10-yr-old female suicide bomber claims seven lives in yobe

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10-yr-old girl suicide bomber kills seven in Yobe *Borno town falls to Boko Haram

•Continued from Page 1 after being admitted.

The Damaturu market has been repeatedly targeted in a string of previous suicide attacks.

“I was in the station when I saw the young girl arrive,” said bus driver Musbahu Lawan.

“I think she noticed the guards checking people at the gates and decided to

detonate the explosive in the middle of the crowd outside the gates.”

Nguru added: “The road leading to the gates is always full of small traders...

I was lucky not to have

From left: Prof Wole Soyinka; governor-elect, Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode; Folake Soyinka, and Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, during the public presentation of a book, ‘’Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years,’’ in celebration of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s birthday in Lagos.

been hit.”

No claim of responsibility for the attack has been made but Islamist group Boko Haram has frequently used young girls to carry out suicide attacks.

Fika, who spoke while briefing Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam about the condition of the victims, yesterday, said: “ We received a total of 33 victims of bomb blast that occurred an hour ago; all of them sustained various degree of injuries, out of which seven are dead, while seven are under very critical condition. “ We might refer those in critical condition to the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru and Federal Medical Centre Azare in Bauchi State respectively.

The Yobe State government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with these health institutions, in case of emergency of this nature.

The medical director of Sani Abacha General Hospital, however, said that the victims, with mild injuries, were responding to treatment and would be discharged soon..

Mobilisation

He assured the governor that the management of the hospital had mobilised all medical personnel needed to ensure that the victims receive proper medical attention.

Fika called on the residents of Damaturu to donate blood in order to save the lives of the victims, stressing that they were in dire need of blood .

Responding, Gaidam condemned the incident , describing it as “very unfortunate.”

He commiserated with the families of the victims and prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died as a result of the incident.

The governor, who promised to settle the medical bills of all the victims, expressed optimism that insurgency would soon be a thing of the past in the country.

Gaidam advised people to be security conscious, report any suspicious movement around them, and cooperate with security agents to enable them discharge their duties effectively.

In February, a woman suicide bomber attacked

Senate Presidency: Northern senators enter into pact

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

E

ven as they belong to different camps in the pursuit of their Senate presidency ambition, the frontline runners for the exalted office have agreed to work together and not to resort to blackmail.

Specifically, the two top contenders for the seat from the North East, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume and Senator Ahmad Lawan, have reportedly agreed to support each

other after the contest.

Already, Ndume, from Borno State and another contender, Senator Bukola Saraki, from Kwara State, North Central, where the All Progressives Congress, APC, has allegedly zoned the position, have allegedly formed an alliance.

Sunday Vanguard investigation revealed that if the APC decides not to change its initial position of zoning the Senate presidency to the North Central, Ndume would join forces with other members of the camp known as The Like

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

THE GIFT OF GIVING —1

By Richard Eromonsele

Giving simply mean to offer someone something with the intention of not taking it back.Some of us believe that we do not have anything to give,no matter how small,but this is not true.For example,making somebody laugh in time of sorrow or misfortune is a special kind of gift.Just anything can be given _we can give our smile,we can give our time,we can render our services for free etc Everyone of us has something that we can give someone.

Minds to support Saraki.

The same support will also be accorded to Ndume

by Saraki if the position is zoned to the North East.

But despite belonging to different political camps, Ndume and Lawan have reportedly entered into a pact not to do anything that will tarnish the image of each other.

Ndume, who confirmed the peace pact among the contestants to Sunday Vanguard, said that senators had agreed not to wash their dirty linen in the open, adding that what they have is one Senate and will only have one Senate President at the end of the day.

According to him, anybody that comes out victorious will be supported by other contenders.

He said that he and Lawan are like brothers and will continue to be so despite their individual aspirations to become Senate President.

Meanwhile, Sunday Vanguard gathered that the political camp of Saraki has been increasing with the senators in his camp giving firm commitment to work with him.

Although there were insinuations that the North East, with about 20 senators had agreed to give block votes to Lawan, a strong member of the Saraki camp authoritatively said that about 12 senators from the zone are with The Like Minds Dino Melayeled camp.

The source also said that the Saraki camp has at least seven senators from the South West which was said to be the stronghold of Lawan as a result of his alleged backing by the APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He also said that majority of the former governors

who have won election to the Senate are giving solidarity to Saraki who was a former Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, adding that the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio, is leading the South-South senators for The Like Minds camp.

It was also gathered that the former governor of Eb-

onyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu, who is a senator-elect like Akpabio, has given his backing to the Saraki camp.

The member of the Saraki/Ndume camp that spoke to Sunday Vanguard on condition of anonymity said, “We must make some significant change in the National Assembly. There should be some priority on the passage of bills.

the same bus station, leaving seven dead and 32 injured.

The deputy governor of neighbouring Borno State, Mustapha Zannah, said, Friday, that he had seen a security report indicating that Boko Haram had recruited several suicide bombers to counter a regional military operation against it.

Town falls Yesterday, Zannah announced the fall of Marte, located on a strategic trading route between Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon and Chad, to the Islamists.

“It is sad as we have been made to understand that Marte has today completely fallen under the control of the insurgents, which to us is a very huge setback,” he said.

The town has changed hands between the jihadists and government troops numerous times since 2013.

A regional military coalition of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon has claimed a series of major victories against Boko Haram since launching sweeping offensives against the jihadists in February.

But the Islamist fighters, who recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State extremists controlling swathes of Iraq and Syria, have been pushing back.

The jihadists killed at least 55 people in two raids on villages near Maiduguri, the first assault on the northern city in three months.

“Even if 90 percent of our communities have been liberated, the war is not yet over,” Zannah cautioned yesterday.

Boko Haram’s six-year insurgency has claimed some 15,000 lives and displaced about 1.5 million people.

Pastor, 69 Christians ‘murdered in Plateau’

By Sam Eyoboka with Agency reports

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0 Christians have been reportedly murdered in Plateau State, including one pastor. The body count was said to have piled up after at least a half dozen attacks allegedly perpetrated by cattle herders. Herders frequently terrorize Christian farmers in Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Taraba, Benue, among others.

The herdsmen regularly raid Christian villages opening up a hail of gunfire, burning homes and churches, and shooting their victims when they run outside to escape the fires.

“The jihadists, in their quest to eliminate Christians in Plateau State and their thirst for blood, have succeeded in killing Christians and burning their houses,” said Gyang, a local man whose full name is withheld to protect his safety.

The most deadly attack occurred on May 2 when herdsmen reportedly set fire to the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) located in Foron Town, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA), killing 27 Christians. The victims included Rev. Luka Gwom and a congregant named Pauline who was married just two weeks prior in the same church building.

The recent raids have all

occurred in two areas of Plateau State: Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas. These frightening experiences have become nearly a weekly terror for Christians in the region. From April 25 to May 11, Gyang reported at least six attacks on more than eight villages, some of them targeted more than once during that time span.

“We in Riyom and Barkin Ladi LGAs have been under siege and invasion. Lives have been lost almost every day, and [there is] no serious action from any quarter by the government. But we are still faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Gyang said as he recounted an attack that killed two members of the Rim Town community as they were returning from the burial of fellow Christians who were slaughtered in a Fulani raid that happened just days before.

Sadly, this recent string of assaults is nothing new for brothers and sisters in Christ in the Middle Belt region. In mid-March, Muslim Fulani cattle herders massacred 82 Christians in a village in Benue State, according to Nigerian news reports. However, the secular media and Nigerian authorities have been slow to acknowledge these events as Christian persecution.

“It is the longstanding issue

over grazing rights and cattle rustling between Egba and Fulani people,” police spokesman Ezeala Austin said after the March attack.

Despite the historic tensions Austin cites, witnesses to the assaults often recount that the herdsmen chanted “Allahu Akhbar” during the attack, the Arabic saying, “God is Great,” which has become associated with jihadist Muslim terrorism. The herdsmen also continually and specifically target Christian villages.

One Plateau State government official vaguely referenced recent incidents of cattle rustling by predominantly-Christian tribes in Wase LGA in connection to the attacks of the past month, but reports suggest no linkage between the events. Wase LGA is located 160 miles away from Barkin Ladi and Riyom.

International Christian Concern’s Regional Manager of Africa, Mr. Troy Augustine, said: “The world should wake up to the forgotten persecution happening all over Nigeria’s Middle-Belt region.

Extremist Muslim Fulani herders are regularly and consciously attacking Christian villages and slaughtering our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I don’t know what else needs to be explained to acknowledge that these people are persecuted because of their faith”.

PAGE 6— SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015

Knights of St. Mulumba, Lekki Sub-Council at the interment and requiem Mass for Anthony Aigboje Oyakhire (KSM, OON) retired Police AIG, at the Catholic Church of Annunciation, Abraham Adesanya, Lekki. Interment took place at Victoria Court Cemetery, Lekki Lagos

Cross section of guests at the requiem mass(Inset: Late AIG Anthony Aigboje Oyakhire).

Senate presidency: Suswam, Jack Gyado mobilise support for Akume

By Ben Agande, Abuja

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S the race for the presidency of the eighth Senate assumed a cross-party colouration last week, outgoing Benue State Governor Gabriel Torwua Suswam is leading led the mobilization project for the National |Assembly upper chamber Minority Leader and front line contender for the position, Senator George Akume.

Suswam declared his backing for Akume at a meeting of Benue PDP stakeholders, held at the state party secretariat.

PDP leaders in attendance were drawn from the ward, local government, federal constituency, zonal and state levels and included the state party Chairman, Dr Emmanuel Agbo, and his deputies from the three senatorial zones, Alhaji Ibrahim Anoor, Prince Yandev Amaabi and Hon Moses Ajima.

The goverrnor said he would deploy his goodwill and networks across the country to canvas for Akume’s candidacy, because the Senator had paid his dues as a respectable

Minority Leader in the Senate and would serve Nigeria and Benue in particular much better, should he ascend the exalted position.

The public declaration of support for Akume caught many followers of Nigeria and indeed Benue by surprise.

Meanwhile, a senator in the Second Republic, Sen. Jack Gyado, has drummed support for the aspiration of Akume for the Senate presidency, saying it was time for other parts of the orth to reward the Tiv for

C

IVIL Society Organizations, CSOs, led by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, in Nigeria and their international allies, weekend, asked the PresidentElect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) to reject the agreement between the Federal Government and the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha,

aspirant likened Akume to Mahatma Ghandi of India, Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Dr Martin Luther King of America who, he said, liberated their people with out money.

He said Akume could be compared to those great leaders because “in his 16 years of public service what he acquired was rather friendship, experience and advanced understanding rather than wealth for the unity of Nigeria”.

AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson has criticised the attempt by the outgoing governors to reconstitute the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) barely two weeks to the end of their tenure. He also deplored the partisan use of the body as obtained in the past which, he said, was meant to achieve self serving political objectives.

Dickson, who alerted the nation to the danger of such moves, in a statement, yesterday, said it came to his knowledge that the outgoing governors had summoned a meeting for this purpose tomorrow (Monday).

He said that based on the roles these governors played in the crisis which engulfed the NGF, they

Coca-Cola launches Coke studio Season 3 F

OLLOWING the success of Coke Studio Africa Season 2, The CocaCola Company, in partnership with Kenya Airways, has announced the return of its flagship African music show for a third season.

The show, which unlike other music programmes that focus on the emergence of a winner, is a noncompetitive format which seeks to bring together and showcase the diversity of African musical talent. It also gives upcoming artists the opportunity to work with some of the best local and

LOOT: CSOs tell Buhari to repudiate FG/Abacha family pact

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, SouthSouth

continued loyalty.

Gyado, who spoke during a press conference in Abuja, said Akume is a man of great humility and a bridge builder, who would approach his job as president of the Senate with focus and purposefulness.

He said it was time for Nigeria to “consciously develop leadership from among its citizens who are honest and have tendencies to demand for justice fair play like Akume”.

The former presidential

B

because of observed complicity in the repatriation of the loot.

The group also urged the United Kingdom, United States, Swiss governments, World Bank and the International Community to support the incoming administration of Gen Buhari to turn its back on the agreement on grounds that “it is a strong precedence for more corruption; endangers Nigeria’s fledgling democracy; and engender a climate for setting up harmful role models.”

international music and production talent.

The new season will feature artists from Nigeria, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and for the first time these artists will collaborate in a unique format of mash-ups - the latest trend in the global music industry.

“A celebration of African music”

being its core element, Coke Studio Africa’s new season will feature performances and collaborations from popular artists who have made a mark on their local music scene and the up and rising stars.

Speaking about Coke Studio Africa Season 3, Marketing Director, CocaCola Nigeria, Patricia

Jemibewon stated, “Our objective is to reinvent the way music captures the imagination and heart of our continent. Coke Studio Season 3 will not only celebrate our local African grown music talent but also create unique collaborations that we believe our consumers and our audience want to hear.”

Governors’ forum: Bayelsa governor charts the way forward should not be allowed to foist another NGF contraption which could threaten the stability of the nation’s democracy.

“Having gone through those period of the NGF crisis with my respected colleagues, most of whom are now ending their respective governorship tenures, I believe I owe it a duty to our nation and our fledgling democracy to alert the nation and caution my respected colleagues especially the incoming governors that they should not allow the outgoing governors, most of whom created the NGF crisis to foist on our country and political system another NGF contraption that will in due course threaten the stability of our democracy and be a distraction to citizens and the leadership of our country, as the NGF crisis or tussle did between 2012 till date”, he stated.

NLC petitions OATUU, rejects sack of Nigerian Lakemfa as Secretary General

By Kelechi Azubuike

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IGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, has petitioned the leadership of Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, OATUU, over the purported termination of the appointment of Nigerian Owei Lakemfa, as OATUU Secretary General, saying it is unacceptable to Nigerian labour movement.

NLC, in a petition addressed to the President of OATUU, a Ghanian,Brother Francis Atwoli, and copied to OATUU General Council, OATUU Executive Council,

Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu; Adviser, OATUU; Secretary General, OATUU; and Director General International Labour Organisation, ILO, expressed concerned about the termination of Lakemfa’s appointment without recourse to due process.

In the petition signed by NLC’s President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, Congress argued that equally worrisome were other complaints bordering on gross abuse of Lakemfa’s human rights, victimization, harassment and intimidation as well as nonpayment of his legitimate earnings.

The petition read in part

“Our attention has been drawn to the purported termination of employment of Comrade Owei Lakemfa, former Ag. General

Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as Secretary General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU).

Onwo, ex-Warri College Registrar, dies at 83

T

HE first Registrar of College of Education, Warri and Olomoro community leader, Chief Stephen Onwo, has died at 83 years after a brief illness.

Chief H. E. Onwo announced the passage in Warri. Onwo passed on to eternal glory May 6.

Burial arrangements will be announced later.

Late Chief Onwo

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015 — PAGE 7

Mayhem in Delta community

By Akpokona Omafuaire

T

From left: Mrs Yinka Adedoyin,Council Member, Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB); Mrs Biola Agbaje, Executive Council Chairman; Chief Olu Falomo, Past Executive Council Chairman, (FNSB), and Mrs Tomi Ladejo at the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind(FNSB),''May Ball Event” Press Conference, held in Lagos.

Borno Senator Zanna dies

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke, Abuja

T

HE Senate President, Senator David Mark, has lamented the death of Senator Ahmed Zanna who passed on yesterday in Abuja.

The death of Zanna who, until his demise, was the senator representing Borno Central, came barely four days to the valedictory session for the late Senator Uche Chukwumerije who died on April 19.

The Senate President, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said the death of Zanna was one too many.

A statement by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, stated that the deceased died in Abuja in the early hours of yesterday in Abuja.He said that the Senate was shocked over Zanna’s death at the time it was about to round off the 7th session, adding that the late senator would be remembered for his love for his state, particularly the people of senatorial district.In a tribute, Senator Bukoka Saraki, a contender for the Senate presidency, mourned Zannah, saying his demise is a great loss not only to Borno State, but also

Nigeria as a whole.The former governor of Kwara State, in a condolence message by his media aide,Bamikole Omishore, said he was deeply saddened over the death of Zannah .

He described the deceased as an exemplary leader who will be dearly missed.

In another tribute, member representing B o g o r o / D a s / Ta f a w a Balewa federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, expressed shock on the death of Zannah.In a statement in Abuja, Dogara described Zannah’s death as a great loss to Nigeria

HERE was tension in Delta Steel Company (DSC) Township and Orhuwhorun towns in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, as suspected Orhuwhorun youths yesterday unleashed terror on residents of the DSC Township.

The attack led to destruction of property worth millions of Naira.

A man, his wife and a woman were reportedly bathed with acid.

The attack by the youths was alleged to be in reprisal over their colleague who was attacked with machetes by youths from DSC Township.

The attack left residents

with several vehicles, commercial tricycles, c o m m e r c i a l motorcycles, generator sets destroyed.

A 79-year-old man and his 68-year old wife, Mr. D.S. Afam and Mrs. Stella Afam, alongside

‘AU should intervene in Burundi’

A

NIGER Delta based non– g o v e r n m e n t a l organization, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), has condemned the repressive regime of President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi which has resulted in the killings of civilians, arbitrary arrests,

NNPC promise more collaboration with states

By John Mkom, Jalingo

T

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation, NNPC, has promised more collaboration with state governments to improve the study of science subjects particularly in secondary schools, Group General Manager of NNPC, Group Public Affairs Division, Ohi Alegbe, disclosed this while addressing science students from the North East who were in Jal-

an unidentified woman, were allegedly bathed with acid.

When our correspondent visited DSC Township, yesterday, residents were seen counting their losses.

ingo Taraba State capital, for theNNPC National Quiz Competition.

The states represented at the competition include Adamawa, Gombe, Yobe, Bauchi and the host state Taraba.

Alegbe said the NNPC was ready to sponsor more students who excel in science subjects at university level with intention to return them as workers of the of cooperation in their various ways of academic excellency.

intimidation and the closure of media houses, ahead of the forthcoming general polls.

The NGO called on African Union to intervene urgently in the political impasse over moves by Nkurunziza to run for a third term and address the tradition of impunity that has reigned for long in Burundi.

The Center stated that Nkurunziza tyrannical administration has greatly hindered the promotion and protection of rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, among others.

This was contained in a statement signed by CEPEJ’s National Coordinator/CEO, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, urging the Burundians authorities to uphold the rights of the people to free expression and peaceful assembly and called on International criminal court (ICC) and African Union (AU) to conduct a thorough and i n d e p e n d e n t investigation into the human rights abuses so that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

PAGE 8 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

DEATH OF BABY SMASHED ON THE GROUND

My story, by Katsina, Oyo State police boss

By OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

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ollowing the story of the six-month old baby, Azeem Wahab, sent to his early grave amid the violence that erupted in Irawo in Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State between Wahab Idowu and loyalists of Ajoriwin of Irawo, Oba Musiliu Ademola, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Katsina, has vowed to unearth the circumstances surrounding the killing.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the suspects, especially the man identified as Ojo Baloosa, who allegedly took the baby from her mother ’s back and flung him to the ground, have fled the town. But the state police boss said all machinery had been put in motion to arrest the suspects.

Though Oba Ademola has washed his hands off the matter, the CP said whoever was involved in the killing of the baby will have to face the wrath of the law.

He explained that the N10,000 he gave Idowu was his widow’s mite to reduce the loss he incurred especially his blocks that were destroyed during the crisis.

Wahab, victim, leaves Irawo When the victim visited Vanguard office in Ibadan, he said he had left Irawo town for fear of further attack from his opponents.

“I have to run away to avoid being killed. The attack on me, my wives and children was not expected. How am I sure that the attackers will not come back since they have a strong backing by the Oba. I am even living in fear where I am now. They have brought me down completely. My workers in the block-making industry too were attacked and they sustained serious injuries, ‘’ he stated.

Discussing the extent of damage, Wahab said it was better imagined than experienced. His words: “Do you know how much it costs to set up a well-

established block-industry?

What about the equipment and blocks they destroyed?

Leave that, go to my guest house. After vandalising it, they burnt it. All the

We may even exhume the baby’s corpse because something must be done other than post-mortem that we know.

So, we must exhume the corpse to have a real scientific touch under the corridor of pathologist

household equipment were in ruins. Leave that, look at myself now with all these injuries. Then, consider my wives, the dead baby and workers who were equally injured.

What about the shame I was forced to suffer. I was beaten, dragged on the ground like a common criminal. The Oba even made a spurious allegation against me that I committed rape and breached the peace of the town. All these to justify why I had to be treated that way ”.

Petition Counsel to Wahab, Mr. Remi Alli, accompanied by another lawyer, Mr. Gbenga Olayinka, said his client had petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, over the incident.

In the petition, Idowu took exception to the way the case was handled by Oyo State Police Command. “Our client informed us that the CP declared that the matter is a family matter and that Oba Musiliu Ademola should go and resolve the matter at home by rebuilding our client’s properties. Our client further informed us that when the CP asked about the identity of the person

who removed the child from the back of the mother, the king confirmed it was Ojo Baloosa but that the suspect had run away ”, the petitioner said.

“The CP ordered that the suspect in the custody who our client had identified as one of the attackers be released forthwith. This was done and the suspect left.

“We are referring this matter to you relying on the integrity of the criminal justice system to correct palpable unconstitutionality and injustice in the handling of this matter by the Oyo State Police Command”.

When contacted by Sunday Vanguard, Katsina, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, narrated his own side of the story.

He said, “There is a lot of declaration in terms of the alleged murder of Mr. Idowu’s baby and destruction of his house and other areas. These are the things I discovered; while other issues can be treated based on my authority as commissioner of police out of court, especially the issues of abuses and other things that may call conduct that will likely cause breach of

Continues on page 9

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 9

DEATH OF BABY SMASHED ON THE GROUND

My story,

by Katsina, Oyo State police boss Continued from Page 8 peace, the other issues are beyond me. I mean the alleged murder of the baby goes beyond what I can settle in my office. So, I handed over that case to the homicide section with special directive to go all out and fish out the culprits”.

“The second issue is the vandalization and destruction of the man’s building. It is immaterial whether the man committed any crime or not. What is material is that some people took the law into their hands and this I directed for full investigation and, in the course of this interaction, the issue of voodoo came in. The law has no room for voodoo. So, we don’t believe in that and one other issue that came is that of the Oba claiming that the man does not give him respect.

“This issue, I see, is within my own authority to settle because, as a police man, I am also a champion of dispute resolution. I remember when I asked the boy, he now said because of the destruction of his property, he had nowhere to go.

Here, in this office, the Oba himself said he was going to initiate the rehabilitation of the victim by rebuilding his house.

And I gave them a deadline and, in fact, I was moved with compassion because of the situation of that man; because it was nothing but a pathetic situation. And then my directive here was that no matter what we put in place for the rehabilitation of this man, that conduct will not in any way affect our ability to unravel the issues behind the killing of the baby and destruction of that man’s property ”.

‘Preliminary investigation exonerates monarch’

Katsina went on: “The preliminary investigation of this case does not seem to indict the Oba as a physical participant in this case because allegation is one thing but, in law, he who alleges must prove his case.

As a police man, I must have the courage to stand as the temple of justice to ensure that I don’t allow sentiment or emotion to derail me from doing the right thing. So, I find myself first as a counsellor to bring out the rehabilitation of this man and then also as a security head with authority and mandate to investigate any act of impunity in the state.

‘Why I gave the victim N10,000’ n fact, to set the ball rolling, in my own little way, since we are all going to rehabilitate, please, everybody should contribute because if you look at the wives of this man, the one who lost a baby and many others, you will have pity for him because, how can you leave your community?

And I decree here that the boy is coming to that community and nobody should raise any finger at him until the completion of this investigation.

A drop of water can make an ocean. So, I said, this is N10,000. I asked them how much does a block cost and they said N100. I said with this N10,000, I have bought 100 blocks for your house”.

I

Threat of prosecution The police boss explained that if in the course of investigation, the police had a reason to indict the Irawo monarch,he will not spare any effort to ensure that justice was done.

“But the latest information I received from the village was that most of these boys have deserted the village”,

Katsina stated.

“Also, you may appreciate the fact that wherever crime is committed, I don’t rest until I get there. Apart from me being a police man, I am a behavioural scientist. Any crime that remains permanently unsolved will not only become a continuous threat to the peace and security of the community, it will also become a permanent scar in the conscience of those charged with the responsibility to maintain law and order.

“That is why when I got here, most of the crimes we were able to solve were crimes committed before my arrival. As a police man, you start your introspect from the history of the situation because it is something that is circulatory because when they do and they don’t arrested, you embolden them to do more. And when you embolden them, they diminish your capacity to decide your own function as a law enforcement officer. That is why you have to dig and create a meaning out of a meaningless situation.

What happened to this baby is more pathetic because this is an innocent, totally defenseless human being.

Corpse may be exhumed “We may even exhume the baby ’s corpse because something must be done other than post-mortem that we know. So, we must exhume the corpse to have a real scientific touch under the corridor of pathologist.

This issue can be likened to what happened to my D.P.O. The moment you allow a group of

The CP ordered that the suspect in the custody who our client had identified as one of the attackers be released forthwith. This was done and the suspect left.

“We are referring this matter to you relying on the integrity of the criminal justice system to correct palpable unconstitutionality and injustice

people to take the law into their hands, to come out in a brazen manner, to not only disturb the peace of an area but to go the extent of inflicting injury on a particular person, or may be depriving them of their means of livelihood, depriving them of their lives, when you allow this to happen, you have to go back and take action.

“Like the case of my DPO that was killed at Adekile, Ibadan, I am happy that my officers adhered to my directives. I didn’t ask anyone to shut the market. But we remained there despite the odd and we were able to pick another set of suspects and I will still go there until I get the last suspect. It is when you create that atmosphere that the vulnerable would come out to enjoy the air of freedom because, as Nigerians, we are equal before the law. Whoever stands on my way, no matter how highly placed, anyway, nobody can try me, I will bring him to justice.

“As a policeman, the first is to do the right thing. Like what I did in this case, the first aspect of the grief is suffering and we should rehabilitate this man. Anyone of you can contribute, it is charity; put yourself in his position, you have lost your child, your house and everything and, today, you an internally displaced person(IDP), not by Boko Haram but by your own community. So, I have a big role to play.

First, to rehabilitate the man; second, to justify my pledge to you that everybody who commits crime will be brought to justice. Why I called them was to find out if there was a baby involved and now I have established that a baby was involved.

I called them to know if actually the baby died; yes, the baby died.

From all these things put together, I am of the opinion that the police still need to investigate and establish some facts. That is our situation now”.

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015 crazy.” Saul Bellow.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 195).

Electoral malpractices must be punished

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rofessor Tam D a v i d - We s t , nearing 80 but still going strong, and as irrepressible as ever, had made the case for those involved in electoral malpractices to be treated as armed robbers. Some have even likened it to treason – an attempt to distort the will of the people illegally. While their anger is understandable, they will not solve the immediate problem. In fact those suggestions will merely delay justice.

Nigeria’s electoral laws as they stand, have never been fully tested until now. Violators have gone unpunished and we don’t know how strong a deterrent they will serve against future occurrence. At any rate we don’t have to waste time passing new laws.

We should test the ones

we have to the limit.

From the Presidential to other elections, including the re-run elections, there is a mountain of evidence, some of it captured on video systems and media cameras which can serve as reliable evidence to prosecute several individuals starting with the officials of INEC, the Police, the DSS and politicians in various states. To start with, every sane person in the world, not only Nigeria, should be asking why, former Minister Orubebe, had not been arrested for publicly constituting himself into a nuisance during Professor Jega’s briefing.

And, it is not only Orubebe who should be dragged before the court.

All the Police and DSS officers who were at the scene and who stood doing nothing, while Orubebe made an ass of himself should also be sanctioned for dereliction of duty. Unless they can honestly tell the whole

The next best thing "The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes." —Tony Blair his week has been abuzz with speculations in the UK politics, after a bruising results for all but the Conservative party in the mainland. Labour slumped to its worst defeat in almost 30 years in last week's election finishing ninetynine seats behind the Conservatives, with 26 fewer MPs than even former Labour Prime Minister, Gordon Brown managed in 2010. The labour party was left bewildered by their dismal showing and the leader of Labour, Ed Miliband, did the most honourable thing, he resigned.

So not surprising that there was a vacancy on the top. And so it was confirmed that Chuka Umunna indeed has thrown his hat into the ring to join the race to be Labour's next leader. After his announcement, he said, he believed Labour could win power in five years' time, adding: "Some have actually suggested over the last few days that somehow

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this is now a 10 year project to get the Labour Party back into office and 'I think the Labour Party can do it in five years I want to lead that effort" It's not going to be plain sailing as some part of the media are making more of a feature of his Nigerian heritage rather than the fact that he is a young and dynamic MP and British.

This is not new, being a mixed race sometimes in the view of the blinkered, this equates to being black and that may be an issue with those that cannot see beyond his colour.

Unfortunately, some black people feel that he has been set up to fail that, he should have waited a bit longer down the line, and perhaps in years to come. He could then go for the labour leadership. This is the same thing, what some said about Obama and of course, they were wrong.

Okay, some also said that he is a Blairite and they are not sure if he is down with the people. Some of the labour backbenchers are not a fan of Chuka but some have said it could be

world that any Joe Lasisi, or Emeka Audu would have been allowed to commit the same infraction in their presence, on that day, at that venue, and go home freely. All the officers present were not only

,

“My object all sublime/ I shall achieve in time/ To let the punishment fit the crime.” Sir W.S Gilbert, 1836-1910.

Orubebe’s brief separation from sane conduct, in living colours, was, in reality, a reflection of the larger demonstration of powerbased insanity elsewhere.

Allied to the willingness of some INEC, Police and DSS officials, they generated some results which can only be described as lunatic. Let me provide an example from a state, whose Governor’s election results are heading for the Election Tribunal.

On Election Day, a former Governor could not vote when he reached the polling unit in his state at 10.00 am.

Reason? Some hoodlums

From the Presidential to other elections, including the re-run elections, there is a mountain of evidence, some of it captured on video systems and media cameras which can serve as reliable evidence to prosecute several individuals starting with the officials of INEC, the Police, the DSS and politicians in various states

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failing in their duties; they unwittingly became accessories to law breaking by not putting a stop to it the minute the drama started.

“Power and money, of course, do drive people crazy. So, why shouldn’t people gain power and wealth through being

had gone there before him and snatched all the electoral materials – ballot papers, card readers, ballot box etc. Fortunately, he had some accredited voters with him who recorded his encounter with the INEC officials who were left empty-handed. The Police arrived just as he turned

a touch of the green monster. It is true, that Tony Blair is not everybody's cup of tea but he seems to have his support. What I know of him personally, is that he is hard working and I saw him got on the mega phone drumming up support for local councillors during local election. For the young people he gained his stripes when he invited the actor, Will Smith to the local school. Some have said that although he is well educated, suave, sharp

been very much on the path anyway. Since propelled into the political limelight, Chuka has been dubbed Britain's Barak Obama. I disagree, but they Pigeon holed him anyway. The fact that both Barak and Chuka, are products of mixed parentage, they have African fathers, they are both lawyers and lost their fathers quite young but that is where the comparison ends.

Chuka himself said of the comparison as "lazy media

Since propelled into the political limelight, Chuka has been dubbed Britain's Barak Obama. I disagree, but they Pigeon holed him anyway. The fact that both Barak and Chuka, are products of mixed parentage, they have African fathers, they are both lawyers and lost their fathers quite young but that is where the comparison ends dresser and media darling it is not enough to garner the traditional labour supporters, he will struggle to gain their support, I think.

Having said that, I am not a betting person but some say that the money is on Umunna for future Labour leadership contests and as the most likely person to be Britain's first ethnic minority Prime Minister So it was a surprise that he made national news, in fact it was breaking news across the media nationwide. Perhaps, it was surprising but not unexpected. Chuka has

work."

I happen to know Chuka, he is the Member of Parliament for my constituency. And I remember the first time I met him, he came to one of our summer fun days. He was not yet an MP then but he worked the place like a pro; he was engaging, personable and he was not bad on the eye either. While he was doing the round he came towards me and we got talking. Well, I did most of the talking and he just chipped in whenever he could any word in edgeways. After our talk, I thought what a nice man but why was he wearing a

around to go; but only to plead with the ex-Governor and his people to remain calm. Later, after voters had dispersed, the hoodlums returned the materials – complete with results tabulated.

In the same state, a candidate for Governor could not vote in his polling unit which had also been invaded by thugs who carted away electoral materials. Several voting units reported the same experience. Yet, two days after, INEC announced a result for the state. But, this macabre drama has not ended. The same INEC which could announce the results of the Governors election in two days could not announce the results of State House of Assembly for more than a week after.

Why? Because the figures were not available. Yet, the “elections” took place on the same day in the same venues throughout the state.

That was the story of Akwa Ibom State.

Now, just in case you think you have read everything about this bizarre example, then you are mistaken. Two weeks after the elections, INEC reported that approximately 430,000 voters were accredited to vote in that state for Governor and State House of Assembly. BUT THE GOVERNOR-ELECT WON WITH ALMOST 900,000 VOTES!!! This happened in 2015 in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.

Two important posers arise from this experience which serves proxy for others nationwide. First, since there were

widespread restrictions on movement on Election Day, how could so many thugs move so freely in any state where the Police and DSS are supposed to be on duty?

Clearly, Commissioners of Police on duty in those states will have to provide answers. They will be called to the Tribunal for sure. But, the new IGP better start asking some questions.

Second, how did INEC manage to declare a candidate elected with almost 900,000 votes when less than 450,000 voters were accredited for the elections?

Stealing the Governorship in a state which collects almost N300bn revenue every year is worse than having 10,000 robbers invade the state.

Every effort would be made, including severe punishment, to rid the country of that menace.

Nigerians expect nothing less from the government coming in.

suit on a hot day!

He subsequently became our MP and he quickly rose up the ranks and he was the subject of many newspaper articles and news room appearances. He is hardworking and tries to get around his constituency of 100,000.

The fact that 15% of the country is non- white and he has every right as a Member of Parliament and member of the shadow cabinet to put himself forward.

There are reservations from different camps including his own party, when some feel that he has not earned his strip and they were jealous that he his media savvy and he does not fit the stereotype of what a black person should be.

He won my vote when he was being interviewed and he stormed out of a live television interview when he was asked his view on a controversial letter sent to 1,000 Muslim leaders by the communities secretary, Eric Pickles. When he was pressed to give his view without having read the letter, Chuka hit back and subsequently walked off screen while the camera was still on him. I applauded him and for the first time I saw the steel behind his charming appearance. I remembered saying to myself, now Chuka has come to his own.

He was very firm and said; "I'm not just going to speak off without actually having read a letter. I don't think you are being terribly fair.

Your viewers can make

their own decision." And he walked off. He was not soft after all and he gained some fans that night and after that.

Chuka does not mention his father much but it is understandable as his father was involved in tragic motor accident in Nigeria. He admitted that he was motivated by labour ideals because he had seen extreme poverty while visiting his father's relatives in Nigeria and the social divide in his own Streatham backyard.

SWEEPING “NGBATI NGBATI” CREW OUT OF ASO ROCK

“Fortune’s favours never last”, Seneca, 4B.C-65AD. VBQ p 64.

Ngbati Ngbati is the nickname for the Yoruba in the North and East.

By the end pf this month, Reuben Abati, Doyin Okupe, Fani-Kayode, as well as the late comers to Aso Rock, Dr Fasheun, Gani Adams and Afenifere will be swept into the dustbin of political history. Such is life.

Hearty congratulations to a worthy winner Senator Rasheed Ladoja, former governor of Oyo State and gubernatorial candidate of Accord Party in the last governorship election has gone on to challenge the victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

He defiles the elders of Ibadan to withdraw his lawsuit. He will be worsted Ajimobi won fair and square, the people of Oyo State have spoken so let the transformation of the state continue.

Like I said some months back, Governor Ajimobi definitely deserves a second term and the trend setter state deserves a further run of stability and renewal. He has broken the record and he is serving a second term consecutively, a feat all his predecessors failed to achieve.

Ajimobi has transformed the state, improved the standard of living of majority of the people, united factions and brought pride to the state with innovative and entrepreneurial spirit.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 11

here is a world-wide consensus that Democracy is the best form of government.

Accordingly, people in different countries strive not to slide into any other form of government especially dictatorship. If so, how come the avowed ideal system brings more curses than blessings in Nigeria? Why is it that the nation often faces economic doom whenever it has an acclaimed democratic government? In the second republic for instance, many analysts readily testified that the economic dilemma the nation found itself was heralded by the profligacy of the democratic government of President Shehu Shagari. At that time, everything under the sun especially rice and cement were imported in such large quantities which held our nation hostage to blockedports. Similarly, just before the March 2015 Presidential elections, there were many Nigerians who out of frustration from our ineffectual democracy virtually prayed in silence for a military take-over of government. Does it then

mean that the poor management of the national economy is one of the inevitable hazards of democracy? If that is so why is democracy flourishing so

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Painfully, politicians in the state who are no doubt behind the people’s plight are pretending to be on the side of the people

much in many other countries?

A common rationalization of poor performances by the pro Shagari and Jonathan supporters is the perverse argument that both Presidents were good men who were unlucky to have bad advisers. What roles did we, the ordinary people play in both men picking bad advisers; is a man not best be understood by the company he keeps? If the Shagari team was into experimentationduring its era, Jonathan and his t r a n s f o r m a t i o n ambassadors ought to have

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos, , 08116759758

Muskets and the musketeers (2)

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APACIOUS "authority stealing" by top government officials has crippled Nigeria, and it must be stopped. Yet, the Presidentelect should be clear in his mind about his motivation and overriding goal. If the driving force of probes launched by him is for revenge against enemies, real or imagined, he should be ready for the repercussions. This is because, supposing the outcome of any investigation establishes culpability for corruption by his political opponents," the perception that it was persecutory will engender resentment and compromise the trust Nigerians repose on the incoming government to reduce corruption drastically.

Consequently, Gen. Buhari must not repeat the costly mistakes of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is widely believed to have used the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hound his political rivals, which ultimately led to the erosion of public confidence in its ability to perform effectively.

