Expel OBJ from PDP - Clark by Vanguard Media Limited

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2 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 17, 2015

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JAUNARY 17, 2015—3

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4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

We’ve been buying, selling votes since 1960, Jonathan admits By Ben Agande and Peter Okutu, Abakaliki

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said that there had not been any free and fair elections in the country since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, as what had been happening since then was that people have been “buying and selling votes.” Jonathan, however asked Nigerians especially the youths not to allow anybody to buy their votes during the forth coming elections as this would not be allowed to continue. . He spoke at Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, while addressing a large crowd of party supporters at the Abakaliki Township Stadium in the course of his nationwide wide campaign. Jonathan who is also, the presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, wished that he would live to see a woman emerge as the president and as a governor in the country, pointing out that this was the major reason he had deliberately appointed women into prominent positions to expose and prepare them for greater challenges ahead. However, his chief host and governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi was prevented from speaking during the rally by the restive crowd which booed and heckled at him most of the time. Sources said that Elechi must have been disallowed from speaking by the crowd, due to the bad blooded generated during the gubernatorial primary which saw the emergence of his deputy, Mr Dave Umahi as the candidate of the party instead of his preferred candidate, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, the former minister of health. Elechi pitched his tent with Chukwu while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and other political bigwigs in the state supported Umahi. However, Jonathan who was accompanied to Abakaliki by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, his wife, Patience, the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu, the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr Ahmadu Ali as well as the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu promised to ensure that Ebonyi always got its share from the

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federal government. Addressing youths whom he said were the leaders of the next generation, Jonathan emphasised that they must not allow themselves to be to be bought over by politicians who do not mean well for them. “Our campaign is for the young people. Our time is almost gone. We must change our circumstance. The young people should join us. Nobody should deceive you; nobody should buy your votes. Since 1960, we have been buying and selling votes and we don’t want to continue like this. If you want development, you have to join PDP to develop” he said. Speaking on the position of women, Jonathan said women would continue to play pivotal roles in his government. “For women, your vote is crucial. We have given identity to Nigerian women. This is not the end. We want Nigerian women to be paraded at the global level. We must expose our women. “This is the only administration that is ready to give every position to women. My aspiration is to see a female president before I die,” he further noted. He also noted that the development challenge facing Ebonyi, was daunting, being one of the last states to be created along with his home state of Bayelsa, by the military administration, adding that the Federal Government would rely on the state to ensure that its policy of stopping the importation of rice into the country in the next four years was achieved. Jonathan, had earlier paid homage to the traditional rulers in Ebonyi State at the International Conference Conference Centre where he told them that he was in the state to solicit the support of the people for the forthcoming elections. In his remarks, the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ahmadu Ali said he was very proud of Ebonyi State because of their warm reception of the campaign team. The SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim told the crowd that Jonathan deserved their votes because of what he had done for them and the country. He gave 10 reasons why Jonathan should be voted again. Some of the reasons, he said, included his non-violent nature;

absence of political prisoners in the country since he was elected and his non-discriminatory attitude. Anyim further said that Jonathan did not want his presence to become a nuisance to Nigerians adding that he was also not a fanatic even as he had liberated women, as well as empowered youths and above all, appointed an Ebonyi son as SGF. I will provide more jobs, not prisons -Jonathan On job creation, Jonathan said: “That is one of the reasons we are giving such scholarships so that in future, Nigerians will be able to produce some of our basic needs; countries that are at our levels have advanced so much. I remember that Alhaji Maitama Sule had always said that the Defence Industry in Nigeria with that of Brazil were established at the same time but while that of Brazil is now manufacturing aircraft, our own is busy manufacturing chairs. We say we must change that and for you to

L-R: National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun; APC, Vice Presidential Candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; National Leader, Chief Audu Ogbe; and the Party Presidential Candidate, General Muhamadu Buhari, during the Party’s Presidential Campaign Rally in Makurdi, Benue State yesterday. Photo: Joseph Akintola. change that, you must change the manpower to do that. “This government is focused; we know where we are going and we know where we want to take This country to; the young people should join us and nobody should deceive you or buy your votes; from 1960 we gained independence till today, people have been buying and selling votes and the country is drifting backward.

DROP IN OIL PRICE He further said that the current drop in oil price did not take the country by surprise as modalities had been put in place to ensure diversification of the economy pointing out that Ebonyi State would play a key role in achieving the objectives. “It may be a dream, but I am always dreaming that one day, we will not even require prisons in this country; one day working with all the local and

governments and private individuals, we will be able to create lots of opportunities for all Nigerians, so that the crime rate will reduce and Nigerians will not be thinking about prisons but about education. “I have an idea of the challenges facing the newly created states; when I gave the federal university to Ebonyi state, I did not receive any delegation from the people of the state.

Boko Haram: NSA office, EU, Prisons collaborate to counter violent extremism By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

HE effort by Nigeria to counter violent extremism, manifesting in the raging insurgency in the North East, has received a boost from the European Union, which has begun training of Nigerians on how to deradicalise elements capable of causing harm to the nation’s security. The programme, which is domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser, will also involve officials of the Nigerian Prisons Service, who are to implement certain components of the exercise intended to drastically reduce insurgency in the long run. This was unfolded by the Director in charge of Behavioural Analysis in the Office of the NSA, Dr. Fatima Akilu, at a news briefing in Abuja on Friday. According to Akilu said the de-radicalisation programme was designed to create awareness of the threat of violent extremism, identify and strengthen

credible voices in communities and collate data of religious figures , sects, places of worship and capture the kind of teachings/preaching in schools and worship centres. It will also identify and strengthen the channels of distribution of counternarratives, initiate and conduct training for peace initiatives including inter and intra-faith, identify and start-up small business in flash point states, work with

law enforcement agencies to increase the reach of community policing in Nigeria. Deputy EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Young, said at the ceremony that there was urgent need to check violent extremism since the effect of terrorism was being felt across the world. Young said the programme of deradicalisation in Nigeria would enable the stakeholders to share ideas

and strategies for countering terrorism in the country and save it from further violence that could disrupt its progress as a nation. The Controller General of the Nigeria Prisons Service, Dr. Peter Ekpendu, said that many officers and men of the agency would be trained in the process of instituting de-radicalisation in the NPS with a view to making it go down the strata of the service.

Air Traffic Controllers threaten strike By Lawani Mikairu

IGERIAN Air Traffic Controllers’ Association, NATCA, has threatened to embark on indefinite strike with effect from Monday. A statement signed by Mr Eyaru Victor Olawode Banji , the association President and issued yesterday said the Air Traffic controllers decide to toe this path because of refusal of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to address their grievances

Banji said “ The Executive Council and entire members of Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) wish to bring to the notice of general public the intention of its members under the employment of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to withdraw their services indefinitely from the 0000 UTC on the Monday 19th January, 2015 as a result of the insensitivity of the NAMA Management to

the professional and welfare matters affecting Air Traffic Controllers.” “We regret to express our grievances on the lack of the recognition of the long-standing sacrifices and display of patriotism by Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers being among the prime professionals in the aviation industry at keeping the Nigerian airspace safe despite various challenges being faced in carrying out the safety critical functions.”

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Expel Obasanjo from PDP – Clark •Says Jonathan/Buhari Peace accord will fail By Henry Umoru

ORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and South South leader, Chief Edwin Clark yesterday asked the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to expel the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo from the party. Clark also pooh-poohed the peace accord signed by the President Goodluck Jonathan, General Muhammadu Buhari and 12 other presidential candidates of the various parties on the general elections, saying that it would not not work. He further said that the peace accord was unnecessary and not in the interest of Nigerians and Nigeria, adding that Buhari was not likely to keep to the terms of the agreement against the backdrop that he refused to appear before the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa’s National Reconciliation Panel, to answer questions on his activities as former Military Head of State. Speaking in an interview with newsmen at his Asokoro residence in Abuja, shortly after receiving a delegation of the North Central PDP Network led by its Director General, Murtala Zubairu, Middle Belt Minority Youths and many other

PDP campaign groups, the Elder Statesman noted that although it was a good thing for President Jonathan to have signed the accord, ‘’Buhari cannot be trusted to keep the agreement.’’ Also speaking on the constant criticism of President Jonathan by Obasanjo, Chief Clark advised the leadership of PDP to stop begging the former president to support the party as according to him, it was obvious the former President was working with the opposition to bring Jonathan down. ‘’That man (Obasanjo) should not be allowed to be in the party. You beg him all the time; he has made up his mind. He gathered APC women to abuse President Jonathan,’’ he added. According to him, for Obasanjo to defend Buhari over the N25billion which was allegedly unaccounted for at the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, which he (Buhari) headed showed that he was working for Jonathan to lose the election. “Obasanjo is defending him because he wants APC to win. A man you dissolved his committee, PTF, could not account for N25billion and you are now saying that the man is not corrupt... Buhari and Obasanjo are the same. They are in a marriage of convenience just to remove

Jonathan. How much corruption have you found in Jonathan that you are calling him corrupt?” he added. According to him, the irony in the country was that those who were corrupt were also calling others corrupt, probably because ‘’they don’t know what the definition of corruption is. That is the big trouble in this country....’’ Speaking further on the accord, Chief Clark said that it did not mean anything to him, but quickly pointed out that he would however be glad if it could engender the necessary peace before, during and after the elections. Clark further noted the recent statement by the United States of America that the increased Boko Haram attacks in the North East were likely connected to the impending elections, pointing out that if Buhari said he could stop the insurgents, he may not be far from the truth because they obey him. “If Buhari comes and it (insurgency) stops, it is because they listen him. It is easier for them to stop it. But Jonathan is working on it. He has toured the area but they have given it another meaning. They are saying it is too late. Nigeria belongs to all of us and together we can salvage it.”

PDP Abia Campaign President Goodluck Jonathan; Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji and PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu at the PDP Presidential Campaign rally in Abia State yesterday

Buhari promise to revive Ajaokuta Steel

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

HE All Progress Congress, APC, presidential Candidate, General Muhammed Buhari, (rtd) has said that his administration would revive the ailing Ajaokuta Steel Company if given the mandate to strengthen the nation’s economy. General Buhari stated this yesterday in Lokoja, the State capital during the APC presidential campaign rally in the

CNN airs Nigeria, military fumes By Ishola Balogun, Kingsley OmonobiABUJA

HE incapacity of the Nigerian military to effectively confront and crush the Boko Haram insurgency was brought to a global audience, Thursday, with a report by the Cable News Network (CNN) showing clips of interviews with some soldiers, revealing dissatisfaction among the country’s military forces. The soldiers revealed to the international news channel that they were ‘ill-equipped and not motivated’ in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorist group. They also complained of low morale among the rank and file, dearth of uniforms, corruption among others in the military. The soldiers said troops were given AK47s to fight the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists who are always armed with anti-aircraft

guns. One of the soldiers revealed that uniforms were not issued, adding that some of them had to buy their uniforms and pay their medical bills. He said that morale was very low, citing corruption as one of the problems of the military. A widow also revealed that her husband was killed in battle over a year ago, claiming she was neither told her husband had died nor paid any compensation. The widow was quoted thus: ‘When my husband died, they never called me to tell me that I lost my husband. They buried him without notifying me.’ The Nigerian media had repeatedly published stories bothering on the inadequacies of the military forces in the fight against Boko Haram. It was no longer news in Nigeria. However, CNN report made it international and the Nigerian military high

command has described their report as blackmail and an attempt to smear its image and character. In a statement by the Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, the military said ‘Nigerian Armed Forces are without doubt committed and focused on the ongoing fight against terror and is ensuring that both weapons and welfare are incrementally provided to the fighting force.’ Olukolade said ‘the Nigerian military reject in absolute terms the report that has been repeatedly aired on CNN which presented footages of interviews with individuals claiming to be Nigerian soldiers. ‘This said report is certainly another orchestrated smear campaign targeted at the image and character of the Nigerian Armed Forces by some entrenched interests. This CNN interview and report

is an unfortunate effort to promote blackmail. It smacks of an international conspiracy against Nigeria’s national security.’ The CNN reports were not different from many those common in the Nigerian media about the inadequacies of the military especially as repeatedly corroborated by Borno State Governor Kashim Shetima.

State to solicit for votes and sell the party ’s manifesto to the electorates. He said if Ajaokuta steel is revived and functioning, it is capable of generating enough employment for the teeming youths and generating revenue for the nation. “APC is the only party that can guarantee the security of the nation effectively, Youth employment, and health would be our priority. We would empower financial institution to be able to give loan to individuals and organizations so as to be able to create employment. We would invest in education and security,” he said Buhari urged the electorates to get their permanent voters card and make sure that vote count during the election, assuring that if given the mandate he would change the nation economy for the better. Also speaking, Buhari’s

running mate, Prof. Yemi Osibajo, said General Buhari (rtd) is the symbol of change the nation and the people have been yearning for because of his honesty, integrity and corruption free nature. He assured that come February 14, 2015 the nation would witness a change in the leadership of the country with Buhari, urging the people to come out and vote and also protect their votes so that it would count for Buhari. In his speech, the party chairman,John OdigieOyegun, called on Nigerians to jealously guard their votes, saying it is the only path to securing a better future through General Buhari’s administration. Among the dignitaries that witnessed the campaign are, Governor Rotimi Ameachi, Senator Bukola Saraki, Abike Dabiri, Lai Muhammed, John Odige Oyegu, Senator Alex Kadir, Abubakar Audu, Rep member Buba Jibrin amongst others.

Presidential Election: Buhari is not qualified to contest—Ozekhome By Henry Umoru

HEAD of next month’s Presidential and general elections, a member of the 2014 National Conference and Constitutional Lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN said yesterday that the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari was not qualified to contest for

the election. According to him, Buhari cannot contest the election following his alleged failure to present to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC his minimum requirements to participate in the election. Speaking yesterday on Africa Independent Television (AIT) Kakaaki programme on General

Buhari’s raging certificate saga, Ozekhome who that the APC presidential candidate did not comply with the provisions of the electoral law in filling the nomination form he submitted to INEC, said, “I know that Nigerians would be curious why is this matter just coming up for the first time and that after all this man has contested the last three Presidential elections.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

Mega rally: Fashola accuses Jonathan of stalling $1.354bn Lekki Deep Sea Port •Describes Agbaje’s statement on collapse of South-South economy as divisive •APC administration will solve Apapa gridlock — Ambode By Olasunkanmi Akoni, Monsur Olowoopejo & Olaitan Shinyabola

O V E R N O R Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, accused the People’s Democratic Party, PDP-led Federal Government of stalling the construction of the $1.354 billion Lekki Deep Seaport, saying “FG failed to fulfill its own side of the agreement.” The Federal Government had on December 4th, 2013 approved the construction of the Lekki Deep Sea Port for construction. Fashola who disclosed this at the second Mega rally of the All Progressives Party, APC, in Apapa axis of the state, lamented that the party at the centre (PDP) has failed to fulfill all the promises it made to the residents of Lagos four years ago. The governor said, “We are building the Lekki Deep Sea port, the investors have brought their own share of the required fund and Lagos State Government has provided the land. But it is saddening that the central government has failed to fulfill its own side of the bargain which was to providing $117 million of the total cost of the project.” He added, “Rather than handover this fund for this project which will create employment, Federal Government was busy

transferring the fund elsewhere. Fashola lamented that the FG had failed to yield to the plight of the citizens, saying, “It is alarming that traders spend several days before they could clear their goods from the Tin Can and Apapa Ports. And this has continued because the PDP-led Federal Government has mismanaged the ports.” The governor also blamed the Federal government for what he called “unprofessional act” as being responsible “for investors who were planning to withdraw about N1.7 trillion from the country’s economy.” Fashola queried, “The mismanagement of the country’s economy and the inability to address insurgency must have been responsible for the withdrawal of this huge fund.”

Buhari not too old to rule Nigeria

The governor also faulted the claims by some critics that APC Presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari is too old to rule Nigeria. He stressed that Buhari is not too old to govern the country, but what Nigerians needed now is a trusted and credible candidate who can properly manage the nation’s resources. The governor argued that current development in the country has shown that a younger person without big ideas and competence

cannot rule Nigeria successfully. Fashola said the nation’s most challenging problems are insecurity and corruption which, he said could only be tackled by Buhari given his track records. According to him, “Some people are challenging me that if I say Agbaje is too old to govern Lagos, what about Buhari who is older? My response is this: We all agree that we have problem of insecurity in the country. Between Jonathan and Buhari who is the most experienced to tackle security issue? We all know Buhari as an experienced security expert. “Then on corruption issue, who is the most credible among them? It is only Buhari. He has ruled Nigeria before, he has headed several positions without record of corruption and mismanagement. “You know Jonathan has confirmed that he has failed the nation. So don’t vote for failure vote Buhari.”

On Lekki toll gate

Fashola who also took a swipe on Agbaje over plan to discontinue toll collection on Lekki Epe Expressway said the PDP candidate lacks understanding of the dynamics of modern ways of developing infrastructure. He appealed to the residents to vote wisely, saying such decision would discourage foreign investors from investing in

the nation’s economy.

Agbaje’s statement divisive

The governor also lashed out at PDP, gubernatorial candidate, Jimi Agbaje for a statement credited to him that the South-South will collapse the nation’s economy if Jonathan loses in the incoming election. According to him, “Making such statement is wrong. And anyone who wishes to lead or govern do not make such divisive statement. The reason Lagos is safe, was that we have lived in peaceful coexistence and harmony despite our diversity. That showed that Agbaje is inexperience. And that was why I told you that do not experiment with Lagos. Ambode will not make such statement. We need leaders who build cohesion and not those who promote division.

Ambode promises relief for Apapa traffic gridlock On his part, APC governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode promised to give his all to eradicate the perennial traffic gridlock in Apapa area of the state. Ambode noted that the hectic traffic in the area was caused by the activities of the articulated vehicles loading fuel and containers from Apapa port, adding that the situation in Apapa is a pointer to the failure of the federal government.

Jonathan, Service Chiefs’ visit to Borno, morale booster to military — PDP By Henry Umoru

ATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP said yesterday that the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Service Chiefs to Borno State would help boost the morale of the military. In a statement signed yesterday by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the visit demonstrates the President’s commitment to the ongoing war against terrorism in the country. Metuh who noted that the President’s assurances to the military on their welfare and equipment have become a catalyst to the overall determination to win the war against insurgency, described the warm reception accorded the president in Borno, and the peace that pervaded the visit as “symbolic and clear indication of his acceptability by the people of the state. “In visiting the internally displaced persons in their camp, the President has gone further to show his abiding affinity with the people and commitment to bring succor and hope to the downtrodden”. Commending President Jonathan for ensuring professionalism in the military, the PDP said that the armed forces have been rebuilt, reequipped and is being re-engineered to adequately confront the current terrorism challenges facing the country. The party called on Nigerians to continue to support the President, as he remains focused in ensuring the unity and stability of the nation.

JP Morgan places Nigeria on negative watch in its bond index By Babajide Komolafe, with agency report

NITED States bank, JP Morgan on Friday said it had placed Nigeria on a negative index watch on its Government Bond Index (GBI-EM). The bank, which runs the most commonly used emerging debt indexes, said it had placed Nigeria on a negative index watch and would assess its place on the Government Bond Index (GBI-EM) over the next three to five months. Removal from the index would force investors tracking it to sell Nigerian bonds from their portfolios, potentially resulting in significant capital outflows. This in turn would raise borrowing costs for Africa’s largest economy, although analysts say they did not expect JP Morgan to take such a step. The bank added Nigeria to the widely followed index in 2012, when liquidity was improving, making it only the second African country after South Africa to be included. It added Nigeria’s 2014, 2019, 2022 and 2024 bonds, which make up 1.8 percent of the GBI-EM Global Diversified index. Investors have $216 billion bench-mark to the GBIEM, the most popular emerging local debt index. But the bank said the current liquidity issues made it hard for foreign investors to replicate it.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015 — 7

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APC congratulates Jonathan over Maiduguri trip T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan for finally finding the courage to visit Maiduguri to pep up the gallant troops battling the Boko Haram insurgency, but said the President has more trips to make to Chibok, Buni Yadi and Potiskum, among others. In a statement issued in Makurdi on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the President should follow up his visit to the epi-centre of the Boko Haram battle with visits to the parents of the 219 missing Chibok girls as well as the families of the boys who were killed at the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi, Yobe State, last year. It said it is only by doing so that the President can begin to refute the published report that his visit to Maiduguri on Thursday was politically motivated, aimed at laying the foundation for his impending electioneering campaign swing across the north, especially to Maiduguri on Jan. 21st. ‘’We have always said the President and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces should never be afraid to visit anywhere in the country. We have always said the President should not just be the Commander-inChief but also the Consoler-in-Chief. We are glad that the President has finally agreed with us. ‘’But it is necessary to remind the President that he must not play politics with human lives, and that he must stop putting Jonathan first, Jonathan second and Jonathan third, at the expense of the nation,’’ APC said. The party said that the President should also address the issue of the low morale of the troops and their lack of the necessary fighting equipment, if they are to effectively battle the terrorists who have killed and maimed thousands of innocent citizens. ‘’It is instructive that a few hours after President Jonathan visited Maiduguri, the global news channel CNN aired an interview with some Nigerian soldiers who complained of very low morale among the rank

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (roof top), during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Mega Rally at Open Round about, by Post Office, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday.

and file, lack of fighting equipment and very poor welfare. Another blamed the terrible situation being faced by the troops on massive corruption. ‘’This does no credit to an Administration that has allocated billions of naira to the defence and security

sector, billions that apparently did not percolate to those at the front line of the battle. It calls to question the usage to which the government has put the huge funds allocated to the sector, including the 1-billiondollar loan that was

recently approved by the National Assembly,’’ it said. APC called on the National Assembly to probe how the billions of naira that have been appropriated for defence and security have been spent.

Police arrest 2 rams after attack on 65-yrs old woman BY GBENGA ARIYIBI Ado Ekiti

65 years old woman popularly called ‘Iya Oyo’ has been hospitalized having been attacked by two rams in Ado Ekiti, a development that led to the arrest of the rams by the police The strange rams are said to be owned by a manager of a filling station at Okesa area of the state capital The embattled woman who was accompanied by his son at the time of attack on Monday was about going to a bank to withdraw some money when she was attacked by the rams. On sighting the woman ,the rams were said to have allegedly gone wild and gored her on the right thigh. The woman was eventually rushed to Dr. Sico Trado Medical Bone Clinic, Ereguru, Ado Ekiti by some good samaritans Speaking with newsmen at the hospital, Iya Oyo disclosed that shortly after she was hit by the rams she fell down and ‘passed out’ immediately only to find herself at the clinic after coming back to life.

Her words, “On the fateful day, I was going to the Union Bank with my son. We were walking on the walkway and we saw the rams in front of us but not knowing what was on their mind. “But immediately they sighted us coming closer to them, one of the rams rushed towards me and hit me

several times with its horns. “Immediately, I fell down. But as I was struggling to get up, the second ram joined the first to attack me, thank God that some people came to my rescue and saved me from untimely death in the hands of these “mad rams.”

Why Ortom defected to APC — Suswan BY PETER DURU, Makurdi

OVERNOR Gabriel Suswam of Benue state yesterday reacted to an allegation by the former Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, that he was shoved out of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, describing the statement as baseless and untrue. Suswam insisted that “Ortom defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, at his own volition because he is desperate for power.” Suswam who spoke

yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, was reacting to the claim by the former Minister at a rally in Makurdi, where he alleged that he was ill-treated and pushed out of the ruling party, Suswam explained that “the PDP held transparent primaries here in Makurdi in public glare and Terhemen Tarzoor emerged winner without any form of interference whatsoever. “In that contest Ortom came a distant third and within hours he jumped ship and picked the governorship nomination forms of the opposition APC.”

US applauds Jonathan, Buhari non-violent pledge BY VERA ANYAGAFU

HE US government has applauded the display of oneness shown by both President Goodluck Jonathan and General Buhari by signing a non-violence pledge. Both Presidential aspirants have publicly signed the non-violent accord in the forthcoming elections. According to statement made available to the press, the US Government encourages all candidates and political leaders across Nigeria to make similar pledges. “We remain committed to working with Nigeria to strengthen its democratic institutions in the years to come. As part of that effort, we continue to support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its crucial task of achieving transparent, credible, inclusive, and non-violent elections in February, 2015”, the statement said.

Why we may not intervene in Obasanjo, Osoba, Amosun disputes — Egba chiefs BY DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

ROMINENT Leaders of Egbaland under the aegis of Abeokuta Club have explained why they may not intervene in the disputes between former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and the former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba who are indigines of Egba. The Egba Chiefs also stated that they would not intervene in the misunderstanding between Osoba and the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, describing it as political crisis. The second Vice-President of the club and Chairman planning committee of 2015 Presidential party, of the club, Engr. Tokunbo Odebunmi stated this at a news conference held at the club house in Abeokuta to herald a series of activities for the 2015 President’s party and the inauguration of the 11th president of Abeokuta Club. Odebunmi who had disclosed the activities of the club so far, said the club whose members were restricted to Egba indigines of good character, had embarked on social, economic, education, cultural , political, sports, conflict resolution and community development. Obasanjo and Osoba parted ways shortly after 2003 election over alleged betrayal on the part of Obasanjo which led to the defeat of Osoba who was the governor under the defunct Alliance for Democracy.

Man, 46, kills wife, daughter, commits suicide in Ogun BY DAUD OLATUNJI

46-year-old man Olubusayo Sunday reportedly killed his wife, daughter and committed suicide. The tragedy struck on Wednesday at Onigbedu town in Ewekoro Local Government of the state when an Eegun man and farmer allegedly beheaded his wife and daughter in his Onigbedu house,and committed suicide by stabbing and setting himself ablaze after the ugly incident . Sunday was reported to have beheaded his 40-year-old wife, Oyewole and his three-year-old daughter, Esther, and then stabbed himself, set himself ablaze and attempted to jump into a well near the house, but was rescued. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi in a statement disclosed this, adding that the police detectives attached to Ewekoro Division of the state police command have commenced investigation into the tragedy that claimed three lives. According to Adejobi,”the man,Mr Olubusayo’s attempt to commit suicide was noticed when he stabbed himself and wanted to jump into a well near his house having set fire on himself but was prevented and rescued by his neighbors who later found out that he had done a great havoc in his house,but he later died in the hospital.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

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Don’t sell your votes, group tells Deltans

EPZ groundbreaking delay: Jonathan may lose Itsekiri votes — Warri Study Group T By Emma Amaize, Warri

ARRI Study Group, WSG, which is the intellectual wing of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality in Delta State, yesterday, warned that President Goodluck Jonathan stood the risk of losing the votes of Itsekiri people and other Niger Deltans if he continued to delay the groundbreaking of the Ogidigben Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project. The group, at a meeting of critical stake holders in Warri, resolved that the president should “show his commitment to create jobs as he has promised Nigerians during his ongoing campaign by performing the groundbreaking of EPZ without delay.” In a statement jointly signed by the chairman and secretary, Mr Edward Ekpoko and Mr

Tony Ede respectively, it said, “The delay by President Jonathan to perform the groundbreaking ceremony after over three postponements is in pursuit of unsustainable Ijaw agenda,

which has ignored benefits of the projects to other Nigerians.” WSG stated that the project would be of immense benefits to thousands of youths from Ijaw,

Itsekiri, Urhobo, Ibo, Isoko and indeed, other Nigerians facing unemployment problems and urged Jonathan to perform the ground breaking without much ado.

HE Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, may be under pressure to abandon the case of obtaining money under false pretence, which he is trying to press against the former sonin-law of former Aviation Minister, Dumebi Kachikwu, an Abujabased multi-billionaire businessman. The decision to abandon the matter, which has resulted in the arrest and interrogation of one more suspect on Thursday, followed advice from legal experts that the case could create serious problems for him if it goes to court. A source close to the investigation said that both Elumelu, who petitioned the EFCC and the suspect, alleged to have collected the huge sum of money with a view to assisting him to get the Peoples Democratic Party governorship ticket in Delta State were liable under the law. It was learnt that although a clear case of obtaining money through false pretence had been

dential and governorship candidates, President Goodluck Jonathan and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. It said that by voting for PDP, President Jonathan will be able to continue his transformation agenda while Okowa will carry on with the Delta Beyond Oil agenda of the the PDP administration in the state.

By Tom Moses

PDP supporters at the Abia State Presidential campaign rally yesterday

•As EFCC grants Kema Chikwe’s ex-son-in-law bail •Businessman detained •Money as good as gone-sources close to investigation

OP Favour United In ternational, a pressure group in Bomadi, Delta State, has urged the electorate in the state not to sell their votes to opposition parties. The group in a statement by its national chairman, Mr Kingsley Iyamah, said the way the people would use their votes wisely was to vote for the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, presi-

A/Ibom warns over violence

N750m bribe: Elumelu under pressure to abandon case in EFCC

Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

By Emma Amaize

established as the money was wired through some accounts, the security agents were also worried that a single politician could dole out such an amount just for securing the ticket of his party. It was also gathered that some close allies of the petitioner had explained to him the implications of pressing ahead with the matter against the suspect, pointing out that he had made a serious mistake that could damage his image if

he continues to insist on recovering the money. It was learnt that after explaining the implications of the matter to the politician, he was considering allowing the ‘sleeping dog to lie’ rather than plunging himself deeper into a messy situation. Apparently softening his grounds on the matter, the EFCC formally released Kachikwu on bail from detention on Wednesday while it arrested another businessman said to have

been linked to N750 million bribery. As Kachikwu was going home to await further instructions from the antigraft agency, its operatives on Thursday took into custody, the influential businessman, said to have taken part in the sharing of the huge sum of money. A top source in the agency said that although he had been granted bail after spending five days in detention, Kachikwu could still be invited for further questioning whenever the need arises in the matter, which was causing ripples in the ruling PDP and the political circles in Nigeria.

HE Akwa-Ibom State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Gabriel Achon has warned that the perpetrators of electoral violence in the forth-coming elections would be arrested with their candidates. The CP gave the warning in Uyo, the AkwaIbom State capital yesterday during a political stakeholders interactive session saying the warning became necessary in order to have free, fair and credible

elections in the state. “Through synergized efforts, offenders of the law and their sponsors would be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law. “Parents and guardians are advised to admonish and monitor their children/wards against being used as thugs or sacrificial lambs by desperate politicians in a bid to achieve political power ”, Achon stressed.

Support Okowa, Ndokwa Neku people advised By Festus Ahon, Asaba

HEAD of the Febru ary general elections, the people of Ndokwa Neku, Delta State has been advised to support the Gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. Chairman of the All Progressive Alliance for Okowa, Mr Oputa Ajie, who gave the advice while chatting with newsmen in Asaba, told the people to see the emergence of Senator Okowa as the governor-

ship flag bearer of the PDP “as a right choice.” Urging the people to mobilize massively for Senator Okowa during the elections, Ajie held that the victory of Okowa at the polls would be “a source of joy for all Deltans”. Meanwhile, the Association of Ndokwa East Clans President Generals for Community Development, has appealed to all sons and daughters of the area to return home for the collection of their Permanent Voters Card, PVC.

or the Uduaghan challenges traditional rulers Delta 2015: Centre ffor Promotion of Arbitration drums on voters’ education has decentralized the

ELTA State Gover nor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has challenged traditional rulers to educate their subjects on the need to collect the permanent voters card. Governor Uduaghan made the call Friday while addressing traditional rulers council of Oshimili North local Government Area of Delta State when he led PDP candidates for the February, 2015 general elections to pay them a courtesy visit at the Palace of Obi of Akwukwu-Igbo, HRM Obi David Azuka.

