery Road, Ekpan, Delta State.

Mrs. Roli Uduaghan, first lady of Delta State, will be the mother of day with Alhaji Asari Dobubo as special guest of honour while HRM Joseph Timiyan, paramount ruler of Ogulagha Kingdom will be royal father of the day.

Other special guests are Chief Ari Jonathan,Pastor Richard Johnny, Okoromade Siko, Chief Governor Jonathan, A.P Edward Ubele, Prophet Irawo Joseph and Chief Mosco Johnny.

He called on his friends both home and abroad to grace the occasion.

PAGE 38—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

One of Nigeria’s four refineries

Crude at $70: Time for new SAP ‘Nigeria

is not broke, Nigerians are broke’

BY DELE SOBOWALE

“Already, some states are having difficulty with the payment of salaries of their workers. Many have issues with payment to contractors” - Alhaji Remi Bello, President, Lags Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI. THE NATION, November 13, 2014, p 13.

HE same day’s edition of the paper reported that workers at the National Assembly, NASS, had not been paid their salaries for October; and legislature’s third quarter allocation is still pending (p 5). And, on its back page, the RIPPLES cartoonist reminded us that Dr Okonjo-Iweala recently assured us that ‘Nigeria is not broke”. To which RIPPLES replied, “Yes. It’s Nigerians that are broke.”

But, jokes apart, it is quite clear to those not clinging to officially sanctioned illusions that Nigeria was already in deep trouble. That crude oil was heading for a drastic fall was predictable from last year. What nobody could forecast was the dramatic drop from $108 in August this year, just three months ago, to $76 on November 13. Now, this mindboggling reality portending grave dangers for all segments of Nigerian society and the nation’s economy can only continue to be ignored at our collective peril. The first thing governments, at all levels, and

T

the people of Nigeria must understand, is that the remedies which must be applied, invariably painful, cannot wait until after the 2015 elections – as those in governments would prefer. The old adage, “a stitch in time saves nine”, applies here.

The longer government delays, the worse will be the damages to be repaired later. So, some of the measures, recommended under such circumstances, are urgent – like initial first aid to victims of car crashes.

There is no need to repeat all the known facts about the vital role of crude oil revenue to our economy. What we must get into our, usually thick, yet porous, skulls is the fact that for several years to come, the revenue will be less than what it was in 2013 – which was inadequate for our needs. Meanwhile, those financial needs have escalated; some on account of measures taken in the past (Minimum Wage increase, agreements with ASUU and NMA etc’ bloated governments, debt stock and repayment obligations etc); others will result from the need to, in the first instance, obtain more loans and pay more interest. One thing is inescapable, there will be more hardship for the masses and there is nothing governments can do to avert the decline in popularity and pervasive hostility which will arise from these calamities.

One thing is inescapable, there will be more hardship for the masses and there is nothing governments can do to avert the decline in popularity and pervasive hostility which will arise from these calamities NATIONAL ECONOMIC SUMMIT GROUP, NESG. One remedy, often mentioned, but impractical in the short-term, however indispensable in the long-run, is diversification of the economy to reduce our dependence on crude oil. That was an idea on which the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, of the 1980s was bottomed. Unfortunately, very little came of it – until President Babangida – the author of SAP, stepped aside in 1993.

Chief Ernest Shonekan, as the Head of Government to IBB, organised the first annual National Economic Summit Group, NESG, meeting in 1992.

As a participant, representing the Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM, I recollect that one of the major

recommendations in the final communiqué was diversification of the economy to reduce reliance on crude oil. In the 22 years interval very little had been done to actualise that dream. The NESG 1, not only made that recommendation, it also laid out the ways to achieve the goals.

Additionally, there has been no NESG meeting which had not emphasised the need for diversification of the economy.

Those attending the annual NESG meeting, who can be regarded as those with economic clout, the same individuals who donate generously to presidential campaign elections and visit Aso Rock regularly, had failed to persuade six Heads of State – three military and three civilians to prosecute the diversification programme

seriously in twenty two years.

Obviously, it cannot be done in a hurry and it will take time before its impact is felt. Meanwhile, we need something that can be done immediately.

TIME FOR SAP 2 Let me first of all admit that SAP 1 was a failure. However, it needs to be pointed out that Nigeria was not the only country undergoing adjustment at the time. Several countries in Asia and Europe were also undergoing the same therapy. At least five Asian tigers were included. And, they were very successful.

Nigeria’s SAP failed, not on account of economics, but because bad politics intruded into economic policy management.

For instance, when IBB decided to establish two political parties – NRC and SDP – and fund them with government money, he took a decision which had strong economic implications – but negative. The N40 billion (worth over N1 trillion today) spent on the political transition programme, which was later annulled, could have established four power stations – each with 2000MW capacity. That error alone robbed us of 8,000MW which we would have been enjoying from the 1990s till today.

Only God knows by how much the Nigerian economy would have grown since then.

What should be basic content of SAP 2?

Wait till next week...

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 39

DStv Monopoly: The Facts, The Fallacies

BY JUDE IDUGBOE

I

spent some time following the recent debate in the House of Representatives on the bill to halt what is viewed as a stranglehold on the pay-TV sector of the broadcast industry.

The bill, which passed second reading at the House two weeks ago, was sponsored by Mrs. Aisha Dahiru-Modibbo. It seeks an amendment to the National Broadcasting Commission Act to ensure openness and competition in the industry.

Specifically, the House expressed its displeasure at the “arbitrary” subscription rates charged

by MultiChoice for its digital satellite television services in the country, arguing that high pricing by DStv has denied the majority of Nigerians access to its premium programming. It also alleged that there is a dearth of competition in the pay-TV sector of the broadcast industry, which has given big players like MultiChoice the “undue advantage” of preventing other operators from coming into the market and crashing prices.

Another complaint of the House focused on what it considers a “rigid” subscription policy under which subscribers are billed “ whether they are at home viewing programmes or not”.

Dahiru-Modibbo, who led the debate, explained that the House is not opposed to foreign participation in the domestic economy, but is determined to protect the interest of Nigerians.

She is of the view that there are Nigerian firms capable of providing premium satellite broadcast programming to Nigerians, but these have been frozen out by “deliberate actions” of by monopolies.

House Deputy Leader, Leo Ogor, spoke along the same lines, wondering why Nigeria, a country in which DStv has a huge subscriber base, does not get “subscriber-friendly offers” given to citizens of other African countries.

Grading My support for the House is partly based on the fact that I am a DStv subscriber, one that is light years away from being affluent and therefore deserving of the kind of protection the House wants to provide. Again, it is part of the human make-up to want bargains. I am certain that the majority of Nigerians want bargains. But are bargains realistic in every situation, including for products of services branded “premium”? I do not think so. There is a reason a product or service is branded premium. Being premium suggests that it is the highest tier of that product or service.

And as we know, services and products have categories marked by class and quality. Access to or enjoyment of such is determined by cost.

MultiChoice grades its services like hotels grade their rooms (from executive to standard), like

airlines grade their seats (First Class - Business - Economy) and cars (Custom, Limited Edition, Full Option Regular, Basic Option Regular). Cars come with a variety of options: Manual or auto? Cassette or CD or Aux or a combination of all? Leather seats or fabric? Four or six cylinders?

Alloy rims or wheel cover?

Normal dashboard or navigational screen? Houses are also graded. We have detached, semi-detached right down t o face-me I face you. T h e categories, naturally, attract different prices.

Scrutiny The less than subtle charge of monopolisingcontent brought against MultiChoice by the House must have gladdened a more than a few hearts. It is a long-running industry narrative.

I believe it deserves a bit more scrutiny. First, MultiChoice is not the only pay-TV service provider in the country.

S t a r T i m e s , M e t r o Digital, Daarsat, MyTVand Trend TV, Montage and the new entrant,Consat, provide similar services. HiTv once did, famously wresting the broadcast rights for the Barclays Premier League in Nigeria before its untimely death. Now, I am not happy that HiTv folded up the way it did, but that can hardly be blamed on DStv, which remained in business despite the loss of the rights to broadcast premium sport content before regaining such. Why didHiTv fold up?

Simply because it paid too much for the rights to the Barclays Premier League and failed miserably to manage the rights it acquired. HiTv ’s case was similar to that of Setanta, the broadcaster that once challenged the power of BSkyB in the UK, but folded up partly because it overextended itself by paying over the odds for content.

IfHiTv succeeded in one thing, it is in driving up the cost of rights to the Barclays Premier League in Africa-to the eternal disadvantage of the Nigerian

subscriber.

Free market economy In a country that is supposed to espouse democracy and a free market economy, it is bizarre to seek to punish MultiChoice or any company for succeeding so well at what it does. No doubt, MultiChoice came in first and did tie up all the great content. Their fault? No. That is business. MultiChoice is doing nothing more than any other company operating in a free market economy. There is no law prohibiting MultiChoice from charging the maximum the market will bear. Can we blame Coca-Cola for outselling other producers globally?

From the look of things, the

that DStv strangles competition.

Television content is expensive, added to which TV channels will not be able to sustain covering these costs with traditional advertising revenue. One does not need a PhD to do the math. BSkyB acquired the rights to broadcast the Barclays Premier League between 2013 and 2016 at a less than measly cost of 2.28billion pounds. Early this month, a nine-year extension to the contract for the broadcast rights of NBA games between the NBA and its broadcast partners, ESPN and TNT, was signed. The new contract, which kicks in at the end of 2015-2016 season, will see the cost of the contract go up from $930million per year to $1.4billion yearly.

Sport, today, is a business and not a charity. Legislators need to understand that access to paytelevision programming, particularly sport, is not a human right issue, just like owning a car is not. The government needs to concentrate on fixing power (this will allow people to watch television a lot more) and other critical infrastructure.

Pay-as-you-go model A friend with whom I shared the view that access to subscription television is no human right issue rejoined that consumer protection is the motivation of the House. But consumer protection is not about price, but about a defective product or dire service.

If you renew your DStv subscription and you are not reconnected when due or you are sold a defective decoder or overcharged for a service, your rights-as a consumer-have been violated and you are entitled to

When the price fixed for subscription is not agreeable to you, it is your right to look elsewhere for one that suits your purse. What our legislators also need to understand is that the pay-as-you-go model in telecommunications does not fit the pay-TV industry House wants to force MultiChoice to share its content with its rivals at cut-rate prices. But what the House needs to do is to find out why those granted subscription TV licences over the years have not been able to get things going let alone actually get to the point of being able to compete. HiTv did actually compete for the three years, during which it held the rights for the Barclays Premier League, its cash cow. But in 2010, its inability to obtain bank guarantee for $40million, the content value of the first of the three years for which it sought a renewal, left it gasping before ultimately dying and for DStv to reclaim the rights. It is simply untrue, given the HiTvexample,

redress. When the price fixed for subscription is not agreeable to you, it is your right to look elsewhere for one that suits your purse.

What our legislators also need to understand is that the pay-as-yougo model in telecommunications does not fit the pay-TV industry.

How exactly is DStv supposed to detect whether you are watching or not at any point, given that the signal is one way (downlink)?

What DStv is able to do is toblock the smart card from accessing the signal. There is no way to transmit back to base/ MultiChoice whether you are watching or not and what you are watching. Pay-per-view (PPV), which many have suggested, uses your telephone line or internet connection to execute the

transaction. PPV is also not yet adequately understood. A usagebased system that is PPV is cripplingly expensive and is usually for one-off events. For example, the FloydMayweather vs Saul Alvarez boxing bout cost as much as $75 to watch in the United States. The sum is more than the cost of full DStv premium package on which Nigerians watched the fight. In addition, pay-TV providers are more or less agents. They do not always own the content they broadcast. If the content owners do not sell to them on pay-per-view basis, how can they resell on such basis?

Subscription rates Another leg of the narrative is the long and loud claim that Nigerians pay the highest DStv subscription rates. This, however, is untrue. For the DStv premium package, Zimbabwean subscribers pay the equivalent of$72, Zambians, $81, Tanzanians $81.18, Kenyans $82, Mozambicans $81 and Ghanaians $78.75. Nigerians pay $72.46. There are countries where lower rates are paid, but Nigerians do not pay the highest rates for the premium bouquet.

For the Compact Plus package, Ghanaians pay the equivalent of $50, Tanzanians $51.49, Kenyans $52.48 and Zambians $52.

Nigerians subscribers pay the equivalent of $48.3. The Compact package attracts the equivalent of $31.10 in Nigeria. In Zambia, it is $31.19; $32 in Zimbabwe; $32.30 in Kenya; $30 in Namibia; $31.67 in Ghana and $31.80 in Tanzania.

The bill before the House, with due respect, carries a whiff of crying wolf where there is none.

Monopoly, which the bill alleges, simply does not exist because of the options available to the payTV subscriber. Also non-existent is a design to kill competition. In a free market economy, there is no illegality in charging prices that the market is capable-as has been demonstrated-of bearing.

Premium television content is not sold to broadcasters on the cheap and broadcasting, being a business, has to turn a profit else go under, taking with it direct and indirect employees as well as those with whom it must have built partnerships. As much as I would love a reduction in subscription rates, it should not come by legislation. If nobody has thought of legislating that Coscharis should slash the prices of its BMWs, why should it be MultiChoice for which such should be recommended? It is not right to punish innovation, topnotch content, efficient marketing capabilities and quality-all of which MultiChoice possesses.

The bill before the House, to me, is akin to an opportunistic stickup rather than a desire to push for more openness and competition in the pay-TV sector.

*Idugboe, an engineer, lives in Lagos

PAGE 40—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

Financial Products

REVIEW

with Dave Baro-Thomas

davebaro_thomas@yahoo.com 08023405055

POS Terminals!

FEDERATION ACCOUNT

Nightmare or Necessity (1)

Effects of dwindling funds on states: The Edo example

BY INWALOMHE DONALD

E

DO State budget is funded through the Federation Account like other states, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and other sources of revenue. The people of the state are worried that Edo derives the bulk of its revenue from statutory allocation from the Federation Account which is dwindling and incapable of funding capital and recurrent expenditures.

Today, there is need to redouble our efforts to reduce our dependence on the allocation from the Federation Account by intensifying our IGR drive. Recently, states complained that revenue accruing from the Federation Account has drastically dwindled with the consequence that they and local governments get much less money.

In 2014, the budget performance is affected by the drop in the allocation which adversely hit the revenue profile of Edo. Nevertheless, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has remained faithful to the payment of workers e m o l u m e n t s .

Oshiomhole has sustained his policy of financial prudence and budget discipline which has kept the cost of governance within reasonable limits and ensured that more resources are channelled to capital expenditures and welfare enhancing projects.

On October 3, 2013, he warned that Nigeria was witnessing financial crisis as most states were unable to pay salaries to their workers. The governor noted that the inability of the Federal Government to meet its financial obligations to state governments was a recipe for national disaster, which has serious security implications. However, IGR seems to be the last resort for the governor in order not to fail on his promises to the people.

Unfortunately, most of our people hardly pay tax.

Meanwhile, Oshiomhole has not borrowed unlike Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Finance, who revealed, last week, that $14.1 billion loans had been facilitated by her ministry for some federal programmes and projects at concessionary rates of sometimes as low as

Governor Oshiomole

Adams

three per cent from the international finance market.

Edo generates about N18 billion IGR yearly but the state is weighed down by salaries of more than N28 billion yearly. How did the states, especially Edo, get to this pitiable situation? The review of the country ’s revenue sharing formula, last year, by the Federal Government was part of the problem which led to Edo to lose about N800

which upped IGR, Oshiomhole would have been unable to cope.

Within five and a half years of the Edo administration, he increased internally generated revenue from N300 million to about N1.5 billion monthly without increasing tax.

Despite the Federal Government budget deficit of 1.9 percent in 2014 as against 1.8 percent 2013, and borrowing at N572 billion, as against this year ’s N577 billion, I argued that there was the likelihood of upside risks to spending, deficit and borrowing, due to declining revenue and growing spending habit.Finance Minister Okonjo-Iweala, hinted that revenue earned by Nigeria this year may be as much as $12 billion short of budget estimates as theft of crude and output disruptions persist in the oil-rich Niger River Delta. This shortfall will put pressure negatively

Since last year, there have been rumblings at FAAC meetings where the Commissioners for Finance from the 36 states and federal officials meet monthly to review national earning chiefly from crude oil and share the proceeds to the federating units million in November and December, 2013.

Today, the situation is much worse as it is estimated that the state government loses over N2 billion monthly while each of the 18 local government councils in Edo loses about N200million monthly from the Federation Account. Consequently, most local governments in the state cannot pay workers. Of course, the people cannot blame Oshiomhole for this situation.

If government projected from the beginning of the year what it would earn from the Federation Account, but midway into the year, the Federal Government put the state in jeopardy, it is clearly not the governor’s fault.

Edo had its revenue slashed monthly from N3.6 billion to about N1.1 billion. Meanwhile, the government pays over N2billion to workers and over N600 million to pensioners. These are outside other obligatory expenditure. So, how does Edo survive on N1.1 billion monthly from the Federation Account. But for his economic wizardry

on Edo IGR and threaten the economy.

Without federal funds, most states cannot even afford salaries payment, not to talk of executing projects. Most states have had to take short-term bank loans to settle salaries whenever there were delays in the monthly disbursements by the Federation Accounts Allocation

Committee (FAAC). Each of the 36 states pays yearly salaries in twodigit billions, but most of them generate IGR in single-digit billions annually.

Indications are rife that the Federal Government, states and local governments are facing a grim financial situation arising from steadily dwindling national income derived predominantly from the sale of crude oil. Since last year, there have been rumblings at FAAC meetings where the Commissioners for Finance from the 36 states and federal officials meet monthly to review national earning chiefly from crude oil and share the proceeds to the federating units.

This shortfall in revenue has made it increasingly difficult for Edo and the 18 local government councils to pay salaries as well as service their contractual obligations.

When the going was good, the FAAC, for instance, in July, 2013, shared N1.014 trillion to the three tiers of government. But by October, same year, the income accruing had plummeted to N568.413 billion, the lowest for many months. Last November, the FG, states and LGs shared N675.650 billion between them which again nosedived to N581.14 billion in December, 2013. In January, 2014, only N629.12 was available for sharing.

Edo people are worried that the dwindling revenue from Federation Account can threaten the state’s economy. * Donald is of Justice Research Centre, BeninCity

L-R: Managing Director, New Horizons Systems Solutions Nigeria, Mr. Tim Akano; newly employed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Aregbesola Grace Olubunmi, Assistant Director, Public Relations NYSC, Lagos, Mrs. Faniyi and Assistant Director, Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneur Development (SAED), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Racheal Idowu, at the 4th New Horizons/ NYSC SAED Job fair held in Lagos.

A

fter a good lunch at a popular hangout on the Island not far from Bar Beach, I opted to pay the bill with my ATM card and in a jiffy, the waiter promptly brought a Point of Sale (also known as checkout or Point of Service, POS) terminal. After the first and second failed attempts, a third trial was successful hence the transaction was concluded.

Some three months after, I had a need to request for my bank statement as a criterion for some other transactions only to discover that I was actually charged twice for the meal at that restaurant without a reversal by my bank.

This got me very worried as flashes of my previous POS usages at different times hit my mind. Well, I went to my bank and the process of getting a reversal was like a camel attempting a stroll through the eye of a needle.

Customers’ retention and loyalty is a function of consistently rich experiences garnered over time as one engages products or services. When a product or service fails to get repeat purchases because of bad customer experience, then disaster is imminent.

In the light of financial products, our primary concern, the enrichment of customers experience leveraging on functional and efficient infrastructural/technological platforms offered by service providers, is non-negotiable in the nation’s quest to migrate its cash-driven economy to a cash-lite one. The cash-lite policy is indeed one in the right direction. However, its implementation and a deepening of the processes is very key.

The POS terminal is one strategic technology in the entire gamut of the cashlite drive link because it is most prominent at the retail end of the value chain.

A female respondent actually said that, the use of POS makes shopping fun, interesting and easy hence it suffices to say that whether from grocery stores or supermarkets to restaurants, gas/filling stations, boutiques, hotels or retail outlets of any sort, the deployment, efficient and functional engagement of the POS is simply a necessary ingredient to drive the cash-lite policy; otherwise the whole process will become a nightmare.

The frequency of POS downtime is indeed worrisome. A customer walks into a shop, spends quality time picking up items from the product shelves only to get to the point of payment and the POS terminal is not working. In the words of

another respondent, that could be rather embarrassing, frustrating and very discouraging, and indeed surmises to wasted time and efforts but the implication is far-reaching because after three of such encounters, no customer would need a further lecture on a back-up plan – to have enough cash in your wallet or purse thus defeating the entire thrust of the cash-lite policy! It is also intriguing to get to a point of service (emphasis on “a point of payment” not multiple points of payment) and see as many as five POS terminals at a time and on a very bad day, one may go through almost all the terminals without any luck.

So the critical question here is, why do POS terminals fail? Why should a retail shop

with a single point of payment have multiple POS terminals and what are the implications? Is this a standard practice in developed economies where the cashlite system works? What is the level of our infrastructural readiness for the effective and efficient deployment of POS terminals? Should the POS terminal be a competing platform among banks?

Who are the POS merchants/service providers and how ready and competent are they to drive a seamless system? How can we expand the usage frontiers of the POS beyond big shops and shopping Malls?

How can we encourage a sizeable number of market women/men at Jankara, Trade Fair, Balogun, Alaba International, Oshodi, Mile 12 etc to have sufficient faith in the usage of POS terminals as against cash payments because when a customer walks out of your shop in search of an ATM, in place of a failed POS terminal, that could become bad business.