We now consider reports that African Independent Television (AIT) has been banned by the President-elect from covering his activities.

Probably, the proscription is retaliation for the damaging information contained in documentaries broadcast by

learnt from history.Today under their watch, one story is that the national economy has slowed down by about 3.96% just as the National Bureau of

the television station about him and Bola Tinubu, a chieftain of APC. To be candid, if the documentaries in question disseminated falsehood against these individuals, AIT should be condemned because malicious character assassination is morally unacceptable. On the other hand, if they are based on verifiable facts, AIT deserves commendation for courageously exposing the dark sides of a retired former military ruler who would soon be President and a prominent member of APC, the dominant political party in Nigeria presently. Whatever the degree of antipathy by Buharimaniacs and supporters of Tinubu towards the television house because of the documentaries, Nigerians should be wellinformed about prominent politicians and those aspiring to public office so that they can make rational choices especially during elections.

Those who cannot endure the heat should leave the kitchen although, as we have already pointed out, peddling falsehood deliberately against anyone is wrong. Of course, Tinubu exercised his right to seek legal redress by dragging AIT to court, before the APC belatedly overruled the ban. Buhari himself has denied ever issuing such an order; still, the very idea of occluding a media outfit from

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Statistics reports that over twenty-two million Nigerians that is, 31% of our entire population were unemployed in 2014. Yet another story alerts the nation that workers strikes due to non-payment of salaries are on the way amidst unending shortage of petroleum products. The correlation between the World Bank diction of Ngozi Iweala, the coordinator of our economy and our predicament, suggests that our out-going PDP President Jonathan probably appropriated the good luck of every other the activities of a Presidentin-waiting because of a matter already in court is very disturbing in a fledgling democracy that depends heavily on robust professional media reporting to promote transparency and accountability in governance.

At any rate, notwithstanding that the President-elect has disowned the ban, there is some anxiety because his military dictatorship was infamous for its brutal crackdown on press freedom.

Hence, he must distance himself from any action that might bring back into public consciousness the ugly spectre of obnoxious Decree 4 of 1984.

In that connection, and given Buhari's concerted efforts with APC to project an image of a democrat different from his dictatorial military antecedents, it is better to drop the military title and address him simply as Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari from now onwards, a move that also captures the fact that the President-elect is a devout Muslim. When Alhaji Buhari eventually assumes office on May 29, his attitude to media outfits that did not support his presidential aspiration will be one of the factors sceptics like me would consider in judging whether his claim of being a converted democrat is genuine or a mere campaign gimmick and shibboleth intended to deceive gullible Nigerians.

Meanwhile, Prof. Itse Sagay's reaction to the ban drips with irrationality and vindictiveness. Sagay, who seems to be a sympathiser crying more than the bereaved, reportedly said, "I agree absolutely with Buhari on the issue. AIT is not fit to be a practical organisation in Nigeria. An organisation which worships money and

explain the situation as if they are not part of the mismanagement of the economy which gave rise to the crisis. Of course everyone is aware of the several ways through which our legislators contribute to the problem.

First, they encourage the poor management of the economy by refusing to let us have a good budget.

Throughout the Jonathan administration for instance, every year ’s budget got passedonly halfway through the year the budget was supposed to be run. How can we have a sound economy when we spend without planning for about six months before a so called plan is approved as a budget? Is it not laughable that the 2015 budget is now being hurriedly processed after the nation’s resources for the period had been diverted to election malpractices? Second, the legislators would pass no budget until an unreasonable fraction is allocated to them. Even at that,huge sums of money are allegedly shared to them before the ‘lopsisded’ budget in which they take 25% is passed. Third, at no point did our Senate in particular ever examine how a previous budget was implemented before passing a new one. To make matters worse, legislators are always passing laws which give huge severance amounts to outgoing office holders. It is therefore not difficult to identify why it is always difficult to pay workers’ salaries.

The Executive is no less blame worthy as none of

them can claim to be unaware of the logical consequences of employing hundreds of political jobbers as Special Advisers and Assistants. Through such recklessness by states like Bauchi, Nigeria’s democracy accommodates personswho are appointed into nonexistent positions with no job schedules. In addition, state governors expend huge sums of money in running duplicated welfare schemes for themselves in their state capitals and their liaison offices in Abuja. Huge travelling expenses and night allowances are spent on bogus entourages that are permanently on the road. The governors on their own part no longer travel by road or by passenger planes; they now utilize aircraft charter flights; yet airport workers are deprived their own meagre salaries. Why will the poor man not suffer?

At the same time, corruption in high and low places has remained in top gear. Only last week, Emir Sanusi of Kano drew attention again to his original alarm of huge sums allegedly diverted through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC. This time, the former Governor of the Central Bank is asking Nigerians to properly read the audit report on the NNPC and appreciate how huge sums disappeared through “duplicated” expenses, “unsubstantiated” costs, computation “errors” and tax shortfalls”. Shame on our political leaders

would sell its soul to the devil for money and would abandon every ethics of its profession should not exist. If I were in Buhari's position, I would be harsher." This is remarkable, especially coming from a respected Professor of law and a Christian. Sagay's outburst reminds me of the reaction of the scribes and Pharisees to the woman accused of adultery in John 8: 3-11. In

development has triggered in Buharimaniacs all sorts of hyperbolic expectations of what the new President can accomplish and malicious recriminations against individuals and organisations that did not join the Buhari bandwagon.

But the countdown has started already; twelve days from today the President-elect will take over from Goodluck Jonathan, and the challenge of providing good governance begins in earnest from then onwards. In that regard, Buharimaniacs should start reassessing and recalibrating their exaggerated hope in the in-coming government, because Buhari is gradually stepping back from his fantastic campaign promises, many of which were made without prior rigorous thinking about how they can be actualised in the context of current drastic reduction in oil revenue. Now, Buhari is worried about how best to tell Nigerians that his promise of revamping the economy quickly when he assumes office may not materialise after all. "The expectation is too high," he laments, "and I have started nervously to explain to people that Rome was not built in a day."

Buhari's predicament is understandable. Before the elections, he and his party demonised the government of President Jonathan and he was relentlessly propped up as the messiah that would lead Nigeria to the promised land, so to speak. As a result, having won the elections, they should blame themselves for the boomerang effect of building castles in the air as victims of their own questionable electoral victory partly derived from skilful manipulation of the suggestibility of Nigerians.

Alhaji Buhari believes he can pay for his populist programmes with monies saved by blocking financial leakages in the system, but unfortunately things are not as simple or as straightforward as that. First, no one in APC knows exactly how much would be saved from Buhari's intended anticorruption measures and the cost of implementing the programmes in the party's manifesto. Second, Buhari is yet to reckon fully with the big difference between fighting corruption as a military head of state who issued decrees that can be implemented with "immediate effect" and doing so as a civilian President that must carry along members of the National Assembly and wait for the outcome of litigations in courts. Besides, even when perpetrators of corruption at the highest levels of government are prosecuted, sometimes after lengthy investigations spanning several years, there is no guarantee that judgment would always be expeditious and in favour of government since the judiciary has been compromised by corruption as well.

I am convinced that the incoming government would achieve better results if it focuses more on finding bold and imaginative avenues to boost wealth creation instead of preoccupying itself obsessively with endless probes of past governments.

Despite my well-founded doubt as to whether Buhari would have the guts to probe Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo, I fully support any well thought-out plan for fighting corruption, particularly from 1985 to date.

Concluded

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Nigeria’s poor economy: Shame on our politicians

Nigerian since 2010.

Perhaps the most offensive of the failures of Nigeria’s democracy is the calculated plan of our political class both at federal and state government levels to deprive the ordinary man of his earned salary. For example, as at March 2015, judiciary workers in Benue State under a PDP governor were being owed salaries amounting to N957, 630,349.57. Just because our democratic leaders behave alike, judiciary workers in neighbouring Plateau State were also being owed N673, 019, 948.19,. Unfortunately, efforts by the courts to intervene fell on deaf ears compellingan Abuja Federal High Court to place a constraint on the accounts belonging to Benue and Plateau states in certain banks. Activities in some states have since been paralysed following threats

by Labour to do no work until all arrears of workers’ salaries are paid. In Plateau State, where the government failed to clear the six months’ salary arrears of civil servants, union officials locked gates to the State Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies, thereby blocking top government functionaries from having access to their offices.

Painfully, politicians in the state who are no doubt behind the people’s plight are pretending to be on the side of the people. Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly for instancesummoned the state Commissioner of Finance, Davou Mang, to

The incoming government would achieve better results if it focuses more on finding bold and imaginative avenues to boost wealth creation instead of preoccupying itself obsessively with endless probes of past governments

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the biblical story, Jesus used a simple but powerful strategy to teach the moral cum spiritual significance of tempering justice with mercy and as a warning to those too eager to exact extremely harsh punishment against an offender. Aside from his irrational pharisaic stance, Sagay went too far by accusing AIT, without presenting any evidence, of worshipping money and abandoning the ethics of journalism. I watch AIT regularly; nothing in its programming supports Prof.

Sagay's argument. The conviction that Buhari is an incorruptible leader who would rescue the country from the cesspit of arrested

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD,MAY 17, 2015

Okonjo-Iweala: Public finance and high blood pressure

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very time I see the publisher and Chairman of the Vanguard, Mr. Sam Amuka, he reminds me of what I’d like to be when I grow up. Spare and study, Uncle Sam seems built to defy time and the vagaries of aging. I have tried to find out the secret. Once at the flats, he said, “well, it’s the advantage of people like me built small.” It might well indeed be. My younger brother, Buddy, an Attorney in Owerri is also built small. I had joked with him last Christmas, that one day, people might say I’m his dad, when they look at him, and see me besides him. Small is good.

Great things come in small measures. Like the Beetle, they are built to last. But there is something else to it. I have observed that Uncle Sam, at his age, swims at least ten laps most evenings. He has made it routine.

The aerobic value of daily swimming is unquantifiable.

It brings down the flabs. He is also a man who no doubt loves the Epicurean rites – the joy of the open table. Yet his eating is disciplined. There is no excess.

Simple, healthy fare, taken in accountable measure. The gathering of friends around the common table to share the communion of bread and the deep reassuring restorative of wine in itself is one of the

healthiest and most beneficial of all rites. Yet, the secret is, while we take pleasure in food, we must do so sparingly and in small measures. That is an important lesson that many to us Nigerians have yet to learn.

Nigerians are wont to eat huge mounds of food and large quantities of “assorted meat” – fried, oily, and maggicubed. And we succumb to the increasing degeneracy that comes from over-indulgence and the sedentary life. This issue is one that I’d like to use this column today to address, just as a way of piggying back to the finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s laments two weeks ago, published in the Vanguard, of the ravages of High blood Pressure in her ministry. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala used the event of the opening of a clinic and a crèche in her ministry to lament that she as well as the Minister of state for the economy, Mr. Bashir Yuguda, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Anastasia DanielNwaobia, and 70% of the staff of the ministry have all come down with High B-P. It is a dangerous count for what has been described by physicians as the “silent killer.” If her intention was to draw from the deep well of Nigerian sympathy, by showing how hard they have

been working to save the economy, and how the work and their worries have combined to drive their blood pressure sky-high, the minister may have failed. Of course, Nigerians expect them to work hard. No one says that the business of managing the economy of a nation like Nigeria is easy. But what Dr. Okonjo-Iweala may just have done inadvertently is to expose a damning fact: a bunch of sick hypertensives are managing the Nigerian economy. That is dangerous.

But I do relate. Three years ago, during my annual check, I was diagnosed with dangerous levels of high blood pressure. I had no inkling but for my required, annual routine check.

I had actually taken my mother to my family physician for her own check, when my doctor decided to take routine measure of my blood pressure, and was startled by the result. “As a black man,” he said very seriously, “you cannot walk around with blood pressure this elevated!” It turns out that black people are uniquely predisposed to high blood pressure and its spin-off illness, diabetes, according to contemporary medical science. He quickly put me on a routine of drugs to bring it down by reducing that

DIASPORA MATTERS

No sea shall stand on the way to 'Promised Land'

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hey have been arriving in thousands. Some of them are weak, others are kept strong by hope for a better future. So many die daily, while many others are carried in body bags at the end of the journey. While the less fortunate ones are fed to the creatures under the sea. It has been dubbed the journey into the unknown, and undertaken only by the bold.

A look at them shows these men, women and children have prepared themselves for the worst, as they take probably the biggest risks of their lives. They are decked in layers of thick clothing, ill-fitting coats and apparels, they appear from a distance like rainbow colours across the sky. They are of different languages and colours, yet united by a single aim as they cram themselves in the choice means of travelling – the vessels.

To them, the mediterranean is the “standing” block to better lives for them and their families.

The Mediterranean route to

Europe was described by the UN Agency for Refugees as the “most lethal route in the world”. But to them, there is no stopping them or their dreams. No matter how vast and intimidating the waters may look, to them, it is a do or die affair. And like the Israelites in the wilderness, their eyes are on the prize – the Promised Land.

There may be no Moses to part the sea for them, but they trust their confidence in their will power to sail through. For days and nights they prepare their minds for the “ rough” journey that awaits them on the seas. Just like football coaches hold pep talks with their players before the match, the people smugglers must have given these migrants a few lifesaving tips on surviving the seas. But that is as far as compassion goes, as they are mostly abandoned immediately the rickety vessels set sail, left at the mercy of the European coastguards.

These are the migrants who have put everything on the line to cross the seas and

begin a new life in Europe.

They have come in different shapes, sizes, ages, religions, sexes and orientations. But they are united by one dream – life in Europe. Yet for them this dream is very tall, as they have no legal means of reaching their destination.

Their dreams do not accommodate applying for travelling visas to enter the continent. Some of them do not even have passports and those who do, know they stand no chance of getting visas stamped on them. Yet they cannot “derail” their own dreams of a life in Europe.

They are from Africa, the Middle East, South and Central Asia. They are Libyans, Somalians, Eriterians, Sudanese, Iraqis, Syrians, a handful of Nigerians (yes, Nigerians) etc.

Apart from sharing a dream of better lives in Europe, these people are also bonded by the insecurities in their respective countries. They all know what poverty is, and also recognise the political instability and civil wars in their countries will never throw opportunities

pounding of blood that takes its toll on the heart, weakens its arterial network, and pumps floods of blood to the brain and other vital organs of the body, with the hardening of the arteries from plasma sedimentation that could cause a plaque that makes cardiac function increasingly difficult over the years.

There are of course many side effects to uncontrolled high blood pressure, I came to learn, and the more worrying for me is incrementally reduced brain function leading to increasing memory loss and possible links to dementia and Alzheimer ’s; the rapid

A sleep deprived minister is incapable of thinking clearly.

Routine delegation of function to a highly trained staff of bureaucrats in the ministry will ensure that the minister and her top staff do not routinely stay till 1:00 am doing work weakening of kidney function as a result also leads to Diabetes. I did read somewhere in the New England Journal of Medicine, that uncontrolled diabetes itself which leads to diabetic retinopathy, gum disease, nerve damage, kidney failure, glaucoma, and in some really terrifying spin-off, liver their ways.

They are desperate, with no thoughts of their personal safety, they surrender their fates to the workings of the people smugglers. To some, attempting a "swim" across the Mediterranean is better than staying put in their countries where death knocks on doors at will – via kidnapping, execution or suicide

These are the migrants who have put everything on the line to cross the seas and begin a new life in Europe.

They have come in different shapes, sizes, ages, religions, sexes and orientations.

But they are united by one dream – life in Europe bombing. To most, they would rather die on the European soil than be caught by “easy” death in their home countries where lives of people like them mean nothing to their leaders.

For as long as history can remember, thousands of migrants have been using every means to cross to their land of opportunities – Europe. It is therefore a source of thriving business for men (and women) who make money exploiting desperate

or hepatic cancer, can very easily be the result of radical, complex physiological and biochemical changes, the result possibly of salt retention. Salt retention in the body leads to increased water retention in the body. This slew of bad spin-offs make High blood pressure very bad news. Many Nigerians walk around with elevated blood pressure, and because there is very little routine or preventive care in Nigerian medical practice, these people die very suddenly, and we usually blame spirits, witches and wizards, their neighbours, or the devil. Of course, the devil is always in the mix, and in this case, the devil is lifestyle.

Here therefore is where Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s laments become interesting. She seems to suggest that high blood pressure comes with increased pressure or tension in one’s life or in the work place. I think the picture she paints is slightly inaccurate.

It might just be one, nearly indistinct factor. Lifestyle is the key. Working till 1:00 am in the morning is bad practice.

It is a clear example of disorganization, because it does suggest that the ministry of Finance and Economic Planning is either understaffed or does not delegate its functions well.

A sleep deprived minister is incapable of thinking clearly.

Routine delegation of function to a highly trained staff of bureaucrats in the ministry will ensure that the minister and her top staff do not routinely stay till 1:00 am doing work. In any case, burning the occasional candle brightly into the night is not unexpected: I, myself, am up in my study sometimes past 3:00 in the morning, writing, researching, commenting on Graduate seminar papers or preparing

lecture notes. I do not expect public sympathy.

It is all part of the package.

Establishing the crèche and the clinic in the ministry is generally not a bad idea in terms of workers benefit. But perhaps the minister might have thought more about a well-funded government program of well-staffed, public, neighborhood clinics and Crèches all over the city to serve other working parents, rather than an exclusive zone of unmandated privilege serving the staff of her ministry exclusively. Perhaps a wellbuilt gym, kept routinely spick and span for her ministry, might be more like it. A little change in life style. Some years ago, Mr. Ojo Maduekwe advocated routine biking as a healthy alternative to frequent car-use. He was laughed off the stage after a near-miss modelling his own truth. Truth is, Ojo was right and wrong. Right in the solution, but wrong in the sense that he did not pressure his ministerial colleague for Abuja, to first construct and develop Bike trails in Abuja as it is routine in all modern, civilized cities today to prevent accidents. So, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, step out of your chauffeur-driven air conditioned car into the sun for a while and recharge your Vitamin D deficiency; do not eat dinner or anything else after 7:00 pm; take long walks in your neighborhood; get a good night’s sleep; lose some weight; avoid big servings of carbs; beans is the food of the gods, and a glass of real, aged cognac is always good after dinner, and I am a fan; and like Uncle Sam, take a regular dip, darn it! And while we are at, madam, metu kwa ole – get some really good sex: it is the best known prophylactic and armour against that monster.

people. For a one way trip on a rickety vessel, the members of the cartel collect thousands of dollars from the immigrants. This is far more than a normal cruise liner will charge for a round the world tour.

The plights of these migrants need more than ordinary pity from the world that has sat back and watched all the years as these countries are rendered ungovernable and unsafe for citizens. The look of relief on the faces of these immigrants as they file off rescue boats tell the story of their lucky escapes. These ones, who had now become numbers, for identification, thank their stars for making it ashore.

They remember the people they started the journey with but could not make it to the other side. Some died on the sea due to exhaustion, lack of water, lack of food and some thrown overboard after minor arguments. All these had no opportunity of a descent burial. The vast water “ate” them like thousands of others before them. A few got into the Promised Land in body bags and straight for burial in a land they had dreamt would afford them descent and good lives.

In the midst of these, there are cries of new born babies and children. These are the innocents who are in the situation only because of the decision made by their parents. They are luckier than the adults, as Europe do not turn its back on children.

Everyday, the pictures of these arriving migrants are shown on international news channels. Becaiuse of the unprecedented number

risking their lives in this venture, the world is now waking up to its responsibilities. The response from the European Union, although seen as impracticable by analysts, has been very encouraging.

The Union is proposing more funding and resettlement of migrants quota to member states.

The migrants allocation to EU members has generated a lot of controversies in some countries. The United Kingdom Home Secretary Theresa May had voiced opposition to the proposal, which she said the country would fight against. She is not alone on this, as many of the EU member states are distancing themselves from the proposal.

For now the migrants are cooling their heels in detention centres as the world decides their fate. The first duty of the west, according to the no-nonsense UK's Theresa May, is separating the economic migrants (?) from the genuine refugees. To her, the former should be shipped back across the Mediterranean to wherever they came from.

The problem of these migrants goes beyond containing them in the European corridor. There has to be permanent solution to it. The solution lies in making sure peace reigns in the countries where these migrants come from. While some of the governments should share the blame in the destabilisations of these countries, their main assignments right now is encouraging the development of democracy.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 13

Constitution amendment: The noise, the threat and the u-turn

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru BOUT N4 billion may have gone down the drain in the process of amending A the 1999 Constitution. The National

Assembly went round the 360 federal constituencies across the country to conduct public hearing on the constitution amendment which representatives of the Federal Government attended. It is also known that President Goodluck Jonathan returned the amended Constitution to the National Assembly and dragged the parliament to the Supreme Court for noncompliance with constitutional provisions and the National Assembly in turn threatened fire and brimstone to override the President’s veto. But what is not certain is why the National Assembly developed cold feet to use its threat at the eleventh hour.

The journey to alter the 1999 Constitution for the fourth time started about four years ago after the attempt by the 5th Assembly of the 4th Republic, during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration to amend the Constitution failed on May 16, 2006 following the alleged attempt by the then President to smuggle third term into it.

However, there appears to be a break through by the 7th Assembly with the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill by the two chambers of the parliament. The Fourth Alteration Bill was then forwarded to the President for his assent. After some time, the Constitution Amendment Bill was returned to the National Assembly by the President who alleged the usurpation of presidential powers and constitutional breaches in the process of the amendment.

There were anger, lamentation and threats by the lawmakers to override the

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President’s veto. One of the contentions of the National Assembly members was that the executive and, by extension, The Presidency was carried along during the process of the amendment and the public hearings where the Attorney General of the Federation was represented.

While returning the Constitution Amendment Bill, Jonathan, in a letter, addressed to the Senate President, read at the plenary session on Wednesday, April 14, 2015, noted that the withholding of his assent came after an examination of the procedure laid out in Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as other observations to the amendments that were passed.

In the letter, the President pointed out that the National Assembly had failed to prove that it had complied with the stringent requirements of Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as it had not accompanied the requisite votes and proceedings of both Houses with the Fourth Alteration Act that was transmitted to him to prove that the alterations were supported by at least two-third majority of all the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives in line with the aforementioned Section.

He noted that the amendment to Section 9 in the 4th Alteration Act, that would dispense with the assent of the President for the purposes of altering the Constitution would constitute a flagrant breach of the doctrine of separation of powers and whittle down the powers of the Executive as provided in Section 5(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The President also noted that the amendment to Section 58(5) that would enable a bill to become law at the expiration of 30 days where the President neither signifies nor withholds assent should be revisited with the view of retaining the current provision[1], as

withholding assent was an intricate part of checks and balances in a democratic society.

Furthermore, the time frame of 30 days encapsulated in the amendment could prevent further consultation with stakeholders that would enable him arrive at deciding whether to signify or withhold assent; where the need arose.

The President observed that Section 84(A-F) that provided for a distinct office of the Accountant-General of the Federation failed to address how the office would be funded and on which budget line the office would be placed.

He was worried that the creation of the Office of the Minister of Justice as separate from the Attorney General of the Federation might affect the current structure of the Ministry of Justice in the absence of a statute that would properly define the functions and powers of both offices.

Jonathan explained that the appointment of the Attorney General as espoused in the amended 174(A-H) in the 4th Alteration Bill, 2015 should be subject only to the confirmation of the Senate as his appointment was a prerogative of the President.

The President queried why the AttorneyGeneral’s powers should be subject to the determination of the courts despite a plethora of Nigerian and English case laws that decided otherwise.

Consequently, he was of the view that it was the President and not the Chief Justice of Nigeria, as contained in the amendment, that could properly administer oaths on the Attorney General.

The Senate and the House had passed the Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill last year and transmitted the amendments to the state Houses of Assembly after which the National Assembly adopted the resolutions and transmitted same to the

President for his assent in February 2015.

The Senate President promised to avail members of copies of the letter for further debate when Senator Abubakar Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina) questioned the propriety of the President rejecting the amendments despite the large budget allocated and spent by the National Assembly for the constitutional amendments.

Options

Following the development, a principal officer of the Senate, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard on the condition of anonymity, had said that there were two options before the National Assembly on the matter.

He said it was either the National Assembly accepts the position of the President or go ahead to override it.

He said, “We don’t know why he (Jonathan) decided to go this way. It is something that Nigerians, have been looking forward to and as we managed to break the jinx, we thought it was a legacy the 7th Senate is going to leave behind.”

Commenting on the President’s action, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, Akwa Ibomm North East, said the decision of Jonathan was a welcome one as he preferred to follow the legal option instead of lampooning the National Assembly on the pages of newspapers.

Enang said that the action of the President was an indication that he (Jonathan) was a patriotic Nigeria interested in the good of the country and not personal interest.

He, however, faulted the time it took The Presidency to raise objection to certain aspects of the amendment, stressing that

Continues on page 14

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Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

Constitution amendment: The noise, the threat and the u-turn Continued from page 13 it will be the duty of the court to determine whether the National Assembly followed the legal procedure in the process or not.

Enang, who said that whatever he said was his personal opinion as a lawyer of about 30 years standing and that the National Assembly, when served the court process, would apply for accelerated hearing in order to ensure that the case is dispensed of before the end of the 7th Senate.

Regret

The Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, said it was regrettable that The Presidency had taken the path of rejecting the amendment even when it had the opportunity during the public hearing to raise any objections on the exercise.

On the letter to the President to return the original copy of the bill, NdomaEgba said the Senate was still expecting it.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu had also said that no amount of propaganda from any quarter would deter the National Assembly from going ahead with the constitution amendment.

Speaking at the induction certificate course on legislative studies for new legislators, penultimate week, Ekweremadu, who was the Chairman, Constitution Review Committee, had said that the National Assembly read in newspapers the suit filed by The Presidency stopping the Constitution amendment, stressing that there was no court process served it.

He said, “ As I speak to you, there is no court process that has been served on the National Assembly. So, as far as I am concerned, there is nothing in court.

“We also read in the papers that Bayo Ojo wrote a letter on behalf of the government, asking us not to deliberate on the matter pending the matter in court. I want to also say that no letter was received from Bayo Ojo or anybody whatsoever. It’s just media propaganda.

But I want to assure Nigerians that we will resist it.”

With the threats and loud noise coming from the National Assembly, it was thought that the stage was set for a showdown between the National Assembly and The Presidency. As the loud noise was coming from the lawmakers, the President, in a show of seriousness, secured a ruling from the Supreme Court, penultimate Thursday, in which the court declared that the status quo should be maintained on the matter.

But the Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, while reacting to the ruling and also in a bid to give bite to the previous threats and even make them look so real and serious, last Sunday, said the nation’s apex court lacked the powers to stop the National Assembly from performing its legislative duties.

Abaribe said that as far as the process of amending the 1999 Constitution was concerned, the Supreme Court could not stop the National Assembly from carrying out its constitutional role.

He said, “The Supreme Court is wrong.

The law does not allow one arm of the government to stop another arm of government from performing its duties.

Mark, had attended the last Council of State meeting under President Jonathan on Tuesday. There was no inkling that the meeting would change

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•Presient Goodluck Jonathan a lot in the Constitution amendment debacle. Sources close to the Senate President said that he was advised at the meeting not to do anything that will put the legislature and the judiciary on collision course.

Even before then, there was the allegation that the All Progressives Congress, APC, senators had got in touch with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, to prevail on the President not to sign the Amendment Bill even when it was gathered that the bill had been assented to by Jonathan.

The intention of those that met with the Minister according to the information was that if the Constitution was signed, it would whittle down the powers of the President on the judiciary and the finance of the nation.

The argument was that if the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation is separated from the Office of the Minister of Justice, the National Judicial Council, NJC, will be saddled

On the way forward on the matter, he said, “We are going to court to challenge the court order which was made ex-parte.

We were not on notice, we were not represented”

•SenatePresident David Mark with the responsibility of appointing the Attorney General, while the Office of the Minister of Justice will only coordinate the affairs of the ministr y. T h e implication is that the Attorney General will be in charge of litigations involving the Federal Government.

But after the Wednesday closed-door meeting, the Senate President said the Senate had decided to obey the court order so that the National Assembly would not be seen as a law breaker, while it was elected for lawmaking.

In what has been described as a facesaving measure, Mark said the Senate will not allow the executive to take the legislature for granted in the present democratic dispensation.

He said, “ As we finished our discussion, I think it is proper for me, because of the importance of the issue, make a very simple, straight forward unambiguous statement.

“We are lawmakers and we will not be law breakers. We are not just lawmakers, we are very senior responsible citizens and very senior lawmakers and this is the apex of law making in this country.

“Therefore on the issue of the current constitutional review that is before the Supreme Court, we want to assure Nigerians that we will not break any law in this country.

“We will take appropriate action that will ensure that democracy survives but I will also want to warn that we should not be taken ‘for granted by the executivesm but once more, let me assure Nigerians that as lawmakers, we will not be law breakers.”

Briefing journalists after the plenary, the Senate Leader, Ndoma-Egba, said, “The Senate commenced today ’s proceedings with an executive session.

The reason is simple: if you had seen the Order Paper yesterday and today, you would have noticed the first reading of the Constitution Amendment Fourth Alteration Bill.

“We had to defer it yesterday (Tuesday) and today (Wednesday) to another legislative day for one simple reason: that at the level of the Committee on Constitutional Amendment, we had reviewed developments that I believe you are already familiar with concerning amendment.

“But we did not have the opportunity of briefing the Senate in plenary. That opportunity we had this morning of briefing the Senate in plenary as to the developments and circumstances surrounding the bill so that the Senate in plenary will be in the full picture, that

is what we did today in the executive session.” On whether, if the 18th June in which the Supreme Court adjourned the matter after declaring that the National Assembly should maintain status quo will not come after the expiration of the Seventh Senate, he said that it was dependent on the outcome of the court matter even as he said that the matter will come up as soon as possible.

On the allegation that the Senate was cajoled to succumb to the fact that it did not get the required numbers to pass the bill, he said, “First of all, our records are very clear, the votes and proceedings are there. And we have gone through the records again and again and we certainly met the constitutional requirement of four-fifth.

“So, that one is not an issue. The Attorney General who is alleging that we didn’t meet that constitutional requirement has not exhibited any document to show that we did not. But from our records, we certainly did. We clearly met the four-fifth requirement.

“On the issue of jam packing the amendment, let me say that this process has taken us close to three years. We started off with a retreat in Akwa-Ibom.

We had another retreat in Lagos. “Then we had public hearings in Abuja, the six geo-political zones, 36 state capitals, the 360 Federal Constituencies. And when you say public hearings, it means the hearings are open to the public at large including members of the executive.

“I recall quite a number of those hearings. The Executive was very strongly represented. It is at these public hearings that you are supposed to highlight your reservations or concerns about each of the amendment.

“They didn’t use any of those opportunities provided by these various public hearings; only for us at this point, when the Houses of Assembly have passed amendment and we were to conclude, then we are suddenly confronted with this ambush. We think it’s in bad fate and it is regrettable.”

Way forward On the way forward on the matter, he said, “We are going to court to challenge the court order which was made exparte. We were not on notice, we were not represented.”

Explaining on what transpired at the closed-door meeting, the Senate Leader said, “You know we received a letter from Mr President and the committee met to discuss that letter and agreed to make certain recommendations to Senate in plenary.

“Before we could do that, we had the court order, which again, is another development. And we had to thoroughly review those developments at the executive session today to agree on the way forward.”

On what becomes of the bill with less than a month to the end of the 7th Senate,Ndoma-Egba said, “Let’s say before we leave, we have legal options.

And the legal option is to vigorously challenge the order of the court made ex-parte.

“It was made without us being put on notice. And I believe that we can get the court to quickly determine that. And we intend to pursue that option.”

On whether Jonathan had returned the original copy of the Constitution Amendment Bill, as requested by the National Assembly, he said the Senate was yet to receive it.

According to him, “There was a resolution taken on the Floor of the

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SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 15

Constitution amendment: The noise, the threat and the u-turn Continued from page 14 Senate for the original copy of the bill to be returned. That resolution has been communicated to Mr President and Commander-in-Chief and up till now, we haven’t gotten back the original. We have our suspicions why the original has not been returned.”

He said that the suspicion of the National Assembly was that the original bill was signed by the President.

Ndoma-Egba also debunked the claim that about N4 billion was spent on the constitutional amendment.

He said, “The total budget of the National Assembly in the last five years was N150 billion. In the 2015 budget, it has been reduced to N120 billion. And that includes capital and recurrent expenditures.

“It includes salaries and allowances of senators and members of the House of Representatives, it includes the bureaucracy, National Assembly Service Commission, Institute of Legislative Studies, our aides. So where will the money come from?”

But on the specific amount spent on the constitutional exercise, he said, “I wouldn’t know. The Chairman (of the committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution) is in the best position to address that.

“But I will like to say right away that the funding of the exercise is from the National Assembly ’s budget that is currently N120 billion. So, the story out there, I don’t know where it is coming from.”

‘Apex court didn’t have facts’

Meanwhile, the National Assembly is set to approach the Supreme Court to seek a quick discharge of the ruling barring it from further work on the alteration of the Constitution.

This move, Sunday Vanguard learnt, follows the concerns in the National Assembly that Jonathan had failed to produce the signature page of the

Fourth Alteration Act sent to him for his assent.

A top official of the National Assembly, said that it was erroneous to conclude that the Fourth Alterations of the 1999 Constitution was dead, stating that facts about the amendment process were being collected to be presented to the Supreme Court.

He said that the National Assembly needed to act fast to explain its own side before the Supreme Court and before the expiration of the 7th Assembly.

The principal officer, who spoke in confidence, said that the NASS believed that the apex court did not have all the facts of the matter and that its position on the matter was not a judgement “but just a position and understandably so.”

According to him, the National Assembly, wanted to explain to the apex court that it complied fully with Sections 8 and 9 of the Constitution by getting four-fifths of both chambers and twothirds of the state Houses of Assembly in the process of passing the alterations.

The official said, “I don’t think that the alterations are dead as being insinuated in some quarters. It is not over until it is over. The 7th National Assembly has not expired.

“We need to approach the Supreme Court to hear our position because the National Assembly has to present its own position to the Supreme Court. The interface will be formal. The Supreme Court has to be fully briefed on the matter.”

He confirmed that Jonathan did not return the signature page of the Constitution alterations forwarded to him as requested by the National Assembly.

According to him, the Senate requested the return of the signature page formally “but it was not returned.”

The principal officer stated: “Mr. President refused to sign the alterations but he did not return the bill that was signed by the clerk of the National

•Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal

With the misunderstanding over the amendment of the Constitution between The Presidency and the National Assembly, it appears the exercise has been a wasted effort

Burundi’s president urges end to protest, coup leader at large

BY TONY NWANKWO, WITH AGENCY REPORTS

•Senate Leader Ndoma Egba Assembly.”

He explained that the National Assembly will not over ride the President’s veto on the bill, adding that no arm of government would want to truncate the goodwill the country is currently enjoying locally and internationally.

The source said that for conceding defeat, Jonathan had brought good will to the country.

The NASS official stressed that when the National Assembly is sending a bill for the assent of the President, it does not normally attach votes and proceedings of the parliament.

With the misunderstanding over the amendment of the Constitution between The Presidency and the National Assembly, it appears the exercise has been a wasted effort. There is no guarantee that the apex court will hear the suit on the matter in less than three weeks when the tenure of the 7th National Assembly will elapse which then means that, if the Constitution Amendment will be a reality and see the light of the day, it has to start afresh with the next parliament.

Electricity companies deny indigenous prepaid meters producers patronage —BoI boss

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

A

I

n a bid to stop protesters in the coun try against President Pierre Nkurun ziza, Burundian police now dub protesters as rebels who could be shot at sight.

The President’s spokesman, Gervais Abayeho, however, said the President returned to the capital at the weekend, after a failed coup but that the general behind the coup had not been arrested as was earlier reported. This, however, is adding to the confusion in the country after three days of turmoil.

In an address on the small east African country’s state radio, Nkurunziza urged an end to weeks of demonstrations over his quest for a third term in office.

“There is peace in the whole country, including in the capital city where the coup-makers were operating,” he said after a day of clashes in which at least a dozen people were killed.

“Whoever wants to bring trouble in the country will not go far”, he said.

Nkurunziza’s spokesman had said earlier that Burundian forces had arrested General Godefroid Niyombare, who had announced the president’s ouster on Wednesday while he was abroad.

Niyombare “has not been arrested”, the presidential spokesman told Reuters lat-

Soldiers assisting a man attacked by protesters er. He said the source of his earlier statement had corrected the information.

Burundi was plunged into deep crisis after Nkurunziza announced he was running for another five-year term, with clashes between police and protesters stirring memories of an ethnically driven civil war that ended just a decade ago.

Opponents say his decision violated the constitution and a deal to end the war

that pitted rebel groups of the majority Hutu population, including one led by Nkurunziza, against the army which was then commanded by minority Tutsis.

The army is now mixed and has absorbed rival factions, but the coup attempt exposed alarming divisions.

Troops loyal to Nkurunziza had largely calmed the streets at the weekend, after frequent gunfire on Thursday.

gainst the spirit of local content initiative, Electricity Distribu tion Companies (DISCOs) have been accused of denying indigenous prepaid meter manufacturers patronage.

Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, at a workshop for business editors and industry correspondents in Lagos, yesterday, lamented that Discos had failed to patronise locally made prepaid meters, which he affirmed are of international standard.

Olaoluwa said out of the 11 Discos in the country, only six patronize indigenous prepaid meters manufacturers, adding that they prefer to import the meters.

“Nigerian companies have invested heavily in the local production of prepaid meters and they produce very good quality meters. It is in our national interest that those companies are patronized by DISCOs so that they can also grow and add value to economic development of this country,” he said.

“Luckily, six DISCOs are presently patronizing local manufacturers of prepaid meters but we need all of them to do so.”

The BoI boss said he would not encourage or support the companies to patronise manufacturers that produce substandard products but those with good quality that can stand the test of quality in the international market deserved to be patronized.