Some of the traditional rulers who were present included the Ugoani of Okpanam, Obuzo of Ibusa, representatives of Ogbelani of Illah and the Regent of Ebu. According to Dr Uduaghan, traditional rulers should take it as a priority for all their subjects who are of voting age to exercise their franchise. “The instrument to enable your people is the permanent voters cards, it is good that INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission)

collection centres for the PCV, tell your people to go and collect their cards to enable them vote,” he said. Stating that there was the need for more enlightenment campaign to enable the voters know the ballot boxes to cast their votes so as to avoid void votes. He informed the traditional rulers that President Goodluck Jonathan is the Presidential candidate of the PDP, stating that he deserves to be re-elected because, “he has held the country together despite the challenges.”

suppor or Ok ow a, Otuar Okow owa, Otuaroo supportt ffor

S the general elec tions draw nearer, a group under the aegis of The Centre for the Promotion of Arbitration has appealed to voters in Delta State to cast their votes for Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and his running mate, Kingsley Otuaro. In a statement by the National Coordinator and Corporate Communication Director of the group, Barr Jitobo Akanike and Mr. Samuel Orovwuje respectively, the group enjoined the people of Del-

ta to close ranks by voting the ticket of Okowa and Otuaro with a view to moving the state forward. “The Center for the Promotion of Arbitration, in the spirit of equity, transparency, inclusiveness and good governance, appeals to all Deltans to vote enmasse for Delta State PDP governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and his deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, in the coming election,”the statement said. See more news on pg 61

SATURDAY Vanguard, JAUNARY 17, 2015 — 9

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Vanguard , JANU ARY 17, 2015 JANUARY

Battle of the sexes:

Different genders, different judgement

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

here is a hot debate as to which is the more intelligent sex. Are girls intellectually less able than boys, or do women lack the ability than men to succeed at the highest levels of science and technology? What sex makes better lawyers or pilots or teachers? Are female doctors worse or male engineers better? There are arguments in certain circles over the fact that males do have a higher intrinsic aptitude than females in the field of science and engineering. It is a fact that when it comes to instances such as Nobel Prize winners, men could outnumber women 10-to1, but in the real world, and from available evidence, the human potential to excel in science is not the prerogative of C M Y K

one gender or the other. In several instances, from education policy or schoolwork, females actually get equal or better grades than males. The male-female IQ difference does not readily show up in everyday activities and for the vast majority of people in the vast majority of jobs, it really doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t translate into very much. While more research may be required to be absolutely certain, it is believed as a matter of fact that men and women reason differently, at least where the anatomy of the brain is concerned. The human brain is made primarily of two different types of tissue, the grey matter and the white matter. Research reveals that men

think more with their grey matter, while women think more with the white. However there is debate whether the fact that the two sexes think differently affects their intellectual performance. Result of recent research published in the journal NeuroImage, shows that in general, men have nearly 6.5 times the amount of grey matter related to general intelligence compared with women, whereas women have nearly 10 times the amount of white matter related to intelligence compared to men. Professor Richard Haier, a psychologist at the University of California, says these findings suggest that human evolution has

Men are smarter than women, according to a controversial new study about whether gender impacts general intelligence

created two different types of brains designed for equally intelligent behaviour, and by pinpointing these gender-based intelligence areas, the study has the potential to aid research on dementia and other cognitiveimpairment diseases in the brain. In human brains, grey matter represents information processing centres, whereas white matter works to network these processing centres. Experts say this study may help explain why men and women excel at different types of tasks. For instance, men tend to do better with tasks requiring more localised processing, such as mathematics, while women are better at integrating and assimilating information from distributed greymatter regions of the brain, which aids language skills.

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Continues from page 10 Scientists find it very interesting that while men and women use two very different activity centres and neurological pathways, men and women perform equally well on broad measures of cognitive ability, such as intelligence tests. Men are smarter than women, according to a controversial new study about whether gender impacts general intelligence. “For 100 years there’s been a consensus among psychologists that there is no sex difference in intelligence,” said J. Philippe Rushton, a psychologist at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Recent studies, however, have raised questions about the validity of this claim. One such study showed that men have larger brains than women, a 100g difference after correcting for body size. Rushton found similar results in a study of gender and brain size. To determine if there was a link between gender and intelligence, and perhaps between brain size and intelligence, he and a colleague analysed the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores from C M Y K

Vanguard , JANU ARY 17, 2015—11 JANUARY

Battle of the sexes:

Different genders, different judgement 100,000 17- and 18-year-olds. In the study, published in the journal Intelligence, when Rushton and colleagues weighted each SAT question by an established general intelligence factor called the gfactor, they discovered that males surpassed females by an average of 3.6 IQ points. Rushton suspects that the results are due to males having more brain tissue than females on average. He said it’s

a reasonable hypothesis that more brain tissue is required to process high “g” information. Further, in an article in The Telegraph of London, a philosopher and IQ researcher James Flynn stated that in the last 100 years the IQ scores of both men and women have risen, but women’s have risen faster. Helena Jamison, a 33 year old consultant at Cambridge believes that women

probably always knew deep down that they were the more intelligent, but as the gentler sex were quiet about it and let men continue to believe they ruled the world. Intelligence Quotient researchers took a cursory look at Bottom of Form IQ scores recorded among males and females aged 14-18 in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Estonia, and Argentina. Effort was made to get as representative a sample as possible. The subjects were compared on the basis of a test of abstract, logical reasoning known as the Raven’s Progressive Matrices Test. Setting the male score at 100, it was found that women scored the lowest in Australia (99.5), but in the other

four nations Raven’s scores varied from 100.5 to 101.5. Presenting this data, it was concluded that women not only equalled men, but were slightly above. There has been argument that in countries women have equal educational and developmental opportunities, they match and sometimes surpass men. In many educational institutions today, the male: female ratio is tending towards equalising. This is a universal phenomenon. It is not that the genders are equal in numbers, but are equal in their ability to deal with using logic on the abstract problems of Raven’s Test.

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Battle of the sexes

‘I’m stronger than a man’ *For women, longevity is a birthright BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

ho is stronger, a man or a woman? If you say a man is stronger you are correct. If you say a woman is stronger, you are also correct. Both answers are right, depending, of course on the perspective of your reasoning. Being a man symbolises authority, firmness and toughness. The presence of a man evokes an enhanced sense of security and safety. You can’t argue with any of these. Traditionally, men are tasked with the role of providing security and protecting women and children, not vice versa. Physically, men are averagely bigger, taller, heavier, and are more muscular than women. A man’s bones are stronger and denser and his body is structurally better built to take more physical abuse and trauma than a woman. Men can jump farther and higher, run faster and further than women. Men can lift and carry heavier weights or throw things farther, and can swim faster over longer distances. Men are more aggressive and better endowed to complete more arduous tasks. Overall, men are generally bolder and superior in the endurance tasks, but in the medical aspects, it’s a completely different story. Health wise, the more fragile-boned and softer bodied women turn the tables and come out better off than men. It sounds surprising, but the facts are there. Women, even with the comparative disadvantage of their reproductive life cycle, tend to live longer and healthier lives than men. With changing lifestyles and growing emphasis on healthier diets and regular exercise, life expectancy is also changing, rising slowly but steadily year after year. But one thing that has not changed is the gender gap. Men and women are living longer, but decade after decade; women continue to live longer than men. In fact, the gender gap is wider now than it was a century ago. When taken together, the longevity gap is quite significant. Everywhere you look; there are more older women than men, more widows than widowers. For instance, in America and to a large extent in C M Y K

Europe, more than half of all women older than 65 are widows and widows outnumber widowers by at least three to one. At age 65, for every 100 American women, there are only 77 men. At age 85, the disparity is even greater, with women outnumbering men by 2.6 to 1. And the longevity gap persists even into very old age, long after hormones have passed their peak; among centenarians, there are four females for every male. This gender gap is not unique to America. In fact, every country with reliable health statistics reports that women live longer than men. The longevity gap is present both in industrialised societies and in developing countries. It’s a universal observation that suggests a basic difference between the health of men and women. Not only do men die at a faster rate than women, men die younger. Men are more burdened by lifetime illness than women. On the average, a man falls ill at a younger age and has more chronic illnesses than a woman. The indirect translation of this is that women live longer and healthier lives than men. For instance, the average overall mortality rate is 41 percent higher for men than for women, and it’s also higher for men for eight of the 10 leading causes of death. In addition, American men are 2.1 times more likely to die from liver disease, 2.7 times more likely to die from HIV/ AIDS, 4.1 times more likely to commit suicide, and 3.8 times more likely to be murder victims than women. Further, men are nearly 10 times more likely to get inguinal hernias than women, and five times more likely to have aortic aneurysms. Men are about as likely to contract HIV and AIDS as women, but are more prone to gout and three times more likely than women to develop kidney stones, to become alcoholics, or to have bladder cancer. Men are about twice as likely to suffer from emphysema or a duodenal ulcer. Although women see the doctor more often, the medical care cost is much higher for men beyond age 65. The gender gap in health and longevity Genetic makeup A man and a woman each have

22 identical pairs of chromosomes. The 23rd set of chromosomes separates the sexes. This final pair contains the sex chromosomes. In women, the pair are X chromosomes, while in men one is an X and the other a Y. The Y chromosome is smaller and contains fewer genes that may be linked to diseases that contribute to the excess male mortality throughout life. In addition, if a woman has a disease-producing gene on one of her X chromosomes, it may be counterbalanced by a normal gene on the other X, but if a man has the same bad gene on his X chromosome; he lacks the potential protection of a matching gene. Advantage: Women.

Reproductive anatomy This is also key to the health gap between men and women. For instance, the number of new prostate

Men are nearly 10 times more likely to get inguinal hernias than women, and five times more likely to have aortic aneurysms.

and breast cancers are closely matched, but women are about 45 percent more likely to die from their disease. If malignant and benign diseases of the uterus and the perils of pregnancy and childbirth are factored in, one would expect that women are the more fragile sex. But they are not. An explanation is the hormonal influence which, however, don’t account for the lion’s share of the gender gap, but they play a role. For instance, oestrogen raises High Density Lipoprotein, HDL or good cholesterol levels, perhaps explaining why heart disease typically begins about 10 years later in women than men. Research shows that in physiologic doses, testosterone may help some men with heart disease. Women who take oestrogen well beyond menopause, when their natural levels plummet, experience an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots. On the other hand, testosterone may contribute to the risk-taking and aggressive behaviour that causes problems for many young men. And testosterone also fuels

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‘I’m stronger than a man’

diseases of the prostate, both benign and malignant. Even so, the testosterone-prostate connection can’t account for the longevity gap, since there are more deaths from breast cancer than prostate cancer. Both sex hormones keep bones strong, but here, men have the edge. As men age, testosterone levels decline slowly, about 1 percent a year, but oestrogen levels drop abruptly at menopause, boosting the risk of osteoporosis. Verdict: Draw.

Metabolic disorders Males and females have similar Low Density Lipoproteins, LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels, but women have substantially higher levels of “good” cholesterol (60.3 milligrams per decilitre, or mg/dL, versus 48.5 mg/ dL on average). HDL cholesterol protects against heart disease, but triglycerides may increase risk. Diabetes is a major problem and metabolic risk factor for both sexes and its prevalence is increasing in both. But it affects a somewhat higher percentage in men. Obesity is rapidly increasing. The prevalence of obesity is slightly higher in women than men; although excess weight is more of a problem for males. Women tend to carry excess weight on their hips and thighs (pear shape), while men add the excess weight to their waistlines (apple shape or beer belly). Excess body fat is never a good thing, but abdominal obesity is much riskier than lower body obesity, sharply increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Women tend to be shaped well than men. Although obesity is often classified as a metabolic problem, it usually results from unwise health behaviours, another major misfortune for males. Advantage: Women. Work stress Work stress can increase the risk of hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. Stress, hostility, and anger have all been implicated as heart disease risk factors, and these traits tend to have a higher prevalence in men than women. Work-related stress and heart-breaking personality factors may contribute to male vulnerability. But as more women enter the workplace and add financial obligations to their traditional roles at home, they are gradually closing the gender gap by moving in the wrong direction. Advantage: Women. Social, spiritual networks Women tend to have much larger and more reliable social networks than men. A study by the New England Research Institute found that 28 percent of women but only 9 percent of men report they can rely on friends for support, and men were 2.5 times more likely than women to lack social support. In general, women are more in touch with their feelings and with other women, and they have a remarkable ability to express their thoughts and emotions. This strong relationships

and good communication seem to help explain why women live longer on Earth. Advantage: Women Risk taking From boyhood on, males take more risks than females, and they often pay the price in terms of trauma, injury, and death. Simple precautions like seat belts and bike helmets can help, but more complex measures involving education about alcohol, drugs, firearms, and safe sex are also essential. Advantage: Women Aggression and violence These are extreme forms of risky behaviour, and they all have many of the same root causes. A man who takes risks places himself in harm’s way, but his unwise choices may not endanger others. Violent behaviour, though, directly threatens the health and wellbeing of others, both male and female. A man is nearly four times more likely to die from homicide or suicide than a woman, but women are much more likely to be victims of domestic violence. Men need more self-control and anger management if they are to close this portion of the gender gap. Advantage: Women. Smoking This is the riskiest of all health habits. In the old days, men smoked but women didn’t. Times have changed, now women smoke in large numbers and are catching up with men in heart disease, lung cancer, and emphysema. Both sexes are trying to break the habit, but more

men (24 percent) than women (18 percent) are hooked on cigarettes. Tobacco smoking is likely to continue fuelling the gender gap for years to come. Advantage: Women Alcohol and substance abuse Like smoking, drinking and drug abuse are self-destructive habits that are traditionally male problems increasingly threatening to women as well. Small to modest amounts of alcohol appear to protect a man’s health, reducing his risk of heart attack and the most common type of stroke. But larger amounts shorten life by increasing the likelihood of hypertension, heart failure, liver disease, various cancers, accidents, and traumatic death. Men are twice as likely as women to be binge drinkers and to become dependent on alcohol. Illicit drugs claim thousands of lives a year and it’s a tragedy for both sexes, but males are 80 percent more likely to abuse drugs than females. Advantage: Women. Diet Meat is bad, veggies are good. It’s an oversimplification, but it may help explain why women are generally healthier than men: in most cases, they eat better. Women are about 50 percent more likely than men to meet the goal of eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Advantage: Women Exercise Men and women used to get plenty of exercise from their

routine, but as men moved behind desks, women who continued to haul shopping bags, climb stairs, scrub floors, and wash mountains of clothes, continued to get the many health benefits of physical activity. But as modern appliances replace muscles at home and women join men in sedentary jobs, women are falling slightly behind in exercise. But most men still don’t come close to getting the exercise they need for optimal health. Verdict: Draw. Medical care In the developed world, women are likely to think and do more about health. Women are more likely than men to have health insurance and a regular source of health care. But the reverse is the case in developing countries. A major survey by the Commonwealth Fund, shows that three times as many men as women had not seen a doctor in the previous year; more than half of all men had not had a physical exam or cholesterol test in the previous year; among men over 50 years of age, 41 percent had not been screened for prostate cancer, and 60 percent had not been screened for colon cancer in the previous year; and 25 percent of men said they would handle worries about health by waiting as long as possible before seeking help. In general, men who have the most traditional, macho views about masculinity are likely to be the least healthy. Advantage: Women.

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14—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

BY CHARLES KUMOLU& GBENGA OKE

ITH

Comparatively, some conceded that Buhari may not have added much to the provocative nature of the campaign utterances, while others have cited preponderance of evidence suggesting that the PDP has so far assailed Nigerians with non issues. Uphill at convincing Nigerians Sequel to this, opinions are not divided that the candidates would have an uphill task convincing Nigerians why they should be voted for. An analysis of the exercise, showed the PDP candidate, jabbing his APC counterpart at various times, thereby expanding the perceived

fault-lines on the posturing of the candidates. For instance, the President had at his campaign flag off in Lagos, challenged his principal opponent to explain how he spent his defence budget while he served as Head of State. “He did not buy a single rifle. He had great soldiers who had no arms,’’ the PDP candidate said. Chiding Buhari, Jonathan said: “Ask him, when he was the Head of Government, did he buy one rifle for the Nigerian military? They refused to equip the military. Ask them what they did with their defence budget that

electioneering campaigns of the two leading political parties in Nigeria, All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, already in full swing expectation of issue- driven campaigns is widespread. This yearning cuts across party lines in a country where exchange of brickbats had hallmarked presidential campaigns since the restoration of democratic rule in 1999. But since the duo of Gen Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan of the APC and PDP kicked off their drive, the nation is being treated to accusations and counter-accusations. The development is sending wrong signals across Nigeria, where the present administration is believed not to have provided enough answers to the nagging questions on grinding poverty,insecurity and wobbling economy.

they did not equip the military.’’

At his campaign rally in Enugu, the President was believed to have sounded personal against Buhari, when he said the former can’t possibly change the country if he can’t remember his own mobile phone number

Anti-women He further accused the former Head of State of paying no attention to women while he was the Head of State. At his campaign rally in Enugu, the President was believed to have sounded personal against Buhari, when he said the former can’t possibly change the country if he can’t remember his own mobile phone number. He said that Buhari never appointed a woman into his cabinet when he was Head Of State and told women that their place would not only be in the kitchen if Buhari win but they will also die in the kitchen. The president made the statement in response to Buhari’s promise to revive the economy. “What will you do with a man who is over 70 years Conitnues on page 54

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015—15

THE METAMORPHOSIS OF UNCLE JONATHAN

A messiah or a Nebuchanezzar? DR UGOJI EBUJO

t may have been long coming but it’s a denouement now. I really hope so. It surfaced in traces publicly at the Lagos rally and acquired an unrestrained exuberance at the Enugu rally. The president is

free from something. The fight was not expected to go the long haul , decisive knockdowns were to have been achieved leaving the ritual of an election a mere formality . As it was in 2011 after Tinubu was clandestinely recruited so it should have been now. APC primaries didn’t send the opposition to the canvass. In converse it energized them and we have a fight on our hands. And like a boxing champion who had been expected to decimate his challenger in the early rounds but who must now contend with an unflinching opponent in an uncertain final round, something must give. Jonathan’s characteristic facade of calmness has been shed. It's crunch time. If internal polls conducted by his campaign group and PDP has not delivered widespread jitters then he can rely on the confession of the senate president that the race will be extremely close. Though David Mark has imbibed guile in his many years of political apprenticeship, he exuded candour in that caution. So the champion on leaving his corner for the deciding round will get to all the morale boosting “ you will do it” “ go for him” “he is a nobody” “ he is a serial loser ” but will read their eyes and see trepidation and read the exaggerated gestures of his men at his corner and find enervating fretfulness . It has not definitely gone as planned, It’s delicately balanced now. It can all end so badly. Self doubts will creep in and he will wonder if he had in the past really been tested and if he is really a lucky weakling as some have often taunted. He will nod or shake his head to resist unbelief and perhaps even contrive a smile seeking to bury the doubts . As he rises, wiping away for the last time streams of sweat, he will throw the towel back at them in his corner. Cast off with that towel is some degree of caution, restraint. The champion is rattled but now unleashed. Its now or never. The Jonathan that has been on the recent campaign trail is unmistakably a different Jonathan. Lacking in charisma, laden with good fortune, Jonathan has always had his battles fought for him by fate. Often manifestly diffident and colourless, Jonathan comes across to some as humble. Perhaps humility should be natural to him considering his shoeless beginnings but others point out that in Nigeria when the poor and lowly come by wealth and power , power suffers misuse. Yaradua took ill and left him without a word. Reticent Jonathan stayed back while others fought for him to assume the presidency. That apparent lack of ambition leaves him almost always underrated and incapable of attracting envy . He was humiliated but remained so indiffer-

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President Goodluck Jonathan ent that even his oppressors were confounded by his capacity to endure . President Yaradua passed on, the ‘cabal’ lost out and power passed on to Jonathan . Lowly , trampled –upon , vice president was literally conscripted by fate and the constitution. Some said he was meek, chose not to be ruthless, but others said he was simply overwhelmed , timid. With benefit of hindsight he navigated those circumstances fairly well. To remain calm and do nothing can be a strategy in crisis. It's not impossible he had no strategy at all besides contentment. In a sense he had over achieved. In 2011, he literally begged for a PDP ticket some others would have appropriated without scruples. He was handicapped, he lacked structures. So he negotiated with many. On the campaign trail then he danced in slow mechanical motions and churned out passionless speeches. He looked not totally convinced of the choice he had made . He made promises everywhere he went to both men and communities. Some say he promised to run only for a term. 2011 Jonathan was one handicapped by a moral burden of not disrupting the rhythm of

an agreed zoning arrangement after Yaradua’s untimely exit. The initial strong resistance by the north to prevent power from shifting back south so soon compounded his predicament and may have contributed to the manifest deficit in political authority on some issues exhibited by Jonathan. Against a failure of

CPC and ACN to reach any agreements, Jonathan only had to meet the price tags on many of the noisy politicians and the election became a mere formality. For most of his reign he remained easy going, dour and uninspiring. In a sense he invited scorn , derision and mockery. Governors bullied him and ministers engaged in many excesses. Many, including me , sometimes only had to look a little deeper to see a simple man with simple ambitions for whom the presidency had become an albatross he could not wean himself of. The nation went from crises to crises, Jonathan remained visibly calm and unperturbed, nearly imperturbable. No wonder some awarded him the epithet – “Clueless” . He didn’t help by surrounding himself with a medley of committed sycophants and veteran court jesters. Even when he made drastic interventions he showed no emotions. From Kidnappings to Boko haram upsurges and resurgences to clamorous suspicions missing oil monies, to trillion naira subsidy

scandal to Obansanjo letters , Jonathan only barked through others. Even Chibok that got the

first lady all melodramatic didn’t manage to fluster him, at least publicly. And he didn’t go there. He left many bemused. “Can’t he just fake it”? At least show convincingly that he gives a damn. Many knew he would run for 2015 elections and he confirmed their suspicions by re engineering the soul of the party to guarantee his ambitions . He bullishly moved to take over control of the then powerful governors forum in a most undignified manner. He failed , divided the forum but whittled its influence . In all these he splintered the party. The presidential elections are barely 4 weeks away and a new Jonathan has hit the campaign trail. This one cannot be said to be plastic and spineless. Sitting on the front row at the PDP Enugu rally, the president twisted and turned, asked for this and returned that. A bit restless. He may have attended to an itch or two and swatted a fly himself. He wrote , scribbled , read and wrote again as others made their speeches. He was suddenly accessible in some sense. He read his speech with the concentration of a student just about to get into an examination hall. At least he gave that impression. He had become a bit more ordinary, more spontaneous , more of himself. You could see him. When he got up to take the rostrum he danced in same mechanical, rhythm–less , sickeningly monotonous fashion of his but with more energy , more passion ,making more eye contacts seeking to energise the crowd. Perhaps he can even fake, feign things now. The new Jonathan truly reflects a desire to engage , attract support. His speech in Enugu was essentially focused on decimating his opponent. An obviously rattled Jonathan who cannot completely trust his achievement in the last 6 years to secure him a re-election must then throw in all to tar or diminish his main rival. It must be that desperation that made a democratically elected president

Continues from page 16

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

A messiah or a Nebuchadnezzar? Continued from page treat a coup speech as authoritative. He read many portions of Babangida’s coup speech ostensibly to indict Buhari. If he had read portions of Orkar’s coup speech too he would have discovered that speeches made by coup plotters mean nothing and to rely on them is naivety at a high level. If the content of his speech at Enugu had the pettiness and sheer vindictiveness that , he once theorized, make African leaders small men, the form of delivery revealed an animation and spontaneity on a big stage, qualities many African leaders

lack. But some say he was just angry and belligerent. They see the new found bellicosity as a negative acquisition but I have a different perspective .Every one knows he lacks fluency

and poise but not many know he can throw a punch in the air while making a point. “Ask them, how many guns did they buy for the military? How many helicopters did they buy? Nothing!” he thundered. He spoke with his hands, feet and soul. He was engaged. “He jailed Nwobodo for over 300 years for doing what? For stealing money not enough to buy a Peugeot? “ Kitchen sink fully deployed. A most

unpresidential comment but one that throws more light on Uncle Jona’s thought. Some say he didn’t even get to address some promises he didn’t keep and didn’t make new ones. But that is the general drift of the campaign on all sides. But when he suggested that Buhari no longer remembers his phone number , I clapped reflexively. I cheered not because the comment was not thoughtless and shameful but because we may finally have a Jonathan who can bark , push and bite. A Jonathan who perhaps can get angry, make mistakes and show regrets or defiance. While it is troubling to have a leader who inspires no confidence , who often appears

helpless, it is a profound tragedy to be led by someone whose reassurances mean little because he cannot convey or transmit any sense of commitment. Once on CNN he dabbled needlessly into the definition of corruption and inadvertently portrayed himself as someone who is tolerant of corruption. It is true that by definition stealing is not corruption but what would a Jonathan gain by elaborating that purely legalistic distinction . Culturally speaking , stealing of government funds by officials is seen by Nigerians as corruption. Jonathan has chosen to whittle Buhari’s perceived anti corruption credentials by saying Buhari was overzealous and rigid in the fight against corruption and suggested that the rich had to fear a Buhari presidency. That is a gamble. That inclination may not help him with a majority of Nigerians who are desperately poor and hold corruption responsible and see Jonathan as soft on corruption. For them , if crating corrupt officials would stop corruption then let them all be crated. The desperately poor

majority have no luxury for the ethical niceties that shield their oppressors. While his stance isn’t a product of clear thought, his fidelity to that perspective may show a more confident president. I don’t want to believe he is aloof. “My dream is to see a Nigeria without prisons” he enthused. Jonathan has saddled himself with needless liabilities. Take the choice of Fani Kayode as the face of his campaign for instance. For a government bedraggled by accusations of corruption , why make a man once prosecuted by your government for corruption the face of your campaign? Isn't that decision a self inflicted injury? But again even his choice may be interpreted as an expression of an obstinate streak. He once reversed himself on our football after FIFA barked and left some wondering if he thinks through decisions and if he can stand any grounds. Perhaps this new Jonathan would have bluffed FIFA . Keshi is still there. Some may however label him a desperate and bumbling man. While he may not have shown political astuteness in some of the positions he adopts , it is heart warming that he now has convictions he is ready to publicly defend. Perhaps one day we may get to know his thoughts on death penalty, Sharia, abortion, resource control, quota system, abandoned property and other topical social issues. Poor us. We may wait to see if these changes are reactionary and perhaps temporary or definitive and permanent. Whether he is now a Nebuchadnezzar or a messiah as different soothsayers have muted we will see. Some say he is god-sent while others now say his is bad luck embodied. 2015 elections campaigns may have changed Jonathan , the results may even change him more. If he wins it's likely an ebullient, fearless , battle ready, hands- on , president brimming with confidence would emerge for good or for bad. Taking on Boko haram and turning on corruption , firmly focused on tangible legacies. If power is allowed to corrupt then he will morph into an emperor and attempt to make the nation his foot stool. Perhaps Soyinka’s reference to Nebuchadnezzar was after all cautionary. And if he loses then a forthright elder statesman, free from shackling compromises with an unbound conscience , making peace and building bridges in gratitude to God who lifted him out of the swamps and marshlands and located him for 8 years in Aso Rock, may be born. Or we may have one more ’ motor park tout’ making dangerous mischief. The national status quo is unsustainable, the nation needs change. Win or lose the nation needs a new Jonathan.

Dr Ugoji Ebujo, MBBS, LLB, LLm (Medical Doctor and Criminology

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE Delilah: Destroyer of Samson

ever underestimate the power of a woman. Delilah, the beautiful Philistine woman, was the nemesis of the enormously strong and greatly feared Hebrew, Samson. As narrated in Judges 16:4-21, Samson was a thorn in the flesh of the Philistines who were unable to subdue him despite all attempts. Samson was blessed with great physical strength, but had a weakness for beautiful women. Eventually he fell for Delilah who the Philistines offered a huge sum of money to find out the secret of Samson’s strength. Three times Delilah asked Samson to reveal his secret as proof of his love for her and three times he gave a false answer. But she persisted. Eventually Samson fell to her feminine guile, lowered his guard and disclosed that the source of his strength resided in his bushy hair that was forbidden from being cut. Delilah waited until Samson fell asleep, then called the Philistines, divulged the secret and his luxuriant hair was shaved off. Without his hair - and therefore his strength Samson was easily overpowered. He didn’t know it, but “the Lord had left him”.

Battle of the sexes

Women who overpowered men

Herodias: John’s head on a platter of gold Herodias, a smart and beautiful woman, deviously engineered the death of John the Baptist in order to protect her marriage to her divorced husband’s half brother, Herod Antipas who was ruler of Palestine at the time of the birth of Jesus. As narrated in Mark 6:14-29, John The Baptist openly spoke against the marriage between Herod and Herodias as a violation of the law forbidding marriage to the wife of one’s brother. Although Herod did not like John’s attitude, he could not have him put to death. The worst

Vanguard , JANU ARY 17, 2015—17 JANUARY

he could do was to have him thrown into prison because he feared the people’s reaction as they regarded John to be a prophet. But even in prison, John was not dissuaded. He continued to speak out against the illegal marriage. Herodias, on her part, hated John with a passion and wished to eliminate him for good.

During a banquet in honour of Herod on his birthday, (called the dance of the seven veils), Salome, Herodias daughter, put up a splendid dancing performance. Herod was so impressed, he promised with an oath to give her whatever she desired. Salome sought her mother ’s

advice about what to ask for. Herodias saw opportunity to shut John up permanently and without a second thought, she urged Salome to ask for John’s head on a platter. Salome returned to the banquet and made her request. Herod was crestfallen, but he was bound by his oath. He had no option than to keep his promise. Herodias had her wish. John was beheaded and his head delivered on a platter of gold. Eve: Bearer of Adam’s apple The first woman in creation is the last woman standing in the ultimate test of female influence over the male. Eve is described as “an expression of the creative energy of God” when she was created from Adam (who was made in God’s own image) as his “helpmeet”. The narration in Genesis 2:18-4:2; 4:2, explain the role played by Eve in events that led Adam to disobey God’s command and eat the forbidden fruit in the search to gain new understanding and wisdom. She was deceived by the serpent and in turn deceived Adam to be disobedient. Adam, who had been placed in charge of the Garden of Eden, failed to be assertive, and without thinking or arguing, ate the forbidden fruit. Eve was weak, but Adam was weaker for not utilising his divine ability to make the right decision. He gave up the right of decision to Eve, because she was the best part of him. As a result of this act, the original harmony between humanity and nature was disrupted. The Garden of Eden was lost - as it continues to be lost, every day, in our world.

