$30m SCANDAL: Go home and bring bribe money, police tell Farouk, Emenalo

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Edo guber poll will be free and fair – VP Sambo

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ICE-PRESIDENT Namadi Sambo, yesterday, in BeninCity, assured that the 14, July 2012 governorship election in Edo State would be free and fair in line with the policy and transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

“I want to seize this singular opportunity to say that following the policy of this administration of transformation, in 2011, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, we had a fair and free election”, Sambo stated.

“This election in Edo will also be free and fair; it will be in the message of `one man, one vote’. Do not allow yourself to do anything that will bring chaos”.

The Vice-President, who is also the Chairman of Edo PDP Campaign Committee for the election, spoke at the Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City while flagging-off the party’s campaign for the July election.

Besides, he called on the people of Edo State to cast their votes on the basis of `one man one vote’’and make the state a PDP state like other states in the South-south geopolitical zone governed by the party.

Also speaking at the occasion, the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, said with the leadership of Chief Tony Anenih, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia and Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin, the Edo PDP was in good hands, saying “ with the party’s victory in Edo, SouthSouth will be complete”.

Former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, while appreciating the large turnout of people at the stadium, said “the crowd is to prove a point that PDP is on ground in Edo”, adding that the party does not run on the pages of newspapers.

According to him, “With the presence of Dr. S.O.

Ogbemudia and Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the circle is c o m p l e t e d ” . .

Earlier in his speech, Ogbemudia, a two-time governor of the old Mid-west and Bendel States, assured that all Edo South indigenes and voters were ready to acquit themselves creditably on July 14.

The state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, while addressing the rally, promised that, if voted into power, a PDP government would restore the state’s lost glory in sports, pointing out that a large crowd of people at the stadium was an indication of the party ’s readiness to take back government in the state.

Go home and bring bribe money, Police tell Farouk, Emenalo Continued from page 1 ,Chairman and Secretary of the Fuel Subsidy Probe Panel of the House of Representatives, respectively, are set to grant bail to the duo today after both told the Ali Amodu-led Special Task Force (STF), of their roles in the scam.

Sources said the duo are being released because the police is adhering to the 48hour detention order, but they are expected to return to the STF office tomorrow as investigation continues.

In fact, the stringent condition attached to their temporary release, Sunday Vanguard can reveal, is that they should report back tomorrow with the alleged bribe money.

However, what could be regarded as a sore point in the investigation is the fact that the Department of State Security, SSS, whose money was said to have been collected

by Mr. Femi Otedola, the chairman of Zenon Oil, and given to Hon. Farouk Lawan,

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From left: Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, (EKHA), Dr. Adewale Omirin; Guest Lecturer, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; his deputy, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka; and Senator Babafemi Ojudu, at the maiden edition of the state's Executive-Legislative Parley, held in Iloko, Osun State.

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according to the sources, is yet to make the serial number of the money available, making the Police bid to trace the money difficult.

Meanwhile, sources hinted that there were indications that many other members of the House of Representatives may have collaborated with Farouk and Emenalo in the alleged bribery scandal.

Consequently, the STF may invite some members of the House for clarifications on their roles in the scam.

A senior officer attached to the police investigating body said that when they sought the cooperation of the SSS to get the serial numbers of the marked money handed over to Otedola, who allegedly gave the bribe money of $620,000 to Farouk and Emenalo out of the $3million negotiated, with a

view to cross-checking whether the $10,000 found in Farouk’s Apo Legislative quarters abode during a search on Friday would match, the SSS was not forthcoming.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that, consequently, the Commissioner of Police in charge of STF, Amodu, has resorted to employing other investigative measures in unraveling the case.

It would be recalled that before Farouk reported himself to the Police, on Thursday, a senior officer said the investigating team had compiled enough evidence, including the call logs of the discussions between Farouk and Otedola as to where, how and when the money will be handed over and collected, as well as the fact that the lawmaker went to Otedola’s house around 4 a.m. to collect

the money.

‘Marketers coerced’ Giving more insights into how such bribery monies were collected from other marketers, one Police source said they (marketers) were coerced into parting with various sums of pounds, dollars and Naira notes for fear of repercussion from Nigerians on their property, investments by Nigerians who were angry over the subsidy removal and payment to a few that had been milking the country dry.

“It was during further investigations into the discussions that transpired between Otedola and Farouk that we stumbled on other transactions with other oil marketers. Otedola’s case was like the straw that broke the camel’s back”, the source added.

Ex-govs regroup, ‘to save Nigeria’s democracy’

BY HENRY UMORU

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ORMER state governors in the civilian dispensation dating back to the second republic have regrouped under the aegis, Former Governors Forum, FGF. The Forum, according to the former governors, is designed to have bi-partisan approaches to some fundamental issues and challenges facing the nation’s democracy. The erstwhile state chief executives met at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja at the weekend, just as the enlarged caucus of the group has the national chairmen of the three leading political parties in the country, who were former governors, the PDP, ACN and ANPP: Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, Chief Bisi Akande and Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, respectively, in attendance.

Tukur held the ford in the old Gongola State (second

republic); Akande, Osun (third republic) and Onu, Abia (third republic).

Other members of the Forum who attended the weekend meeting are former governors of Kaduna State: Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, and their counterpart from Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu.

Also at the meeting are the former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo; ex-governor of Katsina State, elected on the platform of National Republican Convention, NRC, Alhaji Saidu Barda; former governor of Nasarawa State, and Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State.

Others are former governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bonnie Haruna; ex-governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju; former governor of Enugu State and past National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; former governor of Ondo State,

Chief Olusegun Agagu, and former governor of old Gongola State in 1983 during the Second Republic, Mr. Wilberforce Juta.

In his welcome address to the enlarged caucus, the chairman of the Forum, Nwobodo, who explained that the reason for forming the forum was to enable them continue in rendering services for the unity and development of the country, said, ‘’We felt that it would be better to organize an all embracing elected former governors from 1979 when Presidential and Governorship elections were held at both Federal and State levels till date. Every former governor who was approached showed interest and applauded the idea.”

Nwobodo, who noted that the Forum would have the largest number of eminent Nigerians if well harnessed, stressed that it would be of great advantage to the nation in all the sectors of governance.

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

Soldiers nab oil thieves in Warri

BY EMMA AMAIZE & A K P O K O N A OMAFUAIRE

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WO suspected oil thieves, including a 29-year-old unemployed graduate of metallurgy, were nabbed by the men of the 3 Battalion, Effurun and Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, at Gbaramatu kingdom in Delta State, at the weekend.

The second suspect, 22, hails from Ewu, while the metallurgy graduate is from Afiesere, both in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

They were apprehended when soldiers stormed the area to destroy illegal oil refineries Over 5,000 drums of underhandedly refined diesel, 300 surface tanks, 60 giant Contonou boats, huge quantity of

stolen crude oil and five speed boats were destroyed in the eighthour operation.

The operation was led

by Lt. Col. Ifeanyi Otu, Commanding Officer, 3 Battalion. He told newsmen, “The operation shows our tenacity in obeying the rule of law in the country”.

On the increase in illegal bunkering and

Jonathan, others back Rivers bid to host UNESCO Book Capital

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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RESIDENT G o o d l u c k Jonathan and literary icon, Gabriel Okara are among eminent Nigerians who have endorsed the bid by

Ondo 2012: I will declare my intention soon —Mimiko

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NDO State governor, Dr. O l u s e g u n Mimiko, says he will soon make his intention known soon on whether or not he will be seeking the people’s mandate for a second term in office.

The governor made the declaration while addressing the people of Ajagba in Irele Local Government at the weekend when they visited him and requested that he declare his interest for a second term in office.

The political and community leaders of Ajagba, led by the Ahaba, Oba Thomas Adesayo had visited the governor to declare their support for the continuity of Mimiko in office.

Reacting to the request, Mimiko assured that he will not let them down for declaring their

support for him to continue in office beyond 2013.

He said his response to the second term demand of the people will be made known soon even as he reported that various other groups and communities had made similar calls.

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WARA State’s initiative on commercial agriculture got a boost at the weekend with the presentation and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and the Cornell University of New York on the Kwara State Agriculture Masterplan (KAMP).

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed , who led the Kwara delegation to the presentation of the KAMP document and

the Rainbow Book Club, in partnership with Rivers State government, to host UNESCO World Book Capital City in 2014.

Jonathan, in a letter by his Special Adviser on Research and Strategy, Mr Oronto Douglas, read yesterday at a joint press briefing by the Rivers State Ministry of Education and the Rainbow Club, said the state should be allowed to host the 2014 UNESCO World Book Capital. Ms Molara Wood of the Bring Back the Book campaign of the Presidency, who read the letter, enjoined Nigerians to support the bid for Port Harcourt to host the UNESCO World Book Capital for 2014.

From Left; Samsung Brand Ambassador, Shasha P; Head, Product Marketing, Hand Products, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr Jude Omozegie and Business Leader, Samsung Electronics West Africa,Mr Changarampatt Manoj, during the launch of Samsung Galaxy Pocket in partnership with Spinlet, at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

From left: Group Captain Emmanuel John; Ambassandor Nyahuma Obika, Trinidad & Tobago High Commissioner; Ms Evelyn Oputu, Managing Director, Bank of Industry and Chief Bowie S. Bowei , CEO, Trinidad & Tobago Steelpan Development Company, during a courtesy visit by the high commissioner to the MD, Bank of industry in Lagos.

Egypt chooses between Islamist candidate and Hosni Mubarak’s man

BY TONY NWANKWO, WITH AGENCY REPORT

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ACED with a choice between Hosni Mubarak’s exprime minister and an Islamist candidate, Egyptians entered their latest round of elections in

Kwara, New York Varsity sign MoU on commercial agric

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

refineries, he said, “I am not surprised because it has to do with individuals. We have talked to them severally to engage in legitimate business, but some are a d a m a n t . ” He added, “We will not rest on our oars because we have achieved so much. We will continue to destroy their illicit business until it is stopped.”

the signing of the MoU in New York, signed on behalf of the state while Professor W. Ronnie Coffman, Cornell’s Director of International Programme, signed for the university.

This is contained in a statement issued by the gover nor ’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr Muideen Akorede.

According to the statement,the document presents a clear road map for the expansion , funding and impact of commercial agriculture in the state for the next five years.

an atmosphere of suspicion, resignation and worry, voting in a presidential runoff that will mean the difference between installing a remnant of the old regime and bringing Islam into government.

The race between Ahmed Shafiq, a career air force officer like Mubarak, and the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Morsi, a U.S.trained engineer, has deeply divided this mainly Muslim nation of some 82 million people 16 months after a stunning uprising by millions forced the authoritarian Mubarak to step down after 29 years in office.

Voters, yesterday, lined up outside polling centers an hour or more before they opened at 8 a.m. But turnout was not expected to exceed 50 percent, possibly because of voting fatigue.

Since the ouster of Mubarak on Feb. 11, 2011, Egyptians have voted several times — in a March 2011 referendum on a military-sponsored “constitutional declaration,” in staggered, t h r e e - m o n t h parliamentary elections

ending in February and in the first round of the presidential elections last month.

Some said they were voting against a candidate as much as for a favorite.

With the fear of new authoritarianism in the future, some said they were choosing the one they believed would be easiest to eventually force out by protests. Unlike in

previous post-Mubarak voting when Egyptians were confident the balloting would be free, many this time round said they suspected the weekend’s election may be

N500m empowerment facility for Ondo indegent persons

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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N500million has been disbursed by the Ondo State government within the last three years to indigent persons suffering from ailments that require surgical operations within and outside the country.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, said, in Akure, that government has budgeted N200m for this same purpose in this year ’s budget.

Adeyanju said that beneficiaries hail from Kogi, Osun, Delta and

Oyo states.

Speaking at the disbursement of N67million to 65 beneficiaries, the

commissioner said the facility was given to those needing specialized intervention from government.

NPA joins AIDS campaign

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA IGERIAN Ports Authority (NPA), in N collaboration with World Bank, recently launched an HIV AIDS campaign for her workforce in Apapa, Lagos State. The initiative is to enlighten stakeholders, port users and the general public on the effects of the HIV pandemic.

According to the chairperson and principal manager, HIV/AIDS committee of NPA, Dr. Comfort Datong, the

awareness is targeted at stakeholders within the Abidjan - Lagos corridor trade route on the ABC of HIV/AIDs. “The exercise is to facilitate and ensure a safe, barrier free, disease free trade route within these regions”, she added.

The workforce, ports users, truck drivers and general community responded positively as they made themselves available, queuing eagerly in their hundreds waiting to be tested by the medical personnel to know their status.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012 — PAGE 7

PDP to go commercial *Plans to raise loans, invest in ventures

BY HENRY UMORU

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S part of moves to raise funds for its activities, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has concluded arrangements to go into borrowing in form of loans from banks.

Also, the party, in his financial drive, expects its members at the National Assembly to remit to it the sum of N169, 536,513.24million, just as the money forms part of the money deducted from the members as their five percent contribution from their monthly salaries.

The party plans to restructure its Peoples Democratic Institute and place it under a holding company.

The Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee, NWC, hopes to raise short, medium and long term loans from financial institutions to fund party investments and programmes with minimum risk.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that this was part of the recommendations presented to the NWC by the PDP National Financial Secretar y, Elder Bolaji Anani, just as he listed nine major ways through which the PDP could raise funds for its activities.

Also to raise funds for the PDP, the NWC is to establish a holding company, which will help negotiate the interests of the party in all investment and business arrangements.

Anani, in his memo to Tukur, said, “The establishment of the PDP Holding Company Ltd, under the chairmanship of Deputy National Chairman and membership, that will include the NFS, the NDFS, an aide to the National Chairman and also an aide to the National Secretary. The company is to hold and negotiate the interests of the party in all investment and business arrangements.”

Others, according to the National Financial Secretar y, will be through merchandising

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AMFARA State government, y e s t e r d a y, donated N13.5million to the families of 23 people killed on Monday by gunmen in Dangulbi village, in Dansadau emirate of Maru local government area of the state.

Succour also came for eight people hospitalised at the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, as government gave fifteen bags of assorted grains to the bereaved families.

Fielding questions from newsmen, Chairman,

The Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide (right) felicitating with Nigeria’s Ambassador to Jordan and former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, after the presentation of letters of credence to the newly accredited Nigerian Ambassadors by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House.

Executive-legislature synergy, a must for good governance, say Fayemi, Mamora

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KITI State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, have described the executive-legislature relationship as nonnegotiable for good governance to thrive in the country; saying that such synergy would enable the people get the dividends of democracy faster than expected.

Speaking at the first Ekiti State ExecutiveLegislative parley tagged, “Towards a collaboration that works and is sustainable”, held at Iloko Ijesa, Osun State, the governor said the synergy should be driven by a desire by both organs to join

Succour for Zamfara massacre victims’ families

BY SAMINU IBRAHIM

and social activities.

Anani was first elected Deputy National Auditor during the Prince Vincent Ogbulafor-led NWC, but, at the tail end of the last NWC, became the acting National Auditor when Samuel Ortom, the then Auditor, became the Minister of State, Trade and Investment.

Anani said further, in the memo, that under loans, “We raise short, medium and long term loans from Finance Institutions to fund party investments and programmes with minimum risk”.

Distribution Committee, Alhaji Lawali Aliyu, said government had already handed over the consignment to the sub committee at the place where the incident took place in Dangulbi.

He added that each of the families of the deceased persons received N500,000 and five bags of assorted grains; even as he said those on admission at the hospital were given N250,000 each, while government will settle their medical bills.

He lamented that absence of mobile communication network and access roads is the bane of upsurge of insecurity in the area.

hands in the spirit of comradeship to pursue the best for the largest majority of people at the shortest time possible.

Fayemi said the parley was a recurrent platform where the two arms would sit down and explore all sides to any argument that was in the interest of the people; adding that it was easy to make points

that advance narrow agenda but it was far more useful socially to reac h beyond partisan boundaries and to take due cognizance of the wider interest.

“No less critical is constitutionalism, the extent to which public office holders in Nigeria are committed to government according to the letters as well as the

spirit of the constitution.

These are not only matters of the moment; they have long formed the background from which relations between the two arms of government have drawn sustenance and meaning. They are even more critical to relations between the federal and state governments”, he said.

In his keynote speech, Mamora, who served two terms in the National Assembly, said that both the executive and legislative arms of government are not totally independent of each other and are expected to exercise “a degree of functional overlap” so that they could collaborate on how to enhance good governance.

Iwu counsels Nigerians on unity, democracy

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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O R M E R chairman of t h e Independent National Electoral Commission

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HE Director General of the Nigerian Tourism D e v e l o p m e n t Corporation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the members of the Federal Executive Council for introducing a new visa regime.

In a statement in Abuja, Runsewe said the introduction of the new visa regime was a bold step that was long awaited as it would open the floodgate for inbound tourists who are desirous of visiting Nigeria.

The NTDC boss said the tourism sub-sector of the economy received the news with great joy and a sigh of relief as the country would derive huge benefit from the international tourist traffic particularly from Asia, Europe and the Americas.

“Our job has been made easier now as the

(INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, has described the unity of Nigeria as a nonnegotiable option which every citizen must promote.

He enjoined leaders of all ethnic groups to join forces to stem the current bombing and killings

which he said were threatening the peace and social harmony of the nation.

The former INEC boss spoke when Okigwe leaders conferred an award of excellence on him. The leaders were led by former South East

New visa regime will promote tourism – Runsewe old visa regime was seen as a great obstacle for potential tourists into Nigeria, as we always receive complaints each time we travel abroad on official engagements by foreigners about their inability to secure visas”, he stated.

According to the new visa regime, some

visitors would obtain their visas at the point of entry especially the international airports while some of them would now be issued visas for short stay, long term of up to 10 years, temporary stay, permanent residence, investment and skill transfer visa.

Rotarians in diaspora to visit

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team of Rotarians outside the country will Tuesday visit Nigeria to join their Nigerian counterparts as part of Rotary Club exchange programme.

A statement by the President of the Ibusa Rotary Club Urban, Rot. Mrs. Pat Umunna, said the team of Rotarians, on

arrival in the country, will proceed to Ibusa, Delta State, where they will pay a courtesy call on the Obuzor of Ibusa, Obi Prof.

Louis Nwaoboshi and later, in company of other members of the Ibusa Rotary Club Urban, visit some historic places in the town.

Zonal Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu.

Iwu said democracy remains a better option for the countr y. “ We have to work together to sustain this democracy.

We have to join hands to stop anything that threatens our democracy ”, he said, adding, “the bombings and killings of innocent Nigerians can stop if all of us will work together, advice ourselves and take a common decision”.

Commending Ndigbo for their selfless sacrifices, the former INEC boss urged them not to relent in fighting for justice and equity. He said: “I always say that the Igbo have made and have continued to make selfless sacrifices for the good of this nation. We must continue to show interests in what benefits our dear nation”.

On the award conferred on him, Iwu said the honour was unique and special to him because it came two years after he left office.

Earlier, Ozichukwu said the award by Okigwe leaders was in recognition of Iwu’s performance in office.

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PAGE 8—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012— PAGE 9

Why Dana passengers were burnt alive — Pilot, Instructor

Captain Tito Omaghomi

’How Abacha’s son died in air crash’ Says Aviation minister means well He is an FAA Advance Ground Instructor with experience of over 40years. That license qualifies him to instruct anybody to go to the moon. He also has 35 years flying experience. He is an authority in this business. Therefore, when Captain Tito Omaghomi spoke to Vanguard editors on Nigeria’s aviation sector, everyone listened with rapt attention.

“In the first place, our heart goes to everybody who has lost a loved one.

This accident was unnecessary. I had alerted Nigerians a few weeks ago about how people have started cutting corners; how people have become complacent”. These were the most pleasant words he uttered throughout the session because he made some startling revelation. Excerpts:

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ana Air appears to be involved in the dis tribution of relief materials?

We should appeal to Dana Air that this is not a time to give relief materials. It is not their duty – the Federal Government and Lagos State government are capable of doing that. They say this is the beginning of the distribution but I want to say that they have no business doing that.