These and more issues we shall deal with in subsequent editions. But the fact remains that, there is no going back on the cash-lite policy. No sane nation worth its salt can relent or look the other way if its economy must compete favourably. The benefits of a cash-lite economy are enormous but the exigencies of very sound infrastructural/technological backbone to power the system cannot be overlooked.

Feel free to join in this discourse!

FEEDBACK Please are you sure the Skye Global account is effective, transparent and COT free as published in Sunday Vanguard (page 8). Please, Head of Marketing Management, give more details to this number (08073999931). From- TEIWEI, BSc. MSc. NIM, CIB, Academic Staff.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 41 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Fate, unifing budding artists at Alexis gallery

By JAPHET ALAKAM VISUAL

N

IGERIA is blessed with many talented artists, but the environment in which they operate somehow make it difficult for them to develop and maximise their potentials. This is partly due to the level of art appreciation in the country and the way and manner gallery owners milk them to better their ways. But one gallery that support and represent the artist very well is the Alexis gallery located in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The gallery has been doing that through providing a platform for them to exhibit their works in a favourable condition and also by signing some of them who they promote and protect their interest. And poised to continue with the good work, the gallery recently organised a group exhibition for five of the artists they signed The exhibition tagged Fate, an exhibition of paintings and mixed media which opened yesterday at the gallery and is expected to run till November 22, 2014 will feature over 40 works of five young talented artists from different background. The exhibiting artists are; Tyna Adebowale, Darlington A. Chukwumezie, Akhile Ehifora, Yemi Uthman and Raji Mohammed.

The unique exhibition which is co-curated by George Edozie and Patty Chidac

•Some of the works displayed- Ritual 7 by Tyna and Red light at Civic centre by Darlington Masttrogiannis can be seen as a decent platform of presenting their works to the public. According to them, “it is special because the prizes of the works are decent, making it affordable for people to buy. In fact we are trying to keep a sanity in the art market” They noted.

Speaking about the theme.

The artists who were all happy for the opportunity given to them explained that most of the things that happen in life are just an act of fate which is in line with the theme of the exhibition. They see Fate as a destination, as it was fate that brought them together. And some of the works displayed addressed the theme of the exhibition, such works include the Busy bus stop; Light bearer;

Rituals,Shore etc. while others addressed varied issues affecting the country. They include, Yellow wood 1&2, Pathway 1&2 by Akhile, Devotion, Impression sunrise Travel by Darlington, Somewhere in Ikire, Nomadic, Ebute by Uthman, The young prince, Sisters helping hand, Peace by Raji, Landscape 1&2, That aura, Rituals series by Tyna.

Speaking about their works, young and talented Tyna Adebowale who happens to be the only lady among them said that her works deal with issues concerning female body. How the female body could be victimised or not, though some of them celebrate women too.

For example, the piece Rituals 7, t talks about the rituals

women go through everyday to look beautiful. To her it is fate that made them to be women and as such they have to take care of

It is special because the prizes of the works are decent, making it affordable for people to buy themselves.

For Darlington Chukwuemezie, who said that transforming space in his environment is one of his core area says his works

New book highlights accomplishments of custom’s boss

By PRISCA SAM DURU BOOK NEWS

T

HE achievements of the Comptroller-General of the Customs (C-G-C), Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi has been documented in a compelling new book.

The book titled, Witness To A Revolution: The Nigeria Customs Service Under the Leadership of Inde Dikko Abdullahi, is a commendable effort at documenting the achievements of the CGC who has been hailed as an unprecedented performer, in the last five years at the helms of Nigeria’s second highest revenue generating agency.

Written by an Assistant Comptroller of Customs (AC) Musa Omale, a lawyer and personal aid to the CGC, the 304page book captures in a detailed analysis, the strides taken by the current CGC to ensure a radical turn-around in the operations and productivity of the Customs right from his time as an Area Controller at the Seme Borders, prior to his appointment as CGC. The author, Omale, overall, succeeds in this book of words, statistics, colourful pictures and analysis, in portraying Dikko as a man on a clear mission to change and whose continuing legacies are held up before the mirrors of History in this wellwritten, well-illustrated and welltimed book on an industrious and visionary Nigerian.

Abdullahi was appointed as CGC by the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on August 18, 2009. On

resumption, he flagged off a SixPoint Agenda as the road map for his intended reform agenda. In five years, his administration has taken the agency to unprecedented level. Among the many accomplishments documented include a 100 percent salary increment and capacity building programs extended to all levels of officers and men across and beyond Nigeria as part of human capital development and motivation program.

Added to that is an aggressive infrastructural development which saw the building of new barracks, rehabilitation/upgrade of old ones, construction of office buildings, printing press, hospitals, schools among others across the country in addition to the magnificent Regional Training Academy in Gwagwalada, Abuja. Besides the purchase of a jet to ease Customs operations, the revenue profile of the Customs also shot to an unprecedented high, with the agency raking in a record N100 Billion at a point as against N30 Billion which was the highest in past administrations. His supplying of the officers and men of the Customs with hundreds of vehicles, arms and equipments, heightened awareness of importers, and community-based programs in border communities also helped in reducing incidences of smuggling and arresting leakages and corruption as well as conscientious efforts at revamping the image of the agency.

His women empowerment program via the Customs Officers

Wives Association (COWA) was also touched. These strides among others, earned Dikko as he is popularly called, two National Awards namely the MFR, OFR and CFR by both Yar ’Dua and the President Goodluck Jonathan’s government respectively. The Nigeria Customs also, in a historic accomplishment, hosted the 66th session of the World Customs Organisation (WCO)’s Policy Meeting in Nigeria in 2011.

The 54 year-old, Bulgariantrained economist who is known to enthusiastically encourage scholarship also vigorously pursued the E-Customs project in ensuring fast clearance of goods and the general Customs and Exercise procedure so as to meet up with global standards. Under him the Customs also entered bilateral agreements with Customs bodies of several

countries.

Besides highlighting the CGC’s strides, areas of the 43chapter book also dwells on an intellectual dissection of relevant subjects such as smuggling, money laundry, economic terrorism, revenue generation, 48-hour clearance among others. A few officers also contributed few other related topics under the ‘Other Informed Articles’ section.

Describing the book as a priceless material, Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, Hon. Sabo Nakudu, recommended it to officers of the Customs, students of the Customs systems, and just about everyone interested in studying the dynamics of leadership.

showcase the beautiful African aesthetic with bright colours.

Adeyemi Uthman’s works reflects on the activities of people living in the riverine areas. He said that the people living in the riverine areas found themselves their by fate, and that their lifestyle moves him each time he come in contact with them and this is reflected in one of his works titled Shore, which shows how the people gather and celebrate every evening when they come back from the days activities.

For Auchi trained Akhile Ehiforia, who specialises in landscape, “I paint what I see around me for example the changing landscape of Oshodi and the rooftops in my locality where I grew up.”

For Raji Mohammed Babatunde, who confessed that he feel fulfilled with figurative said “I paint portrait and anything figurative.” To him, the theme of the exhibition is real as most of the things that come ones way is by fate and that is reflected in one of his works titled Light bearer, a boy carrying a traditional lantern, it was fate that made it so because he did not envisage that as if there was light, he would’nt have carried that for illumination.

As usual, the exhibition which brought out the creative ingenuity of the artists is promoted by Alexis Galleries’ sponsors, has the backing of other loving organisations like: Leventis, Litho-Chrome The Homestores , Art Café, Veuve Clicquot, wazobia FM, Nigeria info and cool Fm, Wazobia TV, Cool TV, The Avenue Suites, arra vineyards and ISN Internet Solutions Nigeria Limited.

LLG gets Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa versions

By CHRIS ONUOHA MEDIA

N

ig eria’s premier gist show on television, Ladies Love Gisting LLG has introduced Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa versions to its programme.

LLG has enjoyed huge followership since inception and the need to produce it in indigenous languages is a welcome development.

According to the p r o d u c e r , H E V Communications Limited, “the primary target

audience of the gist show, the contemporary woman who is very proficient in the use of English language, would readily watch the show the way they speak their various dialects with interweaves of English.”

Ladies Love Gisting Yoruba airs on BCIS Ibadan on Sundays at 12 noon, the Igbo version comes up on ABS Television Awka on Saturdays at 6.30 pm while the Hausa edition known as MATA DA HIRA airs on NTA Kano on Mondays at 6.30 pm and on NTA Kaduna on Tuesdays at 6.30 pm.

PAGE 42—SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Warri conflict, bloodshed changed my writings ---Efemena, UK-based writer

By PRISCA SAM DURU INTERVIEW

He witnessed the Warri crisis during Abacha’s regime and that changed his entire being. Born and raised in Warri, Delta State, Efemena Agadama, a UK based Isoko writer, got his National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Federal Polytechnic Oko before proceeding to University College Kensington, London where he bagged a Higher National Diploma in Computing. The writer who later got his Masters in Information Technology at the Cardiff Metropolitan University, Wales, in this interview, shares the transformation his writings have undergone over the years. Excerpt. t what point did you have reception for it. d ecide to become a Any major challenges writing

A

writer?

I started writing while in secondary school but they were comedies. I was a comedian so had to write comedies to make people laugh and that continued while I was in Federal Polytechnic Oko. But the turning point came during the Warri crisis, between the Itsekiris and the Ijaws. The crisis was horrible. It was bloody.

Every night, we awaited the cry of massacre somewhere. No one deserved to witness such a bloody conflict again.

We saw youths with double barrel guns, AK47, axes, machetes and charms hunting their fellow mankind. Humans were hunted like goats. The most terrible thing of all was that our very compound, where we lived, shared the same fence with the Meinbutu boys.

The most dreaded and scary militant youth of that crisis. Those Meinbutu boys sacked the occupants of that very compound and occupied it. It became their headquarters. They brought their juju priest and armoury. And our backyard became their training ground. You either wake up with the sounds of sporadic gunfire or you sleep with gunshots echoing everywhere. There were things the eyes saw that the eyes should never have seen. I knew my childhood, teenage years and adulthood were painted with conflicts and bloodshed in Warri but that Abacha’s instigated conflict of the mid 90s was the mother of all conflicts that changed my writing from comedy to tragedy.

Any published works?

My first play, Drumbeats for Darkness, was published during the Niger Delta conflict. It wasn’t for profit so we gave copies to youths, especially students. We then went on to perform the play in streets, market places and institutions in Warri and environs.

I have a novel that really revealed more details of the Niger Delta crisis but it’s in the editing stage in US. My most recent play is still in manuscript but it has been read and performed in London and Paris. Certainly, more of my literary works should be in published form in 2015.

Opportunities writing as diaspora citizen?

There are opportunities in the diaspora but you must have a strong passion and never get tired in trying to make your work stand out. Writing is competitive so you must unravel from your work what will give you that competitive edge and hold on to it. It is the same philosophy in other spheres of life. One beauty about London is that you will always find very passionate actors who are willing to perform your work – paid or unpaid. This gives room for upcoming and established writers to have their work performed before audiences. Once your literary piece is good, you will always

abroad?

What matters abroad especially in London is to make your work

There are opportunities in the diaspora but you must have a strong passion and never get tired in trying to make your work stand out stand out, don’t stay isolated from the literary network and learn to use the social media. The social media is a new channel that can

•Efemena Agadama build bridges for you in the world of writing. As for challenges, there is no special difference as with other parts of the world.

What genres do you prefer working on?

I write poetic-drama. They are tragedies. They have the sharpness to pierce your heart and you will feel the message for a long time. When Farewell Sister was being performed at the New Diorama Theatre in London, I watched the response of the audience. You will know that something was piercing them. I write my works from the great pains that I felt during the Warri crisis – the dusk to dawn curfew, the shootings, the screaming, the siren, the dreaded nightfall, the spill of human blood and the fear of a waiting death knocking at the doors of our hearts. We perceived death during the day and at night so when I write, I expect the audience to have that sharp piercing too. I do have po-

ems and currently have my first novel being edited in the US. Is writing your passion or major career?

Though I’m of two worlds, literature and computing, I find passion and fun in literature.

Writing is my passion. It’s an eternal duty. There’s an eruption of the myth of the pen when I put pen to paper. I write to challenge the voices that enjoy the screams of innocent death. It’s the same passion that has pushed me into the forefront of the campaign against Boko Haram and even petitioning Mrs Fatou Bensouda, the President of the International Criminal Court, for the sponsors of Boko Haram to be arrested. It’s the same passion that inspired me into many campaigns like that of the Kenyan 2008 electoral violence where we called for the ICC to arrest the sponsors of the bloodshed and the campaign for the release of the jailed 28 Nigerian soldiers during the administration of late President Musa Yar ’adua. Writing is my passion - an eternal duty.

What kind of messages do you pass across to readers?

I write more to mirror violence from the viewpoint of a victim. I write to tell the stories of the lost voices. Those voices deserve to be heard. What is violence? And who has the power to authorise the killing of innocent children and people? Who has the exclusive power to turn innocent women into sex slaves in conflicts? This

is the spring where my message flows from. My literary works view conflicts from the eyes of the victims and not the sponsors.

Your dreams and aspirations as a writer?

At present, my sole purpose of writing is to make copies of my works available to readers, especially students to curtail the violent and bloody conflicts in Africa, especially in Nigeria. I started from Warri but other war torn communities need support.

Recently, an organisation in London had a contract with me to tour Abuja, Jos, Port Harcourt, Lagos and a Northern city with Farewell Sister, a religious tragedy, in honour of Nigeria’s independence but the pattern of some news reports in September where the drive is that Ebola is ravaging the entire West Africa discouraged the international cast so the tour was called off for now. It was good that Nigeria was able to eradicate the Ebola virus.

How about writing in any local dialect?

I’m learning to perfect my writing skills in the Isoko dialect. I couldn’t learn it when growing up because of the influence of the Pidgin English but I do write the Pidgin English very well and I have used it for scenes in my first drama, Drumbeats for Darkness.

How do you view Africa literature?

African literature is still burning brightly. Young writers are springing up daily and this is good for its future and posterity.

Kondo Kingdom, reforming the Nigerian Police ByESTHER ONYEGBULA

bad apples, agent of criminals, the wages of sin, police is your friend, mobilization money, abandoned property, torture chamber order from above amongst others.

DRAMA

A

new drama series titled Kondo Kingdom is set to hit major television stations in

Nigeria. The twenty–six episode television drama series depicts various aspects of police working and living conditions as well as conduct and performance. It employs satire as a means to expose and denounce unethical and abusive policing practices and advocate for improvements in police welfare. It seeks to positively reinforce good policing practices, promote human rights awareness in the context of law enforcement and improve community police relations.

The police reform drama which has its episodes in Pidgin English to reach the widest audience possible, cast includes several popular Nollywood actors and aspiring university drama students to attract public interest in the series.

Each episode highlights the poor state of police welfare to improve the general public’s understanding of the harsh conditions under which the police operate. The drama portrays police abuse to discourage police exploitation and to inform citizens on their fundamental human rights. It also seek to promote police-community

Idisi’s family appreciates God

T

Ladies Love Gisting in action partnerships in an effort to reduce crime.

According to Executive producer, Okechukwu Nwanguma, the drama series, is in furtherance of Network of police reform in Nigeria, (NOPRIN) efforts, with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy, Washington DC to advance police reform by mobilizing the public and government authorities to demand improvements in police welfare and reductions in police abuse through public media advocacy in Nigeria.

“Our decision to delve into drama was informed by our recognition that television viewership is very high in Nigeria and drama is a popular and effective medium of outreach,

information, entertainment, advocacy, and civic education.”

He added.

Speaking at the 45-minutes public preview of the drama series, the Lagos state commissioner of Police Collernius Aderanti, represented

by Area F commander ACP Tunde Adaguduro noted that the Nigeria police force is a reflection of the Nigerian society, and that all is been done to bridge the gap between the Nigerian police and the people.

The drama shot at Alari, a village which is 3 kilometers to Idiroko, Ogun state featured cast like Sunday Afolabi, Lambert Dike, Edmond Enaibe, Ambrose Mosi, Yemi Shodimu and Fisayo Ojugbuyi.

Some of the episode include,

HE Idisi family of Ovu, Ethiope East and Jesse, Ethiope West local government areas of Delta State at the weekend attributed the sustenance of the Lonestar Drilling Company till date to the special grace of God. The Chairperson of the Lonestar Drilling Company, Mrs.Margret Idisi with her children, Bar. Lovette Idisi, Steady Idisi and others, gave thanks to God during the remembrance ceremony of their late father, Chief Saturday Humphrey Idisi.

The ceremony was graced by personalities across the state and members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Ethiope East and West, who came to mark the occasion with the family and their principal, Barr Lovette Idisi, who is running for the House of Representatives to represent Ethiope federal constituency.

The highlight of the ceremony was the planting of coconut trees in the compound by each of the ldisi’s children, which according to them is a symbol of rebirth and new lif.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 43 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

BY WALE AKINOLA BOOK REVIEW

Deji Fasuan’s Scaling Accidents of Life

S

OMETIMES we may not notice it unless we are meticulous. Some events in our lives are fortuitous, providential. God uses certain happenings in our lives to move us forward, shape our lives in ways we never dream of. Call them accidents of life and you will not be wrong. Chief Deji Fasuan, a retired top civil servant in the old Western and Ondo States, details seven of such happenings in his life in his latest book titled, ‘Scaling Accidents of Life, an Autobiography, Plus Political Gladiators of my Time’.

Fasuan had a humble beginning in Afao Ekiti, his home town, and rose to become a top public servant – CEO of the Industrial Investment Credit Corporation (IICC) in the old Western State – before moving to Ondo State when it was created in 1976 to establish a similar outfit. He retired as Permanent Secretary. As insinuated by the title, the 415 pages book is not all about accidents that turned out to be fortuitous in the life of this notable Ekiti son, but also his growing up years, his educational background, his work career, his political affiliation, his political and world view and the political gladiators of his time. The book also delves into Fasuan’s family life.

Indeed, it was by accident, according to Fasuan’s account,that he attended secondary school, that is, Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, a development that put him on the path to great accomplishments that he was to achieve later in his life.

In the young Deji Fasuan’s wildest imagination, he never thought of going beyond Standard VI in the course of his education, and therefrom becoming a ‘pupil teacher’. But an event while in Standard IV in 1945 preparing for examination into Standard V changed all that.

At a preparatory class, his absent-mindedness in answering a question in the affirmative infuriated the teacher who vowed to teach him a lesson by sending him for Christ’s School entrance examination.

Fasuan attested to this accident of life at page 17 of the book where he writes: “My going to secondary school was purely accidental as neither my parents nor I ever thought of it. As it turned out, it was the first accident of my life, and it turned positive. If I had sat in the front row (of the class) during that lesson in July (1945) or if I had not been noisy and loquacious as I was, I would not have raised my hand to signify my intention to go to secondary school.” He passed out of Christ’s School, which he entered in January 1946, in 1951 after taking and passing the Cambridge School Certificate.

Fasuan’s second accident of life happened in 1955 in Oshogbo where he worked at the railway station with

his friend, Joseph Adeniyi.

The event set him on the journey to Fourah Bay College, Freetown,Sierra Leone where he obtained a degree in economics. He had been away to his AfaoEkiti village on a weekend to see his mother when, on his return, he found that his friend had sent an application for admission on his behalf to the university college after seeing the advert in Daily Times. Adeniyi, the friend, was able to send the application because he knew “all facts needed including (Fasuan’s) examinations passed and certificates obtained”.

Fasuan has this to say about ‘this accident’: “The lesson I learnt was that it was good to open up to friends. For my friend had the option of applying for himself while not even bothering to mention it to me; much more of applying on my behalf ”.

The retired top civil servant’s accident number three took place while at Fourah Bay College in December 1955. Unable to travel home for Christmas holiday because of

financial difficulty, he was apparently stranded; there was nowhere to stay as there was no accommodation on campus. During a visit to the CMS Bookshop in Sierra Leone, Fasuan ran into the Archbishop of West Africa (Anglican Communion), on leave and in transit from Lagos to the UK. The Archbishop was with the local priest. After recognising Fasuan as being from Christ’s School, the Archbishop recommended him for accommodation to the local priest without even knowing he had the challenge.

Fasuan’s accident number four also occurred in Fourah Bay College.

The Teacher Training College, Ikere-Ekiti, sponsoring him in Sierra Leone had reneged on the terms, forcing him to terminate the sponsorship.

In the end, a mistake by Fourah Bay College’s Bursar had his account credited with some funds from Ikere thus saving his education pursuit. “I thought that was the end of the matter (sponsorship termination), but by accident of life perhaps, fate, the Bursar, unintentionally or inadvertently, paid the money forwarded with the contractual document into my school account, thereby clearing all my outstanding with the university”, Fasuan writes.

Fasuan had his fifth accident in the US in 1972.

He was at the Western Nigeria Development Corporation (NNDC) and on a project analysis and

management course at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC. On arrival at the US, he found that he left his Travellers Cheque in London where he had stayed some days in transit, only for a stranger a white man – to help him out with money even when he did not solicit for it.

Fasuan says of the help:

My going to secondary school was purely accidental as neither my parents nor I ever thought of it. As it turned out, it was the first accident of my life, and it turned positive “This was, indeed, an accident of life which only God could explain”. He recorded his last two accidents of fate at the WNDC and IICC. The first one saw a plot in 1968 moving him out of the c o r p o r a t i o n ’ s Administrative Department because he was far more educated than fellow officlals – even his superiors – who were thus threatened.

Fasuan writes on the episode: “Unknown to us (humans), the officer to whom I was to report was soon transferred to the Pepsi Cola project outside the headquarters as his paper qualification could

not make him climb the management ladder in the headquarters of the Industrial Department. In the course of time, however, I ended, ultimately, as head of that core department. If I had stayed much longer in the Administration Department, I could have had the hell of time moving up in my career.”