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

Celebrating Anenih’s lifetime of achievements F BY SUFUYAN OJEIFO

or those of us who have the privilege of knowing Chief Anthony Akhakon Anenih, Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), the Iyasele (Prime Minister) of Esanland, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the conferment of the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2014 on him by the Board and Management of The Sun Publishing Limited is an opportunity to celebrate this thoroughbred leader. Interestingly, the newspaper would appear to have simplified my task of looking for appropriate words and expression to capture Anenih’s lifetime of achievements with their letter. It read: “…The Sun Board of Editors voted you in recognition of your decades of distinguished service to national development. You have served the nation in high profile offices such as Minister of Works and Housing, and Commissioner of Police. You were a member of the Constitutional Conference in 1994; President of Benin Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture; Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); and also Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). “As far as the political game in Nigeria is concerned, you have proved beyond doubts that you are a master of the game; the ultimate game changer. You have indeed made your mark as one of Nigeria’s most enduring politicians; statesman and patriot. Your persistent outstanding qualities make you a worthy and deserving recipient of the 2014 edition of The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award.” The profound lines were apt summation of the Anenih persona. They must have largely accounted for his acceptance of the Award. He must also have been satisfied with the premises on which the decision to confer the Award on him was based. And, in his letter of acceptance to Adesina, he said: “I am writing to convey to you my acceptance of the Award and to let you know that I shall endeavour to be present at the ceremony to receive it. I also want to sincerely thank your organisation for this recognition and honour which I believe will, no doubt, motivate other Nigerians to make themselves available for the service of God, the nation and humanity. At the age of 82 years, I take the Award as most precious birthday present. Anenih had an outstanding performance in the police in which he enlisted after his secondary education. He participated in numerous training programmes that made him wellexposed, well-rounded and a seasoned superior police officer. One of the highpoints of his police career was

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his appointment as the first indigenous Commandant of the Police College, Ikeja, in 1975, replacing Mr Le-Clair, a Briton, who retired from the Force. He was subsequently transferred to Kano as Commissioner of Police from where he voluntarily retired in1976. Leaving behind a legacy of distinguished service in the police, Anenih ventured into business and politics, two distinct fortes where he has cut a niche for himself and positively impacted the polity. As an astute businessman, his imprimatur was evident in the setting up of Yakon Motors and Yakon Chemists in Benin and in other parts of Nigeria; Nova Hotels with branches in Uromi and Benin City; Safeway Supermarkets in Warri and Electronics shop in Enugu. His adventure into business was, however, truncated and nearly ruined by his detention from February 4, 1984 to August 4, 1985 during which time he was Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Bendel State. For no specific offence committed, like other prominent politicians at the time, who had a large following and means to control public opinion, Anenih was clamped into detention by the military. He survived the vicissitude and was able to consolidate and expand his business frontiers: he went into the oil palm farming, establishing plantations at Okhuo near Benin and at Ewohimi with prospects of expansion to other centres. Today, he has over 6000 hectares of oil palm estate. His diversification of business interests is further demonstrated by his involvement in several other concerns. He was a Director and the Nigerian representative in Adrian Volker civil engineering company Nigeria Limited, a company that built the famous ONNE Port Complex; Director and Shareholder

Chief Anthony Akhakon Anenih

Agura Hotel, Abuja from 1985– 1989. A major testimony of his business acumen was his election as the President, Benin Chambers of Commerce, Industries Mines and Agriculture between 1978 and 1984 and life Vice President of the chambers as a result of his distinguished service as President. His foray into politics has even been more successful. It was in politics that Anenih made his name which has become a household one in Nigeria today. He became the Bendel State Chairman of NPN (1981–1983), on the request of President Shehu Shagari who definitely needed his profile, personality and discipline; National Campaign Director, General Shehu Yar’Adua Presidential Campaign Organisation (1990–1991), during which time General Yar’Adua gave him the name ‘Leader’ because of Anenih’s leadership qualities; National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) (1992– 1993), and Member, National Conu tso itnal

Conference (1994–1995). The political colossus was thus in the centre stage of Nigerian politics in the hectic and agonizing months of the June 12, 1993 elections, the annulment of that election and the battle to save the soul of Nigeria. Remarkably his hands were visible in the making of Governors in old Bendel State and Edo State in 1983, 1991, 1999 and 2003. Equally remarkable was his role in the making of Presidents in 1979, 1983, 1993, 1999 and 2003 when he made invaluable contributions to the election of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. He has been playing a leading role in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaigns for all subsequent presidential elections On different occasions, Anenih had been called upon to take command as captain of the ship of political parties which were adrift in rough and tempestuous seas; and, he steered them safely to anchor. Believing that men are fallible and potentially prone to dishonesty, he learnt to work with men of various convictions, callings and visions showing a remarkable ability to adopt strategies to meet changing and challenging situations. Such has been his success in this regard that many have come to believe that, with him, failure is impossible and that he can fix any problem, no matter how daunting. Indeed, his pivotal role in the return of democratic governance and the formation of the PDP earned him the position of Federal Minister for Works and Housing from 1999 to 2002 in the Obasanjo first term. He left the ministerial appointment to become the Deputy National Coordinator of the Obasanjo Campaign Organization (2002– 2003). In the 2007 Presidential Election, Anenih,

as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, was a frontline member of the National Presidential Campaign Council, which successfully managed the party’s political campaign. Again, in the 2011 Presidential Campaign, he served in the position of Presidential Campaign Adviser, a position in which he is serving in the 2015 presidential campaign. In recognition of his immense contributions to the success of the party, he has been appointed twice as the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) (January 2009 - December 2010 and December 2012 till date). So effective was Anenih’s role in the PDP that people felt he had a hand in every policy and plan of the Party. His unparalleled political sagacity has earned him the unique privilege of being the Chairman of the Party’s Board of Trustees twice between March 2004 and June 2007 and from February 2013 till date. Thus in Nigeria’s political evolution, Anenih has proved to be a man of destiny, thrust forward by Fate, sustained by diligence, nurtured in realpolitik and pragmatism, admired by many and sanctified by providence. Indeed, acquired experience, demonstrated ability, proven competence, a sense of tolerance, patience and commitment have fashioned him to be a master planner, a fearless and dexterous politician, a far-sighted and astute businessman and a consummate political strategist. One aspect of Anenih’s life which hardly anyone knows about is his philanthropy. He is, by far, one of the most generous givers in our land. He has touched lives of individuals and institutions. For instance, in 2013, Anenih endowed a multimillion naira Geriatric Centre at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. For his worth, he has been honoured by several universities: Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port-Harcourt; University of Benin, Benin City; Igbinedion University, Okada; and, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Apart from his revered traditional title of Iyasele of Esanland, several traditional rulers have also conferred chieftaincy titles on him. Anenih holds the National Honour of CFR. Add to the list The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award. These honours speak loudly and eloquently of the contributions of this quiet and taciturn colossus, kingmaker, master-planner and an uncommon statesman to humanity.

Mr Ojeifo, publisher and journalist, is based in Abuja.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JANUARY 17, 2015—19

f a week- seven days- is said to be a long time in politics, then seven years must be an eternity. Time enough at least to write your name on marble or on a shifting sand on the beach. It took less than seven years for example for Obama and the US to bring America out of economic depression and start creating jobs and wealth again: or for Cameron to revise the downward trend of the British economy: or for the less transparent, less committed governments to sink deeper into the economic mire: or for Nigeria to become a football to be kicked around almost on all did not seem to have the baggage of an unsavoury past, a st PHD holder fronts. We were all here seven who could look the 21 century in years ago when a young, the face and bring an intellectual bent fresh and seemingly to governance, yet a humble, if innocent man from a awkward personality with a village that barely made disarming smile. In our desperation the Nigerian map came for change and desire for good to national governance, we saw what we wanted consciousness. To a to see and the responsibility must be people that wanted a ours to bear. In fairness, quite a few voices urged change from the hard, I know it all politics of an caution; but they were shouted down Obasanjo and his fellow as naysayers. Our decision was not travellers, his simplicity helped by the so called caucus that and freshness was hell bent in keeping the ailing represented a change. Yar ’Adua in power. Jonathan’s Even his lack of reticence in the ensuing power play sophistication became a positive. Many of us were so enamoured that we forgot about due diligence. We forgot to dig beyond the surface. How scholarly was this was seen as a sign of humility and PHD holder that had loyalty. It was also seen as a sign of a been presented to us? man who was not desperate for And if that was not his power. The press and the civil rights unique selling point, organisations rose up for an underdog then what was? Was it his as it were, and forced the vacillating track record as Governor, National Assembly to come up with Deputy Governor or even the doctrine of necessity. So when the Presidential elections before that? Was it his intellect, his came around in 2011, the nation was competence, his ready. We were ready for change and integrity, his character or Mr Jonathan in our minds vision? We saw a man represented this change. We ignored that seemed different the fact that he was the candidate of from the norm – a man the same party we were trying to get from a marginalised rid of; we ignored the fact that Mr minority, a fresh face that know it all Obasanjo was his de facto campaign manager; that Mr Fix It

The squadering of goodwill and his reprehensible brand of politics was not far from the centre stage; and that a lion cannot give birth to a cat. We wanted a change and we wanted to give the caliphate, those who felt they were born to rule, a strong blow and Mr Jonathan represented a unique opportunity to kill two birds with a stone. Now, four years later, who is reeling from the blows of a misguided judgement? It seems so infantile, so naïve these days to hear ‘I voted for Jonathan and not for PDP’ but that was the mantra then. That was the illogical, emotional reasoning behind Mr Jonathan’s landslide

Today, four years later, the story is remarkably different

victory in 2011. And that was how Mr Jonathan, preaching transformation, preaching change, got into Aso Rock. His good will was so much that AC as APC was then known, ignored its own Presidential candidate and voted enmass for Jonathan. Today, four years later, the story is remarkably different. It seems pretty certain, from the comments in the print and social media, that his huge deposit of goodwill has been squandered. He said two years ago that he was the most abused President in the world. I wonder what he will say today about the

oo many people are today being deceived that their future is hopeless and that nothing good can come out of it. They have been lied to by Satan that change is not possible. Some believe this lie or their present situation because probably they have tried certain things for years and yet no positive change has occurred. Thus, they have concluded that their lives can never be better. God has sent me to you today to let you know that His thought concerning you is of peace and not of evil and to give you an expected glorious end, a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11). God did not create you with a destiny that is useless. God is a glorious God. Everything He does is wonderful. This is why I know that your life is planned with great wonders waiting to happen. Don’t believe the lie that your present status is your destiny. It is not true. It can be changed. You can change it. Jabez in the Bible, was given the name by his mother. Jabez means sorrow, pain, displeasure etc. Jabez was not responsible for his mother’s condition at birth yet the mother gave him a name that for a season was controlling his life. He saw himself as a hopeless person. Nothing seems to work for him. His brothers were celebrated everywhere they went while he was neglected. He was not recognized. He was despised by all. Everywhere he turned to, he could only see sorrow. His life was not only complicated but also messed up. To man there was no way out for him. He has no future and so he was not important. One beautiful thing about this

You can cchange hange the situation

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whole situation was that his case seems unbearable. One would be wondering where is God? After all Jabez did not conceive himself, why should he be made to suffer unjustly. The truth is that before any man is formed God already knows. Remember Jer. 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations”. So you see the destiny of a man is not in the hands of any man. It is in your hands. God never creates anyone useless. There is no uselessness in God. He is an excellent God. Thus you are an excellent person. You may not look like it right now but

that is the truth. Shortly, all those that look down on you will regret it because your destiny will soon change for good. The best of God in your life will start to show forth. I perceive a stirring up in your Spirit. It is time to rise up. Jabez accepted his situation until a day and time like this when he said to himself God is a good God and so my destiny cannot be hopeless but colourful. He rose and saw himself beyond been sorrowful. He saw that there is a God who changed the life of Jacob and made up his mind to call upon that same God that is the same yesterday, today and forever. The God who said call upon me and I will hear and answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not presently know. Thus, in 1 Chron. 4:9-10, the Bible states, “And Jabez was more

negative comments making the rounds. And from the way these comments keep going round, you could tell they resonate with a lot of people. I have watched a couple of his campaigns and he seems defensive and angry. His anger has also led him to make some unpresidential remarks which could hurt him further. In talking about his achievements, he has generalised where details and statistics would have helped- after all that is one of the advantages of incumbency. His billboards preach change instead of consolidation. This in itself is an admission of failure. He should be preaching continuity if he was proud of his six years in Aso rock. All told, you get the impression that his campaign handlers are either complacent or clueless. Mr Jonathan needs to connect meaningfully with the people he has led for six years; he needs to sway those who are still nervous about a Buhari presidency. He has to show how the next four years will be different. Unfortunately, he is not doing this. He is still

honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Isreal, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested”. From the text above, Jabez’s destiny as orchestrated by the devil through the mother was changed by him. Jabez had to rise to the reality that he was not created for pain, shame and sorrow. This applies to you today. You can change your destiny now. The God who did it for Jabez will also do N Z A M W it for you. First, do you G F O really desire A O a change? W H o w A P R I L desperate are you? S N When you are truly P I A N O

For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 08023062635 08168955932; 08033378769. E-mail: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org. Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C 1011711622.

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

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desperate for a change, change will become inevitable. Call on God now from the depth of your heart. Cry out like the Israelites did while in Egypt and God will hear you and change your destiny. Satan has denied you your glorious destiny for too long and it’s time to put an end to it now. Pray fervently about the change you desire and your destiny will begin to shine. God bless you, our great nation Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan. Have you given your life to Jesus? If not, please pray this prayer. Father, I come to you as I am. I invite Jesus into my life to be my personal Lord and Saviour. Wash me cleanse with the blood of Jesus and empower me with the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank you Father for saving my soul and making me your child. I

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doing what he has done throughout his tenure which is to blame everybody but himself for the ills of the country. Its sad to see how a man whose popularity and goodwill transcended his party, who won so massively in spite of people’s disenchantment with PDP could become the butt of jokes and ridicule in less than four years. But the signs were always there. First, he refused to acknowledge, even to himself, that people were not happy with PDP and wanted a credible alternative because he refused to distance himself from all that was abhorrent in the party. A man who cannot clean the inside of his house cannot clean the compound. Then his insecurity and lack of courage made it difficult for him to take prompt decisions on national ills and even on reports of committees set up by him thereby allowing many wounds to fester. The opportunities to heal the country were wasted because of the people around him and his personal failings. His vision to transform the country could not take off because of the indiscipline and the love of money which beclouded decisions at the upper echelon of government. He talked the talk on poverty, unemployment, insecurity and corruption but he could not walk the walk. All these eroded his stock of goodwill. Mr Jonathan might seem a nice man. In fact people who have met him describe him as polite and respectful. However, not many people describe him as a leader of men.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

n 1925, Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first President, began the trend of travelling across the Atlantic by boat to the United States of America in search of educational advancement. And it is partly because of Zik’s pioneering zeal for higher education that the number of Nigerian immigrants today in United States stands at over 500,000; with many of them involved in every sector of the American economy. Before the attraction with postsecondary education in the U.S. took roots, the United Kingdom was the popular destination for Nigerians seeking higher education abroad. They included some prominent indigenes such as former foreign minister Dr. Okoi Arikpo who studied at Oxford University and Sir Egbert Udo Udoma, a former Nigerian Supreme Court Justice and Ugandan Chief Justice who studied at Trinity College, Dublin as well as Oxford University. Not too long after Zik arrived for studies at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania he was joined by Eyo Ita. In a paper on the motivation for Zik to seek post-secondary education in the U.S., Levi Nwachukwu states: “Slavery had dehumanized the Africans, colonialism had marginalized him politically and oppression as well as exploitation had physically and psychologically bruised him. Lincoln’s mission was to restore his dignity through the enlightenment which education provides.” And I believe this was a spur also for many other Nigerians of that era in their quest for education abroad. Ita and Azikiwe, who both played pivotal roles towards Nigeria’s independence, were among a select group of about 20 Nigerian students that traveled across the Atlantic before 1938 to study in the US, according to James Coleman in his book “Nigeria: Background to Nationalism.” Among these pioneering students were Mbonu Ojike, Nwafor Orizu, and Ozuomba Mbadiwe. And so began a trend that helped to produce the first set of activists that helped to propel Nigeria toward independence in 1960. Among these early trailblazers was Dr. Esenowo J. Esenowo, OON, who I interviewed recently. With financial assistance from his people in Eket, Dr. Esenowo left the shores of Nigeria in January 1950 for a circuitous boat (you could only travel by boat then) journey that took him through Marseille, France through London before arriving New York three months later on the SS Banfoura. At Howard University Washington D.C., where he was enrolled to study medicine, Dr. Esenowo was just one of a few Nigerian students. And it is quite interesting listening to this renown physician as he recalled his days in college during the height of segregation. It wasn’t too long after his arrival that he got the first shock of his many experiences of racism. It

The early trek for American education

Okoi Arikpo occurred during his first trip outside campus for a haircut. “As I entered the saloon after a Whit eman had just finished his haircut I was told “Get out, we don’t barb niggers here.” Although, times have changed, this was obviously a shock for the young Esenowo, who said it was taboo for African students to venture out of campus then. “In my time it was incomprehensible to think that a black man could be president,” he reflected on how times have changed, emphasized by the presidency of Barack Obama. It was because of this racial pattern that Esenowo, and three other Nigerian students at Howard, decided to head west to California, after graduation from medical school in 1956. And California turned out to be

Nnamdi Azikiwe a breath of fresh air for the four Nigerians, especially for Esenowo who initially practiced medicine at the General Hospital in Fresno. Esenowo’s closest friend during his sojourn in America, was Etukudo Essien (my mother ’s brother) who arrived in 1950 to study first at Morehouse College for his first degree and then his Master’s at Atlanta’s Bradley University which is recognized as one of the top universities in the Midwest by U.S.News & World Report. Like his friend Esenowo, my uncle Essien Etukudo, also arrived the shores of America with one portmanteau, the goodwill of his people back home, and an ambition to prove himself in God’s own country. Among my Uncle’s peers at

Morehouse College were the late Babatunde Olatunji, perhaps Africa’s best known drummer, Godwin Odenigwe, a professor and former adviser in President Shehu Shagari’s cabinet; and Olu Akinwowo, a professor of Sociology at Ondo State University. These Nigerian’s and a supporting cast of AfricanAmericans introduced the African culture to area students in 1953 through a dance drama Osisiganyan, adapted from the Delta. Essien returned home in 1955 with a master’s degree in Sociology to join a corps of young Nigerian graduates trained in the UK and USA that helped establish the first batch of the nation’s civil servants. Soon after his return Etukudo Essien was employed in the Eastern House of Assembly as the First Clerk of the house, and rose through the ranks to become Permanent Secretary Ministry of Lands in the Eastern Region in 1964, and was based in Enugu until the civil war broke out in 1967. Like many other Nigerians who got swept up in an ethnic turmoil beyond their control, Esenowo and Essien ended up on both sides of Nigeria’s civil war divide. Essien was also separated from his immediate family throughout the war. Esenowo, courtesy of a federal government scholarship, proceeded to the United Kingdom for a postgraduate degree in medicine, while his best friend Essien served in the administrative think tank of the Biafran government. To illustrate how the war created divisions between family and friends, Esenowo recalls an article written by Essien published in the London Times in 1967, where Essien who was then working for the Biafran leader, General Odimegwu Ojukwu, was critical of the idea of the creation of South Eastern State by General Yakubu Gowon, because there were not enough technocrats to support the state. This letter sparked a war of words between the two friends and prompted an invitation to Biafra House in London, which Esenowo declined for safety reasons. But in the spirit of reconciliation both friends were to reunite at the end of the civil war when Essien returned from Biafra in 1970 to join the civil service of the government of South Eastern Nigeria as a permanent secretary in the administration of Governor Udoakaha Jacob Esuene. He lived with Esenowo until he and his family were able to get their own place. The story of Esenowo and Essien (whose accomplishments as a Permanent Secretary in South Eastern State’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs and Social Welfare included the refurbishing of Immanuel Hospital in Eket) somewhat symbolizes the unique challenges faced by this group of pre-independence change agents, who sought postsecondary education in the U.S., to develop their young nation.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015—21

22 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

By KEHINDE AJOSE 08024212530

I don’t mind flaunting my curves — Emma Nyra

EbonyLife TV auditions for ‘Play 2 Win’ By ANOZIE EGOLE

frica’s first Global Black Entertainment and Lifestyle network, Ebonylife TV, has announced the commencement of daily auditions for its new TV Game Show titled Play2Win. The game show, is an original creation of the EbonyLife TV channel and is O doubt, Emma Nyra is a hot diva who poised to be an exciting platform where contestants are doesn’t have any qualms about flaunting her expected to show up in pairs of either friends, family or curves. The For My Matter star revealed in a chat colleagues, to get a chance to play to with Showtime that she is set for bigger win mouthwatering cash and fantastic accomplishments this year. prizes. “What I will be doing differently this year is to The audition for Play2Win is open expand my brand especially with bigger to entertaining and eloquent groups accomplishments such as endorsements and my of two individuals who are thrilled by album will definitely be released later this year” the opportunity of taking part in an Emma Nyra who is basking in the euphoria of exciting TV Game Show and are For my matter video release said she is surprised excited about the prospect of winning at how far the song has gone. cash and prizes in the process. The “I am extremely surprised at how far the song gift items ranges from personal care has gone. The video has one hundred thousand products, gadgets, and household views in one week of release” She revealed. appliances to destination travels, and When asked if she sees herself as someone loads more. In each half-hour episode who exposes too much of her sensuality, she said: of Play2Win, successful playing “I just wear what suits me. I am not trying to be partners will answer questions from sexy. I just don’t mind flaunting my curves. I selected categories to include Afro Pop am happy with the body God gave me.” (music, media, celebrities, etc.), food, fashion, home and garden, among •Mo Abudu others.

•Emma Nyra

The problem with gospel artistes

Yemi Alade turns lo lovve priest

— Nosa N

IGERIAN gospel artiste, Nosa has disclosed that he is happy with the way his career has been so far, but he isn’t satisfied. The Chocolate City artiste popular for his hit song ‘Pray for you’ in an interview with Showtime has this to say: “I am happy with the way my career is going, but I can’t be satisfied because there is always more. If there is more to be achieved then I can’t be satisfied. I am grateful, but not satisfied. Commenting on the reason gospel artistes are not getting their due recognition, he said: “Gospel artistes are not getting their due recognition and its all due to them. We don’t have a structure in place and we don’t have the mindset that will get us that recognition. There is a problem with the tag ‘Gospel’. There is a problem with the definition. There is a problem with the mindset that goes with that tag. It’s a big problem. “

•Nosa

VEN though Yemi Alade sings about finding her Johnny and uses metaphors like ‘Tangerine’ to describe the one she loves, no one knows who the gorgeous diva has the hots for. While other celebrities were using their instargram accounts to wish their fans a blissful new year, she decided to take a different direction by preaching love. In her words: “Does our generation understand love? Do the people we go so far for love, value our actions or even identify it as love? Will love be enough? Where do we go from here? Identify the selfless people around you and love them back for continuously loving you without asking for anything in return” •Yemi Alade

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015 — 23

By AYO ONIKOYI, 08052201215

Secret behind Chidinma’s hits

Obesere’s son, Lekan Akande floats record label

— Tha Suspect

…signs two artistes

HA suspect has disclosed the secret behind Chidinma’s continuous hits. The music producer who also works with Capital Hills owned by the famed music video producer Clarence Peters , in a chat with Showtime has revealed the secret behind Chidinma’s hits. “I am the in-house producer for Chidinma and also in charge of her lyrics too. The only thing responsible for Chidinma’s rise will be the grace of God. Sometimes, its not just about the talent , its also about what God expects you to do with what he gives you. Chidinma’s determination and will power is also part of it. She wants to survive in the music industry”. Commenting on what makes him stand out, the multi talented artiste says its his ability to infuse humour in his songs. “The fact that I infuse humour in my music has made me different. Even if I want to talk about the government, I still add humour to the music. Finding something people can connect with has also been my selling point. One of the things the industry does to you is that, you get too used to the glamour and you forget about the fact that you are human. I never want to lose that side of me because it is responsible for my music and the character they know as Tha Suspect.”

BY IYABO AINA

EKAN Akande, first son of famous Fuji musician, Obesere, has joined the leagues of superstars who are proud owners of record labels as he floats his own label called ‘’R-Entertainment. The Dublin based young music promoter confirmed this development at the unveiling of the label in Ikeja, Lagos. He disclosed that about two up and coming acts have been signed under the label and are billed to hit the airwaves this week with their new promotional singles titled Pawon and Soyoyo respectively. Explaining why he established the record label, Lekan said he has a desire to provide a platform where

emerging acts can actualise their dreams. He further stated that having understudied the Nigerian hip-hop music industry for the last three years and having done a couple of projects underground for top Nigerian artistes in Dublin, his team is ready to add the needed value to the industry and place it more appropriately on the international map. “I started R-Entertainment three years ago. It is about promoting music in Africa. I have been collaborating with top promoters in Dublin. I was part of the team that brought Wizkid, Davido and others from Nigeria. I just felt it is about time I come back home to add value to what we have now. We are not going to copy anyone” he enthused

•Lekan Akande and artistes Tha-suspect

Chindinma

I am w or king on m wor orking myy stage per perfformances — Eva F

emale rapper, Eva Alordiah has revealed she will be doing music differently in 2015.The rapper cum beauty entrepreneur who once said she couldn’t handle the pressure of dating an artiste in the Nigerian entertainment industry, in a chat with Showtime said she will be working more on her stage interpretations. “I cannot speak for everyone else ,but I will be doing music differently in 2015. From creating the sounds, to how the videos are shot and most definitely my stage interpretations. I am pretty excited about the year 2015 and I am sure a lot of people are too.”

Why I featured Olamide in my single — Oyinkansade

yinkansade Akande broke into the music industry when he emerged as one of the finalists on MTN’s Project Fame West Africa. The fast-rising Afropop sensation, signed to Tee-Y mix’s Vivace’s records in a chat with Showtime revealed that infusing Fuji and RnB in his music makes him unique. “ Infusing my Fuji and RnB flavour makes me sound unique. I think I am true to myself and I don’t try to be who I am not. “ Commenting on the reason why he featured Olamide in the remix of his song Adura he said: “I picked on Olamide because he appears to be the artiste who can interpret the song the way I wanted it to be done. When asked if sex sells in entertainment, he said: “ Sex sells, but talent should supersede that. The talent should be focused on asides the sex appeal”

Oyinkansade C M Y K

24—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

Filmmaking: ‘My sweet and sour story’ •Kunle Afolayan

Ibinabo’s romance with politics!

Why Nollywood endorsed Jonathan N

ewly married ex-beauty queen, Ibinabo Fiberesima in recent times has shown the strong passion she has for politics. Despite not running for any elective position in the land, the incumbent president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria,AGN, is surely delving into politics. She has been everywhere campaigning for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan in the forthcoming elections. In fact, Ibinabo is leaving no stone unturned in her bid to ensure that Mr. President remains in office beyond 2015. During the week, the actress took to her facebook page to explain why Nollywood practitioners have endorsed Jonathan's re-election bid. She accused Nigerians of being 'unappreciative' of Mr. President's intervention in most sectors of the nation's economy. According to her, "Let me briefly explain why Nollywood and indeed the creative sector seem to have endorsed GEJ for second tenure. He sets up a $200 million loan scheme residing with bank of Industry and Nexim bank, already accessible to numerous stakeholders, building big screens, DVD/CD replicating plants... Through Project Act initiative, 240 practitioners have benefited in skill enhancement trainings in the US, India, UK, South Africa and Nigeria respectively. I am one of the beneficiaries. Also, he approved film production grant of an average of 7million naira to 120 film producers and directors...I am also a beneficiary of this project. In addition, he provided N2 billion through project Act for the development of Nigerian film distribution among others. No president has demonstrated such huge love, respect and support for the creative sector."

“Filmmaking is a passion; I give it all. It is sad because I compromise on everything, even family. That’s why it’s sad.” Kunle Afolayan said while speaking at the last edition of the Nollywood Studies Centre’s Filmmakers Forum. But the award winning filmmaker went on to add that filmmaking has to be more than passion. “We have to feed,” Afolayan stated, “and that is where the business comes in. If money doesn’t come in after the film comes out, then the business will close.” Hence the need for a sense of business. Speaking on the topic, “Successful filmmaking: The art of combining creativity and a good business sense,” Afolayan shared with the audience the various business approaches he had taken in the production of his films. He drew out key lessons from his experience with each film. Beginning with his first film, “Irapada”, he narrated that the idea for the film was not originally his; he was invited to take part in the production after the original producer found he could not continue on his own. However, disagreements due to distrust from the other party involved led to the eventual dissolution of the partnership, and he purchased the full

rights to the film. This experience, he said, taught him the importance of documenting the entire process, especially the agreements. The Figurine, Afolayan said, was the most difficult film he has ever worked on. One of the challenges was that of raising funds. The original budget for the film was N50 million. To obtain this sum, he sought to get product placements as well as interested private investors. However, he ended up taking personal loans because banks and private investors were not ready at that time to give loans for films since the guarantees they required were not there. From the production of this film, Afolayan said, he understood the importance of pre-production publicity. Holding a press conference at the beginning of production is a means not just of creating general awareness but, more importantly, of generating interest on the part of investors. In the case of The Figurine, as a result of the pre-release publicity, MTN offered to sponsor the premiere of the film. The film went on to make a gross of over 20 million Naira in the cinema. But Afolayan stressed that the gain from The Figurine was not the money; rather it was the fact that it served to establish his production company, Golden Effects, obtaining international

recognition for it. Afolayan’s third film, Phone Swap, presented a challenge of a different sort – the challenge of having to compromise artistic integrity for money. On Phone Swap, he said the film had its genesis when a telephone company approached him to make a ‘bright’ film that would appeal to those between the ages of 25 and 35 years. However, the company eventually decided that the budget was too high and backed off. Eight months later, Afolayan decided to go ahead with the production of the film and went shopping for sponsors. He made presentations to various telephone companies, but none of them accepted to sponsor it. However, he was made an ambassador of Glo at about this time, and the company agreed to put in fifteen million Naira. But when the film was finished, and just before its premiere, a disagreement arose over one of the actors. The company insisted that the actor be removed and replaced with someone else. Afolayan refused to do this

because he saw the actor as the right person for the part and, besides, this would have damaged the professional opportunities of the actor. In the face of his refusal, the company withdrew its support. ‘October 1", Afolayan’s latest film, also had its beginning when he was approached by a company that wanted to have a film made for fifty million Naira. Afolayan agreed that it would be a ‘small film’. He called for scripts but did not get anything worthwhile. He reached out to Tunde Babalola who came up with a treatment for October 1. The

Filmmakers’ Forum is a monthly activity of the Nollywood Studies Centre of the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University.

Filmmaker turns Records label owner, signs Dr. Luv P

ioneer actor and action filmmaker, Tarila Obrebai Thompson is currently engaged in the business of discovering talents. His newly

•Ibinabo

established outfit, El Montage Records has been signing and providing a solid platform for talented young Nigerians to make their dreams come true. The latest on the list is Victor Enang whose stage name is Dr. Luv. The Akwa-Ibom State-born entertainer is due to drop his maiden album including the smash hit single, “Sexy Lady.” The versatile artiste strongly believes that his genre of music, Afro hip soul, has the capability of healing many troubled souls, especially the ladies-hence the name, Dr. Luv.He is also a sound engineer and music producer who has worked with some of the big names and brands within and outside the country. “I started as a music producer very early in life, but music has always been my first love. I have worked with virtually all the big studios in the east before relocating to Lagos. Some of my productions include Eedris Abdulkareem, Orits Williki, Wadada, Candy Sea, Rosemary Chukwu and several others.” Some of the big brands Dr. Luv has produced for include, MBGN, Peak Talent Show, X Factor, Nigerian Idol and many others. He has equally traveled extensively around the world. Aside singing, Dr. Luv also doubles as the in-house producer of ElMontage Records. On signing on Dr Luv, Thompson said,

•Dr. Luv

“Dr. Luv, is a star whose time has come to shine and there is nothing anybody can do about that. It gives me joy discovering and nurturing raw talents. From the first day I saw him, I knew there was something special about Dr. Luv."