Dana Air has come out to say the airplane lost two engines. How could that happen?

That is what they have said in their own defence but the question to ask is who would defend the dead people? This morning, I heard a lawyer saying the plane left Abuja with one engine and that, on the way; the other engine failed.

The Bible says my people perish for lack of knowledge. The plane did not leave Abuja with one engine.

Is it possible for a plane to embark on a flight with one engine?

Let me explain. Procedurally, they say when a plane loses an engine, it should turn back and land. These planes are made to fly with one engine off. That is the truth.

So, in this instance, did the plane take off with one engine?

That air plane that crashed took off with two engines. If one fails, you take maximum C M Y K

power on the second engine and you go to where you’re going to because, at that stage, you can not just make a 180 degrees and come and land because you are limited with your landing weight – you have maximum take off weight, after you burn off the fuel (trip fuel), you then have what is called maximum landing weight. But, without you going anywhere with your fuel full and passengers full, you have maximum take off weight which will be detrimental to the structure of the plane if it just turns back like that to come and land. It will cause structural damage to the landing gear.

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o what is the standard procedure when an engine fails upon take off?

You dump fuel first and then come back and land. So the issue of saying the plane took off with one engine is not true.

We know that this flight, 30miles away from Lagos, the crew contacted radar control and requested for a radar veto – that is the radar should tell them how to come in and land and requested for the longest runway – runway 18Right, which is the longest runway.

If a pilot requests for the longest runway, what does that tell an observer?

If a pilot is requesting for the longest runway, he either has an engine problem, hydraulic problem, or engine fire. We are

,

BY JIDE AJANI

reliably informed that radar gave him the service that he requested for until he got on the localizer – that is radial which directs him to the 18Right.

They were brought in and, at the last minute, they handed them over to the tower.

I’m happy Dana admitted that they did not contact the tower. After radar had vetoed them, they all agreed that the crew never contacted the tower and so the plane found itself on people’s houses. It was not a choice they made. But it was as a result of uncontrollable asymmetry. One engine

the black box because accidents have happened before in this country and the findings were never made public?

The black box will tell us everything that happened on that flight before the crash.

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et’s look at the way the President responded, was he right to say people will be punished?

I can understand the president’s pain at that time – that he commiserates with families of the victims and that the government will get to the root of the matter and those found culpable would be punished.

The day after, it was this same crew that took Abacha’s son to Kano. The people who could not land a plane at Sokoto during the day now went to Kano at night

had gone, they could not handle that one-engine situation and that was why that engine veered off and landed on people’s houses.

Now, how come when it landed on the houses, it did not explode but when the fire sparked, there was no effort at disembarking?

When the plane dropped on people’s houses, the impact was so much that there was no time to brace up for emergency and that was why they were strapped to their seats and they all burnt to death. That is the truth. We are still waiting for the transcript of the black box. These people had no time to talk to the control tower.

They were busy trying to control that plane and that was how they found themselves on peoples roof..

What is the significance of

,

That is what people wanted to hear from the president but it was a wrong signal. Air crashes are not investigated because you want to punish somebody but they are investigated so that we can learn and avoid future occurrences.

The engineer who may have done a shoddy inspection job would go and doctor the books and cover up his tracks; the dispatcher who dispatched the plane would cover his track and the same goes for the person who fueled the plane.

What is the Snr. Special Adviser to the President on Aviation doing? The man has been there since the time of Olusegun Obasanjo, Yar ’Adua and now Jonathan and he has only made three pronouncements since assuming that office.

What is he doing there?

If we want to be sincere to

ourselves in this country, we should begin to look for quality.

The aviation sector is not the place where you give job to the boys – that is not only bad but also dangerous.

Look at the Aviation Minister, when she was appointed, some people raised hell but everybody agrees that she is doing a damn good job. Look at some of the reforms she has engendered; they are for best practices; but this crash was just unfortunate.

What Nigerians should be looking at are the people in the boards of the parastatals in the aviation sector. It is the board members who formulate policies for their MDs and DGs but when you go and give jobs to the boys, when they get to the board meeting, all they would ask for is how much contracts are worth.

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hat’s a weighty allega tion?

Let me tell you from experience. I was a board member of FAA along with some politicians and we wanted to formulate a policy which I introduced. I wanted us to build mortuaries in Lagos and Kano airports to take a minimum of 350 people. Everybody jumped up saying ‘God forbid; it will never happen’. But it is the truth, it will happen. Look at what families are being put through now to recover the bodies of their departed ones.

That is part of the problems of giving the boys job in the aviation industry.

Why do we keep having these accidents?

Accidents started happening in this country from 1969, DC 10, Nigeria Airways. From 1969 to 2003 when Nigeria Airways was liquidated, they had 20 accidents. Of these, only three were Nigeria AirContinues on page 10

PAGE 10 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012

Captain Tito Omaghomi

‘How Abacha’s son died in air crash’ ways planes. After 2003, another 21 accidents, Nigeria Airways was no longer existing but the rate of accidents went up so you can safely say if Nigeria Airways was operating, 75% of passengers that have died today could have flown Nigeria Airways and the possibility of accidents on Nigeria Airways was almost zero.

B

ut why don’t presidential aircrafts have accidents? At least they are manned by Nigerians too?

So let’s also add that why not transfer the training of those crew to general aviation so that we can be safe in this country? Let us ask that too.

Have you seen how they maintain those planes in the presidential fleet? Nigerians are in charge and everybody there knows their jobs are on the line but for general aviation, people are looking for money. Most of them instruct their pilots not to write snags noticed in their planes on the log book but on ordinary pieces of paper. That is why most times the airlines fear nothing because there are no records of some things. The Dana Air staff that spoke on conditions of anonymity said the truth.

How would you describe the Senate’s order that Demuren, the DG, NCAA, should step aside?

They forget that the only body mandated by law to investigate accidents in this country is AIB. Any other investigating body would make you run foul of international law and even our own law; so we should allow AIB to do its job.

What is the significance of the black box?

It gives detailed analysis of what happens on a plane – the speed, the altitude, the bank angle of the plane, conversations in the cockpit and every other thing that transpired. We should let AIB do its job before we go into coroner ’s inquest or panel of inquiry because this is mass murder. We

must stop it. You ask Demuren to step aside, but the people appointed to investigate the crash, an example, Group Captain Obakpolor, was employed by Demuren and he works for NCAA and you’re making him head of the panel that would investigate the accident. He has now become the judge, the accused and the jury. The other two captains in the panel were executive directors of ADC airline; ADC that crashed under the same type of conditions; compensation has not been paid, they went underground and now you’ve gone to bring them to come and be in a panel? What type of a country are we running? I called one of them on

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Continued from page 9

well. The power plant, the engine, once that is well maintained, it minimizes risk of accident. A 20-year-old car with a brand new engine will serve you well. The best safety device in the aviation industry is a well maintained aircraft and a well trained crew.

Have you had any air plane incidents?

I have had three and, if they were not well handled, I wouldn’t be alive today: The Airbus A310, on the 14 th of April, 1991, that crashed at MMA on a Sunday morning.

That day, it was raining cats and dogs. We asked them for the condition of the runway,

The other two captains in the panel were executive directors of ADC airline that crashed under the same type of conditions; compensation has not been paid, they went underground and now you’ve gone to bring them to come and be in a panel

that panel and told him that if I were him I will disqualify myself. I sent a text to them to ask if they told the minister that these people appointed into this panel are the staff of ADC and NCAA. It’s unfair. We should be straight forward.

They know after a few weeks this matter will die down and when it happens again we will start shouting.

Could you please enlighten us about this issue of the age of an aircraft?

I have always told people that the age of an aircraft is not an issue. DC 3 still flies.

Bring a new factory mint air plane to an incompetent pilot, he will crash the plane. Take the oldest well maintained plane and give a competent pilot, he will fly it and fly it

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they said runway ‘ wet’. In aviation, that means it is not up to two milimetres of water – nobody has any business with a runway that holds water anyway. There is something called aqua-planning, which means that when there is water on that runway, you will be surprised that the whole weight of that air plane will just be suspended afloat on that water and, if the wheels are not spinning, the breaks are useless; it is only when the wheels are spinning that the breaks can hold. Therefore, you make a positive landing. If not, the speed will just be suspended there until the tyres touch ground. That was what happened to us that day, so after the wet runway, we touched the ground and that was at the

end of entire length; I just turned the nose of the aircraft and we entered a ditch. We evacuated 259 people safely.

That was a flight from Abuja bringing back aviation experts who were coming from a seminar. One Mr. Anene came on board and retrieved the log book and, within 14 hours, AeroFormation, the maintenance investigators, landed in Lagos, took the black box and one month after the AIB investigation and AeroFormation sent in their report with a letter of citation for a job well done. Thank God nobody was incapacitated. The same aquaplanning in Calabar in 1986.

Our runways hold water. You must be able to handle emergencies well.

I’ve heard people say Dana took off from Abuja with one engine; that is not true. If you’re flying and you lose one engine, you shut down the engine.

In a two-engine plane, on your route, when you lose engine, the nearest airport should not be more than one hour; in a three-engine plane, if you lose one, the nearest airport should not be more than two hours; in a four-engine plane, it should not be more than three hours and that is why you are not legally allowed to fly over the Atlantic with a two-engine plane so that’s why the planes fly nearer to land than directly over the Atlantic.

W

e know there is a difference between an incident and an accident but, in Nigeria, reports of the latter are never made public, why?

The report of my incident was made known to me – an incident does not involve fatalities, even if the plane breaks into pieces, it is not an accident but an accident, even if the crash involved just a death, is so described. I saw the transcript of my own.

To be honest, government should think well and do the right thing.

At a time when there was no presidential fleet, our leaders flew in Nigeria Airways planes. They would simply call Director of Flight Operations that the head of state would be flying out and all the Nigeria Airways was required to do was to withdraw a plane, reconfigure, remove the seats, less passengers, create an office setting and that was how they were using the Nigeria Airways planes before they had the presidential fleet in 1986/87. They just sold the place off. The greatest scam is coming very soon. They will soon say we must set up another airline.

Some people say after the Cat 1 Certification, Demuren and the NCAA went to bed?

Will you say because a policeman is caught collecting bribe, MD Abubakar, Police IG, must be sacked? He has inspectors who go to inspect the planes from time to time and some of them (airlines) prepare, clean up the house once they know the inspectors are coming and that is the situation in the aviation industry. Demuren has employed all the best hands in our aviation industry and put them in NCAA except you say he should now go and bring expatriates.

What recommendations have you made to those in authority before now?

Let me give you a true life story. During the turbanning of Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, I met Abacha at Graham Douglas’ house in Ikoyi and, two days after, we again met at the airport and he said I should join a few other senior officers in his official plane while he went with Graham Douglas in Julius Berger ’s plane. We took off after they had left some 15, 20 minutes later.

When we got to Sokoto, our plane could not land after six attempts. A fellow board member in the FAA, the late Prof.

Don Pedro, said I should check what the pilots were doing in

Continues on page 11 C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012— PAGE 11

Dana crash: The danger of hasty actions, unguarded comments

T

HE crash of the DANA Air aircraft in Iju, a Lagos suburb, no doubt has dealt a heavy blow on the nation’s aviation industry. This is not just because of the crash itself but also because of the hasty actions so far taken by government.

The situation is also compounded by the selfacclaimed experts who have continued to make unguarded comments from the position of pure ignorance. Our television stations, willingly or unwillingly, provided the platforms for these self-styled analysts/experts to feed the public with all manners of lies to justify that the crash was premeditated.

For the past six years, the nation’s civil aviation has witnessed tremendous transformation in terms of oversight capapabilities. Before the serial crashes of 2005 involving Sosoliso, Bellview and ADC, the country did not have appropriate regulations to strengthen the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for effective oversight responsibilities. The authority also lacked adequate manpower to carry out its statutory roles of policing the aviation industry.

There was equally no proper documentation and the processes of obtaining air transport license ( ATL) and airworthiness certificate (AOC) were fraught with fraud. All these, in addition to several other unethical activities, were the problems confronting civil aviation in the country and the then regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in the wake of the devastating crashes, voted for change.

And the change indeed came. A sweeping overhaul was effected in the management of the NCAA during which Dr Harold Olusegun Demuren was brought in to head the body.

Money was also voted to enable the Authority carry out the necessary restructuring to reposition the NCAA as the watchdog of the aviation industry. Stakeholders were subsequently mobilized to the drawing table to articulate the right regulatory framework that would strengthen the body and

Harold Demuren, DG, NCAA shield it from undue political interferences which had bedeviled the industry before then and that gave birth to an autonomous NCAA. Needless to belabour the issues but suffice it to say that we have made tremendous leap forward in the civil aviation in terms of our oversight capabilities. And that we should not allow the sentiments and emotions arising from the DANA crash to erase and cause more harm to the industry.

I detest the idea of calling for the resignation of the DG of NCAA by the National Assembly and the subsequent seting up of a nine-man committee headed by Group Captain John Obakpolo to re-evaluate the domestic airlines.

The whole idea to me is like passing a no confidence vote on our civil aviation authority ahead of the report of the accident investigation. This is an authority that has been certified by the audit team of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the world aviation governing body, the International Air Transport Association ( IAOSA) audit team, and the almighty American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) auditors which culminated to the attainment of Category One status in 2011.

The same NCAA management, now being crucified for not doing its job, had been, many times, given thumbs- up for bringing sanity into the aviation industry. Why do we choose to squander all the good will on the altar of emotions. For the first time in the industry, we have witnessed proper structures in the management of airlines put in place by the NCAA. For instance, every airline today has been

made to put down articulated maintenance manuals detailing the maintenance schedule of all aircraft in their fleet in addition to ensuring that adequate and well trained engineers are in place to maintain the fleet.

And a well experienced quality assurance engineer who, though is an employee of the airline, is there to ensure strict adherence to the maintenance schedule and he is accountable to the authority and not to the airline. You also have well trained and licensed engineers and pilots in the employment of the NCAA to carry out regular survey and flight checks on the fleet of the airline assigned to them.

They are to ensure the airworthiness of the aircraft and ground them when they are presumed unserviceable. There is also the line engineer who carries out routine check on the aircraft after every landing and certifies them ready for next operations and he is also licensed

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BY FEMI ARIWOJOYE

If the people who are circulating anonymous text messages are truly DANA staff, they should be bold enough to come out in the open and give evidence

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to do so. All these individuals know the consequences of compromising their jobs in the event of any air disaster. Their licenses could be suspended or withdrawn for life and no licensed personnel wants to risk that for any gratification.

So when you hear all these comments about NCAA not doing its job, and that the aircraft was worked on before it took off, you can understand that those who say all these are

uninformed. Once there is a crash, people come up with all manner of false claims. I remember during the crash of Sosoliso in 2005, a passenger who was interviewed by one of the television stations claimed that the aircraft was emitting smokes in the cabin when he flew with it earlier to Abuja.

Today several anonymous accounts have continued to insinuate that DANA was an accident in waiting yet nobody spoke out before the crash. I call them cowards. An engineer, Obed Ezeobi, who was manhandled by the chairman of his charter operator company for refusing to release an aircraft that was not air worthy to fly a former Enugu State Governor in 2005, was compensated with employment

by NCAA for keeping to professional ethics while his employer ’s license was withdrawn.

If the people who are circulating anonymous text messages are truly DANA staff, they should be bold enough to come out in the open and give evidence. I don’t see why a pilot who is handsomely paid with good accommodation would want to go on suicide flight for any reason.

At least pilots belong to the group of employees in Nigeria who are well remunerated. An average captain earns at least $10,000, about N1.6million a month plus a landing allowance of at least N10,000 per landing, so if he makes four landings in a day he has N40,000 to his credit which does not in any way affect his salary. His house is also tastefully furnished and he is picked up an hour to his flight to the airport to relax in the crew room before his flight. His airline equally keeps him in an at least three-star hotel whenever he has a night stop outside his base.

Tell me why such employee will not want to live? All these are the things we should consider before making unguarded comments any time there is an air accident.

It is unfortunate that the accident occurred but it should not be the reason we should reduce the profile of the industry to zero making it even more difficult for the air transport industry to thrive.

If we ourselves have passed a judgment that portrays our NCAA

as incapable of over sighting the industry, how do we expect aircraft leasing companies to release aircraft to domestic operators on lease, same also goes for international lending institutions because it is an indication that the safety of their resources will not be guaranteed.

I remember that after the ban imposed on all Nigerian registered aircraft in 1995 by the United Kingdom, there was a meeting in London to resolve the face off it created between the countries, where the UK authorities pulled out the transcript of the news aired by two government owned organs, NTA and FRCN, which quoted the then Minister of Aviation as having described the aircraft operated by our domestic airlines as “flying coffins”.

Of course that ban was precipitated by that comment from a personality considered to be the final authority in the Nigerian aviation industry at that time. And the UK officials told the Nigerian team point blank that they did not need any further investigation to know that allowing Nigerian registered aircraft access to British airspace was a great risk to their people.

That is why it is important that we excise restraint when commenting on issues we lack competence to talk about especially at this time.

Similarly, the insurance premium paid on the aircraft haul and passengers will go up and all these will shoot up the already skyrocketed high operational costs and further take air travel away from the ordinary Nigerian.

My candid advice is that we should learn not to jump into hasty conclusions whenever there is an air disaster. Until the report is out then we can apportion blames or give appropriate punishment where necessary.

Some people have also claimed that previous reports had not been made public but it is not true. Even though you may not find it advertised in the newspapers, it can be purchased at the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on request.

Air accidents are not something anybody can cover up because it always attracts international attention. So long as the black box (flight data recorder) has been found, the truth will surely come out and it is only after it has been analyzed and the report released that the real cause of the crash can be determined.

•Ariwojo, a pubilc affairs analyst, lives in Lagos.

‘Aviation minister means well’ Continued from page 10 the cockpit. By this time the people on ground had become so apprehensive. I went there, knocked on the door, entered and saw the young men. They were scared stiff, with goose pimples. When they saw me, one of them said, ‘Skipper, the weather is so bad, we’ve made six attempts but could not land’. I asked about visibility, they said 300metres which meant it was so bad. But that was not the problem, they had miscalculated the altimetre

setting which made them add 1500 feet on top of the airport elevation of 1500 which means you are 3000 feet so you could not see the runway. I brought this to their attention. I gave them the necessary instruction and we landed safely.

The late General Abdulkareem Adisa was on that flight.

By the time we landed safely, the door opened and Adisa came out, he said, “Awon AirForce, won ko mo nkan kano” (Air Force personnel do not know anything). But the time we finished this rigmarole,

they had finished the turbanning. By the time we wanted to go back, none of the Army Generals we took to Sokoto agreed to return on that plane.

We had to retur n with Gidado Idris, then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who had a plane to himself. But that was not all.

May the soul of that pilot rest in peace! The day after, it was this same crew that took Abacha’s son to Kano. The people who could not land a plane at Sokoto during the day

now went to Kano at night and killed the poor man.

Abacha instructed Douglas to mandate me to prepare a memo on air accidents and that particular one, but, by the time the memo was ready, government had instituted a probe panel to investigate and from that time I washed my hands from government business.

People are dishonest.

These crashes almost always happen at weekends, why is that so?

People are relaxed at week-

ends. My own experience on that Sunday, rather than the controller to say the runway was heavy with water, he said it was just wet.

And we should stop these criticisms of Demuren, except somebody can come out to say he has collected bribe. The man has done so much for us in this country. Category 1 places Nigeria at par with civil aviation in the US, Britain and the developed world. Some countries are still grappling with category 3 (A, B, C) but we have Category 1. Nobody has done that before.

PAGE 12 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012

Nigerians Don’t Crash; We Bounce (2) The question of Randomness and the crash of DANA Air flight 9J -992

O

N the 19th of March, The Daily Sun reported that the

search for the plane had moved to neighboring Cameroon. On the 24th of March, ThisDay newspaper ’s special feature headline read: “Famous Missing Aircraft...”It continued... “The disappearance of Wings Aviation’s Beechcraft 1900D is not the first mystery in the aviation industry. For ages, there has always been one mysterious incident or the other.