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SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 17

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ulnerably beautiful Adokiye Kyrian, peace ambassador, architect, singer and actress, made a big fuss sometime last year, when she revealed to Potpourri that she was still a virgin. Not a big deal, but in this fast and furious era where youngsters want to get high, real fast and be done with so much is so little time, it is nothing but a big deal.

We got talking again on Tuesday on a lighter note, and she was joking about bringing a groom price for one of my dashing sons. Jokingly too, I returned that she must have to bring me a jet to give the hand of my son to her in marriage (remember, she said the man who will deflower her will have to buy her mum a private jet she promised her).

Then, with a tone that had a bit of seriousness about it she dropped the bomb.

“I will let that go soon (meaning her virginity)”, she said, with a wry smile. When I heaved a sigh of surprise, she surprised me more by adding “ what’s the point of having all the endowment and not enjoying life as a woman. Plus, people are beginning to call me names, like mumu and all. I have been thinking lately, you know, though my mind is not made up yet”.

I may lose my virginity soon — Adokiye Kyrian

Knowing I have been gifted a good story, I probed further and asked if she truly misses anything as a virgin.

She will be 24/25 this year.

“Yes, I guess I’m human” she shot back. “Don’t get it twisted. Sometimes I feel like I’m missing but each time I want to make that move, I get scared because I know once it’s gone, it’s gone”.

Then I suspected this girl must have found a guy she doesn’t want to lose because of sex. I hit her with the question.

“They always push” she replied.

“Push, push and push. Don’t you know men? Aren’t you a man?” she

wanted to know and I reminded her that I am. “Man, I’m so scared” she continues as if talking to herself this time. “But why not? I came with it I may leave with it”. I told her that would be an awful thing to do, afterall God gave it to us to enjoy. She cut me short and replied, “But God didn’t make it compulsory for me to share it with someone. Don’t forget about the Reverend Sisters. You know I’m a staunch Catholic. I was almost going to be one anyways during high school days. I grew up around Reverend Sisters and at some point I told my mum I wanted to become one”

IK Ogbonna and I share same mental disorder, says Colombian fiancee M

•IK Ogbonna and Colombian fiancee

any people thought Nollywood actor, IK Ogbonna and his Colombian fiancee were crazy when the duo hooked up off a couple of romantic exchanges over the Instagram. With barely anything to hold on to, the Colombian Sonia Lareinaa left her family and country to come to Nigeria to settle with her hunk here. With open hands IK welcomed her. It is stuff made of crazy love.

“She’s an awesome person and we met off social media; I left a breakup and at that point in time I was really not thinking of getting into any relationship. A friend of mine pointed her instagram page to me and I wasn’t really interested in surfing the internet at that point in time, but then again, I had a second look at her page and I was liking her pictures and unconsciously she was liking my pictures and from there, we started talking and it was almost as if it was just meant to be.

It was just two people with like minds coming together with a lot of positive chemistry being built up and then before you know anything, it was like boom, it happened” IK recalled in a recent interview with Vanguard. No doubt the lovebirds share something in common and if what the Colombian shared on her Instagram page, a couple of days ago is anything to go by, it seems they share more than love. As she put it, “ IK Ogbonna and I share exactly the same mental disorder,we simply must stick to each other forever, no one else could possibly understand”, she declared after what must have been a groovy night-out at the popular Quilox nightclub in Victoria Island last Sunday.

They were in the company of a friend Ify Jones. Sonia was having such a good time and had all but praises for city of Lagos with various hashtags like, “#AintNoCityLikeLagosCity #LagosByNight”. IK must have been tripping her so good she’s forgotten Bogota so fast! Right now, she’s seven months pregnant for IK.

•Adokiye Kyrian

Is FFemi emi K uti, e x-wif e, Kuti, ex-wif x-wife, Funk e, bac k ttoge oge ther? unke, back ogether?

T

his was the question on everyone’s lip last weekend when, at Tunde and Wunmi Obe’s house party, the two held hands, laughed, conversed and even posed for the camera in a way typical of lovers. This is not the first time the two will be photographed together in such ‘suggestive circumstances’ despite their strong insistence on being just friends.

See photos of Femi Kuti and Funke Kuti cuddling at the T.W.O Plus album listening party below:

•Femi Kuti and Funke Kuti

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PAGE 18, SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Jim Iyke, stop marrying me in my dreams, cries Nigerian — Malaysian student J im Iyke has never had it easy with the womenfolk. Most issues he has had with them he never bargained for. Just like last Monday, the actor was doing the regular thing everyone would do after meeting with who you consider your favourite governor in Nigeria. He posted a picture of himself with Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, with catchy captions to show how much he respects the governor for his wonderful achievements in his state.

His post was as harmless as it could get but one of the comments he got in return must have stopped him in his tracks. It was from a woman. Whatever Jim had done to them? None would marry him, just yet and this one wouldn’t let him be.

“Jim I beg you in

the name of God,stop getting married to me in my dreams. For more than three years now I have always seen you in my dreams, married to me. I have been praying every time about it but it always reoccurred. Even last night it happened again. I am tired of this. If you are his PA show him this text message and if this is you, I beg you in the name of God, to do something about it” she fired in her comment to Jim Iyke’s post of himself and Governor Akpabio in Ikot Ekpene at the commissioning of Ritman University last Monday.

The comment definitely got attention of Potpourri who decided to seek the girl out who simply signed her name as Jackiify. We got lucky again.

In a BBM chat with her later on, Potpourri found out that the girl is a Nigerian schooling in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She goes by the name Ify Jacob. The first thing that struck me

about her comment was that this could be a girl acting out her fantasy and laying it out in a dramatic way. Then I asked her if she had ever had any crush on Jim, many girls do.

“That is where the problem is” she told me bluntly. “ I never had a crush on him before but all of a sudden I started having dreams that I am married to him for more than three years now. You cannot understand because you are not Jim or a pastor. I don’t like it. It is disturbing to me” she says

PACKAGING EFFECT:

Anita Joseph village girl Vs Anita Joseph city girl O

utgoing and sexy Nollywood actress, Anita Joseph, is highly endowed, with the right curves in the right places. What’s more, she never stops to rub it in our faces as she is one of those who toe the Madonna

•Jim Iyke

Jackiify Malaysian student

Koga launches Kogaxtra TV online ter with the launch of nline entertainment just got bet ular entertainment pop the www.Kogaxtra.tv by O nd that has in the last few powerhouse, Koga. Koga, a bra lity

acquisition, offering qua months raised the bar of content online space to provide a the g entertainment is enterin contents whether people platform that will deliver top-notch pay or not. says Kogaxtra TV is out to Robert Jeyibo, the Head of ICT hours a day, seven days 24 provide all-round entertainment p.

-sto non k a wee t data on your phone or “The fact that you have interne entertainment. lity laptop should qualify you for qua ple value and immense “Kogaxtra is about giving peo ranks high up there for us satisfaction for their data, which more than money. ent platform which offers Kogaxtra.tv is an online entertainm ls. entertainment in four different leve At this level, you get to all. for free of t tha is l leve t firs The form of payment. At this view content for free without any of any artistes, some eos level, you will see musical vid rs radio and watch Koga movies, TV series, listen to 24-hou TV for free.

line “If you have got it flaunt it’. And over and over again we have seen her playing fantasy playstation with our minds.

But this hottie came a bit unstuck on the set of a new yet to be titled and pretty much in the works.She had to play the role of a village girl.

So unAnita-like I must say and for minutes I started wondering where all the see-saw back and front have disappeared into. Really, she would have passed for any woman in the market you wouldn’t give a second look. But Anita was on a job and she killed the role the way a true professional would have – nice character-blending, only we were so used to seeing dear Anita in those no-diggitty bum shots and skimpy dresses.

The film features principally Anita Joseph Nollywood veteran, Chinwetalu Agu and Ochendo Mc Macksmith.

Chiwetalu was the father to Anita’s husband, a village drunk whose only preoccupation was playing pools. Anita made a breakthrough in her life when she joined politics and made money. The irresponsible husband, Ochendo then turns her slave and runs errands for her much to the dissatisfaction of the father.

•Anita Joseph

•Anita Joseph as a village girl

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

A

FTER raising the roof off Calabar two weeks ago, Nigeria’s largest music festival sponsored by Star lager, Star Music Trek moved to Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, penultimate weekend with an action-packed night of fun and music.

Boasting a lineup of artistes including Cynthia Morgan, Burna Boy, DJ Neptune, DJ Snoop Da Damaja, MI Abaga, Lafup and Naeto C. The show, which promised to be an unmatched night of fun, lived up to expectation.

With the entire city already at a halt ahead of the show, the 7pm kickoff at the Abakaliki Township Stadium saw the venue filled to capacity. A number of local artistes from Abakaliki were given the opportunity by Star Lager to perform to a large audience and make their dreams come true in keeping with this year’s Trek theme, “My Superstar Story.”

The excitement at the stadium grew bigger as the expectant crowd jostled for a glance at red-haired dancehall phenomenon Cynthia Morgan, who continued from where she left off the previous week in Calabar. After performing her catalogue of hit tracks, she invited fans onstage to join in her performance of her new track ‘Come And Do.” Up next was Naeto C who performed his hits “Ten Over Ten,” “5 & 6,” “Helele,” “I Gentle,” and “Tony Montana” to the delight of the mammoth crowd. Following his performance, the crowd was further entertained by a vigorous performance from Burna Boy who kept the crowd moving in his characteristic manner.

The excitement from his performance had barely died down when Tony One Week made a surprise appearance that threw the stadium into frenzy. The immaculately dressed singer-turnedpolitician who was last seen on a Trek stage in 2014 fed the frenzy with performances of his songs “Gyrate” and “Ife Dinma”.

MI Abaga was the next to take the stage with energetic performances of “Action Film,” “Anoti,” “Nobody Test Me,” “Over Killing,” “Beef,” “Number One,” “Bad Belle,” “Bullion Van” and “Nobody.”

He then made a female fan’s night by inviting her onstage and singing a love song to her.

Finally, just as it was in Calabar, the best was saved for the last as Wande Coal rounded up the evening with energetic performances of his songs from his debut

•Burna Boy Thrilling

*Cynthia Morgan

•Hon. Tony One week

Abakaliki in musical frenzy as Star Trek hits Town album ‘M2M’ such as ‘Bumper To Bumper’, ‘Taboo’, ‘Pere’, ‘You Bad’, as well as his fresher materials like ‘The Kick’, ‘Baby Hello’ and ‘Wake Up’. Backed up by DJ Neptune and DJ Snoop Damaja, the singer’s stellar performance left the crowd screaming for more as a long night of top-notch music finally drew to a close.

Corporate Media and Brand PR Manager Nigerian Breweries Plc, Edem Vindah commenting on the Abakaliki Trek had this to say: “We saw how much fun everyone had here tonight, and we ourselves had a wonderful time. This is what Star is all about at the end of the day. These artistes represent celebration and inspiration and this is what Star Trek has transmitted for so many years. It is a thing of pride to take this message all over the country and also to interact with the fan base of these artistes. We love it, the artistes love it, their fans love it – it is a win-win situation for everyone.”

The nationwide concert tour,

•Wande Coal

My Superstar Story” aims to inspire the youth to view their situations as a work in progress and to always keep their goals in mind.

MI and the girl with whom he sang love song on stage which has thrilled Nigerian music fans for several years, has consistently assembled Nigeria’s best artistes to entertain fans around the country and this

year’s theme, “My Superstar Story” aims to inspire the youth to view their situations as a work in progress and to always keep their goals in mind.

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

PAGE 20— SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

My boobs have helped my career – Bridget Amos

B

ridget Amos is an upcoming actress with big ideas. Despite coming into the industry in 2008, the Kwara State-born beauty has made films of her own. Unlike many of her peers, who would jump at anything for the sake of relevance in the industry, Bridget has set certain standards for herself and would not produce more than one film a year.

She’s based in Malaysia and does both English and Yoruba films.

Her latest movie ‘Eko’ is set to be released soon. In this exclusive interview, she talks about her career, life and more.

What are you currently working on?

My movie ‘Eko’ which literally means ‘Lesson’. The film is an eye-opener for people who believe that without travelling abroad they cannot make it in this life. The film is planned to educate them that it’s not until you travel abroad before you make it, just focus on what you’re doing and you can make it anywhere.

Which has been your biggest movie so far?

It’s a movie called Ere; a Yoruba movie. There’s another one called Omo Malaysia. In fact , there are many of them I can’t remember right now How has the journey in Nollywood been?

Stressful, I will say. For one, there is the issue of location logistics. At times they may lodge you in a hotel without adequate facilities.

And because this is a profession you love, you have to manage whatever is thrown at you. Even feeding, at times on location, becomes a problem because adequate provisions are not made.

It has not been easy, at all, but we have to stick to it because it is a profession we love.

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

You know Jide Kosoko? There was a time I was supposed to play a role alongside him but he brought someone else instead. He said he wanted the person to play the role in my place. I felt very bad. Along the line he changed his mind and asked me to take the role but I had been so heartbroken that I couldn’t pick myself up again. I eventually lost the role.

How do you get into character when you see scripts?

Since you love it and you enjoy doing it, it’s very easy. If you love

C M Y K

acting, once you’re given a role it would be easy for you to act it out.

Who is your biggest inspiration in acting?

Ayo Adesanya Can you do something sexy in a movie?

Yes, I can be very sexy and very romantic.

Can you flaunt your boobs, stuff like that?

It’s part of acting so I can do it. I can play any role. Once you’re an actor, you should be able to play any role Have your boobs ever helped you in getting a role?

Yes, they have. In one English movie, though the movie is not yet out, they wanted someone that has big boobs and can flaunt it, so they called me. I was called by Laitan Sugar and it was because of my boobs they called me for that job. I played the role of a bad character in the movie What has been your most embarrassing moment so far?

There is an actress, I cannot recall the name now, who accused me of not showing respect by greeting.

Funny enough, I greeted her but she chose to ignore, the greeting, coming back to embarrass me in the presence of others that I did not great her. That really got me down. She did not just say I didn’t greet her, she also asked me to go home because she was in charge.

That was really embarrassing.

Has anyone ever told you to date him for a role?

Yes, but I tell them that I cannot use my body to get roles.

What is your success secret as an actress?

My biggest plan is to be a great actress, well respected and loved.

That’s why I watch how I relate with everyone in the industry. I don’t date guys in the industry but I respect everybody because I believe everybody is important. I think that has been helping me for so long.

Why did you choose to become an actress?

Since I was a child I have always wanted to be an actress. As a child I was always so absorbed and carried away watching stars on television. Each time I always told myself one day I would be like them. When I started I got to love it even more than before.

•Bridget Amos

,

By DAMILOLA SHOLOLA

I don’t date guys in the industry but I respect everybody because I believe everybody is important

,

Are you done with school?

Yes for now. I studied Business Administration at Kwara State Polytechnic, just ND. I’m based in Malaysia now and I have a special course I’m doing there.

What more should people expect from you?

Right now, no movie again this year. I’ve done my movie Eko and before I can do another one, it would take me another one year.

in Nigeria; Osupa was there in the movie I did in Malaysia.

What else do you want to say?

I will say this; keep doing what you know how to do. Being an actress is not really easy but you have to be very patient and you don’t get angry easily. You smile at everything and make yourself happy. Respect everyone so you can get there. too.

Why that long?

I don’t want it to be anyhow, I want my movies to be once in a year so I can have time to plan it.

Who stars in that movie with you?

I have a guy called Okunnu, Jide Kosoko, Laitan Sugar and Lateef.

I also have Saheed Osupa. I did it in Malaysia and I finished the rest

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP!

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 21

Attitude which inspire honesty in a man

BY ONOZURE DANIA

D

o you sometimes wish that men could just be more honest with you?

Or do you feel discouraged when dating because the men you meet actually lie about what they want from the relationship, what their background is, what they do for a living and sometimes even lie about whether or not they are available?

Especially when sometimes, you end up being involved with a man who is already seriously dating another woman, or worse still is married?

If these are situations that you run into a little more than you would like, then you need to know about some attitudes that can actually inspire a man to be completely upfront and honest with you about such things. You will know; if he is

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looking for something serious or casual, if he is seeing other people, if you are the kind of woman he is drawn to, if he is ready to settle down or not.

As a matter of fact, with the right attitude, you may be able to get a man to reveal a lot more than he would ever reveal without prompting.

The added benefit of this is that he will feel more connected with you because he will feel he can tell you just about anything. He will feel more attracted to you because he feels more understood and appreciated by you.

This attitude does not only inspires honesty from a man, it makes him feel more connected to you at the same time.

Nice. If you are single and dating right now, this mindset or attitude can actually help you qualify the right man and avoid Mr Wrong as early as

possible. If you are in a relationship, it can help you get to the bottom of what he is thinking and feeling, so you can know why he is withdrawing, if he is open to taking things to the next level, or what is holding him back from fully committing to you.

However, there is a fundamental question that seems to bother a lot of women, “why does this even have to be an issue?

Why can’t a guy just be upfront and be honest with you? Why, for example, is it so hard for a man to tell you why he’s not calling as often or why he stopped asking you out, especially when he seemed so into you in the beginning?

If you go out on a few dates with a guy and you think everything is going great.

Then he stops calling. He doesn’t respond to your emails or texts. It’s like he’s

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Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For enquiries, text or call 08026651636

dropped off the face of the earth and you don’t know why.

It’s not that you are so particularly “heartbroken” about this.

Maybe you even realized that he was a nice enough guy, but you didn’t know him well enough yet to fall in love or anything.

But still, you wish you could at least hear why he stopped calling, stopped asking you out and stopped responding to your messages.

When you want to inspire honesty in a man, you need to let him know that he is safe.

When he shares stuff with you, you have to adopt what is called “anything is ok attitude”.

This doesn’t mean that anything is ok for a man to do or that you are supposed to accept anything he does and have no boundaries or limitations.

No! The attitude is more like you thinking “anything is ok for you to share with me but I know what I will and will not tolerate in my life and what I want. But still, you can tell me anything. I can handle it.”

How do you communicate this attitude? It is very easy!

With little words, like “I’m just curious.” It can go like this “Are you seeing anyone right now, I’m just curious?”

“What kind of relationship are you looking for, I’m just curious”?. “What kind of woman do you most admire, I’m just curious”.

“Where do you see yourself in the next five years, I’m just curious”.

Using these words “I’m just curious” do not only let a man know that you will be ok with whatever he tells you but that you are not needy or too aggressive and he can feel safe telling you just about anything.

Just don’t stare at him, holding your breath, waiting for his answer. That defeats the purpose big time.

It’s not that a man is afraid of certain questions. It’s just that the way a woman asks those questions makes him feel strange.

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PAGE 22—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 23

08112662589

You must not equate excessive jealousy with love!

A

T a recent funeral reception this male face tried catching my eye and when he did he would smile. I gave a tentative smile after a while and he sauntered over to my table. “Sunkanmi?”, I asked, the penny finally dropping! I’d known him for ages. I got to know him through a very dear friend and we were often going out in a group. His girlfriend, Dora, worked with an airline and was always travelling. In spite of having a thriving business, Sunkanmi, seemed to have all the time for Dora.

He was virtually her shadow – you seldom saw one without the other. His attention was so stifling that Dora was getting fed up with his unfounded jealousy.

“His kind of love is turning into something sinister””, Dora confessed a few years into their being a couple. We were out to lunch, her treat, as she wanted my opinion on how to handle this dark side of her man. “I know he loves me”, she continued, “and treats me like a princess. The only problem is his jealousy. I daren’t keep in touch with male friends and colleagues as it is just not worth the interrogation.

Even in our group, being too friendly with our male friends was a total no-no.

As you are well aware I

hardly go out without him, yet I’d never cheat on him because I love him.

I’ve tried everything I could to prove that I love him and I’m at the end of my tether. Maybe you have some ideas on how I could handle this?”

Was she asking me how she could prove her trustworthiness as if she were the one at fault here?

Well she was! I assured her she wasn’t to blame for her man’s insecurity and that she was bending over backwards so as not to rock the boat. Her man might be her soul mate, but he was excessively jealous when he had no reason to be. I might have been acceptable for him to be a bit anxious at the start of the relationship, but after two years together, he ought to be feeling secure. He might love her, but it was the possessive type of love.

Because of him, she’s cut off most of her friends and given him far too much control over her life, all in an effort to make him happy. I reminded her that I’d walked down that path before and the fact we were sitting down to lunch and discussing it showed she knew her relationship wasn’t healthy.

The answer wasn’t to carry on tip-toeing round him. It’s to make him realise the reasons he gets so edgy were nothing to do

with her or her actions.

Perhaps in the past, other people had let him down; maybe family friends or previous partners had betrayed him – so he was extra wary in relationships.

Or perhaps he didn’t feel he was good enough for her, was scared she’ll find someone better, so he was overtly anxious all the time.

In my this-agony-auntknows-heat-tone, I advised her to reignite her friendship with her old male and female friends and let lover-boy know it was all above board by showing him texts or e-mail she was sending. As his trust grew, she should work her way up to being able to go to the occasional evening out with friends

without him tagging along. This wouldn’t be easy as he may get anxious and insecure, making her feel like backing down so as to avoid friction. She shouldn’t give up however but she must strive on building a relationship based on trust rather than jealousy.

It was months after that I saw Dora and she told me what she thought of all the advise I gave her. “e became insufferable as soon as I put your suggestions to him”, she told me sadly. “H e followed me all over the place virtually taking apart my luggage whenever I returned from my overseas trip and checking for any sign that

pointed to my sleeping around. In the end, it got to a point when I told him I couldn’t take all the embarrassment of his jealousy, we were over. At first, he took it very badly, pleading he was prepared to do anything to change, and even telling me I could go out with as many6 men as I liked and he withdrew temporarily to show he was serious. That was when I knew it was truly over – his overtures were pathetic and he would never change.

“After a while, he left me alone and I heaved a sigh of relief – I could now go out without looking over my shoulders for fear of being caught. I was having a cosy evening with a potential boyfriend weeks later when my door-bell went. Peering through a window, I saw it was Sunkanmi. I felt irritated but quickly thought finding a new man with me would be a good sign that I’d moved on. So, I let him in. Big mistake. He eyed my visitor as a boxer would an opponent and was very hostile, irritating both of us with his rememberwhen stories of our past relationship. I wanted to ask him t leave but my date told me he had other engagement and I saw him off. He wanted to know if I would be safe with Sunkanmi the way he was and I assured him I would.

Sunkanmi was my ex-

afterall, not a monster.

“As soon as I got back in, he pinned me to the sofa, wanting to know what game I thought I was playing. He tried to kiss me but I bit him. That enraged him and he tore my clothes and knickers and raped me, all the time wanting to know if the `wimp’ that just left knew how to satisfy me as much as he did. I cried and pleaded and this seemed to urge him on. When he was done, he slunk out of the house and that was the last I heard of him. So much for undying love ...”

So, here was Mr. loverman years later at the reception where I ran into him, with a woman in tow and whom she introduced as his wife. The woman was ugly – there was no kinder way of describing her. As if reading my mind, he took her back to their table before coming over for a chat. Defending his choice of a wife, he said he went through a lot of trauma when Dora dumped him. With an ugly wife, he wouldn’t worry his head about where she was and who was bunking her.

That left him free to face his business and even have the odd fling when he felt like it. It shows you how warped jealous minds could be and how their behaviour beggars belief most of the time.

08052201867(Text Only)

Exercise helps longevity

P

ERSONS with the longest lives in the world are the Georgians of the Caucasus mountains in Southern Russia, the Hunzas of Kashmir and the Vilcabamba Indians of Ecuador.

These three, seem to share some common traits which must be the key to their longevity. On the whole their diet is frugal, low in salt, refined sugar, fat and high in fibre and hardly any frying in oil.

They consume a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. The drinking water is high in mineral content from fresh mountain streams.

They practise holistic medicine, applying traditional herbs and medicines to forestall and cure diseases. They seldom drink or smoke.

They exercise regularly by way of their hard C M Y K

lives. They don’t use preservatives and live at altitudes with little air pollution. They respect their elders who are actively engaged in their 100s and harp on good human relations over the pursuit of riches.

They live in extended families from the cradle to the grave. They enjoy regular sex even at 100.

All these point to the fact that the healthiest life is the one with as much naturalness as possible.

The further we go from nature, from what’s natural, the less healthy we become.

As regards activity, the more occupied we are the better it is for us. That’s why the person whose job is sedentary must set me aside for regular exercise which need never be over the top.

With exercise there can be as much as 10 percent of improved physical

function in the young. In the old it can make as much as a difference of 50 percent.

Exercise, performed on a regular basis can fulfil the anti-ageing functions of regulating weight, joint mobility, flexibility,

strengthening of the skeletal system and strengthening of the heart.

Exercise improves the blood circulation and this in turn brings extra nutrients to the surface of the skin, increasing the collagen content to make it thicker and more flexible.

Apart from the above, exercise also helps lower

blood pressure, cuts down on the risk of heart attack, stroke, arthritis and depression.

I suppose if we all become very aware of how serious we need to include exercise in the life on account of the many serious conditions we can side-step if we practise, we should be able to summon up the discipline to exercise consistently.

Below are some Yoga postures to practise.

DEEP KNEE BEND (Supine) Technique Sit down in between both heels. Lower the trunk down, first on one elbow then the other and gently ease the whole trunk flat down with the hands by the sides. Breathe normally. Stay in the posture for about 10 - 15 seconds. A variant of the posture is to keep the trunk erect.

Benefits:

Heels-to-Crotch Pose

The deep kneebend banishes stiffness in the hips, knes and ankles keeping those areas well lubricated.

HEELS TO CROTCH Technique: Sitting down with the feet extended in front of you, draw the knees and place the legs flat down on the floor with the feet touching each other and the heels as close to the crotch as can be. Form a ring around the big toes with the forefinger and thumb and then lower the trunk. A variant of the posture is to keep the trunk erect.

Benefits: The posture tones u p the muscles of the legs and it is also said to improve manly vigour.

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

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

P AGE 24 — SUND AY Vanguard, MA Y 17, 2015 SUNDA MAY

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 08056180152, SMS only

It’s not how much you weigh,but how active you are

T

he strikes against being fat are a bit intimidating. It makes you more susceptible to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes – the list is endless, giving way to what victims now tag ‘fat feat’. Experts say that being obese is worse than smoking, heavy drinking or poverty. They ’ve even called it the most serous threat to the future health of the nation’. Aren’t they being over dramatic? Is there a glimmer of hope?

Thank goodness there is and if you’re battling a weight problem, it will cheer you up to know that a ‘ recent experiment shows that the key to health may not be how much we weigh, but how active we are. Some medical experts recently studied a group of obese women for more than a year. At the start of the project, some were so unfit, they couldn’t even climb flight of stairs.

According to their findings, 62 women, aged between 24 and 55, all had a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 – making them clinically obese. The researchers told them they could eat whatever they wanted – they didn’t have to count calories or ban particular foods.

Even chocolate was allowed. But they were asked to have smaller helpings and stop when they felt full. More significantly though, the women had to exercise for four hours a week, undertaking a range of activities from swimming,aerobics, to tát chi. At the end of the study, the women had only lost a few pounds in weight but they showed a great improvement in their well being. Their blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol levels had

fallen, and their respiratory fitness increased – cutting the women’s risk of heart attacks and strikes. And not only were they healthier, they felt happy too. Exercise psychologist, Dr. Erika Borkoles, who led the study, said that even very heavy people can get filler. She explains: “At the beginning, a few of the women could hardly walk.

Like babies, they had to learn how to move. One woman started by lifting one kilogramme weights while sitting down or walking around for two minutes at a time. One woman decided to set a timer when she was watching TV at home.

Every half hour when it went off she got up and walked into every room in the house.

“Could this help others who are deterred fro taking an exercise because of their weight?”

Any movement is good.

Start small – get up to change the TV channel instead of using the

Y

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

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

TRUE LOVE,

True love passes all understanding.

True love expresses loyalty.

True love hurts but can learn how to mend.

True love dreams the highest dreams.

remote control. You’ll become stronger and more flexible. Size isn’t all important if you’re fit.

If someone is very big, their behaviour is also important if they try to be healthy by exercising, that is better than being small and unfit. In other words, physical fitness is a better indicator of health than weight. Findings have shown that people with BMI of 30 or higher who did moderate physical activity had half the mortality rate of those who were a `healthy ’ weight but never exercised.

How has body fat come to be regarded as a serious health hazard? Borkoles points out that for centuries, many people regarded thinness as a mark of sickness, while bigger waist line showed that you could afford to eat well and was regarded as a sign of affluence. Only, in many countries, curves went out of fashion in the 20th Centur y. She also

questions the wisdom of using BMI to judge normal weight. According to doctors, a BMI calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres square – of 18 to 25 is ideal. People with large bones or well-developed muscles are often heavier than people of the same height with light bones.

This makes nonsense of saying that a BMI of 25 is ideal for everyone. “Being over-weight isn’t an illness”, she says.

“Predicting what diseases people may get based purely on what they weigh is a mug’s game”.

High heels more than 3 ½ in could prematurely age your joints Plenty of women are happy to ensure a few hours of suffering if it means wearing stylist stilettos. But they are also putting themselves at risk of serious long-term pain, scientists have warned. A study has found that wearing heels – even those measuring a relatively

True love waits until the stars visit the day.

True love seeks good for the other.

True love lends forgiveness.

True love cries but washes away the pains.

True love makes an ignorant boy a mature man.

True love softens the heart of a girl to a nurtured woman.

True love never lies.

True love loves a person until forever.

True love sees love even though the hair is grey And most of all...TRUE LOVE never breaks promises, until the vow has been done!

CHRIS ONUNAKU 08032988826,08184844015

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

The only thing that is constant in life is change, but it is practically impossible for me to change my

modest three and a half inches – puts women in danger of debilitating arthritis in years to come.

The research found that walking in heels at this height causes changes to gait similar to those seen in ageing and arthritic knees. It could help explain why osteoarthristis is twice as common in women as men. The researchers said: ‘Because women and men are observed to have similar knee biomechanics during barefoot walking, gender differences in footwear, specifically high-heeled shoes, have been implicated as a possible factor for the higher incidence of osteoarthritis in women.

Osteo-arthritis is the most common form of the disorder and is caused by wear and tear of cartilage that helps our joints take the strain of bending, lifting, gripping and kneeling. Stiff, swollen and painful joints can make walking difficult, with stairs particularly tricky. The researchers from Stanford University in California studied the gait of 14 women as they walked in different types of shoes, from flat trainers to heels measuring 8.3cm (three and a quarter inches).

The higher the heels were, the more their gait – including the movement of their knees -changed.

Writing in the Journal of Orthopaedic research, the scientists said that being overweight may make it even worse.

Researcher Dr. Constance Chu said: ‘Putting on high heels changes how women walk in a way that places similar stress across the knees seen in the people with knee osteo-arthritis.

These effects were greater

with higher heels and an increase in body weight’.

She said that if women want to avoid knee pain, they can still wear a heel – as long as it is below 2in.

‘For healthier knees, stay fit and wear flats of heels less than 2in’.

Other recent research has shown that when a woman slips on a pair of heels, it takes just over an hour on average for her feet to start to hurt. The survey, for the College of Podiatry, also found that women are three times as likely as men to cram their feet into uncomfortable shows – and that as a result,nine out of ten have suffered problems such as bunions, corns, sprains, and strains.

But it’s not all bad news – studies have also shown that men are more likely to help a woman wearing heels than one in flats.

Just like a man!

(Humour) A young man and a beautiful young woman answered the wanted ad for a lion tamer and went along to the circus for their interviews. “Let me warn you”, said the circus owner, “that this lion is uncontrollable. The last six tamers have quit on me, so I don’t hold out much hope”.

The woman went into the cage and faced the wild beast. He growled menacingly and walked towards her, but as he got close she undid her coat to reveal a stunning naked body underneath. The lion was immediately silenced.

He crawled up to her, licked her legs and laid his head on the feet. The circus owner was astonished. He turned to the man and said, “can you do better than that?”. “just let me show you, said the man, “but first get rid of the lion”.

love for you. In fact, if I am to die and resurrect again, I will still love you again, again and again Akachukwu Ferdinand 08063819314, akachukwuferdinandc@yahoo.comJoe Onwukeme, 08036412930, Imo State Josephonwukeme@gmail.com

LOVE IS CARING

Love is a magician. it takes a minute to say ''I LOVE YOU'' but it takes years to prove how much you mean about what you said. Love is like a 'broken plate', it should be handled with care and taken very good care of so that it won't break,because if it gets broken, it hurts and more over it really makes the mind and heart have a wrong sense about love. Love is a game of luck, it either you dance to the right tune or you get down with a broken heart..

CHARLES CHIDUBEM OGBONNA 08169186581

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 25

AFTER SIS TER’S BURIAL …

SISTER’S

Poly student goes missing mysteriously on way to school •Family accuses the police of dragging foot on case •Boyfriend, suspect, on the run

By Esther Onyegbula

W

hen family members and friends of the Omonojos gathered to pay their last respects to one of their own, Yomi, who passed on months ago, little did they know that something sinister was about to happen.

Regrettably it did. Folake, the deceased’s younger sister who had also come home to witness the burial of Yomi, suddenly disappeared.

It was gathered that 31year-old Folake Omonojo, a higher national diploma, HND, student in the marketing department of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, returned home from school to attend the burial of her elder sister on October 13, 2014, at their house in Ikorodu, Lagos.

After the burial, which ended at about 2pm, Folake decided to go back to school because she had exams the next day.

That was the last time the family ever saw or heard from her. Her mother and other family members, who expected her call to inform that she had arrived school safely, began to get worried when they didn’t hear from her. They called her two lines severally but the phones were switched off.

C M Y K

Mrs Jumoke OmonojoAnimashun, who spoke on behalf of the family, told Sunday Vanguard, “Folake left home around 5pm for school after the burial of my late sister, because she had exams the next day. After waiting for several hours waiting for her call, we started calling her but her lines were switched off. At a point, my mother felt we were unable to reach Folake, maybe because her phones had flat batteries, and that she would call the next day when she must have charged her phones. The next day, we kept calling, still her phones were switched off.”

Trouble, as gathered, began at about 11 am the next day when the family received a call from a woman in Ibadan who claimed to have seen a bag in front of her shop along Iwo Road containing personal effects and a student identity card with the name Folake Omonojo.

Mrs. Omonojo Animashun continued; “The woman said she saw the bag when she wanted to open her shop. She said when she opened it, she saw a diary. It was inside the diary that she saw the phone number of my sister ’s friend.

She eventually called the phone number she saw on the

Folake...still missing

dairy. The receiver of the call then gave her my aunt’s (Mrs. Aduni ) number. Mrs. Aduni runs a beer palour in Ikorodu, Lagos and my sister ’s friend is a regular customer according to the information.

“After Aduni called to inform us, we called the woman who called us from

Trouble, as gathered, began at about 11 am the next day when the family received a call from a woman in Ibadan who claimed to have seen a bag in front of her shop along Iwo Road containing personal effects and a student identity card with the name Folake Omonojo

Ibadan to inform her that we were coming to pick the bag.

She said no problem. When we got to Ibadan, we called her, she refused to pick her calls. Finally when she did, she said she could not come out because it seemed like we wanted to implicate her.

She said we should not call her again and that she doesn’t want any trouble.

We pleaded with her to, at least, take the bag somewhere and tell us where she left the bag even if she didn’t want us to see her.

She said no, we should not call her again and then her line went off. We tried her line several times before we left Ibadan, it was switched o f f. I t w a s m y m u m m y ’ s younger sister, my husband and I who went to Ibadan.

“After we met that brick wall, we started analysing the scenario. Iwo Road is close to her school area. In fact, whenever Folake was going to school from Lagos, Iwo Road was the last bus stop to board a bus or a bike to her school hostel. So, after the woman did not pick her calls, we went to Oyo State Police Command at Ileyi to report the case. They radioed other divisions and Area Commands. Later, the officers directed us to the

Police Area Command close to Iwo Road. When we got there, we were asked to write statement and the police took the woman’s number and called her. She didn’t pick. They sent her a text message and then she called them back. When she called, she told the police that on her way to the office in the morning, she saw people gathered, looking at a bag and she went close to them and asked what they were looking for. It was then she saw the Ibadan Polytechnic identity card. It was the identity card that made her to look inside the bag and saw a diary which she used to call. According to her, she helped because she finished from the polytechnic. But the story she told the police is quite different from the one she told us. The officer asked her where she lives in Ibadan, she told them.

“Since then, we have not heard anything from Folake.

Her phones are switched off.

Even her friends in Ibadan and room-mate said they didn’t see her come back. At a point, some of her friends in school alleged that one Toyin, who was dating my

Continues on page 26

PAGE 26—SUNDAY

Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

People believed I was not my father's son – Hon. Osagie, House of Reps Minority Whip

By Simon Ebegbulem The House of Representative Minority Whip, Hon. Samson Raphael Osagie, in this tribute, says many people believed he was not the son of his late father because circumstances for him to change his surname while in primary school. Osagie tells his story:

I

have waited to tell this story for a long time but no time is more appropriate than now when it has pleased God Almighty to call home the man through whom He brought me to life. My dad, Samson Aghariagbonse Imarhiagbe Ogbewe, a hard worker and a disciplinarian, passed on to eternal glory on 4th April, 2015.He will be buried at his hometown, Urhokuosa, Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Edo State on the 7th of April, 2015.““At age six when I was set to start primary one, my mum, Mrs Rose Ogbewe, told me, 'When you get to school, tell them your name is Osagie and your father's name is Ogbewe'. So I registered as Osagie Ogbewe in primary one. But as I progressed to primary three from primary two, I continued to suffer in the hands of my school mates who would mock me by reason of my surname. Literarily, Ogbewe means 'a family that is bubbling with so many children' but my colleagues in school would prefer to twist the meaning to 'the one who kills goat' as 'ewe' means goat.“Not prepared as a young lad to continue to receive this constant embarrassment, I decided to approach my

mum again with whom I lived at a very early stage as my dad was engaged in the civil war on the Nigerian side. My mum suggested that since my dad's name was Samson Ogbewe, I could also bear Samson. So I became Osagie Samson. I had peace and respite from my peers in school. “It was while trying to enrol for the West Africa School Certificate Examination that the authorities on their own took Osagie to be my surname. However, my dad was quite pleased as his first son was bearing his first name. ““After obtaining ordinary and advanced levels certificates, I became a teacher at our community secondary school where many of my father's children were students.