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015 —25

Nigerian Idol season 5:

Dede Mabiaku, Yinka Davies, Darey return as judges O

ne of the pioneer judges of Nigerian Idol who was dropped last year, Yinka Davies, alongside Afrobeat performer, Dede Mabiaku and RnB singer, Darey ArtAlade, during the week were unveiled as the new judges for season 5 of the reality TV show. Also, On-Air Personaltity, IllRymz will be returning as the host of the show. Unveiling the judges on Wednesday at Mela Rossa, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria’s fastest growing telecommunications company, Etisalat, reiterated its continued sponsorship of the show. Speaking at the event, Director, Brand and Experience, Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye, said the sponsorship of the competition for 5 consecutive years reflects the company’s commitment to Nigerian youths. “As a company, we are cognizant of the importance of connecting with all our customers and we recognize that music and entertainment resonate with the youth who are a key market segment for us. Sponsoring Nigerian Idol is our way of helping thousands of musically gifted Nigerian youths to live their dreams. So we are very excited to announce

(L-R): Nigerian Idol Season 4 winner, Evelle, performing during the media launch (L-R): Nigerian Idol Season 4 Judges, Dede Mabiaku, Yinka Davies and Darey Art Alade at the event. that we remain the headline sponsors of Nigerian Idol,” he said. “This year, we are raising the bar of the show; we are in search of music talents that stand out. We want to see young and dynamic talent bring creativity and originality into music.” He concluded. Multi-talented neo-soul singer, Yinka Davies, will be returning as a judge for the new

A C V M A r fo y d a e r e We ‘r oss b t e -n M s y a s , 5 1 0 2 A

season of Nigerian Idol, alongside Multi-award winning R&B singer, Darey Art-Alade and Afro Beat legend, Dede Mabiaku. On-Air Personaltity, Ill-Rymz will also be joining the judging trio as the host of the season. The media launch featured numerous fun-filled activities such as a mini-Press Idol Competition.But the closing performance by

to the success of the t tha ted night, M-net boss hinabout the television head of this year ’s ’ ed cit e are very ex “W ers ew Vi ic ag industry. aM is ric It Af nominations this year. A, the This year ’s the t tha n Choice Award,AMVC t Africa), tio clearly an indica es (W tor awards rec Di the l s na ain Regio award ceremony rem the zoukwu, ceremony is in M-net, Wangi Mba-Urs are ng st wanted thi mo ise an org the billed to hold d the ize id has sa We have organ . try us to ind ck clo the on the 7th of ar working round r award for the third ye better and ula tac ec sp er Mrach. oth an er deliv runnning. It’s getting arding Recall that rew en awards night. be bigger. It has ing ard reg te the d at da an up g ed nt Givin talents as we wa veiling of un g ttin ge build-up to this year ’sbaen it has be M nees for y, mi on no es rem tiv ce tia s award engagement ini t tha d se ye s clo thi ar ’s Uzoukwu dis as we wanted it. We do en be at edition, last ve wh ha l ea tes the vo not want to rev t tha g din December, Kunle ’s very high, ad to expect at this year s film Afolayan’s film, the we y of e “som ard. That’s wh aw t en fer dif “October 1” led the nominated in want to attend the the way with 13 of es ori categ event. “ n nominations. Other award are Since the maide movies that also currently edition in 2013, earned multiple doing very the AMVCAs ed nominations include rat the leb at ce has well Rita Dominic’s “The the box office.” Meeting”, Lancelot contributions While Imasuen-Oduwa’s AY of African declining to rs, “Invasion 1897” and ke at ma wh l film revea •Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu d Makun’s 30 Days in . actors an to expect at Atlanta amongst others technicians this year ’s awards

Nigerian Idol Season 4 winner, Evelle Zibili was the climax of the night. With her dramatic performance of her latest single, ‘I’m Naughty’ and her soulful rendition of other hit songs, Evelle held the guests spellbound with her tremendous running notes and

energetic stage presence. Nigerian Idol has grown steadily in popularity, especially among the youth, since inception. The winner of this year’s competition will cart away a brand new SUV and a 7.5 million naira cash prize, amongst other rewards.

‘Birdman,’ ‘Budapest’ lead Oscar nominations B

“

oyhood and Birdman” continued to rule as the darlings of the awards show season, at least in the major categories, but American Sniper came on strong. And The Grand Budapest Hotel emerged a leader in Thursday’s 2015 Oscar nominations. Birdman and Budapest lead the Oscar pack with nine nods each. Birdman, starring Michael Keaton as an actor desperately hoping for a comeback, earned best picture, best actor, supporting actor and supporting actress and best director, along with original screenplay, sound mixing, sound editing and cinematography. Budapest, the quirky movie starring Ralph Fiennes, got nods for picture and director, along with cinematography, costume design, film editing, hair and makeup, original score, original screenplay and production design. The Imitation Game was next, with eight nominations, including actor, supporting actress, director, film editing, original score, production •Birdman design, adapted screenplay and picture. Fresh off its Golden Globes wins for best drama, best director and supporting actress, Boyhood, the $4 million movie filmed over 12 years with the same cast, snagged director, picture, supporting actor and actress Oscar nominations, along with original screenplay and film editing. Boyhood earned six nods, as did American Sniper.

26 — SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

BY IYABO AINA

Usher finally engage longtime girlfriend

ccording to multiple reports, 36-year-old singer Usher Raymond is finally engaged and ready to marry his manager and girlfriend of more than five years, Grace Miguel. Miguel who is eight years older than her groom-to-be has worked with Usher for three years. “I have an incredible partner and manager,” Usher said of Miguel. “She has helped me through some of the hardest times in my life and my career.” Usher further explained exactly what it is he loves about his woman, a departure from his usual policy of keeping his relationships private. “She’s someone who has been able to support and understand all of who I am. Not just as a dancer or as a performer or as a singer, but as a humanitarian and a businessman and as a person,” he said. “One thing that has come from having a great partner like Grace is being able to cherish the places that I’ve gone. We see the massive sites, go to the museums, eat in the best restaurants. I’m that guy now! In the past I’d do what I have to do and get on the bus to the next city. Life has become a vacation.” Recall that Usher, who is dad to sons Naviyd Ely and Usher Raymond V, was previously married to Foster from 2007 to 2009.

Chris Brown in gunshot saga!

merican recording artiste, actor and dancer Chris Brown, who is known as a controversial act is in the news again, this time it’s in a gunshot saga. Report has it that Chris was onstage at a San Jose nightclub early Sunday morning when gunshots rang out leaving at least five people injured and it was all caught on video. The report says Brown was singing at 1:20 AM and the crowd seemed peaceful enough , until suddenly, gunshots began ringing out and sending everyone including Chris into panic. Four people were rushed to the hospital and one victim left and showed up at the ER later. Several people were detained but reports say it’s unclear if anyone was arrested.

Ray J makes offer to buy a house on Kim Kardashian’s Street

im Kardashian’s sex-tape co-star Ray J is making an offer to buy a house just eight doors down from Kim’s house. “Ray J is like a bad habit Kim Kardashian just can’t kick, because he’s just made an offer to buy a house on her street”, says a source. Kim’s former sex tape partner just wrote a $2.7 million offer to buy a Hidden Hills mansion eight doors down from Kim and Kanye. Ray and his business manager, David Weintraub, were spotted inspecting the house on Friday afternoon and then wrote the offer. When asked why he wants to live so close to Kim, Ray says it’s already his hood, as he lived in the vicinity longer than Kim so if anything she’s the carpetbagger.

C M Y K

Jeremy Renner replies critics on Jennifer Lopez cleavage joke at Golden Globes

fter making headlines for his off-the-cuff remark about Jennifer Lopez’s cleavage at Golden Globes awards on Sunday, Jan. 11, the newly single Avengers: Age of Ultron actor took to twitter to indirectly address some of the criticism leveled against him. Recall that during the Golden Globe Sunday telecast, Renner, 44, took the stage with Lopez, 45, to present the Golden Globe for Best Mini-Series/Drama. When it came time for the two to announce the winner, the Boy Next Door actress volunteered to open the envelope, saying, “I have the nails.” Also, the Mission Impossible 5 action star nonchalantly glanced at her chest, quipping, “You’ve got the globes, too.” Lopez laughed off the comment, but people watching from home weren’t as quick to let him off the hook, as one viewer tweeted, “Jeremy Renner just sexually harassed JLo on live TV.” Another wrote simply: “Ew, Jeremy

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015—27

Fashion Extravaganza as Uyo Fashion Forward Week holds

fter a fantastic premiere event on October 5th, 2014; Uyo Fashion Forward week returns this year, with three days of fashion extravaganza. Holding from January 23 25, 2015 at Aroma House, Ewet Housing, Uyo, the Fashion Forward is an annual event that showcases the best of fashion talents and creates a platform for new talents to show their art. The event brings together the crème of up-and-coming designers, established designers, Photographers, models, makeup Artists, Hairstylists, Accessories designers, Fashion stylists, Brand Managers and the Press, to the Akwa Ibom capital. The three day event will see 10 young designers compete on the first day for the Kardynal Style Selection Young Designer of the Year 2014 Award. A directional awards annually presented to spotlight and develop the fashion and Style industry, recognize the arbiters of style, and the creativity that it takes to become same. Day 2, features a Makeup exhibition at Ndito Boys & Girls Family House, Ewet Housing Estate and a fashion show tagged Amazing Grace; a gospocentric rendition of the Haddasah story. On the final day of the Uyo Fashion Forward Week, Akwa Ibom girls that are looking to move up to supermodel status, will

Baileys Inspires women through fashion

hen fashion, beauty and style is put together to make an offering, there is a great tendency of attraction a gathering of women of class and style. This is the reason behind Baileys’ sponsorship of the 2014 African International Fashion Week (AIFW) and the Exquisite Ladies of the Year (ELOY) Awards 2014 in Lagos recently. At the 2014 AIFW, Baileys, world’s number one cream liqueur from the stable of Diageo, chose to inspire African women by encouraging the talents and creativity that reward and celebrate them. The African International Fashion Week (AIFW) is an initiative focused on building and promoting talents through platforms that showcase the creativity of talented designers. The event, a three day activity

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be competing for the Uyo Model of the Year 2014 title, with a chance to participate in the White Ribbon Nigeria Supermodel competition by November, this year. For Ubong ‘Kardynal’ Ekanem, Creative Director of Kardynal Kommunikationz and initiator of the Fashion Forward Series the aim of the show he says is the promotion of creative arts, talent management, and positive image “ we are proud to liaise with Fashion Academy Lagos and Feron Nigeria to activate an internship programme for the young designers that will come out top from the Young Designers contest at the Uyo Fashion Forward Week.” he revealed. Some Up-and-coming designers that will showcase at the fashion week include; David Obed (Macdobee), Amanda Akah (Amanda Mykel) Anita Chukwuma (AnnyKris Designs), Ekaette Udoh (Ekaite Imeh), Enomfon Akpan (Freespirit) Jennifer Akong (Mania by Jennifer Akong) amongsts others. Guest Designers are Feron Aaron, Zhalima Grazioni (Allure Young Designer of the Year 2014), and Ivorian based Jame Wale Fambegbe.

packed fashion show, took place at the Oriental Hotel and Muri Okunola Park in Lagos, celebrated Africa’s established and emerging fashion designers who are striving to portray the African continent in unique and colourful ways to

the world through their neoteric pieces. As part of the three-day activities, Baileys hosted the Ladies Night Out party, a Baileys’ novel initiative, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel. The party had the Cocktail

specialist, Lara Rawa of Eventi Cocktail, treat guests to variety of ways to style their Baileys while the award winning BM Pro did the makeup touches for the fabulous ladies who attended the event. There was also a runway fashion show by renowned designer, Ituen Bassey. The producer of the festival, Joan Okorodudu expressed her pleasure at Baileys involvement with AIFW. A highpoint of the grand finale of the AIFW was the runway display of a special design collection which was inspired by Baileys. It was designed by foremost Nigerian designer Mon Ami.Also on display at this Fashion show were collections from renowned designers such as Carducci, Gozel Green, Salem Signature, Totally Ethnic, Modella B and a host of others.

Ufuoma Udjoh, Baileys Brand Manager, relishes Baileys’ association with African International Fashion Week 2014. “We are excited with our partnership with the African International Fashion Week.Baileys is a brand that appeals uniquely to women and what we are doing is celebrating creativity that boosts the timeless appeal in women in a fresh and contemporary way”.. Explaining Baileys’ sponsorship of the awards, Udjoh said that Baileys is committed to celebrating contemporary women in their various fields of endeavours. She further said that Baileys is always ready to create or support a platform to celebrate our women and ELOY awards held recently provided the right platform to celebrate Nigerian women.

28—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

When your sex life is boring “

Y wife and I are bored with our sex life. We love each other, but cannot seem to find the time or urge for sex again,” a friend who’s been married 17 years confided in me recently. After three children, the youngest clocking 10 in February, the couple’s love life has been in a rut for years and they want to get out. The last sexual encounter either could remember was an early morning quickie that created more frustration than pleasure. Indeed the excitement and spark present at the beginning has waned significantly. It wasn’t surprising news, but how could I help? Although in a long-term relationship, they are into a routine that takes up time for everything in their lives, except them. With too much to do, they are too tired for love when the need arises. They are workaholics, leaving home at the crack of dawn and not getting back before 10pm each day. All their children are in boarding school, so no school runs except during visitation and holidays. Even then, this couple’s social life is non-existent – no parties, no night-clubbing, the odd Church service, or family meeting, etc.; even Saturday and Sunday are spent attending official seminars and post educational classes. The lesson is that even if you are together as a couple, you still need to create time to be together. Don’t suffer in silence My friend who confided in me obeyed this rule. It’s may not be that he and his spouse are not feeling in the mood; could be that their body isn’t cooperating because sex is dull or painful. This can be a big issue for women approaching menopause, who might be too embarrassed to tell their partner. According to a sex expert, with age, oestrogen levels decrease, and this affects a lot of organs, including the vagina. When tissues atrophy and thin out, losing some of their blood supply, intercourse becomes more painful. Fortunately, there are remedies for painful sex or check with your doctor if the pain continues.

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•Try sex in the shower or in a different room

Dwindling libido? A dwindling libido may be more than just a sign of aging. It may be a sign of another health problem. For example, depression, anxiety, and hormonal imbalances can all contribute to sexual dysfunction. In men, not being able to get an erection can be an early warning sign of diabetes or heart disease. And some medications, including antidepressants and blood pressure drugs, can lower your sex drive. Behavioural issues can also interfere with ability to have sex. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can put a damper on sexual response. Even the way you exercise can be a factor. For instance, too much time on the bike can lead to problems in bed. There are remedies for these problems. Getting enough sleep can help. Romantic break All couples are tired at the end of a long day, and routine gets boring after a while. Have you ever tried a

different place, a different time, or a different position? Try sex in the shower or in a different room in the house for instance. It works if you can be open-minded enough. Prioritise what’s important, a sex educator advises. Tired as you might be, it’s OK to just make it a quickie sometimes. Sex is so important to the overall health of your relationship. Instead of waiting until it’s time to put out the lights, take a break for a romantic encounter or first thing before you beging the day’s chores. Rediscover each other If you haven’t had sex for some time, a come-on from your partner can feel very artificial and forced. It helps to reconnect in a non-sexual way first, says psychotherapist Christina Steinorth. “If you haven’t had any kind of quality time together, you’re not going to feel sexual,” she says. Steinorth says it’s important to mix it up: Forgo the old “dinner and a movie” cliché in favour of something

new, and make it a priority on your calendar. Schedule time each week for a “date” with your spouse. A shared experience - cooking, washing - something silly. Plan a surprise trip or go out for sightseeing on a Sunday morning. Let it become a habit. The desire will just grow from there. A quick sexual encounter may regain its excitement once you’ve reconnected. When the relationship’s alive like that, the 10-minute ‘let’s sneak off and do it’ quickie works great. It’s like your little secret and helps further build the bond between you. But that bond has to be there in the first place. Focus on what you like Many of us have things we’d like to change about our bodies, the sex expert notes. “Maybe you never lost the baby weight, or you’re not happy with how you’ve stopped going to the gym. Ultimately, low selfimage comes down to not being in love with you. And if you don’t love yourself, you’re not going to share yourself with someone else. Short of therapy for poor self-esteem, you can try finding things about yourself that you do like and focus on those sexually. Alternatively, focus on your partner’s body instead of your own. What do you love about the person you’re with? What about his or her body arouses you? That way you can shift the focus from your own insecurities to what makes being together fun. No matter what the reason for diminished desire, getting back on track with your partner sexually is going to take some effort. “Sex takes work, and you have to focus on it just like everything in your relationship,” the sex expert notes. “There isn’t a magic pill.”

SATURDAY

Lifestyle

Look younger, live longer

ave you observed how some people keep looking young and ageless despite their age? And there are other people who tend to look older than they really are. Ageing is natural, but looking aged isn’t essentially so. The ageing process cannot be stopped but can be delayed. The rate at which we age, or appear to age, is heavily dependent on our lifestyle. Here is the secret, or part of it. Shun the sun

First thing is to shun the sun. The sun is the No.1 enemy of youthful skin. What the sun does is fast-forward your aging clock. As from around age 40, you cross that line — your collagen and elastic tissue have experienced enough damage to really start showing a change. Repeated sun exposure eventually leads to brown/black spots, fine wrinkles, deeper creases, and sagging skin. If you need proof, just look at the skin on the underside of your arm where the rays are less likely to reach. It looks smoother and less blotchy? Protecting your skin year-round will help prevent you from further accelerating your age. It’s important to pay close attention to the skin around the eyes. It’s more delicate than the skin on the rest of the face, and therefore more susceptible to damage. When you don’t wear sunglasses, you squint, and all that squinting eventually turns into crow’s-feet, an evident sign of aged skin. Whenever possible, avoid midday rays. Wear a hat/cap and sunglasses. I learned a long time ago that when you wash or shampoo your hair every day, you strip it of its natural oils and leave it dry, brittle and dull. Try shampooing only once or twice a week. By doing so, you’ll start to experience softer, shinier hair. Keep your shower at a warm temperature. Hot water can dry out your hair and skin, leaving it dull and prone to damage. Drink enough water Drinking and bathing with enough water every day is one of the best things anyone can do for their body. It supports your health on so many levels, like regulating digestion, enhancing immune function, increasing energy, aiding weight loss. Water boosts mental performance and can have a tremendous effect on the way you look thanks to its ability to hydrate and clear up your skin. Dehydrated skin looks dull and saggy, and can make wrinkles look more defined. Sleep well Lack of sleep definitely saps your glow, instantly aging you (think puffy, red eyes). But it also affects your skin in stealth ways: Fatigue causes cortisol, the stress hormone, to rise sharply. If

and strengthen your body from the inside out, promoting a youthful appearance and optimal body functioning. The more you eat out, the more you rob your body of those good-for-you nutrients and fill it with excess fat, sodium and sugar. The modern Western diet is arguably the biggest cause of premature aging. Sadly African and typical Nigerian diets are being replaced by foods that are contain excessive amounts of sugar. Today, sugar is in almost everything we eat out of a box or bag. Sugar consumption has increased and it contributes to dark circles under the eyes, wrinkles, dehydrated skin and in some cases, acne. Take in diets rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, like those found in avocados and nuts. They are incredible skin-boosting foods. Load up on antioxidants Antioxidants act as scavengers that neutralise free radicals — the particles that, in skin, cause sun damage and wrinkles, and can lead to skin cancer. They can also help protect against damage from environmental assaults like pollution and smoking. Some foods are loaded with antioxidants that are beneficial to the body overall, ingest them and apply them topically. Look for vitamins C and E, pomegranate, idebenone, soy, green tea, niacinamide, and coenzyme Q10 in the ingredient list to get the most benefits. You have to keep using them for five or six months.

Don’t wash your hair every day

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Vanguard, JANUARY17, 2015—29

Exfoliate gently and often

•Rachel,47 years cortisol is chronically high, it can age you by breaking down collagen in skin. Just one night time sleep disruption can prompt your immune system to turn against healthy organs and tissue. Pick a bedtime, and then an hour beforehand, no more BlackBerrying, e-mailing, or TV news. Instead, read a novel, watch something funny on TV, or have sex. Cortisol is at its lowest when you’re sleeping, during exercise, and after sex. Then, if you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep, do something that

bores you, like reading your least favourite section of the newspaper. Eat homemade meals A healthy, balanced, plant-based diet is the key to glowing, healthy skin. When you eat at “mama put” or fast food joints, you don’t really know what you’re putting into your body, and it’s likely not the healthiest option. Once in a while is fine, but you’ve got to be conscious about getting whole, clean foods into your diet on a consistent basis. These foods contain essential vitamins and minerals that repair

At-home peels or even a simple face scrub can make your complexion look much more youthful and radiant and may also boost collagen production. With age, skin tends to be drier and dead cells cling to the surface, giving it a rougher texture. Regular exfoliating is also therapeutic with acne-prone skin. People who have sensitive complexions should exfoliate less often — since those dead cells actually shield skin from irritation. The most effective, least expensive options are grainy scrubs that have small, round particles. A good example is St. Ives Elements Micro-dermabrasion or SkinEffects Cell2Cell Anti-Aging Exfoliating Cleansing Scrub. All-in-all, how we take care of our bodies, day-to-day, makes the difference. Small tweaks to everyday routine can have big rewards, like taking years off of your face and adding years to your life. While you may not expect the fountain of youth, you need to take note of simple but effective lifestyle changes; you’ll be looking like a fresher, younger version of yourself in no time.

30—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

ENERALLY perceived as weak, harmless, compassionate and possessing great value for human life (being givers of life themselves), female folks were believed to be at the receiving end of conflicts and wars which usually utterly reduce them to sex tools, cooks and cleaners in the hands men. But that perception is changing rapidly in Nigeria with some members of this so-called ‘weaker vessels’ becoming accomplices to Islamist group Boko Haram in recent times. Since June 8, 2014, when Nigeria recorded its first case of female suicide bombing with a middle-aged woman arriving on a motorcycle at a military barracks in Gombe and detonating an explosive killing herself and a soldier, series of such have since followed. It would be recalled that in same year, July 27 precisely, a teenage girl with an explosive device concealed under her veil(hijab) blew herself up at a university campus in Kano, injuring five police officers. Three other cases occurred separately within four days after that, killing nine persons and leaving 22 severely wounded. Some of those suicide bombers were surprisingly despicably girls!

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More female suicide bombing This chilling trend in terrorism is fuelling concern that the Boko Haram insurgency has reached a more hard-nosed phase because penetrating targets might now become easier since society is generally less suspicious of women. In fact, the use of women and little children is the easiest and most dramatic strategy any enemy could employ. Just last weekend, when everyone thought it was

Female suicide bombing trending ruinously in Nigeria.jpg

AR: W F O NS O P A WE O T S AWN P M time to unwind, news of FRO

f o e s i r e Th e d i c i u s e l fema s r e b bom

three female suicide bombers, including one aged about 10, again jolted Nigerians. Two of them had blown themselves up in a crowded mobile phone market on Sunday in Potiskum, killing four people and injuring 21, while the Saturday bombing involving the 10-year-old reportedly killed at least 20 people in Monday Market in Maiduguri. Who are these women, girls? It is unclear who these female suicide bombers are. While some speculate they might include some of

Chibok’s abducted schoolgirls, others believe they are recruits motivated by religious ideology. Some security analysts also suggest they are offsprings of Boko Haram members whose minds have been indoctrinated to believe the sect is waging a holy war and that its fighters will automatically make heaven. The possibility of abandoned street children being recruited cannot also be undermined. Sadly, history is replete with gory tales of almajiris being easily lured into begging, thuggery and more. Possible use of coercion The possible use of coercion by the sect cannot also be dismissed as sensed by security officials and witnesses present at last Sunday’s Potiskum suicide bombing. The second suicide bomber was said to have been terrified. She tried to dash across the road but the bomb strapped to her body immediately exploded, a sign that the bombs had been remote-controlled. The pathetic case of the 10year-old child cannot also be said to be voluntary. Security analysts also believe older women may willingly become human bombs as they share the Islamists’ radical ideology or are out to avenge the death of loved ones. It would be recalled that three women said to be “female recruiters” for Boko Haram were arrested last July, while an alleged trainer of women bombers was also detained in Kano in August with up to 16 “trainees”. Security forces have since arrested more women and girls with explosive devices strapped around them. Security challenge Security situation automatically gets complicated when you have female suicide bombers on the loose. It is even more so when a society has to deal with harmless-looking women and girls religiously covered in hijabs which should identify them as ‘holy’ . It also implies that female officers must be present at every checkpoint to search women. More so, this trend places a mark of distrust on every woman, whether little, young or old, wearing a hijab.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015—31

Nollywood canvasses abolition of obnoxious culture against women, children BY CALEB AYANSINA

popular Nollywood actor, Chief Bruno Iwuoha has called for the abolition of obnoxious cultures against women and children in the society. Bruno was speaking in Abuja, when a group under the auspices of Zion City with the support of Busy Mind Entertainment premiered a movie titled; Revelation. Revelation, a Nollywood/ Hollywood movie that focuses on parenthood and the family, shows that a happy and fulfilled life is strongly linked with starting a family irrespective of how a child comes into being. Bruno canvassed decent living

for children in orphanage home across the country and called for the acceptability of adoption as part of African culture. The actor maintained that there was nothing strange or negative in adopting a child from an orphanage home, as they also deserve to have a better life. He explained that the negative perception of adoption in the country was one of the obnoxious cultures, built in the country among the peoples of all cultures. According to him, this must change, for a better society, calling on Nigerians to change their perception on adoption.

•Decent living necessary for children in orphanage homes The writer of the story, Mrs Sandra Nwugo, who said she was touched by hardship going through by some families due to childlessness, urged people not to be tied-down by unfounded norms African tradition. According to her, “The unfortunate thing about having a child through other ways like adoption except natural birth is a taboo must change in Africa.” The Movie Director, Mr Femi Abatan maintained that there were many people today, who still share in the unfortunate African norms.

He added that the belief still compelled some parents to be childless, while shortened doors of opportunities of having home against some children in motherless homes. Abatan said; “This is not right, it is callous, the ideal is barbaric, selfish and a display of ignorance. “The society should look closely into the issue of adoption and give hope to a helpless child. As a matter of fact, no child chose his parentage, and every child deserves a happy home.”

Commenting on the movie, the Deputy Director (Child Welfare), Social Development Secretariat in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Mrs Agnes Uta Hart said children in motherless homes desire family, and it could only be achieved through an adoption. She further noted that although people complained of long process, “it is necessary in the interest of the child and even the parent.”

YOUR SPACE

BIG ideas for SMALL rooms BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

s popular as they are becoming, small spaces can be the bane of any flat-dweller’s or home owner’s life. They also can however be a blessing in design disguise and catalyst for change by forcing you to de-clutter. From small living rooms to small

bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens, below are helpful designing tips. Keep furniture away from walls Arranging furniture away from the walls creates space beyond the furniture and gives the illusion of a bigger room. Match furniture to wall colour Another trick is to match furniture to wall colour so that they appear to disappear into the walls, opening up the room. Statement pieces In a small bedroom, you can make a big statement with one large piece of wall décor or furniture, like the dramatic bed and wall décor here. Create hidden storage Investing in multi-functional furniture is the way to go. Use all available wall space To use all available wall space and height, build a floor-to-ceiling bookcase. It doesn’t really have to be that tall, though. This will have storage cabinets on the bottom, a spot for the television, and plenty of room for books as seen in one of the living rooms here. Mirrors You can mirror the entire bathroom in three vertical sections to visually double your bathroom size. It gives you an elegant look and doubles the room visually. C M Y K

32— SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

e plays a very daring role in movies, and if you are watching him on screen for the first time, you could think he is into cultism for real. But Ugezu .J .Ugezu is not a cultist. Rather, he’s a celebrated actor, director, playwright and film maker. However, unknown to many, Ugezu is also a highlife singer whose career in music is taking the shine off his acting prowess. In this interview, Mr Surplus as he’s fondly called in Nollywood talks about his music, his role in movies and why he’s passionate about exporting the African culture and tradition to the outside world. BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

Your attire both on screen and in real life represents the true African man; Is it your trademark? When we make films, we try to export Africa to the rest of the world. It has become a brand for me because I have a passion to tell the African story from the African eye. You don’t allow somebody who is not an African to tell our story. This is because whatever story the person will be telling you is going to be distorted. But an African will tell the story the way it is, and then allow the people to make up their minds. It is better to feed the people with the real story and allow them to make up their minds than feeding them with lies. Has it become a brand for you? It has become a brand for me to export Africa. I was on my own when I was invited to the third International Screen Writers Conference in Woodland. The conference ended on the 3rd of October last year. I didn’t lobby to attend the conference. The organizers of the conference have a department that monitors African films. Over the years, (5 years) they have followed my works and realized that I was passionate about exporting the African culture and tradition and of telling its story.

Moreover, my originality impressed them. I don’t copy anybody. I was the only Nollywood practitioner that was invited to attend the conference. They invited me based on what they have seen about me. It could be simply because I have made it a brand to export Africa to the rest of the world. At the conference, I spoke on African films and it was a privilege and honour to see myself as the only black man among over 300 delegates from all over the world. I felt so big and it was something memorable for me. You are a celebrated director, scriptwriter, actor and producer I am also a songwriter and a singer. I have released a lot of songs. I did the popular song, “Amputa Onye Igbo Ka Asubara Igbo”which is making waves all over world. The Igbo World Assembly has adopted the song as their anthem. I’m using the song to promote the Igbo language which is speedily going into extinction. I’m urging parents, through the song, to adopt the idea of teaching their children how to speak the Igbo language at a tender age. I cited the likes of late Chiuna Achebe, late Chuba O k a d i g b o , O k w e s i r i Ezenwado and Onyeka Onwenu. These are illustrious sons and daughters of Igbo extraction who can speak English to any standard. But they spoke good Igbo.

Musi mone Speaks

Is that why you started from directing before veering into acting and producing films? I started from writing. What made me to go into directing is the urge to actually interpret my story

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the way I want it to be interpreted. This is because most times, when you write a story, you give it to a director who probably may not understand what you are trying to say; and as a director, he will shift the story his own way, and in the process, distort the story. So, the idea of ‘let me get it right, the way I want it to be done’ made me to go into directing. In the area of acting, you

I’m urging parents, through the song, to adopt the idea of teaching their children how to speak the Igbo language at a tender age. I cited the likes of late Chinua Achebe, late Chuba Okadigbo, Okwesiri Ezenwado and Onyeka Onwenu. These are illustrious sons and daughters of Igbo extraction who can speak English to any standard. But they spoke good Igbo.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015 — 33

ic has given me more — Ugezu .J. Ugezu ey than film on cultism

My strength lies in sustenance of entertainment, be it music or film. You play tough roles in films, especially the role of a cultist. One wonders if your acting is not a direct reflection of your experience? Once on set, Pete Edochie said, there is nothing anybody would tell him to convince him that I am not a cultist. But I am not a cultist. I have nothing to do with them. I’m only interpreting a script. I don’t believe in cultism, and I don’t also believe that they can do me anything. Everything on earth is documented in books. If you are somebody who wants to make an impact on your chosen profession, you have to be a voracious reader. Many people say I am becoming more metaphysical. Even the name of my studio is Ayka Metaphysical Studio. It further amplifies their suspension. But all of these, I call them mirage. Just as Charly Boy lives with coffin in his house. It’s just to make people have different opinions about him. For me, it’s nothing but a mirage that he created around himself . Once in a while, it does not take anything away from someone to create the kind of mirage you want around you.

can’t actually direct what you cannot put into action. At what point did you decide to go into acting? I started acting from my secondary school days at Aguleri High School. If you visit that school today, you will see where it was written boldly, “Uncle Nick, the Actor.” My baptismal name is Nicholas. Acting is something I started many years ago as well as music. Many people don’t know, I am also a singer. Even before I joined Nollywood, I had a band. We performed at funeral ceremonies, weddings and wake-keeps. Something in me asked me not to allow that talent to waste. Once in a while, I play my music. I have done a couple of songs, including “ Amputa Onye Ibo Ka Asubara Igbo” and “Onye Igbo Agonari Ndi Igbo.” These two songs are songs that are going to live long. If I didn’t go back to music, I wouldn’t have done these two songs.