Here is a list of 20 famous missing aircraft...” Even if it was just nine days later, the writer of the feature thought the circumstances warranted a comparison to Amelia Earheart’s disappearance in the South Pacific in 1937.

The media it seemed was anxious for whatever reason to prematurely conclude that the plane was in Cameroon and not in Nigeria and that the crew were alive and well. It seemed to be a good point to go to the commercials. Captain Olubiyi related the circumstances around his refusal to fly and his suspension from work: “I came out ready to fly the plane but there was a boy sitting in the engine of the plane. I asked who he was.

I didn’t recognise him. He wasn’t an engineer. I walked away in disgust.

My employers demanded to know “ why” I had refused to fly the plane.

I motioned to the boy sitting in the engine of the plane as if that was not good enough reason. Why would I risk my life and the life of the people that I was responsible for by flying such a contraption...”

From my uncle’s employers’ point of view, who the hell was he to refuse to fly. Pilots didn’t refuse to fly in Nigeria because the Nigerian Aviation industry was one of the safest in the world. Nigerians never crashed! We bounced! We had both providence and sagaciousness on our side. We are a country that turns its nose up at M.O.Ts and Sell-by dates.

If the car breaks down, you stop it, get down

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BY YEMISI OGBE

The plane had begun to disappear from the radar of Nigerians’ minds even if not off the minds of the families of the crew members

and put two wires together. Nigerians are so smart, mechanics don’t have to go to school or meticulously and efficiently learn how to handle an engine. They don’t even need to know how to read.

Handling an engine is pure inspiration. It is done as instinctively as praying or for those who learn slowly by apprenticeship. Nigerians scoff at manuals and insurance documents and drivers licenses. It is the way we have lived for decades and we like to think that it works for us. My uncle had battled this mindset for most of his career. He was progressively more impatient and brash. In his day, you couldn’t just pass the examinations to become a pilot. Many of his colleagues flunked, and if you handled the technicalities perfectly, you would still need to face to psychological evaluations to determine that you had the strength and presence of mind to responsibly bear the weight of people’s lives. All these examinations and tests mattered because flying a plane, handling it was a science, not a providential exercise. It was not “If God wills we will land!”

If the United Kingdom hoped in 2011 during a global recession that Rolls Royce manufacturing of aeronautical engines would save the economy it was because they had created a precise intelligent correlation of circumstances and brilliant minds and environment that was creating such engines. There is a science to whether a plane will take

,

off or land.

There is a science to how airports are built and how proximal buildings are to runways, and fire extinguishers to lavatories. It is not providence, or prayers or mechanics putting two wires together.

Nigerians love to talk about randomness because it is a psychological space within which they keep their family safe without being responsible. In that space, if you are good, or a good Christian or a good Muslim or you’ve paid your tithe or your trousers are the right length, you survive plane crashes. It really has nothing to do with whether the piece of equipment that you are riding in is taken care of. It is the story of our lives. The boy who plays truant in school is popular, admired for breaking the rules and getting away with it but in the end the admired truant leaves school without an education. The end inevitably justifies the means.

My uncle’s point of view was that in no other country would this be happening in broad day light. Would a man with no identification be sitting in an engine of an airplane purporting to be an engineer? In no other country would he be expected to then get into that airplane and fly one hundred and fifty people to their destination with a clear conscience.

My conversations with my uncle on the Wings Aviation plane ended on two stern warnings. “Yemisi. I have been in this industry for all my life. Tell your husband that the

next time someone charters a plane to put your governor on it to Obudu, they better have insider information about the condition of the plane; on the Insurance up-to-dateness of the plane; on the pilot flying the plane... go and write it down, only a fool in this country will just step out on a plane without having information about that plane especially if you have the wherewithal to buy knowledge The pilots who have spent long enough in this industry and know its ins and outs and are not just cowboys in it for the money will never put their families on some of these planes carrying people. No pilot in his right mind will put his family on a plane that he knows has a history and“ we know ’ the planes with histories even if it isn’t recorded on a piece of paper. It is unfortunate for the man on the street because he doesn’t have the information and can’t pay for it.” “...Tell your husband that if they must fly to Obudu, they had better use Aero contractors. They are the only one with a legitimate flight plan for that area” We waited and nothing concrete or intelligent came from the media. The plane had begun to disappear from the radar of Nigerians’ minds even if not off the minds of the families of the crew members.

I sat in a group with friends who insisted that the plane must be in Cameroon in the hands of Gendarmes who had detained the pilot and crew members in a dingy room and denied them phone-calls. It was that kind of conclusion no matter how unintelligent that allowed you to go back to living your life without thinking too much about any of it. It was that queer Nigerian brand of providence at work. These were the questions that my uncle had insisted that I must answer. They resonate even today: “Was it possible that the plane had not in fact disappeared?’ “Was it possible that the plane had no insurance? or had some other outstanding paperwork issues that its owners had hoped to resolve over time and with the plane’s earning of income” “Was it possible that because the owner of the plane was so powerful he was the first phone-call from NCAA authorities especially the Accident Investigation Bureau who had in fact discovered the crash site on the night of the 15th of March?” “Was it possible that the plane would turn up when its insurance issues had been sorted out and when all those details of whether or not there was a legitimate flight plan had faded with time?”

If one answered all these questions with a Yes then one had to look to the Accident Investigation Bureau, an autonomous agency reporting to the President of Nigeria. The Bureau’s two main functions are to investigate and prevent airplane crashed. On the 16th of March 2008, Thisday online quoted Mr. Nogie Meggison, the Managing Director of Wings Aviation as having confirmed that the wreckage of the aircraft had been found in Yala, Cross River State, but apparently there was no expert identification on the crash site by that date. The Bureau claimed that they could not confirm the exact location of the plane in Yala. How had they learnt that the aircraft wreckage was there? Yala by the way is the second most populated local government area in Cross river state.

OGBE WAS A COLUMNIST WITH NEXT

To be continued next week

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012 — PAGE 13

C M Y K

PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

Life Is A Tragedy For Those Who Feel, And A Comedy For Those Who Think —JEAN DE LA BRUYERE

Too many wives? I have had my share to the point of decongesting my home – Sen Lekan Balogun ’How I bagged Ibadan title that I ordinarily should not get in decades’ He says: I tried to challenge Awolowo ... through Bola Ige Senator Lekan Balogun is a great politician . Beyond that, he is Osi-Olubadan, an Ibadan traditional stool that entitles him to become the Olubadan of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. In this piece, Balogun tells the story of his life as a private person and politician.

H

OW did you arrive at being Mogaji and then Osi-Balogun of

Ibadan?

It is a long story. The title Mogaji is a family title which of course entitles you to be part of Olubadan-in-Council.

After the death of my father,my uncle took over but his reign was such that majority of the members of the family were not happy with him. I was not around when he became the Mogaji.I was away in England and so when I returned, I saw a lot of dirty politicking where money exchanging hands was the order of the day,and I detested it. It was like abandonment of basic traditional values and so by this time that I returned,they were seeing a brand new Lekan Balogun because, before I left the shores of Nigeria, I was extremely gentle, quiet and easy going and reading my Quran.

Suddenly I was challenging the prevailing values of corruption. I was very close to the man they elected as Mogaji; his children and I were mates and we are still very close, but, because of what was happening, to really show my displeasure, I stopped greeting him. I could walk pass him and not greet him. Some members of the family started complaining that he was selling off family properties without telling anybody and I told them that is the kind of man they chose such that, over time, they began to embrace my own new ideas. 10 years after, they were fed up with his reign. I requested for a meeting of family members where all the issues could be trashed out.Unknowingly to me, a lot of people, majority of them, could not tolerate him anymore, the number of attendees was higher than expected.Eventually we took the case to the Olubadan.

Suddenly they started saying since we made this man Mogaji, we haven’t known peace and since it’s our turn after his reign, why not put Lekan there since he is the one spear-heading the reform? Meanwhile, my

uncle, who is traditionally the eldest a n d legitimate person to occupy the stool should it be vacant, also came to my house one morning a n d prostrated saying that I should go for it, that he was old and death was knocking and nearer to him than me.

And that he w o u l d support me.

Of course I flared up because, in

Senator Lekan Balogun

actual fact, I was only fighting for justice irrespective of the beneficiaries of the struggle.So, to me, I was the least qualified person for the stool. It was unimaginable that a former Ahmadu Bello University,ABU, lecturer now working in Shell would become Mogaji. I vehemently turned it down. Then two of the people I respected most came calling and were appealing too; then four of my sisters whose children too were even more eligible for the stool came calling too. So I became Mogaji in a peculiar circumstance because, if its measured by age and hierarchy, in decades, I won’t be remembered because it is meant for the oldest. I became Mogaji in my early 30s. I was barely 35 when I ran against the late Chief Bola Ige.I became Mogaji three years after.

Having two wives now would not deter you from acquiring more by the time you become the Olubadan?

Must you have 200 wives to be Olubadan? If I meet somebody that our mind meets, why not? If the variables are rights, why not?, you can become my wife. But I think I have had my fair share of wife issue. My relationship with the opposite is not based on physical attraction. The first thing is

the mind, once the minds meet and work in harmony, that is it. Having said that, women is the least of my problems, I am even looking for how to decongest the ones at home.

Some of the things I can’t and will never do is to marry any of my late family members wife in the name of “Shupo”.

That is really appalling to me.

When there are singles all

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BY LEKAN BILESANMI

split up. If I thought our minds met and don’t meet, that is enough to break the relationship. I don’t go around breaking hearts only if evidence shows clearly that our minds do not meet. I avoid breaking hearts. I seriously do. But I have been proved wrong on one or two occasions, that our minds did not meet, intellectually that is.

How often do you lie?

Those who do that are morally diabetic. I do not tell lies and won’t. I swear I won’t even, as a politician, tell lies.

Though there is a lie that is permitted by Islam and I am sure it is there in Christianity, its called allahuli (Iro Sunnah). For example, somebody came to you about needing money and you knew it was a lie, don’t say, ‘ you are a liar ’, just tell him ‘I am not buoyant myself ’ or, you see somebody that is being chased, he runs to the right and the pursuers ask you where he is, in order to save a life, you say he has run to the left, that is the extent of my lie. In politics too, I don’t tell lies, rather than say something that would give the cheapest advantage to my opponent, I won’t talk; rather than say the truth and the truth places him at advantage over me, I will just keep quiet.

You did not return to the Senate in 2007.Are you still planning a return match?

Sorry, political aspiration is no more for me. I would rather be a kingmaker

Going to church does not make you a Christian. Praying five times daily does not make you a Muslim. It is like the perpetrators of this heinous crime calling themselves Boko Haram

around, why, in the name of tradition, would I now settle down with the wife of my late uncle, cousin and all that?

Yes, I am a traditionalist but not to the point of that abnormality From the way you talked,it appears you must have broken one or two hearts before you eventually married?

I may have broken some hearts. Yes, if I thought our minds met and I discovered that I was wrong, we have to

,

but,more than that, the only job I can aspire for now is President Goodluck Jonathan’s job. I was already a lecturer in ABU 10 years before he graduated in 1973.

In 1983, he came to Oyo to serve as a corper and that was even when I ran for the governorship. Now, I won’t be an agbaya(big fool) if I start chasing his job? I am happy that he is president. God, in his mercy, has decided to make me the father of all of them by being Olubadan, if I

get there; so why would I be ungrateful to God by aspiring to be governor or president? I am leaving all that for you people but I would always ensure, where I have a say, that the man that gets there has character and the right temperament . At what stage would I still be chasing political aspiration?

But some of your colleagues are still jostling for political recognition?

That is because they are morally diabetic. What your children, nephews should be chasing, that is what you are fighting for, you are simply morally diabetic.

You are a traditionalist yet a staunch practising Muslim,is this not contradictory?

The point is this, most of the things you have in the tradition have been modified to soothe the prevailing circumstance.Tradition too is dynamic just like life. The traditional title of Mogaji is more of Islamic than tradition; there is really nothing traditional that is shrouded in myster y.

There is no contradiction between Islam and tradition. Oba Akinleye was a staunch Christian; some traditional things that he was supposed to do as Balogun, he didn’t do them, he refused but, again, some of these things were not alien to Islam.

Most of the traditional rites now have been modified and modernised to soothe the situation of today. The present Oba Olulana is a very good Christian. I am sure he will die a great Christian. The traditional worshippers still come to the palace, he only prays for them and gives whatever he has, that is all.

You see,we don’t produce what we preach. That’s the difference between an atheist and those who believe in God. There is the difference between religion and being religious. The late Tai Solarin was almost an atheist, but when and if he saw a dying man on the road, he would stop, look and possibly take him to hospital. But the pastors, Imams look and continue their journey. I am committed to God not religion. Those ones are not living by the values of their religions; we are living by the teachings of the doctrines of the religion. Going to church does not make you a Christian. Praying five times daily does not make you a Muslim. It is like the perpetrators of this heinous crime calling themselves Boko Haram. What on earth would make you kill an innocent seven-year old child after missing the targeted father? I thought all religions say thou shall not kill.

Continues on page 29

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 15

Life Is A Tragedy For Those Who Feel, And A Comedy For Those Who Think —JEAN

How I bagged Ibadan title that I ordinarily should not get in decades’ Continued from page 14

At

the time you contested against the late Chief Bola Ige,were you thinking you would win or just having fun?

I think you are even underestimating it.

Indirectly, I was challenging the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Bola Ige was his political child, Bola Ige’s popularity was based on the fact that he was Awolowo’s political

You had barely left your job at the Shell,how were you able to fund the election?

Ezeife..

I didn’t have money for the election but once I demonstrated I had the potential, the funds started coming in.

People like Solomon Lar, Jim Nwobodo ,all came to my rescue. All I needed to do for the money to come was to show the potential. In fact, I probably spent more money than Bola Ige and Olunloyo , I

I don’t easily get carried away with the female folk and I will never take advantage of a woman who has come to seek help

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son.They were of UPN. That is one aspect.

Chief Olunloyo was also in the race and he was like a son to Chief Akinloye, they were of NPN . So, I was in between those two forces, very formidable at that. So, who were you to challenge them at that time? The NPP had an objective which was to present a credible and intellectually sound candidate to be able to match these two juggernauts of UPN and NPN. And suddenly they found me. I even challenged Olunloyo and Bola Ige to a political debate at that time, they both declined.

The only thing I had then was intellectual courage, given the series of influences of Nkrumah, Kal Marx or the likes influential I had. I feared nobody at that time. In actual fact , I think I could have come 2nd or 3rd in the election because of my performance and campaign . I was on NTA and BCOS every night.

The late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Jim Nwobodo all came to my house at that time . At that time, in most houses, particularly at the dinning table, fathers and mothers could be for UPN or NPN but the kids were for NPP just because of my programmes every night on T.V.

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didn’t win but I surely made an impact, a great one at that time.

How do you cope with the opposite sex?

While growing up, I read many books including the ones authored by Machiavelli and he forbids you taking over property of your followers and my followers include female followers who would have been other peoples properties. I am not an angel but I don’t see myself being tempted by women because I usually get more fearful if and when a woman makes advances at me.

Conventionally, it is we the men that make advances, we choose who we relate with or to but when a woman makes the advance to me, it is like she is being sent, she has a motive, obviously and a dangerous motive at that, that is a danger to me and as such I will run away from it totally.

So, I don’t easily get carried away with the female folk and I will never take advantage of a woman who has come to seek help. I can’t date my friend’s girlfriend talk less of wife. It makes me cheap.

What are your regrets?

No, never. I have never regretted my actions, to that extents, I don’t have regrets.

There are events or

actions I have taken though painful, if I have course to do it again, I will do it again.

How true is the claim that Governor Abiola Ajumobi whom you supported against your party in the last polls has not lived up to expectation?

I am still doing my research. A political party is established for certain courses that would improve the living standards of the p e o p l e .

If the political party derails from those objectives, should I say because I want to be a party man continue to support anti-people policies? Would you call being on the part of the people,antipeople? I don’t work for ACN neither did I declare for ACN, all I am interested in is better governance irrespective of who or which party is there. That he has not lived up to expectation, I think that is subjective because you don’t have your facts. However, by the time we find out that he has not lived up to expectation, I will tell him to his face.

What about the courage to tell him,would you have it?

Nothing stops me from telling him if he hasn’t performed, what do I owe him? He is my aburo and political associate. If I won’t have the courage to tell him, why would I even support him in the first place? What courage do I need to tell him that what he is doing is below expectation? I have told him some things in private that I am not ready to disclose, yet they are not far from what you are saying but it is too early to make any comments but, if at that end of the day, there is need to tell him, why not?.

You protested against the former governor, Christopher AlaoAkala, from being returned. What is your relationship with him now?

He is my aburo and friend. You see, nature is dynamic, he that was bad yesterday can be good today, he who is good today may be bad tomor row. We have reconciled and, in the spirit of that, he is my aburo and associate.

PAGE 16—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012 and there is an intangible, almost ethereal, feeling that comes with being a student of UNILAG.As an established brand the name,

Is President Goodluck Jonathan now EmperorBadluck Jonathan? (1) sons, an overwhelming percentage of staff, students and alumni of UNILAG are thoroughly opposed to the very idea of renaming it Moshood Abiola University. To begin with, one of the reasons why UNILAG is the University of First Choice for prospective students both at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels is the name which, in its first fifty years of existence, has evolved into a powerful brand known forthe core val-

Those supporting the namechange should be reminded that names of reputable educational institutions all over the world are totems and tokens of stable continuity

he is not a lion or a dictator.As a stakeholder in the upwardly mobile University of Lagos who loves the school so much, having spent the last twenty-eight years studying and teaching there, I consider the renaming of UNILAG by President Jonathan odious, irascible, and completely unwise. There is no doubt that, for very good rea-

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uesof good quality and panache in learning, teaching, research and innovative programmes.

Of coursethe University of Lagos, like every other tertiary institution in Nigeria, is adversely affected by the decay in every aspect of our national life. Yet, the university is a primus inter pares among tertiary institutions in the country,

Pushing up Daisies

lost entire families, limbs and property to the unfortunate accident.

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Grief is not a light emotion; its heavy and suffocating. Its an emotion that brings life to painful slow motion and it always feels like no one understands.

Everyone touched by grief is affected differently and no one's pain is any better than the other. 16 years ago last wednesday I lost my mother to cancer and I cant exactly say whether that pain or losing my baby sister to a 3 day illness 26 years ago felt worse. Losing loved ones hurt, it doesn't matter how they die; there is a finality about death that breaks hearts and crushes spirits. It is especially painful when the person is an authority figure and a provider to boot. It begs the question of surviving without them and what manner of life expectation one has in their absence. The sad reality is that a monumental loss of a loved one changes reality, life will

I imagine the tone of the column is looking grim to say the least and I didn't set out to drench the already dampened spirits of my readers given the deadly disasters that have just occurred.

Many families are beyond devastated and the mood is very somber everywhere; those who are not touched directly are touched by their humanity. Ever yone on the Dana flight died and many others on the ground lost their lives, while others sustained life changing injuries. Its a grim irony that pedestrians; some sleeping, some eating at home died in a plane crash!

There are conflicting stories about the events of the day. I have heard stories of passengers crying out for help after the crash and that scores would have been saved if help had come on time but they are of little comfort to those who have

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ycophants eulogis ing his grievous error of judgment probably on the assumption that names are mere labels should ask themselves why Prof. Chinua Achebe rejected the offer of 1 million dollars from a filmmaker in America just to use the title, Things Fall Apart, for a documentary. Obviously Achebe knows what Jonathan and co. do not know, which isthat names do really matter and on many occasions could very well determine whether an individual or institution survives or perishes.

Therefore, a good name is very precious and must not be bastardised because of money or, as in the case of UNILAG, because of Machiavellian political calculations. Those supporting the name-change should be reminded that names of reputable educational institutions all over the world are totems and tohave to take a different turn; its the way of the world. People cant be replaced; no one will ever love you than your mother or father and even if they did; it still wont ever feel the same.

debbiemoments@gmail.com

T'S a morbid but ac ceptable truth that most of us will end up dead at one time or the other. From the time one is born; one expects to one day die. Most of us will choose to live a joyfully long existence but even given the best of circumstances; there are no guarantees and at some time we will be pushing up daisies.