Having discovered that I had missed bearing my family ’s name, I decided that my siblings will not make a similar mistake. I decided to change their surname to Imarhiagbe, my grand father ’s name, which was not made known to me at an early age.““However, I tried hard to change my surname as a student in the Department of Philosophy, Obafemi Awolowo University Ife without success. As I entered public service, my dad used to tell me that people used to argue with him that he was not my father on account of my surname, and that he will just laugh at their ignorance and walk away as he didn't feel it was important trying to convince anyone about it. He will usually say Osagie my son knows his father. That was true. He was my dad. This is the story. I am the first son and child of the late Samson Aghariagbonse Imarhiagbe Ogbewe. Now that you have gone, Adieu papa until we meet to part no more.

Poly student goes missing mysteriously Continued from page 25 sister, could be responsible f o r h e r w h e r e a b o u t s . We received information that Toyin usually come around to visit her in her hostel but since the incident happened, he has not come t o a s k o f h e r. I g o t h i s details and called him. He said he knows my sister but denied calling or communicating with her on October 13, 2014. Toyin said he didn’t know she was coming to Ibadan. But his call was among the call logs retrieved by detectives from my sister ’s phone log on October 13, 2014.

“I also called the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, in- charge of the case and gave him details of Toyin and they said they will go for him. But the third day, they called us and said the guy has moved out from where he was residing.

They promised to reinvestigate the case very well but never did. Right now, we don’t know whether the police are lying that the guy has moved or not. We have gone to the Lagos State Criminal Investigations Department, Panti. It was there we paid N65, 000 to do the call history.

“She was studying marketing, she was in HND 2; she was married before, but divorced. It was after she divorced that she went back for her HND program. She is the fourth child in the family of five. Our father is late but my mum, 63, is still alive. It hasn’t been easy for

Folake...still missing seven months after

my mother, losing two grown up children on the same day. At this point she believes that it is only God that can intervene. Apart from going to the police, we have gone to prayer houses, churches and we were told that she is still alive but she is very far from Lagos. The worst part is the terrible experience we had with pastors and owners of prayer houses who duped us in the process. There was a particular place we went to in Badagry, the pastor, after collecting money, assured us that we will find my sister in less than two weeks. But, it has been several months.

And we have spent over N300,000 both in the police and prayer houses.”

Isoko HOSTCOM rejects bill to scrap DESOPADEC

T

HE oil producing com munities in Isoko king dom have rejected the proposed bill by the outgoing governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to scrap the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC. Comrade Morrister Idibra, chairman of Host Communities of Nigeria Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Isoko chapter, in a statement yesterday in Warri, advised oil bearing communities and the general public to disregard misleading publication on oil production quantum by the various ethnic nationalities.

Idibra, said “at the appropriate time we shall discuss pro-

duction quantum by the various ethnic nationalities based on facts from the government and relevant authorities and not from any individual who is trying to cause disharmony among the ethnic nationalities of HOSTCOM”.

According him, “HOSTCOM and all the stakeholders have rejected the ill-conceived bill to scrap DESOPADEC, because it was never in the interest of the oil producing communities”.

He also commended members of the Delta State House of Assembly for not passing the bill, describing them as “ patriotic and true representatives of the people, particularly the oil producing communities”

•Osagie

Onuesoke faults Emerhor on Uduaghan D

elta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) c hieftain, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has condemned the state All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2015 general elections, Chief O’tega Emerhor’s statement faulting Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s position on the voting pattern in South-South and South-East.

Emerhor had vehemently disagreed with Uduaghan’s statement that the people of South-South and South-East voted 90 per cent for the PDP, while the rest in those zones voted for the APC. He ascribed PDP electoral success in those two zones to systematic rigging.

Responding to the Emerhor claim, while addressing the media at Osubi airport, Warri, Delta State, Onuesoke argued that Uduaghan’s analysis could not be faulted as the PDP has more voters strength in Delta like other states in the South-South and South-East while “evidence showed that APC did not have structures and as such was not expected to win election in these areas”.

According to him, the reason APC won election in SouthWest and the North is because the party has structure in those areas. The PDP chief added that the issue of rigging election as claimed by Emerhor should not come in.

•Gov Uduaghan

He argued that Emerhor’s argument that PDP rigged election in the South-South and South East is a fallacy as the reverse is the case for the APC in the South-West and the North, pointing out that what Uduaghan had said about the voting pattern in the general elections is the true situation of things.

“I wonder why Emerhor is castigating Uduaghan on this issue. It is a fact that the voting trend in the general elections saw PDP winning SouthSouth and South-East zones, while APC won the North and South-West zones as explained by Uduaghan. This pattern of voting is shown in the presidential, governorship and National Assembly polls”.

Onuesoke maintained that If PDP rigged the elections in those zones as claimed by Emerhor, the pattern of voting in the presidential election would have been different from that of the National Assembly.

“In Delta, it is a fact that APC, which Emerhor represents, does not have any structure; so there is no way he would have expected his party to win any seat in the state,” Onuesoke noted.

He advised Emerhor to accept defeat or go to the electoral tribunal instead of making false accusation.

•Onuesoke

•Emerhor

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 27

Cultists murder of two Benin mothers draws the ire of IGP SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

H

aving been confirmed as the substantive Inspector General of Police by the Police Service Commission, Mr Solomon Arase, took the bull by the horn, last Wednesday, when he deployed a crack team of detectives from Abuja to his native Edo State to check the excesses of rampaging cultists.

Over 15 persons including two mothers were shot dead in the last one month in Benin City, the state capital, following the war between the Eiye, Manfiat and the Black Axe confraternities. The IGP and Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Sunday Vanguard gathered, were particularly furious over the last week killing of two mothers by cultists. The armed men were said to have stormed Virginia Junction, by Murtala Muhammed Way Benin City, at about 8pm, in search of their target said to be a 25-yearold boy. They were said to have gone to the store belonging to the mother of their target but when they queried the woman about the whereabouts of the son, she was said to have told them that she had not set her eyes on him for over two weeks. The armed men were said to have gone to the residence of the boy and found him at home. They shot their target dead. Angered that the mother lied to them, they went back to the woman’s shop and killed her.

A similar incident happened at New Benin area, where gunmen shot the mother when they could not find their target at home. Eye witnesses said the victim was shot in the eyes and died immediately before the suspected cultists escaped.

Oshiomhole, on short vacation abroad when the killings were going on, arrived the state a sad man. He met with the Commissioner of Police, Mr Samuel Adegboye, and other security chiefs in the state and tasked them to fish out the killers.

The governor was said to have discussed the issue with the new IGP, where he assured that the Edo government will give all necessary assistance to curb the activities of cultists in the state.

The activities of the cultists crippled economic activities in Benin City as people no longer patronize bars and restaurants at night, fearing that the cultists may come at any time.

But last Wednesday, over one thousand detectives arrived Benin-City from Abuja on the orders of the IGP, with the mission to hunt for the cultists no matter where they might be. Four officials of the state government are currently being investigated in Abuja. The arrival of the detectives, stationed at strategic places in the city, instilled fear in the cultists as some of them

* IGP Arase were said to have fled to neighbouring states. While this was on going, the Edo police arrested about 30 persons alleged to be students of the Auchi Polytechnic during an initiation ceremony. A young girl was said to have died from stray bullet

from the bush during the initiation. Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Henry Idahagbon, lamented frustrations in the course of prosecuting suspected cultists, noting that the suspects were having a field day because of lack of effective prosecution.

Idahagbon, reacting to the call by some youths in the state for a law proscribing death sentence for suspected cultists, said the problem was not the penalty but enforcing the law and effective prosecution.

Reacting to the arrest of four Edo officials by the police over killings, the state government said any of its officials involved in cultism should be prosecuted. While expressing shock over the arrest of the officials by the police team from Abuja for alleged involvement in cultism, the state government stated that if will cooperate with security agencies on investigation. In a statement signed by the Edo State Commissioner for Information

and Orientation, Mr Louis Odion, it said: “The reports came as a big shock to us.

While it is inappropriate to jump to conclusion until police investigations were concluded, let me put on record that cultism in whatever form negates the values Comrade Adams Oshiomhole holds dear. This is easily verifiable from his zero tolerance against thuggery and any form of political violence over the years. If found guilty, be assured that the rule of law prevails against officials involved. We encourage members of the public to cooperate with the police to root out cultism from our neighbourhoods and communities”.

Also speaking, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Idahagbon, commended the move made by the IGP in fighting cultism in the state, saying: “These killings must stop in our state”.

Nigerian heads w orld opt ome tr world optome ometr tryy body •Delta optometrists hold devt course

D

elta State Chapter of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) held her continuing professional development course in Asaba, the state capital. The course, held under the theme, “Preserving the rights and dignity of the Optometric Profession”, had optometrists from different parts of the country in attendance.

Earlier, the Chairman of the association, Dr (Mrs) Helen Lucky-Udi, led a delegation on a courtesy call on the Permanent Secretary, Delta State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. (Mrs) Minnie Oseji, during which visual acuity charts were presented to her.

The Permanent Secretary thanked the association for her kind gesture and promised to put the items to good use.

NOA also held her Western summit in Asaba.

The summit, presided over by

*Participants during the course the Vice President West, Dr. Norris Ovili, had the Chairmen and Secretaries of the association in the Western part of the country including Edo and Delta states in attendance.

The President of the NOA, Dr. Damian Echendu, in a goodwill message at the occasion, delivered by the Vice President

West, urged members to continue to distinguish themselves in practice and in the society.

He informed that a past President of the association, Dr. Uduak Udom, shall assume office as President of the World Council of Optometry at a meeting in Medellin Columbia from 14th to 16th August, 2015.

Cocoa Revolution:

Ondo Wins London Chocolate Award

BY YINKA AJAYI

T

he Cocoa Revolution Project of Ondo State government has received a boost with its product clinching the Chocolate Silver Award at the just concluded Academy of Chocolate Awards in London.

According to a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, Governor Olusegun Mimiko was represented at the award presentation, where the state’s 70% chocolate bar won in the silver category, by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Engineer Ademola Olorunfemi.

The award ceremony, which took place at the Fortnum &Mason Piccadilly, London, attracted major cocoa/chocolate and confectionary industry stakeholders across the globe.

Ondo State was mentioned at the event as the only chocolate award winner from West Africa, which produces 75% of global cocoa bean output.

The Academy of Chocolate Awards, now taking place for the 7th time, is a highly anticipated event in the international chocolate calendar. The 2015 Awards received a record number of entries with over 500 products. As a result, more judges were involved in the jury panel and the judging, which took place at Westminster Kingsway College, was extended to five days. Chaired by globally respected wine expert, Charles Metcalfe, judges included chocolate experts and buyers, pastry chefs, food professionals and food journalists.

A Washington DC based outfit, SPAGnVOLA, earlier in the year, presented the Ondo chocolate bar for the competition.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Ondo State Cocoa Revolution Implementation Committee, Dr Jibayo Oyebade, said the cocoa produced in the state for chocolate production had received world certification and recognition.

Oyebade told newsmen in Akure that the product had been presented to the partnering firm overseas, Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate firm, Netherland.

L-R: The Principal, Grace High School, Mr Ronald Cilliers; the Director, Oxbridge Tutorial College, GRA, Ikeja, Dr (Mrs ) Femi Ogunsanya; The Administrator, Grace Schools, Mrs Olatokunbo Edun; Professor Kayode Amund of the University of Lagos, at the 20th prize giving / founder’s day of Grace High School.

Dr Femi Ogunsanya was the Chairperson at the occasion while Amund was the special guest of honor.

Page 28—SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

By Victor Gotevbe & Victoria Ojeme

H

ans-Rudolf Hodel, Ambassador, Embassy of Switzerland to Nigeria, Chad and Niger, speaks on the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and his country.

Switzerland is one of the most politically and economically stable countries in the world. Also, reports of violent crimes emanating from your country are almost nonexistent. What is your secret and what can Nigeria learn from your country?

I don’t think there are secrets to Switzerland’s stability because everybody can see what we do.

Think of what happened in Tunisia yesterday-no country is immune to such an event. I mean look at what happened in Norway when one silly person started shooting in the parliament- no one is really safe from such things, but I think there is something peculiar to Switzerland: the participation of the population in political and economic decisions. For instance, no matter your position, you have to pay taxes like everybody else. We are certain about our taxes, and if you want to raise taxes you must have good arguments for it. Another point is the sentiment of the state being not our enemy (like what I have observed in many countries), that the state being us, ourselves even when I spend my money I always think this is tax payer’s money and I am a tax payer myself and we have to make sure that this money is used in the best way possible. For instance, when I go on official trip I fly economy class because I think it is my tax-payers’ money and with that money I can make more intelligent things than just to have the opportunity to fly business class. Or when I make invitations at my house, it is my taxpayers’ money so I invite people who are interested in our bilateral relations, who are interested from Switzerland, from Nigeria and not just colleagues to have free dinner and drinks. This is probably an attitude which is rather uncommon.

Another element could be (and this is also the case for Nigeria) that we don’t have a common religion, we don’t have a common language, we don’t have a common political idea; what makes Switzerland a country is the will of the population to form one country together. The German speakers never wanted to be part of Germany, the French speakers never wanted to be part of France, the Italian speakers never wanted to be part of Italy, we choose to be together; that is probably the only thing we have in common; the will to form a country that brings us together.

With oil glut, we will like to know if there is any volume of non-oil trade between Switzerland and Nigeria.

Zero! I mean one percent probably. It is a pity because I travel a lot in Nigeria and I am probably the most travelled ambassador here and I see a lot of land which can be used for agriculture and also a high population of youths which can yield the building of industries, but Nigeria as a country doesn’t export much of non-oil products. It is not as if we don’t want it, but there is little possibility because there is not much that we could buy from Nigeria if it is not oil. I think 90 percent of Nigeria’s export is oil and

ILLICIT FUNDS

How we tracked $700m Abacha loot – Swiss Ambassador Hodel

•Sheds light on repatriation pact to ensure cash was not relooted •‘Our new rules to stop criminal monies from entering Switzerland banks’ •Speaks on his countr y’s migr ation par tner ship with Nigeria, the Swiss migration partner tnership country’s premium watches 60 percent of the state income is also from oil; so I think Nigeria should try to change its export structure and we will adapt and import from what you offer.

Does Nigeria actually import from Switzerland?

Yes but much less than your export. I think our export is around 200 million dollars a year and our import is about 800 million a year from Nigeria, the bilateral ones. Our export is a bit more of varietiesmostly machineries, pharmaceuticals, few chemicals, and consumables-which is not much because Nigerians prefer to buy their Swiss watches in Switzerland and not Nigeria and then they are sure they are real Swiss watches. The volume of oil import from Nigeria which I said earlier is 800 million dollars. The

export last year was 240 million dollars and, by the way, we don’t have euro but actually everything is the same, the dollar to the Swiss franc is about 99 cents and euro to the Swiss franc is about 106 so Swiss franc, euro and dollars are almost the same actually; just slight differences.

For decades, Swiss pharmaceutical companies manufactured and shipped high quality drugs to Nigeria.

In recent years, some of these drugs have been known to have been counterfeited in some Asian countries and shipped to Nigeria leading to avoidable deaths. Could the Swiss authorities and pharmaceutical companies have done more to help stop these counterfeit drugs from reaching Nigeria?

Nigeria should try to change its export structure and we will adapt and import from what you offer

What we try to do is to work with the countries where such drugs are produced so that they don’t allow their companies to produce counterfeit drugs. When it comes to Nigeria, of course it is not us that have to check your imports, it is the Nigerian authorities who have to make sure that no fake drugs are imported; Swiss police and Customs can’t be at your borders, it is Nigerians that have to do that.

But of course we have good relationship with the authorities of Nigeria; we are presently working with the food and drug authorities, we have exchanged views and they have asked us about our products and it is definitely a good cooperation. But at the borders, it has to be a Nigerian affair. We can’t put ourselves in the internal affairs of Nigeria. Our cooperation is

Continues on page 29

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, Page 29

Continued from page 28 that. But of course we have good relationship with the authorities of Nigeria; we are presently working with the food and drug authorities, we have exchanged views and they have asked us about our products and it is definitely a good cooperation. But at the borders, it has to be a Nigerian affair. We can’t put ourselves in the internal affairs of Nigeria.

Our cooperation is purely advisory and not on the really hard intervention side.

residency permits, most of whom are doing decent jobs in universities, simple jobs, etc and one third do not have legal status in Switzerland, so they are seeking asylum with no real good reasons often. A few ones of course are criminals but we have criminals in all nations. The crimes mostly, relate to drug dealings and 419 but we try to convince people that only a few Nigerians are criminals because Nigeria has bad reputation in many places all over the world which is not correct.

The late Dr. Myles Munroe, in his book, cited the fall of the Swiss wrist watch industry. Growing up with memories of the wrist watches, they were almost synonymous with Switzerland. And you are also known for your premium watches and knives. Has Switzerland yielded ground to Asian knockoffs in these two areas?

Let’s talk first about the knives from China and other Asian countries. It is the same problem you are encountering with drugs but people who want the original ones buy good quality and they have the best value for their money. The problem they have is that they sell much less in the airports because, when you are travelling by air, you are not allowed to carry such things in your suitcase. Coming to watches, they are doing very well; some Asian watch companies from Japan and China have competed with us because they produce the cheap ones and we produce the premium ones and, in the more economical field, we are also very successful with the very famous prime Swatch. We have managed to produce watches for a low cost 100 percent Swiss because they have fewer components that make them cheaper but they are of good quality. There was a moment when electronic watches came out and everyone wanted to buy electronic since Swiss traditionally produces mechanical watches. However, we had to work on it and, in 1982, Nicolas Hayek, a Swiss engineer, had the idea of creating Swatch and that was when again the Swiss watches became very competitive at the high end. We consider middle class watches from 500 to 2,000, 3,000 dollars and high end is 5,000 to no limit because we have watches with diamonds; that is why I said there is no limit but the watches that sell a lot are from 5,000 to 20,000 dollars.

How much has the Swiss government repatriated to Nigeria from Abacha’s loot?

700 million dollars but that was 10 years ago.

It has been reported that your government is keen on modifying your banking secrecy laws in order to discourage politically exposed persons from depositing illicit funds in your country. What is the status of these intended modifications and to what extent will these modifications help countries like Nigeria identify and retrieve illicit funds deposited in your country by politically exposed persons?

Of course there are two things; one is the criminal money and the other is the money of politically exposed persons. In general, the policy in Switzerland has changed a lot and I am very happy about that because our banking secrecy was much disputed. We always said it was the problem of the country where these people lived; it was not our problem. If people come and deposit money and the bank can accept that money except there is a criminal process in the transaction, then we incorporate the authorities, but this has changed very much. Now banking secrecy doesn’t exist anymore for foreigners, it continues to exist for Swiss people so the Swiss tax authorities can’t ask our banks questions, but I also believe this will change with the coming on stream of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and other international organisations, so there will be automatic exchange of C M Y K

How many Nigerians are serving jail terms in Switzerland?

I don’t have that figure. But they are not many because for those who have illegal status, we have migration agreement with Nigeria. We offer a lot to Nigeria and one small element in that agreement is that illegal persons who didn’t commit crime in Switzerland can go home with an initiative that they can get help to start businesses in Nigeria and very few will not want to go home but they have to go home.

•Hodel flanked by the Vanguard team.

‘Our new rules to stop criminal monies from entering Switzerland banks’ information. Now when it comes to criminal monies, the Swiss banks are no longer interested in such monies and, when you want to deposit such monies before, you will just have to prove the monies are yours, but now you will have to prove that you have earned the monies in a legal way. Of course if you deposit 200 dollars and you are a journalist, we say as a journalist you can have such money. But if you want to deposit 2 million dollars as a journalist, you have to prove that you earned that money or inherited it or you did a super job because normally a journalist doesn’t have 2 million dollars. Yes, some journalists are rich but they can prove that they got the money in a legitimate way. This has changed completely and, of course, there is legal assistance in some cases. For instance, a journalist has effectively deposited his money and then it turns out that not everything was legal. A country where criminal prudery is going on, we can ask for legal assistance and help the authorities to clarify these things and eventually return the money. For the politically exposed persons also, we have new rules- we don’t want those monies anymore. Of course it becomes complicated because if you are a head of state and you go to a country, there is also the respect. You can’t tell a president he is a criminal; even if you ask for confirmation from his minister of finance, the minister of commerce and so on, all will sign that he is a very good president and his money is legal, but as soon as he ceases to be president, things might change. People may find out that it was not that legal and those who signed for him also participated in all the illegality, and back then, countries that wanted such monies returned had to prove that the monies deposited in the Swiss banks were truly illegal. Now a head of state or even a former head of state has to prove that his monies are legally acquired, which, of course, is much more difficult. By the way, Switzerland is the country that has returned more illegal monies from former heads of state than any other country in the world that were deposited in its banks; 2.5 billion dollars returned. In the Abacha case, it was also like this-the Nigerian authorities said they had the inking that Abacha had stolen monies

from Nigeria, so the Swiss authorities informed all the banks if they had any account belonging to Abacha and they all returned such monies which amounted to 700 million dollars. The Nigerian government asked that the monies be returned and we did. We said the monies will be given back to the people; so there was a repatriation agreement between the World Bank and the Swiss government that the monies will be used for projects in the interest of the population and not just sent to the account of the new government which was done and there was a report on that. Of course such agreement is difficult because the Swiss government can’t tell the Nigerian government how to use their monies, but we filed an agreement that they will go to the budget of the state for infrastructure like schools, roads and drugs and the World Bank confirmed it.

Aside telling Nigerians how to channel the Abacha loot, was there any follow up from the Swiss government to ensure what could be done?

We can try to do as much as possible, which is acceptable in the field of good relationship between two countries, and you know I can’t go to the finance minister and tell her to build this and that school because these are Nigerian monies. As Swiss authorities, we can’t tell Nigerian government what to do with the monies which belong to Nigerians, but we convinced them not to put them in bank accounts or private properties, we convinced them to use the monies for projects in the interest of the population and, of course, when it comes to details, we can’t follow every naira.

What is the population of Nigerians living in Switzerland?

2,355 Nigerians live in Switzerland.

What are the most common crimes committed by Nigerians in Switzerland?

I think the question you should ask me is what these Nigerians are doing in Switzerland and not the crimes they commit. We have three categories; one third of them have dual citizenship, so they are also Swiss. To us, they are Swiss and many probably see them as Swiss too.

Then we have about one third with

What area do you think Switzerland should improve in the relationship with Nigeria?

We have very good relationship. We have a very good migration partnership with Nigeria and we can indirectly try to promote investment in Nigeria; so if there is more investment, Nigerians will get better jobs and will not have to migrate to Europe or the United States. We could improve business relationship because very few Swiss companies are in Nigeria; some are already successful like Nestle but others could come. We organise business trips and Swiss companies are coming. They know there is a high risk in coming to Nigeria business wise and they also know that if you are successful you will make a lot of profit. But many people are afraid to come because of the bad news they hear about Nigeria. We try to convince people not to read only the bad news but also the good things about Nigeria because the media prefers to write negative things than positive things and it is the same with the European media. In Europe, if you ask about Nigeria, most people will say Nigeria is Boko Haram. Do you think Nigeria is just Boko Haram? No, it is much more than that; so we try to improve the image of Nigeria. We cooperate in the human rights field. Switzerland is one of the countries that value human rights a lot and we think that there are some international standards which should be respected everywhere. We have very interesting discussions, for instance, when it comes to death penalty, and even in Nigeria there are interesting discussions between the federal and state governments and we contribute in that discussion. Then there are areas where Western countries and African countries don’t agree- when it comes to gay questions, we can’t discuss that now because we know that there is no possibility for us to come closer in such field. We also have political dialogue with Nigeria which is very important along with human rights dialogue and we don’t go public with such things because it is not necessary for the media. Some countries do that but we don’t.

How many of your citizens are living and working in Nigeria?

About 200 but the bosses of the Swiss companies, with a few exception, are not Swiss.

Apart from Nestle, which other companies does Switzerland have in Nigeria?

Syngenta Agriculture is very active here as well as ABB which is in charge of Mikano generators. We can also be very helpful in tourism in Nigeria, that is a sector we can help develop in Nigeria and share experiences; we can improve on the

PAGE 30—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015

Leading blogger es out daught er blogger,, Jimi Disu, giv gives daughter in marriage t was a sing-song all

I

.

From left: Mrs Iyabode Eke, Mr Jimi Disu, the couple, Mrs Abiodun Disu, and Mr. Bankole Eke.

the way for the family of Jimi Disu, veteran journalist, media content provider and blogger as they rolled out drums for the wedding of their daughter, Oluwatobi, who was swept off her feet by Babatunde Eke, son of Mr Bankole Eke. The couple took their vows at RCCG, Olatunde Onimole, Surulere, and proceeded to Event Centre NAPTIN , also in Surulere, for the reception. Many notable Nigerians graced the occasion. Photos by Kehinde Gbadamosi.

UNIBEN’s V C’s VC’s daughter weds

I

t was a gathering of who is who in the society last weekend, when Sheila Orumwense, the daughter of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Faraday Orunmwense, married her heart-throb, Franklin Egbule, in Benin City. The couple took the nuptial vows at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Benin-City.

The couple: Dr. Frankline and Mrs. Sheila Egbule.

From left: Chief Akin Disu, Ademuyiwa Adeola, and Mr. Fola Adeola

From left: Mr Rotimi Disu, Mr Jimi Disu, and Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi

Father and mother of the Bride, Prof. and Mrs Orumwense with the couple From left: Mrs .Eyi Oyeyinka, Mrs. Iyabo Aikhomu, and Mrs. Tina Alli .

From left;: Mr Rotimi Disu, Mr Jimi Disu, and Evangelist Owolabi Oluwafemi .

Michael Ediri’s traditional marriage

M

ichael Ediri of the Security Department, Vanguard Media Limited, successfully completed his traditional marriage to former Miss Maureen Itoro-Ugbara. The couple had a blissful experience as both families were on hand to make the day a memorable one.

The couple with their parents, the Orumwense and the Egbules

Ediri Michael, groom, Charles Itoro Ugbara and Maureen, bride.

C M Y K

Ediri Michael and wife, Maureen, with his in-laws, the Itoro-Ugbara family

Prof. and Mrs Orumwense with friends

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 31

Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s wedding Images from the wedding of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and his wife, Iara

•Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (right) with the couple and other guests.

•General Muhammadu Buhari (left) in hand shake with Mrs. Oshiomhole, as Prof. Yemi Osinbajo watches .

•Chief John Oyegun (right) with Governor Adams Oshiomhole and wife, Iara

C M Y K

•Governor Adams Oshiomhole with Alhaji Aliko Dangote

•General Muhammadu Buhari with the couple.

PAGE 32—SUNDAY

Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 33

PAGE 34—SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

BY BILESANMI OLALEKAN

K

atsina State governor elect, Honorable Aminu Masari, was the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Lack of internal democracy, he says, pushed him out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to join Congress of Progressives Change, CPC, founded by the now president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, but which later merged with two other parties to form All Progressives Change, APC. In this interview, he says the opposition, since 2003, had always won Katsina’s governorship election but always rigged out even as he says his administration will walk its talk.

Did you envisage, with the power of incumbency both at the state and the federal level, that you, in particular, could win when you won your party’s primary?

There was never any doubt in my mind. From 2003, it has been the opposition that has been winning the governorship election in terms of real votes.

We all knew what the PDP was doing, after all, we were once members of the party. Since the entrance of General Muhammadu Buhari into politics, in Katsina, it has always been the opposition winning. We knew it and we knew what was done to scuttle the victory. Not that people did not vote. They voted for the opposition. In 2003, 2007, 2011, the people themselves knew that if there was free and fair election, their votes would give victory to the opposition. In 2011, if you remember, the party had the three Senate seats and had twelve in the House of Representatives. We lost the governorship and that was because people did not vote for CPC then, because some people in the CPC betrayed the party. We are lucky this time around that the party is united, and went into the election a united party. So, there were not too many problems in terms of rancour and disaffection .

We were sure we would win.

Ask the security agencies, they would tell you that the APC was set win.

What did you do wrongly in 2011 that you lost and you did rightly to get to the Government House in 2015?

There was nothing done wrongly then and there was nothing done right that was not C M Y K

It was obvious

PDP will fall – Masari

•*‘I have never liked funfare kind of life’ done before. Simply put, INEC and the security agencies, at least in our state, decided they would serve the Nigerian people positively. I think that was the difference. It is not as if we did something different. Yes, we campaigned vigorously, as we did in 2007 and 2011. But the atmosphere of the campaign this time around was conducive. There was no litigation holding the party down, so the party was able to move as one body and, fortunately for us, PDP didn’t do primaries in accordance with the rules of the party; so, there was serious opposition after the governor anointed his candidate. Most of the leaders of the party left, some openly joined us, some secretly joined us.

What were the challenges you met on the way before winning the election. The president-elect was faced with litigations and hate speeches?

We faced the government with all the accusations. I think in terms of campaign, this was the most bitter since 1999. This time, the campaign was a personal one. It was no longer an issue-based campaign. But we tried to engage an issue-based campaign. We did not join PDP in terms of personal attacks, mudslinging, but we remained focused on issues. For example, we raised the issue of education,

We faced the government with all the accusations. I think in terms of campaign, this was the most bitter since 1999

because the state of education in the state now, compared to what it used to be, is really bad. We raised the issue of local government system and agriculture, which is supposed to be the main stay of the economy in the state. These were some of the issues we raised and campaigned upon and we refused to be distracted from issue-based politics. The PDP really had no issue to campaign with, that is why it was easy to go about abusing us using foul languages here and there. But, luckily, the party did not face any litigation before and after the primaries.

We did not have the kind of challenge the general faced at the national level. But from the national to state levels, one could say this campaign was the dirtiest, and that was because the PDP refused to make it an issue-based campaign, but character assassination and mudslinging.

You were formally of the PDP; due to lack of internal democracy, you left. How are you ensuring that what pushed you out of

the PDP is not a way of life in the APC? I think our starting point would be the local government elections.

The PDP government just conducted one last year?

Yes, I know. At least in the life of this administration, we are going to conduct local government elections too. That would be the first test in terms of whether we are truly democrats or not. We are sure the people know we are going to be just and fair in who leads them. We are looking for a situation where we walk our talk. Whatever we say now will show in the local government elections if we are democratic or not. That is going to be our first test and we are praying to God that the elections would be just and fair.

What are those areas that your administration wants to focus upon and which you campaigned upon?

Going by the manifesto of our party, human resources development is a key area we are going to focus upon but, again, how do you arrive at human resources development without education? . Our priority is on education. The state of education in Katsina is so bad. And it can make one cry.

But Governor Shema at different fora said there has been unprecedented investment in education in the state which was why the enrollment shot up to millions of pupils in public schools Let me give the statistics of passes and failures from the records of the state Ministry of Education, and then, you can make up your mind if what you are saying now tallies with mine.

From 1999 to Continues on page 35

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 35

‘I have never liked funfare kind of life’ Continued from Page 34 bad. And it can make one cry.

But Governor Shema at different fora said there has been unprecedented investment in education in the state which was why the enrollment shot up to millions of pupils in public schools Let me give the statistics of passes and failures from the records of the state Ministry of Education, and then, you can make up your mind if what you are saying now tallies with mine. From 1999 to 2013, 250,000 students were presented for SSCE. Only 28,000 passed with credit in English and maths which represents about 12%.

In 2014, only 45,800 students sat for the same SSCE, only 4,800 made it which represents about 10%.

When you go to public schools which presented 17,000 for the same SSCE, only 3570 passed, that is about 2%. So, it is now left to you to believe what he said and whether we are making progress or not. This is the state that has the first major school in the whole northern Nigeria. We produced the early leaders for the entire country. For any body to say we are making progress in education, my question to such people is, does the socalled progress tally with the figures released?

Before getting to office, office politicians say a lot of things in terms of what they want to do but, shortly after, they act like the previous government.

What is the guarantee that you will not act same way?

I think people will continue to criticise. But, let us wait and see how APC is going to handle this state and country. I am sure it is going to be totally different from the way PDP ran the country. Even our presidentelect said the APC is not going to be ruling party but a governing party. What that means to me is that the party is going to provide leadership, not rulership.

In Katsina, we definitely believe there will be change.

What we are saying concerning change, it is not about face or name, we are talking about changing our attitude. It is about change C M Y K

of how we run government, business.

Whoever says there won’t be major difference in the way government is run, I will say the person should wait and see what APC is coming to the table with, you will see that there will be a huge departure from the way things are done. It is not going to be business as usual, not this time.

Any transition committee in place now?

Yes, we have formed a transition committee and the present government through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government is liaising with the committee.

What is your take on the sack of the former Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba?

For whatever reason, I don’t think the president should remove the head of a security outfit few days to handing over except the person has reached his terminal date in office. If he is appointed for a certain period of time, and it has reached that time, of course, I believe he has to go. But, if not, I don’t think it is right and a proper sack and the attempt to appoint, because these are the people the incoming president will work with. He might have succeeded in the removal of the I.G, certainly, I know he cannot succeed in ultimately deciding who becomes the new I.G.. I don’t know the offence he may committed. I am here in Katsina. I am not aware of any report nor have I read anything regarding that, but ultimately, Jonathan is in charge.

He has the right to hire and fire until May 29. There is really nothing one can do.

However, if you look at the issue from the political and oral point of view, if I were him, I would not have done it. I would have allowed the incoming president to do that. If there is any serious offence committed, I will only brief the incoming president, ‘ this man, this is what he has done, this is his case, but because we are leaving, we are leaving it for you to deal with, we thought we should let you know the person you are inheriting as your I.G’.

•Masari

...Elections outcome was predictable

The position I am now is not a position bigger than where I was.

However, it is more significant in terms of what you can do to benefit your people

Did you, together with others who formed the APC, envisage it would have this kind of goodwill that would generate as many as 21 states including the centre?

General Muhammadu Buhari, in 2011, despite the computer manipulation and the antics of the PDP, was able to garner as much as 12million votes. If you take those 12 million votes, put together with what he won in ACN South- West, you will know that he was going to win. Obviously, when the merger was consummated, anybody who made it his business to see the politics, voting pattern and the balance of power in the country, would know that so long as APC continued like that, it was a matter of time before they took over the reigns of power. So, you take the votes of Buhari, add it to that of the ACN in South- West, all put together to make APC, the new party, you will know that PDP was gone. The entire North voted for him. Even in the governorship, it was only in Gombe that we lost, otherwise, it would have been a clean sweep of the North for the APC. The reality is that whoever

cares to know would know that the days of PDP were over.

You once said you didn’t know you would go this far in your political life when you became Speaker at the centre. Now you are governor, what difference does this have on you?

In terms of political hierarchy, protocol wise, when you are Speaker, you automatically becomes the number four in the country.

The position I am now is not a position bigger than where I was. However, it is more significant in terms of what you can do to benefit your people. I believe I am a very simple person and I like to live simple, do everything simple, and, certainly, we are going to govern simple. There is nothing like being pompous or having that paraphernalia of office that shields you from the people. I want to do my things, as I have always done, simple and modest. I have never liked fun fare kind of life.

PAGE 36 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

Being in limelight has cost me a lot —Lagos Fir ashola Firsst Lady Lady,, Dame Abimbola FFashola …looks ffor or war d tto oe orw ard evvenings with husband •Sa ys, ‘I’m mo ving on tto o ne w things’ moving new •Says, ay alw ays ffor or their husbands’ •‘W omen mus pra alwa •‘Women mustt pr

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

A

t about this time eight years ago, she walked into Lagos State Government House with her husband, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, a lawyer suspending the robe for the state’s most exalted public office — Governor. Yet, beneath her unassuming disposition is a workaholic.

For Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola, being the wife of a governor isn’t party time but a call to service. On this basis, while her husband went about his duties, the ever-charming and calm First Lady invested her days in human and infrastructural development across the state. Thanks to the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Senior Officials, COWLSO, which she has chaired these eight years, as well as the Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network, LEARN, her non-profit organisation. These bodies have served as veritable platforms for service, enabling her to touch the lives of children, women and even men in the state.

But nothing is without end, and come May 29, only thirteen days away, Governor Fashola and his wife Abimbola will check out of the Lagos State Government House. It was a thankful and elated Abimbola that shared memories of the last eight years with Feminista. hat has being in limelight in the last eight years cost

As you step out of office with your husband, will you be going first on vacation?

That, I do not know, because going on vacation with your husband is not really the best. I always say it the way it is; two days, you’re tired and everybody wants to mind their business. He won’t let you go shopping and I would want to do shopping because that’s how I enjoy my vacation.

But really, being the wife of Governor Fashola is God’s C M Y K

How have you coped with being the wife and mother to the children of a governor that is one of the most celebrated of our time?

Well, I guess because I already knew that for eight years he has a calling, and all I should do is be that help-meet that God has made me to be.

Left to my husband, he doesn’t want me doing most of the things I have done; he believes I should be keeping the home front.

But so far, I’ve been able to multi-task well with keeping the home, attending government functions, leading COWLSO and executing infrastructural development projects across the state. In fact, God has been good to me.

I like to know how you met such a visionary man in the first place?

(Laughs) That’s no news anymore. My father-in-law introduced me to his son at my friend’s engagement and that was how we picked it up. I was just busy serving everyone and just walking freely, doing my bit. Then he just called me and said: “Are you married? I have a son and he will soon come in.

I’ll introduce him to you when he comes in,” and that was it.

We go to bed at about past 4a.m. or even 5a.m. sometimes, I hardly sleep well and women who are close to me know.

I’m not complaining, though

blessing and design. I guess when God calls you into something, he gives you the strength to withstand whatever comes your way. I’m someone who believes so much in God and I cast everything unto him.