Accident number seven details how Fasuan became the CEO of the IICC in 1975. That year, his predecessor had submitted his name as among those to be purged by the new governor of Western State, David Jemibewon. Having been just promoted to the position of Controller, Industrial Department, the inclusion of his name in the list aroused Jemibewon’s curiosity. His predecessor recanted. He was fired.

Fasuan took his place.

Fasuan sums up the seven accidents that shaped his life in the following words: “The events and occurrences, which happened at different phases of my life and in different countries, all had a positive bearing on my life”.

It is almost impossible to experience a sequence of events with positive or advantageous effects in the manner in which they occurred, starting with my entrance into Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti in 1946, to my escapades in Freetown, Washington DC, and largely at work in Cocoa House, Ibadan. I experienced unparallelled and unforeseen blessings from God. Why did these accidents happen? I cannot say. All I can say is that I

am much loved by the Almighty God and that my various infractions of life were forgiven by the unseen Hand”. `Scaling Accidents of Life ‘ can as well pass for a book of history. Anybody in search of vital information particularly concerning the Western Region crisis of the First Republic that pitted the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo against Chief S.L. Akintola in the Action Group and the actors in the crisis will find the book especially invaluable.

Also contained in the book is the story of the old Ondo State crisis of the Second Republic involving the then Governor Adekunle Ajasin and his deputy, Chief Akin Omoboriowo, told from Fasuan’s perspective. The book is a must-read for Ekiti State indigenes seeking knowledge on how their state was created as the author, who led the group that spearheaded the creation, tells the story as well as that of the administrators and development strides.

The book comes in hard cover. The choice of Aare Afe Babalola, a lawyer of repute, to write the Foreward seems apt, having had close relationship since after meeting at the Cooperative Training College, Ibadan, where Babalola taught economics on part-time basis and Fasuan was a student.

Copious recollection of event dates involving the author and reproduction of the original copies of letters give him out as a good student of history and documents keeper.

Pictures, some of which date back to his secondary school days, give the book the desired aesthetics.

The Attendant Evils of Free Culture

BY CHIKELU CHINELO BOOK REVIEW

I

N his fourth publication, Diverse But Not Broken: Wake Up Calls For Nigeria, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher examines the pervading culture of our society, Nigeria. What should be and what should not be. As the ‘ what should be’ had been turned inside out while its reverse takes center stage.

The author broaches the evils of certain culture practices in the nation that has reduced Nigeria to its current state, an eagle with broken wings. Likewise, he expands on the shackled cultures that would have made a difference.

Literary icon, Chinua Achebe said, the problem with Nigeria is her leaders or lack thereof. The author emphasizes, the Nigerian leadership culture, wallowing in lies and grand corruption. These endemic qualities ensure that leaders, no matter how honest or will powered, cannot change that culture.

Since those mired in that culture are more dominant than the ideologies of the leader.

Once he is successfully seated at the Aso Rock, the reader inherits the Neo-

patrimonial crowd that ensured his rigged ascent.

The leader ’s fear of penchants of office tenants, those who manage to outlast governments; and the undecided voters is less than the pacification of his excessive lovers and the opposition prepared to oust him at all means.

These excessive lovers must be appeased lest they turn into excessive haters. To avoid this pendulumic swing of votes, leadership turns a blind eye on their antics; of amassing wealth, turning personal celebration into state affairs, collecting traditional titles and taking medical jaunts abroad. All these further widen the gap between the supposedly poor electorates. It hardens the capillaries of the haves and embitters the hopeless have-nots.

On the lower rungs of power, there is no exception.

The writer calls attention to developments in Benue community sometime ago, the creation of ten traditional chiefs, where there was none before.

According to him, there was no need to create more liability for Benue people, for a few who play advisory roles to the government.

This capacity the Tor Tiv as well as the existing wards represent. The new bill

shows contempt to the 1999 constitution, by seeking to confer powers on traditional chiefs. It is a return to feudalism where some traditional leaders believe they have the divine rights to rule and would do anything to hold power.

Also, it is retrogressive to the efforts of its ancestors who knew better to install the Tor Tiv. They had with care ensured that any Tiv would inherit the title. Thus at the death of the Tor Tiv, his children are the least likely to inherit.

The icy fingers of the free yet damaging culture trickles down to the education system. Among politics being played in

higher institutions, the endemic culture of cultism, drug addiction, fallen standards, ill-facilitation, indigenization of admissions and strikes has devalued education.

Unknown to leadership its lofty ideals of meeting 2015 MDGs and the 20.2020 vision is unrealistic, owing to the dearth of intellectuals and lack of research in universities.

Further crippling progress is the western ideologies that African needs more scientists than arts graduates. The Intellectual whom the author describes as one who refuses to be confined to his designated specialization, foliage elsewhere and everywhere.

This is contrary to the academic, a specialist who has disciplined his curiosity to operate largely within designated area.

Intellectuals are the bearers of change in a society.

Through their canvass, books, ideas, music and humane outlook, they reflect to the society, truths it fails to see or heed. They foresee the self destruction it’s racing towards. In similar manner of individuals like Galileo, Socrates, Aquinas, John Locke, Descartes, Leonardo Da Vinci, Picasso, Van Gogh did, Fela. Problems exist in

society like ours where the intellectuals distance themselves from national discourses today.

Hagher ends the 287 pages of lectures, essays and tribute collection with poetic reminisces of his intellectual residence, Canada. The poems rich in imagery, allusion, rhetoric, personification, euphemism, irony and satire explore the plundered depths of Dawson city, the true descendants of Canada, the Inuits and the Yukon. It also champions the minority in Canada, and the simplicity lost in the vast diplomatic games of leaders and the led.

The author’s tone conveys his emotions, from unpleasant awe and despair of leadership culture, to pity for Nigeria’s Failed Code of Shame. The tone veered to outrage in the Chieftaincy Institution and Constitutionality in Nigeria, then advocatory to Artists as Intellectuals in the society, and admiration in his tribute to Achebe.

The reader is swept along with tides of emotion evoked. Few exceptions appear in technical terms and couched words in chapter 13, and the author’s prolonged citations to prove a point.

PAGE 44, SUNDAY Vanguard,NOVEMBER 16, 2014

BY LEKAN BILESANMI

P

astor (Mrs) Mayowa Ikuforiji is the wife of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

While the wife is a pastor, her husband is a Muslim and they have been together for 30 years. In this interview, she speaks on how, as a couple , they have tolerated each other in the home front.

You are a pastor married to a Muslim. How have you sustained the relationship without rancour?

I will say it is the grace of God and basically we worship the same God. We love and understand each other. You know it is natural if members of your husband’s family want his wife to convert to Islam. It is also natural if a Christian marries a Muslim they would want her to convert, but in his case he is understanding and it is some sort of an agreement that he will allow me practice my religion. There is no problem about religion. In fact, at times he would pray with me. Maybe because he studied abroad he was attending churches. He is very conversant with the Bible; he can quote from Genesis to Revelation and it was easier for him to tolerate my religion because of his exposure. If he had been a Muslim who doesn’t know much about the Bible it may have been difficult, but he understands the Bible very well.

Was there no opposition to the wedding from either of the families?

When we met, he was a young man who just came from abroad. I don’t think he believed religion is something that was so important then; and when you love someone, regardless of his religion, you are bound to understand him. When we were courting too, we didn’t see religion as an issue. I knew his people may want to complain but they were also very friendly and warm and they did not mind that he was bringing a Christian lady home. In actual fact, it was my father who spoke against our plan to marry when he called me to say for three generations of our family there had never been anyone who married a Christian. He gave me six months to go and think about it and come back to tell him my mind. After six months I went back to him to say I wanted to marry Adeyemi and he gave his approval.

How has it been since then, with both of you practising different religions?

We don’t have any problem.

What I know is that we both believe in God and that we must serve Him. He had lost his dad when I met him but his mum was a prayer warrior. If you wake up in the middle of the night, you will see the mother praying. He also doesn’t joke with his prayer and he allows me to practice my own religion.

Sometimes he would take me to the Anglican Church in Isolo, that was where we stayed when

My husband tolerates my religion because of his exposure — Mayowa Ikuforiji, wife of Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly we got married. We got married at Saint Paul Anglican Church, it was a church wedding and court wedding. So religion has never been a problem in our home.

What were those things you saw in him then that made you decide that he was the one you will marry?

When I first met him, it was during my graduation ceremony.

He came with my friend’s fiancé but I did not even notice him. When that my friend was now getting married, I was the chief bridesmaid and he was also there. But what I noticed was that he was very caring. He was all over the place making sure that the whole ceremony went well; people were calling him, he was very popular and ready to assist. I saw that he was also jovial. He drove all of us from Oyo to Iree because the wedding took place in Iree. I forgot the dress I was supposed to wear to the church thanksgiving on Sunday. The wrapper I wore to the wedding on Saturday, he had to wash the top for me in the night so that it would be dry before Sunday morning. Most educated young men at that time wouldn’t do that. I saw that in him that he was very caring. He wants you to be happy; if he sees anyone that is sad, he will try as much as possible to make him happy and he believes he can solve everybody’s problem. And then he has the fear of God in him.

There are certain things he will never do. We have been married for 30 years now; he has never touched alcohol, not even wine.

You never envisaged that he would become a prominent politician that he is today. Was there any talk of him going to politics when you first met?

There wasn’t anything like that.

He was working in a bank then.

I just wanted to be with him and he wanted to be with me too.

We were both too young anyway to start projecting about the

•Mayowa Ikuforiji

The wrapper I wore to the wedding on Saturday, he had to wash the top for me in the night so that it would be dry before Sunday morning future; it was just God that made it to work out fine. We are just two people in love and we felt we could make a go of it, not that I thought that he was going to be Speaker or anything like that.

Were you apprehensive when he eventually dabbled into politics?

You know people believe that when you are into politics, you are someone without integrity and that you are there to make money for yourself. But I told him that if he wanted to go into politics, people were going to give him a name that was not his, but he said his life had always been that of service. He believes that when he is into politics, that is when he would be able to touch more lives than what he was actually doing and i believe that when you commit any journey into the hand of

God, there won’t be any problem. And I told him that I will give him my support and God has been there for him too.

That was how we committed it into the hand of God. How about the kids now?

Do they toe your line or that of the dad in religious practice?

For my son, he has the inclination to be a Muslim. He went on Umrah with his dad.

The first time the son was in Saudi, he went with some prayer requests and he said if God answered him, he would continue to go with his dad. To my amazement he said all the prayer requests were answered .

So he has been a Muslim. But the girls maybe because they had more inclination towards their mother are more into Christianity, but they don’t follow

me to my church. They are all grown up and we allow them to follow their minds.

I am a pastor and very serious about my religion. My husband is a Muslim and very serious about Islam.

He is seeking to become the next governor of Lagos State. Have you committed the journey into the hand of God? If you want to take such a step in life, the first thing anybody needs to do is to seek the face of God. He is the only one that can do such a thing for you. I wouldn’t encourage him if we had not committed the whole project into God’s hand.

When do you get the revelation to become a pastor?

You don’t get a revelation to become a pastor, it is your work of faith, how you have been working in the Lord’s vineyard.

Before you could be ordained, there are certain things God would have revealed to you and confirmed by others that would make them say this person is now qualified to be a pastor.

The work you doing with God is important; some people will be noticing you and you may not know. How close are you to God? Those are the issues that would come into play before you could be considered to be a pastor. I became a pastor five years ago.

SUNDAY

By Wole Mosadomi, Minna

I

t is not always easy for people, especially those at the helm of affairs like president, governors, senators, ministers, commissioners and many others to discuss their private lives particularly their families.

Many don’t even discuss their birthdays for reasons best known to them.

Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum is an exception.

In an interview to commemorate his 59th birthday, the governor, who calls himself the Chief Servant of the people, says he is a “very very romantic man”.

Answering a question on when he got married, and how he has been coping as governor, an activist, Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, ,a husband and a father, Aliyu said he got married at the age of 23 barely four months after his National Youth Service in Lagos while his wife was 19..

Vanguard,NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 45

I am very very romantic

— Gov. Aliyu

“Luckily for me, I married a woman I love and a woman I pursued for more than four years. It was like a prophecy that i was going to marry her. I made the prophecy myself. I actually went to a girl friend’s house and I saw the picture of my wife and I looked at it and I said to the senior sister to my girlfriend in form of prophecy that ‘this is my wife’ and I asked, ‘ who is she.?’

“They tried to describe her and I never knew I was going to meet her. Honestly, with her photograph I saw, I just fell in love with her.

When I eventually met her, she was more beautiful than what I saw in the picture,” the governor stated.

“Most people would want to know the rest of the story. I want to confess to you that I

am a very very romantic man and, because I am a little straight forward again, polygamy was not and still not attractive to me and that is why probably I have only one wife.”

TIME WITH WIFE, CHILDREN Aliyu has been a very busy man right from school. He was a class monitor in primary school, a prefect in secondary school, a unionist, an activist and Chairman/ Secretary to about 10 clubs in school before he joined the civil service and rose to the post of permanent secretary in many ministries at the federal level and now governor for almost eight years, and also Chairman, Northern Governors Forum for over seven years. These are responsibilities he sees as a routine and has successfully combined with his family affairs.

“I make sure I have time and discuss with my wife and children. We are always together. Whenever I travel, I buy books for my children and I usually commit them to reading them by placing Continues on page 46

•Gov Aliyu and wife

C M Y K

PAGE 46, SUNDAY Vanguard,NOVEMBER 16, 2014,

•The Aliyu family

Gov Aliyu: The gain of marrying one wife Continues from page 45

prices and other gifts for whoever finishes reading the books first. This is just to make them vast in reading and to make sure they read the books. So, we relate very well and discuss a lot. As you see me outside, so you see me at home and, in terms of romance, I am very sure my wife is very happy with me. I am very sure of that one,” Aliyu declared.

He said being the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum is an added responsibility which has not hindered his affairs at home.

The governor described the group as an association where governors collectively discuss the problems of their states and proffer solutions.

He said the job is made easier by the secretaries to the state governments who meet ahead and discussing vital issues leaving them as governors to only ratify at

their meetings.

“There are some of us with abundant energy and, most of the time, I do not expend too much energy at home but on responsibilities bestowed on me. If I have four wives, by the time I jump from one room to another, I would have exhausted my energy but thank God I have only one wife and I have abundant energy for other jobs!”

If I have four wives, by the time I jump from one room to another, I would have exhausted my energy but thank God I have only one wife and I have abundant energy for other jobs!

GROWING UP Some of our leaders are born with golden spoons in their mouths while many passed through thick and thin to their success stories today. Aliyu went down memory lane saying as a child, he had no permanent room in his father’s house because the family house was more or less designated for visitors who were accommodated even without any notice.

“I grew up in a house where any stranger that came from any part of the

world would be directed to our compound. So, I grew up without a room to myself that I could call my own because a guest would come whom nobody knew his background and we would be told to leave the room for him and would remain there until he decided to leave. I grew up with that life style and that is why indigene or non-indigene is not in my dictionary because everyone to me is a Nigerian and should be treated as such.

The only time my administration can show discrimination against anyone is when residents in the state exhibit criminal tendencies,” the governor said. He said Nigerians no matter which state they come from should be accorded any status in which ever state they find themselves.

“The Constitution of Nigeria defines who is a Nigerian. My belief is that if you pay tax here in Niger,

you are therefore part and parcel of the state. If you make anybody think he is different then, one will be behaving differently because ‘ you have told me that I don’t belong here and if I make my money, I will therefore take it to where I belong’. That attitude will not encourage perceived strangers to contribute to the development of this state which I stand against as governor.”

He said during the civil war, all the properties of the Igbo that were given to his parents and some others in Minna remained intact and given back to their owners when they came back including what accrued from rentals on the properties.

“If today you find any person in this part of the world discriminating against other people, it is as a result of ignorance because at one time or the other, we were also strangers in the state because it is only a matter of how long one has stayed here.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 47

New fear after Yobe school killings •Horror scenes

BY UMAR YUSUF, YOLA

I

ncessant attacks on institutions of learning

by Boko Haram in states in the North-east, especially Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, have kept stakeholders in the education sector guessing whether the region will meet up with the rest of the states in the country in educational development.

Primary, post-primary and tertiary educational institutions have been subject of attacks by insurgents in these states for five years running now.

The three states that have remained under state of emergency for the past one and a half years are regarded as the most educationally disadvantaged among the 36 states of the federation. The states are not only disadvantaged in education, they are also classified to be lagging behind in infrastructural and developmental strides.

Adamawa and Yobe, for a long time now, have been on the lowest rungs of the ladder of WAEC and JAMB examinations, apart from other examinations. These disadvantaged states are the targets of insurgent attacks in their institutions of learning thereby giving the stakeholders nightmare

of what the states will become in the nearest future. To compound the existing problems of lack of educational development, schools in these states have been shut following continued Boko Haram attacks. The growing fear of Boko Haram among students and pupils and their parents alike is creating apathy to western education in the affected states. Of recent, Yobe government closed down all primary and secondary schools in the state following the suicide bomb attack on a secondary school in Potiskum in which over 50 students were killed.

The state commissioner for education, Alhaji Mohammed Lamin, announced the closure, saying the schools will remain so until more security measures are in place to safeguard students, teachers and the schools premises. The Boko Haram group abhors western education and has launched several attacks on schools and was behind the abduction of over 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno State.

Similarly, over 100 students were killed last February at Federal Government College, Buni-Yadi, G.S.S, Mamudo and G.S.S,

The organizers believed prayers offered by children are more acceptable by God and for that reason children in primary schools in the state were gathered irrespective of their religious inclinations to pray for an end to attacks that have put them out of school Damaturu. Although the state government made efforts not to succumb to the Boko Haram doctrine of abandoning western education, the authorities felt that proper security measures must be put on ground before reopening the schools. In neighboring Borno, one of the states under emergency rule, government schools have remained closed for close to six months. Gombe State government, last week, closed all schools in the state following attacks on Nafada and Ashaka. The Gombe government said it took the measure to avoid attack on schools. In Adamawa State, the closure

of schools began after the fall of Madagali, Michika and Mubi to insurgents.

Due to the vulnerability of school children to the insurgents, schools, colleges and tertiary institutions were deserted the moment insurgents strike in any of the towns. For instance, Mubi, with a university, Federal Polytechnic and a college of health technology, has suffered attacks by insurgents even before the latest invasion of the commercial nerve centre of the state. While Mubi and other parts of the northern senatorial district of Adamawa were under siege, anxiety enveloped other parts of the state and parents have no alternative

than to withdraw their children and wards from schools. Meanwhile a session was organised in Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board, ADSUBEB, to offer prayers for an end to insurgency.

The organizers believed prayers offered by children are more acceptable by God and for that reason children in primary schools in the state were gathered irrespective of their religious inclinations to pray for an end to attacks that have put them out of school. At the weekend, boarding students of Ramat College and Government Girls Colleges, Yola were seen vacating their hostels with their luggage. Confirming the development, the Director of Press and Public Affairs in the Governor’s Office, Mr. Phineas Elisha, said although government did not order the closure, parents were taking their children home.

He said he had gone on air to reassure parents of the safety of their children but that they remained adamant. A parent, Daje Lantan, said parents wanted to avert a repeat of the Chibok experience, saying their children will stay at home until normalcy returns.

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PAGE 48 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

So what if Tanko Almakura is a peacemaker?

BY YAKUBU LAMAI

N

asarawa State wore a carnival look as Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura celebrated his birthday. In this regard, Almakura declared November 15th: “Day of Peace in Nasarawa State”, and led citizens to walk for Peace from Stadium Junction along Jos Road in Lafia all the way to Total Roundabout. This Peace Walk and dash of colour and a happy display of tranquility and harmony cannot dispel the fact that the state has intermittently being swept by tidal waves of communal clashes and violence.

While some of these unfortunate incidences may have deep rooted historical antecedents, a lot of these conflicts are artificially instigated by political interests.

These recurring spells of civil restiveness and inter-ethnic violence have been used in sections of the media as political trump card by a vocal section of the opposition to smear the visible works of Al-Makura and make him seem at a loss as to how he can douse state-wide tension, secure the lives of ordinary citizens and implant a “full-proof” mechanism that will

guarantee peace and harmonious co-existence among the various ethnic groups placed under his care and stewardship. To those who work closely with the governor, he is deeply pained by the destruction of lives and property in his domain and is concerned that those who do not mean well for Nasarawa will continue to hatch more nefarious chapters of their evil script as the 2015 elections approach.

In reality, the good works of Almakura in Nasarawa State are so visible that “ko makaho ya gani!” (even the blind can see). Everywhere you look in Nigeria today, as campaigns for 2015 pick steam, some politicians are beginning to discard maturity and sense of restraint in the choice of words they use. All at the expense of the collective peace of society.

The electorate themselves are being used as pawns in a carefully orchestrated ploy to question the integrity, capability and sincerity of government. Which is why the Letter of Peace written by Almakura of Nasarawa State to commemorate his birthday is timely and relevant. The approach to peace-building by Almakura is not only

•Almakura constructive but evidence based. He has visited all the crisis prone communities and assessed firsthand the situation and while devising a new security model to deploy

more security and implant posts at far-flung nooks and crannies of the state so as to contain the activities of mercenaries and war mongers, the governor has also adopted a long-term approach to peace building that is visibly empathic and portrays a conscientious effort and genuine concern on the part of his administration to avert violence during the 2015 elections. As His Excellency’s letter is being circulated to villages, churches, mosques and schools, government is putting in place a practical mechanism to allow every registered youth association, women group and cultural group etc and NGO to nominate one of their members to become a peace envoy. Almakura is also repeating a process of mediation which he has done in the past by meeting each tribe and ethnic group on a one-on one basis in the state with a view to understand their peculiar needs and areas of rouse.