In all of these, where lies your strength?

Does that mean that they are afraid of you? They have to be afraid of me. As somebody who doesn’t believe in their existence, and he does that with so much guts and audacity. They can only attack somebody who’s attached to ocultism. Several times, I have confronted native doctors head-on whom people believe have the black power to kill. I have told them to their faces that you guys are full of s- - t, and there’s nothing they can do to me. And truly, there is nothing they can do because I have maneuvered them and risen above what they represent by my boldness, audacity and guts. Many people don’t have all these attributes and so, they allow these cultists to dominate them. I don’t believe in their existence and so, they can’t confront me.

Are you devoting more time to pursuing your career in music now than going on set? Funny enough, even when I am not serious with my music, it has given me more money than making films. Despite the fact that I don’t even have a video, music pays my bills. For instance, I have done a song for a club in South Africa. I also did a song for some guys in Amsterdam, Las Vegas among others. I have equally done international shows. I have done a show in Lo s-Angeles in addition to embarking on music tours. I haven’t embarked on any musical tour in Nigeria. Honestly, music is something that is forcing me to become so serious about it. But I have a deep passion for film because I want to continue to export that African culture and tradition that I have been exporting over the years. It’s just for me to find a meeting point between music and films.

Have you been attacked by occultic people or had a nasty experience as a result of the role you play in movies? Not at all.

Funny enough, even when I am not serious with my music, it has given me more money than making films. Despite the fact that I don’t even have a video, music pays my bills

What do you think of Nollywood in Asaba? At a point, Nollywood in Asaba started dying. But under the mandate of the President of Directors Guild of Nigeria, DGN, I was given the responsibility of sanitizing the industry in Asaba. In the sense that somebody who should direct a movie, must be a registered DGN member in addition to having a directorial license. Some film-makers are lowering the standard, not only in Asaba. So, we started sanitizing the industry and we are where we are today. All the films that gave me international awards were shot in Asaba. The location where a film is being shot does not mean anything, but what matters most is the brain behind the film. I feel uncomfortable when they make negative remarks about Asaba. C M Y K

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Vanguard, JANU ARY 17, 2015 JANUARY

y hard-line views on LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders) notwithstanding, I sympathise with brand expert, Kenny Badmus, who is gay and HIV positive. According to Badmus, who is going through a divorce with his wife: “After six years together, I knew I was not getting any better. I still loved men. And one day, because I didn’t want to cheat on her, I humbly asked her that we should go our separate ways. That was when all hell broke loose. She suddenly forgot about how it all started. In court, she told the Judge how she suddenly found out that I was gay, and how it’s against the law of …Nigeria. In other words, drinking acid. Their sights were terrible she wanted me sentenced to the new when they were shown on television. 14 years jail term... Luckily, I was in He was full of remorse, but the physical a civil court. Sadly, that day, I had to and emotional damage had been done. duck my face in shame as the crowd Acid baths by spouses and lovers, when jeered at me... ‘You faggot!’ ‘Oh what the relationships get sour, happen every a shameful man!’ ‘homo!’ ‘Na wa o!’ I still don’t know how I walked out of now and then in our society. There is a the court premises that day. What new trend where spouses and lovers about my business? Tell any client in leak private photos of their former Nigeria that you are gay, and you lose spouses and lovers online. Bad as it is, their business. That’s exactly what my conservative mind is still to happened. I lost friends, businesses, comprehend why a married woman, sponsorships and family members. I who is not a porn star or Kim Kardashian , will take her nude photos had to start my life all again.” Why do some spouses go all out to in the first place and then allow bring down an ex when things go somebody else( spouses and lovers can wrong? Somebody told me how a wife destroyed the promising career of her banker husband in those days when bankers in foreign exchange department and treasury departments made fortunes. At 31, the young man was already a senior manager and stupendously rich. Then easily come somebody else) have access he had problems with his wife and to to them. Sometimes you hear the unbelievable get back at him, the wife tipped off the bank on the husband’s during divorce proceedings. Husband: questionable wealth. His promising “My wife stinks to high heavens.” He career came crashing down. In those is just finding out after travelling days too, a wife had a through the “road” for over 10 years. misunderstanding with the husband. Wife: “My husband’s penis is too small, The husband reacted by giving the he can’t satisfy me. That’s why I cheated.” Thank God it wife and their children an acid bath was at least big enough to sire your four and attempted to take his own life by children. If you must divorce, can’t it

Spousal Rage be done with dignity? Must dirty linen be washed in public? Some people are hopelessly cheap and petty. Joseph, Jesus’ foster father, found out his brand new, young, virgin wife, Mary, was pregnant with a child that was apparently not his. “Joseph was a man who always did what was right, but did not want to disgrace Mary publicly; so he made plans to break the engagement privately ( Mathew 2:19). Permit me to digress a little. Badmus claimed he told his ex-wife about his sexual preference prior to their marriage, but the wife told the

Why do some spouses go all out to bring down an ex when things go wrong?

church’s counseling team “that my feelings for men would all be gone (after marriage). I guess she meant she was going to f**k my brains into heterosexuality.” While one wonders why Badmus still went ahead with the marriage conscious of his sexual preference, the wife made one grievous mistake. In marriage you change only one person: you. You do not have control over spouse; neither do you have a right to change your

spouse after marriage. You either marry what you see, or you take a walk. If you want changes in your spouse, you do it through appeals, suasion and prayers. In other words, you do not shift the goal post after the match has started. If you have to, it should be by mutual consent, not spousal fiat. Back to our question, why do some spouses and lovers go all out to ruin an ex when the relationship goes sour? The reasons range from desire to revenge, pain, anger, pettiness, to jealousy and envy. There is no doubt that it is very heart-wrenching when a spouse breaches or betrays your trust, be it adultery, lying, separation or divorce, but does killing, hurting, or getting back at your spouse solve the problem or soothe your pain? What about the collateral damage, the children you had together, other members of both families and those wonderful years you spent together? If you cannot forgive, is it not better you walked away. Is it not better you let go, difficult as it is, and rebuilt your life? When you carry a hurt for too long, you put yourself in self-imprisonment, your life comes to a standstill and you put your health in jeopardy. Absolutely nothing good comes out of it, no benefits. Prisons are brimming with people who killed or physically hurt spouses to get back at them. Is it worth it to waste your precious life away in such a manner? You need to take a firm control of your life. Stephen Covey said something, which, though difficult, is very true: “It’s not what they’re doing that’s the issue. The issue is your own chosen response to the situation and what you should be doing.” Before you do something rash and stupid, tarry and think very hard. The Joseph approach is probably all you need: Maturity.

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he hope of a return to better h e a l t h and fitness can be anybody’s. All what it takes is the commitment to help oneself. You have not exercised in years, suddenly, you look in the mirror and you find fat has assailed your body. Your pot belly is rather tasking... adversely affecting your posture. You look older and less energetic. But then, you have resolved to do something about all that. Your magic tools are going to be physical exercise for the body, breathing exercise to throw out all the stale air in the lungs and introduce sufficient oxygen to ensure healthy blood circulation.When you take up a regimen to improve the body, it must include a sensible eating habit. Observing these points, the body is likely to respond beautifully. In about three months, you will be on your way to a totally new you. The first to go will be your depression over a physique you don’t love. Your self confidence will return as your body takes on a better shape. You will find your power for work and play improving. Oh yes! you will find a new zest for life. This new life will make you wonder how you managed to live at the low – energy level that you’d been used to for all those years. The advice here is that once you get started don’t let up or you’ll find the body returning to ruination. The body will have to be toned on a daily basis via exercise. The beautiful thing about a resolution C M Y K

A return to youthful fitness ...A new zest for life

Maintain the posture for some 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat on the other side. Benefit: The posture tones up the leg muscles shedding excess fat... This exercise also helps you hold the body in a straighter posture. The Triangle (A variant) Techique: Stand with the feet about three feet apart. Bend the right knee while keeping the left leg diagonal to the trunk. Bring the trunk lower towards the right tigh. Keep the left hand stretched out on the side of the head as you drop the right hand next to the right foot. Hold this position for 10 — 15 seconds and repeat on the other side. Benefits: This asana or posture improves the legs like the previous Triangle. The difference being that with this pose the flanks also get a good workout eliminating excess fat there.

to live a healthier life is that, all the negative habits you once had will be dropping off of themselves. If you smoke and drink, you will soon find that you don’t need to indulge as much as before. In fact, it’s not surprising that a lot of people manage to quit these two terrible habits completely, after a few months of living a health-conscious life. The following are some postures of

yoga you can use to improve the body. The Triangle Technique: Standing with feet wide apart, turn to the left as you bend the left knee. Keep the right knee locked with the whole leg in a diagonal position to the trunk. Keep the hands over head with the palms together. The neck and head must be straight.

Standing Forward Bend Technique: Standing with feet together, fold the arms, take a deep breath and exhale as you lower the torso.

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

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015—35

08 116759 759 081 6759759

MISS BUMBUM CONTESTANT: ‘

I’m Being Punished For Stupid Vanity

Miss BumBum runner-up said her obsession with plastic surgery backfired and almost ended her life. Andressa Urach won second place in the 2012 Miss BumBum competition, a beauty contest in which online voters pick the woman with the country’s top bottom. To accentuate her figure, Urach told the Daily Mailshe had chemical filler injections for more full looking legs. But in 2013, the fillers started rotting her body tissue. The real trouble began during a procedure to remove the chemicals in November. She went into septic shock, probably because of an infection from an unclean medical instrument, Nigel Mercer, president of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, told the Mail. Doctors saved her life, but now she’s confined to a wheelchair and has large holes in her legs where doctors reached the harmful chemicals. “I’m paying now for my vanity. I was extremely vain. Everything in search of perfection,” Urach told the Mail. “But instead of making my body more beautiful, I ended up damaging it instead and making it ugly.” Urach also said she had become too accustomed to getting plastic surgery. “I never thought twice about going under the knife, and when people warned me of

Pop Singer puts a Condom on her leg to prove no guy is ‘Too Big’

Swedish singer ’s joke about men who boast about the size of their manhood struck a chord with women after her Instagram post went viral. Zara Larsson, 17, made the post by sticking a condom over her leg and pulling it all the way up to the knee and then dedicating the post to men who say they are too large to use a condom. She wrote: “To all the guys saying “my d*** is too big for condoms” TAKE A SEAT.” But the light-hearted remark including a picture of her foot with a condom for illustration quickly went viral notching up tens of thousands of shares. Swedish, Norwegian and Danish media were quick to pick up on the playful jab to irresponsible sexual partners, with some newspapers even hailing Larsson as a feminist icon.

The 17-year old Larsson, who won “Talang”, the Swedish version of “Britain’s Got Talent” back in 2008, had posted the message earlier this week. The massive attention has come as an ov erwhelming surprise to Larsson herself, she writes on her personal blog. “I merely meant it as a funny joke. Since then newspapers have been writing about what a feminist genius I am! “I don’t see myself as some kind of holy Mother Mary of feminism. I am very well aware that there are many, many girls out there that are much better than me in so many ways and receive much too little attention,” she writes. Nevertheless, the young singer, who has released two albums since her quick rise to TV-stardom in 2008, has

become a big viral hit. So far 51,300 people have liked her Instagram post.

the dangers I just thought, ‘I’ll deal with that if it happens,’’ Urach said. “I’d go to the doctor like I go to the supermarket, saying I wanted this, that and the other. I just wanted people to look at me and think, ‘wow”’. She’s now dedicated to telling others about her experience and warning women about excessive cosmetic surgeries. Urach’s mother, Marisete De Favari told Brazil’s Globo that she expected her daughter to recover. “I’m sure that my dear Jesus is wonderful and will cure it,” she said. Most importantly of all, Andressa - who will return to her TV presenting job as soon as she is fully fit - has vowed to never again go under the knife for any reason. She said: ‘I’m in the public eye, so people heard about me. But what about all the other women around the world who are dying because of cosmetic surgery and nobody gets to hear? How many women have injected themselves with these substances believing they need to conform to a certain image, and ended up dead? Personally I think the person who invented them needs to be thrown into prison. ‘Please, ladies, don’t do it. It’s a poison you’re putting into your body, something you are risking your whole life for. It’s not worth it. Believe me, I found out the hard way.’

‘My dad raped me because he couldn’t af d a pr os titute’ afffor ord pros ostitute’ A

woman whose father raped her because he ‘couldn’t afford a prostitute’ has finally spoken out about her ordeal to encourage other victims to prosecute their abusers. Sylvia Prescott, from Sunderland, was tormented by her parent Oliver Garside while she was a teenager but kept the abuse secret for nearly 30 years. The 47-year-old couldn’t bring herself to go to the police while her grandmother was still alive for fear that the details of the case would upset her. But when she died in 2012, Sylvia knew it was time to stand up to her bullying father, 68. He was jailed for eight years in May last year and Sylvia feels like a weight has been lifted. Now married with three sons aged 30, 29 and 25, she wishes she had gone to the police sooner. She hopes her story will help other women to find the strength to prosecute their abusers, even if they are family members. ‘It was during the sentencing that the judge said

Oliver Garside

Sylvia Prescott

my dad’s excuse for the abuse was that he couldn’t afford a prostitute. I was sicked. ‘What kind of defence was that? However, I finally feel free to live my life without him hovering over me and I should have done it sooner. I didn’t want anyone to know, it ate me up and I was very very depressed, I even tried to kill myself ‘I am so thankful for the support of my children and my husband, I don’t know where I would be without them.’ Sylvia kept her ordeal to herself for almost three decades, but her father was convicted of the historic abuse after pleading guilty to two charges of rape and one of indecent assault last year. At Newcastle Crown Court the judge told him: ‘You told the author of the pre-sentence report you would rather have paid a prostitute but you did not have the money to do so. Your behaviour has cast a shadow over her life to date. ‘Even today she has to live with what happened so long ago.’ Sylvia said: ‘I’m so relieved that he’s in jail now and I can breathe again.’

Oakland’s New Mayor has been driving around town in A giant burning Man Snail Car L

ibby Schaaf may very well be the first mayor of a major American city to ride around town in a flame-shooting Burning Man art car shaped like a giant snail. She notes that she may also be the only mayor of a major American city to have gone to Burning Man. “To be fair, I went a long, long time ago,” she told The Huffington Post of her visit to the annual celebration of art and creative expression in the Nevada desert. “But the Burning Man community is a complete asset to the larger Oakland community.” Voters in Oakland, California, elected Schaaf to the Bay Area city’s highest office in November. As part of her victory lap, she drove the snail car, the brainchild of local artist and blacksmith Jon Sarriugarte, through the streets to meet with constituents. On Monday, she rode to her inaugural ceremony with her husband and two children in the same mutant vehicle. Schaaf arrives at her inauguration with her family at Oakland’s

Paramount Theater on January 5. And this Sunday, the snail will be out and about in all its fiery glory at Schaaf’s inaugural festival, which also features a parade of other Burning Man art cars along with fire dancers, musicians and food and drink purveyors — all of whom call Oakland home. “It’s not your daddy’s inaugural ball,” Schaaf, a lifelong Oakland resident and graduate of the city’s public school system, said with a laugh. Sarriugarte told HuffPost he’s been a longtime Schaaf supporter, having first met her while she was serving as an Oakland city councilwoman a handful of years ago. He volunteered for several mayoral campaign events, using the snail car as a conversation piece to attract voters. “We would hold signs out on the street right next to a giant snail car shooting fire out of it,” he said. “I joked that if she won, we should drive her around in it.” Team Schaaf didn’t take it as a joke. One

of the reasons Sarriugarte is such a fan of the mayor, he said, is because of her pledge to reinforce Oakland’s burgeoning community of artists and “makers.” “We have a wonderful make community,” he said. “I want to see industrial areas set aside for making and producing things ... [Schaaf] is really good at taking feedback from the community.” For her part, Schaaf said she pledges to build programs that foster the growth of local arts institutions. “What makes Oakland Oakland is our diversity and our incredible arts scene,” she said. “Our gritty industrial flavor, as well as our long history of embracing social movements. We are an incredibly creative place.” Schaaf added that one of her final initiatives as a councilwoman was to champion a law that requires private developers in Oakland give 1 percent of their project costs to benefit the public arts sector. The money helps create performance arts spaces, galleries and

installations. And with nearby San Francisco becoming more unaffordable by the minute, many developers are looking toward Oakland as their next frontier. But Schaaf says it’s essential not to let new developments squeeze out the existing communities that make her city unique. “I’m very aware that we cannot sell our soul for growth,” she said. “Part of that soul is our artist community. That balance of growth and revitalization but preserving our Oaklandishness — our secret sauce — that’s an acute awareness I bring to this position.”

36—SA TURD AY Vanguard, JANU ARY 17, 2015 36—SATURD TURDA JANUARY

Mike Okonkwo’s empowerment drive through Ese Erakpo Erakpottobor hooks Egbunike Edesiri Ewherido

n their bid to lend a helping hand to the less privilege in the society, Presiding Bishop, Dr. Mike Okonkwo and wife, Bishop Peace empowered over one hundred widows at Ogbunike and also dedicated a Rehoboth Vocational School in Ifite Ogbunike in Oyi LGA, Anambra State recently. Here are pictures that tell the story

A group photograph of guests with Bishop Mike, Bishop Peace and Bishop Paul Nwachukwu during the official dedication and commissioning of the Rehoboth Vocational School, Ogbunike.

Bishop Mike and Bishop Peace Okonkwo at the official dedication and commissioning of Rehoboth Vocational School Ogbunike

Bishop Mike Okonkwo officially commissioning and dedicating Rehoboth Vocational School Ogbunike while the MD, Rehoboth Micro Finance Bank looks with keen intrest

Bishop Mike Okonkwo handing over 50 wheel chairs to Dr. J. O. Atuka of Anambra State Hospital Management Board - Enugu-Ukwu while Bishop Peace and others look with keen intrest

A cross sectional shot of the widows during the prayer session at the widows empowerment program in Ogbunike.

r Edesiri Ewherido, an information technologist, recently married his heartthrob, Miss Ese Erakpotobor, at the Mother of the Redeemer Catholic Church, Effurun, Delta State. Many high-profile dignitaries graced the occasion.

Couple with the sponsors, parents of the bride and officiating priests.

Couple with APC governorship candidate, Delta State, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, during the traditional a day earlier.

Couple with the groom's siblings and their spouses.

When Oshione Dirisu wedded Bashir Momoh

ashir Momoh and Oshione Dirisu have united their two families as one when they signed the dotted lines as man and wife at the Ikoyi Registry in Lagos. The families later in the day entertained guests at the Piccadilly Suites,Lekki Lagos.

The couple flanked by their fathers; Engr Tony Dirisu (L) and Mr Momoh (R) C M Y K

The couple, Oshione and Bashir flanked by Chairman of the occasion, Bala Yesufu and wife and their parents; the Dirisus (L) and the Momohs (R).

R-L: Groom's mother, Mrs. Paulina Ewherido and aunt, Chief ( Mrs.) Julie Egoh at the wedding reception

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 17, 2015—37

juliecoker100@yahoo.com

My marriage is suffering Dear Julie, I have been having a lot of trouble with my husband. It’s not necessarily trouble, but I’ve been unhappy for a long time. Lately, nothing seems good between us anymore. He doesn’t want to do anything. Our anniversary came and went without a card. So did Mother ’s Day and my birthday. We haven’t exchanged a hug or a kiss in I don’t know how long, and sex between us doesn’t even exist. What am I going to do? Please help. Funmilayo, Lagos Dear Funmilayo, Being unhappy is trouble. Ups

and downs are a natural aspect of all relationships, especially long-term relationships where some of the flash and dazzle subdues into the more sustained benefits like steadiness, trust, and reliability. But that certainly doesn’t mean you should live without happiness or the physical intimacies and affectionate gestures that can make love such a pleasure. Rather than speculating about what may be going on with your husband, talking openly about your concerns could help clear the air. Have you told your husband how you’re feeling? Have you asked him why he isn’t interested in doing things together, acknowledging important dates, and

I want space Aunty Julie, My boyfriend and I have been together for four years. We have been a very happy couple. We love the companionship and we get along really well. Everything was perfect until we both found jobs in the same area and decided to move in together. Our relationship was still strong, but I have been feeling like I need space. Space to be alone. I told him how I felt. Without a doubt, he was hurt, but he packed his stuff and left. Now I feel like I made a mistake and I’m missing him so much. I just turned 26 and have been with this guy for a pretty long time now. He is my first love. I see myself marrying him in the future. Yet, I am still so young and need to explore to experience other things. He is 100% sure that he wants to be with me, wants to marry me, and loves me so much. He has dated girls and has been in a serious relationship before. He got to see what is out there. So basically, we both see a future together, but I feel that we need some time to be alone for once. We are the type of couple to see each

other everyday, but we both work full-time and have our own hobbies. Why did I feel so trapped? Liberty, Benin City Dear Liberty, Moving in with a significant other can be a big step, even for couples who’ve been together for a while. In your case, the transition seemed to be a shock to your system! The decision to marry or spend the rest of your lives together can feel overwhelming, and moving in together may have felt like a big step toward committing yourself to that path. Maybe it’s time to have a heart-to-heart about how your desires for space and exploration affect the future of your relationship. You seem to have some conflicting feelings about the relationship: it’s happy, and you both think it has potential, but you have a desire to experience being with other people. What do you want to experience before setting down? If you have doubts about what you want, you could take time apart to explore some

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

why his lust seems to have faded? He may be under unusual pressure at work, having a physical problem that he’s not discussing, or experiencing a host of other challenging, embarrassing, or painful issues. Asking him what he’s feeling, how he’s experiencing the relationship, and then sharing your side of things might help you two come to a new understanding of the state of your marriage, and decide on a course of action to make things better. Remember to try not to attack or accuse him, but to discuss diplomatically how you’ve been acting towards each other. Find a time when you can sit down quietly and calmly to talk about some of these things. You might want to start off by preparing your husband for a serious conversation. Some examples of relatively easy ways to start a conversation like this might be, “I love you and our marriage is really important to me, so I want to talk to you about some things I’ve noticed.” Or, “Would you be willing to talk with me about some things that have been hard for me recently?” Often, acknowledging that a problem exists is a first major step towards solving it. You sound like you’re aware of aspects of your relationship you’d like to change, and that is a great place to begin. Sharing your feelings with your husband, and trying to come up with ways to create those changes can lead to a revitalized marriage with renewed sexiness, thoughtfulness, and affection.

options. Some people feel that they learn valuable things from being with different people. Every relationship is different and may help you realize things about yourself, characteristics that you value in a partner, or dynamics between two people that you want in a relationship. There’s also a possibility that one of you might meet someone else and decide you don’t want to be together. Or, you might discover that you really do want to be together, and you can get rid of your doubts. Maybe you want to be together but still live apart. Separate places nearby could let you slowly transition to living together. This way, you both can spend time at each others’ houses and still have a refuge when you need alone time. If you do go back to living together, you could purposefully schedule some alone time. Having time to yourself at home and time apart from your partner to pursue your own interests and friendships may help both of you maintain a healthy relationship. It sounds like a strength of your relationship is that you’re able to express your needs and your boyfriend listens and respects them. A good partner will also value the fact that you take the time and space you need to make sure that you make the best decisions for yourself. Giving yourself time and space to think about your priorities and what you want from the future can help you build a solid relationship with anyone you choose.

C O C K - T A L E S going to remark about how your eyesight seems to be working just fine!” Celebration time Mark was passing by the bar on the way home from work when he sees his good friend Tom gulping down one shot after another. Fearing the worst, Mark charged into the bar and confronted Tom. “Tom what’s going on?” Mark asked. “It’s my wife Beckie,” Tom replied. “She ran off with my best friend!” “Hey wait a second! Said Mark “Aren’t I your best friend?” “Not any more,” Tom said with a happy smile. “He is!”

Why did she break up with me? Dear Aunty Julie, I don’t know what I did wrong. My girlfriend of one and a half years broke up with me out of the blues. We never fought or argued. I asked her why, she said “I don’t know.” I asked her what did I do wrong and she said “nothing.” She was my first ever girlfriend and I was planning to ask her to marry me. I don’t understand what I did wrong. There has to be a reason. Why won’t she tell me? Ibrahim, Auchi Dear Ibrahim, Breaking up is hard to do, especially when you are the one left wondering what went wrong. This must be a tough time for you, especially considering that you were planning on proposing. It can appear challenging to start over when you thought you had your life all squared away. But start over you must! Have faith and believe in yourself — it will become easier with time. What really matters is that you realize you did nothing wrong and that you couldn’t have prevented the break up. In order to heal, it may help to have a sense of closure. Why it ended needs to be clear to you; otherwise, you may have doubts about the relationship and yourself for a long time. Do you feel comfortable letting your exgirlfriend know that an explanation, or one reason, for breaking up with you will help you to go on with your life? Even if it has nothing to do with you, you deserve to know at least part of the reason why. It is possible that she may not even know why she broke up with you. Have you considered the possibility that your ex-girlfriend may not be willing to speak to you? Perhaps she needs some personal space and time to reflect on her needs and desires. While unpleasant to think about, it is always good to have a back-up plan in case she won’t give you an answer. Your family and friends may help you to reaffirm your self-confidence and move forward in life and new fulfilling relationships. Although you need to grieve for this loss, make sure that it doesn’t consume you. You may want to participate in activities that you enjoy to keep your mind off of your lost love or perhaps introduce you to new and exciting people. Perhaps you can talk with friends and family about how you feel. For many knowing that people in your life love, support, and care about you can be comforting. Know that you will be okay on your own, and that someday, you may meet that special someone who will feel the same way as you do about sharing your lives together.

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

38—SA TURD AY 38—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, JANU ARY 17 JANUARY 17,, 2015

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

How not to rubbish your lover’s prowess! W

hy is it that it’s the volatile relationships that hit the skids faster than the couple could really get to know each other? They transit from living in each other’s pockets or being virtually joined at the hips to hurling hateful words at each other. The rippling effects philosophical about it all. of such a relationship are often more interesting than the relationship itself. I couldn’t help when he eventually found After all, he had his royal these thought flashing through my mind when Akins, a close friend of Remi recently spent some out and pleaded with experience to fall back on. time with me. When he was shown into the living room, he looked like a bereaved trying to Remi’s close friend through Things like this happened, grapple with his loss. whom they met to have a he told me. It was just sad Some five years ago, Remi, a former colleague who’d kept in touch had met and married Eddy word with her—at least to that Remi could discuss who she termed the love of her life. She earned more than he did, lived in her own flat and had let him know why he’d his sexual prowess, or lack a good car whilst all Eddy been so thoughtlessly of it, with her friend had going for him was a job tossed over like a used rag. without even telling him. that paid irregular salaries, The friend sent Remi and A few days later, before I a claptrap car and a pad e-email and she promptly could even get Remi on shared with three other replied as honestly as the phone, she called to let guys. Talk about love being she’d always been with a me know she was on her blind. Remi was sure she close friend. The traitor of a way back to Nigeria. could reverse her beau’s friend then printed the eGoing back to Eddy was a fortunes and tried her mail and gave a copy to mistake, she babbled. darnedest to do that when Akins. The poor man was Thank goodness she still they got married. After all, now at my place, pressing had Akins. Not anymore, I she loved him and love the e-mail into my hand told her—then told her could conquer all. She and urging me to read it. how a copy of the loaded helped him move his things I did a double-take as I e-mail she sent to her to her very impressive flat. read and re-read the mail. friend found its way to Within a couple of years, In it, Remi had explained Akins. She couldn’t their passionate sessions in why she had to leave the believe a friend she’d the bed-room had turned way she did. She couldn’t known for decades could into shouting matches. live without Eddy, she do that to her. In spite of it Money went through wrote, because he still all, she said she was Eddy’s hands like water remained the only man coming home. And she through a sieve —and he who knew how to ‘ring her did. She not only came didn’t give a hoot what he bell’. Akins, as generous back, she got back with did to get it. He lied, and nice as he was didn’t Akins! cajoled and threatened his do much for her in the Wasn’t she afraid he wife if she wasn’t love-making department. could be vengeful? I asked forthcoming with ready His dick was so little you her. Not in the least she cash. Remi, by now was get the same rattling assured me. He loved her regretting her hasty feelings you get trying to and she cared for him in decision to get married so clean your ear-hole with a her own way. Relationship soon to a man that was plucked feather! like that lasts longer than obviously a loafer. The birth I was shocked at how the fireworks type, she told of their daughter didn’t blatant she was. I mean me. What was more, she’d change him and Remi was there are things you don’t come back armed with all seriously thinking of say to a man, primarily sort of vibrators and even allHe’d not only gotten a wife left him. When she packing in the marriage among them being ‘You’re showed Akins how they good job, he had a flat and stoically refused to come when she ran into Akins at a a lousy lover ’, especially could make these gadgets he was sure, they would back, he relocated abroad. traditional wedding work for them in the both be happy away from the when you suspect lousy is A few years later, he came ceremony. He was the the best he can do. For a bedroom. He was over the prying eyes of bad bellies! back home, sought out his ‘father of the day’ at the while I didn’t know what to moon! As for the Remi plotted her get away wife and begged her to occasion. A royal father, he say to Akins after I’d treacherous friend, she is without Akins smelling any come back with him. looked fairly young and was finished reading the mail. now on the garbage heap rat. He was obviously After all, she loved him educated. When he started But he was very where she belongs! shocked by this development and love could conquer flirting with Remi who was close friend of the bride’s mother, they sort of clicked. “He wasn’t fazed by my being married”, Remi had ccording to Dr. David 30 to 60 minutes at least four days a yourself. Go for regular massages, learn excitedly confessed months Wikenheiser, a Canadian week. Exercise makes you look meditation techniques. Have a laugh to after they started an affair. naturopath who carries out biological younger by making your muscles relax the mind; try the herbal “As a matter of fact, he is age tests: “Aging is when we have loss stronger and firming your body. And supplements Malissa or Valerian for saving this marriage. He of energy, eye-sight and mental ability. the health benefits are dramatic. If calmness and better sleep. Experiment gives me a generous This used to start happening to people you exercise moderately every day with aromatherapy.; Camomile and allowance every month and in their 50s and 60s, but now, I am and one day you put yourself under a lavender are very soothing. had told me I was welcome seeing patient who have these lot of physicality strain, like moving Drink lots of water: Drinking a litre of to be one of his wives if problems in their 30s and 40s.” He heavy furniture, your risk of heart water in the morning and another litre Eddy didn’t mend his ways. then gives these hints on how to grow attack is twice what it would be in the afternoon works on your kidney The problem is that I love old gently. normally. If you do not exercise, that and helps to detoxify the body. Eddy—he is a stud. Akins Eat the right thing: Do eat five to 10 risk rockets by hundredfold! And According to Dr. Wikenheiser, “there are isn’t all that hot in the servings of fruits and vegetable a day. women who exercise live longer than 30,000 known chemicals used all over bedroom. As a matter of fact, High fibre food move more quickly those who don’t. the world. We are taking these in all the he’s not hot at all. Makes through the body than processed Keep an eye on your stress level: A time through our skin and by eating me feel a bit guilty taking foods; helping you maintain a healthy certain amount of stress can help to food contaminated with pesticides. No all that money from him for gut and fight cancer and heart disease. keep us young, as a body under stress one knows what these chemicals are services not rendered!” Do avoid most non-organic food: It is stimulated to repair itself more doing to our bodies so the more we can Eddy continued to be even contains pesticides that could slowly efficiently, thus reducing age-related do to flush them out, the better. more reckless that Remi poison your body. Eat unrefined food damage. Studies from around the Have more sex: People who have sex eventually walked out of the such as whole meal bread, it contains world show that most people who live at least three times a week look more marriage and into the arms valuable nutrients and fibre. Don’t eat to more than 100 had hardworking than 10 years younger than the average of her sympathetic lover. He fried food; it creates free radicals that lives with many crises. But, although adult who makes love twice a week. Sex moved her into one of the damage your DNA, leaving you more stress can be positive, very high triggers chemicals that delay aging. chalets in his palace and vulnerable to cancer. Don’t skip meals. levels can lead to heart disease and And loving couples also make more of was visible with her at social Research has found a link between mental health problems. an effort to keep themselves in good functions. Surprisingly, Alzheimer and depriving the brain of To keep stress levels reasonable: Set shape for their partners, which has a Eddy was heartbroken. He sugar. boundaries of what you can do and knock-on effect on their health. wept like a baby when his Exercise regularly: Walk briskly for can’t achieve. Don’t over-stretch