If anything comes like a challenge, I tell him to carry His problem because He is my creator. I challenge God every

What would you look back to

by June 1 and say “while my husband and I were there, we did this and it gladdens my heart?”

I wish I’m someone who thinks like that. What is past is past and I’m moving on to new things. You know I have an NGO which I’ve not had time for in the past eight years. So now, I’m sitting into my NGO and taking it to greater heights.

I do not look at the past and say “oh…” It makes you wish you had done things in other ways and I don’t like bothering myself with the past because I know I can’t amend it. I can always think of what is in front.

What has been your guiding principle?

Always learning to prioritize.

You can’t be at every place at every time, so, you need to decide which is most important that should take your time for any particular day.

W

you?

(Laughs) It costs me my boli (roasted plantain). It costs me my corn because I love to eat corn with ube (African pear). I now rely on people to go buy them for me. And then it costs me going out freely because now, everybody identifies me.

In the first four years, I could sneak out. But these last four years, there’s nowhere I go to that people will not shout “Abimbola Fashola”. Even when I try to conceal my identity, you’ll still find people that will say I look like Mrs Fashola and who would follow me until they are convinced that it is me.

blessed day; I’m never afraid to challenge Him because I believe He is my creator.

…and has it been funny coping with the hard-work that comes with an office like his?

Well, I guess we have both always been hard-working. He was working in his law firm while I worked in the British Council for 19 years. There, I resumed at 7.30 and close officially at 4pm, but I don’t leave the office till 10pm. That’s the way I work because I had a lot of task to do. I was in charge of examinations, conducting 10,000 exams in a year. And I needed to be on my toes to do the right thing because the English people will not take

•Abimbola Fashola

Continues on page 37

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015,PAGE, 37

Continued from page 36 any excuse.

With them, when something goes wrong, you must always be able to explain. So, I was always on top of my job.

I personally do not like people faulting me, so if I cannot do anything, I tell you straight out the moment you come to me. I do not know how to say “let us see” when I know I cannot.

So, coming from such background and with my husband having his own law firm as well where he was working, we’ve both been very hard-working. I guess that’s why we can’t say we’re sitting down idle.

Even on days when I say I’m not going out, I always find one or two things that put me to work even in the house; I’m a restless spirit.

How has the last eight years affected time spent with your husband?

Like I tell people, I’m not envious of those who see their husband 24/7. But coming into government, he had already told me that for eight years, this is what he will be doing. It was a bit tough initially, you know, when you’re used to having him at home every evening after work, sitting and chatting together. That has not happened in a long while, so, I’m looking forward to that.

And night rest…?

We go to bed at about past 4a.m. or even 5a.m. sometimes, I hardly sleep well and women who are close to me know. I’m not complaining, though. All I have done is support him, and I thank God for giving me that energy to be there.

What will be your advice to other women about supporting their husbands?

My advice to other women is to always be themselves and to always remember to keep their husbands on their toes in prayers. Usually, when our husband’s have such role, our own duty is to be the third eye so that when things are really not working, we’ll seek the face of God to be able to approach them.

This is because it is not all men that like criticism— whether positive or negative.

But I thank God for the friend (husband) I have; he listens when I say “this is what is happening and this is what people are saying.” However, we should always hand them (our husbands) over to God because He is the one that puts them in any position they are.

It’s also been eight years of leading COWLSO; how has the experience been?

It’s been wonderful and I give God the glory. It’s a bit challenging when you think about sourcing funds for executing the projects we have, but aside that, it’s been a wonderful time.

Looking back, what would you consider your highest point with COWLSO? I guess completing the Retirement Villa. That’s because we had to commit C M Y K

proceeds from three of our annual National Women Conference into completing that villa. I call it my highest moment as Chairman of COWLSO because we conceived that villa, not knowing how we would start or even finish it. The budget also was very scary.

What was the greatest challenge with regards to COWLSO? Sourcing funds. You know, we had to think of things every year that will be catchy and inspiring. And then, for our sponsors, we must be on top of our game for them to continue to believe in us and remain with us throughout the last eight years.

We had to deliberate wisely on a theme for each of our conference, speakers, and all.

You came into office with a strong passion for women and children; would you say you’ve so far been able to achieve your goals concerning them?

One, I’m someone who does not really say this is what I set out to do. It depends on the functions that I attend and letters that I get in the office.

Through these, I get inspired on what next to do. It’s what really happens in the society that determines what I do.

•Abimbola with hubby

But can you look back and say you’ve done well?

I should not be assessing myself; that will be wrong of me. But of course, I know I‘ve done the bit that God has supported me to do.

What’s your aspiration beyond May 29?

I’ll continue with my NGO which of course you know is imparting positively in the lives of teenagers and youths. I’ve, however, changed its name from Lagos to Leadership because people from other states are clamouring that we extend our activities to them.

Now, it is Leadership Empowerment and Resource Network, LEARN. My passion is helping youths to be greater, better leaders because democracy really does not guarantee good governance. It is only when you have good leaders that you have good governance.

Message for Lagosians…

We should keep contributing to nation building. We should strive to do the right thing every second of our lives; not only when people are watching. More importantly, we should learn to keep our environment clean.

I notice these days that we have a growing prevalence of obesity among our children. We need to go back to the basis; Let us give them healthy food and do away with junks for now. I have a sweet tooth as well, but I’m trying to manage mine as well as that of my children. Let us always be positive. Negativity will not take us anywhere but will destroy us. Also, we should walk in unity; let us always support whatever good thing government is doing. And like I always tell people, you do not

•Abimbola me ntoring childre n

Being in limelight has cost me a lot My passion is helping youths to be greater, better leaders because democracy really does not guarantee good governance. It is only when you have good leaders that you have good governance

need a title to be a leader neither do you need a title to do great things in life.

Contribute from your own community and see how it’s going to transform the country itself.

You’re leaving a lot of legacies for your successor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode. What tips will you give to her?

She should be herself.

Secondly, she should look up to God. She should always do those things that are passionate to her, and not what the society tries to impose on her. She should remember she will be accountable for her life. So, she should always determine what

society should see, not what they try to put on her.

Your parting shot for parents and every Nigerian woman…

Let us be the best we can be and love every child around us.

Let us always say the truth to them and learn to appreciate when they do good things; commend them. When they do the wrong things, let us scold them so that they can grow into good leaders. Above all, women must always learn to say the truth and help their children to be the best. Also, we should learn to support every woman who is doing good and insightful things. …and your most memorable moment…

Impacting lives in the last eight years, giving joy to people and making sure everyone around me is smiling.

Regret or saddest moment?

I will simply say “it is well.”

PAGE 38—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015

Govt’s misstep on petrol subsidy in the budget, the banks fears and the Buhari option, by Korodo, NUPENG chief

•Gridlock on Oshodi-Apapa Road. (Inset:

T

BY UDEME CLEMENT

he South-West Chairman, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Tokunbo Korodo, speaks on the persistent scarcity of petrol in the country.

There is zero allocation for fuel subsidy in 2015 budget, what scenario will likely ensue?

To start with, the outgoing government should not have removed fuel subsidy allocation from the appropriation bill, at a time it is about leaving office. It should have allowed the incoming administration to decide whether to pay fuel subsidy or not. Why are they rushing at the last minute to remove fuel subsidy from the budget? I condemned in totality the decision by the outgoing government to remove subsidy allocation from the budget at a time Nigerians are expecting a smooth transition. We believe that the incoming government will study the situation carefully in order to proffer lasting to the fuel crisis in the country.

How are oil marketers going to react, especially now that we are at the twilight of President Goodluck Jonathan’s government?

The reaction of oil marketers is what brought about the fuel scarcity that is affecting everybody in the country right now. The marketers shut the loading points thereby preventing tankers from loading petroleum products from the depots because of subsidy claims, which is one of the reasons there is shortage of fuel in the country now. After series of meetings between government and major oil marketers in attempts to bring solution to the persistent scarcity, the independent marketers on the other hand decided to close their loading points, saying government was only giving the major oil marketers attention, without looking at their own demands.

Now, the issues raised by these marketers are being addressed by government and we hope that

Tokunbo Korodo)

very soon the products will be available at every retail outlet.

The marketers also explained that they borrowed money from commercial banks to carry out importation of fuel into the country. How do you think the banks funding fuel importation will react?

Right now, commercial banks funding importation of petrol must be demanding for their money. That is not all, banks will also demand for interest on such loans. That is why we are appealing to government to pay the marketers as at when due, in order for them to pay their debts to the banks. The outgoing government should honour the agreement they had with the oil marketers, because every agreement must be respected.

The marketers have done their own part by bringing in products into the country, so, it is now left

Right now, commercial banks funding importation of petrol must be demanding for their money for government to pay them. The reality is that the marketers want their money back, because they are afraid of the incoming government, which everyone knows the president-elect has zero tolerance for corruption.

How does it affect the already bad fuel situation in the country?

Already, the recurring fuel

scarcity in a country like Nigeria where crude oil is being exported to other countries is a bad situation. Effect on the already bad situation is the hardship that the poor masses are going through on daily basis because this scarcity of fuel. Many people have to queue for hours at the filling stations just to get fuel, while those who cannot queue

have no option than to buy from the black market at a very high rate.

Apapa-Oshodi expressway is where many companies are located and also the major road to the seaports in Lagos. What is the solution to the traffic gridlock caused by petrol tankers on that road?

Well, those tankers you see on queues along that axis are going there to load petroleum products, that is why there is congestion on that road. We are calling on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to make use of other petroleum products depots available in other states to ease the traffic along that particular axis. Some of the tankers congesting that road usually come from the northern part of the country to load petroleum products in Lagos.

Sometimes the tankers stay on the roads for days because when they get to Lagos, some of the depots owned by independent marketers do not load the tankers on time for them to leave.

The solution to the traffic jam on that road is to ensure effective distribution of petroleum products through other depots located outside Lagos State.

Doing so will ease the traffic gridlock along Apapa area. For instance, at present, only about three depots in Apapa have products. The depots are Capital Oil and Gas, Ibeto Oil and Gas and Integrated Oil and Gas Tank Farms.

The independent marketers are aggrieved, complaining that government did not carried them along with the major oil marketers on the recent subsidy payment. So, the situation is complicated because already the tanker drivers are here to load products, and it is difficult for them to return to the North without the products. It does not make any economic sense for the tanker drivers to travel all the way from the North to Lagos, only to return empty without the products.

Seplat dismisses alleged improper tax waiver *Says pioneer status helped grow the economy

S

EPL AT Petroleum D e v e l o p m e n t Company Plc has dismissed the insinuation that it benefited from improper tax waivers in relation to the pioneer tax incentive granted it by the Nigerian government. “Whilst it is SEPL AT’s policy to not ordinarily comment on press statements or business dealings with the government, on this occasion it is deemed necessary to clarify SEPLAT’s position on this matter ”, Seplat said in a statement.

In the statement by Austin Avuru, Chief Executive Officer, the company clarified: “In 2013, SEPLAT applied for pioneer status incentive through the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) as government body responsible for investment

promotion. The company followed the prescribed process for application and provided all the information and documentation required in support of the application.”It noted that the incentive was part of an industry wide exercise and Seplat was one of 15 oil and gas companies granted the pioneer tax incentive.

The CEO, went on: “SEPLAT believes that it is an excellent example of the whole purpose of establishing the pioneer incentive scheme.

The company has fully re-invested the tax savings from the grant and has delivered verifiable results thereto. SEPLAT is now a key supplier of gas to the domestic market which is the direct outcome of the pioneer incentive granted to SEPLAT and aims to continue to

contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy.”

Reeling out benefits from the tax holiday to the Nigerian economy, the statement said the grant of pioneer status has made it possible for Seplat to boost oil and gas production, provide employment opportunities, impact on its communities and help to grow the Nigerian economy.

“Gas production rose from an average of 90 MMscfd to a current level of around 200 MMscfd with a target of 300 MMscfd by the end of 2015.

This increase has been driven by an over US$300 million investment in gas development over the tax holiday period”, Seplat said.

“Oil production has grown from a daily average of 14,000 barrels in 2010 to the current

daily rate of over 70,000 barrels”. The statement added that its royalty payments have gone up from an average of $40 million per annum in 2010 to US$147 million in 2014.

The company disclosed that it has continued to fund the NPDC/SEPLAT JV to drive these outstanding growths in oil and gas production despite being owed substantial sums in unpaid cash-calls from NPDC. The statement said the tax incentive has helped SEPLAT in creating over 300 new jobs and delivering several community development projects in their operating areas. “The multiplier effect of our over US$700 million in annual expenditure through Nigerian contractors adds over 1,000 additional jobs.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 39

Subsidy removal is best parting gift Jonathan could give Buhari —Akabogu

BY AKOMA CHINWEOKE We are in the middle of the longest fuel crisis in five years. In many places, it mirrors the dark days of the 1990s when fuel queues were routine, together with their many accessories – jerry cans, hoses and plastic bottles cut in half as funnels. Coupled with poor electricity supply, Nigerians frustration and anger are largely justified. Yet the problem has a simple, plug-and-play solution.

Emeka Akabogu is the Chairman, OTL Africa Downstream. He speaks on why he thinks subsidy removal is the right thing to do now to put an end to the fuel crisis in the country. Excerpts: t has not been an easy road for the country’s oil sector.

What do you think is the way forward?

The best parting gift President Jonathan could leave for President-Elect Buhari will be to formally scrap petroleum subsidies. While it may be interpreted as a Greek gift, the truth is that it affords a softlanding for the incoming President as he will not be

I

•Emeka Akabogu burdened by the perceived betrayal such a decision by him could induce. His challenge will be to simply live up to his promise by ensuring savings from the subsidies are not frittered away.

Can poor Nigerians afford deregulated fuel?

Removing subsidies is simply the right thing to do. It is

pragmatic, cost-saving, and best of all, does no one any harm. It is not true that Nigerians cannot afford the real cost of fuel if the price is deregulated. The empirical fact is that apart from NNPC Retail stations, the eastern part of Nigeria has for years seen fuel for between N120 and N150, and everyone is used to it including the poor. I was in Awka last week and easily drove into a NIPCO station where I bought fuel for N120/litre. No queue, no story. The price at which fuel is bought conditions the usage and consumption pattern towards it increased discipline and reduction of waste, which no one will argue the country badly needs now.

Don’t you think major oil marketers are holding the country to ransome?

It is hypocritical to suggest that marketers are not being patriotic by insisting that they will not import until they are paid their outstanding reimbursements. Do they fetch the fuel for free from the ocean? As long as we are dealing with international supplies and shipping the choices are limited. Neither the

international suppliers nor the banks are interested in stories relating to indebtedness by government or foreign exchange variation. These are companies not charities – they employ thousands of Nigerians, invest in the economy, have shareholders and are in business for profit. The incoming government has not defined a clear-cut, bankable policy on subsidies so it is better to be safe than sorry. The same Nigerians will be the first to demonise the marketers if creditors proceed against them in liquidation, so we need to get real.

Can’t our local refineries be revived to serve as a solution to the lingering problem?

Not exactly. Self-sufficiency in refining will solve the problem of capital flight and bottom-line erosion arising from foreign exchange fluctuations. It will exponentially boost GDP, create multiplier value in the economy, eliminate most of the freight cost and potentially drive the development of a West Africa pricing benchmark for petroleum products. To that extent, selfsufficiency in refining is great.

But if subsidies remain, refining will not solve the problem of availability or scarcity of products. Refiners too are businessmen, and will expectedly buy crude at international prices.

They will sell for profit, even if with a primary focus on the Nigerian market. If government attempts a pricing dichotomy one for crude oil to be used locally and another for international sales, such a scheme will spectacularly backfire. Round-tripping of crude oil will become the new fad and the levels of sleaze will simply multiply. They should not try it.

Where do you think we should go from here?

Scrap the Petroleum Support Fund (subsidy scheme).

Undertake major infrastructure projects in mass transit – interstate rail, inland waterway ports, inland container depots/ dry ports, road renewal and maintenance. Finally, let there be light! -widen and deepen options for access to electricity using competitive tariffs and ensuring people pay only for what they consume.

President-elect and the numbers game: US$ 2.8, 10, 12, 29, 49 billion

BY DR. PATRICK DELE COLE

I

am not going to give Professor Jega a pass mark, he has fallen for the trick. Many Nigerians now employ lets actually count you, your eyes, fingerprints, etc.

Do not worry about people who have studied facial recognition techniques, your PVC will prove once and for all that you cannot cheat a scientifically based system. It is like accountancy. All of a sudden the vogue is now forensic accounting. If what Price Waterhouse did to the account of the NNPC is forensic accounting, then I will rather have the non- forensic one. The non-forensic accounting shook Mr. President, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Mrs Deziani, the Governor of CBN. If I understood what the matter then was, Mr. Sanusi said the person he had the right to ask what happened to our money was Mr. President or Mr. Sanusi said X barrels of oil were sold and the money with him for such sale was short by

US$49billion. As at that time, no one knew about this except the principals. A minute to the Accountant General, the Minister of Petroleum, Finance, Crude Oil Sales Executive Director for an explanation within 48hours should have been the president’s reaction. He should have warned them that he did not want to see more than 2 pages in their reply. Still at this point the public would have remained ignorant. If the matters were too technical (I do not see it), he should have called on two officials to give a pre meeting briefing with their agreed figures, all this should have been settled.

What eventually happened was that the claim of the CBN Governor was called into question. Maybe rightly so because his subsequent announcement did not sit well with his original bombast. By then the truth had disappeared into the realms of fantasy. No one knows whether it was 49 billion

dollars, 29 billion or 10 billion.

These figures were bandied about as if there was little differences between 49, 29, and 10US$ billion.

It was at this point that the forensic audit came into existence. I always assume that when words are added to a perfectly sensible word in finance, it means more money.

We have not been able to see the forensic report of Price Waterhouse. But that company owes us an explanation on what a forensic audit is as opposed to a non-forensic one. In normal parlance, when the police start taking about forensic, then someone is about to go to jail.

People do not do forensic audit for the fun of it. All we are told by Price Waterhouse is that NNPC owes 1.46 million US dollars to the government of Nigeria. This raises a number of other issues?

Who is NNPC and who is the government of Nigeria? Is there not one Federation of Nigeria

Account, as stated in the Constitution?

Why this duplication of accounts? Can the Accountant General and the Auditor General be seized of these accounts? It would seem that the Minister of Finance does not know the existence of some of these accounts.

Buhari is angry about the alleged missing 2.8 billion dollars that Coopers and Lybrant, another high class accountant, mentioned in an audit query while he was Minister of Petroleum. Many still believe that episode has not been fully explained even if Buhari swears he knows nothing about it. But that should encourage him to inquire into the 12 billion dollars or 49 billion dollars or indeed any large sums of money that may be missing.

He should instruct the investigators to write their report in plain English and not the kind of English Mr Justice Irekefe wrote about the alleged missing 2.8 billion dollars.

The

language is worse than obtuse. I did not understand it.

What will he do with the report will depend on the answers he gets. If is to move to clean up the country, then it is a good place to start. It will not cost much. Some reports are already in existence; they only need to be translated to normal English for the ordinary Nigerian to understand.

CUSTOMS TO THE RESCUE Wonders will never cease to happen. In Nigeria we have oil.

We are broke because those who run the oil sector have taken so much bribe that the industry cannot now support itself. We need money.

Up jumps the Customs Service of Nigeria. The Customs will now be a major source of income for the Federal Government. When I first saw the large phalanx of Custom officials and the Ministers standing around the Comptroller of Customs, that was when I knew it was not a joke: but is was a bad joke!!!

GE Oil & Gas completes the first refurbishment of Subsea Production Tree in Nigeria

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E Oil & Gas has completed the first refurbishment of subsea production trees at its service base in Onne, Nigeria, highlighting GE’s commitment to investing in Nigeria and demonstrating the high-value services offered close to its customers’ operations. The milestone was achieved under a contract awarded by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo.) The GE team of trained Nigerian engineers successfully dis-assembled the subsea trees to component parts before repairing and rebuilding them in

accordance with customer requirements. The refurbishment program includes incoming decktesting and an integrated performance test after refurbishment.

The milestone was disclosed by Mr. Uzo Nwagwu, Chief Operating Officer of GE Oil & Gas in Nigeria. It is the first time a production tree has been completely refurbished in Nigeria.

Mr. Nwagwu said: “The development demonstrates GE’s commitment to localizing operations in Nigeria through capacity development, technology transfer and capital investment.

This is resulting in the creation of high quality employment in the O&G sector in Nigeria.”

In support of this program, last year, GE Oil & Gas unveiled the recruitment of 30 engineers and technicians, some of whom were sent to GE facilities in Brazil for training. Here, they acquired the skill sets required to support tree repair and for local assembly and testing of new equipment.

Thousands of man-hours and hundreds of spare parts, procured by the local team, were used in the refurbishment of the first tree.

More than $1.5 million was spent with Nigerian sub-suppliers

supporting various parts of the workscope for each tree.

Lazarus Angbazo, President and CEO of GE Nigeria, said: “GE Oil & Gas is continuously seeking to increase the competitiveness of the solutions for the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The Tree Refurbishment Program will give Nigeria-based operators the opportunity to buy locally, avoid delivery delays and save cost while supporting the growth of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.”

“The delivery of the first fully refurbished subsea tree system in Nigeria is another example of how we can deploy partnerships to

strengthen local capacity in the country’s subsea oil and gas sector,” said SNEPCo Managing Director, Tony Attah. He added: “We’re indeed pleased to be part of this pioneering effort which promises to deliver projects on time, safely and within cost estimates.”

Operating since 2002, GE’s purpose-built facility in Onne is the first quayside facility of its calibre in Nigeria. It has an exceptional safety record with a 10 year record of operating with no loss time due to injury. The facility is a cornerstone of GE’s commitment to Nigeria’s Oil & Gas industry.

PAGE 40—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015

BY DELE SOBOWALE

“Organizations are created by men, but after a while, it is the other way round. Organizations create men in their own image and according to their own needs. When this occurs, the consequences can be serious.”

Prof. Einar Thorsrud, 1970.

VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS he “ wise” men and women who wrote the 1999 Nigerian Constitution created the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, presumably, to help Nigeria develop under the new democratic system. Certainly, they must have had in mind that those selected to run the Commission will be people of sound mind, possessing high intellect allied with integrity and above all they will have foresight, insight and take their assignment seriously.

They should not only consider the present but also be futuristic in outlook. At the very least, they should know that good times don’t last forever and their decisions in good times must be tempered by the knowledge that “fortunes favours never last” (Seneca, 4BC-65 AD) – even for nations.

This generally obscure Commission, which had escaped the searchlight of most people, except this writer, had been given broad powers to decide the fate of our country, since 1999, and it has landed us in BIG trouble.

Hardly any Nigerian knows the names of the Commissioners. Even I don’t know them.

But, virtually, every Nigerian had complained about the remuneration packages which our elected officials and their appointed cronies take home.

Few had bothered to ask how it came about. Most people just assume that the President, the Governors and the Legislature must have been responsible. And, they are partly correct. Those suspects have extended the privileges given them by the number one accused – the RMAFC. So, if we want an answer to why 70 to 80 per cent of our public revenue at all levels is going just to pay salaries, we need not look beyond the RMAFC. Presidents of Nigeria, since 1999, had appointed the most unintelligent and wasteful individuals to the Commission; perhaps, because the organizational stupidity that will inform decisions would work in their favour. And, they could always disclaim responsibility for the outcome – because RMAFC determines the emoluments of public officials throughout the federation. > Let me illustrate their collective lack of wisdom by citing one fact. Rivers or Akwa Ibom collect nearly five times

away with, on account of this.

One does not need to have been one of the framers of the 1999 Constitution to understand that RMAFC was not intended to be cake-sharing Commission only. The use of the word “Mobilisation” suggests that it is expected to help generate the revenue allocated. One way it can do this is to monitor the activities of Ministries and parastatals to ensure that all revenue earned by each of them is paid to the Federation Account.

At the moment several MDAs spend money which had not been appropriated by the National Assembly instead of paying them into the Federation Account. One Authority, minting dollars, had already been brought to the attention of the in-coming administration; the outgoing government ignored the alarm raised. Literally, billions of dollars are going into private pockets in this organization alone. It is part of the duties of the RMAFC to track down such violations of procedures resulting in monumental corruption and loss of

T

•

Mr. Elias Mbam, Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission,

Reforming RMAFC in the national interest the revenue of Gombe or Ekiti, yet RMAFC Commissioners have provided that public servants in all the states, from Governor down, should collect the same remuneration package.

As a corollary to that astonishing feat of economic mindlessness, there is no limit placed on how many people a President or Governor might appoint. So, if, as happened in Adamawa, the Governor appoints 1,000 Special Assistants, they will each collect the same amount as a sensible governor who appoints only twelve. Added to that, payment of salaries and other benefits take priority over funding schools, hospitals, roads or even providing power – which no law prevents any state from doing. Finally, these lucky individuals are entitled to their take home even if the revenue dwindles to zero. Now, at least, the reader should begin to understand why ALL the states of Nigeria need bail-out now. Like drunkards, serving other drunkards in a beer par-

Not only are we broke, we run the risk of further calamity unless the incoming government can get some sensible people appointed to RMAFC as quickly as possible

lour, RMAFC and the top government officials at Federal and State levels have been feasting at our expense – thanks to RMAFC. Now we are broke (never mind Okonjo-Iweala; any government borrowing money to pay salaries is broke).

Not only are we broke, we run the risk of further calamity unless the incoming government can get some sensible people appointed to RMAFC as quickly as possible.

These would have to be the most tight-fisted individuals we can find – apart from possessing all the other qualities mentioned above. The current crop of Commissioners has either inadvertently or deliberately bankrupted us. Continuing with them is out of the question. Any set of Commissioners who will authorize the granting of loans to public servants for six years, when many will not last that long in office must have something wrong with them.

Only God knows how much former office holders have run

revenue to all three tiers of government.

The new RMAFC must accept this as its first assignment. And, the facts on which they can start are available.

Finally, it might appear like a minor request, but can we have the audited accounts of RMAFC for the last two years?

Something tells me that RMAFC is one of the agencies of government which regard publishing their annual accounts as an insult. With a new government, the reformation of RMAFC should start there.

NEXT: TENDERS BOARD AS A DEN OF CORRUPTION THAT MUST BE CLEANSED. They authorize the award of trillions of naira worth of contracts in four years. Most of the contracts are invariably inflated, ab initio, contractors frequently receive generous variations later, and, yet, close to 25% of contracts are not fully executed – bloating the number of abandoned projects nationwide.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 41

IMPEACHMENT

Gov Aliyu, Niger lawmakers’ last battle

By Wole Mosadomi

N

IGER State House of Assembly is at it again. The House proceedings have been on hold for almost two weeks now.

This is because of the impeachment of its Speaker, Adamu Usman. The latest impeachment brings to seven the number of Speakers who have superintended the House under the tenure of Governor Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu.

The impeachment of the first Speaker, Alhaji Muhammed Alkali, was in 2007 only months into the administration. He spent three months in office. He was accused of abandoning his official responsibilities and romancing the executive.

The second Speaker is the present Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Idris Ndako Kpaki, from the same constituency with his predecessor.

His tenure was the shortest; spending only three days in office.

Because of the zoning system by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, the post of Speaker remained in Zone ‘A’, Niger South Senatorial District in 2011 and, by this arrangement, Alhaji Mohammed Tsowa Gamunu, from Edati local government area, elected as Speaker in the second term of the Aliyu administration.

His tenure was also brief as he was impeached by his colleagues on April 12, 2012 He was also accused of abandoning his official duties and romancing the executive.

Gamunu was replaced with Alhaji Isah Kawu representing Bida I constituency who did not also last on the seat as he was impeached on May 22, 2012 having spent only one week on the seat.

He was succeeded by a first timer in the House and immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Niger state, Adamu Usman.

Usman presided over the affairs of the House until last week when an impeachment notice was passed and removed immediately.

IRONY OF FATE:- In 2012 when Kawu was impeached, he was replaced with Usman and, less than one month to the end of the tenure of members, Kawu is taking over from the same member who took over from him after only one week in office.

WHY THE IMPEACHMENT SAGA NOW:- This period can be referred to as injury time in the legislative arm of government across the country. Houses of Assembly have less than one month to the end of their tenure and the question on the lips of many is, why the impeachment now?

Investigations carried out revealed that the main target of the majority of the Niger House members is Governor Aliyu whom they want impeached even weeks to the May 29 handing over date.

The members saw the impeached Speaker, Usman, as a threat to their move because of his perceived closeness to the executive, hence his removal to pave the way for the impeachment of the governor.

Indication to this move became glaring when moves by Aliyu to stop the lawmakers from setting in motion the impeachment process against Usman failed and the governor went to secure a court injunction to stop the House from impeaching him.

Meanwhile, a member representing Agaie constituency, Alhaji Abdullahi Akwanu, who is also House Chairman, Business and Rules, told journalists that he and his colleagues will go on with the impeachment process against the governor.

According to him, “The reason for our action is because of our severance allowance, non payment of our salaries and other entitlement in the past months.

Government is owing each of us N18m as our legitimate entitlements.”

The Speaker, Usman, was impeached on May 5 and replaced with Kawu and having seen the danger coming, the state

•Aliyu...fights impeachment moves government used the police to stop the legislators from sitting.

The main entrance to the state House of Assembly has been under key and lock with the police taking over the premises.

Angered by this, some lawmakers locked up inside the House broke the padlock but ended up with canisters of teargas shot to disperse them.

Niger State Police Command, through its spokesman, DSP Abiodun Gambari, defended the action of the police, pointing out

The former Speaker seized the opportunity to inform the governor of the plan by the legislators to carry on with the impeachment process against him

that the teargas was used to scare hoodlums who were ready to cause crisis in the premises.

Aliyu, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Israel Ebije, exonerated himself from the impeachment saga in the House, describing the development as internal and had nothing to do with him.

However, the governor, not fully settled with the development in the House, headed to the court to get an interim injunction restraining the lawmakers from initiating impeachment proceedings against him pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The suit is before Justice Idris Evuti and the court has set May 27 for hearing the motion on notice.” The plaintiff is praying the court to restrain the SpeakerKawu, the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Muhammed Kagara, the commissioner of police, Mr. Olushola Amore, and the Director of State Security services from carrying out any order against him pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The ousted Speaker, Usman, had told journalists after his removal that the main target of the impeachment was the governor and not him.

He said the bone of contention was the finance of the House as it had not received overhead cost for three months but blamed the failure on the situation on the shortfall of allocations from the Federation Account, saying he should not be made a scapegoat.

“The issue at state is fundamentally finance; it is between the legislature and the

executive and I am also affected.

No money has been given to me that I did not give to them The leadership has been trying to talk to the executive to ensure the overhead cost is released but the executive has been saying there is no money.”

The former Speaker seized the opportunity to inform the governor of the plan by the legislators to carry on with the impeachment process against him (governor), saying,” I want to alert Governor Aliyu to be prepared because tomorrow, (6th May), the members may serve an impeachment notice on him.

Today may be my impeachment, tomorrow, it will be the governor.”

Though the House is no longer sitting, the impeached and new Speakers are claiming ownership of the seat.

Usman, in a press conference, declared himself as still the Speaker of the House having been duly elected on May 22, 2012.

But Kawu called on him to stop parading himself as Speaker as he (Kawu) has been duly elected by members.

The executive is also affected as it cannot deal with either of the two lawmakers claiming to be Speaker.

The confusion blew into the open on Monday when the two claimants to speakership met at a government function and a mild drama ensued, as the governor and the protocol could not identify with either of them.

The two lawmakers who came into the ceremony one after the other could not sit with the governor according to protocol.

PAGE 42 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

Arase and the ‘change’ agenda for the police

By IDOWU ADEKUSIBE

B

ehind every dark cloud as it is said, there is a silver lining. The spontaneity which greeted the appointment of Solomon Arase to the seat of the Inspector General of Police on the heels of the exit of his predecessor Suleiman Abba, inferred just that and was perhaps not out of place.

Over the past several years, the Nigerian nation has witnessed a spate of events on which an upset of its precarious equilibrium has widely been prognosticated. The toll of decadence which has engulfed the entire polity makes the celebration of any glimmer of light from the darkness momentous. The Nigeria Police being the crime fighting machinery of government has for longer than many would care to recall, been mired in its share of this national opprobrium.

In an era when the image of the Force has been so battered, Arase has been working painstakingly to put its image back on its right footing. Through devotion to duty, it is obvious to see that he is cut out for the kind of problems the Force has continually been encumbered with, as over the years in his various designations as an officer of the Nigerian Police, Arase has displayed an unprecedented ability to adequately understand problems and a fascinating ability to map out strategies to nagging and embarrassing issues, both within the Force and also in combating and controlling crime. This without doubt, underscores the jubilation and wave of relief and hope which attended the appointment of Solomon Arase to the apex office in the Force.

As young Solomon grew up, his mother perhaps could never have thought that her son would become a Policeman, except maybe if it had been declared by a Prophet. Perhaps, she could have taken such a prophecy seriously, being an era when

the calling was not embedded in commercial considerations. But it is probable she would have gone on her knees, asking the good Lord to take the cup away from her.

And so it was that after Solomon graduated in Political Science from the Ahmadu Bello University in 1980 and expressed his desire to join the crime fighting organization, his mother was dismayed, preferring rather that her son pursued a career in academics, herself being a teacher. Fully convinced of his career path, Arase was not hamstrung by the emotions of apprehension that his decision elicited and enlisted in the Force as a Cadet Officer in 1981. With the fluxion of time however, Mama can only be thankful to goodness that, she gave young Solomon the necessary support in his chosen profession.

He later studied Law at the University of Benin where he received an LLB in 1998, thereafter proceeded to the Nigeria Law School Abuja and became a Barrister at Law in 2001. Projecting further academic goals for himself, Arase set out pursuing an LL.M, and achieved that in 2004 at the Lagos State University, specializing in Corporate Management and Finance Law. From his academic progression, it was apparent that Arase was going to leave no stone unturned, getting to the zenith of his chosen career.

Subsequently, a stint of study followed at the Defense College, Abuja, from where he garnered the tag ‘FDC’ that decorates his name and official photographs, finishing in 2008. He proceeded to the University of Ibadan the following year, carted a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies and completed his post Defense studies at the

From his antecedents, it may well be surmised that, the harbinger of the wind of change is finally here with the appointment and confirmation of Arase to the office of the IGP Defense College same year.

It is arguable that many have not had it that lucky, given the fact that, the careers of many children are influenced by their parents, the result being not equipping them to be innovative. Inconsequential as this may seem, it has over the years had severe consequences which usually result in square pegs in round holes - a phenomenon rife in almost every facet of our national life.

W

hen Louis Edet made history as the first indigenous IGP, the level of discipline, dedication and selflessness in the discharge of duties by men officers of the force was admirable, the Force being anchored on profound values and principles shorn of abridgement or perversion with justice in all ramifications. The same cannot be said today.

That explained the avalanche of hope that

trailed the appointment of Arase; a man believed to possess the ability to correct many of the wrongs in the Force that continue to give it a bad image. Widely respected within the Force, Arase has traversed the labyrinths of the Force emerging potentially as its 18thhelmsman through hard work, dedication, focus and discipline. He is a man that can be described as a Tarzan in policing, with peculiar disposition to policing in Nigeria.

From his antecedents, it may well be surmised that, the harbinger of the wind of change is finally here with the appointment and confirmation of Arase to the office of the IGP. A member of the Nigerian Police Committee on Review of the Nigerian Constitution/ Police Act, Arase, with multi-departmental experiences across various arms of the Force including operations, investigation, administration and intelligence is a repository of Nigeria Police history and development.

As Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, Uyo from August 2011 to March 2012, Arase developed an anti-robbery and anti-kidnapping operational protocols that proved highly effective in addressing these set of highlevel crimes in the State. He is a police reformist whose policing vision is premised on the engagement of intelligence-led policing strategies, community partnership, application of cutting-edge technology to policing functions at all

levels, prevention of abuse of pre-trial detention powers and tailor-made capacity building initiatives towards the enhancement of the intelligence and operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.

In line with the recommendations of the Police Reforms, the Force Intelligence Bureau came into being as a complimentary arm of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) and Arase became its first director. The Bureau is focused on gathering and analysing intelligence for the use of the Police and sister security agencies where Arase undertook landmark reforms and restructuring initiatives, including the establishment of the Gender Unit and the successful sourcing of a $300,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to enhance the operations of the Gender Unit. He also succeeded in establishing a state-of-theart technical intelligence platform which has restored the primacy of the Bureau as the most strategic intelligence agency in the internal security architecture of the country.

The various misdemeanors associated with the Police Force, which relentlessly dent its image and render it ineffective in the performance of its statutory functions partly, tell of bad leadership as well as outmoded operational mechanisms which put the Force at war with it. This calls for examination and a possible overhaul of the modus operandi of the Force; a prospect the strides of Arase bespeak.

At this juncture, it would only be fair to say that despite the crying shortcomings of the Force in relation to its huge expectations and in all the mediocrity and chicanery, there indeed are many dedicated and hardworking officers and men of the Force committed to the service of their fatherland, many leaving impeccable records where they have served. For these people, the time has perhaps come when their efforts can easily be galvanized to better the force and gradually break the structure that impinges on good policing.

*Adekusibe, a security expert, lives in Abuja.

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 43 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Blunders in media... Ebere Wabara’s new book intervenes

By PRISCA SAM-DURU PRESENTATION

I

n a very daring attempt to assist in saving the Nigerian media from further embarrassing itself with silly blunders evident both in Print and Electronic media, the member, Editorial Board and Media Advisor to The Sun Publisher, Ebere Wabara, presented his new book titled,”Media Gaffes & Essays”, to the public.

The book launch which took place at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Lagos, had in attendance, the who is who in some states of the federation. Some of the attendees included; Femi Adeshina, the Managing Director, Sun Newspapers and the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors; Prof Haruna Wakili, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Jigawa State; Chief Marc Wabara, the author’s Uncle; Representative of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, and many more.