Government is also initiating a policy to recognize and reward any individual or organization that commits themselves to promoting & building peace in

Nasarawa State through a laudable scheme to be called the Nasarawa State Peace Awards and granting of community shield to peacemakers. Governor Almakura is also going to host the first ever Peace and Integrity Summit by bringing to Nasarawa State a galaxy of erudite speakers and a bulwark of notable personalities who speak for peace. Notably Umaru Tanko Almakura intends to issue an executive mandate for schools & tertiary institutions to create a voluntary club to be called the Coalition of Peacemakers, which will enlist youths into a positive coalition that can be used to check, balance and counter political thuggery and violence through mediation training, seminars, concerts and community service. there are so many ways which Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura intends to brand and extend the gospel of peace in Nasarawa State and all citizens are welcome to adopt and replicate the initiative of government. * Lamai is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa State.

As Jonathan sets benchmark on clean campaigns...

BY NICHOLAS IKEJIANI or so many people, their F takeaway from President Goodluck Jonathan’s

declaration for re-election was the remarkable improvement in his public presentation skills. others are quick to observe that like red wine, the President is getting better every day in carrying himself as the President of the most important country in Africa. For many others as well, it was simply the mammoth crowd, easily the largest ever seen in Abuja since the talk of 2015 general elections began.

Even then, the remarkable aspect of the Jonathan’s declaration event has nothing to do with the crowd and attendance. But it has everything to do with the way and manner Jonathan conducted himself admirably, not just as the PDP candidate but more importantly as the President. His speech was wonderful not because of its literary or poetic richness, how well it was scripted or smoothly delivered. No. Rather, for the first time in our political history, we are witnessing a revolutionary change in the language of political discourse and electioneering dwelling on development issues – away from infantile personal attacks and cheap blackmail and C M Y K

propaganda.

Has anyone spotted that Jonathan’s declaration speech contains as many as 5,049 words encapsulated in 112 paragraphs and from the beginning of that speech to the end, there was no single mention or reference to the opposition party, APC, and its leaders? Instead, the President started by taking Nigerians on memory lane from how he sought their mandate and got it in 2011 and the promises he made. Yes, he admitted that along the way there have been challenges and obstacles especially of security nature that have bogged down the government and the people. Yet, in spite of these challenges, Jonathan said his government has stayed forthright to the pact he made with the Nigerian people to serve them. He dwelt extensively on the projects he has delivered since he was elected in 2011 and how the general life chances of the Nigerian people have improved since then. Listening to the President reel out the infrastructure transformation that has gone on in the country under his watch, it is amazing what he has achieved in three

•Jonathan years in the agriculture, transport (road and rail), power, health and political sectors, for instance.

In offering himself for service to the people for another term in office from 2015, the President did not apportion blames, point fingers of guilt or cast aspersions on the main opposition party, APC, even though there are millions of reasons to do so especially as APC and its leaders are doing so every time. Again, instead, Jonathan admitted that there are quite a lot more to be done to improve the lives of the people. He indeed lifted not a few souls by painting the

picture of what is possible in our country when citizens come together to build the nation.

Much as no objective person or group of persons can deny that the PDP government under Goodluck Jonathan has performed creditably in the area of infrastructure renewal since 2011, but by far its greatest achievement for which the opposition indeed must be grateful is in the area of political reforms. Apart from the electoral reforms that have ensured that the votes of the people now count in determining who governs them at all levels, this government has opened wider the democratic space. Personal freedoms and all kinds of liberty have been taken as given in our country under Jonathan, which allows opposition politicians like Lai Mohammed, Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Nasir elRufai and even the former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, to openly denigrate him at will. It is indeed the dawn of democracy and free speech in our land to hear a Nigerian president declare that thus: “We must continue to sustain the banner of freedom and justice that we have held high in our country. I am

proud to say that there are no political prisoners in Nigeria today. No Nigerian has been driven to exile and no one will be, under my watch…. Let me re-affirm that under a Jonathan Presidency, your views, no matter how freely expressed, will not send you to prison or into exile”. Can you compare these lines with the Buhari proclamation of “monkeys and baboons soaking in their own blood” and Bola Tinubu’s “rig and roast” declaration?

Let it be known today that President Jonathan has already set the benchmark for clean campaigns in the run-up to 2015 general elections.

Politicians are free to campaign but in the national interest they must learn to stick to issues of development and national unity and refrain from incendiary remarks, personal attacks and the free hurling of abuses and blackmail. President Jonathan in declaring for second term has reeled out his achievements so far. What a serious opposition driven by national interest would do is to challenge the veracity of those achievements – not resort to cheap blackmail and propaganda as the Lai Mohammed and his APC have just done.

•Ikejiani, a public affairs commentator, contributed this piece from Port Harcourt.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 49

Drama as ‘teacher saves school from bomber’

By Wole Mosadomi t was never imagined that two schools could be targeted by bombers within two days in Niger State , but it happened.

The first was a tertiary institution - Federal College of Education, Kontagora - while the other was Maryam Babangida Science College named after a former first lady, Maryam Babangida, by the government of Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu. Two bombers were involved. That of the Federal College of Education, Kontagora was perpetrated by a female and the mission was accomplished but with low casualty while that of Minna by a male was aborted.

Maryam Babangida Science College is a female college planned to be a model school.

On the fateful Thursday, the students were at the assembly ground not knowing that there was a sinister move meters away

I

by a bomber. At about 7.30 a.m., a female teacher hurrying to school suspected strange movements in the bush. She also perceived the odour of Indian hemp which sent a signal to her that something strange was happening nearby. This led her to quickening her steps, but ahead of her was a young man carrying a school bag who pretended as if he was answering nature’s call.

Then her phone rang and this caught the attention of the suspect who stopped her and threw some questions at her in Hausa.

Suspect- Where are you heading for?

Teacher- To school for today’s job. Suspect- Are you not aware that there is no school today.

Teacher- I am not aware because nobody told us of any holiday.

Suspect- Whether there is holiday or not, I want to advise

The suspect was dressed in the school uniform, covering her head with Hijab, thereby pretending to be a female student.

PANIC

• Fatima, school principal you to go back home now in your own interest if you don’t want to lose your life!

It was at this point that the teacher knew that the man had a sinister mission.

She immediately put off her shoes and rushed to the school premises to alert the principal and other staff of her encounter.

Confusion enveloped the school premises immediately, but the situation was calmed by the authorities. By the time people rushed to the scene, the suspect had taken to his heels.

The police and other security agencies were informed and took over the security of the school with the gates closed to visitors and movement in and out restricted.

When our correspondent got to the school, some officials of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) , a pick up van of the army, police and SSS were directly opposite the principal’s office, strategizing while normal classes were going on.

Principal of the school, Hajiya Fatima Madugu, who also spoke with our correspondent, said, “Just help us thank God for the alertness of our staff and intervention by God. The mission of the suspect was to disguise as

one of our students and sneak to the assembly ground to carry out his dastardly act but God intervened. Before we could mobilise to the scene, the suspect had fled but we immediately alerted the police and other security agencies who mobilised to our compound.”

The female teacher told our correspondent that as the conversation was going on between her and the suspect, fear has gripped her and she was left with no option than to take to her heels. The state police spokesman, DSP Ibrahim Gambari, confirmed the incident but said the attempt should not be seen as an invasion by Boko Haram. “‘The suspect could be a lunatic but, not withstanding, our men have been drafted to the school for further investigations and I can tell you that the bush around the school has been combed and nothing incriminating found with no arrest made’’.

Meanwhile, the Niger government has suspended morning assembly and other religious gatherings in all schools in the state in order not to attract the attention of criminals. Similarly, because of the porous nature of Maryam Babangida Girls Science College and similar schools, all girls schools in the state will be fenced by next year in order to check insecurity to the affected schools.

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PAGE 50—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

The Bianca Ojukwu story (1)

•Bianca Ojukwu

I

t’s great to be back!

Wow! How great it feels to be back here on the refreshing pages of this great newspaper. Between 2009 and 2010, I ran a weekly column in the Saturday Vanguard appropriately entitled “Diaspora” given my then residence in New York City. The column was essentially a platform that provided a handshake across the Atlantic as some of the issues I treated then were mostly on American politics and pop culture related stories.

Few weeks ago, I reached out to the Editor of this newspaper, Mr. Jide Ajani, a seasoned journalist whose works I have followed for years especially his reportage on our nascent political evolution , analyses and interviews done with the

major actors of the Nigerian political space. I have been so impressed by the depth and intellectual flourishes he usually brings to bear in his presentations, and had convinced myself that someday we would have a meeting point of minds and the end product of that desire is this column you are reading now.

Since 1984 when Uncle Sam established this newspaper, I have had an emotional attachment to it. Apart from living a few blocks away from the newspaper in 1984, I had numerous friends who practiced their craft here and I remember strolling down each time I came on break from school to its famous staff canteen, The Canal, to drink beer with those friends- the late Hakeem Ikandu, Ely Obasi, Ogbonnaya

I came into a deeply divided family - a lot of my husband’s relatives, I never saw physically before he died

Amadi (may their souls rest in peace).

Each time I visited Nigeria from my then base in New York City, I would always find time to stop by to see friends such as Mideno Bayagbon- the current Editor, of the Daily Vanguard.

Mideno and I have been

friends since 1988, and so it is exciting to be back here for an encore. Ekerete Udoh’s World, as this column is aptly entitled, which is also the title of my blog www.Ekereteudoh’sworld.com, will encompass everything I have done and championed in my over two decades of active

service in the vineyard of journalism and information dissemination. The slogan: Politics. Pop Culture.Romance, pretty much sums up the definitional layers of my career in journalism. For over a decade, I, alongside other pop culture and society reporters, such as Dele Momodu, Femi Akintunde Johnson (FAJ), Mayor Akinpelu, Kunle Bakare, Azuka Jebose-Molokwu, the late Ogbonnaya Amadi, Alvan Ewuzie, Moji Danisa, Kayode Ajala, helped define and championed the contours and layers of Nigerian contemporary society and entertainment or pop culture journalism. We promoted and shaped the careers of numerous stars that today illuminate the Nigerian

Continues on page 51

PAGE 51—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

questions” and she didn’t disappoint.

The Bianca Ojukwu story (1) Continues from page 50 pop culture scene with their talents and skills.

Our motivation then, as is now, was that Nigeria is an evolving society, and, like other emerging or mature societies, we needed to celebrate the best among us and, by so doing, create a legion of role models and weave a narrative that could help unleash the potent forces that are embedded in us all. America created its own narrative of the country being “God’s own country “where milk and honey flow ceaselessly. It didn’t matter that even in the land of milk and honey, some people still go to bed hungry, but the narrative has stuck with us, and America remains today, rightfully so, the destination of choice of everyone who can afford to travel. It has an hegemonic control on power, values, social ethos and mores, commerce, pop culture, sports and technology, engendering a near maniacal desire by people the world over to savor and sample the stable it provides.

Today, as a result of our pioneering drive, we are happy and proud that our efforts and investment in promoting and projecting that sector of our national life have come full circle as the Nigerian pop culture scene is roaring and the world has stopped to listen to the symphony of its echo chambers. Nollywood has become the new African pop culture religion with adherents spread all over the world.

And the question arises: What would Ekerete Udoh’s World

seek to present? My answer is simple: My journalism career has, for the most part, been defined by my acute reading of the issues that relate to the human condition, foibles and challenges; hence my introduction in 1986 into contemporary Nigerian journalism a new genre that was then not considered a major plank, but which today all newspapers have adopted and which attracts the most readerships: romance and relationship issues.

In 1986, I introduced the column, Stories That Touch The Heart, in the defunct Sunday Times and later Sunday Concord and it helped launch a new genre in journalism. This column will publish on a fortnightly basis stories of the triumph and failures in marriage and relationships and would attempt to put the sheen back into the institution of marriage and to encourage those who see it as an enterprise laden with bobby trap and emotional attrition to come to the realization that marriage or doing the right things in relationship can indeed be an emotionally and rewarding enterprise. What you will be reading here will be gripping and unputdownable stories from the man who started it all… (Pardon my immodesty here, but that is an unvanished fact).

Politics will be an important aspect of this column. Apart from the political season being upon us, and thus, the need to report and analyze issues and the actors in a dispassionate and unbiased

They have hurled all sorts of vitriol and outlandish claims about me- the most laughable has been what they claim that I was not legally married to my husband. I mean, this is a marriage that took place in 1994 and not 1884 manner, I am a political scientist by training with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the discipline earned from two of the finest universities in the United States ( was the Overall Best Graduating Student in International Relations and Comparative Politics from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Class of 2006) , and had been opportune to work on campaigns ( the successful gubernatorial run of ex-New York State Governor, Eliot Spitzer in New York )where I made my home for almost 14 years. My whole being, thus, is illuminated by the stream of politics and as our political culture gets deepened and Nigerians gradually internalizing the notion that politics is here to stay, the need to do succinct and intellectually defined stories and analyses that hopefully would help our readers be more informed about politics and the art of public policy formulation becomes even more imperative.

We will also break a number of exclusives and I have already about four of such exclusives that most reporters will give their right arms to get.

You will be reading those exclusives here as well as on my blog: www. EkereteUdoh’s world.com . Next week, we will begin one of such exclusive stories- the interview I did with my dear friend, Her Excellency, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and the widow of one of the definitional figures in Nigeria contemporary historythe late Ikemba Nnewi, the people’s General, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. This interview is a collectors’ item because of the exclusive details in it. The interview was noholds barred-every angle that the media has been speculating on but didn’t get her to talk about; she had opened up to me. “I wouldn’t really wish to talk about some of these issues Ekerete”, she had told me, “but since it’s you and I have come to trust your judgment, I will answer your

Excerpts: “I came into a deeply divided family - a lot of my husband’s relatives, I never saw physically before he died.

Ojukwu Transport Company issues have been in court, they still have not resolved the issues concerning their father’s wealth, and this was an issue that started in 1966.. I am very comfortable if not for anything, for being the daughter of Chief C.C.Onoh, and my father took care of me, so the issue is not just about their family. But my husband was also a very serious person, so he anticipated all what is happening now by making sure that the most of my inheritance is bequeathed to me by the Deed of Gift, so prior to his death, most of those gifts had already been registered under my name. But I will say that at the end of the day, it’s not a question of acquisition, all I am saying is that I am the only wife that he wedded, first and foremost, at the Kaduna registry as witnessed by his friend, the late Clement Akpamgbo, and we had a small reception after the event at Apo Quarters, in Abuja. After the registry marriage, we went through the Catholic marriage at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Catholic Church in Abuja, and it was officiated by the then Arch Bishop Onaiyekan- then the Archbishop of Abuja Diocese. We finally went through the full traditional marriage in my father’s compound that literally had all the traditional titled chiefs, paramount rulers of the community in attendance. The five governors of the eastern states at the time were present, ambassadors were in attendance. The Abuja wedding for instance was almost a state wedding. So the evidence is there for all to see, and when you are faced with that situation, and you have been properly married, and you have off springs from that union, but purely because they want to cheat your offsprings of their inheritance, in addition to other things, by virtue of their being the youngest, any mother would do all she can to protect them. They have hurled all sorts of vitriol and outlandish claims about methe most laughable has been what they claim that I was not legally married to my husband.

I mean, this is a marriage that took place in 1994 and not 1884; so the evidence, the videos, media reports are there for everyone to see.”

Next week: Bianca reveals why she will never remarry and what manner of a lover Ojukwu was! Keep a date

PAGE 52—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

A PRESIDENT’S DECLARATION

Between Jonathan and the opposition

By Ben Agande,

S

C M Y K

*President Jonathan .....Nigeria met its Millennium Development Goal One on reducing hunger and extreme poverty, er sector, even with the recent divestment by government, has remained largely comatose, government has recorded remarkable improvement in certain critical sectors of the country. The road infrastructure has improved across the country, the rail sector revived with new lines added, foreign direct investment is on the upward swing and unemployment which has remained the bane of the country has recorded marginal improvements.

But it would appear that government has provided the arsenal with which its critics have been bombarding it. The Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, even though restricted to its initial epicentre states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, the huge investments in the security services have not been justified because the insurgents have rather gained more grounds, seized more military hardware from the army and have been emboldened by the seeming vacilitation by the nation’s political leadership to deal a fatal blow to its burgeoning. It is this telling sign that critics of the government easily point to as one of the reasons the President should not seek re-election.

It is perhaps under-reportage of his achievements that he sought to repudiate when he reeled out the achievements his government has recorded while formally declaring to present himself for the next election.

While acknowledging that a lot still needs to be done, Jonathan, in what some observers have described as chest thumbing, underlined the milestone he has achieved. “As a result of government’s favourable policies, the private sector is investing over 12 billion dollars in the petrochemical sector, over the next four years. This will surely create millions of jobs for our people”, he stated.

“In terms of gas supply, we have grown from less than 500 million cubic feet per day, four years ago, to about 1.5 billion cubic feet per day currently. Our goal is to attain 4 billion cubic feet per day, over the next four years.

“We have changed the face of agriculture. We moved agriculture away from a development Programme to agriculture

as a business. My vision is to create wealth for our people through agriculture.

“We have focused on encouraging the private sector to boost investments in the agricultural sector. As a result, the number of seed companies rose from five to eighty in the past three years. Private sector investment in the agricultural sector expanded by $ US 5.6 billion across the

,

EVERAL months of waiting with bated breath for President Good luck Jonathan to formally declare his intention to contest for second term or shelve his presidential ambition and return to his ancestral Otuoke home, in Bayelsa State came to an end last Tuesday when a large crowd of Nigerians witnessed the President’s declaration at the Eagle Square, Abuja. Though the event was almost marred by the deadly suicide attack on a secondary school in Potiskum, Yobe State which killed over 47 innocent children a day before the ceremony, the President, in a pensive mood, told the nation why he decided to present himself for re-election and why Nigerians should give him their mandate.

“I am convinced that I have kept my pact with Nigerians, and it is now time to look to the future. With your tremendous support, we have collectively done so much in the last three and half years, but to take our country to the next level, there is still more to be done. History has shown that the path of honour for any true leader is not to walk away from his people in moments of challenges. We must stand together in adversity and overcome all threats to our development. We must defend our future, for the sake of our children. So many things have inspired me in the journey to this moment. I want to appreciate ordinary Nigerians, especially young people, for the solidarity shown to me by contributing their meagre resources to enable me arrive at this point”, he said.

The decision by Jonathan to re-present himself for re-election must have been a difficult one. Since he assumed office following the death of the late President Umaru Yar ’Adua, he faced strident opposition from some of the most powerful forces in the land. And prior to the 2011 presidential election, his major opposition appeared to have been the leading political figures from the Northwest. The stated reason for the opposition was that since Yar ’Adua did not complete his tenure before succumbing to death, Jonathan ought to have allowed another candidate from the North, preferably the North-west to contest and possibly get elected to continue from where Yar ’Adua stopped. But the unstated reason and perhaps, more germane one at that, that served as a veritable tool to galvanise the disparate tendencies in the North to be united in their opposition against Jonathan is the fact of his faith. Those who were opposed to Jonathan found it easy to play the religious card by saying that allowing him to rule after former President Obasanjo, a Christian who ruled for eight years, would amount to handing over the country to Christians. It was a story that many ordinary people in the North could easily relate to.

So when Jonathan contested and won the 2011 presidential election, his opponents could not bring themselves to accept that the will of the people should be respected. And their outrage found easy expression in the violence that was unleashed in some parts of the country.

If anything, that violence signposted that the Jonathan presidency between 2011 and 2015 was going to be turbulent.

And turbulent so far it has been. From the ferocious attacks by Boko Haram in the North eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, to the relentless attack by opposition parties who coalesced to form the All Progressive Congress, Jonathan’s administration has been the butt of criticism.

For instance, though the nation’s pow-

It is perhaps underreportage of his achievements that he sought to repudiate when he reeled out the achievements his government has recorded while formally declaring to present himself for the next election

,

Agricultural value chain.

“We ended decades of corruption in the fertilizer and seed sectors. We developed a transparent and efficient system of reaching farmers directly with subsidized farm inputs. Before our reforms, fertilizer procurement and distribution took from the needy and gave to the greedy. We restored dignity back to farmers. Today, 14 million farmers, of which 2 million are women, access fertilizers with their mobile phones, through an ewallet system. Nigeria is the first country in the world to develop an e-wallet system to reach farmers with subsidized

farm inputs on their mobile phones. Several African countries are now borrowing this transparent and efficient e-wallet system for their own countries.

“Our national food production expanded by an additional 21 million metric tons between 2011 and 2014, a record, exceeding our set target of 20 million metric tons set for 2015. The Dangote Group, has committed to invest $US 1 billion in commercial rice production and processing. With all these developments, we are expected to be an exporter of rice in the next five years. This will be a new dawn.

“The benefits are showing on our food imports. Our food import bill has declined from 1.1 trillion Naira in 2009 to 684 billion Naira by December 2013, even with our increasing population, a reduction of 40%.

“Nigeria met its Millennium Development Goal One on reducing hunger and extreme poverty, two years ahead of the 2015 target set by the United Nations, and was given an award by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

“To sustain this trend, we are encouraging young graduates through the Nagropreneurs Programme to go into commercial Agriculture. We are also encouraging our students in Post Primary Schools to embrace commercial Agriculture through the National School Agriculture Programme”.