After all, she loved him and love could conquer all

Making the most of your health as you age A

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015 —39

YETUNDE AREBI

My wife is cheating with a

vibrator!

compatible. A word is enough for the wise. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to give my honest opinion. Taiwo Dear Yetunde, What does this guy want or prefer? His wife cheating on him, for real, with another man? Or she gets satisfaction from an object? A harmless one at that. Life is not just black or white, right or sinful. He may not know what it is to enjoy sex but some people do, once it is within their matrimony. He needs serious counselling, not the usual religious tainted (inbox me) or else what could have brought life to his home would end up destroying it if not channelled properly. Abiodun Dear Yetunde, I think the man is to blame for the wife’s problem. It is high time believers knew that marriage is canal. I mean it is not a spiritual thing. When it come to sex, a man should know if he can meet the needs of his wife sexually, or not. How can a man who has never been taught sex know how to satisfy his wife sexually? If he wants the wife to stop having sex with objects he should get down to business and ask the woman how can he satisfy her. Many of these men who do the type of job this man does, know that when it comes to sex, they must create time. I tell you so many women are dying in silence because their men do not have any ideas about sex. Sister Yetunde, how many can really play with their wives before sex? They are not many. How many men can engage in oral sex before going in? What you saw that lady do was a proof that she was not enjoying her man on bed.. please, don’t paste my mail address and full name, I must tell you I love what you are doing, I read most of your answers and they are good. Paul

Hi! Remember the story of ‘worried guy’ who caught his wife with a vibrator on their matrimonial bed? Well, the interesting thing is that the story has not ceased to generate interest and response since it was published mid last year. In fact, the wife’s response did not attract as much attention as the guy’s even though she had valid points too. To date, I have received over 500 mails from readers wishing to take part in counselling this couple. I intend to keep to my promise as much as possible of giving as many readers the chance to have their say. The letters below is the fourth edition of responses on this story. If you are yet to see yours, just hang in with us as it might be your turn soon. Remember that you may still write to us on some other issues we have discussed on this platform. This is simply a place to share experiences and views on all subjects relating to lifestyle and love life and I am sure that together we can make a difference and touch a life out there. You may reach me via: yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk. Cheers. Do have a wonderful weekend. Dear Yetunde, Before I commence my writing, allow me to prove a mathematical formula which states, ANY RELATIONSHP minus (-) TIME = END OF THE RELATIONSHIP. This formula also applies to our relationship with God. If you call yourself a Christian but you don’t spend time with God, that relationship is about to be broken. Same applies to us as humans... I’m not a marriage counsellor but I know little about marriage. I think both parties (the couples) played a big part in the collapse of the marriage so to say... On the guy’s part, every young marriage needs time together. Time to make plan for the future and the present, which I think they lacked. A counsellor once told me “in the first two years of your marriage, you need to spend at least four hours during the day plus six hours during the night by her side because you have stripped her of her old life and have become her new life which means you have to live in her ” . This guy (husband) always leaves home early and comes back late at night. Not only that, he is also taking a professional class during weekend. I believe most times when he comes back from work he’s already weak and dog-tired, all he can do is eat and sleep off. My question is how often do they have sex, talk about life, fun outside their home, share their pains? For the record, they still don’t have kids, the wife is most times lonely. The guy needs to right these wrongs. Most wives value the love you give them than the money you give them. He needs a job that will spare him time with his family. But they still need to see a marriage counsellor On the wife’s part, I see her as an introvert, she has C M Y K

secrets from her past and still living with them. She went to a girls only secondary school where she learnt masturbation and different sexual relief methods. Perhaps she left it in the course of life before she got back to it again. She is also a sex monger, which is not a sin if she is having it with the right person (husband). But she kept her sexual desire within herself which was not supposed to be. Instead, she was using dildo or vibrator to have sex by herself. Should couples keep secrets? Especially one of this kind; sex. A school of thought says sex is love in marriage. If couples are having problem in their sex lives, it’s not a problem for one to solve. They would have to solve it themselves. The wife needs to turn from her way of life and apologise because she has caused him a mental and emotional pain. I don’t want to be spiritual but I must tell you any compulsive behaviour is a bondage and a sin equally. You don’t take this with a kid glove. You and your wife need to agree and pray for this chain to be broken not necessarily by going to the pastor. I know it is hard for the guy to take it off his head but with time, he will. To tell you the truth, its easier said than done but believe me the worried man can call her his wife again. Thank you vanguard. Dejo Dear Yetunde Please refer to the above-mentioned story. I decided to send my opinion on this matter because of two things; namely age difference and my place of abode. First, I am very older than the gentleman and also I live in a developed environment where the issue mentioned looks like a child-play. Having said that, I would like to treat the matter in sequence. First, out of ten marriages where either a pastor, Imam or traditional healer predicts that the couple are made from heaven, only one of such marriages survives. The issue of marriage surviving pressures is an element of luck! Albeit I stand to be corrected on this assertion based on my life experience. Furthermore, just like any newly married young man, our friend is in deep love and thereby shying away from the obvious. It might be true that the wife has been using the vibrator in place of absentee boyfriend or an absentee husband. In other words, she ought to have stopped using it when the husband started complaining. But from personal experience, the lady has not been telling the truth. Simply put, the husband cannot and would never satisfy her sexual needs. Indeed, I would expect the gentleman to start thanking his stars that he was able to discover this before it is too late. Sexually, they are not

Dear Yetunde, Good day! My candid opinion in this issue is that we should not comment on a couple of issues. For sure, every couple has their ugly side. He should learn how to manage his family issues rather than making it public. Or has he forgotten as a Christian the portion of the Holy book that says ‘Marriage is an institution from God ‘ and ‘ what God brings together let no man put asunder?’ If truly he prayed and the Lord revealed her as his wife three years ago, he should try to find out if God placed him there to save his daughter(being his wife) from that sinful nature. Let him work on how to restore confidence in his wife and dedicate more time to his wife and save her from hell. When he succeeds in doing this, the wife’s so called friend will also have a fresh page in their life. For, by seeing they shall also believe and have a change of thought towards vibrators. And please, don’t forget to add this. Being a banker does not mean he doesn’t have time ( after explaining to us how he leaves home very early and comes back very late and tired). Dear, sex is not all about jumping onto a woamn. It is all about building a healthy communication link between them. By just making phone calls to the wife and giving her countless text messages at his free time always, will make her happy all day with or without sex. Thanks. Candid Dear Yetunde, I was excited reading your story not for anything but for the expertise with which you and your colleauges market your products and lifestyle. Note what you are doing. 1. You are introducing our girls in general and girls in boarding schools in particular to how to use a product to replace men. 2. You are telling them there is a vibrator and it is not farfetched. 3. . That women with busy husbands can meet their sexual needs with a vibrator. 4. . That it’s satisfying and everybody is using it even Christians. 5. . That pastors, fake or true, are not to be wholly trusted or entrusted with secrets of this nature except poople like you. 6. That this your Lagos guy does not recognise the presence of prophet T.B. Joshua or his ministry in Lagos to handle this matter restoring his marriage forever . 7. . That if this story is true that you don’t believe it to be demonic. Etc etc... Stop promoting evil because your sin shall find you out....... (Ah to! Quite interesting) 8. Himself Elkanah

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

AKPOBORIE Draws kids to God Talks about KKeshi, eshi, politics in Eagles BY JEMI EKUNKUNBOR on his God, whatever it is he worships to come to his aid. Our own man says at such moments, he turns to God, the same God who took him from Ajegunle where he trekked barefooted to school to come to come to his aid. Fasting on Wednesday became a lifestyle for me’ he says. And on each occasion, he says, ‘God came through for me’. He told the players how on one of such occasions after praying and fasting, his club scored five goals against their opponent. Three of those goals were scored by him! It was this story that brought the young players to submit to the God who helped Jonathan. In this encounter, the ex international spoke very candidly about his journey into football, the issues with NFF and why he thinks that Keshi should do the needful by voluntarily resigning as the Coach of the Super Eagles. What was growing up like for you and how did you get into football? I grew up in Ajegunle as you already know and growing up there has its many challenges. I go there now every Tuesday and Thursday to play football with the youths and I see different challenges that confront them there. I can say now I was very lucky to scale through. If it wasn’t for football, the environment is capable of turning you into what you do not plan to be in life. We didn’t have the social media like we have now. In our time you didn’t see things like drugs. It was not as rampant as it is today. Those things are big killers of careers. Drugs then were meant for highly rich people. Today, if you have N300 or N1, 000 you could buy the drugs that you want. And all these things are distractions. Football gave me a platform. But today, you have a lot of careers that are built from the entertainment industry; you have music, comedy, movies, etc. In my days it was just football; playing football not in an organized way but

•Jonathan Akpoborie

everyday playing street against street. All the structures you now see were not there at that time. Life as a child was very difficult. I remember walking all the way to school and sometimes going to school bare footed. I remember not doing what my parents wanted just to be able to play football. Football was like disobedience to what my parents wanted for me because at that time, footballers were not reckoned with. But football was my dream. They wanted me to concentrate on my education. Eventually, when I got a scholarship to go to the USA, my parents would not have allowed me if it was not connected with education. But today, I thank God for my mother who insisted that I must get education. So how were you discovered as a player? I got this far by the almighty God himself. I was at Igbobi College and while playing with my mates, we used to play five against five, somebody saw me, picked me to play for his team. Whilst with the team, somebody saw me and gave me a letter to go and train with the under 17 team. I went to train and that was it. That is why I tell these boys that whenever you are playing, you have to play well because you never know who is watching you. You can be found anywhere. What was it like going abroad for the first time? My first trip abroad was to the

igeria Ex international, Jonathan Akpoborie was recently a guest at the maiden edition of a football tourney, ‘The Fathers Cup’ put together by Lagos Province 15 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. . The footballer, who made 325 appearances in his career as a footballer, was invited by the Church to serve as an inspiration for the young players who also look forward to making it big someday on the international scene. The former Julius Berger FC player did not come with a prepared speech. Clad in a pair of blue jeans and plaid shirt, he simply spoke from the heart, giving glory to God who took him from the slum called Ajegunle to becoming an international footballer. Although the soft spoken former prolific goal scorer isn’t known to be a pastor, his inspirational talk with the young players led to over 20 of them giving their lives to Jesus on that day. What was it he told the players? In his career as a footballer, Jonathan made 325 appearances scoring, 143 goals but when it came to Nigeria, he made 13 appearances scoring a paltry four goals. This he blamed on the Nigeria factor. However, playing in a foreign football club was a different kettle of fish entirely, this he told the players. Living in Germany and playing in a club where he was almost all the time the only black man was challenging enough. In one instances at a 63, 000 capacity stadium, he was the only black man and as a striker that had been bought, the pressure was on him to score goals. Jonathan Akpoborie revealed that at such moment, every footballer calls

Fasting on Wednesday became a lifestyle for me’ he says. And on each occasion, he says, ‘God came through for me’. He told the players how on one of such occasions after praying and fasting, his club scored five goals against their opponent. Three of those goals were scored by him!

USA but there were blacks there already so it wasn’t such a culture shock for me. But going to Germany was a big change. It was not just about the colour but about language as well. Initially, I didn’t think language would matter because I felt football has a universal language which is to score goals. But I was wrong. After two years, I found out that for me to integrate with the people I had to speak the language. It took me three years to be able to speak the language. How did you survive? The first two years were very difficult. It was after I learnt the language that my career sky rocketed. Germans are warm the minute you can speak the language. Once I was able to do so everything just flowed. I spent more time with my team mates so I had to learn. When you come into a place and greet them in their language, they become friendly and they can do things for you. You were raised as a Christian. When you got to Germany was it easy to continue? In Germany faith is very difficult because you don’t have a lot of people who believe in God as you have in Nigeria. A lot of people don’t believe in God. I remember, my manager was Jewish and when I talked about God, he was like, ‘what is that?’ So it became a little bit difficult

Continues on page 41

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015—41

footballers playing in the league today, (I can’t categorically say that it happens) they have money and they use their money in deciding where they want to play and how they want to play. But those who really can play football can’t move from Ajegunle to Surulere. So that is the biggest problem we are having now in developing the genuine talents.

Continues from page 40 to actually follow but if you already had the strong background, there is nothing that can take it away from you. So how did you help yourself? Sometimes, I went to church sometimes. It wasn’t always because most of the time, we played our games on Saturdays. And when you play professionally, at the end of the game you need about a day and a half to two days to recover. So after a game, you found it very difficult to stand. Usually after a game, the next day, you went for training for about 15 minutes then you did your stretches and then went for massage. After that even if somebody slapped you, you won’t be able to do anything because your body is completely tired. So it will be difficult to play on Saturday and wake up the next day to go to church. Most times, you just call your pastor over the phone to talk and pray but mostly, you learn to carry God in your heart wherever you go.

•Jonathan Akpoborie

“Separate Politics from Sports” Quite definitely! The football we’ve been playing from the day Keshi came on the seat as the Super Eagle’s Coach; we’ve always had tactical issues. A lot of people would say we don’t need to play well we just need to win games. But your ratio of winning games actually increases when you are playing well and we have not been playing well from day one. So you could tell it was just a matter of time. It was like a time bomb waiting to set off. And we have seen and we are still being forced to accept that Keshi will take us there. I can tell you in my professional view that he will not and we are still going to sink more and more. What does it portend for us when for example the NFF cannot freely fire a coach? That is exactly what I keep saying about the development of our football in general. If you can’t allow them pick a Coach, we can as well carry the office of the NFF and throw into Aso Rock or the National Assembly for them to continue to run our football. We don’t run politics for them I expect them to leave football alone. What can be done to make our league competitive and attractive?

It’s all wrapped up in this political thing because politics has crept into football systematically. Most of the teams in the league are owned by state governments and they use all of these things as political tools. That is why football in Nigeria can never develop - because of politics. We need to look for a road map whereby we can separate politics from football. How can we develop youth football in Nigeria? The Lagos State government for example is fantastic with this. They have developed the youth league like the Principals cup which is good. But the infrastructure and the facility for the kids to play are not there. When I was growing up in Ajegunle, practically every corner you had space where we played football. These things are not there any more. The local competitions that we used to organize are not there anymore. After we won World Under 17 Cup in 1985 in China, everybody wanted his or her child to go play football. Is money an issue in all of these? Of course, yes. But then again, the best players here don’t have money so you have to support them one way or the other. That is why you see most of the

How would you assess Nigerian sports in 2014? The biggest thing there was the disappointment of not qualifying for 2015 AFCON. The discussion going around talking about the Nigerian coach, the team, the talents, the chairmanship of the NFF, sports in general, I’ve concluded that the lesson that Nigeria should learn from all these is to try to separate politics from sports and in particular, from football. They don’t belong together and when you drag politics into football, it actually destroys it. It doesn’t make you bring out the best team or the best organization that we can have, it doesn’t do anything good for the sports. As Nigerians, we should plan ahead and eventually separate politics from football. What should be the focus of the NNF in your view? Well, from the development in the last three months, I don’t think you can give any advice because whatever you say today is being vetoed by somebody somewhere. So what do you want to tell them? They took a very good decision by letting Keshi go for example but that veto came in, Keshi came back and still did not qualify us for the Nations cup. As we speak today he is still there. We still have the same problem with the team. We saw in the last game that they played, from the first day Keshi came as coach and to the last game they played, I have not seen any improvement from what he has been doing. So they keep saying they are rebuilding. If the NFF agrees, we as Nigerians or me as an individual, I think it is wrong for them to take Keshi back. He should resign on his own. It is something that happened to Samson Siasia; he was sacked. I don’t know why he, as a person, would want to remain in a position where he has failed Nigerians woefully. Do you think if the team was coached differently the outcome would have been different?

What role does your faith in God play in your career especially as regards goal scoring? It’s quite interesting when you watch football and you see players on television, they seem to have a larger than life image. They are all human beings with flesh and blood and prone to mistakes. But if you check very well, you’d find that every successful footballer or super star believes in God. In his quiet time he knows what he does. People have different ways of communing with God. I was very vocal about my faith while in Germany. I used to talk about it and there was no time I deviated to say let me go and try something else. Even when people came to ask for money from me to go pray somewhere, I always refused. I like to go to church when I can and I try to pray as much as I can. The only person who would understand your situation is God. That is where I get my solace. Most of the prolific goal scorers would not want to share the secret of things they did to score goals. I used to fast every Wednesday. I became used to fasting on Wednesdays. It was the day we had strenuous training. It gets intensive when I really need the goals and every time God delivers. There is no time I have asked God for something and He doesn’t answer me. It is something that has remained with me. I remember this game we were to play at Stuttgart. I had just left Stuttgart for Wolfsburg. So coming to play against my former team, in the same city, with people booing me wasn’t easy. Stuttgart has a big stadium that takes about 63,000 people. I said Lord don’t let me be ashamed here. I need to prove to these people that I am good and that you are with me as my rock. God came through for me. We scored five goals out of which I scored three. It was like God vindicating me in the presence of these people.

It’s quite interesting when you watch football and you see players on television, they seem to have a larger than life image. They are all human beings with flesh and blood and prone to mistakes

What was it like being the only black man in the midst of so many whites? Did it give you a complex? Definitely not! There was actually a situation where we were running into the stadium to warm up for a game in Berlin. There was this guy that brought a banana for me to sign. It was unusual but I signed it and gave it to him. In that game, we won 21 and I scored both goals. I came back, looked for him and they said he had gone, that he was angry. I said but he must have enjoyed the game, they said no he didn’t enjoy the game because I was the one that scored both goals. Absolute racism Yes. But I didn’t care. I just came to play football. Football is a job so I just did my job regardless of what anybody says. When I went to Rostop, one of the biggest racist areas in German, I survived through the grace of God. Everybody accepted what I was doing not just at the football level but outside. I just thank God for looking after me throughout my career and even for what I am trying to do now. I just pray that I will be more successful in helping the talents that I see going to waste in Ajegunle. What plans do you have for the future? I train with these boys in Ajegunle every week. What will give me joy which is my dream is to take these boys one by one abroad to go play football. Some of them are ready, some are not yet ready because of disciplinary and tactical issues. By the grace of God, two of them will be travelling with me to Germany in January. We hope that they will be offered contracts after their trials with various teams in Europe. When we complete that, I will come back to pick another set and the process will go on in that order.

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

mnesty International has claimed that Boko Haram killed a woman who was in labour during its attack on Bagabelieved to be the deadliest attack of the militants’ six-year insurgency. The human rights group which made this disclosure on Thursday, said one witness to the assault on Baga, told them the woman was shot by indiscriminate fire that also cut down small children. “Half of the baby boy (was) out and she died like this,” the unnamed witness was quoted as saying. Amnesty said this week, hundreds of people, if not more, may have been killed in the attack, which began on 3 January and is thought to have targeted civilian vigilantes helping the military. “They killed so many people. I saw maybe around 100 killed at that time in Baga. I ran to the bush. As we were running, they were shooting and killing,” a man in his fifties was quoted as saying. Another woman added: “I don’t know how many but there were bodies everywhere we looked”. The testimony chimes with claims from local officials that huge numbers were killed and that of witnesses described seeing decomposing bodies littering the streets. One man who escaped from Baga after hiding for three days said he was “stepping on bodies” for five kilometres (three miles) as he fled through the bush. Nigeria’s military, which often downplays death tolls, said this week that about 150 people died dismissing claims that 2,000 may have lost their lives. Security analysts have said that it may be impossible to know exactly how many were killed, with the town and surrounding area still in rebel control and access impossible. Amnesty on Thursday also published satellite images of Baga and Doron Baga, 2.5 kilometres away, which it said showed the scale of the attack. Aerial shots of the two towns — which have been hit previously by fighting were shown the day before the Islamists moved in and four days later, after they had razed homes and businesses. “These detailed images show devastation of catastrophic proportions in two towns, one of which was almost wiped off the map in the space of four days,” said the group’s Nigeria researcher, Daniel Eyre. More than 3,700 structures were damaged or completely destroyed — 620 in Baga and more than 3,100 in Doron Baga, Amnesty said but added that the number could be higher.

Boko Haram killed woman in labour during Baga massacre — Amnesty Int’l

Local officials have said Baga and at least 16 surrounding settlements were burnt to the ground and at least 20,000 people fled. Medical charity Doctors without Borders said on Tuesday that its team in the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, was providing assistance to 5,000 survivors of the attack. The United Nation refugee agency has said that more than 11,300 Nigerian refugees have fled into neighbouring Chad. Eyre said the eye-witnesses and images reinforced the view that the attack was Boko Haram’s “largest and most destructive” in its fight to establish a hardline Islamic

state in northeast Nigeria.

he statement added: “The deliberate killing of civilians and destruction of their property by Boko Haram are war crimes and crimes against humanity and must be duly investigated”. Some 300 women were said to have been rounded up and detained at a school, witnesses told Amnesty, adding that older women, mothers and children were released after four days but younger women kept. The Baga attack came before presidential and parliamentary elections in Nigeria next month and an upsurge in violence apparently designed to undermine the legitimacy of the

vote. Recall that Nine days after members of the Islamists group, Boko Haram attacked Baga town in Borno State, latest reports inform that dead bodies still litter bushes in the town. According to a report published online by CNN on 12 January, bodies still littered bushes in Baga town after attackers sped into the Nigerian town with grenade launchers nine days ago. It was disclosed that on 3 January, terrified residents of Baga town were forced to run into bushes in the town and surrounding villages when Boko Haram gunmen unloaded motorcycles from their trucks and chased after them.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015 — 43

44 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

SATURDAY

Akin Ambode has been my choice from the beginning —Babatunde Fashola

he Lagos state Governor has stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has always been his choice candidate all through the build up to the APC governorship primaries held over a month ago. He stated this during a parley organized by the Lagos APC to formally present their gubernatorial candidate and his running mate, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule, to media executives in Lagos. The governor noted that the party was actually “spoilt for choice” by having a pool of competent aspirants to elect from, but that he was happy that Ambode emerged as the victorious flag bearer. “It was a healthy problem; that we had many competent and accomplished aspirants to choose from. It clearly demonstrates the rich human capital we have in Lagos, in Lagos APC” He added, “Our party had a democratic and transparent gubernatorial primaries, and I am proud and happy with the results it has produced. This is because Akin has been my choice from the beginning, and I say this unequivocally” In his presentation, Governor Fashola described Ambode as “someone who has the ability to rigorously ensure that things tally, his accountability is just •Akinwunmi unmatched. Ambode He has the befitting skill-set

needed to build upon the successes we have recorded so far, and that is why I am happy at his candidature”. While reflecting on his 8-year tenure, Fashola noted that Lagos has consistently undergone enviable and noteworthy transformation, adding that Akinwunmi Ambode had the experience to sustain and even better such transformation. “I have worked with Akin and I can attest to his vast experience. He knows the government and understands governance, and his application of this capacityenhancing know-how will surely ensure that there is continuity in the tradition of excellence we are now known for in Lagos”. In his response, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who was full of appreciation to the Governor and the Party for making the parley happen, stated that public service was a form of nobility for him. “All my life, I have practiced selfless service to humanity in varying capacities. This has enabled me to take public service as a noble

one”. About his gubernatorial intention, Ambode echoed that despite being an accountant, his love for public service and natural knack for leadership led him to secure a Fullbright Scholarship for Public Leadership in Boston University, Massachusetts. He said such leadership know-how and a diligent skill-set gave productivity to his public service career, reiterating that the time seems right to take it to the next level. In his words, “the success and productivity that characterized my public service career makes me believe strongly that I was conscripted to excel in service

•Gov Fashola

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015—45

to the people, and this is the reason why I desire to serve Lagos as the Governor of the state”. Apart from this leadership capabilities, Ambode intoned that the very helpful experience secured while he worked with former governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and also Governor Fashola, have equipped him with rich administrative bandwidth that places him in good stead to keep up with the tradition of excellence that the state and the party is known for. The media parley gave him the opportunity to further intimate his audience with well thought-plans on how to sustain the successes already recorded. While answering questions, Ambode said he sees a Lagos that is “safe, secure, cleaner and more prosperous, that is driven by qualitative service, equity and justice”. He promised “strong leadership, selfless service, accountability and an excellent governance”, adding that “we have proved that governance can work, and I promise you that it will keep working”. Ambode noted further that the party’s ideology is an ideology of progressives, and which is responsive and people-oriented. “This ideology covers the two fundamental responsibilities of any serious government; that is, the protection of its citizens and their welfare. I humbly assure you that these are the two areas my government will also successfully address” He asked for their support in this election period to achieve it, while also saying there is need to replicate such good at the Federal level. Governor Fashola corroborated Mr. Ambode’s reply by stating that “government is something no one should experiment with. Getting this government going will not be difficult for an experienced Ambode”. Governor Fashola and Ambode both appreciated the media men and women whose expertise in terms of constructive criticisms and ideas, contribute a sizable quota to achieving good governance. The state APC party Chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale, capped off the interactive parley by remarking that the forthcoming election is a “simple choice between experience and experiment, I trust you all to make the wise choice and vote for the APC”.

46—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

today”. Tinubu also showered praises on all the other APC aspirants who contested during the primaries with Akin Ambode. He described them as great men and the party will be forever thankful to them for playing a unifying role when Ambode emerged as the candidate.

PDP is a deceptive party — FFashola ashola

LAGOS:

When the Ambode train took off BY GBENGA OKE

he All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Lagos State left no one in doubt about its determination to hold on to its domination of the state when it flagged off its campaigns last Wednesday. The flag-off from Ikeja, the state capital left all roads linking the state capital blocked while security operatives of the Nigeria Police Force sweated all day as they controlled supporters that besieged the campaign rally. The sun did not deter the supporters and dignitaries who flooded the venue of the launch. The candidate of the party, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode had emerged after a hard fought primary that saw him beating veteran party chieftain, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, former commissioner of justice Olasupo Sahshore among others. Given the hard tackles among the combatants it was expected that most of Ambode’s rivals and their supporters would be absent at the flag-off. But it was not so. Senator Solomon who had been on the governorship project for many years surprisingly showed no hard feelings that Wednesday. He was commended by the national party leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu that day. Other dignitaries that graced the event included the state party

chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator

Gbenga Ashafa, Alhaji Wale Mogaji, National woman Leader, Mrs KEMI Nelson, Mr Femi Pedro, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, Mr Joe Igbokwe, Mr Demola Seriki, popular musician, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshall and several Yoruba actors. The event, to many, was not just only a campaign rally but a carnival given the convivial spirit and festivity that pervaded the venue. The event which was to kick off by 12 pm could not start until about 1 pm when major political players within the party started arriving the venue. The arrival of the dignitaries was climaxed by the arrival of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola at about 1.46pm and after the arrival of National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in company of the party candidate, Mr Akin Ambode at exactly 1.49pm. Party leaders took turns to shower praises on Ambode and proclaim what the party would do in Lagos, and also, at the national level if Muhammadu Buhari emerges as president at the forthcoming polls. In his message, Tinubu lambasted President Jonathan for poor governance. He also dismissed the bid by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to win in the state, saying Lagos was not a laboratory where the party could perform some •Tinubu experiment.

•Akinwunmi Ambode

Jonathan is full of ex cuses — T ibunu Tibunu “Our President is a man full of excuses and he confirmed it recently when he said he has failed. His government has squandered all the money he met and we cannot afford another four years of PDP led government”. “Nigeria is at crossroads and need a straightforward, honest Nigerian like General Muhammadu Buhari to run its affairs else the Jonathan government will run the country aground if given another opportunity”. On the choice of Ambode as its gubernatorial candidate, Tinubu maintained that the party flag bearer is the best that can happen to Lagos State right now. His words, “we said we want continuity and we have gone round to pick the best for you. In 2007, I handed over to a young man in person of Governor Fashola, I told you he is a sound mind and an intellectual. Today, my saying of 2007 has come into reality as we have seen the development that took place in Lagos during the last eight years of Fashola”. “The same way I gave you Fashola in 2007, that’s is how I

am giving you Ambode today. He is a young man, intelligent, dynamic, brilliant and he is the man to continue the progress we have seen under Fashola. Like I said in the past that help is on the way, the person that will further rescue Lagos has arrived and we are happy to present him here

In his speech, Governor Fashola stated that PDP has nothing more to offer Nigeria. He said the president was full of excuses. “As governor, I have always appreciated those who held office before me and I will forever respect them for laying a foundation which am building on right now. But in the case of President Jonathan, he has been blaming past presidents for his mistakes. Buhari left office since 1985 and our president claims he didn’t buy military equipment. My question is does Mr President want to use the 1985 guns to fight this present Boko Haram menace that is ravaging Nigeria? It is really worrisome when the president gives this kind of excuse”. Pledging his support for Mr. Ambode, Fashola called on Lagosians to vote en masse for APC so that they can experience another level of development for the next 4years.

•Fashola

I will make Lagos economically viable — Ambode In his speech, the governorship candidate, promised to take Lagos to the next level if voted in as governor. “This is a moment of history today and I must say that APC is out to transform this country like never before. The economy of Nigeria is in shambles today and if we continue to live our economy in the hands of the PDP, then this country will collapse” “What the PDP has given us so far is poverty and we cannot continue to toe that path. In a month now, we have to elect a new president and if anyone of us wants to build a future for our children, then we have to vote for General Buhari on the 14th of February and vote for Ambode on the 28th of February ” he said. He went further, “If you vote for APC, we intend to build a new Lagos where everybody will have a voice irrespective of your tribe, an economically viable state and we intend to make Lagos safe for everyone.”