Speaking, the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Dr Ibrahim Shehu Shema who was the Guest Speaker at the

presentation, stated that “Most of the mistakes in the print and electronic media are manifestations of carelessness, loose thinking and ignorance”, stressing that we must be consistent on the use of either British or American English as mixing up both variants in any lexical environment, shows s l i p s h o d d i n e s s .

Unfortunately, most people who commit these facile and fallacious blunders are persons who should know but because incorrigibility has affected them, they have become ignoramuses!” He stated.

The Katsina State Governor who was ably represented by

Most of the mistakes in the print and electronic media are manifesetations of carelessness, loose thinking and ignorance

his head of S e r v i c e , Mohammed Aliyu, spoke on “Gaffes in the Print and Electronic m e d i a , Perception of the Audiences/ Readers” as well as concern •Mohammed Aliyu, Marc Wabara, Orji Kalu, Ebere Wabara, Charles on these on the E n g l i s h Ahize, Dr Olise Egbunike and Prof Haruna Wakili at the event in Lagos Language itself.

He described Wabara’s book English Language users to the author is going into book as “A stop-gap exercise for strive for knowledge rather writing. “I am happy that he quick resolutions of daily than being lazy to learn. He is now writing for people to grammatical challenges...My however regretted that learn more rather than always personal experiences with graduates these days are having disagreement in people show that most afraid to speak in public all agreement. I try to hold him exonormative language users because they can’t speak back sometimes. Now he can prefer easy-to-read-and- correctly emphasising that streamline his write-ups follow summaries to usually they are not to blame since instead of always attacking all massive, boring and complex most English Language the time. Journalism is a good theoretical methodicalness!” textbooks are filled with errors job and I thank God we know In his review, the Assistant such that one who is not that we have freedom to think Editor in Chief of the News careful, buys into the errors. differently” The Chairman of the Agency Of Nigeria , NAN, Dr The book suggests that one of Olise Egbunike, described the ways to learn how to use occasion who congratulated Wabara’s work as a serious English Language correctly is the author for publishing such important book, described the minded book stressing that through voracious reading. the book is not an English Former Governor of Abia author as not just an ordinary Language text book but a book State Dr Orji Uzo Kalu in his journalist or columnist but an to assist in understanding capacity as Chief Host of the intellectual adding that the English better as well as to book event, described Wabara message from governor spot out blunders in daily as a strong, forthright Lamido is that he should interactions. The book he journalist with a sharp pen. continue to write and not to let stated further, encourages Adding that he is happy that his pen dry up.

‘Incoming go vt should curb po ty tto o impr ove govt povver erty impro reading culture’

By PRISCA SAM-DURU LITERATURE

T

he literary industry has not faired beautifully in the past years, not with the negative effects of the social media, piracy and discouragement faced by writers in the hands of publishers. Even when authors spend time, publishing quality materials, it appears the level of readership, rather than improve, dwindles.

Although the “Bring Back The Book” initiative of the outgoing President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan remains a viable means of turning the industry around, people in the likes of Pastor Kingsley Innocent, author and social commentator, believes that the incoming government needs to work selflessly to ensure that poverty is annihilated for the people’s reading culture to improve.

Innocent, who is the Senior Pastor of Bible Believing Mission, Aba, the Abia State capital, who has published more than six books and in love with leadership and careerbuilding books, is hopeful that the incoming Buhari Government will deal with the issue of poverty and with time, things will begin to fall in place for Nigeria.

Apart from helping to revive reading culture of Nigerians, the minister of God also known as God of Talk-na-do, says that “The in-coming Buhari’s government is going to face a lot of challenges which I believe that God will help him.

The president-elect should choose men of good character, men who are not corrupt, men who are into the vision of nation-building, selecting the right people and not bringing the old elements who have plunged our nation into shame and disgrace over the years.

He should choose men who have the fear of God, selfless men, who have the interest of our nation at heart, then we are sure of getting somewhere.

Pastor Innocent who seized the opportunity to express his thoughts on how the nation would be transformed, stated that “Aside fighting corruption,

The in coming government needs to work selflessly to ensure that poverty is annihilated for people;s reading culture to improve

•Pastor Kingsley Buhari should also tackle power problem so that we can have 24 hours of electricity supply. There are so many things that Nigerians can do for themselves. He has made a great touch on our refineries through the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) before and I believe that he would do it again. If he can fix our refineries and build new ones then the issue of fuel scarcity or high price would be a thing of the past.”

He described the 2015 presidential election as an interesting one “Because our country is growing. The outcome of this election shows that Nigeria is growing and there is hope.

I will caution fellow ministers of God to be careful about what

we say and the things we predict.

You don’t have to lie about your personal opinion and say it was from God.” He however frowned at the issue of some pastors receiving bribe from politicians noting that “It is a disgrace that money was given to ministers of God to mobilize for votes.

Issues relating to executions of Nigerians in Indonesia as well as Xenophobic attacks in South Africa according to him, are wrong means of attempting to solve problems. “Capital punishment is not the best solution to crime in the world.

In as much as crime is not acceptable, capital punishment does not give the opportunity for that soul to be saved.”

Ajapa World holds symposium on financial inclusion for children, youths

C

ome May 27th, 2015, popular folklore and child-friendly character Ajapa (The tortoise) will lead a consortium of children, youth and financial stakeholders in Nigeria in a first of its kind World Financial Inclusion Symposium with the theme “Financial Inclusion For Children and Youth in Nigeria”. The symposium holds all day at the Harbour Point, Wilmot Point Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. It aims at marking this year’s Children’s Day celebrations by raising levels of awareness and rallying mass action towards the global cause of making children financially literate, by including them in the global financial plans and services will start by 9.00 am.

Ajapa as represented by the Ajapa World Company operating in Lagos, Nigeria currently spearheads numerous initiatives towards child financial literacy and inclusion. In partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Ajapa is currently rolling out Ajapa Children’s Financial Clubs in all Lagos State Primary Schools. Popularly known for his unbridled wisdom and wise sayings, Ajapa aims ultimately to create sustainable synergy between financial and child care torch bearers, in order to raise children in the society that appreciate the dignity of labour, wise earning and saving,

as represented in the financial club’s slogan “I am a Wise Earner, I am a Wise Spender, I am Wise Saver”

PAGE 44—SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Chika tackles environmental woes In the other world

By JAPHET ALAKAM VISUAL

A

fter what looked like a temporary break due to the 2015 general election in the country, Alexis gallery, the youth friendly gallery committed to the promotion of African artists will open its 2015 exhibition calendar with a solo exhibition by Auchi polytechnic trained painter, Chika Idu titled The Other World.

The exhibition which is co curated by Patty Chidiac and George Edozie is scheduled to open on May 23 and run till May 30th 2015. Featuring about 20 works, mostly in oil and water colour, the vibrant painter who is noted for putting his footprints at the back of all his works through the body of works tries to present his own special request to the incoming government of Gen Buhari and Ambode about the high level of environmental degradation going on in some parts of Lagos.

With a successful election over where the incumbent lost and accepted defeat and in some days the hand over will take place where everything is expected to change for good, Chika is saying through his works that there are some areas

that need to be carried along especially as Lagos state walks towards its mega city status. These areas include the inhabitants of Makoko and other riverine areas in the country. To him, they are not part of this world, hence the title The other world.

After a careful study of the areas, Chika noted that the life of the inhabitants are in real danger, from the activities of the sand dredgers who do it anyhow thereby expanding the water shores to the plastic cans, sachet water nylons and others that pollute the water. Worse still, these people live there in their shanties, defecate there, wash clothes and bath there and also use the same water for cooking and drinking. These

Through the body of works presents his special request to the incoming government of Gen Buhari and Ambode about the high level of environmental degradation in some parts of Lagos

people believed in doing things natural, communicate with their ancestors but there is need to do something about them.

According the Delta state born soft spoken painter, whose works are characterised by its heavy texture and hazy rendition, a technique he calls ‘light against visual distortion’, a technique he has been painting for 16years after observing the behaviour of light striking against visual imperatives like dust and •Task, one of the works by Chika Idu misty fog. So with the use of his terminal, what a mourn for the life that is supposed favourite tools, pallet knives for oil relief....now I can reduce a to be underneath these surfaces, and sable brushes, tooth-brush for 4hours journey by the waters look dead.” water colour, Chika comments on “Through my works I have tried 3hr:30minutes a ferry ride some of these things in his works. is quick and relaxing, from to draw attention to the subject, A look at some of the works tells the lagoon I began to see how it should be not necessarily the story in the real way, example Lagos from a whole new how it is, with the intention to in the piece titled The Place, which depicts two kids , one swimming angle but the peace is open a dialogue on our and the other outside playing in quickly disturbed when I endangered marine life.”

Chika idu is member of the dirty water regardless of the sight the dredging that goes Defactori studio , sable water health implications. on a daily and hourly The painter whose favourite basses, the last time I colour society and he is currently themes are women and children, counted 8 dredging an art teacher at the French international school Lagos. The sees himself as an activist, says “I companies scattered from exhibition is sponsored by art see my work as the beginning of a Ikorodu to Victoria Island, loving organisations like; Lithodialogue and not the dialogue or tons and tons of plastics and Chrome, Veuve Clicquot the end of it.” unidentified objects Ponsardin , COOL TV, WAZOBIA In his artistic statement Chika submerged floating in the TV, COOL FM, INFO LAGOS, wrote “ Lagos is a very busy city waters, families living

by WAZOBIA FM, ARRA Wines, with very poor road network, a 20 minutes trip can turn into a the banks defecating, The Avenue Suites, NOVA 3hours journey so I sought an dumping, washing and at the Internet Solutions, Chocolat same moment fetching water alternative to driving, a friend for cooking and children Royal, The Homestores, Art Cafe, Alexis Galleries. introduced me to the ferry swimming in the waters, I

New book reveals woes of job seekers

By JAPHET ALAKAM REVIEW

I

n Grudged Employment and the Struggles of a Nation, Wilson Onose writes about the everyday experience of job seekers, especially, the young and restless.

QUITE a good number of books and periodicals have appeared in the last few years, but, Grudged Employment and the Struggles of a Nation, a new book by Wilson Onose, has some peculiarities. It is interesting, perhaps because, it deals with issues most writers are not ready to confront.

The book, published by Spectrum Books Limited, Ibadan, is a creative insight into how Nigerian job seekers and workers are subjected to inhumane treatment by their employers.

Onose is just one the few authors, with the courage to investigate the rot that job seekers pass through in the hands of employers, which, according to him, is one of the embarrassing moments for Nigerian youths.

The book opens the reader’s mind to salient issues about employment.

Grudged employment is the situation when the income from a job is not commensurate with the energy expended on it. “Any job in which the income is not sufficient for an employee to make ends meet, is a grudged employment or job in which

workers’ welfare is not treated with utmost regard,” states the writer.

The author, aptly, addresses all these issues and looks at today ’s work environment, frustrations, corruption and poor leadership. ‘These are the problems bedevilling our dear country, Nigeria”, Onoso writes.

The book has five parts with 14 chapters. Part One discusses the Nigerian labour experience and fiscal impropriety in the country, which has given room to all-round labour and societal ills, such as exploitation, working class by employers of labour. It highlights the non-

availability of jobs for graduates, which prompt them to take up any job to survive.

Part Two brings to light, the abuses and inhumane treatment that employees in private establishments suffer on daily basis. Entrepreneurs rightly hold the view that they work hard to amass their wealth.

They, however, see anyone working under them as somebody who has come to take from their wealth, hence, the abuse and inhumane treatment.

The book further discusses the determination of some private organisations not to pay the minimum wage prescribed by the government. The author urges government to eradicate corruption and joblessness, and bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

P art Three sensitises the government on ways of creating jobs for unemployed graduates in the country. It condemns government’s attitude of robbing Peter to pay Paul, by paying Niger-Delta exmilitants handsomely, while little or no plan was made for unemployed graduates.

Part Four highlights causes of a begrudged employment.

Factors such as acute job scarcity, economic inequality and marginal opportunities have been adduced as reasons why graduates accept all manners of undesired jobs.

Part Five refers to education as one of the best options to provide the necessary platform for a gainful employment.

In summary, the book seeks to dissect and proffer practical and useful tips towards surmounting the multifaceted problems and challenges in our places of work and society.

The book is a must read for every one both unemployed youths, undergraduates in universities, workers in both private and public sectors.

King of Blues, B B King, dies at 89 which gave him access to a wide

By CHRIS ONUOHA MUSIC

•Late B.B. King As soul and R/B music aficionados are just trying to overcome the lost of an icon Ben E. King, known with the popular hit “Stand by me” on April 30, yet comes another huge loss, a blues meastro B B King.

Riley B. King, the legendary guitarist whose velvety voice and scorching guitar licks made him the idol of generations of musicians and fans that brought blues from the margins to the mainstream, died Thursday night at home in Las VegasMay 14, 2015 at the age of 89.

B B King got his start in radio with a gospel quartet in Mississippi, moved to Memphis, Tennessee,as a disc jockey in a radio station WDIA

range of recordings. He studied the great blues and jazz guitarists, including Django Reinhardt and T-Bone Walker, and played live music a few minutes each day as the “Beale Street Blues Boy,” later shortened to B.B. He began to break through to white audiences, particularly young rock fans, in the 1960s with albums like “Live at the Regal”.

Through his broadcasts and live performances, he quickly built up a following in the black community, and recorded his first R&B hit, “Three O’Clock Blues,” in 1951.

For most of a career spanning nearly 70 years, Riley B. King was not only the undisputed king of the blues but a mentor to scores of guitarists, who included Eric Clapton, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, John Mayall and Keith Richards.

He recorded more than 50 albums and toured the world well into his 80s, often performing 250 or more concerts a year.

Adieu KING of Blues !

SUND AY SUNDA

•Minimah

•Jibrin

•Amosu

Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 45

•Badeh

The game changer!

•Inside the war machine that crippled Boko Haram

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja.

W

hen outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan appointed new service chiefs to take over the leadership of the armed forces on January 16, 2014, with Lt. General Kenneth Minimah becoming the Chief of the Army Staff and Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, the Chief of the Air Staff, many did not foresee the impact both senior officers will bring to bear in the clearance of Boko Haram and terrorism from the land.

Before their appointment, the fight against insurgency was mostly fought on the basis of each C M Y K

service doing it its own way.

Under the state of emergency declared in 2013, the Defence Headquarters was asked to coordinate the counter insurgency operation and the number one military officer at the time, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, was put in charge.

The army chief, who many believed was actually fighting the battle and making in-roads in checkmating the terrorists ambitions of making the country ungovernable, was Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika while the air force had Air Marshal Alex Badeh at its helm. Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba was the naval chief.

The government declared a state of emergency in the three

north-eastern states worstaffected by the insurgency, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. The military also armed vigilante groups, vital in remote areas where military presence is minimal.

Boko Haram was driven from Maiduguri and neighbouring villages into the vast Sambisa forest along the border with Cameroon. But the sect responded with a new offensive in which it was said to have taken control of an area about the size of Belgium.

As the war to dislodge Boko Haram continued and the armed forces seemed to be making no headway in totally eliminating the terrorists, it became an open secret that

There was no synergy among the armed forces

there was no synergy among the armed forces.

Aside the armed forces, intelligence organizations like the SSS, Force Intelligence Bureau, the DMI and the Defence Intelligence Agency were also not united as competition ensued among them with regards to how to handle information that would help the cause of dislodging the terrorists.

In fact, Jonathan was said to have expressed frustrations that failure of several attempts to make the leadership of the armed forces and intelligence services work in synergy, to defeat a common enemy

Continues on page 46

PAGE 46—SUND AY 46—SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

•Nigerian soldiers singing victory song

Inside the war machine that crippled Boko Haram Continued from page 45 influenced his decision to appoint new service chiefs.

H o w e v e r, following the takeover of command by Minimah-Army, Usman JibrinNavy, Amosu-Airforce and Alex Badeh-Defence Headquarters, the officers learnt from what happened to their predecessors and, since then, the synergy among them has been unprecedented, hence the many successes in reclaiming territories and defeating Boko Haram.

One of the other reasons the military is winning the war on terrorism is the close collaboration between Minimah and Amosu (course mates) on one hand and the collaboration between Badeh, Minimah and Amosu on the other.

Also, for the first time, the office of the National Security Adviser under the headship of Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) is believed to have worked in sync with the service chiefs hence areas of friction and ‘power show’ were eliminated for smooth collaboration in operational matters.

Ambushes Another area of synergy was in the aspect of the ‘order of battle for counter terrorism operations; before now, the policy of jointness in military operations among the Nigerian armed forces was only on paper. It was hardly practised and the several miscalculations and ambushes which members of

the military fell into during encounters with Boko Haram are testimonies to this.

But with the new synergy, the army took the air force into confidence when planning and settling for the type of military hardware it wanted to buy and both services analyzed the advantages of its application in a joint offensive. The same thing applied when the air force wanted to buy its fighter aircraft.

The army was told the advantages it will bring to bear when both services unleash air and land offensive on the common enemy.

Consequently, incidents of air force fighter aircraft dropping bombs or striking at own troops rather than the terrorists due to misinformation or wrong intelligence, was completely eliminated So there was nothing to hide from each other. In fact, following their assumption of office, the Chief of the Air Staff (Amosu) and his army counterpart (Minimah) spent the better part of the first few weeks moving round the epicentre of the insurgency battle; mapping out new strategies, motivating troops and assessing the challenges on ground.

Shuttle diplomacy While both were on this venture, the CDS (Badeh) kickstarted the shuttle diplomacy of trying to convince the military leadership of Nigeria’s

Other challenges that caused the problem included armoured vehicles that were in such poor mechanical conditions; they would just produce smoke and wouldn’t move as well as military vehicles running out of fuel neighbours on the need to collaborate with our armed forces in dealing with the insurgency once and for all, through the blockade of their borders to stop the terrorists constantly running into their territories to escape bombardments and regrouping.

At the Defence Headquarters level, the Chief of Operations,

Major General Awala, and the Chief of Operations at Army headquarters, Major General Ewansiha, according to investigations, worked closely and the issue of power play never surfaced because the Defence Headquarters accorded the army headquarters the due courtesies.

As the Chief of the Air Staff before his elevation to CDS, Badeh worked very closely with Amosu who was then the Air Officer Commanding the Tactical Command of the Air Force.

Prior to the assumption of office of Minimah, stories of soldiers running away from Boko Haram militants were rife but attributable to low ammunition holding, inadequate allocated vehicles; and other logistics equipment that didn’t work, resulting in soldiers being outgunned and overpowered by well motivated terrorists.

Some of the arms carried by the terrorists and the quantity of ammunition available to them were surprising to Nigerian soldiers at some point and this undermined the fight against the so called jihadists.

It also emerged that soldiers running away from Boko Haram was as a result of the insurgents alleged ability to re-mobilize any time soldiers attacked them.

Other challenges that caused the problem included armoured vehicles that were in such poor mechanical conditions; they would just produce smoke and wouldn’t move as well as military vehicles running out of fuel. Mortars and rocket-propelled grenades wouldn’t even explode, they were so old”.

Trial But a tough stance taken by the military high command, though kick-started by Minimah, was the military trial of soldiers for mutiny and where culpable, death and life imprisonment sentences were passed. Many soldiers were dismissed while same applied to the air force, though on a much lower scale.

Asked recently what he felt about the action of the Chief of the Army staff sending soldiers to face court martial from the battle ground, the Chief of the Air Staff said, “We cannot function properly if we don’t follow or obey the rules, otherwise there will be nobody to fight the war.

So the Chief of the Army Staff is completely right on the various court martials taking place”.

On his part, Badeh severally decried the conduct of soldiers who either committed mutiny or clandestinely helped the cause of Boko Haram by ‘donating military equipment like armoured tanks’ or leaked information about operational movements to terrorists, hence the trial or dismissal of deserters or compromised troops was fully justified.

On the allegation of troop’s morale being low because the amount approved for fighting the deadly war with a 50-50 chance of survival was only N30, 000 monthly, the military hierarchy was unanimous that it was discouraging for those putting their lives on the line hence government upped the allowance to N100, 000.

Little wonder therefore that with the arrival of new weaponry for the army and the air force as well as employment of modern intelligence gathering tactics by intelligence services, the song has been continuous victory and that ‘never again’ will such madness, murderous impunity be allowed in Nigeria.

The aerial and artillery pounding of the Sambisa Forest, initially dreaded because of the over 3, 000 mines planted by Boko Haram to safeguard their camps and the systematic removal of the mines by mines sweeping armoured tanks, and the various successes recorded vis a vis, recovery of thousands of women, girls and children hitherto taken hostages, are testimonies of what working in synergy can achieve.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 47

Binis marginalisation started under military regime, PDP compounded it – Prince Akenzua

By Simon Ebegbulem, Benin-City

P

rince Edun Akenzua, the younger brother of the Oba of Benin, is the Enogie (Duke) of Obazuwa. In this interview, the convener of the Benin Leaders of Thought explains why President Goodluck Jonathan lost the presidential election, asserting that the gods of Benin Kingdom were against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to their alleged marginalization of the Binis. Excerpts: How do you review the results of the just concluded general elections because it was clear before the elections that majority of you traditional rulers in Edo South were against the PDP-led Federal Government?

I was not surprised as such considering what happened before the elections. Myself and a number of people in Benin here had known that President Jonathan was going to lose because we felt his administration did not do anything for the Binis and therefore there was no reason to return him. No Benin man or Benin woman was appointed in the Federal Executive Council, even though the Benin people voted massively for him in 2011 when Governor Adams Oshiomhole persuaded us to support him. This was the general opinion of people in Benin.

Meanwhile, some people came to fight for him, they threw a lot of things around to make him win.

Even on election day, some PDP leaders were driving around when there was not supposed to be movement, distributing money. That was part of the things that made him get the votes he got in Edo, if not, he would have lost woefully here.

House of Assembly election in Edo In the presidential election, President Jonathan lost, so the second election came out as it should be, the PDP lost woefully in the House of Assembly election. After the first election, the Enigie in Edo South had a post-mortem of that first election and they saw what happened. The Enigie, including me, believe that for the past six years,the PDP has not done anything to deserve our support. The PDP did not do anything in Edo South, the only C M Y K

person that did something in Edo South that we saw and we are still seeing is Governor Oshiomhole.

We have beautiful roads, schools, hospitals, name it. So it was not a surprise that APC won the House of Assembly election. I will say that three issues were responsible for that victory. The first was that Oshiomhole has worked seriously in Edo South and the two other senatorial districts. He has done so much for Edo people and the work he did on ground were enough to campaign for him. He showed up on television every day asking people to return APC candidates in the House of Assembly election. Secondly, the Enigie in Edo South were very disappointed after the first election, we investigated and found out that they were some black legs. The Enigie even identified the black legs that worked against the system and asked them questions they could not answer. We asked them what is it that the PDP had done for Edo state in the past six years.

Secondly, the youths of Edo saw what the Enigie were saying, they also saw what Oshiomhole has done and they worked along with the Enigie to ensure that the House of Assembly election was won by the APC. Now I saw some publications after the elections trying to ascribe the House of Assembly victory to some individuals, they mentioned Captain Hosa.

Captain Hosa is a Benin man, he is our son, we all know him, he is a good man, he did well for his party the PDP, during the presidential election, but, as a Benin man, we were worried because I know him as a business man and not a politician. Indeed three days before the presidential election, Ize-Iyamu and Lucky Imasuen had visited the Enigie requesting us to ensure that the Benin people did not keep themselves in the opposition.

They pleaded with us to support the PDP as they were going to use their connection to help the Benin if Jonathan won. But we in the Benin Leaders of Thought and the Enigie asked them that all these while that Oshiomhole has been governor, why have n’t the Benin people who are close to the President ensure that a Benin man is appointed? Why did they not tell him that our people back home had been

*Prince Akenzua

The problem the people of Edo South have been suffering did not start now, it started at the time of the military during the creation of local governments complaining of marginalization?

Why did they not tell him to make a Benin man or woman a minister? Our people were being given second class board membership while every appointment went to Edo Central. We asked our Bini people in PDP to go and ask Jonathan these questions and whatever he said they should come and tell us but none of them did. I know that Captain Hosa has been good to the Binis, but it will be wrong, like I read, to say he made it possible for the APC to win the House of Assembly election. I know he himself has not said so, but some persons are writing rubbish and I don’t think it is in good faith.

Captain we know him as a successful business man and I remember when the Oba Market got burnt years ago, he assisted the women. Like I heard, he has assisted many of our sons and daughters but they should not drag him into politics because what they are writing is making people ask why now that Buhari won.

Bini gods against PDP I think Jonathan is a good man

but the gods of the land were against PDP, unfortunately Jonathan belongs to that party.

The gods of the land did not want PDP to come back because if PDP had come back they would have messed up everything that Oshiomhole has achieved in the past six years. Again, in this country for 16 years they have been running this country, rather than work for the people, they looted and became small gods.

For Edo State, for Oshiomhole to be able to navigate his way for six years, to remain steadfast in the development of Edo, the gods of the land have been with him.

Look at what Oshiomhole has achieved in six years under a hostile Federal Government. He had the option of joining them due to the intimidation but he refused because he is truly working for the people.

Buhari will perform This man Gen.Buhari contested for the presidency unsuccessfully on several occasions. I believe he must have a message for the people. If he did not have a message for the people, I do not think he would have been dogged. Having attempted four times, naturally he would have been frustrated but for him to remain steadfast shows he has a message for Nigerians. And like I said, Nigerians prefer some body who had been coming and failing, struggling consistently to somebody like Jonathan and PDP who feel that they have the answers to Nigeria’s problems while our economy is dying every day. Buhari was prepared for the election from day one but Jonathan was not prepared because he had to wait till about seven million Nigerians went on their knees and signed a paper requesting him to come and, after getting all the signatures, he now decided to declare his ambition.

If he has the answers to our problems, they did not need to beg him to contest for President. So he is a very reluctant President, a reluctant candidate unlike Buhari is eager to serve Nigeria again.

Now that Buhari has come, he will tackle corruption, he will tackle power problem, he will clean up

the mess in our oil industry, let us give him time to do it. But we must recognize that PDP killed our refineries, PDP entrenched corruption. If anybody is expecting Buhari to clean up the system in four years then we are deceiving ourselves. Buhari needs more time to work, a harm that was done in 16 years you cannot expect he will clean them up in four years. I believe if they give him time to work, he will put Nigeria back on track.

Why Buhari must correct the marginalization of the Binis The problem the people of Edo South have been suffering did not start now, it started at the time of the military during the creation of local governments. At the time they created the local governments, Edo South had 58 percent of the population of the state. Yet they gave Edo South five local governments, Edo North and Central put together they gave them seven.

When Admiral Akhigbe came they added two each, they still had two above us. As a result, we have ten members in the state House of Assembly and the other two have 14. So we are going to ask that they should review all these things and give us what is due to us. There was a time that the Federal Government asked the late Abel Guobadia, a former INEC Chairman, to give us three more local governments, but somehow Guobadia said he was not in a position to do that because elections were close, adding that if they gave the local governments to us, the people of Kano will have the same kind of problem as we had in Edo South. And Kano, being so volatile, might disrupt the elections. So he said we should wait until after the elections to address the problem. But before the elections were held, the powersthat-be in Abuja, said what they will do was that they will give one each to the three senatorial districts, that that would have maintained the status quo, so issues pertaining to our marginalisation, this is the time to review them.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 49

DELE ALAKE’S SON WEDS The traditional and church wedding between former Miss Omoleye Abisola, daughter of Mr John Akinleye, a former Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and Mr Olatunbosun Tojuola, son of Mr Dele Alake, a former Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Lagos State. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele & Kehinde Gbadamosi

AT THE CHURCH SERVICE

•Chief Olu Ajomo and wife, Bukky.

Pix Chief Olu Ajomo and Chief (Mrs) Bukky Ajomo

•The couple, Mr and Mrs Olatunbosun Alake.

•From left: Mr Tokunbo Afikuyomi; Mr Jide Sanwoolu, a former Lagos State Commissioner, and Alhaji Lai Muhammed, APC Publicity Secretary.

•From left: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Alhaji Lai Muhammed, Chief Bisi Akande, and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

•From left: Mr John Akinleye, bride’s father; Mrs Olasunmbo Alake, groom's mother; Mr and Mrs Olatunbosun Alake, the new couple; Pastor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice-President-elect and the officiating minister; Mrs Titilayo Akinleye, bride's mother and Mr Dele Alake.

•From left: Mrs Serifat Aregbesola; Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, and Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.

From left: Mrs Jibike Babatunde; Mrs Kemi Nelson and Mrs Caroline Ewonwun.

AT THE TRADITIONAL WEDDING

•The new couple.

C M Y K

•From left : Oba Abdul Rasak Adenugba, Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye; Oba Yinusa Adekoya, Dagbunewe of Idowa; Oba Anthony Alakija, Akija of Ikija-Ijebu and Oba Abib Awobajo, Limeri of Awa-Ijebu.

•From left: Mrs Olasunbo Alake, Otunba Femi Pedro, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State •From right: Mr Bolaji Abosede, a former with the new couple.

Commissioner for Physical Planning, Lagos State; Prince Gabriel Farotade; Dr Ade Tinubu and Mrs Yemisi Tinubu.

PAGE 50, SUNDAY

Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015,

Breaking the jinx in Delta

By Henry Umoru

A

FTER years of denial and backstabbing, joy has finally come to the people of Delta North in Delta State, popularly called Ibo speakers in the state.

Delta North has every reason to roll out the drums to celebrate what has happened to it since the state was carved out from the old Bendel State on August 27, 1991, even as it boasts of Asaba as the capital of the state. Delta North comprises of Ndokwa, Oshimili, Enuani and Ika. History was made April 11 when the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, was voted as governor by the people of Delta.

Okowa became the choice of the people because he was experienced in politics having contested in 2007 for the PDP governorship ticket but narrowly lost to out- going Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan from Delta South comprising the Ijaw, the Isoko and the Itsekiri.

Prior to the coming of Uduaghan as governor, Sir Felix Ibru, from Delta Central, was the first elected chief executive officer of Delta while the second civilian governor was Chief James Ibori, from Delta Central, made up of the Urhobo with the population advantage.

The road to the North producing the governor was paved by Ibori when, at the twilight of his administration, he expressed the hope that the people of the state will come to realize the need to allow power to rotate among the zones in Delta.

His successor, Uduaghan, keyed into the dream of the North producing the governor after the Central and the South had taken their turns and pursued it with vigour which culminated in the emergence of Okowa.

It was a dream come true for Delta North after the gubernatorial poll when the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Bio Nyananyo, reeled out the result and pronounced Okowa of the PDP the winner.

Okowa polled 724,680 votes to beat his closest rival, Chief Great Ogboru of the Labour Party, LP, who got 130,028 votes.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Chief O’tega Emerhor, came a distant third with 67,825 votes.

It was a sweeping victory for Okowa who won in 21 local government areas out of the 25 in the state while Ogboru took the remaining four.

After the announcement, the entire Delta State, particularly Asaba, was thrown into jubilation as history was made that, for once, since 1991, Delta North produced a governor. The celebration was same in Oshimili, Aniocha; Aniocha South; Ika South ; Ika North- East; Ndokwa West; Ndokwa East; Isoko south; Isoko North; Bomadi; Burutu; Ughelli South; Ughelli North; Ethiope West; Ethiope East; Sapele; Okpe; Warri North; Warri South; Uvwie; Udu; Warri Central; Ukwani; Oshimili North and Patani.

C M Y K

•Felix Ibru

•James Ibori

•Emmanuel Uduaghan

•Okonwa

Ahead of the gubernatorial election came the zoning hullabaloo and, with the body language that Delta North would produce Uduaghan’s successor, it became close to a war with many aspirants from the senatorial district.

The aspirants included tested politicians and technocrats who resigned to test political waters The process that led to Okowa’s emergence as the PDP candidate was intriguing.

Before the PDP primary election, the powers-that-be in the state settled for Sir Tony Chuks Obuh who had the hope that he would be the next governor on the platform of the PDP. Obuh, who had about three years to stay in the civil service, with the possibility of becoming the Delta Head of Service, threw his hat in the ring in August last year because of the encouragement he received from some stakeholders in Delta.

However, the tide changed against Obuh at the last minute.

There were aspirants like former Speaker, Delta House of Assembly, Victor Ochei; former Special Adviser to the President on Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye; member, House of Representatives, Ndidi Elumelu; former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe; Ovie OmoAgege; Godswill Obielum; Mrs Esther Uduehi, among others, all from the

North for the ticket.

Delta Central had only one aspirant, David Edevbie.

Following the array of aspirants from Delta North, the Asagba of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien, and the Anioma Congress took the initiative to

Some aspirants from the North in the gubernatorial race did not accept their fate, preferring to go to the primary election to slug it out for the PDP governorship ticket

wade into the brewing crisis, and decided to speak with one voice on whom Delta North will present as its candidate. The move became imperative to avoid losing out of the political equation.

Okowa had the best chance, placed side by side with other aspirants from the zone and his people refused to commit political murder as he was picked as the favoured candidate at the end of the screening exercise conducted by the Anioma Congress.

Ochei and Elumelu came second and third respectively. However, fate had a different thing in stock for Okowa as permutations later changed against him.

RE-ALIGNMENT Some aspirants from the North in the gubernatorial race did not accept their fate, preferring to go to the primary election to slug it out for the PDP governorship ticket.

At this point, stakeholders across Delta three senatorial districts began open declaration of support for Okowa.

Support for him was boosted from Delta South by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, changing the game totally in his favour.

Okowa had became a pan-Delta project with stakeholders from Delta Central and South joining the train.

Uduaghan must be commended for the stabilising role he played by giving up his political ambition in the overall interest of Delta. He sacrificed his senatorial ambition. The governor also jettisoned his support for Obuh in the interest of the state and ensured that there was genuine and transparent election.

After Okowa’s emergence as PDP’s candidate, the issue of running mate came up. Consequently, it was gathered that Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark; Senator James Manager; and Tompolo threw their weight behind Okowa on the condition that the Ijaw would be allowed to produce his running mate.

It was gathered that Okowa conceded the position, a development which led to intensive struggle by Clark, Manager and Ekpemukpolo to force their nominees on him.

While Clark was said to have pushed for a commissioner in the state, Chief Braduce Angozi, Manager rooted for a top chieftain of the PDP and Tompolo canvassed for a commissioner representing the Ijaw in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Mr. Kingsley Otuaro.

After the primary, the real project of ensuring Okowa and PDP’s victory commenced as stakeholders across the state put aside their differences, worked together and ensured victory for him at the governorship poll. Even the likes of Ochei, who picked the senatorial ticket outside the PDP, campaigned vigourously for Okowa.

All is now history. Okowa won more that two-third of the votes cast across Delta notwithstanding the presence of gubernatorial candidates from “majority ethnic” groups in the state. It was a clear indication that ethnic sentiment in leadership selection may have gone for good in Delta as the jinx has finally broken.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015 PAGE 51

Decampment, so what?

Yomi Obaditan, Osogbo HERE are times when T decamping may be the last option for a politician. Even the

Constitution gives allowance for it: That where the national body of a political party is fractionalised due to internal crisis, an elected member may join another party without resigning his post. But where it is in a state of domicile, it may not be possible to resign or decamp to another party. People decamp because of “main stream politics”, they want to belong to the ruling party at the centre. Chief Obafemi Awolowo parted company with Chief S L A. Akintola after a protracted misunderstanding over the rejection by Awolowo not to join the coalition with Northern Peoples Congress (NPC).

The Second Republic under the control of National Party of Nigeria ( NPN ) witnessed an alliance between the NPN and Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP). Two years into the coalition, the ruling party swallowed up the NPP, and the next polls, the NPP, under Nnamdi Azikwe lost all its states to the NPN except Anambra. The same thing happened in the current dispensation, when the All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP) aligned with the PDP, the ANPP lost almost all its National Assembly members, leaders and states to the ruling PDP. Politicians decamp to a successful and stable political party sometimes by becoming a mole that sectrely gathers information that may be useful for the former party; either for the purpose of destabilisation or for strategic purpose, in order to rebuid theirs.

Indiscipline of some politicians

do cause decampment. Those who have money to back aspirants or they themselves are the one seeking power atimes become uncontrollable. Any measure taken by the party to restore sanity may be resisted by them. The next thing would be to move out to another political party in order to achieve their goal.

Politicians can be grouped into three categories namely, political thugs, Political contractors, and practising politicians. Political thugs are messengers sent by political agents to cause violence and intimidate opponents.

Political contractors are in politics for pecuniary gains, so they join any government in power and once the party is out of power, they decamp to the new ruling party.

Practising politicians are visionary. They mobilise people for what they intend to do; they spend money and time to achieve their goals. But those in the last group are rarely found.

The common language for the

The APC has remained in opposition since 1999 under various names. If the APC had chickened out, by now, the nation would be worse for it

•Chief John Oyegun roaming politicians is prostitution. They are described as political prostitutes because they go for what they can gain from the office through any party in power, not minding their former criticism of the same party they have just joined. Such practice makes the ordinary citizens to see politicians as same in the search for “stomach infrastructure” or in another words “ chop I chop” politicians. It is one of the odds against the democratic culture.

Others described them as fair weather members, whose stock in trade is to enjoy the good times in the party and quit as soon as the good times are over.

It gladden ones heart to hear the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, advising political opposition not to decamp but to stay in their camp in order to provide a robust opposition for the new government. The APC has remained in opposition since 1999 under various names. If the APC had chickened out, by now, the nation would be worse for it.

The role they played had kept the outgoing government on their toes. It has also prevented the nation from becoming a one-party state. The little development

•PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu witnessed today wouldn’t have been there. The handshake across the Niger would have been a mirage, but the stability and the unity of Nigeria is a product of a conscious and vibrant opposition.

It is high time for the PDP to adjust for a new role of opposition. This house (Nigeria) must stand, and if is going to stand, all hands must be on deck to keep the political process on.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, threw jibes at decampees by saying: “In case they did not get the message of the presidentelect and our Chairman, we want to repeat it in blunt terms: The PDP leaders and members, you are not welcomed in the APC. Please, stay in your party, but ifas we suspect-you cannot survive in the opposition, then take a walk, quit politics”.