But these achievements pale into insignificance as long as the country territorial integrity remains challenged by a group of rag tag men bearing arms against the armed forces. The President will continue to be challenged by the perception that powerful men in government receive a slap on the wrist when they are accused of conducts that do not tend to promote the fight against corruption. Jonathan will be challenged by the thousands of Nigerians who have been displaced from their homes by insurgents and have found solace in strange lands. For a country whose 200 school girls were abducted for more than 200 days ago and there is not word about their whereabouts, the President will be put to task as long as they remain unaccounted for.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 53

Obuh’s agenda on sustainability, growth

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

F

ESTIVE and colourful was the at mosphere on the major roads as vehicles filled with hordes of well wishers moved around dancing to different tunes.

The mood suggested that something remarkable was happening.

But for the conspicuousness of the banners on the trucks, visitors and residents would have been left asking what the merry mood was indicative of.

The ambience inside Cenotaph—an event centre in Asaba - was not different either, as the presence of a mammoth crowd made it electrifying.

One did not need a long story to understand that the jubilant attendees had gathered to witness an event many described as epoch making.

The occasion was the public declaration of the governorship ambition of Sir Tony Obuh on the platform of the PDP. Indeed, the forum, held last Friday, was the climax of months of consultations over the possibility of what was eventually tagged: Project 2015.

The quality of those in attendance was reflective of the position of many, that Obuh has become the frontrunner in the race to succeed Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan as governor of Delta State.

In fact, it was a gathering of the high and low from the 25 local government areas in the state.

Notably present were supporters drawn from the political class, technocrats, pensioners, trade unions, traditional rulers, the clergy, student groups, artisans, musicians, among others.

They include Mr. Nicholas Mutu, lawmaker representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives; Mrs. Evelyn Oboro, member representing Okpe/ Sapele/ Uvwie Federal Constituency; Mr. Ossai Ossai, member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency; Chief Paulinus Akpeki, Commissioner for Housing and Dr. Joseph Otumara, Commissioner for Health.

Others are Mr. Johnson Erijo, Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Assembly; Ambassador Godson Echeghile; Maj Gen Nick Agbogun, rtd, Chief Emami Ayiri; and Chief Julius Imudia, among others.

Perhaps the convergence of these people, informed why the Director General of Tony Obuh Campaign Organisation,TOCO, Chief Fred Majemite, in his welcome address, said the large turnout was reflective of Obuh’s acceptability across the state.

The man on whose shoulders the dayto-day-workings of TOCO rests assured that Obuh would sustain and further the

•Obuh

We have studied the happenings in the race and we know Obuh very well as a man of intergrity. With all sincerity, this is a project we are focused on unity of the state that is ethnically diverse.

He said: “Today, we present the face of a new Delta State, the builder who will build and consolidate on the solid foundation and cornerstone laid by the previous and present administrations of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.”

On the heels of that came goodwill messages that turned out to be endorsements.

Aside individuals, who spoke on behalf of their supporters, all the commissioners in the state, lawmakers and federal legislators endorsed Obuh’s ambition.

To many, that represented a boost for an aspiration that has increasingly attracted sympathy within and outside Delta.

Leading the pack of those who threw their weight behind Obuh was Erijo, who spoke on behalf of the members of the state

lawmakers.

He said the Delta legislature had taken a decision to support the retired permanent secretary.

Also, making known the stance of the state Executive Council, Otumara said all the commissioners had adopted Obuh as their aspirant.

“We have studied the happenings in the race and we know Obuh very well as a man of intergrity. With all sincerity, this is a project we are focused on. On behalf of all the commissioners and special advisers, I hereby endorse Obuh for governor,” he submitted.

The Delta caucus in the House of Reps, through Mutu, moved the motion for adoption.

“This is a day God has set aside to honour a man of the people. The presence of this crowd is a testament to the desire to be governed by Obuh. I move that this gathering hereby endorse Obuh as the candidate of the PDP,” he declared.

On hand to second the motion was Eboron, who said: “On behalf of all the female public office holders, I hereby second the motion that Obuh be adopted.”

Expectedly, Obuh’s arrival on the stage to present his address made the crowd more ecstatic.

Amid musical interludes, he presented himself for service.

“I am presenting myself as the right person to lead Delta State come 2015 as I will bring to bear exemplary leadership and ensure that democratic governance

prevails in the state,” he pledged, adding: ‘’ I am the best man for the job. I would offer strategic leadership, which would lift the state to a higher level of advancement and development. I am passionate about wealth creation for our people and economic development. Above all, I am passionate about the well-being of our people.”

He promised to continue with the programmes and policies of the present government in Delta State.

“Our policies, programmes and projects would be built around the economic development of the strategy of Delta Beyond Oil. Its key elements include the building of strategic infrastructure to diversify the economy of the state from oil-dependence to non-oil dependent economy,” the aspirant added.

“My blueprint on sustainable development of the State is anchored on my SET agenda, Service, Empowerment and Transformation, which is all about the core issues of concern to the people of Delta State. Our policies, programmes and projects would be built around the economic development strategy of Delta Beyond Oil. Its key elements include the building of strategic infrastructure to diversify the economy of the State from oildependence to a non-oil dependent economy.

“It also includes deliberate cultivation of conditions for private sector investments and where necessary, to engage in Public Private Partnership in key sectors with a view to expanding the industrial base of the State and creating jobs. I do not envisage that the journey towards achieving this objective would be easy. But with the foundation already laid, coupled with your support and the credible leadership, I pledge to give a new trajectory of progress will ensue.”

To achieve these targets, he said his vast experience in the civil service had prepared him for the challenges of governance, reiterating to use it efficiently as governor.

Having got the audience listening with rapt attention, Obuh punctured the arguments of those who had claimed that he was not a mainstream politician.

He said: “The have asked if Obuh is a politician. Having been a permanent secretary for eight years, the government recognised me as a politician. I am from a political family. My late elder brother was a council chairman, Delta North PDP chairman, party secretary among others.

Yet they say I am not a politician. I have been a registered member of the PDP.” Continuing, he stressed the need for the party to remain peaceful, adding that much would be achieved under one united party with a common destiny.

Orubebe keeps guber hope alive in Asaba

T

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

HE governorship aspiration of Chief Godsday Orubebe record ed a boost following his formal declaration to contest for the number one seat in Delta State.

Since the former Niger Delta Ministry minister ’s desire for the position had never been in the dark, the outing in Asaba could be described as anticipated.

The event, which attracted hordes of well-wishers to the Asaba Arcade, to some observers, would change the conversation in the ensuing intrigues in the race.

The crowd, drawn from the 25 local government areas, LGAs, in the state, was unanimous in its support for Orubebe, who had insisted that his relentless bid for the position was divine.

Like similar events in the state, the outing was a melting point for the various ethnic leanings in Delta, as people of different tongues converged to further their

•Orubebe

support for Orubebe.

The messages that resonated from the venue deflated the impression that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had been reserved for a preferred aspirant.

From the informed party chieftains present to the hardly informed chunk of the crowd, the message was the same: ‘Orubebe, Carry Go!’

The attendees include Prof Eric Opia,Chief Wellington Okrika, Chief Tony Omatseye, Chief Dan Ekpebide, Wing Comdr P. Y Biakpabiri ,rtd, Chief Lucky Ogboru, Ambassador Sydney Mordi, Chief Sam Eyengho, Prince Nathan Okonjo, Cheif Hope Erutte, and Chief Sam Osasi.

Heralding the solidarity statements at the event, Director General of the Orubebe Campaign Organisation, Mr. Terry Noah, described the aspirant as a visionary with a divine mandate to govern Delta.

He asserted that Orubebe’s mission was to provide leadership for his people in all ramifications.

According to him, the one time Chairman of Burutu LGA got to where he is through total dependence on God. Opia, who contested for same position on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC, said it was God who made Orubebe accept the calls to serve.

Okirika added his voice thus: “ “We have seen all manner of people who have taken advantage of the simplicity of the state. I saw in Orubebe a God fearing man. Let us for once put a man who will do the will of God in government house. Besides that he is the most qualified and experienced, he has worked under two Presidents. This is not an issue of tribe or zone, what belongs to Caesar should be given to Caeser.”

Amid the solidarity messages, Orubebe, who is upbeat about getting the ticket despite percived political calculations that do not seem to favour his senatorial zone, mounted the podium to formally declare.

He said that the experience he garnered in the various political positions he had held, makes him the best man to govern Delta, noting that he is not an accidental aspirant.

Orubebe also stated that his roadmap for the reinvention of the state was ready, adding that all he needed was the PDP ticket

Continues on page 54 C M Y K

PAGE 54—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North A former Finance Commissioner and one of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Bassey Albert, says he is the most qualified of all the aspirant to succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio on account of his experience and contributions to the uncommon transformation. Excerpts: What makes you think you are qualified to run as a governorship aspirant given the fact that the slot has been zoned to Eket Senatorial District, which automatically makes it difficult for you to run?

Well, to start with, I must say that it is true that I am from Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area in Itu Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State. By the grace of God, I have had the privilege of working with Governor Godswill Akpabio for the past seven years as the Finance Commissioner and I know that in the last seven years, I have actually discharged my duty with the greatest sense of responsibility and I must thank the governor for the opportunity that he gave me to contribute my own little quota towards the attainment of uncommon transformation in Akwa Ibom State.

And having worked with him as a finance commissioner for seven years, having been part of the cabinet that was able to run the budget in such a way that we had 80 percent of our estimates for capital projects and only 20 for recurrent expenditure consistently for seven years, I can say that I was part and parcel of the success story of the present administration. I can say that my effort to run the budget successfully that strengthened the foundation of the uncommon transformation you find in the state because there are states where the recurrent capital ratio is quite high and not much can be done in terms of capital projects. Having said that I must confess that Governor Akpabio is a very pragmatic leader who loves and believes in the cause of his people and having found this, he discovered and nurtured me, trusted and entrusted me with the office of the commissioner for finance and I think I have justified that trust. But I be-

AKWA IBOM 2015: I’m the most qualified to succeed Akpabio — Bassey Albert lieve that taking Akwa Ibom to the next level requires somebody who understands the workings of the system.

I have been properly been mentored and groomed by the governor having worked with him over a period of time. I have had the rare privilege of being mentored by a man who believes and has a passion towards his people and I think we share the same passion and I believe I am in the best position to key into his shoe by becoming the next governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Where the state is today, needs somebody that has the aggression, passion and understanding of the workings and the dynamics of governance and someone who can actually achieve a seamless transition and my achievements are all there for anybody to scrutinize. I do not want to over flog the issue of what I have done and what I did not do but I am more concerned about what needs to be done in taking the state to the next level. I believe we have done enough in the area of infrastructure, though not every facet of the state has witnessed the uncommon transformation, and so there are a lot of areas, milestones that need to be covered.

I am interested in how we can reinvigorate the machinery of government to achieve a wider spectrum in terms of development, because when you talk about development, it can be infrastructure; human or other areas of development. I understand those areas that a lot still needs to be done to bring about the real impact that the people need.

Are you not afraid to run given the fact that you don’t have any endorsement?

I just believe that I can win in a free and fair election. I must thank the President of Nigeria who believes in enthroning democracy. I must confess that in displaying this level of commitment by ensuring that there is a level playing field in the

Obong Bassey Albert forthcoming primaries, only the best can emerge from the process to save this country. I recall that in 2006, the people of Akwa Ibom stood for hours/days to bring about the government of Godswill Akpabio despite the fact that the incumbent at that time had preference for a particular candidate. That is why I am insisting that the governor as human has the right to support the candidate of his choice but what we are asking for is that he should allow the people the liberty to decide and choose who they want and once this happens, I believe that only the best will emerge. My prayer is that the God that did it for Godswill Akpabio in 2006 despite the fact that Obong Victor Attah preferred Dr. Udoma Ekarika should also do it for Obong Bassey Albert in 2014 despite the fact that Governor Godswill Akpabio prefers Udom Emmanuel. It is also my prayer that God should bring a governor that is loyal to the people and that will show love to the people. It is the only way that the governor can develop in the collective interest of the people.

The other day, the governor described some of you who defied him and joined the race as Absalom. Are you not afraid to enter the race through the backdoor?

I am coming through the front door because I have consulted him and he had blessed me and given me the go-ahead to contest elections and moreover when you talk about coming through the front door, who is at the front door? The incumbent is at the front door so if the back door is an isle you can use it, if the window is an isle you can use the window, you can even break the wall and still reach the front door. Are you saying that if I enter this house now and the front door is locked, I cannot use the back door? I want to leave it at that. But let me say that we maintain a very cordial relationship. The governor had to let me go at the time God wanted me to leave because of my intention of contesting the forthcoming elections. Like the PDP slogan says, power belongs to the people and the people should be allowed to choose whoever they want to work for them and not for anyone to arrogate to himself the power to choose for the people. I think anybody who wants to be a governor should stand out and sell himself to the Akwa Ibom people. That is the way I see it and that is what the office of the governor entails.

At what point did you decide to enter the race to become the governor?

I feel strongly that I am the most qualified to run the state after Akpabio because I am one of the key persons he groomed as a successor.

Are you not worried about the zoning formula of your party, which has tactically excluded you from the contest?

I am not really bothered about the issue of zoning because I know that zoning is only an arrangement. Even within the context of Akwa Ibom state, we have never had zoning in the real sense of it. I am saying so right from 1992, we had people from different zones contesting the governorship election. In 1999 for instance, when Attah from Uyo Senatorial District came out, we had several contestants from Eket and several people from other areas challenging him.

I am in politics to serve my people — Abiodun Abayomi

BY EBELE ORAKPO

H

on. Abiodun Abdulkareem Abayomi is the Executive Director of Habitech Nigeria Limited, a building construction company based in Ifo, Ogun State. In this interview with Vanguard, the Public Administration graduate from the University of Abuja, speaks on his ambition to be the next lawmaker representing Constituency II of Ifo Local Government Area in the Ogun State House of Assembly under the All Progressives Congress come 2015. Excerpts: Why did you go into the murky waters of politics?

My main motive of going into politics is to serve my people; to bring about the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the people.

So you think the person representing the constituency now is not doing enough?

The truth is that our past and present

Hon. Abiodun Abdulkareem Abayomi leaders have actually done their best but I am offering myself for service to consolidate on their past achievements.

How do you hope to bring government

closer to the people?

I am a young person and I feel this is a clarion call for all the youths to come together. If we can all come together, we can make a difference. We are youths and this is our time. Our past leaders have done their best, let the youths come and let’s see what they can actually do to bring about even distribution of economic goods and services.

As a lawmaker, there are certain things I cannot do and there are certain things I can do. I hope to provide for our people, the basic infrastructure that are lacking in our communities and make our people happy.

What exactly do you want to do for your people and how will you go about it?

I want to empower our people, build schools etc. As lawmakers, although it is not in our power to build schools but what I will do is to be in a good working relationship with the governor so that the basic social amenities required by the con-

stituency will be provided.

I will ensure that the artisans, vulcanisers, hairdressers etc., are empowered with the needed tools to work with in my constituency. I also hope to provide scholarships.

I believe that governance should be all about the people, not about the leaders but about those who put them there.

If voted into power, I hope to work with fellow lawmakers and the executive arm to ensure that the welfare of our people is taken care of.

Like I said earlier, our past and present leaders have no doubt done their best but their best is obviously not enough. Much still needs to be done.

If you go to Constituency II in Ifo Local Government Area, it is in a sorry state because the present lawmaker representing the constituency in the House of Assembly is not in good terms with the governor, so there is no development at all in the area.

Orubebe keeps guber hope alive in Asaba Continued from page 53 to actualise it.

He said: “As I was driving past the streets of Asaba, I saw some posters with different inscriptions, including the one welcoming me as the next governor of the state. I want to let you know that as your humble servant, I will be there for you come 2015.”

“I resigned as a minister after serving for over six years and three months. Since February I have been going round the local government areas talking to various groups and I saw a state that is loved by C M Y K

God. I saw a state that is filled with quality human capital, I saw a state that desires to live together, I saw a state looking for an agent to develop it’s huge potentialities by bringing all Deltans to one table where dreams can come true. I am that agent. It is possible and we are going to do it, “ he stated.

Explaining further on what he meant by not being an “accidental aspirant,” Orubebe said:”I am not an accidental politician. I have been consistent in politics and I have the experience. I

started low cost housing as the Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area in 1993 and I will do that as governor.

All the parameters I used in achieving success in my previous public service positions, would be used to make all the institutions of government in the state functional.”

Orubebe, while promising to revamp all ailing industries in the state, stated that he shall run an all-inclusive government where the presence of opposition will be felt in the state, unlike now

when there is no presence of the opposition.

Orubebe said that he was in support of Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration and would work with it to move the state forward.

He paid tribute to President Goodluck Jonathan and late President Umaru Yar ’Adua for appointing him at different times as minister.

Orubebe called on Jonathan to run for a second term in office, saying that he had achieved a lot for the country.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014. PAGE 55

EX-CHAIRMAN OPENS UP ON ENUGU PDP CRISIS

‘I did not sell out to Ekweremadu’

BY FRANCIS IGATA

The crisis rocking Enugu State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was at the front burner as the former Chairman, Chief Vita Abba, spoke on his return from medical treatment abroad having resigned his position to seek elective office. He bared his mind on issues bedevilling the party. Excerpts...

Y

OU resigned your position as the Enugu PDP Chairman to pursue your ambition for elective office. At the time you were Chairman, what were your experiences like?

For about seven years now, through the instrumentality of God, I piloted the affairs of the party smoothly. I want to equally acknowledge the efforts of Governor Sullivan Chime for giving me a free hand to run the party. I must attribute the success of my administration to all party stakeholders that culminated in Enugu being one of the few states that is PDP hundred percent. It is a very interesting period given the difficulty associated with managing people especially a large family like the PDP. I can beat my chest to have served my state and party meritoriously for seven years.

That is why I want to contribute further to national service.

Your resignation as party Chairman was trailed by controversy. The impression was that you sold out to the Ike Ekweremadu camp. What actually happened?

You know we are in the political circle and you would expect blackmail. I am not surprised. I must thank God for giving me back my health because the world needs to know that I had health challenges. Through God’s special grace, I am back and fit.

The idea of tilting to any camp is not news to me. I didn’t run the party in different camps. So, I do not believe there is any camp in Enugu PDP. This is a calculated attempt to smear my reputation which I guard jealousy. I distinguished myself in the leadership of the party for over seven years. The accusation is unfounded and in bad faith. If after seven years, nobody was able to buy me with money, you can see that it’s the handiwork of mischief makers.

It is pertinent to state that there has never been any attempt by me to sell out to the Ekweremadu camp. If anybody

has evidence contrary to my stance, let the person come out publicly to talk. It’ s a politically unfounded allegation.

Looking at the PDP in the state now, one can say that the crisis rocking the party can directly be traced to your resignation.

You must understand that there is a procedure for doing things in the party. Enugu is one of the few states were the party Chairman resigned. It happened in Ebonyi, Delta and Niger. It is not news that a party Chairman decided to resign to run for elective office. Its is obvious that a man who has successfully led the party for over seven years should try himself in government to deliver service to the people.

My resignation should not be news. It’s normal. Although my resignation has turned out differently in Enugu, I know that there will eventually be peace because these are brothers fighting a political fight. We are from the same family of PDP. I do not have any fear that these things will be sorted out.

The story is that you were promised automatic ticket for the House of Representatives for Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South federal constituency. Was it at the point you realized that the ticket is not automatic that you had health challenges?

It is a rumour. As a human being, you are bound to be healthy or fall sick. The question of what I was promised is really unfounded. The PDP guidelines are clear on how to attain elective positions.

Anybody going against the guidelines is doing so at his own risk. I have helped to build the party and I have to do things rightly. It’s an unfounded story just like the cheap allegation that I sold out Obviously, as a party Chairman, you would have political enemies both from within the party and from outside. The perception in the public domain is unfounded.

Now that you are going to House of Reps, you must have purchased your form and submitted. How are you prosecuting this new agenda?

I call the agenda a change of baton. I will not call it an ambition. I regard it as a continuation of service. I derive joy in serving my people. If I find myself in that hallowed chambers, I feel it will afford me an opportunity to continue serving the people. I put it in the people’s hands. If they want me to represent them, I am ready to do so with my wealth

•Chief Vita Abba of experience.

How do feel with the aspiration for House of Reps having aspired to be governor. You were one of aspirants that attended the Enugu-North senatorial zone caucus meeting on September 26 where you

mean that you cannot go for B. If you are thirsty for service, it does not matter at what level are you serving. Any level you are, you will play a good part. That’s my idea of service. You don’t have to be the president of Nigeria to serve your country.

As the Chairman who presides over all the caucuses in the state, I know that Ekweremadu has tremendous respect for the governor and the governor equally has reciprocated by living up to expectation as the state leader were one of those who moved for consensus arrangement that favoured Hon. Ugwuanyi. Why did you back down on the first aspiration?

PDP is a family. If there is a family meeting, it is expected that all family members will agree with the decision reached at the meeting. So, I wholeheartedly agree with the family decision. I have no regrets for agreeing with the family decision. Secondly, there is no harm in aspiring for a position. If you aspire, if God blesses it, you get it. All power comes from God. The fact that you did not get A does not

You can serve the country from any office. The word is service.

How do feel that a house you led for seven years is now divided into two camps, one led by Governor Chime and the other by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu?

Its disheartening and unfortunate to note what is happening. Personally i am not happy about the development.

As the former party Chairman, I will tell you that the party never had two camps. There is a state leader and everybody queues behind him. The governor is the leader of the party according to the party’s

Constitution. To the best of my knowledge, he has enjoyed tremendous cooperation from Ike Ekweremadu and other members of the National Assembly. As the Chairman who presides over all the caucuses in the state, I know that Ekweremadu has tremendous respect for the governor and the governor equally has reciprocated by living up to expectation as the state leader. It is never my intention to see the house I built divided. I call on the people of Enugu State, religious and traditional leaders to intervene in the squabble. If we destroy the state, we cannot run to another state. My advice is very clear, everybody should sheath his sword.