Its an idiom that takes the grimness out of death as it suggests some good will come out of a timely or even untimely demise. It is a particularly popular term among those who make their living from the grim and rather profitable business of death; undertakers, pathologists alike. To my mind, pushing up daisies means we become part of the soil and fertilise it enough to help things grow. From that angle one can see death as the beginning of life in another form.

University of Lagos,is a key component of that exhilarating experience.

Perhaps Jonathan does not really understand the existential logic behind prestigious brands and the magical impact they have on people.

Losing my mother 16 years ago, was devastating. My siblings and I were shell shocked; we honestly didn't know how we would survive. She was mother, father, friend, sister, protector and provider all in one.

The days and years after

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tion of democracy as “government of the people, by the people and for the people. ”Now, given the takeit-or-leave-it attitude of the federal government to this issue, Nigerians mustask questions. Specifically they should want to know whether Mr. President has transformed into a Pharaoh orNebuchadnezzar, especially afterjustifying the lacklustre performance of his administration on the ground that

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lot have been said and written since President Goodluck Jonathan renamed my alma mater, the University of Lagos, as Moshood Abiola University on May 29, ostensibly to honour Chief M.K.O. Abiola. According to Jonathan, the federal government believes that the late businessman cum politician deserves “recognition for his martyrdom and public spiritedness and for being the man of history that he was.”

Expatiating the rationale behind the namechange,Labaran Maku, Minister of Information, claimed that it was a response to the “outcry that this democracy had not given Abiola and other heroes who passed on in controversial circumstances because of their stand for the democratic development of this country the recognition they deserved.”

Maku, obviously intoxicated by the illusion of grandeur associated with tyrannical abuse of political power, stated emphatically that there is no going back in government’s decision – a pigheaded assertion that negates Abraham Lincoln’s immortal defini-

kens of stable continuity in a world of endless flux:they are also part and parcel of the compelling aura or force that attracts prospective students, teachers and tremendous goodwill to these institutions, even when it is much easier to gain admission or employment into, and cheaper and less exacting to study, in less reputable ones. Moreover, changingthe names of established schools like Government College, Umuahia, C.M.S. Grammar School, Lagos, University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Cambridge University, England, and Harvard University in the United States, to mention just a few,corrodes the identities of the institutions concerned byweakening the emotive force and positive values and prestige associated with them.

Indeed, for genuine stakeholders in such an institution whose name has been changed, it would require years of cognitive-psychological reprogramming to come to terms with the new identity, due to the cognitive dissonance between the established brand and the new name in their consciousness.

So, something precious is inevitably lost whenever an established brand like UNILAG is renamed.

Again, the change from UNIL AG to MAU and from LUTH to MAUTH is a paradigm of aesthetic deterioration.

To substantiate my claim, try pronouncing UNILAG and then MAU; you will observe that

UNILAG flows smoothly and resonates beautifully in the ears whereas MAU has an echo of bestiality and crudity around it, an acoustic regression to primitivism.

At this juncture, having argued against the name-change, it is appropriate to dissect the major arguments marshalled to support it. To be candid, all such arguments are fallacious.

Take for instance the submission of Prof. Julius Okogie, Executive Secretary National Universities Commission, to the effect that government’s decision on the matter has come to stay and that renaming of universities in Nigeria was not new.

This is disappointing, especially coming from a senior academic appointed to manage the apex institution with oversight functions on our universities.

Okojie, like most prominent politicians in the country today, has not liberated himself from the I-command-and-youobey military mentality which is antithetical to sound democraticgovernance. In the indecent haste to please his master, Jonathan, the NUC Executive Secretary forgot his thinking-cap before commenting on the issue. According to Okojie’s warped logic, even if Mr. President was wrong the emperor has spoken and Nigerians, as obedient subjects, must obey. But he should remember that power is transitory and that despite the arrogant authoritarian tendencies of our politicians Nigeria is no longer ruled by soldiers.

past week when the idiom I use as today's title just popped into my mind. Pushing up daisies took a new meaning for me and I realised that my mother's death hadn't killed or wrecked us all.

We are all fine, my siblings and I made it through the pain; we are all individually successful and still a family. I stood over her grave and in my mind's eye I saw a bed of beautiful daisies; this wonderful woman was the earth from which we all grew; beautiful

is a horrible tragedy. For those who mourn; acceptance is key to beginning the process of healing. Struggling with reality and refusing to accept what has happened only heightens suffering and I don't recommend it.

I advocate prayer and counselling, taking one step at a time, one day at a time. The exact middle of the bible says it is better to put confidence in God and not man and I know from experience how true that is. Expecting people to take over the role of lost loved ones is asking for disappointment and disillusionment. Accept help when its offered otherwise make do with what is available; that's what we did. Its still early days yet; some bodies have not been identified and even those recently buried bring no joy to the lives of those left behind.

I can imagine how long the nights have become for wives and husbands who suddenly have an empty space where once there was a warm body.

It is indeed sad but time will eventually heal this wound and I pray its sooner rather than later.

I pray you get to a place where your lost loved one becomes the earth that nourishes the daisies you will eventually become.

Expecting people to take over the role of lost loved ones is asking for disappointment and disillusionment.

June 14th 1996 were very dark and very grim.

Tough decisions had to be made; we all had to grow up and fast; life had to go on. We found ourselves in a sink or swim situation and while we struggled a lot; we swam. I can promise everyone caught in this tailspin of grief that it gets better; time does heal all wounds. I had gone to mother's grave side to drop some flowers this

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and happy, just like daisies!

Its been 16 years and my pain is no longer raw, I have gone from a place of despair at my loss to a place of gratitude for my gains. My mom died at just 48 years, my sister at 10. I have known grief from other losses but none such as these two people and my words are not inane platitudes meant to sugar coat what

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE17

“We have met the enemy; and they are ours [our leaders]”. Oliver Hazard Perry, 17851819; after battle of Lake Erie. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 48).

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voted for Jonathan not for PDP”. The chorus of Nigerian dupes after the 2011 presidential election.

Two friends, Professors, intelligent but not wise, were among several millions who proclaimed that they voted for GEJ but not PDP last year. One, a top ASUU executive, repented early when Jonathan failed to redeem the pledge he made to them before the election.

The second waited until his alma mater, UNILAG, was renamed MAU – without an Act of the National Assembly – before grasping what Unijankara academics were trying to teach to “Our Fellow Countrymen” before the elections. And, the message was simple. There is no distinction between the PDP and GEJ; just as any primary two pupil can tell anyone

The greatest enemy of the Nigerian people is not Boko Haram, which kills twenty or thirty at a time, but government which grinds millions into the dust every day

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that six and half a dozen are the same.

Since last year, the following indisputable facts have become part of our history. First, the Minimum Wage, which the mugus of the Nigeria Labor Congress thought they had secured, had been set aside in several states of Nigeria. Second, pensioners, who were promised a fairer deal, have discovered that billions of naira are lodged in the private pockets of “card-carrying-members” of the ruling party while they continue to die on queues for the pittance paid to them. Third, GEJ and his Ministers, after vowing that “there is no going back on subsidy removal”, have been exposed for their collaboration with fraudulent people to turn what we now know was a scam into a subsidy for which Nigerians must pay.

Fourth, every probe organized by the PDPdominated National Assembly, NASS, has ended up being inconclusive; billions of dollars are stolen from Nigerians while members of the probe panels smile all the way to their banks. Between the PDP-owned Executive branch and the PDP-dominated legislature, Nigerians have been robbed, impoverished and heartlessly driven to the brink of desperation.

Today, just as last year, the greatest enemy of the Nigerian people is not Boko Haram, which kills twenty or thirty at a time, but government which grinds millions into the dust every day, every minute, every second. Name it; there is no part of government - defined in a democracy as the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary – which is not so corrupt as to have constituted itself into an enemy of the people. And, this is true irrespective of the party affiliations or what tier of government is under consideration. Surprisingly, when former President Obasanjo characterized the members of the NASS as armed robbers and rogues, it was interesting to note that none of them took him up personally by offering to declare his true assets and inviting anybody to prove that they were not honestly acquired.

Obasanjo has thus made his point –until someone is willing to dispute it.

However, Obasanjo, as usual, was being clever by half. Many of those “armed robbers and rogues”, members of the PDP, had been in the NASS since 1999. They received their second and third term tickets when Baba Iyabo was in control of the party and could have stopped the robbers and rogues from continuing in office. Are we to assume that he was unpatriotic enough as to allow such corrupt politicians to continue to hold to their offices? Or, are we to believe they became robbers and rogues after Obasanjo lost control? More to the point, Obasanjo is a member of the C M Y K

PDP; there is no reason to believe that he will engage in defamation of the character of his party members unless he has proof. Why has he not presented the facts to the police or EFCC – if he wants to help Nigeria to get out of the cesspool of corruption in which we find ourselves?

The foregoing is only a preamble to the main essay which addresses the question of probes organized by the PDP-led National Assembly. To begin with, it must be obvious now, to even the village idiot, that both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives are leading Nigeria’s two most prominent houses of ill-repute. From the sleaze associated with the Third Term episode till the latest regarding subsidy scandal, none of the two chambers had discharged its responsibilities with integrity. Chief Audu Ogbeh, a former Chairman of the PDP, once asked the question: “What became of honour?” with respect to another episode involving the ruling party. That question remains just as pertinent today as then and it should be addressed to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Specifically, are they satisfied with the conduct of the elected members they now lead? Are they proud to be associated with their members, many of who left honour at home when coming to Abuja to be sworn in? How many truly “Honourable” legislators do we really have?

Yet, many of these lawbreakers are the same people who collect ransoms from us to serve as lawmakers. Already, two Chairmen, heading two major probes, are under investigation with possibility of being prosecuted. Certainly, many more will soon be revealed to have soiled their hands with filthy lucre. Surely, our “Fellow Countrymen” know that we cannot ever expect the dividends of democracy to accrue to us as long as we have outlaws making our laws and conducting oversight functions. A lawmaker subverting the laws is by definition a saboteur. When almost an entire legislative branch is involved, then the question to ask ourselves is: why bother to have elections? The second edition of PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED will have nothing less than three chapters devoted to the malfeasance of lawbreakers at the state and federal levels.

Nigerians will be amazed to know how often they have gone, like sheep, to the polling booths to vote for their own enemies. For instance, N50 million was paid to each willing member of the House of Representatives to vote in favour of the Third Term. Till today, nobody knows the source of the funds; but it is a safe bet that it came out of the slush funds routinely diverted from the Federation Account…

OPEN LETTER TO MD BANK OF INDUSTRY Dear Madam, RE: 1.3 million jobs created by BOI I read last week an announcement by the Federal Ministry for Investments alleging that the Federal Government of Nigeria created 1.4 million jobs since May 2011 and out of that number, the Bank of Industry, BOI, alone accounted for 1.3 million jobs.

Can you kindly confirm if this is true and let me have the full list of jobs created and where for verification.

Before this letter gets published on the pages of the newspaper, I would have had a copy delivered to your office and another copy sent by courier. So, there will be no denial about receiving it.

I need not hide from you why the Minister’s word cannot be accepted as gospel. Governments in Nigeria have lied to the people so often, only a fool will believe them.

Sincerely yours P.S. Rest assured that the outcome of this inquiry will be published here. But, don’t keep Nigerians waiting. We are in a hurry to know the truth.

Who is casting the first stone?

DENRELE ANIMASAUN FROM LONDON

“Political language ... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.”-George Orwell must admit I was not aware of Farouk Lawan until the buzz of the recent scandal.

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The scandal, I will come to that later. I found out that the gentle man was a PDP member in 1999, and again in 2003 and 2007. In fact, I was piqued by his legislative interests as “Appropriation, Information and Education.

He is also considered a strong future candidate for future governorship of Kano State.

In the hallow corridors of the House of Representatives, he is seen as a big man. The Chairman of the House Ad hoc Committee Monitoring the Fuel Subsidy regime, Hon. Farouk Lawan waltzed around; calling the shots and was the man you needed to reckon with when it comes to matters arising from the fuel subsidy probe.

So back to the scandal , Femi Otedola, a businessman had previously been besmirched with his alliance with Aliko Dangote over breach of trust in their line of business . Insisting that he had nothing to hide or fear over what had happened, Otedola maintained if he was in the wrong he

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Nigerians our own worst enemies

I really do not think the average Nigerian will hold its breathe and judging from the opinions of many, they are not surprised at the large amount of money nor are they interested in the intricacies of the scandal

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would not have involved the security agencies in the first instance.

In a reference to the strong denials made by Lawan since the scandal became public, Otedola stated: “When he (Lawan) demanded the bribe, I called the agencies. That is because I had nothing to hide. When the bribe was paid, why did he not call and report it to the agencies if he had nothing to, (do with it).”

So Otedola has come forward to accuse Lawan of extorting money from him to remove Zenon’s name from the list of companies that collected foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) without importing petroleum products. But Lawan said it was Otedola who initiated the bribe offer.

Someone is not telling the truth.

This sensation is worthy of a Hollywood box office hit. Otedola had revealed how Lawan and Emenalo had collected $620,000 from him, as part payment of $3 million, in a sting operation masterminded by security agencies.

He narrated how Lawan had allegedly approached him a few days before the report was to be tabled on April 18 before the House, demanding money so that Zenon’s name would be kept out of the report. Otedola also said the ad hoc committee’s secretary, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, collected $120,000 on Lawan’s behalf.

So pardon me, the secret service were involved! Yes, you heard me. So this must be so thorough and above board.

This is the stuff of a novel. This is a grand scale accusation and what is so galling is not the amount but the fact that, we have all known that a lot of money changes hands but the fact that this information can be freely offered in the public domain, is suspect.

More so if the sting was to deliver the head of a seasoned member of the House of Representatives, is highly suspect.

What is the motive? Who is to gain from the expose is what needs to be established.

It is a known fact that there is grand scale corruption in high places, it is emblematic of how the bad and the not so great Nigerian business and political leaders are well-known for.

In civilised society, and I use this in its real sense, you should be asking why then is Otedola’s company involved directly with Lawan ?

Especially in his official capacity. And did Otedola who claimed to have carried out sting acting with full blessing of the Secret Service? Was any deal made with the Secret Service? Or did Otedola, as a concerned citizen, go to the Secret Service because Lawan had ask for a bribe? Lawan was caught on tape taking bribe from an oil marketer, Femi Otedola. To doctor the panel’s report. If this is proven, then it is a miracle that Nigeria is making stride to rid the country of corruption! If this is so, then most politicians should be prepared for the SSS to make arrest and enquiries into the whole of the House of Representatives, then the Cabinet, then it will cover a lot of grounds that they may have to call in foreign services to get a grasp of what has been a known secret that corruption and bribery oils the cogs of every aspect of most Nigerians’ lives.

Lawan, who had hitherto denied that neither he nor any member of the committee collected money from any of the oil marketers, told reporters in Abuja that he actually collected $500,000 from Otedola, whom he accused of offering him the money to influence the probe panel’s report. Emenalo admitted collecting money on Lawan’s behalf but said Otedola offered him $100,000. Lawan has denied (?)

All the evidence that it is baseless and it is motivated by ulterior motives.

We ex p e c t t h a t t h i s would follow the due process as the House refer the matter to its Committee on Ethics and Privileges for probe. We also hear that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, has promised that the Federal Government will take appropriate action when it receives the report of investigation into the allegation.

I really do not think the average Nigerian will hold its breathe and judging from the opinions of many, they are not surprised at the large amount of money nor are they interested in the intricacies of the scandal.The people have lost faith in the system that the truth will ever surface.

The subsidy probe will be rubbished and nothing will come out of it. The marketers will come out smelling roses.

PAGE 18—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

Nigeria: Many people, many ghosts Appropriation that there were 40,000 ‘ghost workers’ in the Nigerian government service. In July 2003, 24,000 ghosts were identified in the pension’s unit of the Ministry of Defence. In 2004, it was revealed that the then Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation had 40% percent under-qualified staff and 20 percent ghost workers. It was also discovered that the Ministry had a syndicate which was posting people to ministries with exactly the same letter as the one in use in the Civil Service Commission.

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NE unsettled issue in Nigeria is the nation’s population figures. The nation’s census results including those of the most recent one which gave a population of 140,003,542 in December 2006 have been disputed.

The exact numerical strength of the Nigerian nation has therefore remained a subject of controversy.

That every census result is disputed also implies that no one can authoritatively pronounce upon the fraction of the Nigerian population that is made up of Ghosts! In this article, the term “ghosts” refers to a non-existent entity that functions as though it is alive when in reality it is not.

A fictitious employee in the payroll of an organization is a good example. Oh yes, an overview of the history of ghost workers in Nigeria will easily reveal a rather large figure that is disturbingly high enough to make an analyst wonder if our ghosts are not more than the ordinary people. In October 2000, about 5,000 ghost workers were discovered among military ranks excluding pensioners.

In April 2001, the then Accountant General of the Federation Chief Joseph Naiyeju, told the Senate Committee on Finance and

ed the inclusion of his name among the 60 ghosts in the payroll of their local council- Isoko South area of Delta State as confirmed by its Chairman Chief Askia Ogieh. So, that Delta has ghost workers is stale news. Indeed, the Head of Service, Mr. Okechukwu Ofili, who confirmed its existence in the State on November 19, last year also revealed that the subject was under intense investigation.

Steps taken in the last one year to block such wastages in different parts of the country have led to bizarre revelations. In Niger State, 7000 ghost workers were

The story of ghost workers in Nigeria is thus an unending one more so as the subject is a national game that thrives in every part of the country

The story of ghost workers in Nigeria is thus an unending one more so as the subject is a national game that thrives in every part of the country. Here, let us recall the amazing story some four years back, of two ghost workers who were engaged in a public fight because each suspected the other of having aid-

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according to Alhaji Adamu Garafini, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs discovered in the payroll of the 25 Local Governments Councils in the state. In Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha successfully retrieved N650 from going to ghost workers and saved

Lawan Farouk or how not to take a bribe

wan Farouk story very intriguing is the circumstance around it. It reads like a political thriller by Grisham. And it is indeed a political thriller. Lawan Farouk was not too long ago the face of probity; he was on the mark to garnering solid political reputation as a crusader against malfeasance in this nation’s most rotten epicenter: the oil industry. It was solid legislative work, and Lawan Farouk, a graduate of the Bayero University Kano, and three-term legislator in the House of Representatives had many a hope raised quite high of the emergence of a new kind of political leadership on the horizon. His C M Y K

background was solid.

He had been chair of the Finance committee in the Masari-led House, and he had been part of the “integrity group” that fiercely opposed and successfully countermanded the imposition of what some have called “the hair-dresser speaker ” Mrs. Patricia Etteh, an Obasanjo crony, as the Speaker of the House of Representative.

L

awan Farouk has been at the frontline, fighting important legislative battles. What seemed to be the crowning moment of his legislative activism was as chair of the House ad-hoc committee whose report following its investigation of oil marketers and the petroleum subsidy scandal had been roundedly described as sterling work. It put petroleum marketers, long used to feeding fat from the national trough on the ropes, and it made Farouk, a ranking member of the Federal House of Representatives representing the Bagwai/

Shanono Federal Constituency in Kano, a potential candidate for the Kano governorship in the next election cycle.

But all that now seems to be in jeopardy. Lawan Farouk seems trapped in a terrible bribery scandal

,

I

N the end, it comes down to this: Lawan Farouk is going down. As I write, the police has announced the arrest and d detention of the controversial lawmaker, who this past week has been embroiled in a bribery scandal that has rocked the House of Representatives. The thing that makes the La-

another N1billion from being used to pay phantom pensioners. The Governor angrily ordered the immediate transfer of all accountants in the state civil service although it was not clear if the Governor suspected that some of the accountants were either the ghosts or their associates.