Some people who had endured the intimidation, and hard times as members of the opposition, now rejoicing at the victory of their candidates at the polls, and hoping for political appointments, who suddenly realised that the new entrants into the party could deny them of such privileges, may not be happy with the leadership of their party and the situation, if not well-managed, could cause

State Assemblies autonomy needs constitutional backing — Hon Owhefere there is no autonomy for state assemblies all state assemblies will remain rubber stamps to the executive arm of government.

No change will occur if the Constitution is not amended to

Hon. Tim Kome Owhefere, a lawyer and member of Delta State House of Assembly representing Isoko North, in this chat, speaks on the controversy surrounding autonomy for state assemblies.

By Emman Ovuakporie HE Federal Government T has gone to the Supreme Court to halt the review of the

1999 Constitution, what does this portend for our democracy?

It is a very sad development.

As a legislator and a lawyer, I know what it takes to embark on such a monumental legislative exercise. You don’t throw away the baby with the bath water just because the midwife was bad. The Hon. Emeka Ihedioha-led AdhocCommittee on the review of the 1999 Constitution did a marvelous job and deserves

C M Y K

commendation not judicial interpretation as the Presidency has now made us to believe.

This matter could have been resolved without necessarily going to court.

The adhoc-committee recommended that state assemblies should have autonomy but it is like this may not be realistic as the Supreme Court has ruled that the status quo should remain. What is your take?

That is another sad commentary because the state assemblies need it as there are no definite constitutional provisions that make them legally separate and independent from the state government and there is no law

•Hon. Tim Kome Owhefere,

backing autonomy, it can’t change. You cannot insult a man who needs to give you money every week. The state assembly will continue to be a rubber stamp to the executive arm of government so long as the executive releases the cash.

If there is no law on ground to define and shape autonomy for the state assembly, the situation will remain the same. So, if

I wonder why it took the Presidency so long to object to the amendment considering the huge sum of money expended on this project

disaffection in the party. That also could be the beginning of division in the party. So, those who are just joining the victorious party must learn to be patient and wait for their turn, while bearing it in mind that some people had undergone tough times to cook the delicious meals they are coming for; if those people had gone before now, there might be nothing in the kitchen to eat.

The late Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, had it rough when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo invited him to be part of his cabinet after the 1999 elections. His country man, the the late Sunday Afolabi, accused Ige of coming to “eat” from the PDP. Ige replied that he was not in the Obasanjo’s cabinet to eat but to serve his father land. Upon all that Ige did while in that government, neither the members of the party nor the President acknowledged his efforts. Ige himself, while supervising the power sector, cried out that his efforts were being sabotaged. Ige did not decamp, yet on his readiness to return to his party, his life was cut short by unknown assailants. It is time for us all to learn from the mistake of the past and stop unnecessary decampment.05-15 that effect.

You cannot force the judgement of the Supreme Court. I wonder why it took the Presidency so long to object to the amendment considering the huge sum of money expended on this project.

I recall that the 36 Houses of Assembly met and voted on this amendment, and to just wake up one morning to say that you are uncomfortable with the amendment leaves much to be desired. I mean it doesn’t tell well of our democracy and, if you look at all the amendments, everything was designed to strengthen the very foundation of our democracy.

Do you think the National Conference report will survive?

You don’t need a soothsayer to tell you that it will be confined into our historical garbage because it is dead on arrival.

Are you satisfied with the zoning arrangement in Delta State?

Before the election, we knew the direction and, simply put, the governorship went to Delta North; deputy, South; and Speaker zoned to Central. So I do not have any problem with the zoning arrangement. We had a direction and we followed it to avoid conflict.

PAGE 52 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

T

HEIR victory resonates. Their joy, now, knows no bounds. Their swag has even changed and their members are increasingly ubiquitous.

Yes, from obscurity they have emerged into limelight.

Indeed, the road was far, tough and thorny. But they persevered and remained optimistic such that they pursued their target with so much gusto and vigour. Luckily, the heavens heard them and the people queued behind them. Today, they are the toast of all and sundry.

At the conceptualization of the idea early in 2013, dusts were raised. There were conspiracies to clog their wheel of progress. Political subterfuges were a common feature. All kinds of darts were understandably shot at them such that it threw up a parallel body in its name.

Legal fireworks later ensued. Claims and counter-claims of logo and colour brand became an issue. Those were the days. The dark days.

But like the troops in Bama or Baga, they soldiered on, leaving nothing to chance. And on July 31, 2013, history was made. The All Progressives Congress, APC, was born. The political party had first been formed by a conglomerate of political parties now known as legacy parties on February 6, 2013 but it was formally registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in July. Then, the mantra of change began and soured high within days for the party formed out of an alliance with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) – and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Today, change, as party members would loudly chorus in their meetings, has come to Nigeria. They are victorious and in about two weeks time, they will form the next government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

APC secretariat, a Mecca of some sort But for the members of the APC and the staff of the national secretariat in Abuja, the imposing edifice that houses the party’s headquarters in highbrow Wuse 2 of Abuja metropolis would have always been lonely. And with the victory of its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, at the March 28 general elections, the secretariat became a mecca of some sort, playing host to all kinds of persons and politicians.

Interestingly, majority of the visitors are or were members of the exiting Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The visitors include Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, a former National Chairman of the PDP and the man who vowed that PDP would rule for 60 years, and Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of Abia State.

Others are former Governors Jim Nwobodo (Anambra), Fidelis Tapgun (Plateau), Ahmed Markafi (Kaduna), Balarabe Musa (Kaduna) Buka Ibrahim (Yobe) ,Okwesilieze Nwodo (Enugu), Chinwoke Mbadinuju (Anambra) and Niyi Adebayo(Ekiti).

While Ogbulafor visited alone, Kalu was accompanied by the former C M Y K

•General Buhari

•Chief Ogbulafor

•Senator Mark

Buhari, Ogbulafor, Mark and the PDP defectors Failure is an orphan but success has cousins and brothers. This age long saying has found fulfilment in the All Progressives Party, APC, which won the last presidential election and still went ahead to record a landslide in the gubernatorial election across the country’s.

Consequently, many politicians who would never have reckoned with APC or its members in the event of failure have swiftly identified with the party. This is a chronology of incidences that shaped APC from its formation stage to the present success it has achieved. governors.

The National Chairman, United Progressives Party, UPP, Dr. Chekwas Okorie, also visited the secretariat.

Remarkably, these were visits attracted by the defeat of the PDP by the APC. More visits to Buhari at the Defence House, Aso Drive, BSO The number of congratulatory visits to the APC secretariat cannot in anyway compare to the ones at the mini State House which is what the Defense House, the temporary office of Buhari as the president-elect in Maitama, has

Instructively, these are all PDP heavyweights who perhaps never believed that power would leave the party this soon

become since his return from his Daura village, Katsina State immediately after the governorship election on April 11.

Apart from over 30 ambassadors of different countries that have visited him, presidents of Ghana and Benin Republic as well as a former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, also came to felicitate with Buhari on his victory.

Coming back home, the number of the visitors is legion. From the Senate president, David Mark, to his deputy, Ike Ekwerenmadu, down to the Senate Leader, Ndoma Egba, Buhari’s door was opened. Instructively, these are all PDP heavyweights who perhaps never believed that power would leave the party this soon.

To Mark, such visits should be private as he didn’t involve the press. Besides, he chose a more isolated place, the Buhari Support Group, BSO, office in Wuse 2 instead of the Campaign Office or the Defence House where journalists would always be. But after, he did not escape the camera lens of a paparazzi.

For reasons best to him, Ekwerenmadu avoided the press. Emerging from a closed door meeting with Buhari at the Defence House, he beamed smiles, focused on his waiting convoy and zoomed off without saying a world to journalists who followed him to his car.

Ndoma Egba was bold the day he visited. He led a couple of his people from Cross River State to see Buhari.

But he later came under heavy attack by his kinsmen, mostly APC members from his state who called him a gold digger. Ndoma Egba was forced to put out further explanation in a rebuttal. “Any who is unhappy with my visit should arrange his or hers. It is my constitutional right to associate with whomsoever I choose”, he said.

For Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State and of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, nothing was more

timely than a visit to Buhari at his private residence in Aso Drive, Abuja.

For a number of others, the APC presidential campaign office at the Central Business District of Abuja was ideal. Of course, the reason for the visits was that the table has turned and APC is the party in control.

Jonathan’s senator, Rep, others defect to APC Though, there had been a gale of defections since APC’s victory at the polls, last week featured the loudest. In one fell swoop, President Jonathan’s kinsmen at the state and National Assemblies left the PDP for the APC. The lawmakers, who announced their defection alongside their supporters at the APC national secretariat on Wednesday, include Senator Clever Marcus Ikisikpo ( Bayelsa-East), Mr. Nadu Karibo ( Ogbia federal constituency), and member, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr Azibola Omekwe (Ogbia constituency).

Many other defectors To be frank, the PDP has lost many a personality to APC since the year began.

Consider people like two former national chairmen, Chiefs Audu Ogbe and Barnabas Gemade; Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, now governor-elect, Sokoto State; a former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, now in SDP; a former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Chibudom Nwuche; his colleague, Alhaji Usman Bayero Nafada, now senator-elect; a former Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, now governor-elect, Katsina State; his colleague, Patricia Etteh; and her deputy, Babangida Nguroje, among others. For a party that has lost so many of its founding members, the danger of total collapse of the PDP looms.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 53

Senate Presidency: Permutations on numbers and groups

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN

N

OT since 2007 has emotion over the leadership of the Senate been stoked as it is now. Then the men in combat were Senator David Mark and the then Senate greenhorn, Senator George Akume both of them being from the same geopolitical zone and the same political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. But how time has now changed.

Akume remains in the game even today, but he has changed party platform and is today, the Senate Minority Leader, being the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC caucus in the Senate.

However, that is where it ends as his aspiration to again contest the presidency of the Senate in his new party is under severe attack, both from within and outside his geopolitical zone. The most potent challenge to him until recently was Senator Bukola Saraki, the former governor of Kwara State who is also the chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology.

The momentum with which Senator Saraki came into the contest immediately after the National Assembly elections on March 28 was stupefying and it was no surprise that he was quickly embraced by a number of groups, the most notable, being The Like Minds who have claimed endorsements from the North Central and a number of former governors now entering the Senate.

It was as such no surprise that the Saraki momentum seemingly weighed down the Akume supporters. Saraki’s enjoyment of the limelight is now seriously challenged by the emergence of strong support for Senator Ahmad Lawan, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.

While Saraki has The Like Minds clapping for him, Lawan is being bolstered by the enthusiastic support of the newly formed Unity Forum, a group of senators and senators-elect who believe in him.

The Unity Forum according to sources is projecting its candidate on the basis of the recent assertion by the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari that he was not backing any of the candidates as some news reports had tended to portray.

Buhari’s assertion that the best candidate should emerge and that he was willing to work with any Senate President irrespective of tribe, language or creed is one that has inevitably compelled the senators and senators-elect to rethink their permutations and is something that the members of the Unity Forum are now projecting to make an advantage of.

Inevitably, the development has now projected Senators Saraki and Lawan as the main contenders for the job.

Remarkably, the Unity Forum at the weekend stated conditions that the new Senate President should have to succeed.

A senator-elect from the NorthCentral who is a member of the forum said: “He or she must have recorded high levels of integrity both in his or her public and private life. He or she must never have been convicted of

•Senator Lawan

•Senator Saraki

corruption or implicated in any corruption cases.

“He or she must not have any allegations of corruption or corruption charges pending against him or her.

Where such exists, the nominee in question must first ensure that he or she conclusively clear himself or herself of such allegations using existing official channels before the process of his or her nomination gets on the way, including before being presented to the National Assembly for consideration.”

“He or she must also be prepared to declare his or her assets publicly as this later requirement aligns with the recent comments credited to Buhari which goes further to affirm his commitment to ensuring that this constitutional responsibility is discharged not only by the President-

elect, but, also, by everyone that would be nominated to work with his administration.

“This must be done conscientiously and made open to public scrutiny in line with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, 2011...”

Continuing on the conditions that the new Senate President should have, he said such a man or woman “must be a popular choice, scandal in the chamber, has no scandal in the chamber and above all, must be corruption-free...”

That the group is not in support of the ambition of Senator Saraki was obvious as he said that the NorthCentral zone had gotten the position through various persons including Senators Iyorcha Ayu, Ameh Ebute, David Mark and also occupied the

office of Deputy Senate President through at least three different persons namely, Senators John Wash Pam, Haruna Abubakar and Ibrahim Mantu.

While noting his own NorthCentral’s occupation, he also pointed that the Northeast, which contributed the second largest votes to the APC in the presidential election was yet ever to occupy any one of the offices.

“The Northeast has always been loyal to the opposition and this can be gleaned from the pattern of voting from 1999. The Northeast has been marginalised. The only high-ranking political appointments from the zone was in 1999 with Atiku and during the brief administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua when Babagana Kingibe was the SGF. “Lawan has cognate experience...he is the captain of the first 11 from the Northeast. This is the time to support the Northeast by giving them a sense of belonging in the Nigerian project.”

“Lawan is known to speak fearlessly on the floor of the Senate whenever there are issues that touch on the common man...What his opponents count against him, his friendship with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the chamber should rather be seen as a plus.

“During consideration of federal budgets, he would always argue in favour of raising capital expenditure and reducing recurrent because, to him, when infrastructure is put in place, it would engender We know all these because we follow his contributions in the floor. Whenever the occasion demanded, Lawan would put aside friendship and agitate that the common good be done.”

With Lawan’s now strident strikes the party is now faced with the difficult option of choosing between the two zones and two leading candidates and it is not impossible that the APC could eventually throw the game open to all, if not, then to avoid the prospects of the Tambuwal Effect.

The Buhari — Saraki Alliance

BY SUNNY AGUEBOR

L

IKE every concerned Nigerian, I have been following, with keen interest, the permutations on strategic political leadership positions, since the emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as president-elect. Many people tend to see the issue from the perspective of political convenienceas a matter of personal interest or allegiance to their preferred candidates for the Senate Presidency.

For me, I stand as a patriot, not minding whose ox is gored; in so far the aspirations of majority of Nigerians are guaranteed; my candid appraisal of all the candidates so far mentioned points to Sen. Bukola Saraki. I have not met him in person , neither do we share common affinity. But I am driven by the desire to see a Nigeria that is driven by the passion of good governance and transparent civil service structure.

From a distant appraisal of the Kwara born politician as well as interviews with his friends and associates, Nigeria has a unique opportunity of having a mixed grill of a thorough bred politician and business tactician, in our march to enthrone a populist executive and legislative. A young man who humbled himself despite

being born with a golden spoon, Bukola has always stood on the side of the common Kwara man even at the risk of being disowned by his multi billionaire father. He delivered the PDP candidate for the governorship of Kwara State as successor, against his sister. This is an uncommon attribute, portraying a man who chooses the interest of the majority, far and above other considerations. Amongst other credentials for evaluating aspirants for the Senate presidency, Saraki stands

Many people tend to see the issue from the perspective of political convenience- as a matter of personal interest or allegiance to their preferred candidates for the Senate Presidency

taller than other contenders.

Based on clinical overview of the state of the nation, he and other progressives saw the need to forge an alliance with the opposition APC in 2014;apart from delivering his state governor into the G-5 Governors that defected into the APC, Saraki’s political war chest facilitated the APC victory in the presidential election in Kogi State. With the success from two intrinsically difficult terrains (politics and business), he is far ahead his peers in giving profound leadership In Nigeria’s senate, with robust legislative compliments for the Buhari’s revolutionary regime. The attempt to scuttle Saraki’s vision for Nigeria’s Senate leadership by some politicians on allegation of corruption is a disservice to the nation. This is so because the position of the law is that an accused is presumed innocent until pronounced found guilty by the court of law. So the APC has to be wary of some of our members spreading such anti-Saraki sentiment as they do not mean well for the nation.

I am of the view that the APC national leadership will give room to reason and justice and endorse Sen.Bukola Saraki’s aspiration.

•Aguebor is a chieftain of the APC in Edo State.

PAGE 54—SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

I

T is like the All Progressives Congress, APC, may not zone the speakership to your zone,. If that happens, what will you do?

Well, I do not wish for my party to go the route that PDP found itself in 2011. I would not say just because I am interested in the leadership of the House, I will wish my party ill.

It is unfortunate that somewhere along the line, these issues were not outlined before the elections which ought to have been a guide but I can assure you that majority of the members-elect are awaiting the party’s zoning formula while wishing that justice equity and fairness will guide that exercise and I can assure you that, so long as the zoning is fair and equitable, members will not rock the boat the way of 2011. Another thing you will want to know is that the president- elect comes across as s strong personality with a robust mandate not necessarily in number but because of his general acceptability in the highly populated states in Nigeria and, for that reason, I do not expect that APC will finish the zoning whichever way it goes and fold their arms.

Policy and democracy is about people influencing each other and the party would want to start its relevance fight from the word go because if one fails to learn from history, you are bound to suffer the consequences from your lack of understanding.

What makes you feel you can conveniently pilot the affairs of the House as you know that you are just first among equals?

Let me formally inform you that I am contesting and, by the grace of God and the support of all men and women of goodwill, I shall win and become the Speaker of the 8th House of Representatives on inauguration day.

My aspiration is driven by the desire to provide complementary leadership in the House of Reps to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as a zero tolerant leader to corruption in our public life.

My aspiration is anchored on the federal character provision of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; my aspiration is based on my robust experience and undeniable qualification for the post of Speaker My aspiration is propelled by my desire to champion a legislative agenda that gives meaning and practical expression to the change mantra of the incoming administration of APC. I am a second term member-elect to represent Owan Federal Constituency of Edo State in the 8th House of Reps.

I hold a B.Sc. second class upper division in accountancy from the UNN and M.Sc. in accounting from the University of Lagos. I am a fellow of the prestigious Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) I am happily married and we are blessed with three grown up well established children and I am a Christian.

I am a focused, courageous, determined, friendly and humble person who cherishes integrity in my entire relationship with people.

My leadership experience is multifaceted I was the head of internal audit department of Bendel state university with two campuses at Ekpoma and Abraka which have today become two full fledged universities, namely Ambrose Ali and Delta states universities respectively, I was national chairman of committee of heads of internal audit departments in Nigerian universities.

8th Assembly: I will partner Buhari as Speaker to enhance good governance — Hon Iriase Hon Pally Iriase is a second timer in the House of Representatives, a former Secretary to Edo State Government, a former Deputy Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly and a two-term local government chairman. In this chat, he speaks on how he will assist President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to deliver dividends of democracy.

I was an award winning bank manager and rose to the post of assistant controller in the bank before veering into politics in 1998. In was the pioneer deputy speaker of Edo state house of assembly in this 4th republic and I served the full four year term unimpeached thereby making me the only speaker or deputy speaker to have survived the four year tenure under this dispensation to date in Edo state.

I have been chairman of Owan east local government council and simultaneously the Edo state chairman of the association of local governments of Nigeria and a national vice president of ALGON 2003 to 2007. I have been the secretary to Edo state govt.

In the house of reps I am the deputy chairman of constituency outreach committee and a member of key committees such as public accounts, finance, banking and currency, housing and Niger Delta affairs. I was also a member of the special committee on selection at inception in 2011. I have been a vibrant activist in these committees and irrepressible advocate of honesty, integrity and accountability in the house, ministries and agencies.

You have hinged your campaign so far on federal character. Do you think this will give the speakership?

I am a foremost ranking memberelect from the South-South.

Section 14(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that “The composition of the government of the federation or any

My aspiration is propelled by my desire to champion a legislative agenda that gives meaning and practical expression to the change mantra of the incoming administration of APC

•Pally Iriase of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity and also to command national loyalty thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from the few states or from the few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or in any of its agencies. I emphasized ‘SHALL’.

On May 29, 2015, the presidentelect will swear an oath of allegiance and the oath of office and subsequently members-elect of the House of Representatives will swear an oath of membership. The most persistent feature in these oaths contained in the 7th schedule of the Constitution is a declaration to preserve the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy in the Constitution and to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

The incoming government is therefore inexorably bound to respect the federal character. What this means is that unless no qualified member is found of the majority party from a particular geo political zone, you

cannot ignore that zone in considering who should be Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The president elect is from the NorthWest and the vice president elect from the South-West; therefore based on the federal character provision of the Constitution, neither of these zones should get priority for National Assembly presiding officers.

When you consider the implication of the foregoing and factor in the feasible permutations for Senate presiding officers, it is clear that the South-South should be given the nod to produce the Speaker of the 8th assembly by the APC. So what will be your agenda for the 8th House?

When I become the Speaker, by the grace of God and the choice of all members-elect, I will be committed to transparency and anti-corruption in governance in general and in the House in particular I will ensure prudent management and overall good governance in Nigeria.

My goal will also be dogged defence and preservation of the respect and integrity of the legislature in Nigeria.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015 — PAGE 55

Page 56 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

VIEWPOINT

By Gboyega Amoboye

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The best man for the National Assembly top job

M

ERELY on books, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki looks good as the next President of the Senate, but politics is no mathematics; it is a game of number, compromise and horse trading.

Saraki is not only a courageous and astute politician like his late father and former Senate Leader, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki, but also skillful. The former Senate Leader’s ingenuity made the Senate worked for the government of President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic.

The national leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, began the journey to APC by teaming up with like minds to elect Hon Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Reps in 2011 as against the choice of the PDP, Adeola Akande.

While Tambuwal was running with the hare and dinning with the dare in the House, Bukola Sar-

Senate presidency: The case for Saraki aki was leading the revolution of change in the Senate. For this role, he was persecuted by the powers- that-be but he remained resolute.

Going by the numerical strength, the North-West has the finest chances ofproducing the Senate president. But having produced the president-elect, logic dictates that the North West should support another zone for the Senate presidency. The same argument goes for the South West that produced the Vice President except that the clamour for Honourable Gbajabiamila as Mr. Speaker is said to be unanimous as reward for his distinguished performance as Minority Leader.

APC ought to retain the Senate presidency in the North Central which has delivered all the five states in the zone- Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Niger and Benue. It took the vision and ingenuity of Saraki to ignite the fire of the revolution in Kwara before it spread to the other four states.

The failure to zone the Senate presidency to the North Central portends danger for the APCone, the zone is the national fulcrum and centre of gravity.

Should APC lose the zone in 1919,

APC ought to retain the Senate presidency in the North Central which has delivered all the five states in the zoneKwara, Kogi, Plateau, Niger and Benue

the party will only remain Hausa-Fulani –Yoruba oligarchy.

Therefore any political party that does not control the North Central automatically loses national identity. Two, the APC should not take the ambition of Senator David Mark to retain his seat lightly because he is calculating on the possibility of APC not zoning the seat to the North Central, as not doing so will open an avenue to reach out to his colleagues from the zone to form a solidarity.

Should that happen, digging the political grave of theAPC in the zone come 2019 might have started in earnest.

With the zoning question settled in favour of the North Cental, political expediency dictates that Benue that has monopolised the seat in David Mark for 12 years should relinquish it. The destination should be Kwara where Saraki has successfully led the ‘change revolution’ not only in the Senate but also in the North Central.

The Delta opposition’s penchant for litigation VIEWPOINT

BY MICHAEL TIDI

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The need for Deltans to be united for the success of incoming government

W

HILE it is said that there must be an end to litigation in any dispute, there must equally be an end to electioneering in any political contest. In Delta State, losers have emerged just as winners have been officially declared. In the aftermath of the elections, it is expected that all aggrieved persons should approach the tribunal to seek redress. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case with the opposition parties in the state. Instead of confining themselves to seeking justice at the tribunal, they have decided to extend their

VIEWPOINT

By Patrick Dele Cole

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Another look at the agric minister’s achievements

I

really did not want to write this piece against Dr. Adesina. I have never met him but I have a fundamental difficulty with Dr. Adesina, and one or two others who worked for President Jonathan. Intellect must always be used to promote progress, never to self flagellation. It must not be used as a hired gun.

Dr. Adesina and I have a number of common friends who have been most vocal in praising his intellect, and they have further told me that the agricultural revolution going on in the country at the moment is a product of Dr. Adesina’s initiative. His praise singers tell me he has brought sanity to the whole fertilizer business- that farmers now get the fertilizer they need. The ADB job, for which he is now being proposed, really has nothing to do with his agricultural accolades, which include, I am told,

case to the court of public opinion, where they continue to unleash vitriol against the Delta State governor-elect. While we shall leave the former to lawyers, their denigration of the person of the governor-elect should not go

If one were to offer candid advice to the opposition in the state, they would fare better by not dissipating what little energy and resources they have left in contesting a free and fair election

without some apt response.

While one had thought the losers of the election would take advantage of the olive branch extended to them by Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, during his victory speech, by at least constituting themselves into a credible opposition that is committed to constructive criticism of government policies, what they have busied themselves since losing the election are pointless rhetoric, empty sloganeering and cock and bull storytelling that dominated their campaign in the run up to the elections. While the unofficial spokesmen of the opposition may prefer to pile unfounded accusations on the governor-elect purely for political consideration, those who really know him all over the state can easily see through these unwarranted preoccupations of an opposition that is increasingly exposing itself as

a group of bad losers. What is by far more important to the future of good governance in the state is the fact that the masses who trooped out en masse to vote for Senator Okowa, know who they voted for and their minds cannot be poisoned against their choice.

If one were to offer candid advice to the opposition in the state, they would fare better by not dissipating what little energy and resources they have left in contesting a free and fair election that was attested to as vividly credible by everyone, including members of the opposition themselves. It is always sad to lose but it is a sign of maturity to accept defeat in good faith and strategize for the next elections instead of distracting the incoming government through endless litigation. Ideally, now is the time to join hands with the Governorelect in moving the state towards

That Saraki became a field Marshal in the Middle Belt politics is not by magic but as a result of years of electoral goodwill dating back to1989. His father, Abubakar Olusola Saraki, founded many political organisations including the Middle Belt Forum and Congress for National Consensus (CNC). Of course, Bukola Saraki has always been involved.

My quest is to explain how Bukola Saraki has become so influential in his political orbit and there fore has the influence and cognate experience to make the Senate work for the ‘change’ government of General Muhammadu Buhari come May 29. May God lead APC to act wisely as any thing short of doing the right thing may lead to agitation that the North Central should return “home” in 2019.

•AMOBOYE, a journalist, lives in Lagos. gboyejacob@yahoo.com.

the path of development. As recently observed by the erudite columnist, Dr. Femi Aribisala, the All Progressives Congress, APC should be satisfied with the 22 states it has won, many of which were won in very controversial circumstances instead of greedily trying to capture more states from the PDP through the courts or by trying to deny PDP governors their justly won mandates by instigating unwarranted impeachment moves as we have been observing in Ekiti State of recent.

Delta State has always been a PDP state and there is just no way APC should expect to win in the state. In the final analysis, we are all Deltans regardless of party affiliation and so should support the incoming government to take the state to next level.

•TIDI, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, is resident in Warri.

Adeshina and the billions spent on agriculture the introduction of cassava to the making of bread in Nigeria. Other achievements include the increase in production of rice etc., quite an impressive curriculum vitae.

Except I am not sure, not a single fact mentioned above is measurable in actual terms. Every farmer knows how many tubers he plants, year after year. So where are our figures for the increase in yam production? Or cassava production? There is no end to the billions of Naira spent by the Ministry of Agriculture, what we do not have is one single statistic.

For example, we were told during the days of Dr. Adesina’s control of agriculture that Nigeria imported 25% less rice in one year and this fact was immediately translated to mean we were growing more rice. As I write, there is not a single figure of actual production of agricultural products, measured over time, that we can attribute to the Minister. Towards the end of last year,

there was a massive propaganda on aquaculture. I know that a lot of Nigerians now grow catfish but did that come from the Ministry of Agriculture? I am certain it did not.

This is a country that grew cot-

What can we really say of Dr. Adeshina’s achievements? Can we honestly say that the billions spent on agriculture were justified? I cannot say so—and this is why Nigeria have not progressed

ton, maize, millet, and many other crops. Where are the warehouses and silos full of agriculture production? Indeed where is the policy to encourage people to return from the city to the farm?

How do we get people out of poverty if they do not grow out of it?

Is it fruits that we grow more of? Which ones and by how much? The propaganda towards the end of the regime of President Jonathan on agriculture and industry- they linked them up not me- that the more you grow, you could then go into food processing, etc.

Worse of all, there was this silly idea about the purchase of 600,000 handsets for farmers. I have heard of daft schemes but that takes the cake. How can anyway live that down??

Farmers have been introduced to the use of GSM in other countries. This is usually preceded by months of training on radio, town and village meetings to familiarize the farmers with the new software applications al-

ready in the specially built GSMs for farmers. Did Dr. Adeshina 6 million gift have special apps for farmers and the establishment of dedicated platform? I saw no such campaign in Dr. Adeshina’s programme for farmers.

What gets me is that men of intellect when asked to espouse obvious political stupidity should be courageous enough to let their intellect shine through.

What can we really say of Dr. Adeshina’s achievements? Can we honestly say that the billions spent on agriculture were justified? I cannot say so—and this is why Nigeria have not progressed. We need to produce more, we had an intellect able to deliver this and what do we get?

I am sorry to mess up another Nigerian about to get an internationally acclaimed job. I cannot help it. Oh by the way, cassava bread was developed in the University of IFE over 30 years ago.

•Dele Cole is a public affairs analyst.

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015, Page 57

VIEWPOINT

By Phrank Shaibu VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Peoples choice must emerge at guber poll

T

HERE is a perceptible assumption that the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Kogi State would be laced with conjectures and sensationalism. Presently, many political commentators have gone a step farther to state that the profound changes occurring in the political arena and twists in the conscience of the Kogi people may combine to affect those aspirants that rely on primordial approaches for victory in party primaries and gubernatorial election.

What now brews in the minds of many political strategists in the state are the rising social and political questions surrounding the potency of Governor Idris Wada in determining his fate or that of a successor in the next governorship election. The strategists posit that Wada does not have a say on who becomes the next occupant of Lugard

VIEWPOINT

By Callistus Nwokediuko

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The impact of pay television company VER the last decade, the country’s entertainment industry has witnessed an unprecedented boom, a rather unexpected but very welcome development.

A big contributor to this boom time is Nollywood. In just 20 years, Nollywood has risen from a very modest beginning to become the second most vibrant film industry in the world, next only to India, and undoubtedly the most vibrant in Africa.

Various factors have contributed to the current esteem the Nigeria entertainment industry enjoys and one of these is the emergence of Pay TV, and in particular, MultiChoice Nigeria. MultiChoice Nigeria has an unmatched, two- decade track record in Pay TV, and through M-Net, an unparalleled history of prioritizing its investment in the local film industry and showcasing local talent, thereby creating authentic African stories.

Not surprisingly, MultiChoice’s

O

Kogi 2015: The way to go House, especially given the facts and figures of the 2015 presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) won majority. It is also on record that the governor lost all available seats in his local government area.

Right or wrong, whatever the 2015 elections results in Kogi meant may not be very far from the interpretation that Wada has lost grip and political relevance in the state. Suffice to mention that the case of the deputy governor wasn’t any different.

However, it is too early for the APC to assume that its victories in the presidential and National Assembly elections will transform to victory at the gubernatorial election. Convincingly, instances abound where voters in a state may pledge loyalty to the presidential candidate yet not support the gubernatorial candidate of the same party.

Nevertheless, the consequence of the ill action of the Kogi State PDP leadership in the 2011 elections by dropping the popular Jibrin Isah Echocho has not been erased because it led to huge division in the party and mass defection of its supporters. This mistake of the PDP in Kogi did not only weaken the electoral ca-

The lessons from the diminished and fractured Kogi State PDP as a result of the Echocho and Wada episode are enough for all

M

allam Iliyasu Abd ullahi, a 100-

year-old newspaper vendor in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, died in the early hours of yesterday, after a brief illness.

The deceased, from Wudil local government area of Kano State, died in Agwan Shiyawu area of Lafia.

His 43years of vendor business reportedly started with Nigerian Standard, a Plateau State owned medium organization published since 1972.

•Shaibu is based in Lokoja, Kogi State.

MultiChoice’s effect on Nigeria’s entertainment industry investment in Nigeria runs into billions of naira.

MultiChoice has boosted the entertainment industry in more ways than one and the most obvious way is by simply providing world class content and bringing to reality the assertion that the world is a global village. There is no denying the power of visual entertainment.

When MultiChoice entered into the entertainment scene, watch-

MultiChoice has trained, nurtured, grown talent, improved standards, moulded stars and also created jobs

ing live videos quickly replaced the Walkman and Discman once favoured by the Nigerian youth.

Access to international videos had such a huge impact on the Nigerian music scene that not only did more musicians spring up, they also strove to improve their art, which naturally extended to the creation of music videos.

So committed was MultiChoice to growing African talent that in 1998, it produced the very first M-Net Face of Africa, from which the now famous Oluchi Orlandi (nee Onweagba) emerged winner. Still in the pursuit of growing indigenous talent, MultiChoice through its M-Net channels, aired the first Idols West Africa, producing Timi Dakolo as winner and launching his music career and that of his runner-up, Omawunmi.

Entertainment spans many genres and through MultiChoice, several aspects of the entertainment industry have been both directly and indirectly impacted.

Veteran vendor, 100, dies in Lafia

BY ABEL DANIEL

pacity of the party but has now grossly contributed to strengthening the APC which emerged victorious in most of the contested positions in the general elections in the state.

A wrong choice of candidate by a political party may give rise to a protest revolutionary scenario or gross loss in an election. Simply put, any serious political party in Kogi must work hard. In the count down to the 2015 Kogi gubernatorial party primaries and election, consultations are ongoing by aspirants. However, the polity is fouled by a dangerous debate, false sentiments and massive space for varied analysis which even includes a likely come back of Echocho as the peoples’ choice. Many articulate watchers of the unfolding events believe that the guess on who would be the next Kogi governor is confusing.

Indeed, no wise gubernatorial aspirant in Kogi should

just rely on the name or fame of a party because the electorate may not necessarily be swayed by such skewed loyalty given their chequered experience of party imposition of an incumbent governor whom most Kogi people feel has not added value to their quest for development of the state.

Thus, ahead of the Kogi 2015 party primaries and election, given the recent national political awareness, the right way to go is for all parties to seek a most acceptable candidate in their fold than settle for crass imposition and naked impunity. The lessons from the diminished and fractured Kogi State PDP as a result of the Echocho and Wada episode are enough for all. True or false, the point herein is that whether it is APC, PDP, Labour or Accord Party that is in the contest, the issue before all the political parties is a complex task that cannot be achieved without due consideration of the peoples’ choice.

Abdullahi also served as sales agent for Vanguard, PUNCH, Daily Times, Daily Trust, The Nation, Gaskiya Tafi Kobo, and the defunct Concord.

Others were Daily Sun, This Day, The Guardian, Nigerian Tribune and Vanguard.

Confirming the dead of his father, one of the sons, Mr. Haruna Ilyasu, said the death had left a huge vacuum.

He said: “The death of my father has touched everybody in the family and many people in Lafia especially his numerous customers. “

From left: Usman Gwary, AIG, Head Zone 9, Nigeria Police Command, Umuahia, Solomon Arase, Inspector General of Police and Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State during the visit of the Inspector General of Police to the Governor's Lodge, Amawbia, Anambra State, at the weekend.

The hugely appealing Big Brother Africa and Big Brother Nigeria have yielded some notable names that are now making considerable waves in the Nigeria entertainment industry.

Some of them are Gideon Okeke, who is currently an actor on Tinsel, an M-Net original production; Ebuka Uchendu a social media influencer & notable compere, and the affable Uti Nwachukwu, current cohost of Jara, another M-Net production.

Over and again, MultiChoice has stated its commitment to Africa and to developing original African content. This conviction has shaped a large number of the productions and initiatives that it has launched in support of Nollywood. The continuing trail of MultiChoice’s investment in Nollywood can be traced to the growth of the Africa Magic channels to eight premium channels in a little over 10years of existence. The Africa Magic channels are accessible in over 50 countries on the continent,

through DStv and GOtv. MultiChoice also collaborates with talented local filmmakers to create authentic African stories. Between 2009 and 2014, Nollywood produced well over 5,000 titles, 80% of which were acquired by the Africa Magic channels, thus giving Nollywood a bigger platform than any other sole broadcaster.

With a two-pronged purpose, the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) was launched in 2013, in furtherance of the vast investment MultiChoice has made and continues to make, by showcasing talent, and in acknowledgement of the role subscribers have played in making the MNet/Africa Magic channels a success.

There is no downplaying the impact MultiChoice has had on the entertainment industry in Nigeria. MultiChoice has trained, nurtured, grown talent, improved standards, moulded stars and also created jobs.

•Nwokediuko is a Lagos based culture enthusiast

PAGE 58, SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY

By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

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ba (Dr.) Solomon Olugbemiga Oloyede ,Olusin

of Isanlu Isin in Isin local government area of Kwara State, ascended the throne of his forefathers six years ago, precisely, January 28,2009...The monarch, a member of Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, and Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council of Isin local government, clocked 52, last week.

The monarch, an educationalist, shared his story of grass to grace as he celebrated the birthday with prayers and distribution of Bible.

Educational background I finished from Baptist Grammar School, Isanlu Isin. Then I went to Lagos with the plan to be a school proprietor; so I started my school as a non-professional because I didn’t go to a college of education or teacher training college. But later, a friend, Michael Ayande, a senior lecturer at College of Education Oro, Kwara State, encouraged me to further my studies. He convinced me that if I was not a certified teacher, I may not be recognized and that my teachers may look down on me. So, despite having approval for my schools, I went back to school. I left secondary school in 1982. I went back to College of Education in 1999. I got my certificate in 2003.

After that, another friend, Mr. Timothy Adebayo, in College of Education Oro, also advised me to proceed in my education through long distance learning. I then enrolled in Washington University, USA and finished a Bachelor in Education (B. Ed) degree within two years.

Rough Road To The Throne I am a prince, but like everyone knows, that doesn’t matter or make you an automatic king.My being a king today is all God’s plan because I was from a very poor background.