The primaries are around the corner. With the court nullification of the ward congress in the state, how will the party cope?

Its a challenging period for us but the problem is not insurmountable. The national leadership of the party is on top of the situation. I know that effort is being made to bring the problem to a peaceful resolution. Enugu is not the only state were there is problem.

Definitely, PDP, will do the needful. It does not matter what people are saying. What is right is right. My advice is that people should be patient.

Enugu will not be left behind.

Are you at variance with the position of your party at the national level? The national secretariat has serially asserted that the Aja-led camp is the recognized leadership. What is your position?

Nobody is at variance with the national secretariat. This is an issue of talking and explaining your own side of the situation.

In primaries, contending parties definitely have different positions. At the end of the day, they will come together to agree.

The issue of being at variance does not hold at this point. The issue is what is right? We should not be doing things that are not clear. If you say there was a primary,you should be able to bring the evidence. If you say there was no primary, is there evidence that there was nono?This is a clear cut matter which should not be judged politically. As far as I am concerned, what is seen, what is verifiable should be the guiding principle. I came back from my medical treatment abroad on November 1 and was in Enugu same day. I did not see any ward congress hold.

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PAGE 56—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

By Tony Nwankwo Chief (Dr.) David Ogba Onuoha (Bourdex) (MFR), (OON), is a businessman and a telecommunications expert. He aspires to represent Abia North at the Senate. In this interview, he says he is committed to improving the lives of the people of his constituency. Excerpts:

Abia PDP delegates Congress, free and fair — Onuoha

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HERE has been knocks on the just concluded PDP Congresses in Abia State. What did you see?

The Abia PDP delegate congress was a success. In my Ward, the turnout was huge. Though returning officers came late, that did not affect the out pour in the exercise. It was free and fair. Things went well, there was no violence whatsoever.

We are grateful to God and to the authorities for job well done. Of course, in any contest, there will be those not satisfied with the outcome, people must complain, if the result do not favour them.

It is human nature. But I would say that some of those complaining now had benefited in the past and gained entry into the various offices they hold through this same system, using same structure for which they complain today. People who lose elections always give reasons for their loss on how they were rigged out. As far as we are concerned, the congress was a success here.

There was a court injunction on the Congress ...

We learned about the court injunction, but I cannot say if anyone was served the necessary papers since I am not a member of the Congress Committee, and I am not in the state party executive. Again, I also heard the court order was vacated days before the Congress itself. However, my understanding is that the injunction was against the state congress committee, and the committee in obedience to the court, relinquished everything to the party to conduct the congress. Don’t forget that the state arm of the party does not have the powers to dissolve any ward or local government exco. The dissolution came from the party headquarters in Abuja. Of course the tenure of those wards and local government excos, going by the time they

•Chief Onuoha were sworn-in, had expired.

There are three contending aspirants for the Senate in Abia North. What is your chances against the others?

The Abia North senatorial seat is about delivery of change and innovation to our famished people. Political leadership must affect the lives of the citizens positively.

This we have not seen in the last 12 years of Senator Uche Chukwumerije. I must say the Senator has been a great Igbo son.

He has served his people well, right from the Nigeria/Biafra war days. He served both the military and civilian governments as minister in various capacities. Yet, it is doubtful if he has impacted positively on the lives of the people of Abia North. Now, we need a change, we need to think deeply for our people. He is now old, and naturally should leave the stage for younger and more active people. That is the way of nature. I have said that he is a good man, but any good product must have an expiry date. This one has expired.

Our leaders must learn to groom successors to whom they can pass the baton of leadership and become advisers.

I expect Senator Chukwumerije to do just that and bow out honourably. To Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa, he has been in the House of Representatives twice and aside building a good house for himself in Arochukwu, nobody can point at anything he has done for the people. You look at where someone is coming from to know where he is going.

You cannot give what you don’t have. He does not have the capacity to introduce the change and innovation that I am discussing here. Beyond theories and grandstanding, political leaders can only give what they have dreamed or lived for.

I have envisioned and lived my dream of pioneering innovation, wealth and job creation, raising the bar of economic development in this society. I have been able to do these through the application of global science, and became a pioneer of Nigeria’s telecommunication industry and a commercial giant. Now it is time to share the vision, the dreams and the development initiatives in solving the problems of economic and social development in our society. I stand the best chance to help our people, to develop Abia North, to bring it to a level where everybody will be proud of coming from there.

You were interested in the governorship race. Why did you change your mind?

I had it in my head but never said it out because I have respect for Governor T.A. Orji. He has been a friend for many years, from when he was Chief of Staff to his predecessor. At the very early stage, he had made it known that the governorship seat must go to Abia South. It would have been foolhardy and also not in my interest or his interest to begin to contemplate to run when I knew how his mind was working. It is important that the people of Abia South are given a chance. Let one of

them become governor and help their people and also work on Aba. Naturally, in that position, if you come from a place, as governor, you look at your people first before you branch out. On my part, I believe unemployment is a key problem.

We can have vocational schools in all the local government areas where you train the youths in various trades: welders, tilers, iron mongering, carpenters, electricians, so that after six months you equip them with the necessary tools for their trade, provide soft loans for them through the banks. It is time to attach less importance to traditional university degrees and create more vocations institutions where people are trained as artisans, even in fish farming.

The PDP seem not to be endorsing automatic tickets. How do you react?

People hardly like to give up their positions even when they are performing below standard. Most of the senators and House members who want to come back are talking about automatic tickets, how can that be? That is the only reason why they are protesting what they think is an injustice. There are people out there also who want to come to the National Assembly to put in their best, serve their people and sing their own songs. These are rights enshrined in the country’s constitution.

It is about the structure of the party, who controls the soul of the party? On my part, I will guarantee innovation. That is what the people will expect from me. Politics must not be left in the hands of the usual suspects; there must be change. Our democracy must give room for our best to emerge; it must give room for change to take place. I am going to replicate what I have done in the private sector, that is to raise the bar of economic development in our society, bring development to Abia North, impact on the lives of our people, empower them in such a way that they can sustain themselves and their families.

Enugu 2015: Ugwuanyi is God-Sent – Adukwu Dr Sally Adukwu is a past president of the Nigerian Institute of Management; a former member of Presidential Advisory Committee, and currently the managing director of Titsall Global Schools, Abuja, and Academy of Leadership and Enterprise, Enugu. She is an aspirant for the House of Representatives’ ticket for Udenu/Igboeze North federal constituency in Enugu State. She speaks on the emergence of Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the Peoples Democratic Party’s consensus candidate in Enugu State for the 2015 governorship election.

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he PDP, Enugu State chapter, recently, adopt ed Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, representing Igboeze north/ Udenu federal constituency at the National Assembly as its consensus candidate ahead of the 2015 governorship election in the state.

Was the process democratic?

The process is legal as enshrined in the constitution of our party. The caucus that produced him was made up of all the stakeholders of the PDP in Enugu north senatorial zone. I was among those present at the meeting. Everybody spoke his mind at the meeting. Indeed we all went to the meeting with open mind. We were not told the agenda C M Y K

of the meeting in advance, so there was no gang-up. It was at the meeting that Governor Sullivan Chime reiterated his resolve for the people of Enugu north to bring out a governorship candidate for the state: somebody who has listening ears, and one that would hold power with humility so that we would avoid the killings experienced in state before him. The objective is to sustain the peace we have in Enugu State. He also asked us to choose a candidate who will be able to sustain the development we already have in the state and move it forward. The person should also have general acceptance, not just in Enugu north but the entire state.

Having said that, he did no more.

The rest of the meeting rested on Enugu north senatorial district stakeholders of the party. There was no element of imposition of candidate; it was democratically done. All the contestants were present, including one that never told the governor of his ambition.

The contestants spoke one after the other. After their self-evaluation, they began to step down. It looked like each of them was stepping down for Ugwuanyi. Invariably, Ugwuanyi is generally accepted in the state.

Do you think Ugwanyi has the leadership ability to steer the ship of the state?

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BY EMEKA MAMAH

Dr Sally Adukwu Yes. This is because, he has been more humble than any other person before him. Hon. Ugwuanyi has never used the siren in Enugu State. At occasions, he stayed with his people. He never sought protocols or unnecessary recognition.

He has never been carried away with titles and positions. He did not run around looking for traditional titles. He usually introduced himself as Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. All the contestants at our stakeholders’ meeting spoke for him. The sociometric showed that other contestants chose him apart from themselves.

What is your message to some dissenting voices on his emergence as the PDP governorship candidate?

The Governor should begin with a five-year strategic plan that will include specific actions and builtin checks in the areas of education, electricity generation using our coal and water, rural roads, improved health management system

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My message rests on the understanding of our people. We as a people have been people regarded as ignorant and politically insensitive. I want to let our leaders know that we are politically aware. We want a visionary leadership that will serve and not rule the people. The people want servant leaders, not arrogant people.

That is where Hon. Ugwuanyi stands out. People have told stories of Hon. Ugwuanyi’s generosity and I have come to conclude that he is God-sent. My local government area is Igboeze north and Ugwuanyi is from Udenu. He has been generous to people outside his local government, including mine. Many poor people are on

his payroll. He empowered PDP ward chairmen in my local government and he has replicated this gesture everywhere.

If you are to set agenda for him, what are those areas?

The Governor should begin with a five-year strategic plan that will include specific actions and builtin checks in the areas of education, electricity generation using our coal and water, rural roads, improved health management system, small scale industrial support and training, agriculture and a hands-on leadership style. Naturally Hon. Ifeanyi is a humble but firm person; therefore serving the people will be his natural habitat.

Improving all our schools and ensuring that every child of school age in the state has access to primary and secondary school should be top priority. This kind of policy yielded great results in Akwa Ibom State. The much talked about falling standard of education is one reason why we don’t see real development by way of productive capacities in the state, since a huge stock of quality human capital is required as the base for solid socio-economic growth. Human development will definitely support human enterprise that will generate the demand for more electricity, funds, good leadership and citizenship.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 57

Lagos 2015: Jimi Agbaje as game changer?

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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HE 2015 general elections are fast gaining momentum.

In Lagos State, the frontline political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are ready to slug it out at next year ’s governorship election.

The two parties are relentless as they aim to outwit each other at the polls.

In the PDP, the frontline aspirants have thrown their hats in the ring to clinch the party’s ticket when the primary is conducted.

Though neither the PDP nor the APC has unveiled its flag bearer, tongues have been wagging to know who emerges as the parties’ candidates.

One aspirant, whose declaration is giving the APC sleepless nights is Mr Jimi Agbaje.

Agbaje’s return to the political scene in Lagos ahead of 2015 is a strong statement from the PDP, a development which is much likely to change the dynamics of the election.

Seven years after, Agbaje is back, and this time with a mission to accomplish.

For several months, there have been speculations that he was gearing up to stage a return in the race to become Lagos governor, on the platform of the PDP. If the permutations are anything to go by, Agbaje’s

•Agbaje

eventual emergence as the PDP gubernatorial candidate will set the stage for what is likely going to be a two-horse race between the APC and the PDP, for who will become the next governor of the state.

For Agbaje, the structure on which he contested the 2007 election has been collapsed into the PDP, which pundits propound puts him at an edge over other aspirants.

A chieftain of the PDP in Lagos, Mr Olufemi Williams, said the party stands a great chance of winning the governorship election if it fields Agbaje as candidate.

Williams said an Agbaje candidacy would boost the PDP’s chances at the polls.

He said: “The PDP in Lagos is united. There is no question about that. All the leaders and members have seen the need to work together and win the

governorship election which has remained elusive since 1999. In-fighting cannot get us anywhere and that is what APC has been capitalising on.”

The PDP chieftain explained that having united all the factions, the next important thing is to look for a sellable candidate that enjoys popularity among Lagosians and match any candidate fielded

by APC action for action.

“Jimi Agbaje is the best man for the job. He is not a member of the party but we can convince him to join us because he has no party for now. Let us not deceive ourselves. I believe Agbaje is the man with the needed requisite to win Lagos for us.

“He is still as popular as he was seven years ago when vied for the governorship slot and we all know he could have won if our election had been free and fair,” Williams said.

Kano 2015 and Takai phenomenon

By Muhammad Sa’id Dan Giginyu

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N Nigeria, general elections are billed to take place in 2015. As such, the build-up to the appointed date is gathering momentum, especially with the release of election guidelines by the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Already, political parties and aspirants have stepped up campaigns in their quest to occupy different elective offices.

A key election, which has become of interest to most Nigerians, apart from the presidential election, is that of the governorship, for obvious reasons; part of which is the enormous powers the occupants of the governor ’s office have at their disposal, such as the total control of their states’ funds and, of course, their overbearing political influence, to the extent that they determine who becomes what during elections.

Nigeria’s politics and elections are known to have states known as hotbeds, such as Kano, Kaduna, Rivers and Lagos, among others. These states are not only unique when it comes to elections, but

they matter most in shaping the contest. Specifically, their governorship choices emerge in a unique way. For instance, while Kano and Lagos mostly vote for opposition candidates, Rivers and Kaduna stay with main stream except in some few cases. For instance in 1999 Kano went along with the centre by voting for the PDP candidate while Lagos maintained status quo.

Much as Kano politics thrives on progressive ideology, election outcomes are always circumstantial. This is evident when in 1991, the progressive elements under the command of former governor of the state late AbubakarRimi voted for the NRC candidate, Kabiru Gaya against their SDP candidate, Ahmadu Rufa’i. More so, the outcome of 2003 and 2011 elections were clearly based on protest against the status quo.

However, political goings-on in the state now indicate that, the PDP may likely present MalamSalihuSagirTakai as its gubernatorial candidate. He was the ANPP flag bearer during the 2011 governorship election in Kano in which he scored over 1 million votes, but lost to Rabi’uKwankwaso with less than 50, 000 votes difference.

A quick look at how Takai was said to have lost the 2011 elections in Kano clearly shows that he is the man to beat in the 2015 governorship contest.

Takai’s 2011 political aspiration was a turning point in the history of Kano politics as he was a victim of a carefully hatched and designed political gang up against him. This whole saga started within the very government he was serving when some hopefullyto-be-anointed successors to the then governor,Malam Ibrahim Shekarau approached the Malam governor and asked him to anoint his successor.

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

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OLITICAL stakeholders from Anambra North Senatorial District of Anambra State say President Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged concession of automatic tickets to 40 senators who want to return to the Senate in 2015 general elections is an arbitrary action which cannot stand.

The stakeholders, led by Dr Frank Oramalu, a former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman in Anambra State, and Mrs Carol Ekwenze, a former PDP women leader in Anambra State, however, said Jonathan could not have been part of the arbitrariness.

“Coming to the issue of the President conceding party tickets to 40 senators, we obviously would want believe that he was quoted out of context. For an internationally acclaimed crusader and defender of the citizens’ right, to determine who governs or represent them and whose philosophy of one man, one vote has remained unparalleled; concession of automatic ticket cannot be coming from him”, they said in a statement.

They went on: “First of all, we wish to express our total support and confidence in Mr. President’s transformation agenda and wish him well. Mr. President through his transformation programmes has not only changed the face and image of Nigeria but has brought prosperity, respect, rule of law and positive progression to a once beleaguered nation.

“Above all, Mr. President has shown himself to be a true brother of ours. He has positively impacted on the Ndigbo and we must support him to continue in 2015. Now, Jonathan has achieved these underlisted for the Ndigbo in his first 4-year tenure:Appointed an Igbo son General Onyeabo Azubike Ihejirika as Chief of the Army Staff, appointed an Ibusaborn Admiral Dele Ezeoba as Chief of the Naval Staff., appointed Senator Anyiam Pius Anyiam as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, appointed Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala as Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, commenced the construction of the 2nd Niger. Bridge.

“Mr. President’s belief and philosophy of the right of the citizens to freely decide who represents them has been one of his cardinal achievements and no one should attempt to

Anambra North faults automatic tickets for PDP senators rubbish his hard-earned reputation.”

“Our advice therefore, is that people should stop playing politics with such sensitive matter and that the revered name of Mr. President should not be associated with such aspiration. No progressive representative should be afraid to go back to his/her people to renew his/her mandate and that is the beauty of democracy. It is only non-progressive representatives who alienated themselves while in office and who never bothered visiting their electorate or keeping in touch with their roots that should be asking for such cheap and undemocratic favour.”

“It is a terrible aberration! To allow such representatives to go back without the support of their people smacks of anything decent and civilized. We think that we have passed that era and like Biblical Israelites – there is no going back to Egypt.

Some senators never bothered going home to their people and only came recently to deceive in the name of empowerment, simply because of the coming 2015 elections. Such deceit can no longer hold and should not be encouraged in any form or shape. It will amount to encouraging indolence, inactiveness and removing the shine from what participatory democracy should be.”

The stakeholders contend that party primary is an opportunity for Anambra North Senatorial District of Anambra State to decide and choose who represents them at the Senate and other elective offices and whose representation would likely impact positively on them.

And that the Senate seat of Anambra North District is neither hereditary and cannot be achieved through deceit nor sentiments. The due process of allowing people to decide must be followed and any “denial must be resisted and consequences very grave”.

Jonathan deserves to be re-elected in 2015 — Branco-Rhodes

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IGERIANS have been implored to re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 to enable him consolidate on numerous achievements recorded by his administration through his transformation agenda programme.

Making the appeal in Lagos, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and gubernatorial aspirant in

Lagos State, Mr Akintoye Branco-Rhodes, said Jonathan’s administration has through his transformation agenda achieved success in the power sector, agriculture, and transport.

“We should be honest with ourselves, Jonathan’s government is a success.

Look at the revolution in the power sector. By liberalizing the sector, power generation,

and distribution has improved. Not only that look at massive road construction taking place across the c o u n t r y. T h e m o r i b u n d railway has also been revived. And for the agriculture sector, farmers across the country have never had it so good – as Jonathan’s government’s policies has given a big boost to farming,” he declared.

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Page 58 — SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

2015: The negotiation the Itsekiri need The alliance necessary ahead of the next general elections

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O very many uninformed minds, the misconception making the rounds is that with the eight years of the Uduaghan administration, the Itsekiri had gained so much mastery of the political chessboard of Delta State so much so that they can, without much ado, call the shots politically. Delta is so big a state that mere control of three LGAs (Warri-North, Warri South and Warri South-west) out of the 25 LGAs in the state could bring about an overwhelming impact where there is no alliance with other nationality of the state.

The Itsekiri should not be quick to forget that the emergence of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan came by happenstance, and was never in the

VIEWPOINT

By Leke Adebayo

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The gain of sending ex-militants overseas

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HE disclosure of the rea sons for the training of some ex-Niger Delta militants abroad

by Nigeria’s Presidential Amnesty Office takes us back to the ageold maxim that travelling is part of educating the mind. Education, according to the saying, goes beyond the four walls of the school. It is experiencing cultures and lifestyles outside your environment in order to make you a full citizen of the world, which formal learning cannot give you.

It was the point Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the Special Assistant/Head of Media and Communications in the Presidential Amnesty Office in Abuja, was making a few days ago when he spoke to journalists on the value and impact of the overseas training of the exmilitants.

According to Alabrah, the pur-

VIEWPOINT

By Ben Etaghene

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The wisdom in screening those jostling for governorship

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N the process leading to the Delta State governorship primaries, many well-meaning Urhobo politicians and observers have for the umpteenth time made this call for caution because amongst those jostling for votes are proxies, phoney and sometimes mere emissaries out to rock the Urhobo boat. The uncommon wisdom will be the power to eliminate any obstacle parading as a probable choice.

Even at the national level, President Goodluck Jonathan has often admonished his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to stop for popular candidates to fly its tickets at all levels of election in the country. It is a message that cannot be faulted because winning an election is always a product of popularity.

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strength of their size, nor the capacity of Uduaghan as an Itsekiri man.

These uninformed minds may not know that the formula to winning elections are numerical strength, literacy, wealth and being abreast of the Nigerian factor. The opinion that the Itsekiri nation is poised to utilize incumbency to bring political prosperity may end up as mere preposition, Hence the rumoured dream of an Itsekiri taking a shot

at the Government House, Asaba, this time as deputy governor, may amount to stretching the political fortune of the Itsekiri too far.

For 12years, the Itsekiri was shut out of national decisionmaking, a development occasioned by a horse-trading to sustain an Itsekiri governorship arrangement. Senator James Manager has been in the Senate on behalf of Delta South senatorial district for 12 years. There is no doubt that so much was forgone for Uduaghan’s second term in office.

Ordinarily, political negotiation is a gainful pre-election enterprise. That is why as our son, Uduaghan, is vacating the governorship next year, we should negotiate well to get the best for Itrsekiri in the post-2015 era. If one may ask; who are those representing the Itsekiri in the ( political) negotiations for 2015, and what are their credentials?

Are they abreast of the political

‘rules of engagement’? More importantly, can these persons pass for genuine stakeholders of the Itsekiri nation?. Let me quickly add here that being born by an Itsekiri father and mother alone does not confer automatic Itsekiri status on people. A true stakeholder of the Itsekiri must not only be an apologist to the nation. He must be a committed patriot in all ramifications.

I have several reasons to reduce the call for an Itsekiri deputy governorship in 2015 to a selfishly motivated one. What power does a deputy governor possess that may be of benefit to the Itsekiri?

Again, how realistic is the call for an Itsekiri deputy governorship when the sitting governor of Delta is of the Itsekiri extraction?