SATURDAY

Area Boys strike at APC rally STORIES BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

he APC political rally that flagged off their campaign in Lagos Wednesday gave so much hope to the party going by the turn out and acceptability of the people. But miscreants and street urchins, popularly called “Area Boys” also seized the opportunity to unleash their dastardly acts on unsuspecting people that thronged the rally. They stole, picked pockets and made away with several mobile phones wallets, cash and other valuables. A Journalist, who preferred anonymity as well as this reporter had their mobile phones stolen in broad day light. Also, one of the APC chieftains, who preferred anonymity, was not spared in the robbery spree as the Area Boys dispossessed him of about N200,000. “As people were leaving the venue after the rally, about six rough looking guys suddenly, accosted me. Initially, I thought they only wanted

“Area Boys” on rampage at APC rally in Lagos to get money from me but I pleaded with them that there wasn’t money on me. In the process, I did not realize that my Samsung Android mobile phone in my pocket had been picked. As I walked few seconds

away from the spot, I suddenly realized my phone was gone. By the time I turned back to see if the guys were still there, they had disappeared,” said the man

Truck crashes into building BY OLAITAN SHINYABOLA WITH AGENCY REPORT

everal Customs operatives and clearing agents operating at the PTML Mile 2 Annex, Lagos narrowly escaped death when a truck crashed into the building

housing both the customs office and staff of the terminal operator on Wednesday. The accident consequently, paralysed business activities in the area. According to eyewitness account, the incident occurred about 6.30am

Truck crashed into PTML Annex building at Mile 2 as the driver was trying to escape LASTMA officials tended to arrest him for traffic offence.

Wednesday, when some Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials with vehicle number APAPA 01 allegedly pursued a truck driver and in an attempt to arrest him for reversing on the Mile 2- Apapa Oshodi Expressway the driver lost control of the vehicle. It was gathered that the driver veered off the expressway and rammed into the PTML building when the LASTMA officials, together with the touts who work with them, tried to forcefully seize control of the steering while the truck was in motion. It was also gathered that some customs officers and a motorcyclist were seriously injured in the process. Chief Security Officer of the terminal, Oscar Aliu described the incident as a colossal damage. He said, “The incident happened about 6.30am. The truck was making a mere reverse on the road and the LASTMA officials wanted to accost him together with their camp boys. In the cause of fighting the driver and trying to take control of the steering, the trailer skidded off the highway and hit the fence. An

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015—47

Harmattan: Lagos cautions residents on naked fire

agos residents have been advised to exercise great caution during this harmattan season as the state is susceptible to fire outbreaks due to high level of combustion often associated with dry harmattan breeze. The state Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello who gave the advice stressed that the measure became necessary following outbreaks of fire experienced recently, in some parts which was partly due to the dry weather. According to him: “As our environment becomes dusty and hazy which is also aided by the wind, wooden items, leaves, furniture among others, we urge residents to be extremely careful”. Bello also noted that Harmattan currently being experienced in the state would subsist for sometime. He advised Lagosians to take precautionary measures by making sure that they install fire extinguishers in homes, market places, motor parks, among others. He warned Lagosians to avoid bush and waste burning during this period as this may lead to fire outbreak. “ Lagosians should patronize PSP operators to dispose their refuse as burning of refuse or patronizing cart pushers is clearly against the law and inimical to our well-being”, he added.

Okada guy was smashed and we are still battling if he can survive. “The estimate of the damage is colossal because Customs is yet to come out with the damage of the equipment stationed here. Some customs officers were partly injured and most of them are currently undergoing treatment. One of our staff vehicles was mangled, the fence is gone, and the main building too is gone so the damage is colossal.” It was gathered that on sighting the gravity of damage, officials sped away. But no one could identify any of the LASTMA officials. When contacted, image maker of the PTML Customs Command, Steve Okonmah said although the incident will partially disrupt activities at the PTML Annex, measures were being put in place to ensure that work resumes in no time. “This is a place where you have officers, agents gathered everyday but we thank God they had not gathered before this incident happened. It has disrupted job but we are working round the clock to make sure that work resumes immediately,” he said. At press time effort to speak with the LASTMA spokesperson was unsuccessful as repeated calls to the mobile phone line did not connect.

48—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

Uduaghan has started with the Warri industrial Park, restoring of Agriculture to boost food security, Job creation, Improved Health Care delivery through provision of Health Insurance scheme, reviving the education sector to equip its products with the skills to find jobs, transportation and human capital development. Dr Okowa has equally outlined his vision to strengthen the private sector to accelerate commerce and Industrial growth. Flagging off his campaign in Oghara, Ethiope West was strategic. This is heart of Delta Central politics. Chief James Ibori hails from here and his daughter, Ehriatake Ibori, is one of the emerging political pillars in this area and she hopes to represent them in the Delta State Assembly. Since 1999, Ethiope has consistently voted for PDP. Dr. Okowa needed to make the statement that he is running for the office of the Governor of Delta State. He also had to show appreciation to the people of Ethiope West which supported him to win the ticket in the first place, but above all, this is the local government of his former boss, regardless of the travails of the god father. In fact, Chief Great Ogboru, who is flying the flag of Labour Party is also from Ethiope East. Ogboru appears to be the favoured candidate of the leadership of Urhobo Progress Union. The Urhobos who have occupied the governorship seat for 10 years, are presenting two candidates under the banners of Labour Party and All Progressive Congress. Chief Great Ogboru is of the Labour Party and Olororun O’Tega Emerhor is of the APC. The Urhobos have been boasting of their intention to give their bloc vote to Labour and APC, the main opposition party in the state. It was therefore a massive boost to see the impressive turn out at the Oghara stadium where the big shots in Delta State politics; including Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan were present to witness what may turn out to be audacious march to power.

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

neasy is the head that bears the crown. That is the challenge facing Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa as he steps out to wrestle with fate and destiny in the Delta States political terrain, where he is aspiring to occupy the Unity House at Okpanam Road, Asaba. The Owa born Senator representing Delta North senatorial district is carrying the flag of the People’s democratic party PDP and the collective aspiration of the Anioma people, to have one of their own become the governor of Delta state, just as the two other senatorial zones have done in the past 16 years. The dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State politics has undoubtedly made it the party to beat. Consequently, there is the assumption that whoever is contesting the Governorship election on the platform of PDP is likely to win. This was the case during the December 8th, 2014 primary election of the party where a total of 26 aspirants lined out. Delta North alone presented 18 of the aspirants Never the less, the forth coming

From right; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Delta State People’s Democratic Party governorship flag bearer, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his wife, Mrs. Edith Okowa during the State PDP campaign in Koko, Warri North LGA, Delta State yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini governorship election is a different ball game as Dr. Okowa is squaring up with the candidates of the two other political parties that are taking part in what is now a three-horse race. OKOWAMANIA The Oghara flag off was a huge carnival that left no one in doubt of the strength of PDP with a master political stroke by Dr. Okowa as he

pulled the traditional Chief Ibori crowd and had a full house. Dr. Okowa emerged as a unifying figure and as a leader in whom all Deltans can trust. The flag off was also an opportunity for all the groups working for the re-election of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to collectively solicit support for the President. Dr. Okowa has set his priorities on accelerated industrial development by sustaining what Dr. Emmanuel

AUDACITY OF HOPE Dr. Okowa took a swipe at the leadership of UPU for their divisive politics and pledged to be fair to all and treat everybody equally. Dr. Okowa, urged the people of Delta Central to remain with PDP and work towards securing a landslide victory in February. According to him, the opposition camp in the state has been changing their platform with every voting year, which is a sign of political opportunism and lack of focus. DISCONTENT There is discontent from the Anioma land which is worrisome to Dr. Okowa. The former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei has Continues on page 49

SATURDAY

Continues from page 48

backyard even as he stomps in Delta Central and Delta South for votes. UPU DILEMMA Dr. Okowa was fazed by the threat of UPU leaders to give bloc to Chief Great Ogboru of Labour in the Governorship election while they vote for PDP in the presidential election. Although there is no authentication of voting strength of the Urhobo which is speculated to have mutated from 820,000 to 1 million, Dr. Okowa was confident that he will emerge victorious in February. The leadership of UPU is in a dilemma because of the hard line position it took in the Uviamughe Declaration where it enjoined Urhobos to vote against PDP if the governorship ticket was not given to Delta Central. It has been caught in the web of contradiction where it has been torn between supporting APC and Labour Party since there are two Urhobo sons in the contest. Since 1999, no candidate

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015—49

Urhobo’s one million votes and Okowa’s audacious declaration at Oghara endorsed by UPU has won the governorship election in Delta State. Chief Ogboru was first endorsed by UPU in 2003, then in 2007 and 2011. He lost the three elections and went ahead to spend heavily on legal battles. UPU leaders have openly threatened that they will vote against PDP in the Presidential elections to punish President Goodluck Jonathan for the role the Ijaws are playing in Delta State politics but the fear that victory for Dr. Okowa and Dr. Jonathan will expose them badly had made them to be flirting with the idea of voting for Jonathan in the Presidential election while they vote against Dr. Okowa in the governorship election. This is dicey as GEJ may lose the presidential election and PDP win the governorship election. The scramble for one million votes from Delta Central will be an

UPU leaders have openly threatened that they will vote against PDP in the Presidential elections to punish President Goodluck Jonathan for the role the Ijaws are playing in Delta State politics

interesting challenge and Dr. Okowa is mindful of this just as his campaign team is working on fighting for every vote from all the three senatorial districts. On their part, Delta North political leaders have made it clear that Anioma people are not interested in investing energy in the office of the Deputy Governor when it has its own son contesting for the main office. With the Ijaws already offered a deputy governorship slot by PDP, Okowa is sure of securing their support while the Itsekiris are comfortable working for the victory of PDP. But political analysts argue that the calculations being made by the leadership of UPU are not tenable. According to the Chairman of Anioma Renaissance Chief Patrick Onwochei, the outcome of the December 8 primary elections shows that Dr. Okowa has a strong presence in EthiopeWest, Uvwie and Sapele Local Government Areas.

Chief Moses Odibo who is aspiring to become a member of Delta State House of Assembly told Vanguard that Dr. Okowa is favoured because his candidacy represents equity which will promote peace . Chief Philip Ibonye also told Vanguard that Dr Okowa has presented himself as a Pan Delta candidate who wants to carry all sections of the state along. According to Ogbueshi Ibonye, the prevailing thought in Delta state today is that no ethnic nationality should be left out. Dr. Okowa has been able to build bridges of understanding as well as raise the levels of trust and confidence and the people. The Isoko land has become favoured ground for the choice of Deputy Governor slot for APC and Labour Parties as Chief O’Tega Emerhor has chosen Mr. Felix Akugha, a journalist with the African independent Television while Chief Ogboru has also chosen another Isoko man Chief Peter Erebi. The next five weeks will be interesting for the power struggle in Delta State.

Why Uduaghan won Silverbird Man of The Year Award — Organisers RGANISERS of positive efforts in to the United Nations, O the Silberbird boosting local food Alhaji Maitama Sule, Man of the Year have production and former Permanent said that Governor of Delta State, Dr. E m m a n u e l Uduaghan,was named the Silverbird Man of the Year 2014 because of his role in restoring peace and security in Delta State, as well as providing free medical care for children and the elderly. Dr. Uduaghan emerged winner of the prestigious award in a tight contest among six nominees. According to the Silverbird Group, Governor Uduaghan was deemed the right man for the award because he has invested massively in the development of infrastructure in Delta State and his acclaimed micro credit scheme. The 10th anniversary of the Silverbird Man of the Year Awards will also feature special awards to some prominent individuals and groups including Chief Innocent Chukwuma, who is the chairman of Innoson Motors, who won the Silverbird Extra-ordinary Achievement Award for establishing the first indigenous vehicle manufacturing plant in Nigeria. Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina, for his

drastically reducing the importation of foodstuff. However, a Post-humous award will each be bestowed on foremost human rights activist and social crusader, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, famed apostle of politics without bitterness, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri, and former governor of old Imo State, Chief Sam Mbakwe. A Silverbird Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to acclaimed orator and former Nigerian permanent representative

Secretary, Dr. Philip Asiodu and technocrat, administrator and businessman, Dr. Gamaliel Onosode. For containing the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria, the Silverbird Group has deemed it fit to give special recognition award to the medical team of First Consultant Hospital led by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Ifeanyi Ohiaeri, and also to the Lagos State Government, Rivers State Government and Federal Ministry of Health.

Group marches for Jonathan in Owerri By Sebastine Obasi

group, PDP Re loaded Project, yesterday staged a walk on the streets of Owerri, Imo State capital to canvass support for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Tagged, “March for Consolidation”, the exercise was aimed at creating more awareness and reaching to the man on the street on the need to support present government in the February 14, Presidential election,

according to the South East Zonal Coordinator of the group, Prince Sebastine. He explained that the Group wants the president to finish the good works he has been doing especially in the agricultural sector where farmers now have direct access to fertilizers. “We want the total support of the people in the February elections so as to enable President Jonathan continue his good works especially in the area of agriculture where farmers now have unfettered access to fertilizers,” he added.

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

on. Oma Djebah, an International Journalist, former Commissioner for Information, Delta State (2007-2011) has served in various capacities in a career spanning over two decades. He was a member of Obasanjo’s Presidential Committee on NEPAD in 2002; member of the Ministerial Committee on Reforms of the Nigerian Police in 1999 and member of United Nations (UN) Secretary General’s Panel on Governance and Development in Africa in 2005, and currently Senior Adviser to the Governor of Delta State on Foreign Relations among others. In this interview, Djebah, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) speaks among others on the forthcoming general elections and why Deltans should elect Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of the PDP as governor. His take on ongoing political campaigns in the country and whether they been issue-based? Going by what you see in the media, the fundamental challenges facing the country have not been adequately focused on but I think as the campaigns evolve, these issues will begin to be discussed in greater detail. The parties already have their manifestos which I believe point to issues like security, corruption, the economy and so on and how the respective parties hope to address them. It is just for their various candidates and candidates to convey the message to the electorates as they embark on their campaigns. What issues do you think should be brought to the front burner? From an objective point of view, I will say that the paramount issues revolve around concerns for the country’s economic future, national unity and insecurity. Many other cross cutting issues like infrastructure, corruption etc. can be accommodated under these key concerns. Various other subjective factors inform the citizens’ decision on what issue is most important. For instance, employment is foremost as well as housing. How do you think incoming governments should tackle these issues? First of all, a lot depends more on the team assembled by the government as much as it does on the winning party or candidate. Besides the ability of the winning candidate to assemble a competent and formidable team across sectors

Oma Djebah

2015:

Okowa is best hand for Delta —Djebah

the candidate must also apply the political will required to drive the programmes of the government. As you know, the price of oil, which accounts for about 90 percent of Nigeria’s export earnings, has tumbled in recent times and some analysts believe that it can go as low as $29 this year before a possible rebound. This implies that the federal and state governments will be faced with the challenges of grappling with less than a third of their receipts over the last four years while having to fashion out ways to bridge the deficits and grow their earnings. This means that the in-coming governments at all levels will desperately require people who can think out of the box and make something out of nothing. On how the government can tackle some of the burning issues, since the in-coming governments may have to look more inwards for revenue generation through taxes, they must find ways to create wealth for individuals and companies who will make the taxable profits. The government therefore will need to systematically get their hands off certain businesses better managed by the state while also plugging the holes in the government’s own purses. As a member of the ruling party, PDP, do you think your party has fielded the candidates with the capacity

to think out of the box? To a large extent yes but that is not to say the opposition has not done the same. Like I said before, the success of any government does not solely depend on the head of the government. It’s a team work which means that a lot depends on the effort of competent and qualified foot soldiers; the ministers, commissioners, heads of agencies as the case may be, who in turn must be backed by the necessary political will to succeed. It is this political will the head of the government must epitomize. In your home state, Delta State, what do you think Senator Okowa, the PDP standard bearer has going for him? Senator Okowa obviously has a lot going for him. He is the best material for the position of Governor of Delta State. And I am very proud that our party, the PDP, picked him as the party’s candidate. Apart from being a grass roots politician with a superb understanding of the challenges facing the people of Delta State, I also think he has the proven capacity to govern successfully as well as the requisite ability to assemble a team of competent men and women to support him. He equally enjoys broad based support which will be instrumental in driving the needed policy changes that will

yield the desired success of his administration. These are some of the essential reasons I think the party believes in him and which informed his choice as our party’s flag-bearer. The good news is that he is not going to begin from the scratch because Delta State is not one of the states that have been taken unawares by the tumbling oil prices. The situation you see today with the oil prices was foretold a long time ago by the incumbent Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who envisioned the now popular Delta beyond Oil strategy. The components of this strategy are already well documented so I need not dwell much on them but the point is that the foundation has been relatively laid for Senator Okowa’s hitch-free take off. Also, only recently, the United Nations (UN) in Nigeria released their report on the assessment of performance of various sectors in Delta State which evaluated the progress of the state and made vital recommendations for the state’s attainment of the MDG’s as well sustainable development goals. All these provide valuable take off points for an in-coming government and I am certain that a cerebral person like Senator Okowa will make the best of them. I say this assuredly because I had the benefit of knowing the distinguished Senator very well. I am not saying this because he is the flagbearer of our party but long ago, way back three years ago, I told four of my colleagues, in the course of a debate as to who best fits Delta State governorship seat that the right person from all angle and all sincerity, is Okowa. I think we were in Abuja that time, in a car, when the debate ensued. Why do I say so? First, I had the opportunity of serving along with Senator Okowa in 2007, first at the transition committee headed by General Alex Ogomudia, a retired General and former Chief of Defence Staff, where Senator Okowa was the secretary. He did that job with clinical effectiveness that my admiration for him increased because I just came from Lagos as a journalist. I was also in the first cabinet of Governor Uduaghan in which Senator Okowa served as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). My experience working with him at that time availed me with an insight into some of his key capabilities such as his nature as a consensus builder, his people skills which can enable him ferret the best minds to work with as well as his discipline which can be translated to tremendous political will. For example, Okowa, as SSG, had the capacity to seamlessly acquaint himself with the technical details of official memos routed through his office and will then make incisive policy comments that assisted most commissioners to better align technical issues with the policy direction of the state. You will recall that Okowa had earlier served as a Local Government Chairman as well as Delta State’s Commissioner for Health. The added experience he has gained as a distinguished senator puts him well ahead of other contestants especially in terms of being hands on with current governance issues.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015—51 another place. That meeting was held in the palace of the Olu of Warri and the Olu of Warri presided over the meeting and that is the highest authority in Itsekiri Kingdom. A position had been taken and so when this new idea was introduced, courtesy demands… that is the position of those who went to the meeting that they have to do consultation with the relevant stakeholders in respect of this and two, NNPC has to provide also the map where they intend to do the new relocation. Bearing in mind that the two projects are one, but they are dislocating it, the effects of the dislocation and other things. For now, consultation is still going on and NNPC has not called our people back, perhaps, everybody is still busy. So presently, no position has been taken in respect of that. Our position is that where the jetty (port) is now is part of Ugborodo land and we will not allow it to be entirely named after Gbaramatu.

DELTA SOUTH:

There’s something Uduaghan, Manager have not told their followers we do not know the rationale behind it, bearing in mind that Senator Manager has done three tenures, this is the fourth time he is going for it and it is not supposed to be so. Because this is a seat that is rotational among the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Isoko, so the circumstances at which the governor came out and voluntarily declined to contest the position are still a mystery to some of us. As friends, maybe there is something that happened that they (he and Manager) have not been able to disclose to their followers.

•Chief Ereyitomi

EMMA AMAIZE, REGIONAL EDITOR, SOUTH- SOUTH

EOPLE’S Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain in Delta State and member, Ogidigben Export Processing Zone, EPZ, Interface Committee, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, spoke to Saturday Vanguard in Warri on the lingering controversy between the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups on the EPZ project, emergence of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as the party’s gubernatorial candidate and Barrister Kingsley Otuaro as his running mate, as well as the unclear circumstances in which Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan sacrificed his senatorial bid. Excerpt.

Looking at what played out in the People’s Democratic Party, Delta State with Senator Ifeanyi Okowa from Delta North emerging as the gubernatorial standard bearer, where do you place the Itsekiri people? First and foremost, I am a PDP member and majority of Itsekiri politicians are in PDP, so Itsekiris support Okowa. They will vote enmass for Okowa. As to the stake of Itsekiri people presently in PDP, we have a stake even though if you look at the whole arrangement, starting from the governorship flag bearer and his running mate, we are not there. This is just the gubernatorial candidate and running mate we have for now. Don’t forget that the incumbent is an Itsekiri, in terms of political appointments, am sure that Itsekiris would not be left out giving our voting strength, we will be compensated, I

know that Okowa knows what to do and Itsekiris are in the right place as far as I am concerned. In what was clearly a curious case that the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who is an Itsekiri sacrificed his senatorial bid for the incumbent Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, while the Itsekiri also lost the chairmanship of Warri SouthWest, which one of its sons had already won the primary, what is amidst? On the chairmanship matter, the circumstances at which Hon Bobby Omadeli, I cannot use the word lost out because he won the primary…the incident that happened two days before the election, it was very unfortunate. In any case, we have a rotational arrangement in Warri South-West, which automatically gives the Itsekiri people the right to produce the chairman, but I think the governor wanted an improvement on the rotational arrangement, which is for a particular ethnic group to run two tenures, instead of one. The principle behind the rotational concept is that no one ethnic nationality should perpetually occupy that seat. Even though our Ijaw brothers are now occupying the position for two tenures now, it means that when it comes to the turn of Itsekiri people, we will also do two terms. I see it as an improvement on the whole thing, but that should have been an arrangement between the two ethnic groups and the governor and in doing that too, Omadeli should not have been subjected to that rigorous process he went through. On the senatorial primary, you remember that Senator Manager and Governor Uduaghan are friends, they are brothers. The circumstances at which the governor relinquished his bid for Manager are still a mystery to some of us because

What is your take of an average Itsekiri man on Otuaro, an Ijaw as Okowa’s running mate? Barrister Kingsley Otuaro is a friend and I am sure that virtually all the Itsekiri leaders know him. As to an Ijaw man emerging as the deputy governor, I am not sure that is the issue now, the issue is that we have gotten a deputy governor from Warri South-West. Warri South-West broke out from the original Warri because Warri is now Warri South-West, Warri North and Warri South, which means that in the old Warri, this is the very first time we are having a deputy governor. How he emerged is not the issue, the onus is on us to rally round Okowa to ensure that the opportunity we have now does not elude us. We support Barrister Otuaro as deputy governor and we are going to work for him because it is an opportunity that we cannot allow to slip. You are a member of the Ugborodo EPZ Interface Committee, what is the position of things between the two ethnic groups on the naming of the project site? The position that I am aware of, though I did not attend the last meeting in Abuja, but the brief I have showed that NNPC tried to relocate outright the Deep Sea Port from Kpokpo end deep down into the Gbaramatu area and as such, they are pleading with the Itskeiri people to allow that be so that the Deep Sea Port will perhaps be named after Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Export Processing Zone, EPZ proper after Ugborodo. But from the brief I have, those who went to the meeting said yes, but they need also to see everything that they want to do. Do not forget that Itsekiri, as a nation, has taken a position on this matter. And the position of the Itsekiri is that if parts of our land will be ceded to Ijaw in the name of renaming the project, they prefer that the project be taken to

Ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who is a top Ijaw leader form Gbaramatu Kingdom, has met with the Olu of Warri, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT, in what many thought was a way of forging peace and understanding on this matter, to what extent has recent bridge-building efforts impacted on this process? Yes, I was in the palace when Tompolo came, he tried to build confidence, to reassure the people that the Ijaw do not have any intention of fighting the Itsekiri. He also tried to say that the information people are peddling are not correct, that is what he did. I am sure that what he also discussed with the ILT, but as to the issues of the EPZ, those issues were not discussed. He booked for the meeting but he did not come out to say this is my position on the EPZ. So the issue of EPZ has not been discussed. I think what he is doing is on the right direction; let us see how the Ijaw and Itsekiri can live in peace. When the NNPC comes up with the map, we will sit down and see how amicably we can resolve the matter. Finally, the Urhobo Progressives Union, UPU, which is the apex sociocultural group of the Urhobo in the Delta Central Senatorial district, is still maintaining that Urhobo people will not vote for PDP because the party picked a Delta Northerner, Okowa as its governorship standard bearer. Will this not affect the chances of your party in next month’s poll? Our brothers from the Central need to understand that politics is about collaboration. No one senatorial district can entirely win election without the collaboration of others and that a candidate has emerged from the North (Anioma), they are part of the state. Delta North supported former governor, Chief James Ibori, so we expect that they should also reciprocate. The position they took that if an Urhobo man is not the governorship candidate of PDP, they will not vote for the party is not correct because every part of the state is entitled to produce the governor. The incumbent governor is from Delta South, so we are moving to North, when it leaves the North, it comes to Central again and that gives a sense of belonging that we are all one. So, my appeal to our brothers from the Central is to ensure that we collaborate as a family to ensure that we deliver Okowa because it will be their turn tomorrow and they will need the assistance of the people of Delta North.

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

What makes NDDC wrong for Oil Producing States BY OGHENE OMONISA

he two women are on a bus ride from Apapa to Oshodi in Lagos. From their appearance, they look like petty traders. In excitement, one informs her co-passenger that Anambra State has recently joined Niger Delta states with the discovery of oil in the state. Her deep Igbo accent gives away her ethnicity, and from her excitement, it is easy to suspect that she or her husband is from Anambra. Her fellow passenger, an acquaintance, going by the cordiality of their conversation, is happy for her, and she highlights some of the benefits accruable to indigenes of an oil producing state: job opportunities in the oil companies operating in the state, company scholarship for students, contract jobs in the companies among others, which she expects her friend and her family to start enjoying soon. Other passengers in the bus who might have paid attention to their conversation certainly would have understood it to mean that crude oil has been discovered in Anambra, therefore the state has become a Niger Delta state. If the two women are considered not to be lettered enough to know that an oil producing state does not necessarily mean a Niger Delta state, then one could only marvel at the planners who drew up the law establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and who named the commission as such, as if only Niger Delta states produce oil. COMMON PERCEPTION The common perception among Nigerians is that crude oil is found in the Niger Delta Region and that every state in the region is an oil producing state, which is in order. But it is evident, especially from the example of the bus conversation, that this perception has been wrongly taken further to mean that any state where oil is found automatically becomes a Niger Delta state. The perception is common among commoners as well as the elite, and it is believed to have been generated by the naming of the commission which was established to tackle the developmental needs of oil producing states with oil derivation funds, as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the ministry later established to offer more palliatives to the region named the ministry of Niger Delta affairs. What could have informed the naming of these institutions as such? ORIGIN OF WRONG NOMENCLATURE The people of the Niger Delta believed and still believe that they have not benefited enough from

NDDC Niger Delta State

their God-given resources since Nigeria started generating revenue from crude oil in 1958, because of their minority status. This has been one of the major reasons for their agitations over the years. In response, the Sir Henry Willinks Commission, in 1958, recommended that the Niger Delta Region deserved special development attention by the Federal Government, especially because of its difficult terrain. The Federal Government then established the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB) in 1960. This could be seen to be the origin of the inappropriate nomenclature for oil producing states, because as at 1960, when the board was established, crude oil had been discovered in present-day Ondo State, outside the Niger Delta Region. It could be assumed that the government named the committee as such to satisfy the yearnings of the Niger Delta people by making them feel the committee was strictly for them. But the board (NDDB) died a natural death when the country came under military rule in 1966. With the return of civilian rule in 1979, the agitations for resource control resumed in earnest. This led the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari to set aside

Thus when the Igboman says he is from the East or that he is travelling to the East from Lagos, he is not actually travelling to the geographical East, for the geographical East consists of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and parts of Bauchi, Borno, Nassarawa Plateau and Yobe States. But geopolitically, the Igboman is actually travelling East!

1.5% of oil earnings for oil producing states, and the body the government established to oversee the execution of the allocation was named Niger Delta Development Committee (NDDC), clearly following the NDDB precedence in its choice of nomenclature. But the government of military President Ibrahim Babangida not only doubled the allocation to 3 % but also changed the name of the body to the more appropriate Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) in 1992, obviously to reflect the fact that not only Niger Delta states produce oil. On his assumption of office, Gen. Sani Abacha scrapped OMPADEC. He instead established the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), whose development mandate covered the whole country. Nevertheless, his 1994 National Constitutional Conference (NCC) agreed on at least 13% derivation. He did not live to implement it. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’ government scrapped PTF and established a special body to undertake a rapid development of the oil producing areas. But instead of re-instating the old name of OMPADEC, or any other nomenclature, to reflect the fact that not every oil producing state is a Niger Delta state, the government opted for the Niger Delta Development

Commission (NDDC). When the Umaru Yar’Adua government wanted to establish a ministry to offer more palliatives to oil producing states, it followed Obasanjo’s precedence and named it ministry of Niger Delta affairs! NOT EVERY OIL PRODUCING STATE IS NIGER DELTA STATE Who says every oil producing state is a Niger Delta? The answer could be found in a lecture presented by Chief James Ibori, former governor of Delta State, at the 2009 Business Hallmark Inaugural Independence Anniversary Lecture, in October 2009, titled ‘Economic Development, Niger Delta and the Future of Nigeria’. He wrote in the fourth paragraph, under the sub-heading: WHY THE NIGER DELTA MATTERS: ‘The Niger Delta region is made up of the nine oil-producing states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers as defined in the 2000 Law that set up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Prior to this law, the geographical definition of the area comprised the six states in the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria. These states are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers.’ Ibori’s attempt to prove that not all the oil producing states are originally from the geo-political Niger Delta could be accepted, and he attempted to also provide two definitions for the Niger Delta: NDDC law, and geo-political definition, though he broadly called it ‘geographical definition’. In the NDDC law, the Niger Delta is made up of the states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers for the simple reason that they all produce oil and are a cluster of states with common boundaries; while geopolitically, the Niger Delta is comprised of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States. Going geographic or cartographic, and

Continues on page 53

SATURDAY Vanguard, JAUNARY 17, 2015—53

BY EVELYN USMAN

ever in the wildest imagination of Samson Ibrahim, did he envisage he would not live to see his agenda for 2015 actualize, as he set off to a bar in Paiko Idimu, a Lagos suburb on January 1. The 40 year-old father of three reportedly received an invitation from some of his friends at the bar. He was said to have left his apartment with a promise to come back and continue the New celebration with his family. But that was never to be as he was rushed from the bar to the hospital, following a severe injury he sustained during a fight over a girl. As you read this piece, the remains of Ibrahim are lying stone cold in the morgue, as a result of complication that reportedly arose during surgery. Information at Crime Guard’s disposal had it that the late Ibrahim engaged one Alaba Adeshina in a fight at the popular ‘Lady Show ‘bar , after the later attempted to woo his girl. In the process, eye witnesses alleged that Alaba stabbed Ibrahim with a broken bottle in his stomach which forced his intestines out. The deceased’s elder brother, Babatunde Alagbe , who spoke with Crime Guard said his late brother was taken to different hospitals within the vicinity but was rejected. He said: “ At the Ikeja General Hospital, we were told to go and get N2million for surgery. Thereafter we took my brother to Ikeja Medial Centre where we were told to bring N1 million. We eventually settled for N700,000 before the surgery was carried out. After the surgery he started complaining of chest pain and when he went for check up, scan result showed that some liquid substance lodged in his chest. The scan result also showed that blood was lodged at his back, thereby, necessitating a second surgery, where my brother was opened up from the chest to the stomach. Unfortunately, he could not make it. He died four days later, leaving his three children of ages 8, 5 and 2 “ Adeshina said.