In Lagos however, over 100 ghost workers and impersonators of deceased pensioners were caught ‘redhanded’ while more than N82 million was recovered as confirmed by the Permanent Secretary/AuditorGeneral for Local Governments, Mr Mohammed Hassan. In Abia State, 558 ghost workers, whose monthly salary amounted to over N20million, were discovered in the state civil service. Chief Don Ubani the Commissioner for Information and Strategy said the discovery was made in the first phase of government’s staff salary verification. Earlier, the Sagbama Local Government of Bayelsa state was found to be losing about N10m to ghost workers monthly. The money according to reports was being shared by 500 people whose names found their way into the pay list of the local government but who rendered no service whatsoever to the council.

In Kano State, 5242 workers under the unified local government service were found to be ghosts. In Kaduna State, it was the Head of Service, Mrs. Hanatu Ugah herself that announced the discovery of 2000 ghost workers for which N118 million was being lost every month. Her counterpart in Sokoto, Al-

haji Abdullahi Wali confirmed the discovery of 639 ghost workers illegally earning over N25 million as monthly salaries. In Bauchi State, the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa confirmed the existence of over 5000 ghost workers across the 20 local government councils of the state. In Kogi State, the Sani Adamu committee found that “Lokoja remains the dirtiest city in Nigeria” despite huge resources channeled to sanitation because of indiscriminate recruitment of staff in the State sanitation board. The committee also discovered 500 teachers who had found their way into other employments while their salaries were still being paid by the education board. In Oyo State, Dr. Festus Adedayo, Special Adviser, Media, to Governor Abiola Ajimobi disclosed that among the recently sacked 3000 workers in the State were people who had falsified age claims, falsified certificates and some others who had no letters of appointment as well as persons who had retired but were still on the payroll of government.

As for federal workers, the stories of ghosts in government offices have not been different. Indeed the Federal Civil Service Commission declared not long ago that over 30 percent of the workers on its payroll were phantom staff. The same is true of agencies. At the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) for example, 17,000 fake employees and 6,000 casual workers were found on the payroll of the company. No

wonder the same quantum of work which independent power producers like Shell and Agip do with less than 1,000 staff is done by PHCN with over 50,000 staff. Surprisingly, the National Identity Management Commission which is one federal agency that can rescue the rest of us discovered at the end of its own biometric data capture exercise that as many as 4000 of its 10,000 workers were ghosts.

Nigeria may therefore not be able to resolve the issue of ghost workers for a long time to come especially against the backdrop of certain weird happenings in two States-Zamfara and Plateau. In the case of Zamfara, one of the over 2000 ghosts recently discovered on the State government payroll was a month-old infant earning N24, 000 a month. The situation in Plateau State on the other hand, showed that apart from the post of State Governor and perhaps his deputy, there is a possibility that a ghost can be found in every other post. This is probably the best way to understand the discovery of a fake commissioner on the payroll of the state government. In the words of the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Abraham Yiljap, “I mean somebody appointed himself as commissioner and has been receiving salaries and other perks of office as one”. If everyone is therefore a potential ghost in Nigeria, whether there are more ghosts than citizens in the country will make a good topic for an exciting debate.

rouk of collecting bribes from him, and in support of his allegations, tendered a recorded transaction between him and the lawmaker in audio and video profiles. The evidence would be compelling if it would be admissible in court, particularly given the manner in which it was obtained.

But I’d leave that technical part to the lawyers and legal technicians who may soon trade the craft in court.

the sinkhole together with the reports of on the fuel subsidy program. It does seem that his adversaries chose their quarry well, as well as the man to do the hatchet job.

Femi Otedola is an oligarch; a beneficiary of one of the most corrupt systems in the world. He is no doubt adept at corruption and at making others corrupt. Zenon was not under any investigation, and the question that many people are now asking is, why then was he bribing Mr. Lawan? Was acting on behalf of others? And to what end? To taint Farouk Lawan’s committee’s report by showing the pitiable underside of the crusading legislator?

lect evidence against Otedola. This seems too much like a cock and bull story, particularly because it came after the honourable member from Kano denied that he ever took money from Zenon.

It was a position he later recanted with the emergence of electronic proof, which he also first denied as a “doctoring” of his image. But I think he quickly realized how easy it is now to test his voice print with contemporary technology.

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ut an important di mension of this allegation, which particularly intrigues, is Farouk’s insistence that he had been set up. Of

It does seem that his adversaries chose their quarry well, as well as the man to do the hatchet job

in which he has been accused of demanding and receiving bribes from certain marketers as a condition from delisting them from his investigations. At the center of the bribery scandal is Femi Otedola of Zenon oil and other oil marketers who have come out to accuse Mr. Farouk of demanding and collecting bribes from them. Mr. Otedola pointedly accused Fa-

,

course, he was set up.

But it does seem that he was an active participant in his on entrapment. It does seem that he rattled the cage of too many powerful interests who now consider him too much trouble, too dangerous, and far too much liability, and are prepared to drag his political career and whatever reputation he might have made into

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ell, of course, he may have made his point; show the politician a lollipop and his brain flees through the window. We get it. But we also get the point, and this has to be made that Femi Otedola too his guilty of an attempt to bribe and corrupt an elected public official.

His own case should be easy in court, since he made a public admission, and he must be prosecuted without plea bargain; and he must serve a full jail term for this. It is an offence punishable by law, not only to receive, but also to offer a bribe.

The tangled tale in all this, is the insistence by Mr. Farouk that he had indeed taken Otedola’s bribe but merely to col-

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he short take in all these is that this business is far too murky, and Lawan Farouk is by the sheer weight of evidence against him, a participant in a scandalous conduct unbefitting a legislator. He had made powerful enemies. Perhaps, indeed, he was collecting evidence against Otedola, but at what point in that process did he report to the police?

He had no right, nor does his work as a federal legislator give him the leeway to conduct a sting operation, without the involvement of law enforcement officers. This is where he made the greatest mistake of his public life; by acting alone, and without the backing of the law.

We assume of course, that there is some hint of

truth in his claims to be acting in that guise. He has failed to be like Caesar’s wife. And he is going down – dragged down by caprice.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 19

I’m worried about these!

Dear Rebecca

I

am a nineteen year old boy disturbed about my height. In Biology, we are told that one cannot grow taller after the age of eighteen.

Is it true? Is frequent sex which involves releasing of sperm harmful to one’s health? It’s not affecting my studies though.

Eze Onitsha.

REPLY

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OUR letter did not give enough de tails about your problems. Are you nineteen and you feel you’re too short to stop growing, or too tall, and still growing? However, whatever the situation, there are some things we have to accept in our lives, and learn to live with. Height is one of them. Our body is a gift from God and we have to be thankful for the features we are created with. There is no point in wishing that a part of us were created a particular shape or size, or that we were given a dark skin or a light skin.

No one has the perfect body, and we’ve not been created to come approve of our body and worship it. Our reasons for being on earth is to love, serve and obey God, and in our own small way, do something to improve the world before we return to God. I know that at 19, it is important not to look awkward in the midst of one’s mates, but your height is not your fault.

If you were overweight, I would have advised that you lose weight, because that’s something you can do something about.

Height does not stop one from being successful in life or having children, so, relax and direct your attention to more important things.

Whether the frequent release of sperm is due to masturbation or sexual intercourse, an expert says it is not injurious to health, provided you are not using so much energy in the exercise that you feel tired all the time.

If this is the case, make it a habit to take multivitamins to boost your energy, and maybe cut down on the number of times you have sex.

Also, if you are trying to get your wife pregnant, frequent release of sperm may result in watery sperm which may not

be able to fertilize your wife’s egg and make her pregnant. So, you would need to have less sex so that the quality of your sperm may improve. At 19 I’m certain you’re not yet married, so, don’t be so preoccupied with sex and your body. Think of your studies, your future and how to achieve them successfully. Get busy and take up sports, games and hobbies that you enjoy. Sex carries a lot of risks like unwanted pregnancy, likely abortion and venereal diseases.

Actually, male or female, it’s best to preserve our bodies for the person we will marry.

He’s mainly interested in my body!

Dear Rebecca

I

AM a 22 year old girl helplessly in love with a 24 year old man, for three years now. When I met him, unknown to me, he was an apprentice. He now works and earns a salary. My problem with him is that he drinks, smokes and loves going out late at night. All these I detest.

In addition, he rarely gives me money, no matter what I need it for. He only gives me one hundred naira for transport after he has had sex with me. On one occasion, he lied that he was taking me out to a party but refused to obtain permission from my dad. But because I love him, I followed him only to discover there was no party.

He wanted to take me out so he could have sex with me. He gets angry if he finds me with other boys.

Moreover, he is so controlling. Sincerely, I am fed up with his ways but I am in love with him.

Maybe he had no money as an apprentice but now that he works and earns a salary, why can’t he give me money? He dodges my parents when he sees them and even when my father was detained by the police, he failed to help or sympathise although he was in a position to help. My parents are complaining about him. Anytime I want to leave him, he sends people to beg me, and I go back to him. Afterwards, he continues

like before. What should I do?

Felicia, Lagos.

REPLY

Y

OU can’t possi bly be in love with a man whose habits you dislike and who treats you and your parents shabbily.

He may like you, but he

certainly neither loves nor respects you, at least at present. What he wants is a cheap and readily available source for sex. He dodges your parents because he does not want to become so close and familiar with them, that they would begin to see you both as a couple and expect marriage in the relationship.

He is only 24 and since

he has not been working for long, he is obviously not in a position to take a wife yet. You did not say what you do but you seem ready for marriage, and like many girls, you are sticking to him because you feel you cannot get another man if you leave him. If this is your attitude, you stand to lose. When he is ready for marriage, he may not

marry you, particularly since you already allow him sex. He won’t find anything new about you that will excite him, unless perhaps if you become a millionaire in US dollars. Giving you N100 once in a while for transport after having sex with you, shows that he feels he is paying for the service you have rendered him with your body.

Please give yourself and your family some respect and leave this man quietly. I can’t see any future in this relationship, and I think it would be unwise to hang around as his sex object.

Don’t complain about money; just stop seeing him. Don’t go back to him if he begs or sends people to beg. Get a job or learn a trade, and wait for a man who respects you to turn up. Try not to expect money as reward for being a girlfriend to someone, unless you are selling your body. Even if one is poor, one should act with dignity and not ask men for money. Find something to do so that you can look after yourself financially, and ask God to choose a partner for you. You are too young to ‘manage’ a man whose habit and lifestyle you detest.

I’m confused about this liar!

Dear Rebecca

I

AM twenty-seven, he is twenty-nine.

He promised to marry me next year after his programme in the university. We have been dating for nine months.

After failing to turn up for our first date, he never seems to keep any promise. He keeps apologising for not doing what he has promised to do, and asking for forgiveness.

I keep wondering whether he is the right man for me. He is very secretive. In spite of his shortcomings that I am fed up with, I still love him. I doubt if he is truthful. One day when my aunt travelled, he turned up saying he wanted to spend the night with me. I refused since it’s not his house, but my aunt’s. He was very bitter about it and he kept away for five days. Then he came round to apologise. I am

so confused about our relationship. Is there hope of marriage in this?

Please advise me.

Anthea, Ikeja, Lagos

REPLY

O

rdinarily, one should not ex pect marriage from a relationship in which the man is secretive and hardly ever keeps his promise even from the first day. Even if marriage happens, the union will not be successful because you won’t be close due to his untruthful nature. It is noble of him to come and apologise afterwards, but since he goes right on to show himself unreliable and untruthful again, you will become desperately frustrated and disillusioned. How can you plan with someone, especially a marital partner, who is secretive about things? You say

you love him in spite of these his faults which you detest!

So, just what do you love about him? Is it his looks, his job, his qualifications, his background? Maybe his is generous, maybe he is romantic. These are nice, but not as important as being trustworthy and open with someone you’re having a romantic relationship, whom you claim to love and want to marry.

A good character is what makes a person.

Maybe you’re afraid to be without a man, and you reckon that if you leave him, there may be no man to marry you. At 27, you should not panic at all, and this relationship is barely a year old!

How well do you know him, and how sure are you that he will keep his promise to marry you?

However, let us give

him a chance. Sit him down and quietly find out from him why he never keeps his promises.

Weigh his excuses for each failed promise carefully and decide whether they are valid excuses or not. Next, ask him to tell you about himself, that you don’t know him well.

In Africa, when we marry a person, we are married to his/her family as well. On your own, find out secretly about his background, and compare with what he has told you. His problem may be immaturity. Girls mature much earlier than boys, and both of you are actually age mates at 27 and 29.

All these would help you make up your mind about your relationship.

You are young enough to attract other suitors, especially if you have a good character and a means of livelihood.

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

PAGE 20 —

SUNDAY Vanguard , JUNE 17, 2012

0808 066 0660 (Texts only!)

Do toy-boys give sexy cougars hope?

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F you are in your late forties or early fifties, chances are your husband or partner is years older than you and is not likely to bunk you till you drop as you would have wished for. A few weeks back when I wrote of the antics of a toy boy, some of my friends, and you readers weren’t amused. A lot of you have your own ideas of what a toy boy should be. “They might fancy themselves professional heart breakers,” wrote in Pamela, “but what they really are are opportunists after all they can get from you.

The average handsome toy boys have trained themselves to prey on rich women.

But older women are beating these leeches at their own games.

“These men are nothing but male whores. Far from their female counterparts who stand around on street corners with handbags, they lurk in bars, restaurants, clubs and try to convince women that they fancy the pants off them, then trick them into paying for their pleasures. What they don’t know is that these women see them as providing off-the-shelf sex. They can pick and choose any man they fancy - just like in a supermarket. So when a woman finds a toy-boy

clued-up, but I didn’t realise I was going to be his first. If I had, maybe I might have thought twice. Still, it was worth it just to see the way his face lit up when I asked him over to my place. The first time, it was as if nothing happened - it was all over too quickly for him. By the end of the month, he was doing quite well. He was a quick learner and always trying to please. He virtually lived in my flat and we were at it all the time.

she fancies, she pays the price and takes her purchase home. If he lives up to expectations, she keeps him for a while, give him a bonus and puts him back in the market for someone else to sample. She never keeps in touch and doesn’t get involved with his life. Calculating? Of course!

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couple of weeks back, a friend of mine was leaving a party and working on the security gadgets of her car when a young chap in his 30s staggered to the nearest gutter and took out his tackle. She watched wide-eyed at what she saw and stood transfixed until he’d finished. She then got out of the car, joked about what she’d seen to her prey and told him she’d love for them to get together. She gave him her call card and the rogue didn’t even wait till the next day to call!

“In a relationship like that, you both know the score. I’ve seen a few of my friends get their hearts broken because they fell for men who only wanted their money. Any sane woman must wonder why a good-looking young man, who could get any girl, is chasing after a woman old enough to be

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his mother. My friend made it clear to lover boy from the start that she didn’t want any lies or promises, just a good time. If he keeps his part of the bargain, he gets a good golden handshake at the end of it ... “

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hat these toy boys need is a good, reputable agency to organise their services in a way which both sides would benefit,” Ini said when the topic came up for discussion recently.

“About time someone opened an above board male brothel with good advice on safe sex, regular Aids and SID testing.

It would save a lot of hassle and as long as you’re not looking for a perma-

nent, faithful relationship, you can have a great time. It’s when you start believing the lies that it can go horribly wrong. To see women in their 30s, 40, 50s, 60s, and 70s, being exploited by these male whores who get their money by deception is sad.

“I personally detest the ‘I love you’ con. I know some of our friends who have fallen for it, happily parting with huge sums of money to help their scheming toy boys only to find out they never meant any more than hard cash to these men.

It must be soul-destroying to discover that what you thought was a loving relationship was a complete lie from the start to

Science researches Yoga psychobiologist and Iyengar Yoga teacher, Roger Cole, “ yoga and science go together very, very nicely.”

A scientist with a doctorate in Health Psychology, Cole’s studies involve the interface between physiological and psychological processes, specialising in research and biological relaxation, restoration, and biological clocks.

A gymnast when he was in high school, he has been practising for over 20 years and says that yoga offers “a vast storehouse of wisdom” about the body and mind that modern science can draw upon.

In his work as a res e a r c h e r, C o l e h a s documented the effects of various yoga postures on brain waves C M Y K

particularly relaxation poses such as Viparita Karani (Supported Inv e r t e d Po s e ) a n d Setubandhasana quickly manifested the data brain waves associated with deep relaxation.

He has also delved into the physiological e f f e c t INBOX of inverted poses, which he says dramatically affect hormone levels, brain arousal, blood pressure, fluid balance and a host of other factors among other changes.

When the body is turned upside down, the heart rate slows and the blood vessels dilate.

The extra blood in the trunk stimulates the baroreceptor nerves in the aorta and neck, which in turn signals the central nervous system to

lower blood pressure and slow down brain waves.

Modern science offers Yoga, Cole says, a precious way of observing and qualifying such subtle phenomena, thereby broadening the body of yogic knowledge.

,

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CCORDING to r e s e a r c h

“Science can manipulate matter and energy but it doesn’t discriminate between what is beautiful and sacred and what is not,” he enthuses. “ Yo g a b r i n g s t h a t beauty, turning our investigation into a living art.”

,

When the body is turned upside down, the heart rate slows and the blood vessels dilate

“Some people look at the system of yoga as static-they think its perfect as it is,” says Cole, who teaches at the North country Yoga Studio in San Dievolving and we are still inventing yoga today.

The shoulder stand Technique: Lying on your back, draw up your knees, and place both hands at the back with the thumbs to the hips.

With a bit of momentum, raise the legs up

finish. It is fraud or deception and it should be made illegal, with harsh sentences for those found guilty.”

I

found this a bit amusing.

What would you do to young women who con their sugar daddies? Before I could voice my opinion, Ann, a brash businesswoman, divorced mother of two and in her thirties asked if anyone had tried a virgin? “I· have,” she boasted when we looked curiously at her. “He’d been over-protected by his parents and I was sure he could hit 30 without having sex. He was already 25, a graduate with a good job. I know he was shy and not very

and point the toes skyward. For the beginn e r, a halfminute in this posture will do until over the longhaul you can say for upwards of two minutes.

The Bridge Technique: Ly i n g o n your back, draw your knees up a bit, placing the hands by the lower flanks raise the body and support it on the elbows, shoulders and back of tINBOX he head.

Retain the pose for say half a minute, rest and repeat a few times.

nfortunately, he got too confident and greedy. 1 bought him some stuffs but he wanted more. When he started taking me for his personal ATM, I showed him the door - the end of a beautiful relationship.

Now that I’ve put him through his paces, he can find someone else to practise his new skill on.

It would take a better man than him to part me from my hard-earned cash.

“In a way Aunty Candy, I suppose I’m one of the ‘older ’ ladies you’re referring to, and yes, I have paid for a good seeing-to, and yes, it is worth it. The way I see it, I like choice food, so I don’t buy frozen fish - I buy fresh quality stuff.

It’s the same with sex.”

The Shoulderstand

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

SUNDAY Vanguard , JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 21

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

Don’t assume your youngster knows all about sex!

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HEY’ve read the manuals, heard the warnings in the media and may even have found the courage to buy some condoms, but when making love for the first time, quite an alarming number of young men and women ignore everything they have learned and simply trust to luck in spite of being bombarded with everything they could wish to know about sex, they feel too embarrassed to talk openly to their partner. Even the most enlightened couples have trouble as they see a lot of the language surrounding sex as either too obscene or too clinical to use to a prospective lover.

“Neither partner wants to be the first to bring up the subject of contraception directly for fear of rejection or being thought too pushy,” explains a psychologist in one of the teaching hospitals. “Even the dynamic career women who have no qualms about straight talking in the boardroom, become tongue-tied in the bedroom. They will say things like ‘I think everyone should use a condom’, but they don’t lie in bed and discuss what method of contraception is going to be used.

Based on disclosure from youths I’ve interacted with, )youngsters between the ages of 17 and 25 who talked candidly about their attitudes to sex, over 50 per cent of them had had sexual intercourse. Three-quarters of these used contraception the first time they went to bed with a new partner. Half of those said they used condoms and the other either relied on the woman being on the pill or used

riskier methods such as withdrawal. But even those sensible enough to use precautions were often bashful to discuss it at first.