Being frank, a deputy governor does not have such power over allocation of contracts. To crown it all, a deputy governor can only be active if a sitting governor dies, and this is rare. The Itsekiri had better negotiate the Speak-

ership of the state House of Assembly, not even the position of a Secretary to the State Government will do this time.

Tellingly, there is an urgent need for a synergy between the political groups and the Itsekiri social cultural groups if headway is to be made in 2015. The late Pa. Alfred Rewane succeeded politically by consulting with the social-cultural groups in deciding who represents, and on what capacity he is representing Itsekiri. Importantly, the social-culture elite groups should be engaged in picking candidates as well as taking political stance ahead of the 2015 general elections. As it is, there is an obvious need to enter into consultations with the people of Delta North (Ika, Aniocha and Oshimili). The Itsekiri must rally round Uduaghan in navigating a safe landing for themselves in 2015. * Ubaka, a social critic, is resident in Koko, Warri-North of Delta State.

Amnesty: Lessons from abroad pose of offshore training was to remove the ex-militants from the environment they were familiar with and expose them to other environments where they would mix with different races. The arrangement is to help the ex-militants in the process of integrating with the larger society.

The pith of the submissions of the Amnesty Office spokesman is that built into the programme of weaning the repentant militants from their diet of violence is a steady dosage of training outside our shores. But, of course, that is in addition to the homegrown package and objective of making the warriors drop their idea of fighting against the state and rehabilitating them. The offshore training initiative is not independent of what the home front offers.

But a school of critics lambasted Alabrah’s position with the argument that the Amnesty Of-

I agree then with Alabrah that if these ex-militants are made to absorb a little of the nobility of the outside world, it would benefit our society in the long run

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fice is wasting scarce resources to fly a small group of Nigerians overseas for training, when it could use the funds to fix them jobs here in Nigeria. Others presented the well-worn argument: These ex-militants don’t deserve state assistance; they ought to be prosecuted and punished for war crimes against their fatherland.

However, there is a majority of observers who believe that by vir-

tue of the reality of the peace brought to Nigeria by the Amnesty Programme that stopped the pernicious war in the Niger Delta, the scheme is a roaring success worthy of every kobo spent on it.

So what we should be looking at in analyzing Alabrah’s statement about exposing our ex-militants to positive external influences is how the approach adds meaning not only to their own lives but also to those of their compatriots back home. Thus, if travelling is education, then we are assured that the ex-militants would be returning as refined and better educated citizens nurtured to take up greater responsibilities in the service of Nigeria.

When United States President John Kennedy launched the famous Peace Corps on March1, 1961, his goal was to get a “peace corps of talented men and women… who would dedicate them-

Let's streamline Urhobo aspirants list This was also the message the acting national administrator of the Urhobo Traditional Forum (UTF), Olorogun Prince O. Akpoene, relayed to the National Executive of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) recently. He had in his message urged the apex cultural Urhobo body “to conduct internal primaries for the contestants of Urhobo extraction for the race”. His voice could be considered a narrower spectrum but considering the message of a need to streamline and at the end of the day send in a popular aspirant to the PDP primaries remains golden.

Fearing the inelastic number of Urhobo aspirants, Akpoene “posited that the enemies of Urhobo are also sponsoring some and more are coming in purposely to disorganize the Urhobo nation by dividing their votes. These efforts are meant to divide Urhobo votes and weaken Urhobo power and strength”.

Week after week, fear like this

is expressed by Urhobo patriots.

But the onus of the matter remains whether those to whom these messages are addressed are listening and acting accordingly. It is fundamental for the Urhobo nation to present an agenda, a candidate who can compete, who is popular whose charisma cuts across the three senatorial districts of Delta State. The Urhobo nation has no business sending more than one aspirant to the governorship primaries.

A process of self-examination of elimination and seclusion or technical withdrawal is going on in some senatorial districts except in the central. Some of the aspirants are aware of their unpopularity and the lack of the capability for them to scale through.

If this does not happen, then the call on the UPU becomes the option, an organ that therefore be allowed to be the arbiter or umpire that all of them should respect. If the UPU plays this role,

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VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Tellingly, there is an urgent need for a synergy between the political groups and the Itsekiri social cultural groups if headway is to be made in 2015

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By Okofu Ubaka

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VIEWPOINT

The Urhobo nation has no business sending more than one aspirant to the governorship primaries

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it must equally be appreciated that whoever emerges is not conferred upon as an Urhobo or a UPU candidate. Like what Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege said when he picked the party governorship form that “at this critical time, Delta State needs a governor with a pan-Delta agenda and not an ethnic agenda. Delta State needs a governor who is strong and not the man or woman who is hiding under the cloak of a non-existing zoning formula.

Delta does not need a governor who cannot defend what he stands for. There are those too

selves to progress and peace… to the cause of global democracy, development and freedom.”

The US citizens he was dispatching abroad were to return better shaped and exposed for more active work for the country. Now today after more than five decades of service, the US Peace corps is reported to have exposed more than 200,000 Americans to more than 200 languages and dialects of the world.

I agree then with Alabrah that if these ex-militants are made to absorb a little of the nobility of the outside world, it would benefit our society in the long run. Yes, there is first a limited personal benefit. But, eventually as the former creek fighter applies his new knowledge in his fatherland, and as he relates with others, it is his immediate community and later the country that gain more from his enterprise.

•Adebayo, a public affairs analyst, lives in Abuja. who went for the purchase of their nomination forms behind “closed doors” without a momentous announcement - a joy in the process. But Omo-Agege chose rightly the occasion to give a reharsh of his agenda. He seized the occasion to remind us of the many reasons he wants to be the governor of Delta State, come 2015. To the youths he has some words of solace:”I offer myself as a Deltan who is concerned about widespread unemployment that is destroying the very fabric of our society. My candidacy offers the electorate the only clear route to making Delta State, the best place to live and make a living with equal opportunity for all….”

He is the best equipped candidate to defeat any candidate of the opposition parties in the governorship election with huge margin and to help President Goodluck Jonathan achieve a landslide victory.

•Etaghene is the Editorial Director of The Bulletin.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

— Page 59

Ochei at Wadata Plaza—Matters Arising VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

An aspirant’s covenant ahead of 2015

I

F inanimate objects could speak, perhaps the Peoples Democratic Party National Headquarters (Wadata Plaza) would have verbally acknowledged Thursday, November 6, 2014 as a symbolic day, as Rt Hon Victor Ochei, the youngest Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, a law graduate, a Harvard trained educationist and a frontline Delta State gubernatorial aspirant, submitted his nomination form.

This symbolism finds relevance in the pomp which had a tinge of tumultuous symphony on the one hand and the unveiling of an articulately knitted blue print aimed at improving the lives of Deltans, once he Ochei mounts the saddle of leadership of the state come 2015, on the other.

There weren’t many activities prior to his arrival at the plaza,

VIEWPOINT

By Taiwo Sanyaolu

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Response to claims on general elections

L

AGOS State politics is tak ing a new dimension especially in the All Progressives Congress. It seems it is now a battle between those who want progressive change within the party and the agents of politics of imposition.

I am one of the deprived party members in the last congress of the party in the state and therefore make no pretence about my interest in the subject matter. Dr. Muiz Banire, in his Premium Times interview, did not, specifically, mention any personality and that was why they put the names in bracket, the import of which should be known to a columnist, Mobolaji Sanusi. However, since Mobolaji has decoded that it is Asiwaju that was being referred to, I will respond in that context.

In the first place, Sanusi, in condemning the paper delivered

by Banire at the colloquium in honour of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, did not get his facts right.

He claimed that Banire was a product of one Olatunji Hamzat’s political benevolence. Anyone, who was present in Mushin

There was no doubt that the man Ochei really demonstrated that politics and indeed governance are about the people

,

but his presence was heralded by a flurry of movements, which created a sublime spectacle, ostensibly accentuated by the doubledecker picnic/sightseeing bus, garlanded with the imposing posters of Ochei, a display a staff of the secretariat dubbed innovative and progressive.

When he crossed the threshold of teeming supporters from the 25 local government councils in Delta into the plaza with his towering frame, complemented by his delectable spouse Hanatu, who, during the press interaction, submitted thus, “My husband is

a tested and trusted administrator”, there was no doubt that the man Ochei really demonstrated that politics and indeed governance are about the people.

Being the journalist’ delight, the press swooped on him firing from all cylinders on sundry issues considered tenuous but tangible to the instrumentation of governance.

On the alleged imposition of a candidate by Governor Uduaghan, he said: “His Excellency Governor Uduaghan has not told me that he is supporting any candidate. Even if he does, it is his constitutional latitude to do so.

The fact remains that it will not stop other aspirants from going ahead with the realisation of their aspirations. I am not perturbed, as long as there is a level-playing ground and don’t forget that power comes from God alone”.

He was equanimous over the seeming unwieldy number of gubernatorial aspirants in the state, a development he described as a positive sign that democracy is enjoying acceptability as the veritable platform on which progres-

sive governance could be attained as practised in the comity of nations.

On the possibility of delegates being influenced, he implored them (delegates) to be guided in the choice of the PDP flag bearer by producing a candidate who had demonstrated a desirable competence in cost-efficient, qualitative and quantitative service delivery, active and functional peace promotion and multi-dimensional inclusiveness, while carrying all stakeholders along.

Ochei has been constantly postured as a man of character, a trait that stemmed from his belief that “a man is as good as his words”.

This was amply confirmed in response to the poser of his reaction to the outcome of the party primaries, especially if the party adopted the consensus option. In his usual candour, Ochei acquiesced thus, ‘’in the nomination form that I have just submitted, there is a column where supremacy of the party as the final arbiter in this exercise is stated, and having completed and submitted

before and after 1999, knew that Banire was a political factor in Mushin through his party activities and not by any godfather.

His membership of the Lagos State cabinet in 1999 was as a result of his assisting Alliance for Democracy in the company of Ganiyu Solomon and others to emerge winner in the governorship election that produced Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as governor.

How much did Sanusi’s political leaders spend during the election and how can any writer manipulate history to make Banire a political apprentice of Hamzat?

Banire was a notable senior lecturer in 1999 in the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos and a practising lawyer with numerous records of courtroom excellence in advocacy. He became a political leader by dint of hard work and political wizardry. It was while Banire was in office as Commissioner for Transportation that we enjoyed some sanity in Lagos State. It was his tenure that transformed the transportation landscape in the state.

A major achievement of Tinubu’s regime was recorded in transportation and if not for the sharp intellect of Banire, this could not

If APC leaders turn away from the progressive path, there must be courageous individuals like Banire, an important stakeholder in the progressive movement, who can mobilise to call them to order

,

have been.

The contributions of Banire during the first term of Governor Raji Fashola cannot also be overestimated. A major achievement of that regime was recorded in the Ministry of the Environment where Banire was commissioner.

His contribution to politics in his area, Mushin, today is a reference point as the area continues to return the highest votes for the party in all elections. Banire coordinated the election of 2007 and the landslide victory recorded by Action Congress of Nigeria made him an indispensable product in the government of Babatunde Fashola. The same thing he did

in 2011 and he has never lost in his immediate constituency.

Nothing can be farther from the truth than the ridiculous assertion that all that Muiz “achieved was through recommendations of his godfathers”.

He has been using his advocacy skills and financial resources to support the party in different states of the federation any time an election was rigged against the party.

Unfortunately Sanusi did not respond to the allegations in Banire’s paper and interview. He rather descended to character assassination. Banire said “nobody should be intimidated (on the Lagos APC guber ticket) as no one is God”.

History of Lagos politics in recent times cannot be complete without the mention of that development which brought about Action Congress. If APC leaders turn away from the progressive path, there must be courageous individuals like Banire, an important stakeholder in the progressive movement, who can mobilise to call them to order.

Banire’s stance against imposition relates to nomination of candidates and not appointment of political officers as anyone

Voters Registration: Oshiomhole calls for extension in Edo

By Simon Ebegbulem

F

OLLOWING criticisms that trailed voters registration in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has called for the extension of the exercise.

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Gover nor on Media, Mr. Musa Ebohinma, the governor said: “The people of Edo State must not be punished for the failing and inefficiency of INEC. Information reaching us from across the state clearly indicates enthusiasm on the part of those C M Y K

the form, it implies that I will do the needful”.

In summarising his covenant with Deltans, Ochei said: “It will be immodest of me to speak of my antecedent. My antecedent speaks for itself.I have come to provide my good people of Delta an invigorating leadership, one that will bridge the gap between the younger generation and the older one. A leadership that portends greater hope that Deltans will be proud of, that I can assure you by the grace of God. This is capable of realisation, because administratively and politically, I have been able to handle positions, I have been tested under pressure and I know what it means to govern”.

These are therefore clear pointers to the fact that Ochei is neither an accidental nor a reluctant aspirant, for he had articulated these noble key points as being germane to the central issue of delivering developmental governance to Deltans.

•Osu is a public affairs analyst.

The Muiz Banire stand on Lagos 2015

,

By Nkem Osu

,

VIEWPOINT

who have come of age or were left out in the last exercise to register in order to be able to perform their civic duty in the forthcoming elections. “ It is important that INEC don’t deny these people their inalienable right to be part of the democratic process. So, the least we expect from INEC is to extend the exercise to give room for those who have not registered to do so”.

The exercise, which commenced in the state on Wednesday, was marred by inadequate computers for registration, as INEC de-

ployed only one computer each in each of the wards with dead generating sets,

forcing thousands to go back home disappointed.

may be appointed to any office.

Mobolaji claimed that Banire’s assumption of office as the APC National Legal Adviser was out of imposition. Banire emerged the National Legal Adviser at a convention conducted by the party. Banire has always campaigned against imposition of candidates in the party while appealing to those aggrieved by imposition. Banire made such individuals to stay within the party and he is now saying enough is enough!

Mobolaji’s paper is a clear admission that due process has never been followed in the past.

Contrary to the falsehood peddled by Mobolaji, Banire did not sponsor anyone for speakership in Lagos State.

We thank Banire for his gallantry and voicing out the belief of the majority of the members of the APC who do not have the liver to oppose tyranny within the party. The era of imposing aspirants who lose at primaries is gone. We congratulate him for pointing out the dangers to the collective survival of our party in Lagos and Nigeria.

* Sanyaolu is a Lagos APC member.

“So it will be disastrous and wicked to end the exercise on Monday (tomorrow) because a lot of our people in Edo state are yet to register.

2015: Gemade confronts Suswam •Tells governor to purge self of desperation

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

T

HE battle for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Benue North East Senatorial District is taking a frightening dimension as Governor Gabriel

Suswan and Senator Barnabas Gemade engaged in verbal attacks.

Suswan reportedly told Gemade not to hope on automatic ticket as the party never promised such to the erstwhile National Chairman of the PDP and that the senator promised to serve one tenure.

But Gemade accused the

governor of desperation and told him to purge himself of it to save the state from what he described as “inordinate ambition”.

Gemade, who spoke through his legislative aide, Bob Jija, in a statement in Abuja, said it had become imperative to make clarification on some of what he described as “calculated misinformation” credited to the governor.

PAGE 60, SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

The life and times of Tayo Akpata

BY KINGSLEY OSADOLOR do not now recall the precise of our first forImalcircumstances meeting. But, regardless,

there was a déjà vu feeling when we met. He had been keeping track of my journalism career, flattering me beyond measure for my reportage and analyses when I was a correspondent based in Southern Africa in the late 1980s.

I, too, had always admired him from afar. In the 1970s, he was Commissioner for Education in the then Mid-West State, under the high-achieving military administration of Col. (as he then was) Samuel Ogbemudia. I remember vividly how, in 1974, the state Ministry of Education, under his watch, caused High School pupils to draft poems, the best of which were published in a collection aptly titled, “Budding Poets,” with a front cover of an illustration of a figure holding an umbrella against rain drops. Under the “Timbucktu Project,” Tayo Akpata was one of the brains behind the establishment of the University of Benin, which transformed from the then Mid-West Institute of Technology.

At the time of his service under Ogbemudia, Mr. (as he then was) Tayo Akpata had a trademark sartorial elegance that was accentuated by his hairstyle with a parting in the middle. He also at the time spotted a goatee that was an imitation of Vladimir Lenin, a fact that was a visible reminder of Tayo Akpata’s ideological leaning. He was steeped in Marxism; but like Karl Marx, Tayo Akpata was from a privileged background. He hailed from the distinguished Akpata family of Benin, and in the 1950s, when Nigeria had only one University, that is, University College Ibadan, he was shipped off to Hull University, where he studied Politics and Law, a dual discipline that grounded his analytic approach to public affairs. His family background was one that also fostered his keen interest in activism for public causes. He was active in student unionism in the United Kingdom, along with his age-long soulmate, Chief Femi Okunnu, who preceded him as President of the African Students Union in the UK. Chief Akpata had a memorable phrase he often liked to quote.

The expression, he said, belonged to the late Labour Leader, Chief Michael Imoudu, who was quoted to say : “I eat fire, so the people may have water to drink!”

With the dawn of the Fourth Republic in 1999 and the ensuing shenanigans, Chief Akpata bemoaned the absence of oratorical skills among politicians, in particular lawmakers. He would recount how as a young man, he used to go to rallies and the Legislative House in Lagos, just to hear politicians speak. Chief Akpata was concerned about speech and writing. He often stressed the power of thoughts reduced into writing.

One day in 1998, in his office in Abuja, Chief Akpata produced from his brief case an exercise book that was more than 50 years old, and had been pre-

served for him by his mother, before he took archival possession personally. In the exercise book, Chief Akpata showed me a Composition (essay) he had written when he was about 10 years old. The boy became the man, and the man transformed into an elder statesman. It was both a privilege and an honour when Chief Akpata requested me to edit his collection of writings, which was published in year 2000 as “In Pursuit of nationhood: Selected Writings on Politics in Nigeria”. The essays therein spanned more than 40 years of his robust engagement with the issues of nationalism, political economy, politics, and statecraft.

For some 25 years when he and I interacted very closely, I found in Tayo Akpata an abiding interest in public affairs, a humanist, public intellectual, thinker, historian, an elder statesman worried sick by the approach to governance by the younger helmsmen of today who, in his view, worry not about history, nor are they concerned about the wider ramifications of their policy actions and inactions. Whenever an issue broke, or there was a raging public debate on an issue, Tayo Akpata who read my columns in The Guardian religiously, would pick up his telephone and call. Sometimes, we had lengthy conversations on the phone, but mostly, I would end up at his residence in Lagos, where we would further thrash out the issues. If he felt persuaded to write on an issue, he would write, and I got it published. But because opinion spaces are often limited, and he would like to explore the fuller amplitude of a discourse, in later years, he preferred an expository interview. On different occasions, Reporters whom I sent to interview him returned with amazing tales of the insights he provided on topical issues.

Chief Tayo Akpata was well at home with the media and allied industry. Till the end, he maintained an interest in book publishing. In fact, during his years of service under Ogbemudia, Tayo Akpata over-saw what was then called Mid-West Mass Communication Corporation (MMCC).

His interest in the media was also a family trait. His elder brother, the late Chief Okungbowa Akpata, was a very senior staff, when I encountered him as an intern in the newsroom of what was then Radio Bendel in the early 1980s.

Their only sister, Mrs Omobolanle Onajide (nee Akpata), is a retired journalist. She, too, read at Hull, and was probably the first female graduate ever to be employed in the newsroom of Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), Ibadan. She would later move to Mid-West Television, serve in the Cabinet Office of the Federal Government, and was Special Assistant (Media) to Vice President Alex Ekwueme during the Second Republic. Mrs Onajide is a Chorister of the Anglican Church.

There was a story Chief Tayo Akpata never tired of telling me.

I, too, was never bored of listening to the recall, which often appeared as if it occurred only the previous year. He was a student at Edo College, Benin City. One

•The late Akpata day, he and his brother joined others in rushing towards Oluku Junction on the Benin-Lagos Road. They surged past the gates of Edo College on Urubi Street (by Iyaro, where the school was located at the time), and standing outside the gates was the Principal, who was perplexed by the enthusiastic crowd moving towards Ugbowo. The principal sighted him and his brother, and as Chief always recalled, the Principal asked, “Akpata I and Akpata II, what is the commotion all about? Where are you headed?”

Chief Akpata said he could hardly catch his breath, nor did he have the patience to stand and explain to the Principal. Instead, as he moved with the crowd, he said he asked the Principal somewhat rhetorically whether he had not heard of the big event in Benin City that day, namely, that they were going to welcome to

That response echoes in my mind as I write this tribute to a man whom I admired. He was full of advice to me whenever I encountered obstacles in the corporate terrain. He was a broad-minded intellectual ready to engage, and to be engaged in a healthy articulation of viewpoints

town the first-ever Bini person to train and qualify as a lawyer, the late Justice Ighodaro!

In December 2001, Chief Akpata called, asking where I was. His voice was broken. He had just learnt of the assassination of Chief Bola Ige, a long-standing family friend. In a trembling tone, Chief Akpata wondered how an incumbent Attorney-General of the Federation, the country’s Chief Law Officer, could be taken out in such gruesome circumstances. His primary concern was that the murder might never be solved, a concern that was not misplaced as the events of the past 13 years have shown. When the trial of the murder suspects began, Chief Akpata and I discussed the legal ramifications and concluded that it would be to no avail, a fact that also precipitated the shock that claimed the life of Bola Ige’s widow, the late Justice Atinuke Ige. By the time Chief Akpata passed on on October 13, 2014, he had, so to speak, seen it all. He earned two chieftaincy titles from the Oba of Benin; he was awarded Doctor of Laws (LL.D) Honoris Causa by the University of Benin.