He attacked mesuspect

n his part, 34 year-old Alaba Adeshina who was embroiled in a fight with the deceased, denied stabbing him. Rather, he claimed that the deceased attacked him first, showing a bandage on his head as an evidence of the injury he sustained during the attack. Narrating what happened: Adeshina said: “ I saw two ladies smoking at the bar. I admired one of them. My intention was to get acquainted with her and use the opportunity to advise her

•Samuel Michael...displays areas where he was stabbed during the struggle with the deceased

•Alaba Adesina...I fainted when he smashed a bottle on my head

Two men fight over a girl, one •I did not stab him dies deliberately-suspect against smoking. But when I approached her, she barked at me and threatened to smash a bottle on my head. Later, she joined us at the table and was discussing with my friends. Again, as she made to leave, I followed her and demanded for her number. Before I knew what was happening, a man came out from nowhere and landed his fist across my face, accusing me of trying to take his girl. By then, one of my brothers, Segun Olowopejo, cautioned me to be careful and asked me to leave the bar. As I was leaving, the man came again and smashed a bottle on my head. I was dazed at that point and cried out for help in pain . That was all I could remember until I woke up next day , to find myself at Temidire hospital with bandage on my head and my right wrist. I was advised to report the matter at the station because I was told that the fight escalated after I fainted. But on getting to the station, I was detained. It was at the station I

learnt that the man I fought with was dead”

Who killed Ibrahim?

rrested alongside Adeshina were his elder brother, Segun Olowopejo, his step brother, Samuel Michael and Kabiru Abdulai, all of whom went to the bar that fateful day. They are currently at the State Criminal Investigation Department , SCID, Panti, where investigation was said to be ongoing. When asked who stabbed the deceased, Samuel Michael, burst into tears, wishing the hand of the clock could be turned back to that day in order to amend his ways. The father of three started with lamentation: “ January 1, 2015 was a nightmare that I wish I would wake up and discover it was dream after all. But no! It is real! “My father usually invites relations and friends for the New year celebration. Kabiru and Alaba also visited. But Segun came late after the food

When asked who stabbed the deceased, Samuel Michael, burst into tears, wishing the hand of the clock could be turned back to that day in order to amend his ways

and drinks had been served. He suggested we went to Lady show’s bar for a drink and when we got there, we were given two bottles of beer and meat for free. Segun sent for more bottles because the ones given were not enough for us.. As we were discussing, two ladies walked in with cigarettes in their hands. One of them said I was occupying her seat and I quietly stood up because I am not troublesome. “When fight broke out between my step brother and the deceased at the initial time, I begged the deceased to forgive my brother and they stopped fighting. He even patted my back saying I was wise. Barely had I sat down than somebody rushed inside to inform me that my brother was being attacked. When I got outside, I met my brother in the pool of his blood on the ground, with a man still wielding a broken bottle that was stained with blood. I held the man’s hand to prevent him from stabbing Adeshina further. At that point we started struggling with the broken bottle in his hand. In the process, I sustained injury in the hand(raises his hands to reveal some stitches) My father came to the bar when he heard we were fighting. He started hitting me and instructed me to leave the bar and I did. But to my shock , owner of the bar came with some policemen to our house saying, I was the one that stabbed the deceased. “ I did not stab him. There was no way I could have matched him in a fight because he was older and taller than I “, he said crying profusely. The suspects as gathered, would be charged to court immediately the judiciary ends their strike. C M Y K

54—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

L-R: PDP N/Chairman, Adamu Mauzu,Enugu Governorship candidate,Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi raises his running mate hand, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeillo,while state party Chairman,Ikeje Asogwa watches on with excitement.

BY FRANCIS IGATA

palpable excitement is rife among residents of Enugu State especially women following the choice of a female running mate for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Enugu state chapter. The party had during the January 9, presidential rally which held at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium amid thousands of supporters, unveiled Mrs. Cecilla Ezeillo, member, representing Ezeagu consistuency, at the State House of Assembly as Hon. Ifeanyi Continues from page 14 and who may not remember his phone number?,” President Jonathan asked Nigerians in Enugu. Also, the PDP presidential candidate had, while inaugurating the Goodluck/ Sambo 2015 Presidential Campaign Organisation, PCO, promised to expose the failings of his predecessors including Buhari, which stunted the country’s growth and development. On his part, the APC candidate responded to the allegation of underfunding the military and said that his administration spent more than the Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration in real terms. Citing a comparative study of the amount spent by various governments on military hardware as part of total defence budget, the Buhari team in a statement by Mr. Dele Alake, Director, Strategic Communications, Buhari Campaign Organisation, revealed that while the Buhari/ Idiagbon spent 38.68 per cent of total allocation to the military on capital items such as military hardware between January 1984 and August 1985 when it was overthrown, the Yar ’Adua/Jonathan administration spent 34.67 per

C M Y K

Excitement as Enugu first female Deputy Governor beckons Ugwuanyi’s running mate who is the party’s governorship candidate for the February 28 gubernatorial polls. Ugwuanyi who represents the Udenu/Igbo-eze south federal consistency and also Chairman,

House Committee on Maritime, emerged the governorship candidate of the party having won over 900 votes at the party’s primaries. GENDER FRIDENDLY During the presentation of the party’s

cent of military budget between May 2007 and May 2010. Interestingly, the weekend President Jonathan was chiding Buhari over his ability or not to remember his phone number the retired Army General was in Abia and Ebonyi talking about unemployment and energy challenges in the country. Irked by the manner of campaigns so far, a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, urged

•Buhari Nigerians to demand answers to various national issues bedevilling the country. Nigerians should question the candidates ‘’I think the media needs to play its role because campaign is a process and not a single moment. I think generally the media has refused to ask the candidates the basic questions on what they want to do. Instead, the media has been silent and trivializing issues and that is why we are having the kind of campaigns we are

JONATHAN ON WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN NATION BUILDING President Goodluck Jonathan who was visibly elated over Ugwuanyi’s female choice of running mate commended him for towing his line of being a gender friendly governor. He urged women in the country to vote for his reelection bid lamenting that Buhari never appointed a woman in his cabinet as military head of state. Jonathan said,”Buhari never appointed any woman into his cabinet. Our women had all the qualifications and experience at that time. If you make the mistake of voting him, you will not be liberated. You will remain in the kitchen and die.

them some very cogent question.’’

What are the issues?

•Jonathan

flag to Ugwuanyi and his running mate thanked the, party and the people of Enugu State for the confidence reposed in him and assured that he would consolidate on the current gains and take the state to the next level of development. Promising a robust campaign, he enthused: “The presentation of the party’s flag to me by the President and our National Chairman is a call to duty, a charge to work hard with my governor and the rest of the team to deliver Enugu State to the PDP 100 per cent as has been the tradition; and that I will surely do, God being my helper”.

Opposition addressing issues more than the incumbent— Utomi seeing today. Media should play a role by asking candidates in specific terms what they intend to do on development, infrastructure, power and how realistic they can achieve some of their electoral promises within the stipulated time,’’ he noted, adding that serious questions should also be asked on promises made before. He further said: “Power seems glamorous but my question is what of water? Is it not a shame that more than 50 years after Nigeria attained independence and up till this moment, pipe born water remains an issue in the country. How will the candidates ensure Nigerians get pipe borne water? Nobody is addressing these issues the way they ought to. We all know General Buhari has a solid record of fighting corruption but what is this government in power doing? They have bastardized everything. It is not the issue of who does what? I believe strongly that the media has the responsibility of ensuring that our politicians keep their campaign promises by asking

On his part, Prof Pat Utomi said: ‘’Part of the blame has to do with the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, and civil society who seem to have abandoned the real issues. I expect them to draw up accountability process and specifics to ask the candidates. “We all know that incumbents run on their achievements in office and unfortunately this government seems not to have fulfilled some of their electoral promises. The President promised to fix power in four years and after six years, the power is still an issue worse than he met it. “INEC on its own part is supposed to draw up discussions among the candidates but that is not the case with Nigeria. When you read the manifesto of the opposition parties, you can see that it is the best so far. I am very worried and frightened over the incumbent because after six years in government, he seems not to have grip of any issue. Its the opposition that seems to be addressing some of the issues than the incumbent.’’

SATURDAY Vanguard, JAUNARY 17, 2015—55

56 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 17, 2015

C M Y K

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58 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 17, 2015

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60—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 17, 2015

14 European firms to storm Nigeria for investment T

he Nigerian economy is to enjoy more foreign investments with the arrival of 14 European companies in the second quarter of the year. The companies, drawn from across Western Europe, have concluded plans to invest in real estate, construction, refinery projects, mining, agriculture among others and seek local partners in Africa. This project is co-ordinated by (AFRIT) Integrated Consult an Italy based consulting firm with her outreach in Nigeria and they consult for multinational investors to create partnerships between Western investors and African firms seeking financial and technical collaboration and investments in a bid to spur economic growth and social progress in Africa. Again, the search for more Nigerian partners is still ongoing by the European consortium of 14 firms. In addition, AFRIT President Barr. Luciano Noce stated that this is the second AFRIT visit to Nigeria and they have come on a familiarization tour, feasibility study and potential investment search. The project manager for AFRIT, Engr. Joseph Edo Risiagbon further highlighted that every reasonable businessman or company will realize that Nigeria has got what it takes as the giant of Africa, to drive and sustain investments with a unique hinge on her population strength. We believe Nigeria’s economy is still the best in Africa, and reveals that AFRIT seeks more local partners to achieve infrastructure development and a platform for job creation in the country and also provide equal opportunities within the working environment while helping the workforce improve their skills and know-

how, he said. Marketing and Communications Director, AFRIT, Mr. Francis Okechukwu Amaechi said, “we strongly believe in the Nigerian economy and the company channels businesses to Africa in general and Nigeria in particular, to serve the need of local industries, and because of this, we promote the interaction between international investors and African entrepreneurs, reduce poverty in Africa and improve the standards of living by creating job opportunities. Amaechi said further that AFRIT submits a protocol of cooperation to Western companies with the target to train and continuously retrain the local workforce; ensure the sale of goods produced in Nigeria in order to improve the local economy, support equal working conditions between local and foreign staff, participate in humanitarian projects of social development by committing 0.02% of the contract value to providing basic social facilities like schools, pipe-borne water, hospitals etc. Emmanuel Excel Ogbeide, Chief Executive Officer, Business Builders Limited, a Lagos based firm that promotes international trades and investment has partnered with AFRIT on her mission to Nigeria in linking local businesses with foreign investors. He said during the inspection of some projects that such opportunity is what the country needs at a time like this to help boost economic growth, employment and human development in Nigeria. He reiterated that this unique opportunity is best described as Entrepreneurs and Investors Matchmaking services and urge Nigerian entrepreneurs to take advantage of this. He believes if Nigerian investors can queue to it, socio-economic development will be achieved.

(L-R) Head, Direct Banking, Diamond Bank, Jude Anele; winner, DiamondXtra Salary-4-Life, Duru Chukwuebuka Francis; Head, Retail Banking Directorate, Diamond Bank, Aisha Ahmad at the Diamondxtra Season 7, Year-End/ Diamond Woman Special Draw prize presentation ceremony, held in Lagos recently.

More Diamond Bank Salar y4Lif Salary4Lif y4Lifee winner winnerss emerge

uru Chukwuebuka Francis, a building materials trader at the Eket Market, Akwa Ibom State, has won the star prize of “Salary4Life” as the seventh winner at the just concluded DiamondXtra Season 7/DiamondWoman Special Draws organized by Diamond Bank Plc at Lekki, Lagos. The Salary4Life entitles the winner to a monthly payment of N100,000.00, by the Bank, for the next twenty years.For emerging the star prize winner, Duru will receive his monthly payments from Diamond Bank till 2034. Nkiru Perpetua Mbanefo, a business woman whose account is domiciled in the Sagamu branch of the Bank, also went home with a “N100,000.00 for twelve months prize,” courtesy of DiamondWoman. Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, Aisha Ahmad, Head, Retail Directorate of the Bank, disclosed that a total of 1,439 people will be rewarded in Season 7, which commenced in October last year. Prize categories include Salary4Life, N3 million, N2 million, N1 million as well as N500,000.00 and N250,000.00 in the weekly draws.

She also noted that DiamondWoman rewarded two customers with prizes of “N100,000.00 for 12 months” and another eighteen with N300,000.00 each in two special draws held during the period. According to her, “A total of 831, 463 customers qualified for the DiamondXtra End-of-the-Year Special Draws and the DiamondWoman Special Draws from which the winners emerged. To qualify, all that is required is a minimum balance of N5,000.00 in a customer’s DiamondXtra account and multiples of N5,000.00 increases the account holder ’s chances of winning. “ Osita Ede, Head, Mass Market, DiamondXtra Account, said that the DiamondXtra Account is a savings account designed to encourage savings among Nigerians. “The reward scheme is integrated into the DiamondXtra proposition and every customer with the DiamondXtra account has equal opportunity of winning through a transparent electronic draws.

Multimix adopts new approach to meet indus tr industr tryy needs its own unique needs. We now professional Institute consider new trainings in terms of an Aswith a d d l e d overall business plan – what value to the responsibility of

impacting seasonal knowledge for industry growth in Nigeria. Multimix Academy has discovered a new approach to learning and development that would serve the industry needs. This discovery was revealed nd to media men at the Institute’s 2 Alumni dinner in Lagos. Chief Facilitator/CEO, Multimix Academy, Obiora Madu, said, after ten years of pioneering Logistics and Supply Chain education and intervention in Nigeria, Multimix Academy has touched every segment of the industry, both private and public. “We have diagnosed and provided competency-based capacity building for managers from the beginning of supply chain to the end. In response to industry needs, we also created certifications that have bridged major gaps in trade compliance and warehousing.” Obiora said, one-size training does not fit all and training alone is not the answer: While all businesses strive for the most effective and efficient workforce, each company is different and has

the business is the learning intended to provide, and what pre and post learning supports are possible. He further said, ‘ you deserve world class standard: In line with our vision to be a global brand name, and our culture of putting your interest first, we are in the process of getting ISO 9000 and IACET 1-2007 (International Association for Continuing Education and Training) certifications and others.” In addition, Okeke Nnamaka, who took a certification programme in Multimix Academy at the dinner said, “It was a good experience I must tell you because it applies to my area of work. Before that training there were some documentation I didn’t understand but after the programme I was able to understand it deeply. For instance when it comes to shipment, warehousing. It has helped me a lot. Multimix Academy is a good standard professional trainer. They are trying their best to impact knowledge and you become better off after the process. I advise youths to invest on their career. It pays because the more you invest in your career, the more you grow in knowledge.

Officials, panel of judges, teachers and students at the 7th School Essay competition organised by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, in Lagos.

(L-R) Nigerian Idol season 4 winner, Zibili Evelyn ( Evelle), Executive Director, Optima Media Group (OMG), Ugochi Pedro, Director, Brands and Experience, Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye, Nigerian Idol 5 Judge, Yinka Davies, Nigerian Hip Hop Artiste, Olamide Adedeji and Nigerian Idol 5 judge, Dare ‘Art’ Alade at the media launch of Nigerian Idol Season 5 in Lagos, Wednesday.

SA TURD AY V anguard ARY 17 SATURD TURDA Vanguard anguard,, JANU JANUARY 17, 2015 —61

Taxation: Anambra, Lagos most hostile to manufacturers •Edo, Delta most friendly — Report By Emeka Mamah

HE Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, has identified Rivers, Anambra and Lagos States as some of the most unfriendly areas in the country in terms of excessive taxation. MAN made this known in a 96-page report it submitted to the National Economic Council, NEC, on the business environment in some states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, last year. The document was entitled, ‘’MAN Presentation on Multiple Taxation Across the the country at various levels and its effects on Manufacturing Sector’s Productivity.’’ The report, showed that apart from the 19 taxes or levies approved by the Federal Government as contained in the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for collection) Act Cap T2 LFN, 2004, there were multiple taxation on in-

vestors or entrepreneurs in 17 states of the country. It stated that manufacturers pay 44 additional taxes or levies in Lagos State, just as 59 additional taxes/ levies were paid by them in Anambra State. According to MAN, 54 additional taxes or levies were paid in Rivers State while manufacturers paid a total of 97 taxes or levies in the state. However, in Edo State, manufacturers pay altogether, 16 taxes and levies while 20 different taxes and levies were paid in Delta State. In Kaduna, manufacturers pay altogether, ‘’22 approved and other charges,’’ with the local governments imposing nine additional taxes/ levies. In Kogi, the state government collect 18 taxes and levies while the local governments imposed five other multiple taxes or levies on entrepre-

neurs. In some of the unfriendly states identified by MAN, the state governments, local governments and development centres task entrepreneurs same taxes or levies they had paid to the Federal Government, even when the levies or taxes were on the exclusive list. ‘’In addition to the taxes paid/payable to the local governments under the Act 2004, a total of 24 additional taxes and levies are collected by the local governments in Lagos State...,’ the report stated. Under the harsh tax

environment, the federal, state and local governments collect multiple taxes/levies on seven items respectively, while six other forms of taxes were jointly collected by both the federal and Lagos State governments separately. Furthermore, the Lagos State and its local governments collect 32 other multiple taxes from investors apart from those paid to both federal and the state governments. Apart from the 19 taxable items in the 2004 Act, 11 other forms of taxes were also said to have been introduced by the Anambra State govern-

ment, while 39 other forms of double taxation were collected by the local governments in the state. ‘’In addition to the taxes paid/ payable to local governments under the Act 2004, a total of 36 other taxes and levies are collected by the local governments in Anambra State,’’ it added stating further that some of the levies included, ‘’ reform and conveyance permit, route identification, unified council emblem, loading and off-loading permit, oil and gas sticker, environmental pollution , mobilization fee; community fee and gate way permit, among others.

In both Anambra and Lagos States, residents who go to the markets to buy food items pay land taxes before they were allowed to load their food items into vehicles in the motor parks. However, in Enugu State, where manufacturers pay 23 additional taxes and levies, the manufacturers identified only six forms of multiple taxations by both the the state and local governments. They include property rent/ground rent tax, environmental levy/ Effluent tax and Sanitation rate/ refuse disposal levy.

Ohanaeze crisis: Parallel leadership inaugurates caretaker committee By Francis Igata

A-

23-member Caretaker Committee was Thursday,selected

to run the affairs of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo,the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, until a substantive election will be conducted in Enugu. The Caretaker Committee with Chief Ralph Obioha,Imo,as Chairman and Dr Zed Chukwujama as Secretary,Anambra, has three members from each of the five states of the South-East geopolitical zone and two members each from Rivers and Delta,Anioma. They were mandated to conduct fresh elections into the leadership of the organization in the shortest possible time as well as look into the finances of the organization.

Chairman of Ohanaeze Council of Elders and first Republic Minister of Transport, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, while inaugurating the caretaker committee said it had become inevitable following the inability of the”immediate past executive led by Chief Enwo Igariwey to conduct fresh elections into Ohanaeze after the expiration of its two-year tenure on January 12, this year ”, stressing that nature abhorred vacuum. “Their term of office expired on the 12th of January 2015 and right now Ohanaeze has no elected team of leaders. Nature, they say, abhors vacuum and it is in order to make

for continuity on the interim that your committee is constituted. “Article 11 of Ohanaeze constitution clearly states “there shall be a President General of Ohanaeze elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years”. Chief Igariwey and Dr Joe Nwaorgu who are cocaptains of the ship that wish to wreck the great Igbo nation have been spreading the blatant falsehood that the constitution was amended to be for four years. Nobody amended the constitution of Ohanaeze on tenure”, Amechi stated.

Security challenges can’t stop polls tions. —Mark elections as a result of Senator Mark who gave the security situation By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

ENATE President, Senator David Mark has assured the international community that despite the daunting security challenges in the country, Nigeria will go ahead with the planned February general elec-

the assurance when he received the United States of America, USA, Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle in Abuja of Friday said that every preparations had been made to ensure a free, credible and transparent elections. He said in spite of the anxieties and fears being expressed ahead of the

occasioned by the Boko Haram onslaught in the North East States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, adequate preparations had been made by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the security operatives to ensure that the elections were peaceful. Informing the USA envoy that INEC was well equipped with necessary tools and personnel for the polls, Senator Mark said, “Nigerians are ready for the elections. Our citizens are now more conscious of their rights and indeed the values of their votes. What we expect from our friends and the international community is support and cooperation.”

62 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 17, 2015

Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)

Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) Y

aya Toure remains one of Ivory Coast’s deadliest weapons and his role could be more prominent at the 2015 African Cup of Nations, starting today in Equatorial Guinea, following the international retirement of talisman Didier Drogba. The 31-year-old’s sixth Nations Cup appearance comes on the back of another individual glory for the towering central midfielder, who was named Africa’s Player of the Year for a record fourth successive time. He is as consistent as ever, with his stewardship a huge asset for a Manchester City side who are seeking to win a second straight Premier League title. Toure played a pivotal role in helping them win the elite title last season, scoring 20 goals after displaying his uncanny setpieces abilities and cannon-like shots, most from the edge of the area. Man City will find it difficult to replace Toure, who has scored seven Premier League goals so far this term, in the crucial Nations Cup period, having failed to claim a single league win without the former Barcelona man since April last year. Toure is likely to be more concerned with making up for Ivory Coast’s repeated failures in the biennial tournament. The Elephants have won the Nations Cup only once in 1992, and Toure was part of the side that lost twice in the final: in 2006 against Egypt and 2012 against Zambia. They were drawn in a tough group that also includes Cameroon, Guinea and Mali. “This Afcon is going to be one of those competitions where all C M Y K

having yet to win a major international tournament throughout his career. But the 29-year-old’s international contributions could not be overlooked after he was on the brink of taking Ghana to the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup, where he scored three goals, if it was not for an unfortunate late penalty miss. With just few seconds remaining till the end of a last-eight clash against Uruguay, Gyan stepped up to convert a crucial spot kick after Luis Suarez had handled the ball on the goal-line. Unluckily, his spotkick was denied by the bar, as the Ghanaians then missed out on being the first African team to reach the World Cup semis after being ousted by the South Americans on penalties. On the continental level, Gyan didn’t fail to get his name on the scoresheet in the last four Cup of Nations, with his best contribution coming in 2010 in Angola – where he notched three goals en route to the final.

Africa, watch these stars Clinton N’Jie (Cameroon) T

hrown into the deep end for Cameroon’s opening two qualifying games, the Olympique Lyonnais attacker ‘s international football inauguration was, in line with his first name, majestic. Deemed to be a hazy, rugged finisher at club level, N’Jie, 21, has shown little signs that his finishing needs fine-tuning with the Indomitable Lions. Playing with the vivaciousness of youth against DR Congo and in the 4-1 defenestration of Ivory Coast, N’Jie has been tailored for Volker Finke’s reconstruction of the side, recording 3 goals in 6 matches as a roving winger. His speed, desire and cherishing of responsibility, amidst the backdrop of the instant connection forged with Vincent Aboubakar, bodes very well for a Cameroon team that have had an individualistic, lopsided forward line for too long.

Ronaldo ends romance with Irina

Further friction was caused when Shayk opted to spend the night in a hotel rather than at the pair’s Madrid home because his mother was staying, who had apparently said that the Russian belle would not make a good mother for his children. “Dolores did not think Irina would be a wife for her son, nor a good mother to Cristiano Ronaldo’s son. For Irina this is not a priority.”

out for Hamza Mathlouthi (Tunisia)

hen Samih Derbali, one of Tunisia’s first choice right-backs over the last few years, is nicknamed Boulevard, you appreciate just how vulnerable Tunisia’s right side had become. But it isn’t so easy to bypass now. Diligent, touch-tackling Hamza Mathlouthi mans the right back position and he has made it his own. The 22-yearold may lack the nightclub bouncer frame and may not be exceptionally fast, but his battling runs and defensive discipline make him a particular key cog in Tunisia’s 3-5-2 system. With an exodus to Europe at CS Sfaxien, the 2014 African Champion’s League semifinalists are rumoured to be keen to add the defender as one of their reinforcements.

Medhi Lacen (Algeria) A

lgeria now have a litany of household names in their squad. Yacine Brahimi, Sofiane Feghouli, and Nabil Bentaleb all play at the biggest clubs and they will understandably draw all the praise. But coach Christian Gourcuff singled out one man for praise at the beginning of training camp and that was Medhi Lacen. Lacen started all six matches of the qualification campaign and completed the highest number of passes with the highest passing percentages. In addition to his metronomic role in midfield, Lacen also fulfills defensive responsibilities by rarely every foraying forward, instead covering his more adventurous fullback Faouzi Ghoulam.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 17, 2015 — 63

Jonathan Zongo (Burkina Faso) O

ne of the stories of AFCON 2013 was Burkina Faso stampede to the final, but a forgotten fact from their memorable run is the bluntness of their attack. Indeed, they only won one game in 90 minutes during their run to the final. Part of the problem stemmed from the wide positions. Rewind your memory and you may recall the Burkina Faso flanks being patrolled by wonderfullynamed but workaday wingers such as Wilfried Sanou and Hugues-Wilfried Dah; all powerful running but dithering decision-making. Since then, the understated upgrade of Jonathan Zongo arisen and in doing so has helped to make the Stallions’ attack become one of the continent’s most cohesive. Rangy, powerful and unselfish, the Almeria winger’s versatility, link up play and reliable delivery have brought out the best in those around him, particularly Jonathan Pitroipa. Capable of playing on either wing, Zongo’s height and aerial ability also gives Burkina Faso a genuine Route 1 option.

Eagles turn spectators, as AFCON begins Continued from back page But like they say, with or without its defending champions, the show must go on and that is what is about to play out today as Africa stands still for the kickoff of three weeks of fun-filled soccer action from the motherland. Nigeria’s failure to defend their title did not come to many as a surprise as they lacked the bite, drive and dynamism during the qualifying games. In hindsight, Eagles were the albatross of their doom, as they started their campaign like a house on fire against Congo and never really recovered from their drowsiness, missing out on a place at the competition. The tournament was initially scheduled to be hosted by Morocco, who last hosted it in 1988, where the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon defeated the Super Eagles in the final, but Morocco refused to host the tournament at the scheduled dates because of the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa. With time running out and CAF seemingly short of options, Equatorial Guinea, which cohosted the 2012 edition with Gabon, was later named as the host country, as the Issa Hayatouled executive committee of CAF pulled the chestnut out of the fire, to maintain the status quo of organizing the AFCON between January and February of every odd

year. While the Eagles will be watching the action from the field as spectators, the 16 qualified teams will be involved in an intense soccer rivalry to determine who succeeds Nigeria as African champions on February 8. In Nigeria, the Nations Cup fever is absent as fans still sulk over their darling team’s failed bid to qualify. Unlike the vibes that were generated two years back when the Eagles were preparing for South Africa 2013, the scene this time around is dull as sombre as a nation is yet to come to terms with the reality that they will be watching the tournament as spectators. To set off the party rolling today, , two matches are on offer with Equatorial Guinea flagging things off against Congo while 2013 losing finalists Burkina Faso tackle Gabon in the second match at the Estadio de Bata. Tomorrow, Zambia zoom off their title hunt in the opening match against Democratic Republic of Congo while island nation Cape Verde confront Tunisia in the evening game. Both matches hold at Nuevo Estadio de Ebebjin. Group C, aptly tagged the ‘death zone’ provides for the most intense and riveting soccer battles as the quartet of Ghana, Senegal, South Africa and Algeria go in search for the available two tickets to the quarterfinal stage of the tournament. Algeria, on the strength of latest

FIFA rankings, are Africa’s topranked team and were so dominant in the qualifying matches for this year ’s AFCON. But all that lofty record will count for nothing when push comes to shove on Monday when they square-off against a vastly improved Bafana Bafana side, who stopped Nigeria from defending their title. In the other match billed for Monday at the Estadio de Mongomo, Ghana go up against Senegal. Rounding up the first group matches of the tournament on Tuesday, Ivory Coast are in action against Guinea while Mali take on Cameroon. Both games hold at the Nuevo de Estadio, Malabo. Four-time African player of the year winner, Yaya Toure will be running the rules from the midfield as the golden generation from Ivory Coast attempt to win the AFCON title for the fourth time of asking. Both they will face a serious examination of their title credentials when they tackle the Indomitable Lions on January28 , as they bid to emerge top of the group to avoid the top team from group C. Any way the pendulum swings, the battle for soccer supremacy in Equatorial Guinea promises to be a show-stopping experience as the gladiators of African football rumble in the jungle for the right to be called the African champions of 2015.

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 17, 2015

Eagles turn spectators, as AFCON begins By John Egbokhan

HE continent’s biggest sporting show, the Nations Cup revs off in grand style today in Bata, with the defending champions, the Super Eagles absent and watching as spectators as Equatorial Guinea confront Congo in the opening match at the Estadio de Bata. In its 30th edition, this year ’s AFCON has come with a lot of drama, even before the first ball is kicked. The major shock is will be played without the defending champions, Nigeria, who failed to qualify for the 16-team competition.

•Continues on page 63

Nigeria tackle Yemen in Dubai

5:30pm pg 62

AFCON”S GROUP FIXTURES •Today, 17 January E/Guinea vs Congo Gabon vs Burkina Faso •Sunday 18 Zambia vs Congo DR Tunisia vs Cape Verde •Monday 19 Ghana vs Senegal Algeria vs South Africa •Tuesday 20 Côte d’Ivoire vs Guinea Mali vs Cameroon •Wednesday 21 Burkina Faso vs E/ Guinea Congo vs Gabon •Thursday 22 Zambia vs Tunisia Cape Verde vs Congo DR •Friday 23 Ghana vs Algeria South Africa vs Senegal •Saturday 24 Côte d’Ivoire vs Mali Cameroon vs Guinea •Sunday 25 Burkina Faso vs Congo E/ Guinea vs Gabon •Monday 26 Congo DR vs Tunisia Cape Verde vs Zambia •Tuesday 27 South Africa vs Ghana Senegal vs Algeria •Wednesday 28 Cameroon vs Côte d’Ivoire Guinea vs Mali

6pm 9pm 6pm 9pm 6pm 9pm 6pm 9pm

Akpoborie draws kids to God

6pm 9pm

CROSS WORD PUZZLE

6pm 9pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm

EPL Aston Villa v Liverpool Burnley v Crystal Palace Leicester v Stoke QPR v Man Utd Swansea v Chelsea Tottenham v Sunderland Newcastle v Southampton

...talks about Keshi, politics in Eagles

6pm 9pm

4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 6:30pm

Across 1.President, Rwandan Football Association, Mr. Vincent – (8) 5.L.G.A in Enugu State – (4) 7Stylus – (3) 8 Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mrs. Arunma – (4) 9.Nasarawa United Striker, Victor – (4) 10. Fourth Month of the Year – (5) 12.President, Enugu Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (ECCIMA), Mr. Okechukwu – (9) 16.Musical Instrument – (5) 18.Golden Eaglets (U-17) Goalkeeper, Francis – (5) 19.Nigerian Currency – (5) 21.Ukraine President, Mr. Oleksanor – (9) 24.United States Vice President, Mr. Joe – (5) 27.Hausa Word for “Country”? – (4) 28.Former France “Les Bleus” Striker, Louis – (4) 29.FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph – (3) 30.Number – (4)

31 Sierra Leone Capital City – (8) Down 1.L.G.A in Abia State – (4) 2.Distant – (4) 3 Vice Chairman, International Chambers of Commerce of Nigeria (ICCN), Mr. Martin – (9) 4.Insect – (5) 5.Former United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Kofi – (5) 6.Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope – (8) 11.Greek Alphabet – (3) 14 Bendel Insurance Chairman, Mr. Julius – (9) 15.Director-General, National Agency for Food & Drugs Administration (NAFDAC), Mr. Paul – (4) 16.Five-Sided Polygon – (8) 17.Slightly Open – (4) 20.Cereal – (3) 22.Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan – (5) 23.El-Kanemi Warriors Coach, Salisu – (5) 25.Yoruba Name – (4) 26.Mid Day – (4)

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