“We found the reason condoms were used was often because the man just produced one automatically. Quite a lot of men did it on their own initiative because women don’t talk about it and hope the men will take precautions. The men thought that was what they should do. But as soon as a relationship is established, women switch to the pill, forgetting that condoms help to protect them from cervical cancer and sexually transmitted diseases the girls’ real fear is pregnancy. They are aware of other things but they don’t think it happens to them or that there could be anything wrong with their partner.”

This apparent complacency, says the psychologist, stems partly from the fact that most people go to bed with someone they know - however remotely. “It may be someone they know from the office, a friend of their brother ’s or someone they have talked to at the bus stop. When it’s only a one - night stand, the man assumes the woman wouldn’t have sex unless she was on the pill while she assumes he must know what he’s doing or he wouldn’t be doing it.

In the end, they often don’t take any precautions at all which leads to problems with sexually transmitted diseases.

There’s also the sad fact that there is a high incidence of pregnancy with first-time sex.

“By the time women reach their mid-twenties, they become more assertive about contraception,

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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"

I wish I look through my lonely heart, I see distant echoes of love. I surf through my mind, I imagine the happiness love would have brought my way. I look C M Y K

although there are few brave enough to send their partner to the local chemist for condoms.

There are women who say no, but equally there is a strong feeling the condoms aren’t an attractive form of contraception.

Women only take to it the first time if they are older or more experienced, but after the first few times it becomes more natural for her to take the initiative.

“The good news for women is that an increasing number are discovering new men between the sheets. Many men said they did not like the pressure on them to lure their new girlfriend into bed immediately and some of them were very sensitive.

They were bothered about the reactions of their partners. It is no longer a case of the predatory male and the reluctant female of popular belief. My advice to those who find that sex leaves them tongue-tied is to be prepared and do something instead. If

young people cannot bring themselves to say anything, they should do something practical and consider carrying condoms themselves.

From the social scene to the bedroom, the mating ritual is played out in a series of subtle, sensual games. “And no matter how romantically seduction is displayed on cinema screen and in glossy paperbacks, in real life, the first kiss is more likely to be in the back of taxi than under a moonlit sky,” says the expert. “It’s much more a case of asking someone, they fancy if they want a drink at any club or eatery. Whichever they decide, there will be some move away from the main group.

One of them will buy the other a drink and then sit next to them and they will single themselves out physically as a couple.

“This is followed by saying ‘I live the same

around me, I see love,potentially,but not for me,with me. I wish I have the one to love. I wish you are the one. I wish you are here with me, I wish my tears are for love and joy. I wish I can be loved like I love.

I wish I'm in love.

Stan Stan. stanfeelings@gmail.com 07035709315 My Angel I have in my life time heard a lot of things people say about love. In all, I have learned that love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning, you came into my life and gave a meaning to the love of my heart. You are the definition of true love, cause since i met you my whole world has changed. love you now always.

Ekhas Obazee d4greatness@yahoo.com 07031338939

way as you, shall we go home together?’ And perhaps asking them in for yet another drink. It’s very hackneyed really and if it’s a deduction, it’s terribly slow. The same pattern emerges when they are alone and sex becomes a possibility.

He will ask her to move from one place to another. He might say ‘come and sit on the sofa’ and then put his arm around her. Even then, today’s liberated teenagers still have ‘how far can we go’ rules.

Six steps to safe sex Sex is one of the most beautiful and natural things in the world, yet its unwanted consequences can lead to heartache and misery even death. Readers have asked from time to time to have something their growing children could benefit from. That’s why I’ve given the Psy-

chologists findings full reign! She concluded that by taking the right precautions and following these six simple rules you can enjoy a loving, passionate relationship without fearing what the future might hold.

Never assume that because you know your partner well, they are bound to be safe.

Don’t just wait and see what happens - try to think through what you want the result to be.

When you have made your decision, think long and hard about the possible consequences.

Talk openly about contraception - if you don’t say anything, it may be assumed you are happy to go ahead and that you are on the pill.

Don’t put off discussing things. The later you leave it, the harder it will be to avoid getting carried away.

And don’t worry about looking silly - do what’s right for you.

Love needs attention Love is like a flower,so beautiful in d morning,but it slowly withered away in the evening because of the intense heat of the sun.But just like the flower needs water and shade to protect it from the sun,so do love needs special care and attention to enable it grow stronger.

Obaseki Uyi uyikere@yahoo.com 07051878276

Knowing what yoy want Dont be a woman who needs a man,but be the woman a man needs because every woman is worthing fighting for,but not every man is worthy of her as every decent girl wants a man who will adore her and make her feel like a queen.she wants the man who can protect,love,correct and adore her.

Augustine Udi, austudi4eva@yahoo.com, 07032236700

PAGE 22 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012 OMO OMORUYI’S ANTECEDENTS was involved in the three stages in the election process that produced what we call today ‘June 12’ Those of us who worked on the three stages never, never planned for its cancellation or annulment. For the reader, the three stages of an election process according to the standard text in election planning are the pre election day activities, the election day activities and the post-election day activities. In 1993, we passed the first and the second and the problem arose as we approached the third stage.

The cancellation or annulment, which occurred after the second stage was alien to the plan and so could not have been thought of at all. It is over simplification of a complex issue for Chief Obasanjo to say that the cancellation arose from bad belle. What is bad belle? May be he should have said the cancellation and annulment was caused by drug barons!

The military president also knew that the action taken then by the military, not by him as a personal decision, was not provided for in the decrees governing the transition programme. We must accept that Nigeria was under a military government. Did General Babangida stop the political class from fighting for what they believed in? This is critical to the issue of docility that would be addressed later in this piece.

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PRONOUNCING JUNE 12 ELECTION FREE AND FAIR ne will recall that I was the only one in the government of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida that ever, at that time, pronounced, “the presidential election was free, fair and credible”. I still recall the interview I granted to my good friend Segun Adeniyi, who was then the Abuja reporter for African Concord.

See African Concord June 26, 1993. This interview was granted on June 16, 1993, a week before the cancellation of the election that occurred on June 23. Thank you Segun for making me make that profound statement, that the June 12 presidential election was free, fair and credible. I still treasure that interview.

The basis for the annulment of June 12, by Omo Omoruyi ‘Why

Jonathan must support Oshiomhole’ Says amalgamation was a terrible mistake Professor Omo Omoruyi can be described as Mr. June 12. In this piece, he explains to Sunday Vanguard the unwritten basis for the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Omoruyi, who turned 74 on May 31, 2012, also speaks on his life as a cancer survivor, the politics of Edo State, the need for President Goodluck Jonathan to be more circumspect and a host of other national issues.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

JUNE 12 WAS CRITICAL TO DEMOCRACY What was critical

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WHY IBB DID NOT INSIST ON A RETRACTION o many people in govern ment at that time, I should have been made by General Babangida to retract that statement. General Babangida knew me well that I speak from my heart. He knew that I came out of the university in 1989 to tell him the truth. He could not make me retract what he genuinely knew to be true. I still pay tribute to him for allowing me to be myself as a political scientist assisting him to promote democracy. This is why we are still friends. He knew that my statement was truthful and

wrote two essays on this matter after 1999 when he was forgetting his prophesy after he became president.

Here is a man from the same place as Abiola; he openly rejected MKO that Chief Abiola was not the messiah Nigerians were waiting for. I was elated when he was publicly confessing after his release from the Abacha gulag that God spoke to him about June 12. When I read his sermon, my joy knew no bound. I said to myself in my lonely place in the US that the truth about June 12 and MKO would soon come to light. That he did not make do his prophesy through out his reign as President of Nigeria must have been one aspect of what the Anglican Bishop was referring to. Even in death, MKO Abiola was one case where Chief Obasanjo needs to seek God’s forgiveness.

(These essays can be accessed from the www titled: OBJ; Go Back to Your Sermon on Olumo Rock 1 and 2”).

Why Obasanjo did not refer to his prophecy after he became president was one of the greatest betrayals in Nigerian history.

The second betrayal was his decision to ignore the fact of June 12 and Chief MKO Abiola until after leaving office when he openly said in his church that only bad belle made some people deny MKO his mandate.

Applying the secret and open elements (MOBS) to the process was what would have saved the 2007 election

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that that statement arose from what he asked me to do. One would recall that I granted that interview on June 16, 1993, few hours after the Chairman of NEC stopped displaying the election results on the board.

From the machinery devel-

oped at the Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS) under the auspices of the National Election Monitoring Group (NEMG), and, in strict application of the guideline governing the presidential election, which we called then the Modified Open Ballot System (MOBS), my office knew and had all the results including the winners and the losers as at June 15, 1993. Nigerians and the international community had all the results; the Presidency had all the results too. As at June 15, the winner of that election was known as Chief M.K.O.Abiola. What was left was for NEC to officially say so and for Chief Abiola to be sworn-in on August 27, 1993.

One would recall that displaying the results on the board or announcing the final result officially was not what the decree said any way as constituting the result from the Modified Open Ballot System (MOBS).

The former President, Chief

Obasanjo, belatedly, confessed, in the church, on June3, 2007 at Abeokuta, that his fellow Ogun/Egba indigene was prevented from being sworn-in as an elected president because of ‘bad belle’. This is hogwash; I said earlier that it was an over simplification of a complex issue that he too recognized at the Baptist Church in his sermon on June 20, 1998.

Applying the secret and open elements (MOBS) to the process was what would have saved the 2007 election. It should be noted that MOBS was part of the 2007 Electoral Act; it was only for decoration as the application was a different issue.

TWO BETRAYALS OF MKO BY OBASANJO was elated when Chief Obasanjo in 1998, after his release from Abacha gulag, publicly announced at Owu Baptist Church what God told him about June 12 while he was meditating in prison. I

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about the Olumo Rock Sermon was the profound statement of Chief Obasanjo “that without the resolution of the events of June 12, 1993, we may not have a firm and solid foundation to erect the structure of democracy on a lasting basis”.

He was right then; is he not still right today? The issues in the annulment are still with us today. One would have thought that the issues in the annulment would have been addressed by Chief Obasanjo as part of his political program as soon as God made it possible for him to be the man to succeed the military. What is the contribution of Chief Abiola to democracy? From June 12, Nigerians and the world knew that he fought for the sanctity of the ballot box and died in its defense if we compare this with Chief Obasanjo’s contribution today, do we leave to history? But I can say from the election of April 2007 that Chief Obasanjo did not believe in multi-partism and Continues on page 23

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 23

By Gift Gabriel

I sold used clothes in school to survive – Linus Okorie, President, GOTNI H

is conferences have drawn into Nigeria great speakers from across the world, the latest being Dr.Myles Munroe. Linus Okorie, the President of Nigeria’s foremost youth leadership organisation, Guardians of The Nation International, GOTNI, may have grown to be one of Nigeria’s most reputable and sought-after leadership coaches, but it might interest you to know that, only some years back, he was thrown out of people’s homes on several occasions for merely wanting to voluntarily teach them the tenets of leadership. Those experiences were, however, not muscular enough to discourage this Cameroonbred Nigerian who was the first-elected Students Union Government President at the Imo State University, IMSU, Owerri. Linus, who actually started the business of grooming leaders at age 16 while in his first year at IMSU, is today an Associate Member of the International ThirdWorld Leadership Association in the Bahamas. He also recently launched his book, Footprints: Leading Beyond Today, in Abuja. In this interview, our Inspirational Icon recalls how he lost his father at age 13, and how he had to learn to take responsibility for his life since catering for him and his eight siblings became an uphill task for his mother.

Enjoy!

You started teaching leadership at age 16, and that seems quite young. But is there any connection between your focus on leadership and your childhood? grew up in Cameroon where I attended Saint John’s Primary School in Kumba Town. Right there, I was always in the forefront as a class prefect. Unfortunately for me, I lost my dad early when I was in JSS3 at Government Secondary School Owerri in Nigeria.

Some of the inspiring things that happened to me within that period was that resources were scarce, and I had to do a lot to be able to meet up. My

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mum became the only one supporting a family of nine; I’m the fifth child. I however was so courageous that while still in JSS3, I stood up in front of the classroom one day, and told everybody who cared to listen that I was going to be their senior prefect.

Everybody laughed me to scorn, but I became the HeadBoy in SS3!

Precisely how tough were things when you lost your father? was about 13 years old when my father died.

Things were difficult to the extent that while returning from Cameroon during holidays because my family were permanently based in Cameroon, I would buy sweets and chocolates among other things to sell to supermarkets to make money. I was also supplying my classmates who were mainly from comfortable homes. I also remember I sold used clothes to survive in secondary school! I give kudos to my mother for being able to cater for us to the best of her ability as an industrious woman. All these gave me a sense of responsibility, and I could begin to take initiatives.

I personally went to

last summit held in Owerri.

We hope that our efforts will impact positively on this country. Look at Singapore for instance! When Singapore had independence, we were at par and they had nothing in terms of natural gifting like Nigeria, but few years after, Singapore has moved from a third world nation to a first world nation while Nigeria is still crawling!

You know what they did? The leaders of Singapore, in the past, took their very best of young people, locked them up and then began to teach them the can-do-it spirit while also painting a future that these young people could catch!

They were already building their succession plan! They taught these young people sacrifice, integrity and culture, and these young people grew up with the responsibility of transforming their nation!

Succession in leadership has to be deliberate because that’s the way nations are transformed!

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BY GIFT GABRIEL

LINUS OKORIE

grooming leaders?

14 years ago, as a first year student at the Imo State University, I read about a Bible character called Nehemiah who was comfortable at the king’s palace until they

I maintained a big library with a chair in the middle which I called ‘The thinking spot’. That way, I started the practice of jotting and filing ideas

Cameroon to organise my own send-off when I was going to enter into Imo State University, so that I could raise money. My friends over there were quite helpful, and, from the contributions they made, I bought goods for sale while coming back to Nigeria. I should have left like any other person without any symbol of my leaving, and without any ceremony. I was about 16 years old then, and when I look back now, I wonder how it all happened!

So, since when did you decide to shoulder the task of

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brought him a message that his country was being destroyed. He decided to provide leadership for his country by leaving his comfort zone and mobilising people who shared in the vision, and, in no distant time, his desires were met. So, I decided to shoulder the task of preparing future leaders and grooming leaders because I believe that every crisis in Nigeria today is an accumulation of a huge leadership deficit. There’s a lot of injustice, waste and misplaced priorities in the system presently. The pain of

leadership deficit is huge! So, being an undergraduate at that time, I started with raising leaders who would occupy positions in the university environment. I thought that if those young people were taught how to take integrity and sacrifice as a core, then we would make progress. In the process of doing that and organising conferences on campus with my pocket money, I became the Students Union Government President.

Thereon, I went to the National Assembly in Abuja for my youth service, and thereon, I went to the Lagos Business School where I worked with Prof.Pat Utomi, researching on ‘Why Nations are Poor’. It was in the process of that research that it became clear to me that nations make progress only when there is visionary, exemplary, transformational and sacrificial leadership in place.

That dream led into my going full-time into developing my fourteen brands, focusing on different segments of life.

Among them, each year, we run leadership summit in Abuja, Lagos and Owerri. At those three cities, we host more than a thousand people par time. Dr.Myles Munroe was the guest speaker at out

I want to get something clear; how exactly did you take-off with this self-imposed project? fter leaving IMSU, I gave several speeches for free; knocking on doors as a Youth Corps member in the National Assembly. I would go to the doors of members of the National Assembly, and would say “Sir, I’ve come to teach you leadership for free”, and they would throw me out. But one day, one Dr.Osuala said, “Come, let me hear what you’ve got”, and then I spent thirty minutes with him, teaching him ‘courage’ as the bone of leadership. The man was so impressed that he asked for more materials. Along the line, as I deepened my thoughts and skills, I began to be appreciated, and started getting paid by people for speaking. Also, I could remember that for many years, I maintained a big library with a chair in the middle which I called ‘The thinking spot’. That way, I started the practice of jotting and filing ideas. From there, I would write proposals and take them out, and when they were turned down, I would go back to ask questions.

One day, I went to MTN with a reworked proposal, and they decided to buy into my project.

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Responsibility is the most powerful internal motivator for problem solving. When you remove it, all that remains is the lesser drive of self-preservation. If necessity is the mother of invention then responsibility is its father. —Mark A. Crouch (Bouncing Off Paper Walls)

PAGE 24—SUNDAY VANGUARD,JUNE 17, 2012

MONEY: Teach children earning & budgeting

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Y goodness! Those are atro ciously high shoes! ” ex claimed a cousin of mine when her 22 year old daughter, Diane, came out to whirl round for us to admire her before she left for a social engagement.

“Oh mum! They’re not that high. You should see those of Gladys’. They’re twice as high as these ones.”

“That’s not possible. None can possibly be higher than these ones. Don’t you feel dizzy? It’s like you’re walking on stilts! They’ll affect your knees, your ankles, your spine and your waist. They could trigger off joint pains early. Can’t you change into lovely but sensible shoes?”

“Mum these are what are in vogue right now. All my friends wear high heels.

Auntie, aren’t they lovely?”

“They definitely are lovely, and so is the rest of your outfit. You look beautiful.”

“Auntie, God bless you, ma. You’ve made my day. Mum, you see? Some booster from auntie. I feel good.”

“Er, I haven’t actually said that you don’t look pretty and well-dressed. It’s the shoes that are unhealthy. I suppose you have to wear them, at least at this point in time.”

“That’s the spirit, mumsie! That’s the spirit! One has to move with the times.”

“How much do they cost, by the way? I mean your shoes.”

“Oh, er, not much. Er, just forty-two thousand naira, including this matching handbag, mum. Cheap, isn’t it? They were on sales in Ikeja. Gladys’ cost much more.”

“Forty-two thousand!” exclaimed both I and her mother.

“Do you girls pay that much for shoes these days?” I asked. “That’s a monthly salary for some married people with children, you know. That’s reckless spending, Diane. Sorry, but it’s true.”

“Ah, my sister, thank you o!” said the mother. “Diane, how can you afford these on your youth corper’s allowance? Even if you were a worker and earning several hundred naira a month, you shouldn’t pay that much for mere shoes. How were you able to pay for them? Don’t tell me you bought them on credit or borrowed money. You don’t have a sugar daddy, do you? Of course not!”

“That’s a laugh, mum. Sugar daddy indeed. You know how much I have at any given time, mum. However, I borrowed the money, but from my savings.

You can go check at the bank.”

“I believe you, but that’s borrowing, all the same. You purchased outside your earning for the month. That’s bad, very bad Diane. Your dad would be so upset about it. ” Diane sighed heavily, murmuring that she would pay the money back into her savings. The mother asked how and when, and she was then given a two minute lecture on how not to spend frivolously. Poor Diane looked sober as she bade us ‘goodbye.’

Afterwards, I commended my cousin on the lecture, and on her interest in how her children spend their money. “Well, since you and your husband are accountants, I suppose it’s easy for you to guide your children. Many of us are not that placed.”

“Maybe. It’s important for these children to know that you don’t pluck money from the trees in the backyard. Every child should be raised to budget within his/her earnings, and treat money with respect, buy wisely and learn to go for bargains. That will, hopefully check their spending habits, teach them how to manage money properly, and stay out C M Y K

View-Point

Helen Ovbiagele Woman Editor

primary school level so that the young can be caught early; using every day situations in which the children have to spend money. For example, a Pets’ Shop situation is created in class, with the prices of the toy pets clearly marked. Each pupil is then given a budget and then they are asked to work out how many pets they can conveniently ‘buy’ with the money they have. The lesson is not just about maths. ‘The class is urged to think about the meaning of words and phrases such as ‘bargain’ and ‘buy one, get one free’.’

A deputy head of one these schools in Merton, south-west London, and leader of its financial education strategy, says ‘We want children to reflect wisely on the choices they make with their money and to be better equipped as consumers when they come to spend for themselves.’ A seven year old pupil there tells others, ‘If we learn this now, then if you go shopping with your mum and dad, you will know what to spend.’

The school runs a Money Week

each summer for the whole school and parents.

The writer of the piece says ‘the lessons have been shaped by a five-year project ‘What Money Means’. The 3.4 million pounds initiative, led by the Personal finance Education Group charity and sponsored by HSBC, has worked with primary schools in 34 local authorities in England, reaching tens of thousands of children.’