In 2011, he was conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). A Close is named after him in the Gwarinpa suburb of Abuja. Without question, Chief Akpata had worthwhile experiences in both the public and private sectors. He and Olorogun Michael Ibru, patriarch of the Ibru family, were contemporary Management Trainees at the United African Company (UAC).

Chief Akpata served as Deputy Registrar of the University of Ibadan, he was Commissioner for Education in the old Mid-West State.

He joined politics in the Second Republic and became Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the former Bendel State, during which time he was involved in an automobile accident on a night journey that he always regretted undertaking on the Asaba-Benin highway. He

chaired the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority, and served also on the Board of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC). Chief Akpata was a member of the National Constitutional Conference from 19941995, and his last public service assignment was being Member/ Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF), where he adroitly managed the often testy relationship with the Chairman of the Board. In the current political dispensation, Chief Akpata offered support and counsel to a few politicians: those whom he said had ears to listen and the courage to do the right thing.

“Ah! Kingsley, how are things?” was his trademark baritone response whenever I called him on phone. That response echoes in my mind as I write this tribute to a man whom I admired. He was full of advice to me whenever I encountered obstacles in the corporate terrain. He was a broad-minded intellectual ready to engage, and to be engaged in a healthy articulation of viewpoints. In conversations, his handy transitional expression was “Now,” usually stressed to begin his next sentence. Another favourite phrase of his was: “You see”. “Very well,” and “That’s right” came in handy when he was in agreement with you. Chief Akpata had a radical spirit, yet was comfortable among conservatives. He was a quiet investor who did not flaunt his affluence. An ebullient family man connected to the upper crust of society, he was cautious, patrician, full of wit and sarcasm; his faith in a united Nigeria was unshakeable; his desire for a better Nigeria never waned. I wish you eternal rest, Chief Omotayo Osayande Akpata, the Ima of Benin.

•Osadolor was a special adviser in the Office of the Minister of Information

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, PAGE 61

Laporta wants Mourinho at Barca

J

Ronaldo, Messi top contenders for Ballon d’ Or— Robben B

AYERN Munich winger Arjen Robben believes the battle for the 2014 Ballon d’Or will be decided between the two “monsters” Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Robben, 30, has been in impressive form for both Bayern and Netherlands over the past year, playing a key role in his club’s domestic Double success last term, as well as his nation’s third-placed finish at the summer’s World Cup. Despite such achievements, though, Robben feels that he stands little chance of claiming the Ballon d’Or when the winner is announced on Jan. 12, 2015.

“Cristiano and Lionel are two monsters,” Robben told France Football in quotes reported by Munchener Merkur. “What they’ve been doing for six years now is unmatched. They are superior to everyone else.”

The accolade, in its current guise, has been presented to the best player in the world since 2010.

Messi was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 2010, 2011, and 2012, while Ronaldo — the runner-up in 2011 and 2012 — came out on top in 2013. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d’Or in

•MASTERS OF THE GAME...Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo contesting for Ballon D’ Or honours. recent years.

While Robben believes he stands little chance of taking home the award this year, he says he is honoured to have made FIFA’s 23-man shortlist.

“The recognition is nice and I am proud to be on the list, but I have never been obsessed about

it. That’s just an individual accolade. And for me, only trophies with the team count,” he said.

Robben went on to praise Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, who he believes has improved him as a player since taking over at the club in 2013.

“He’s a football madman.

He’d be capable of calling you at three in the morning to chat tactics,” he said. “He taught me how to position myself on the pitch, and how I can be even more dangerous with tactical moves. He really is the best on a tactical level.”

Moyes will make it in Spain, says former Sociedad coach E STEBAN Granero has confidence in David Moyes to be a success as Real Sociedad Coach and doesn’t think the language barrier is a problem.

Moyes was this week confirmed as Jagoba Arrasate’s replacement and Granero is sure the former Everton and Manchester United manager will thrive.

“We were looking forward to the arrival of the new Coach and we have confidence in his abilities and experience,” AS reports Granero saying of the squad.

“We are confident he will take us forward. It represents a new cycle for La Real and hopefully

HAPPY... David Moyes smiling again.

OAN Laporta has stepped up his interest in trying to recruit Jose Mourinho as Barcelona coach after reportedly meeting up with the Chelsea manager ’s agent Jorge Mendes.

The Portuguese tactician is believed to be a major part of Laporta’s bid to be re-elected as president at the Nou Camp in 2016, with Mourinho set to be offered the role of head coach of the Catalan giants should he win.

And, according to Spanish radio show El Larguero, Laporta made an enquiry about potentially bringing Mourinho to Barcelona during a dinner with his agent Mendes in Madrid recently.

It is claimed that Laporta also asked about the possibility of signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Barca’s fierce rivals Real Madrid, but was told it would be ‘impossible’ because of the Portugal international’s huge clause in his current deal with Los Blancos.

a successful one.

“Moyes is a very experienced Coach and I remember playing against Everton was very difficult and they had clear ideas, and that speaks well of the Coach.

“Hopefully he has as long and

as successful a career in Spain as he did in England.

“We’re lucky it’s a quiet week with no game. So far he has overseen training and then from Monday he gets behind the wheel. “From what I can tell he

has a lot of ambition and that’s good for us. We share the same ambition to take a step forward and I convey the conviction of the players, which we think is the best way to help La Real go forward.

Schalke set to show Obasi the exit door

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ESS than two months af ter taking over the managerial reigns at Schalke 04, Roberto Di Matteo has informed the hierarchy that Chinedu Obasi is surplus to requirements.

German newspaper Bild writes on its online edition that the Super Eagles attacker and four other players Trainquillo Barnetta, Christian Fuchs, Felipe Santana and Christian Clemens - will be sold in the January transfer window to boost their transfer kitty.

Furthermore, Schalke 04 are desperate to sell Obasi and the aforementioned players in order to reduce their wage bill.

Aware of the fact that the Nigerian comes off contract at the end of this season, selling him in the next two months will be the only opportunity for The Royal Blues to recoup some of their previous investment on the striker. Since crossing from Hoffenheim in the 2011 - 2012 campaign, the ex Lyn Oslo man has managed only 16 starts in the Bundesliga, no thanks to the injuries that curtailed his appearances.

Chinedu Obasi has shown that he is not damaged commodity yet, with a man of the match performance against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, and he’s hoping to attract the attention of other

clubs.

Schalke 04 are understood to be monitoring the transfer situation of Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.

•Obasi

•Jose Mourinho

Man United deal with Chivita excites fans

F

OOTBALL fans across Nigeria have commended the management of Chi Limited on the recent signing of a multiyear partnership deal with the Manchester United. The fans were especially delighted that the partnership will add more excitement to the game. A cross section of football fans commended the initiative as a step in the right direction “My husband and son are huge Manchester United fans and their love of the legendary club is only matched by their desire for Chivita 100% fruit juice. This partnership is truly heartwarming for our family” said Mrs. Shade Balogun, a middle aged mother of two who resides in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital said.

Olalekan Andu, a passionate Chelsea football fan, “we need to see more brands stepping up to support the game of football. The partnership which Chivita 100% has entered into with Manchester United will no doubt add more excitement to the game. “

Page 62, SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

CAF turns to ‘rejected stone’ •As Equatorial Guinea is host of Afcon 2015

By Ben Efe, with agency reports

E

QUATORIAL Guinea one of the smallest African nations bailed out the Confederation of African Football with regards to the hosting of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco refused to host, sighting Ebola which has ravaged some countries in West Africa as reason.

After Morocco's refusal to host the tournment, CAF president Issa Hayatou looked up to big African countries like South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Gabon and Angola, but one by one these countries looked the other way. For Nigeria it was bad timing as the dates were too close to the Presidential elections.

By Thursday, CAF was turned between hosting the tournament in Qatar and putting it off all together, but Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang threw his hat in the ring. It was a big relief to the CAF bigwigs who only in August disqualified the country from the 2015 AFCON qualifiers for fielding ineligible players. Equatorial Guinea have booked an automatic

TUSSLE... Nigeria’s Kenneth Omeruo and South Africa’s Bongani Ndulula fight for ball possession during a Nations Cup qualification match. qualification and the nation of 600,000 people are looking forward to seeing the rest of the African football nations from January 17 to February 8, 2015.

“The head of state of Equatorial Guinea agreed to host the competition. As a result, the CAF executive committee confirm that the tournament will go ahead

and Equatorial Guinea will compete as the host nation,” said a statement from CAF confirming the new development.

“CAF wishes to express its

We want to revive boxing in Nigeria — Alumona J

ENKINS Alumona, Managing Director/ CEO of Flykite Productions and promoters of the GOtv Boxing Night, has described his organisation’s involvement in boxing as an intervention necessary to halt the decline of the sport in the country.

GOtv Boxing Night, a professional boxing event of six fights in different weight categories, holds at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, on 23 November. It was conceived to kick-start a redemption of the sport.

Speaking in Lagos, Alumona said Nigeria has a rich boxing tradition, which offers a solid foundation on which GOtv Boxing Night seeks to build.

While recognising that in the short term, boxing cannot generate huge cash, he is convinced that with organisational nous, which Flykite is bringing, and the support of corporate sponsors like GOtv, 1960 Bet,

Custodian Life Assurance Plc, Paragonis Multimedia Productions and Zetaweb, boxing has a very bright future in the country.

“Nigeria has a rich boxing history. We have produced great boxing champions like Hogan Bassey and Dick Tiger.

“Obisia Nwakpa also went very close. Recently we had Samuel Peters, a World Heavyweight champion.

“Our performance at the last Commonwealth Games was also very encouraging. I believe we can build on this foundation to provide a platform for professional boxing in Nigeria,” he said.

The decline the sport is experiencing, said Alumona, has not affected its popularity.

This, he noted, is evidenced by the existence of over 50 boxing clubs in Lagos and the undiminished attraction of the monthly Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame tournament for amateurs.

•Chijioke “Painless” Ngige

sincere thanks to the people of Equatorial Guinean, its government and particularly president Obiang,” the statement concluded.

Matches will be held at four venues in Bata, Ebebiyin, Mongomo and the capital Malabo. In 2012, the tournament was hosted in Malabo and Bata.

The qualifiers for the 2015 Nations Cup will be concluded on Wednesday and the draw for the tournament will be held in Malabo on Dec. 3.

Equatorial Guinea in 2012 co-hosted the AFCON with Gabon. They almost struggled with the logistics of hosting just eight teams and now they are faced with the task of preparing for the 16 nation tournament in just two months. The hotel capacity in the host cities is likely to be minimal, meaning that one of the football world’s most colourful competitions may prove a struggle for both media and fans to follow.

And that’s not even taking the high cost of living in Equatorial Guinea into account.

AFCON 2008 Local Organising Committee chairman, Kofi Amoah described it as a gargantuan task and warned that the tournament could just be a disgrace to Africa.

“It could be a sham. I don’t think there is enough time for anyone to do it.”

“It could become a disgrace to African football.

Sixty to 70 days will not be adequate for most countries,” Amoah declared But it seems CAF technocrats are determined to see it through and put Morocco to shame. Junior Binyam told the BBC they have “no doubt” that it will be “a beautiful tournament” and one “up to the same standards of what we’ve seen in past years”.

Equatorial Guinea has had no outbreaks of Ebola, the deadly hemorrhagic fever, since it erupted in March and with limited facilities, it is likely to attract just a handful of travelling fans, severely reducing any threat.

Equatorial Guinea reached the quarter-finals of the last tournament they co-hosted with Gabon in 2012. They finished second in their pool after victories over Senegal and Libya in their only previous finals appearance.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014,

Eagles soar in Congo

2014 ACCW: Ochuko vows Dolphin ‘ll prove mettle among Africa’s best STORIES BY EDDIE AKALONU

C

OACH of Dolphin female basketball club of Lagos, Ochuko Okworogun, has said her team will not be push overs in the African club champions Cup for women competition in Tunisia holding November 28 through December 7.

Speaking in Lagos as her team finalizes preparations for the event, she expressed delight at players response to training, saying that they are good to fight for a place in the top ranks.

We will definitely be fighters, not mere participants, she said.

Dolphin emerged champions of Zone-3 in Burkina Faso, relegating First Bank to second place although both clinched the FIBA Africa Zonal tickets for the continental finals against teams including champions Inter Club of Angola, USIU Flames and KPA of Kenya (Zone 5), INJS of Cameroon, and INSS of Democratic Republic of Congo (Zone 4), US Beau Bassin of Mauritius (zone 7) and CS Sfaxien of Tunisia, the host club.

Senegal and others.

Dolphin, who took a week off on return from the zonal finals will not witness any change in the squad as Coach Ochuko said her side would remain the same as the squad that played the zonal competition. “We are

aware it is a competition that has traditional teams and former winners who are packed with experience, we will not let that worry us because we proved ourselves against some of the best in the zonal playoffs.. Though Dolphin players lack the kind of experience and exposure other teams have, we are more than determined to play knowing it is going to be tougher.

“However, we will give our best out there. One thing I am promising is that Dolphin will not play as outsiders but as real contenders.

“We are preparing ourselves to be fit mentally and psychologically. We won’t disgrace Nigeria. Rather we are going to lift our game high and earn some respect in the continent and come back home with our heads high,” she said.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s other team First Bank has set a target to win the title for a third tim, according to Coach Aderemi Adewunmi. First Bank won the crown in 2003 and 2009. According to Aderemi, “our aim is to lift our game and make our management and country proud. Our target is to gun for the African title once more.”

JUMP BALL: F e m a l e basketballers in action

IGERIAN Premier league highest goal scorer, Mfon Udoh of Enyimba has been singled out as one player good enough to be called up to the national team because his striking skills would help solve the Super Eagles scoring problem especially in the current 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers. According to exinternational, Evans Uzokwe, coach Stephen Keshi should look in the direction of the Enyimba striker for possible call up to the national team because Mfon, who has set a

new season record of 21 goals would make an impact if given the chance, “he is a player with wonders on his legs, he will go places if given a chance.” he stated. It will be recalled that Mfom recently broke the Nigerian record of the most goals scored in a league season held by Jude Aneke when he found the net in Enyimba’s 1-1 draw against Dolphins of Port Harcourt. The feat earned him praise from team mates and club officials though the score-line ran short of the clubs target of an outright win in the bid to catch

Continued from back page shot-stopper was not in the mood to concede any goal. On the other hand Uche also made his presence felt, his delicate chip was saved by Massa Chancel in goal for Congo. Emanuel Emenike took his turn to ask questions of the Congolese defence; Chancel was on hand to thwart the move. From then on both sides battled to control the midfield and it was John Obi Mikel that dictated the pace.

Keshi introduced Sone Aluko and that ignited some urgency in the Eagles attack. In the 58th minute Mikel put Emenike through on goal, but he was brought down in the box by the Congolese keeper. Uche did not make any mistake from the spot when he was called to duty.

Shortly afterwards Congo got a penalty of their own, but Enyeama denied Bifouma and that signaled the beginning of the end for the Red Devils. Chinabased Aron Samuel seized the day for the Eagles in the 85th minute after he connected well to a pass from Gbolahon Salami and fired to the top left corner.

And there was mayhem at the Ominisports Stadium as the fans resorted to throwing missiles into the pitch. The game was temporarily stopped by the referee.

However, by the time the game resumed the hosts had already resigned to fate.

AFCON 2015: Equatorial Guinea’s acceptance excites Bassey

V

ETERAN Nigerian sports journalist , FIFA match commissioner and CAF General Coordinator Mr. Paul Bassey has expressed joy over the decision of oil rich central African country Equatorial Guinea to host the AFCON 2015 tournament.

Bassey who spoke moments after CAF named the new hosts stated that it was a welcome development as a shift in date would have affected African football adversely.

“What would CAF have told

Udoh can solve Eagles striking problem —Uzokwe N

Page 63

up with leaders Pillars.

Uzokwe who played for Niger Tornadoes and defunct Spartans of Owerri said though he would love to see Mfon join the Super Eagles attack, he has however expressed doubts that the Eagles can qualify for the 2015 AFCON. “Eagles have an outside chance of qualifying for the Cup of Nations final because Congo, not South Africa will try to present the stiffest obstacle when we take them on at home in their place,” he said.

their sponsors and partners.

What would they have done with the calendar that would have been disrupted. So many things would have gone wrong with African football. I m happy CAF have eventually gotten a host. It’s a big relief and I want to congratulate President Hayatou and the executive Committee for salvaging the situation,” Bassey said.

Bassey pointed out that the decision of CAF over the years to allow the so called “smaller countries” to host the tournament is yielding dividend.

“If Equatorial Guinea had not

hosted with Gabon in 2012 they wouldn’t have been in a position to bail the continent out at this crucial moment,” Bassey stated.

The widely travelled Nigeran soccer buff said he is confident Equatorial Guinea will do a good job of the hosting right in spite of the short notice.

“They have good hotels in Malabo and the stadia in Malabo and Bata are good, so the challenge of playing host is one they can easily surmount. And one thing is clear, the country has more to gain from hosting the tournament.”

TOUGH CONTEST...South Africa’s James Sekola (R) vies with Sudan’s Elrayah Lai during the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 qualifier in Durban, South Africa won 2-1. They will keep a date with the Super Eagles on Wednesday.

SUNDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

It ‘ll be total war in Uyo — Bafana coach

By Jacob Ajom

A

AFCON 2015:

•Mashaba

Eagles soar in Congo

BY BEN EFE

N

IGERIA’s Super Eagles did what was expected of them in the Africa Cup of Nations qualification tie in Pointe Noire as they beat the Red Devils of Congo 2-0 to put one leg in the 2015 tournament now to be hosted by Equatorial Guinea.

The second half of the charged encounter produced all the drama, with Vincent Enyeama saving a penalty to keep the Eagles in the game, while returnee Uche Ikechukwu and Aaron Samuel made it count when it mattered most for Nigeria. The Eagles now need to win against already qualified South Africa Wednesday at the Nest of Champions in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The Congolese came out strong hoping to deliver an early low blow to the Eagles.

Thierry Bifouma tested Enyeama, but the Lille of France Continues on page 63

•Beat Red Devils 2-0

EXCITING: Super Eagles players mob Ike Uche after scoring the opener against Congo yesterdasy. Nigeria won 2-0.

FTER leading the Bafa na Bafana to a 2015 Afcon ticket yesterday in Durban, Chief coach of South Africa national team, Shakes Mashaba has warned his Nigerian counterpart, Stephen Keshi not to expect any favours on November 19, when their teams clash in Uyo in the last Group A qualifying match of Afcon 2015.

Speaking ahead of the all important match, particularly for the Super Eagles, Mashaba said, “the last match is as important as was the match against Sudan. We are going to Nigeria to face the Super Eagles, it is going to be war because they want to win and we are aiming for maximum points.”

Mashaba who has had an excellent run with the Bafana Bafana since taking over from Gordon Igesund said his players will not rest on their oars as a win over Nigeria would mark a very important turn in their history. “They could not beat us in Cape Town and we were a bit timid in front of goal. This time, we have more confidence in ourselves and our position in the group shows how determined we want to succeed,” the coach said, adding, “ we will try to beat them in Uyo to prove to them(the Eagles) that this is our time.”

Mashaba’s strong statement cannot be dismissed as his team is riding high at the moment, having already secured their ticket for the 2015 Afcon which will be held at Equatorial Guinea. Bafana Bafana yesterday

South Africa, Cameroon among Morocco face two year ban teams to reach finals

S

•Keshi

OUTH Africa are among five teams to have booked their place at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after each won their penultimate qualifier on Saturday. Cameroon, Zambia, Burkina Faso and Gabon are the others to have sealed their

progress.

The five countries join the already-qualified trio Algeria, Cape Verde, Tunisia, and new hosts Equatorial Guinea at next year’s tournament which will be be played from 17 January to 8 February.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Nobel-winning Archbishop (7-4) 5.Sailor (3) 7.Consumed (5) 8.Domesticates (5) 9.Ovum (3) 10.Electricity counting gadgets (6) 13.Highlander (4) 15.Poem (3) 17.One that contests (9) 20.Nigerian tribe (5) 22.Cereal (5) 24.Demoted (9) 27.Pig’s pen (3) 29.No one (4) 30.Sulks (6) 33.Away (3) 35.Presses (5) 36.Till (5) 37. Swine (3) 38. “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” (11)

DOWN 1.Sleeping vision (5) 2.Possessor (5) 3.Tax (4) 4.Depressing (9) 5.Argentinian dance (5) 6.Wash lightly (5) 11.Greek letter (3) 12.Distress call (1-1-1) 14.English boy’s name (5) 16.Obstacle (3) 17.Bovine animal (3) 18.Mindfulness (9) 19.Alarm (5) 21.Help (3) 23.Village house (3) 25.Gnome (3) 26.Vast age (3) 27.Condescend (5) 28.Youthful (5) 31.Circular (5) 32.Trades (5) 34.Old Russian King (4)

•To pay N3.4b fine

M

OROCCO will be barred from the next two Africa Cup of Nations as punishment for refusing to host the 2015 edition in January-February, Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou said on Saturday.

“We are going to stick to the rules, that means elimination from the next two Nations

Cups,” Hayatou told France’s L’Equipe sports daily.

“On top of that there will be the financial and moral damages to calculate.”

Morocco are facing a US$20 million (about N3.4b) fine for refusing to host the 2015 Cup in its scheduled January 17February 8 slot over fears of the spread of the deadly Ebola epidemic.

RESULTS Group A South Africa Congo Group B Malawi Group C Lesotho Angola Group D Cameroon Group E Uganda Togo Group F Mozambique

2 0

Sudan Nigeria

1 2

2

Mali

0

0 0

B/Faso Gabon

1 0

1

DR Congo

0

1 0

Ghana Guinea

0 3

0

Zambia

1

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