My parents were farmers and, educationally, I was just an average pupil. Notwithstanding, it has been destined that I will get to the throne.

As I always tell young ones, I believe in God and I pattern my life after God’s instruction. So, when I finished secondary school, I went to a prophet to pray for me. The old man told me my future was bright and that he didn’t see me working under anyone to succeed in life, he said he saw me employing people.

But judged by my poor background, which could not even enable me afford JAMB form to further my education at that time, I defied the prophecy and went in search of job in Lagos.

I couldn’t get a job until one day when I saw a church (Christ Apostolic Church) at 10, Ifelodun Street Amukoko,and I stopped over to worship there.Within a month of my stay there, I gathered 150 pupils for education learning. I established a school, which was the first school in the environment, Glorious Continued Education Centre. Later, the church management took over the school from me.

I started my own school in 1985 at 30, Ifelodun Street. Ten years later, I got approval to run a nursery and primary school, Oloye Private

17, 2015

School. In 1998, I established Oloye Comprehensive College. After that, I came back to my ancestral home to build a four-bedroom bungalow in 2003. I didn’t have any house in Lagos. I had planned to leave Lagos at age of 50 to reside in my home town. In 2005, I moved to Abuja to establish a school there. The school located at Ako, Abuja was the first school in the area. I started it in a rented apartment and later got a government allocated land, through an in-law, Sesan Dada, to build the school, which is now government approved.

I have also established a school in the name of my four children, Sunfab Nursery and Primary School and Sunfab College.

I have so much interest in children and youth, including interest on how to develop others. I have 11 younger ones that I look after. By the time the community knew me, I had contributed a lot to the educational, and infrastructural development of the community. I come from a royal clan, known as Oke-Agbon .I also established contact with my predecessor, the late Oba Solomon Abolarin, who always prayed for me..Whenever the need arose, I tried

An encounter with the late Saraki brought fortunes to Isanlu Isin —Oba Oloyede to contribute the largest share in development contribution allocated to each of the eight clans in the community. Indeed,they saw in me that I love development of the area and that I have the disposition of someone who doesn’t want shame for his clan.

Interestingly, my schools are named Oloye in Lagos and people think I am a relation of Baba Saraki knowing that I am from Kwara because Baba Saraki was always addressed as Oloye

On December 28, 2008, when my predecessor passed on, the search for the new royal father began and it was eventually decided that I become the king. And I had just completed a school in my community to retire into, with my own office included, not knowing I won’t occupy the office. My family submitted my name among five of us in my family to be interviewed by the kingmakers. We were asked on our contributions to the development of the community.

I had to be stopped at a point while telling them my contributions. Later, I learnt that a delegation was sent by the kingmakers to my area in Lagos to find out how I had been relating with my neighbours. The delegation got positive comments about me and my contributions to the development of the area.

When the time came for me to be identified and elected and I was told, I asked if I would be allowed to serve God with the royal offer made to me, and the kingmakers responded that I would be allowed to serve my God in whatever form I deemed fit and that they will follow me. I thank God because my chiefs have been following me for the past six years.

My vision for Isin I am deeply in love with my community; that is why I want rapid development to come to the place.

As a result of this,, i want the community to have at least a manufacturing company to provide jobs for the youth. Because the youths are always eager to go to urban cities in search of jobs,we don’t have people at home. They’ve left for town and places near the state capital. So, we need projects that will drive people back home. We have land spaces. And we are encouraging people to come and do farming. If we emulate Offa people, Isin community will develop rapidly. Because Offa people love Offa and they build houses in their towns before building anywhere else.

The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, has a large farm in the town providing employment for many people. I use this opportunity to call on our sons and daughters who are well to do to come home and invest. This will also discourage our youth from looking for government jobs. For instance, Pa Oladimeji has a private univeristy in Ilorin and a campus in Igbaja, his home town. People can build small scale agro-based industries around too.

Agric business is a lucrative business that can also engage people.

We are blessed with fertile land around here; that needs no fertilisers for crop to grow.

Politics

My community had been detached from Kwara State government because my people had always been in opposition to the ruling government in the state. The executive of IDA, led by Dr. Adeogun Funso, after my installation on January 28, 2009, met with me on how to develop the community, telling me that one of the ways to do it right was to associate with the state government. Thank God Baba Saraki, I mean Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki of blessed memory, popularly known as OLOYE, was still alive then.

I wish to recall that it was in my community that Baba Saraki was insulted, stoned and his vehicles destroyed during one of his political campaigns to the area. I was in Form II then when the sad incident happened.

Interestingly, my schools are named Oloye in Lagos and people think I am a relation of Baba Saraki knowing that I am from Kwara because Baba Saraki was always addressed as Oloye. So, I was eager to know Baba Saraki in order to curry his favour.So. i went through one of his close friends from Kogi. After introduction, he received me warmly and promised to visit my palace and support me. Until Baba Saraki passed on, he was caring and loving to me and the community.

The road that was tarred from Ijara to Isanlu Isin was done while he was alive. The Emir of Ilorin; the governor of the state then, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who is now the political leader of the state; Olofa of Offa; Olupo of Ajase Ipo, all these people teamed up with me saying they would break the curse of animosity between the community and the state government. We have seven roads leading to our community. None of these was tarred. I tried to sand fill the road from Oke Ayegun in Isanlu Isin to Oke Onigbin just to make life easy for the people; today, a tarred road now leads to the community courtesy of the state government. Before, we didn’t have any indigene in government; I had to beg indigenes of another community in government to link me with the government.

Senator Saraki tried for me as the Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council and the community. He is a loving leader and a friend indeed.

Despite all the insults by a section of the people, he sustained his love for the community. Opposition did not help us at all. That’s my issue with my people as I keep enlightening them politically. I keep telling them that we can’t go far without government’s support, particularly on nagging development projects like Oke Onigbin to Isanlu Isin which has been tarred today. I also agitated for inclusion of an indigene to be a member of state cabinet. Today,all these efforts paid off as the House of Assembly member representing Isin state constituency is fron Isanlu Isin.

We are praying that God will be with our governor, his cabinet and we also pray for our leader, Senator Bukola Saraki. We pray that God gives him his heart desires. We want God to touch mind of Nigerian political leaders, particularly the senators, to give him the presidency of the Senate.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015, PAGE 59 sam.eyoboka@gmail.com

08023145567 (sms only)

President Jonathan saved the nation by conceding defeat — Apostle Suleman Apostle Johnson Suleman is the founder and President of Omega Fire Ministries in Auchi,Edo State. He is a man that bares his mind on crucial issues and his prophesies, most of which have come to realty. In this exclusive interview Sunday Vanguard, he bares his mind on some burning issues concerning his prophesies and much more. Excerpts below: ou have been in the news of late for some of your utterances per ceived to be critical of the incoming administration. This much was exhibited when you said “Nigerians might stone Buhari in the next six months,” what do you have to say?

Well, as an oracle of God, it’s not in my place to take sides unnecessarily. But I have realised a very disturbing trend in the media, which is the way and manner people are misquoted either to sell their medium or to blackmail. And again, it could still be a function of lack of comprehension by some people. What I have to say is that I can be held responsible for my words and actions, but I can’t be held responsible for your lack of comprehension. In that said interview, what I said was that in the next six months, people may stone Buhari because of lack of patience and high expectations. I also said because of the fact that the large chunk of the followership Buhari has are youths and young people, young people don’t believe in progressive change, they want change.

Is that a prophecy? Say after six months there is significant progress in the country, part of the expectation might have been realised and there would be no need for engaging the President. I think some of these things are common sense.

Another issue that was also in the public domain was that you said President Jonathan would win the elections and he lost.

I believe whoever said that probably did out of sheer mischief. For the records, I personally told President Jonathan to concede defeat and that he would not win. If you watch that prophecy manual, I said very clearly that President Jonathan would not win but that the man that would win would not be given. Also bear in mind that I came out in the Vanguard Newspapers particularly of January 12, 2013 I came out to advise the president not to contest in 2015. I specifically said “Those who are pushing him now, they want to destroy him. I am not saying this out of any personal animosity. I am saying this now because it can be averted. He should seek counsel. I love him but destiny has to be taken very sacrosanct. So I believe that if he asks for counsel, people can help him not to run for the Presidency in 2015.”

But did he seek counsel?

No, he didn’t and not to the best of my knowledge. And again, I read in the paper and even online on what I said and didn’t say. I recall immediately after the presidential election and results were still been collated “I said PDP won’t win but let’s hope the winner will rule because I don’t see Buhari ruling and even if he rules, I don’t see him lasting in power. I repeated it and some of the APC leaders contacted me, I told them verbatim that God told me this man is not well and that you people are evil. I am not particular about any political party. But I am particular about the will and purpose of God What about the insinuation in some quarters about Nigerian preachers and the craze for prophesying. What do you have to say?

Y

•Apostle Johnson Suleman Prophesy is a gift from God. It’s not something you learn over time. It is mystery and not something everybody understands or should understand.

You were quoted recently as saying “If a man gives 50 predictions and 40 of them come to pass, that is a pass mark.” Does that mean God reneges on some of His words?

It’s unfortunate that they got me wrong! I was talking about young prophets whom I felt shouldn’t be criticized but encouraged and that was why I said if 60% of their prophecies come to pass,then it’s a pass mark. I am an authority in the prophetic ministry, I couldn’t have said that about myself.

Only this year, I have travelled to over 20 countries in the world and the supernatural power of God was visibly and tangibly displayed through diverse healing, prophecies and the revelation of the word.The truth is that, apart from being a prophet of God,I am a trained journalist with a PhD. The words of God are ‘Ye and Amen’. I stand by my prophesies 100%. Clairvoyants and spiritualists whose messages fail to match the details nor do they include a call to repentance are the ones who talk of percentages.God’s prophets, are distinct from Satan’s spokesmen and we exemplify a high degree of specificity, a range of projection and there is no room for error.

I remember in 2012 when I gave a prophecy that the CBN Governor would be made an Emir. I was called names.

But today,the prophesy has come to pass. So, if you don’t study prophecies,

He saved his name by conceding defeat, he put the nation first. He wasn’t a loser. That has made him a force.

Even though a few people are not happy but he saved a lot of lives by that. The rich would fly out of Nigeria if there is a crisis but the poor will die in the heat of it you can’t understand prophecies. There are prophecies of 2012 that are happening now. If they don’t come to pass that year, it may be the following year but we have to be patient.

There is also this perception that some top pastors belong to one cult or the other. What is your take on that?

That is stale news perhaps. We are just like that naturally. We doubt and ascribe almost everything to black magic or occultism. This is not to say some so called pastors have not embraced oc-

cultism. Africans are used to their traditional institutions, they are used to occultism. Some pastors have gone occultic. Some pastors have gone satanic; some have gone materialistic. So,we should be wary of out-of -the-blues pastors. At least, there should be a history and a name. But again it would be unfair to generalise in such situations and circumstances.

You seem to have placed so much emphasis on providing quality leadership in recent times. Are we expecting to see you contest for any leadership position in the nearest future?

This is indeed a funny question. But it may well depend on what you mean by providing quality leadership. I think poor leadership has been the bane of our underdevelopment. I will like to give a classical example of good leadership.

Saudi Arabia is building a new city for $100b and a quarter of that is what just four people stole in Nigeria. How can you explain that? Whoever comes up should be careful. They need to cut the cost of leadership drastically. America has over $748trillion budget yet has only 14 cabinet ministers. How many ministers do we have in the country?

What someone stole in Nigeria is enough to build a new Nigeria. People should get to leadership because of service and not the other way round. The new government as a matter of necessity must fight corruption headlong. But as for contesting election,count me out!

I have a lot to do in God's vineyard. As for seeking elective office,I think it’s an insult for me to do that. I am already the President of a ministry that has presence in over 42 nations of the world,with over 7million direct followers. Is that not more than some nations of the world? I am content with my mandate to wipe out tears, restore people to their destinies by the revelation of the word, manifestation of power and reality of the Holy Spirit.

You appear very complex. One cannot say you are a Goodluck Jonathan supporter or a Buhari fan. Who are you?

You have said it all. I am a supporter of God’s will. I do not support anyone.

For ease of reference, I was angry with President Jonathan for allowing his wife to decimate the office of the Rivers State governor with impunity. It was unladylike! In fact, a woman has to be a lady,first, before becoming a ‘first lady’.

But when my ‘son’ Governor Amaechi was using disparaging terms in his reaction to the President,I cautioned and reprimanded him. So, whoever becomes President must fist teach his wife to be a lady in the first instance before becoming a first-lady.

Back to the issue of prophesies. You stood by Amaechi yet the APC failed to win Rivers state. What happened?

There was no election in Rivers State but I know the will of God will stand in Rivers. My advice is that Governor Amaechi and Wike should not take their animosity to the extreme in the interest of the Rivers people.

What do you have to say about President Jonathan conceding defeat?

He saved his name by conceding defeat, he put the nation first. He wasn’t a loser. That has made him a force. Even though a few people are not happy but he saved a lot of lives by that. The rich would fly out of Nigeria if there is a crisis but the poor will die in the heat of it.

And like I mentioned earlier, President Jonathan did the most honourable thing.

PAGE 60—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015

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HE university experience is rich and rewarding.

There are so many things a university offers. You can play sports. You can go to parties and have a good time. You can join debating societies and clubs. You can also study and get a degree.

But you need to be careful with all the choices available. In the final analysis, a University is designed for a specific purpose; to take exams and get a degree. So if you spend all your time playing football or going to parties, you will have yourself to blame if at the end you fail your exams.

Beware of those who insist the point of going to university is to have the time of your life; wining and dining and being a teenage nuisance. Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needful in the university and that is to pass your exams and get a good degree. I want you to know that Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Holy Spirit University Believers are in the University of Life and the Holy Spirit is our headmaster. Therefore, Joe Christian, how many exams did you take last week? How many did you pass? You can study and fail if you don’t know the day of your visitation or exam. That means you will be missing in action on exam day. Or you can fail if you are unaware that the

Taking Exams (I) lion share of the grades is determined by classparticipation; but foolishly think everything depends on your performance on exam day.

So it is with the walk of faith. It is about taking exams. God sets exams, and he sets them every day.

He says: “I, the LORD, search the heart; I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10). Most Christians fail God’s exams because we are not even aware of them. We are completely oblivious of them.

God’s exams are used to determine those who will spend eternity with him.

They are also used to determine the recipients of heavenly crowns. A crown of life is given to those who endure temptations and trials for Christ’s sake.

James says: Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12).

A crown of righteousness is awarded to those who pour out their lives in the propagation of the gospel.

(2 Timothy 4:7-8). An incorruptible crown of

Persecution arises because of the word, and not in spite of it.

The Lord himself sometimes offers us up to the devil. glory is given to those who “feed the flock.” (1 Peter 5:24). An imperishable crown is given to those whose hearts’ desires are rooted in obedience to God. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

Faith with works Note that our reward will not be determined by the popular Christian notions of the grace of God, which is allegedly without merit.

Paul says: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”

(Ephesians 2:8-9). On the contrary, our reward is going to be determined by how well we do in our Godgiven exams. Thus, James warns: “just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26).

God’s exams must be passed by faith with works.

God is not in the business of promoting do-nothings who fail his exams. If we fail, we remain in the same

class for years on end until we pass. But make no mistake about it. If you are a child of God, you are automatically enrolled in the School of the Holy Spirit, where you are subjected systematically to tests.

This is what happened to the children of Israel. The psalmist says: “You, O God, have tested us; you have refined us as silver is refined.

You brought us into the net; you laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but you brought us out to rich fulfilment.” (Psalm 66:1012).

Note that there is glory to be had at the end of the exams for those who pass with flying colours.

Therefore, it is imperative for the believer to be aware that we are constantly being tested, even in blazing hot furnaces. Thus, Peter says: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial

which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

We must not allow ourselves to be discouraged. But in all situations and circumstances, we should confess like Job: “(God) knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.”

(Job 23:10).

Lessons from Israel The things that happened to Israel are designed to serve as instructions to us, so that we would not fail God’s exams the way Israel failed. “All these things happened to them as examples for others, and they were written down as a warning for us. For we live at a time when the end is about to come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

Lack of trust and faith in God caused Israel to fail its exams in the wilderness. Lack of faith in God equally bodes ill for us. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Whatever is not of faith is sin. “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering his rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”

(Hebrews 4:1-2).

The believer in Christ magnetises problems. The psalmist says in acknowledgement: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19). Indeed, the word of God sown in our heart makes us candidates for testing. Every word must be proved. Once we receive the word, problems are going to come to try it or to test it.

Thus Jesus says: “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”

(Matthew 13:20-21).

Persecution arises because of the word, and not in spite of it. The Lord himself sometimes offers us up to the devil for testing.

However, he says: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10).

Why we should not abort ‘Boko Haram-induced’ babies

BY MSGR. GABRIEL OSU IN recent times, the Nigerian military have recorded monumental breakthrough in their war against the insurgents. Only last week, the Military says its troops rescued 234 captives, some of whom are pregnant, as part of assault on rebel stronghold that has already liberated 500.

While I wish to join other well meaning Nigerians to commend our military for putting up a very brave fight against the insurgence, my main concern, however, is on the state of the women and children. I am aware that they were taken into detention where a thorough screening was carried out on them. In the process, it was discovered that many of them were pregnant and some already with babies, allegedly fathered by the insurgents. This is because some of the hostages, we gathered, regrettably, were subjected to forced labour and sexual and psychological abuse as well as sometimes having to fight on the frontline alongside the rebels.

Some groups of people are already canvassing that the pregnant women should be allowed to abort the unborn babies, considering the circumstances they find themselves in. This group opine that if the babies are born,

they would not only constitute nuisance to the society, but would remain sources of emotional and psychological trauma for the mothers. I beg to defer with them. In as much as what has happened does not give one any joy, it is even more grievous to ever consider abortion as an option. You do not use another wrong to remedy a bad situation. The pregnant women should be encouraged and nurtured to deliver safely. What they are carrying within them are babies, full human beings being formed into maturity.

Any attempt to abort them, would be tantamount to committing murder.

To my knowledge, no religion encourages abortion, not even the Holy Bible. I will illustrate this with the book of (Ex. 21:22– 24): “If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely [Hebrew: “so that her child comes out”], but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye,

tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

Also, it is a well known fact that man is a tripartite being; having a body, soul and spirit.

The book of James 2:26, tells us that “the body without the spirit is dead”: The soul is the life-principle of the human body. Since conception the child’s body is alive (as shown by the fact it is growing), the child’s body must already have its spirit. And since no human can provide answers to how the body, soul and spirit are formed, then what right has anyone to want to play god by

aborting what cannot be created by man? The best way for the authorities to address the issue on hand is to ensure that the affected women are counseIled psychologically to enable them have the emotional balance to face the facts on ground, and to face the future with optimism. When the children are safely delivered, the mothers can then be given the option of nursing the babies with support from government.

Where they refuse, then government should take full custody of such children. We say no to any form of abortion.

Failure of evangelism responsible for Church disunity —Prof. Adegboye

BY GABRIEL OLAWALE S the world prepares for a World Global Outreach A Day, president of Gospel Unlimited, Prof. Durojaiye Adegboye has blamed division and disunity in the Church on the failure of Christians to engage in consistent evangelism.

Speaking at the 2015 National Vision Casting Conference, Adegboye said that until the Body of Christ repents and unite on the fundamental issue of winning souls, there will be no end to current challenges facing the Church. According to him,

“because we have refused to go out to win souls for Christ that is why we are having problems to the extent that churches are now divided. This was not the case.

The early Church was orthodox in doctrine, fundamental in holiness, Pentecostal in power.

They did not have secret societies; their platform was platform of Holy Spirit and they were all evangelical in action.

“Unless we create an evangelical atmosphere, our members will not continue in the fire that starts the churches. I have seen several church signboards with different names with similar weekly activities but out

of the 52-week activities the great commission is not on the time table.

“We are very good in up-reach and in-reach activities which include worship and weekly service but no programme of reaching the sinners.

Christianity consists of an act, attitude and activity which means come, follow and fish,” he noted. Also speaking, the international president, Global Outreach, Evang. Werner Nachtigal disclosed that the Global Outreach Day which is scheduled for the last Saturday of May is aimed at sharing the good message of Jesus Christ.

“It was a vision the Lord gave to me five years ago that every Christian, irrespective of denomination, should go out on the last Saturday of May and preach the good message of Jesus Christ. This day is not about church, preacher or ministry. It’s about Jesus.

“On that day, the whole Church needs to go out and win souls for Christ. We need to take a new stand, boldly go and tell someone ‘God loves you.’

Preaching gospel is a daily affair for Christians, but this day is set aside to unite globally in passing the message of Jesus love across the world,” he added.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015 PAGE 61

Ifeanyi Uba wants team to sustain result

P

*Ifeanyi Uba

ROPRIETOR of Gabros Football Club of Nnewi Ifeanyi Uba has charged his players to sustain the good run which has made them occupy the third position in the ongoing Glo Premier League just as he noted that the team must maintain the momentum which made them play a 3-3 draw with Taraba Fc when they host Sharks of

Port Harcourt this weekend in the week 9 of the premier league.

He noted that the good run presently being enjoyed by the club was because of his vision to bring back the lost glory of professional football in the country which was championed by the late Chief MKO Abiola, Israel Adebayo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Leventis Limited

who through their clubs namely; Abiola Babes, Stationery Stores, Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Leventis Utd take their place not only in the country but the entire continent.

“My decision to go into football proprietorship was borne out of the zeal to complete what great football lovers like late Chief MKO Abiola and Israel Adebayo started which helped in rewriting the history of Nigerian football.

FIFA Women W/Cup: Tandoh predicts good outing for Falcons

By Eddie Akalonu

F

ORMER captain of defunct NEPA FC of Lagos, Francis Tandoh, has tipped the Super Falcons of Nigeria to go far in this year’s FIFA Women World Cup finals in Canada in June.

Speaking in Lagos, the former attacking mid-

fielder expressed confidence that the Super Falcons would be one of two teams to emerge from their preliminary group games, pointing out that both U.S.A. Sweden and Australia were no more as strong as they used to be some years ago.

“Though I expect them to face a tough time going through rough road because of the high contest at that level, yet Super Falcons will shock the world,” he said, adding,” “Nigeria is a force to reckon with in women football, hence the country is highly rated by FIFA. Nigeria had come close to FIFA Women World Cup glory on many occasions only to be eluded by the element of luck. The Super Falcons showed good stuff in Germany in the 2010 final. Now that they have fresh blood, young players who proved themselves playing in the U-20 finals still in Canada, I expect them to do the same this year.”

Last year, the Falconets were on the ascendancy from the commencement of the championship held in Canada scoring the fastest goal and the second fastest goal in the history of the series.

They created another record by walloping Korea DPR team 6 – 2 in the semi final and then faced Germany in the final only to lose again by an odd goal.

Amosun pledges support for Gateway FC

O

GUN state Govern o r, S e n a t o r Ibikunle Amosun has assured the management, players and the technical crew of Gateway United of the state government’s and his personal support in their quest to gain promotion to the elite Glo Premier League next season. Senator Amosun gave the assurance when he made a surprise visit to the team’s training at the M.k.O. Abiola stadium, Abeokuta.

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S UNDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, MAY 17, 2015,

Why our athletics is down— Anugueje

By Ben Efe

A

thletics Federation of Nigeria doping and medical committee director, Ken Anugueje has stated that there was no steady replacement for aging Nigerian athletes hence the seeming decay facing the sport particularly the male division.

Nigeria a country of about 170m million people can only boast of a handful of athletes some of whom barely hit the A standards of the IAAF. But according to Dr. Anugueje there is an urgent need to fund athletics development in the Nigeria.

“We need to train a new crop athletes. Most of our athletes particularly the men have almost reached the twilight of their careers and we don’t have younger ones that will retire them permanently.

“For instance most of the boys who ran the relay at the 2013 world championships cannot event make the team to the 2015 worlds and the All Africa games.

“What we have right now are bits and pieces of talents. Until we have our trials then we will see who we have,”he said. He argued that the government and private concerns must come to the aid of athletics, if the country were to achieve a revival of the old flame.

“It is not that we don’t have talents There are; but we are not grooming them due to lack of funds.

“The attention is only on football here in Nigeria. But it is not so in most sporting countries, take for instance Brazil, a soccer nation, they

S

*NIJA FOR SHOW... Nigerian men 4x100 at the African Championships, (from right) Obinna Metu, Ogho Oghene Egwero, Mark Jelks and Seye Ogunlewe. have not neglected other sports, they have fanatic athletes, they are good in volleyball. Why can’t we also give priority to athletics and other sports?

Meanwhile, newly

confirmed National Sports Commission Director-General, Alhasan Yakmut, has been called upon to use his wealth of experience to ensure that Olympic sports such as athletics receive adequate

OLF comes to limelight at IGCC, Ibori Golf & Country Club Asaba in a five day long fiesta As Evergreen Initiative an NGO dedicated to honouring noteworthy individuals of virtue through sports, organizes a valedictory Pro-Am golf tournament to honour the outgoing Governor of Delta State Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan.

The President of the Evergreen Initiative Hon. Barr.

Daniel Omayone Mayuku said this tournament which is scheduled as one of the events during the government transition period between 26th to 30th May 2015 is designed to celebrate Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan who has shown grit, C M Y K

attention. Throws coach, Gabriel Opuana stated that Yakmut as a former volleyball player, should know better how best to evolve development programmes that will help the sport.

UPER Sand Eagles defender, Ogbonnaya Okemmiri has predicted a bad outing for Glo Premier league champions, Kano Pillars when they visit the Abia State capital, Umuahia for their Week 9 game with Abia Warriors this afternoon.

Okemmiri who has been in tremendous form since the beginning of the season, said the Umuahia side will be all out for three points during the game Abia Warriors sit in sixth place in the league table with 13 points, one position and one point ahead of the champions.

But on current form guide, Abia Warriors look good to put spanners in the works of the champions, who have failed to avoid defeat in their last three away matches at Heartland, Kwara United and Shooting Stars.

Abia Warriors have won three of their last matches including two at home against Kwara United and Shooting Stars and the former Enyimba man underscores why the game will be “massive” as a defeat will see them being leapfrogged by Kano Pillars on the log.

NCC Tennis League launch ‘ll be a celebration T

HE historic NCC Tennis League will be launched May 24 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club with an exhibition challenge between players based in the North and those in the South.

A release from the International Tennis Academy, orga-

nisers of the event, said the launch starts at 2pm and will also feature traditional dances and skill displays from other sports.

“The NCC Tennis League is truly worth celebrating and we plan to use the launch to promote unity through sports. We

Uduaghan Pro-Arm Golf tourney tees off May 26

G

Abia Warriors will crush Pillars — Okemmiri

dexterity and accomplishments mark the third successful in governance of Delta State in hosting of the Evergreen Golf an 8yr tenure and is worthy of Tournaments since year 2010 recognition. He said the tournament will also mark the transfer of the mantle of leadership to the next Governor of the State Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and wish him a fruitful prosperous tenure.

The Executive Secretary of Evergreen Initiative, Mr. Sifo Oniti, said over 120 pros and 250 amateurs will feature in this grand event, he hinted the Pros are to play for an expected N5m (Five Million Naira) while armatures who excel will be proud owners of Exotic prizes and trophies as well as souvenirs for all players. He reiterated that this event will *Gov. Uduaghan

also hope that it will be the final major sporting event for outgoing officials at the Federal and State levels who should use the occasion to say their sporting good byes.”

Godwin Kienka, director of the ITA, said.

Eight teams are competing for the NCC Tennis Cup which is offering a star prize of five million naira to the winning team. The runner-up and third place teams are getting three and two million naira respectively while the fourth gets a million. The league is also introducing 30 weeks of tennis in eight different locations to the Nigerian tennis calendar.

“It’s a huge break for Nigerian tennis players who are looking to go professional,” explained Kienka who worked with the International Tennis Federation and the ATP in the past, “because they get to train and play in squads and automatically attract sponsorship from team owners.”

The eight teams are playing in two groups - the Blue and White. The White Group comprises Team Ogun based in Abeokuta, CBN Futures Team in Kaduna, Kalotari from Port Harcourt and Team FCT in Abuja. The Blue Group has the Civil Defence with Owerri as base, Tombim of Abuja,

*Y Team Delta from Asaba and Team Anambra based in Onitsha.

The first round robin ties are expected to kick off the weekend of May 29 to May 31. In the Blue Group, Team Anambra will host Civil Defence at the Onitsha Sports Club while Team Delta will host Tombim in Asaba. The White Group will showcase Kalotari versus Team FCT in Abuja and Team Ogun squaring up against the CBN Futures Team in Abeokuta. All venues will be manned by a supervisor and an ITF certified white badge umpire.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 17, 2015 PAGE 63

U-20 W/Cup squad: How Iheanacho, Success escaped Garba’s axe

By Jacob Ajom

M

OST discerning followers of Nigerian football were not surprised by the inclusion of Kelechi Iheanacho and Isaac Success in coach Manu Garba’s squad for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. It would have shocked many, had the duo, especially, Man City attacking pearl, Iheanacho been left out of the squad. But that is exactly what Coach Garba was set to do – drop them and continue with those he won the African Youth Championship in Senegal and those that had been in camp with him since April – before he bowed to pressure.

Iheanacho, who shone like a million stars at the 2013 FIFA U-17 tournament in the United Arab Emirate has not featured for the team since that memorable championship, which he played a pivotal role in the team’s triumph.

During the African Youth Championship in Senegal, he was refused permission by Manchester City on the excuse that he was injured. The club later showed interest in the lad’s participation in the tournament but Manu Garba named his AYC squad without him.His eventual release by the club has been dogged by hitches.

Iheanacho failed to catch up with the team in Germany, where they have been camping due to club commitments and visa hitches. A camp source told Sunday Vanguard Sports that his has not gone down well with Garba who was ready to dump the much liked youth international.

On his part, Isaac Success’ club, Granada of Spain were reluctant to release the former U-17 star. Success, who was highest goal scorer at the 2013 Africa U17 Championship in Morocco before suffering a hamstring injury at the FIFA U17 World Cup in the UAE, has been a consistent figure in the Spanish La Liga side.

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*Iheanacho

*Success The club’s reluctance to release the player forced Coach Manu Garba to issue a 72 hour ultimatum. The player beat the deadline and was welcomed to camp by the

coaches and players.

Nigeria’s best ever performance at the U-20 World Cup are runnersup berth at the 1989 and 2005 finals. African champion Nigeria will

play her first match against Brazil in New Plymouth on the first day of June, before other Group E games against North Korea and Hungary in the same city.

T

HE 2015 NNPC Shell Cup football competition organised for secondary schools in the country entered quarterfinal stage this weekend with all matches to be played yesterday and today at the 2nd Division Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment Sports Complex, Odogbo, Ibadan.

Semifinals will be at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Lagos on May 22, while the third place and final matches will be on May 24 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The schools battling for the semifinal tickets are Calvary International School, Port Harcourt, Rochas Foundation College, Owerri and National Grammar School, Nike, Enugu, Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode and Rezheight High School, Benin.

Others are Army Day Secondary School, Sokoto, Government Technical College, Yola, Gov-

Ibadan hosts Shell Cup q’finals today ernment Day Secondary School, Kofar Yandaka, Sokoto, Government Secondary School, Gwale, Kano and Government Secondary School, Keffi, Nasarawa.

The talent hunt football competition has been a platform for discovery of talents who have played for the Nigerian national teams at various levels especially the agegrade competitions.

IAAF Diamond League: Okagbare returns to Shanghai

Falcons: No room for unfit players —Okon M

ULTI-TALENTED athlete Blessing Okagbare returns to Shanghai today for the second leg of the 2015 IAAF Diamond League calendar, looking to post better result in the women’s 100m. The Commonwealth Games double sprint champion will be back in the Shanghai stadium, one of her favourite venues from 2014 when she set Meeting Records in the 200m and Long Jump– same event she won bronze and silver medals respectively at the IAAF World Championships in 2013.

The 26-year-old has, however, not competed in either categories this year and, fresh off the back of the World Relays in the Bahamas, has set her sight on the 100m in the Chinese city.

*Coach Edwin Okon dishing out instructions

S

UPER Falcons head coach Edwin Okon has said his side will not accommodate unfit players for the upcoming Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada.

The African champions are currently intensifying preparations for their campaign at the World Cup with group opponents, USA, Sweden and Australia in waiting for the kickoff of hostilities.

Okon said all the players are being knocked to

shape aimed at getting the very best for the nation at the Mundial.

“We’re working twice round the clock to put the players to perfect shape as there is no room for rest at the moment.

“So far preparations are going on as programmed until we head out for the final phase training tour.

“Some key players from the Under-20 side are shockingly realising that training at the senior

team is quite different from what it is at the underage cadre.

“Courtney Dike who joined from the Falconets and few others have admitted that training is tough compared with what it was previously.

“However, all the players have shown unusual determination to be counted in the programmes lined for the World Cup and they’re coping perfectly well.

“Out of 26 training at

the moment we’ll determine the final 23 that will head to Canada for the World Cup campaign. “Whoever that is proven not to be 100% fit will be dropped as there is no automatic shirt.

“Right now our captain, Evelyn Nwabuoku and Francisca Ordega are being expected as their clubs are still holding them back.

“However, like I said no unfit player will make it to the World Cup.”

Okagbare

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 17, 2015

U-20 W/Cup squad: How Iheanacho, Success escaped Garba’s axe —P.63

Kenyans dominate Okpekpe Road Race .As Oshiomhole hails organizers

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

TANUI Aifele and Alex Korio both from Kenya, yesterday took the female and male titles of the 3rd edition of the 10 kilometer Okpekpe Road Race, after finishing in 33.34 and 29.20 minutes in their respective categories.

As expected, Kenyans won three positions in the female category and two out of the first three in the male category.

The winners in both categories went home with $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.

Tanui Aifele was followed by Rionoripo while Mary Wacere came 3rd in the female category. In the male category, Alex Korio came first, he was followed by Leish Gabrielselase of Ethiopia while Amos Mutei of Kenya came 3rd.

Korio commended the organisers of the event and pledged to participate in future events “I am very happy, this is a race for Africa, I thank the organisers, it is to motivate us (Africans) and also the race was very competitive”.

Speaking earlier, governor Adams Oshiomhole who led several other political office holders

and some celebrities from nollywood on the 10 kilometre race before the competition kicked off, called on private sector investment in the sleepy Okpekpe community to open up the place.

“I am satisfied that the purpose of opening up this place is being fulfilled going by the level of acceptance the race has received locally and globally.

I appeal to our commercial banks and cottage industries to come here and boost commercial activities in this community” he stated.

Palace spoil Gerrard´s farewell

PRESENTATION: Mrs Iara Oshiomhole, Edo State First Lady presents a trophy to Tanui Nkele of Kenya, winner of the 1st prize with 33.34 minutes in the 3rd edition of the Annual IAAF certified 10km Okpekpe race, on Saturday.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. House of Reps Speaker (8) 5. Assistant (4) 7. Praise (5) 8. Upright (4) 9. Lantern (4) 11. Tradition (6) 13. Lagos masquerade (3) 15. Exclamation (2) 16. Pig’s nose (5) 18. Agent (3) 20. Glitters (6) 24. Forward (5) 25. Nigerian state (6) 27. Boring tool (3) 29. Ghanaian fabric (5) 31. Perform (2) 32. Oshiomhole’s state (3) 34. U.S. currency (6) 36. Vow (4) 38. Musical quality (4) 39. Inclination (5) 40. Eager (4) 41. Damages (8)

CONGRATULATIONS: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (L) congratulates Alex Korio of Kenya, winner in the male category in the 10km Okpekpe Road Race with a time of 29,20 minutes at the 3rd edition of the Annual IAAF certified 10km Okpekpe race, yesterday.

DOWN 1. Sample (5) 2. Niger state town (4) 3. Observe (5) 4. Lecture (6) 5. Everyone (3) 6. Use (6) 10. Inquires (4) 12. Carpet (3) 14. Colour (6) 15. Resistance unit (3) 17. Coax (4) 19. Rollicked (6) 21. Hatchet (3) 22. Satisfied (4) 23. Nigerian state (3) 26. Cry of derision (3) 27 . African country (6) 28. Endure (4) 29. Child (3) 30. Spoke (6) 31. Adorn (5) 33. Baking chambers (5) 35. Asterisk (4) 37. Possessed (3)

TODAY’S MATCHES Glo Premier League Gabros United v Sharks FC 4:00pm Giwa FC v Taraba FC 4:00 pm Dolphins FC v Enyimba 4:00 pm El-Kanemi v Bayelsa U 4:00 pm Wikki TouristsvLobi Stars 4:00 pm Heartland FC v Akwa United 4 pm Shooting Starsv Rangers 4:00 pm Nasarawa U.v Sunshine Stars 4pm Kwara U. v Warri Wolves P/P Abia Warriors v Kano Pillars 4pm EPL Swansea City v Man City 1:30 pm Man United v Arsena 4:00 pm RESULTS Southamptos 6 Aston Villa 1 Burnley 0 Stoke City 0 QPR 2 Newcastle 1 Sunderland 0 Leicester 0 Tottenham 2 Hull City 0 West Ham 1 Everton 2 Liverpool 1 C/Palace 3

See solution on page 5

CRYSTAL Palace spoiled Steven Gerrard’s farewell party with a 3-1 Premier League win over Liverpool at Anfield.

Gerrard’s final appearance on his home ground before joining Major League Soccer outfit Los Angeles Galaxy dominated the prematch build-up and Adam Lallana’s 26thminute opener meant the 34-year-old’s 354th competitive Anfield outing was all set up to end in success.

But Palace ignored the script, as the brilliant Yannick Bolasie and Jason Puncheon led the charge against a shaky Liverpool backline, the latter equalising with a free-kick late in the firsthalf.

Visiting substitute Wilfried Zaha scored 22 seconds after his 59thminute introduction and then won a late penalty that Glenn Murray converted on the rebound, as Alan Pardew’s team completed a deserved league double over the Merseyside outfit.

*Gerrard

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