I think this a worthy scheme which the government and financial institutions in our country can collaborate to use in educating our children, who as future leaders who will define the financial health of the nation, on how to handle money wisely with respect and discipline.

Of course there are citizens here who are busy stashing away money so that many generations of their families will never know poverty, but even they need to teach their wards how to handle the wealth they’re leaving behind, so that, that poverty they fear may never happen. But then, they may never know what’s left of their wealth in say, a hundred years’ time.

Those who acquire staggering debts, or spend public money recklessly, don’t acquire the habit suddenly. It’s something that they’ve been living with unchecked from their early years of debt. Those who acquire staggering debts, or spend public money recklessly, don’t acquire the habit suddenly. It’s something that they’ve been living with unchecked from their early years.”

How true! With the harsh economic times, many people are finding it difficult to make ends meet, and are merely living from month-end to month-end, borrowing money to make this possible. While this is as a result of their low-earning power, there are many people who earn passably well, but can’t manage money, simply because they’ve never known how to. If they can’t manage money, they won’t be able to teach their children how to manage money.

Eh, yes! With untamed and reckless spending will surely come the temptation to ‘borrow’ public money placed in our care, or placed within our reach, or accept money offered to us by ‘grateful’ people in the course of performing our duties.

This is certainly not stealing public funds or taking bribes! However, we just have to have the money with which to fund our expensive lifestyle; the alternative is acquiring uncontrolled mounting debts.

It was enlightening to read in a March edition of the British Mail on Sunday newspaper that financial topics are slotted into lessons across the curriculum in some schools Britain. This starts at the

HOLLY FULTON AUTUMN/WINTER 2012 London Fashion Week skyliving.sky.com

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 25

Girl, 4, rescued from the hole of death

BY BILESANMI OLALEKAN

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he odds were against her. Mayowa,now 4,had a defective breathing system. Her parents were particularly well-to-do yet their daughter ’s health was deteriorating by the day.

She was getting pale and losing strength to walk, so, it was a matter of time before she gave up. But like the biblical woman with the issue of blood who met Jesus Christ and her reproach was taken off her, both parents,Gbenga and Oluwatoyin Abolaji, met two different people at different times and their reproach was taken off. Mary works as secretary in an events centre while the husband, Michael, works with Rainoil as depot manager.

Rotary Club of Egbeda had a function at the events centre, Mary’s workplace, she approached one of the members who tabled her case before his members: That assistance including using the media generated over N200,000. The husband also informed his company and, having thoroughly found the veracity of the claim, independently, the chairman approved about N1.6m for the medical treatment. The operation was successful as she just returned with her baby last month from India. She was full of gratitude when Sunday Vanguard

Our joy knew no bounds when we discovered that we had gotten the money for the operation. I was just crying because I didn’t believe we could get that kind of money

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sought her out in her office. ”It was the battle of my life as I was ready to give everything for my daughter to survive”, she said as she narrated how the problem started.” She was barely two years old when we noticed that she was always having temperature. We thought it was just malaria and so we were giving her malaria treatment and she would be okay.

But, on this particular night, the temperature was so high that we had to, out of fear, take her to the Alimosho General Hospital where she was rejected. The officials asked us to

Mayowa......INSET: The mother take her to Ikeja General Hos- would not go because there pital. By this time, it was al- was no money for the drugs ready midnight. On getting and transportation. We had there, we were admitted. We this Rotary of Egbeda function were told that she had a hole at our events centre. Knowing in the heart and still further that the organisation is about referred us to Lagos Universi- charity, I thought I should apty Teaching Hospital, LUTH”. proach them, whatever they could do would go a long way. here and then, the mother I approached one of the memwas told what she had to bers who then took it up. That do if she wanted her child to was how I ended up in Vanlive - Look for N1.6m. This guard and a story about my was a woman whose annual baby’s plight was published”, salary was a lot less than that she recalled. By this time, amount. The baby was dis- Mayowa’s crisis had separatcharged but not without drugs ed both parents. However in to suppress the pains but more the midst of this crisis, the litthan that to prolong her days tle girl became the strength of before going under the knife, her mother as she was contelling her that is if the parents could af- stantly ford the cost of operation. “We mother,’don’t worry mummy, I were going to LUTH every shall not die’. She had sought week to take injections and assistance from some corpodrugs. There were days I rate organisations. It was only

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25-year-old emerges youngest Ph.D holder in Babcock Varsity ...aims to become a professor at 30

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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he story of how she was successfully awarded a doctorate degree in Business Information, at 25, will forever linger in the hearts of Opeyemi Deborah Sodipe, an illustrious daughter of Ake in Abeokuta-South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It was at the 10th convocation ceremony of Babcock University (BU), Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, held on Sunday. As early as 9.00am, the university’s Stadium Complex was filled to the brim with the crème de la crème of Ogun State, the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA), management and staff of BU, parents, students, families, friends, well-wishers and guests who came Continues on page 26 C M Y K

Opeyemi with her parents

Kanu Heart Foundation, that responded positively. Even then she was told they could only give 15% of the total cost while she looked for the balance.” And to add to that, it is you that would go about distributing the letter to solicit for assistance.

I didn’t know anybody who could help out, and that was the reason I even went to the Foundation in the first place.

If I knew who could help, I would not have even come to them. Meanwhile the Vanguard publication elicited reactions such that those who could not help financially were raining prayers on Mayowa.

Over N200,000 was realised from the response to the publication.

The publication was also reacted to by Ajibola’s company, Rainoil, but negatively. The anger of the company was the fact that it was not told before taking it to the public. The company promptly dug into the case and their findings were not differently from what the Vanguard published. It promptly released the money for the operation. The company chief accountant also gave N100k as personal donation. “ Our joy knew no bounds when we discovered that we had gotten the money for the operation. I was just crying because I didn’t believe we could get that kind of money.

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had never seen millions in my life, I was only hearing or reading about it. Where would you get such kind of money?, that was why I was crying when eventually we got the money”. Unlike other children who had come for the same operation,Mayowa recovery was the fastest.” I met about four Nigerians in the hospital who had come for the same operation. There were other patients from other countries too. But, of all the patients, it was Mayowa’s recovery that was the fastest. Usually, according to parents of the patients and even doctors and nurses there, it takes about three days before you can begin to move around but Mayowa was every where in less than 24 hours. Everyone was amazed,” she stated. ”There is really nothing I can say to capture my emotions and most importantly my gratitude to Rainoil and the public for this assistance. Words cannot really express how I feel that I am not made to lose my child. All I can say is that God will continue to bless everyone”. Mayowa, meaning bring forth joy, has not only restored her parents joy but has reunited them with the successful operation.

PAGE 26—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012

Country News

How our people die in ignorance — Dr. Duro-Aina

BY TONY NWANKWO

Part of our Success showcase programme is to give everyone all the important information and training and educate all on what it takes to live a healthier, longer, happier life

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hospitals. Part of our Success showcase programme is to give everyone all the important information and training and educate all on what it takes to live a healthier, longer, happier life”, he said.

Experts on heart-related diseases say that Forever CardioHealth, launched at FLP Super Rally in Dallas, USA in

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xperts advise that people should not wait for symptoms before they go to their medical doctors. Rather, everyone is advised to regularly consult their doctors for medical check up, even when symptoms are not visible. This is because the first sign you may have of a heart disease, according to experts, could just be a stroke. But the good news is that heart related disease is one cause of death that is preventable. So, it is important to be enlightened about it because a lot of what happens

Mrs Nneamaka Lawani, FLP MD, Mr Cornelius Tay and Prof Uchenna Onwudiegwu

as far as the heart is concerned can be prevented.

In a special training at the Ibadan FLP event, Sapphire Manager, Mrs. Nene Lawani, while making a presentation on how to be successful in multi-level marketing business, advised people to reject poverty and embrace all the lofty ideas being introduced by the company.

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he Ibadan event attract ed distributors from the city and other parts of the South West. Many gave testimonies on how Forever had changed their lives for the bet-

ter. Speaking on her recognition at the event, Mrs. Ojujesu Orifowomo attributed her success in FLP business to the power of God and the support she received from her family. “Ï am overjoyed by this FLP gesture and would advise everyone to join and share in the benefits that the company provides”, Mrs. Orifowomo said.

Wherever the FLP Success Showcase train had gone so far in 2012: Abuja, Kaduna, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Warri and Lagos, the story has been the same, incredible excitement, success stories, testimonies of transformed lives.

25-year-old emerges youngest Ph.D holder Continued from page 25 from within and across the country.

Words of encomium were showered on Opeyemi. She also received handshakes from the President/Vice Chancellor, BU, Prof. Kayode Makinde; and Benjamin Carson (Snr.), foremost paediatric and neurosurgeon, who was the first doctor to successfully operate on Siamese twins.

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orn on August 14, 1986 in Ibadan where her parents live, Opeyemi is the third in a family of four of Mr. David and Mrs. Deborah Sodipe, accountant and teacher respectively.

She attended Omolara Nursery & Primary School, Ibadan, where she had her First School Leaving Certificate (Common Entrance) in 1996. From there, she proceeded to King’s International College, Moniya, Ibadan, where she finished in 2002. Opeyemi attended Bab-

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igerians, especially prominent citizens, now collapse and die mainly due to their ignorance of preventable diseases.

Speaking in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the Forever Living Products Success showcase event held on Saturday, May 19, 2012, a medical practitioner, Dr. Titilola Duro-Aina, lamented the alarming rate at which people in the developing world, including Nigeria, now suffer and die from heartrelated diseases which could easily be prevented or managed with appropriate supplements. “Recently, the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe, suffered and died of heart attack. This is the ugly trend that Forever Living Products wants to stop.

73. 7 per cent of deaths that occur nowadays are due to preventable diseases”, she said, adding: “What is killing people today is ignorance”.

Dr. Duro-Aina stressed the need for Nigerians, including doctors and other professionals, to embrace the products of Forever Living Products in order to tackle most illnesses, saying that it is disturbing how many people now die of terminal diseases like heart attack.

And outside Nigeria, acclaimed athletes, including high profile footballers have recently succumbed to diseases related to the heart, a situation that triggered an advise from the FLP Managing Director, Mr. Cornelius Tay at the event in Ibadan. Speaking on the prevalence of these diseases, Mr. Tay, said one of the reasons for the monthly Success showcase programme of the company is not only to celebrate FLP’s esteemed distributors and commend their great efforts to make millions of Nigerians happier through good health, but to bring nature’s best health and beauty products closer to everyone. “Let us wake up. This is 2012. Forever Living Products is telling everyone to take their destiny in their own hands. One thing that Forever Living Products is committed to do is to keep people away from sickness. If you use FLP products regularly, you will not go frequently to

2009, is acknowledged globally as one of the best cardio vascular formula, containing the broadest range of vitamins that can provide all that one needs to ensure a healthy heart. Forever CardioHealth, with CoQ10, they say, is a special formula designed to easily dissolve in Aloe Vera Gel to provide three important nutritional supports for cardio vascular health. Another product in the FLP stable is L-Arginine (Argi+) which was launched in the USA in 2010.

Any journey to stardom is not a tea party. It is not without its own ups and downs. But I believe determination kept me going. I have dreamt of becoming a lecturer since my undergraduate days

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cock University where she had her bachelor ’s degree in Information Resources Management (BIRM) between 20022006. She had her master ’s degree in Information Science (M.Inf.Sc.) at the University of Ibadan, between 2007-2010.

Opeyemi returned to Babcock for her Ph.D in Informa-

tion Resources Management, majoring in Business Information Management between 2010-2012. The young Ph.D holder spoke with Sunday Vanguard.

How I feel? feel honoured. Infact, I am grateful to God Almighty, my parents, my proprietor, Prof. Kayode Makinde (President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock), and everyone around me, who have contributed one way or the other to my life.

The journey so far Any journey to stardom is not a tea party. It is not without its own ups and downs. But I believe determination kept me going. I have dreamt of becoming a lecturer since my undergraduate days. Even, back then in my masters class, my colleagues and lecturers used to call me ‘professor, probably because of the light of success they saw in me. Here I am today, as an assistant lecturer in

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Babcock University.

Plans ahead What I think of doing now is publishing in internationally recognized journals, attending conferences, seminars and workshops, so as to further move up the ladder.

Infact, I have the opportunity of giving lectures at seminars and lecturing, as a way of giving back to the society I benefited from. I certainly have every opportunity to influencing the next person beside me positively. It’s not until I get to that big picture, before I could impact positively on others.

With all these efforts, I hope to become a professor at 30.

Academic mentors I had always wanted to be like Dr. Yacob Haliso and Prof. Bunmi Alegbeleye, whom I passed through their excellent and professional tutelage to get to this stage in life. I pray God Almighty to continue to strengthen and bless them and their families.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 27

MAILBAG

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

Beyond building Almajiri schools Dear Sir

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T was good news well meaning Nigerians when President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned the Almajiri School in the north to take the over nine million children estimated to be engaged in Almajiri system off the street.

These are children in their formative years sent to school- an Islamic school, to learn and memorize the Qur ’an. The Imams arm the children with bowls,

instead of Quran and ask them to go to the street, not to teach or preach the Quran, which they have come to learn but to go and beg for food and for their survival. The imams still expect these children to bring back returns from their exploit.

However, looking beyond the inauguration of the school and considering government’s cosmetic approach in tackling issues of this nature, treating the effect of a problem and not the cause, one begins to

The illness called leukemia Dear Sir EOPLE know little about this illness; they don’t know its causes or ways it can be prevented. Firstly, leukemia is cancer of the blood cells that starts in the bone marrow. When someone has this illness, the bone marrow starts to produce a lot of abnormal white blood cells called leukemia cells. These cells don’t do the work of normal white blood cells; all they do is to grow faster than the normal cells and they usually don’t stop growing as they should.

Leukemia as we know it has killed so many people and it is still killing much more. Just like other illnesses whose causes are yet to be known, experts are yet to establish the actual causes of leukemia, but they have proven that some things are known to increase the risk of some kinds of leukemia which are called RISK FACTORS. It is very important to note that most people who have these risk factors may not contract leukemia and those who have leukemia may not have any known risk factor.

Furthermore as with other cancers, smoking is considered a risk factor but many people who develop leukemia have never smoked and many who smoke never developed leukemia.

According to experts, one may likely get leukemia if one is exposed to large amounts of radiation or exposed to certain chemicals or smoke.

Leukemia is found both in children and adults but mostly in adults. It can be prevented by avoiding high doses of radiation, smoking and other tobacco use or certain types of chemotherapy used in treating other types of cancer. Although research has shown that symptoms may depend on what type of leukemia a person has, there are common symptoms such as

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fever, night sweats, headaches, bruising or bleeding easily, bone or joint pains, frequent infections, tiredness or weakness and, most especially, weight loss and loss of appetite.

According to research, leukemia is treated according to the type, the extent to which the disease has gone, the age of the patient. Most patients who have this illness are treated with chemotherapy while some others may need to have radiation therapy or bone marrow transplant.

Much as the causes of leukemia are unknown, experts advise that regular check-up is the key to early detection.

Uwalaka Kusisochukwu Victoria is of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Oyo State.

wonder if the almajiri school system would out-live the present day government that established it?

It would be recalled that a former government established a similar programme before but the end of that administration also marked the end of the scheme. They were no proper legislation to support the continuity of the programme, leading to its failure.

The practice by successive government administration to discontinue with the programmes of their predecessors, has led to thousands of abandon projects dotting different parts of the country.

Would this attitude allow for the uninterrupted implementation of the almajiri school system? The present administration should ensure that all the necessary legislation and constitutional backing is secured before the expiration of its tenure.

Education in whatever form is meant to liberate the mind and empower the

Let oil subsidy probe report stay Dear Sir,

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HE drama playing itself out in the oil subsidy probe is a clear indication that the present government is not ready to fight

Confirm Mohammed Abubakar as substantive IGP Dear Sir,

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am appealing to President Goodluck Jonathan to please do the necessary thing by confirming Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar as substantive Inspector General of Police, IGP. In the history of all the past IGPs in Nigeria, it is on record that Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar is the only Inspector General of Police that has removed policemen from the streets of Lagos and Nigerian roads.

Before this period, many lives have gone due to some erring men in the

learners to take informed decisions but the achievement of this is largely dependent on the quality of the teachers.

The northern region where these schools are located has the highest rate of unqualified teachers according to a survey conducted by an agency of the federal ministry of education. The question now becomes under whose tutelage then will these children who require extra attention learn? Similarly, what is the qualification of the teachers who would handle these children?

The war against the almajiri system can only be won if all hands are on deck, from the federal government, states and local governments, traditional and religious leaders sensitizing their people and the media sustaining the campaign, thereby enforcing compliance.

Ajani Abimbola, Mass communication Dept, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State.

force, while some are on the road eager to collect bribe from motorists. This alone, if not any other, is enough for Mr. President to confirm his appointment. He has really transformed the force in less than a year he came on board.

The behaviour of policemen and women in the country are now changing from worst to good these days.

Olalekan Ojunlape Bandu, Ikoga, Badagry, Lagos.

corruption.

In the Nigerian constitution, it is an offence to give or take bribe for any reason. In the case of chairman of the House of Representatives probe committee on oil subsidy, Alhaji Lawan Farouk, Nigerians should be ready for Act One, Scene Two. I suspect a game plan acted out by the PDP-led government to divert our attention from the issue on ground, that is dealing with the oil cabal, to talk of bribe collection by Lawan, who we were praising for doing a nice job.

Whether Farouk collected money from Otedola or not, the content of the panel’s findings remains intact. If actually he collected the said 600,000 dollars as alleged, he should face the music while the giver and all that duped the nation in the name of oil subsidy should also not be spared. It is only then we will have confidence in this government.They should stop playing on our intelligence.

Lucky Ifechukwudeni writes from Lagos

28 —SUNDAY, Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012

Ikire descendants honour Bola Oyebamiji

imi Alaibe, the former chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and former Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta matters captured all the attention there was last Sunday when his family and friends rolled out drums to celebrate the Bayelsa state-born politician who turned the golden age of 50. The celebration started with a thanksgiving service at The Church of Assumption, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos followed by a dinner party at the Harbour Point, Victoria Island, also in Lagos in the evening. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele

n Saturday June 2nd, 2012, all roads led to the palace of Akire of Ikireland as indigenes of Ikire in Osun State celebrated one of their own, Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji who was appointed by the Governor of Osun State as the Managing Director of the state’s Investment Company Limited.

A former banker with a proven record of excellence, just resigned his appointment with Spring Bank now Enterprise Bank ,and hold several membership in various professional, religious and academic bodies.The reception drew crème de la crème of the state as well as friends from all walks of life

L-R: Senator Ibrahim Mantu; Mr. Timi Alaibe, celebrant; General Owoye Azazi, Leader of Federal Government Delegation; Mrs Azazi; Gov. Adams Oshiomole of Edo state and Alhaji Babagana Kingibe

L-R: Managing Director, Osun State Investment Company Limited, Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji; and wife, Sekinat.

With Ayo Onikoyi

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Sizzling style on song for Tmi Alaibe @ 50

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L-R: Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Mr. Timi Alaibe and Chief Victor Osibodu.

L-R: Dr. Alex Otti, MD, Diamond Bank Mr. Phillips Oduoza, GMD, UBA and Architect Nene Lanval

L-R: Mr. Jide Ajani, Sunday Editor,Vanguard, Mr. Sam Akpe; Mr. Timi Alaibe, celebrant; Mrs Sekky Ajani and Mr. Akpandem James, MD/Editor-inChief, Daily Independent

Zonta’s change of baton

Prince Uromi-Owu @ 80

ZONTA Club of Ibadan 11 held their Change of Baton ceremony in Ibadan on last Sunday. Many notable personalities graced the august event.

Photos by Dare Fasube

A great Prince in Olodiama Clan of Edo State, Prince Bright Uromi-Owu clocked 80 years recently in a well attended ceremony in his Country Home, Ikoro in Ovia North East Local Government area of Edo State.

L-R:Zonta Bisi Somefun , Zonta Tinu Agunloye; President-Elect, and Hon. Justice Iyabo Oyelaran.

L-R:Zonta Gloriastene Agboola; Director, Zonta Modupe Adeleke, Chief Folake Solanke, Zonta Omolara Smith, President and Zonta Tinu Agunloye; President-Elect.

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L-R: Prince and Princess Bright Uromi-Owu

L-R: Prince (Engr.) Godwin Uromi-Owu, Prince Bright Uromi-Owu and Prince Pius Uromi-Owu.

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L-R:Prof. Oyebamiji Fafioye; Chairman of the Occasion with Asiwaju of Ikireland, Chief Remi Makinde; and former Speaker, House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Etteh.

L-R:Ayobami Oyebamiji, Managing Director, Roger Blue Petroleum , Mr. Niyi Ogunlola; his wife, Shade; and Managing Director, Lobisky Oil & Gas, Otunba Sola Olabisi.

Members of Enterprise Bank

SUNDAY, Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012 —29

Tony Udenze marks 50 ANTHONY Ifeanyichukwu Udenze had a Thanksgiving Mass for his 50 th Birthday Anniversary in his home parish, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Umuakagu- Nsu, Ehime Mbano, Imo state recently. To mark the event, he built Our Lady of Fatima Grotto which was dedicated by His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Solomon Amatu, the Bishop of Okigwe Diocese. In Lagos he was joined by parishioners of Catholic Church of the Resurrection, Magodo G.R.A

With Ayo Onikoyi

08033286159

Last song for Sofoluwe

Glo unveils new product

IT was a glorious exit for Professor Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe, the Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos when eminent Nigerians gathered at the All Saints Church , Yaba penultimate Thursday to bid him final farewell. Members of the academia, the government and others were well represented at the funeral service. Photos by Biodun Ogunleye

A new product from Globacom, Verve M-PIN powered by Glo Text Cash was launched recently at Mike Adenuga Towers in Lagos. Notable business executives and a number of Glo ambassadors graced the event

: The celebrant’s family with parishioners of Catholic Church of the Resurrection, Magodo G.R.A., Lagos Dr Mrs Olufunmilayo Sofoluwe, widow, flanked

by Pastor Azuka Ogbolumani left and Sq. Leader Boye Sofoluwe, a relative

L-R: Rev.Fr. Mike Umoh; the Bishop (centre); Rev. Frs. Mike Etekpo (MSP) and Boniface Osuafor of Catholic Church of the Resurrection, and Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Umuakagu

L-R : Mr. Willy Nnorom, MD, Reeds & Mark Advertising; Mr. Dennis Okoro, Director, MTN Foundation; Emeka Uche and HRH, Eze Eddie Anyanwu, MD, Klin Board

L-R: Executive Director, Mainstreet Bank, Roger Woodbridge, Executive Director, Globacom, Mr. Adewale Sangowawa, Assistant Director, Banking Operations, CBN, Anthony Okafor and Mrs. Moji Bakare, Director, Corporate Banking, Sterling Bank.

Cross section of guests at the event.

L-R: Mrs Maureen Bakare, Elder Felix Ohiwerie and Chief Simeon Olakunri

Mr Gamaliel Onosode and wife, Susan Onosode

L-R: Executive Director, Globacom, Adewale Sangowawa delivering his speech, flanked by Glo Ambassador, Ini Edo, Executive Director, Mainstreet Bank, Roger Woodbridge and Assistant Director, Banking Operations, CBN, Anthony Okafor.

Hon. Oshevire unveils empowerment programs HON.[BARR] Obukohwo Joseph Oshevire, member, representing Ethiope-East recently commissions Consttituency Office and unveiled his Empowerment Programme At Isiokolo Headquarter Of Ethiope-East Local Government. Photos by Nath Onojake

R-L: Elder Moses Ayeni and Hon. and Mrs Joseph Oshevire commissioning of the Constituency Office C M Y K

Hon. and Mrs Joseph Oshevire

R-L: Hon. and Mrs Joseph Oshevire, Mr.Tony Ezeagwu, Chairman, DPP, Delta State,Madam Beauty Aganbi,Chief Ifeta and Chief Igbenume, recipients of the saloon cars

PAGE 30 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

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SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 31

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PAGE 32 —SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012

By Gift Gabriel

I sold used clothes in school to survive – Linus Okorie, President, GOTNI H

is conferences have drawn into Nigeria great speakers from across the world, the latest being Dr.Myles Munroe. Linus Okorie, the President of Nigeria’s foremost youth leadership organisation, Guardians of The Nation International, GOTNI, may have grown to be one of Nigeria’s most reputable and sought-after leadership coaches, but it might interest you to know that, only some years back, he was thrown out of people’s homes on several occasions for merely wanting to voluntarily teach them the tenets of leadership. Those experiences were, however, not muscular enough to discourage this Cameroonbred Nigerian who was the first-elected Students Union Government President at the Imo State University, IMSU, Owerri. Linus, who actually started the business of grooming leaders at age 16 while in his first year at IMSU, is today an Associate Member of the International ThirdWorld Leadership Association in the Bahamas. He also recently launched his book, Footprints: Leading Beyond Today, in Abuja. In this interview, our Inspirational Icon recalls how he lost his father at age 13, and how he had to learn to take responsibility for his life since catering for him and his eight siblings became an uphill task for his mother.

Enjoy!

You started teaching leadership at age 16, and that seems quite young. But is there any connection between your focus on leadership and your childhood? grew up in Cameroon where I attended Saint John’s Primary School in Kumba Town. Right there, I was always in the forefront as a class prefect. Unfortunately for me, I lost my dad early when I was in JSS3 at Government Secondary School Owerri in Nigeria.

Some of the inspiring things that happened to me within that period was that resources were scarce, and I had to do a lot to be able to meet up. My

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mum became the only one supporting a family of nine; I’m the fifth child. I however was so courageous that while still in JSS3, I stood up in front of the classroom one day, and told everybody who cared to listen that I was going to be their senior prefect.

Everybody laughed me to scorn, but I became the HeadBoy in SS3!

Precisely how tough were things when you lost your father? was about 13 years old when my father died.

Things were difficult to the extent that while returning from Cameroon during holidays because my family were permanently based in Cameroon, I would buy sweets and chocolates among other things to sell to supermarkets to make money. I was also supplying my classmates who were mainly from comfortable homes. I also remember I sold used clothes to survive in secondary school! I give kudos to my mother for being able to cater for us to the best of her ability as an industrious woman. All these gave me a sense of responsibility, and I could begin to take initiatives.

I personally went to

last summit held in Owerri.

We hope that our efforts will impact positively on this country. Look at Singapore for instance! When Singapore had independence, we were at par and they had nothing in terms of natural gifting like Nigeria, but few years after, Singapore has moved from a third world nation to a first world nation while Nigeria is still crawling!

You know what they did? The leaders of Singapore, in the past, took their very best of young people, locked them up and then began to teach them the can-do-it spirit while also painting a future that these young people could catch!

They were already building their succession plan! They taught these young people sacrifice, integrity and culture, and these young people grew up with the responsibility of transforming their nation!

Succession in leadership has to be deliberate because that’s the way nations are transformed!

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BY GIFT GABRIEL

LINUS OKORIE

grooming leaders?

14 years ago, as a first year student at the Imo State University, I read about a Bible character called Nehemiah who was comfortable at the king’s palace until they

I maintained a big library with a chair in the middle which I called ‘The thinking spot’. That way, I started the practice of jotting and filing ideas

Cameroon to organise my own send-off when I was going to enter into Imo State University, so that I could raise money. My friends over there were quite helpful, and, from the contributions they made, I bought goods for sale while coming back to Nigeria. I should have left like any other person without any symbol of my leaving, and without any ceremony. I was about 16 years old then, and when I look back now, I wonder how it all happened!

So, since when did you decide to shoulder the task of

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brought him a message that his country was being destroyed. He decided to provide leadership for his country by leaving his comfort zone and mobilising people who shared in the vision, and, in no distant time, his desires were met. So, I decided to shoulder the task of preparing future leaders and grooming leaders because I believe that every crisis in Nigeria today is an accumulation of a huge leadership deficit. There’s a lot of injustice, waste and misplaced priorities in the system presently. The pain of

leadership deficit is huge! So, being an undergraduate at that time, I started with raising leaders who would occupy positions in the university environment. I thought that if those young people were taught how to take integrity and sacrifice as a core, then we would make progress. In the process of doing that and organising conferences on campus with my pocket money, I became the Students Union Government President.

Thereon, I went to the National Assembly in Abuja for my youth service, and thereon, I went to the Lagos Business School where I worked with Prof.Pat Utomi, researching on ‘Why Nations are Poor’. It was in the process of that research that it became clear to me that nations make progress only when there is visionary, exemplary, transformational and sacrificial leadership in place.

That dream led into my going full-time into developing my fourteen brands, focusing on different segments of life.

Among them, each year, we run leadership summit in Abuja, Lagos and Owerri. At those three cities, we host more than a thousand people par time. Dr.Myles Munroe was the guest speaker at out

I want to get something clear; how exactly did you take-off with this self-imposed project? fter leaving IMSU, I gave several speeches for free; knocking on doors as a Youth Corps member in the National Assembly. I would go to the doors of members of the National Assembly, and would say “Sir, I’ve come to teach you leadership for free”, and they would throw me out. But one day, one Dr.Osuala said, “Come, let me hear what you’ve got”, and then I spent thirty minutes with him, teaching him ‘courage’ as the bone of leadership. The man was so impressed that he asked for more materials. Along the line, as I deepened my thoughts and skills, I began to be appreciated, and started getting paid by people for speaking. Also, I could remember that for many years, I maintained a big library with a chair in the middle which I called ‘The thinking spot’. That way, I started the practice of jotting and filing ideas. From there, I would write proposals and take them out, and when they were turned down, I would go back to ask questions.

One day, I went to MTN with a reworked proposal, and they decided to buy into my project.

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Responsibility is the most powerful internal motivator for problem solving. When you remove it, all that remains is the lesser drive of self-preservation. If necessity is the mother of invention then responsibility is its father. —Mark A. Crouch (Bouncing Off Paper Walls) C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 33

Child trafficking is recycling poverty

—Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi

By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

One of the plights of children that have continued to cause concern is the issue of child trafficking. Recently, Esther Onyegbula spoke with Mrs.Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi, a human rights activist and the Executive Director/President Women’s Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON), and she shed light on the fight against child trafficking, what constitute child trafficking, how it affects the society and other sundry issues.

lowing a research that was done by the United Nations on human trafficking. It was at that time that we realized that the trend was rising in Nigeria.

Before then, we didn’t know that something like that was happening in Nigeria, because we thought it was only Asians and Latin Americans that had that challenge. But even as at that time the main focus was on trafficking for prostitution and commercial sex; we didn’t know that some of those transactions that we saw in the past in which children from neighbouring villages were taken to work as domestic servants, were trafficking transactions.

What exactly constitutes child trafficking?

After building our capacity to recognise and identify child trafficking as a human rights issue and a violation of the rights, we were able to recognize the components that constituted human trafficking. That was when we realized that it was actually going on here; when people get housemaids from the hinterlands to come and work in the urban centers in middle class and high class homes, they were actually victims of trafficking because half of those children are subjected to domestic slavery. The people who bring them will collect their wages in advance, sometimes one year, sometimes two years and they never came back to enquire after their welfare. You also find out that in many homes, they were really abused, they were overworked and they had no one to talk to.

Some of them lost their identity, as some families will change the original names of these children to English names because they feel that the name is too complex or not suitable.

Most times they change their religion from Islam to Christianity or Christianity to Islam, depending on the religious affiliation of the family they work for. This made a lot of them to lose

their identity and self-esteem, which are part of the mental health problems that were outcomes of these abuses on these children.

Apart from child trafficking, what has your organization done to address the issue of human trafficking as it affects young girls?

Our organisation was the first to bring the issue of human trafficking to international focus, especially concerning Nigeria. We collaborated with an American organisation and we did a study and conducted an interview with the returnee victims of trafficking, which we thereafter disseminated. So, it has been the subject of our interest and we have looked for ways to put an end to the scourge. We have had a lot of sensitization programme in places like Uromi in Edo State where we found out that most of the girls were sourced from. The traffickers moved from the cities to the rural areas to play on the ignorance and the vulnerability of the poor people who saw the exercise as a big opportunity of coming out of poverty ; not knowing what they were going into or what sort of violence they were going to encounter.

We have also done that in Delta and we have targeted young girls when we found out that they were recruiting girls from schools, and we had to train them. We have also had trainings in places like Ebonyi state.

What are your areas of intervention?

Apart from having open air, market rallies, outreaches and street to street

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EVERAL years down the line, how would you score the jour ney towards curbing child trafficking?

Well, I will say that by and large that we have achieved a lot, though we have had some challenges as well. We are proud to say that in the area of child and women trafficking WOCON is the first organisation to launch a campaign against the scourge in 1997 in Nigeria, when we had workshops to sensitize the public. This was fol-

Mrs.Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi.... We have Nigerian children all over North Africa, who are being used as domestic servants and for prostitution were not sent to schools, they were not allowed to acquire a skill and as soon as they grew old enough, they were sent back; that is if they are not sexually abused by all the males in the house. So we made them realize that it was a dead end because after several years of slavery, they neither have

After building our capacity to recognise and identify child trafficking as a human rights issue and a violation of the rights, we were able to recognize the components that constituted human trafficking

campaigns, we also have consultative forums with strategic people in communities. Like community leaders, traditional rulers, teachers, religious leaders and women. We try to explain to them that child trafficking results in recycling of poverty. They felt that when they gave out one child, it is one mouth less to feed, but we made them realize that most of those children

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a certificate nor a skill to show for it.

How did you feel, rescuing those helpless children that were trafficked from Benin Republic to Nigeria some years back?

When we found the incidence of children trafficked from Benin Republic to Nigeria, it was so terrible; those children were living wild in the bushes and would use their bare hands to till

the ground. They had no shelter and they were as young as six years old. They were also engaged in making granite.

The men will come with the lorry to load the granite and what do they gave them in return was “a one day meal”. If it is raining, they would have to look for polythene bags to cover themselves. Unfortunately the people in the area felt unconcerned because the kids were not from their areas. We had to make them understand that we have young Nigerians as well in some countries, working on cocoa farms like slaves. We have Nigerian children all over North Africa, who are being used as domestic servants and for prostitution.

What measures are you putting in place to curb child trafficking?

We have over the years tried to build the capacity of parents, because we found out that poverty is the root cause of trafficking. In Ebonyi State for instance, we encourage them to form cooperatives and then we train them in income generating skills that appeal to them in Ebonyi state; for in stance a lot of them wanted to learn soap making.

Some learned how to make body creams and petroleum jelly. In Ogun state we trained them on tie &dye. We also taught them business management skills.

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PAGE 34— SUNDAY

VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

Sustaining Growth for Economic Change: The need to strengthen internal market through policy reforms the current growth. Policy makers must come out with strategies and good policy framework to start the process of sectoral change. To achieve this, we must identify areas of weakness and address them with pragmatic approach.

Primarily, Nigeria lacks the culture of saving and investment. Perhaps attention must be drawn to one major leakage in the economy which is the aspect of food production. Food for people

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HE Minister of i n f o r m a t i o n announced recently that Nigeria is the third world fastest growing economy.

According to the International Monetary Fund growth in sub-Saharan Africa would pick up to 5.4 percent. It also predicted a 7.1 percent growth in Nigeria’s economy this year. As a matter of fact, the economy has been experiencing persistent growth in the last ten years. It started with 3.5 percent between 2000- 2001, but dropped to 3 percent in 2002 to reach 7.1 percent after the re-election of President Olusegun Obasanjo and recorded 6.2 percent and 6.9percent in 2004 and 2005 respectively. In 2006, there was another drop to 5.3 percent and for the year 2007, despite the circumstances that surrounded the election of President Musa Ya’adua, the economic atmosphere was favorable enough to maintain 6.4 percent. 2008 and 2009 was 5.3 and 5.6 percent respectively. This was due to the global financial crisis which reached another peak of 8.45 percent in 2010.The GDP, by definition, is the sum of gross value added by Nigerians and non Nigerians residing in our countr y, producers of all kinds’ products in the economy plus revenue collected by the Federal Government.The question is, can this growth be sustained and transformed into a broad base economic development? Yes it is possible to sustain growth, but not without breaking eggs to make the omelet, only if the current transformation agenda succeeds in a medium term.

The process of transforming sustained growth is a complex process that requires total commitment; there is no quick fix in any developmental process. The country export index shows that global commodity price is favourable at the moment with constant increase in oil price. Therefore, government must strengthen internal market through ongoing reforms in the agricultural sector. However, Nigeria may not be able to sustain growth unless there is more long-term savings of oil wealth. The economy remains extremely dependent on oilrelated revenue for its fiscal earnings; rising oil revenue has helped to mask a poor revenue performance from the rest of the sectors of the economy but it has also created the basis for ever-increasing amounts of spending, making the country more vulnerable to any future oil-related shock.

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he coordinating minister of the economy raised the alarm, recently, that in the absence of high oil prices, C M Y K

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala current spending levels may be unsustainable but cutting back may be infeasible politically.

Despite the establishment of a fiscal rule aimed at limiting the fiscal deficit to 3 per cent of GDP, she said there has been little long-term saving of the country’s oil wealth. According to her, frequent disbursement from the Excess Crude Account (ECA)an account representing the federation’s unallocated oil earnings-and the failure to make the proposed sovereign wealth fund operational, meants that the country has “very little in the way of a buffer, in the event of any shock – price or outputbased – that might impact fiscal revenue.”These trends indicate unmanaged consumer spending due to the Nigerian consumption pattern, high taste of goods produce abroad which would soon have direct impact on the total revenue.

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he Nigerian economy is structured in such a way that whatever surplus is registered from the increase in commodity price, i.e. crude oil , would always be consumed is the case of Excess Crude Oil Account (ECA ). In this case, there can be no savings and there can be no investment, needless to talk about social infrastructure investment which is long term investment to sustain growth and to support economic development. There are strong indications that the economy would definitely wake up from slumber to become the African Lion, and the good news is that in contrast to the Asian tigers economies, the resources of African countries like Nigeria are largely untapped both in terms of infrastructure and effective utilization of natural resources for the benefit of the people and the global economy. One major area that is working for the Asian Tigers economies is their internal structure, relying on productive economy as result of an early investment in social infrastructure, and continuous investment particularly on education from primary , secondary to tertiary while encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship at all sectors of the economies.

However, the real challenge for Nigeria is how to sustain

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BY AKOMA CHINWEOKE

capacity of goods and services produced locally, coupled with the new international economic order, the emergence of BRICS, obviously, changes is going to occur in the global market economy and particularly in the African economy. Nigeria will benefit indirectly from the emergence of the BRICS block economy which would lead to positive reactions, by taking the advantage of its numeric position; with a population of

The impressive growth rate of Nigeria’s economy and many emerging economies are stimulating a new economic order

must be based principally on what can be produced within our environment, thus Nigeria should do every thing possible to reverse the trap of reliance on food importation and seek to achieve self reliance in food production. This must involve ability to produce, procure, process and store within for the population.

T

he impressive growth rate of Nigeria’s economy and many emerging economies are stimulating a new economic order, thus, economic growth must crystallize into development, it must be visualized in availability of goods and service, food production and supply to the growing population, a sharp increase must be observed in the health delivery and services to the people. And, most importantly, growth in the GDP will be meaningless with no future sustenance if much of the young population have little or no access to acquire modern and necessary skills to support growth and development of our economy.

With the population growing at 3.2 percent at an average with direct impact on the demand as well on the

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160 million people representing a large market in the global economy.

According to the history of economic development, there is no country that was able to achieve a take-off stage without building or erecting pillars for internal growth. To sustain economic growth, there must an increase of investment in the real sector, there should be more access to the global market and innovate production, apparatus internally to improve productivity out put. However, in the Nigerian context, we have identified two major determinant factors that could ease permanent access to the global market. They are: Political leadership committed to economic development with emphasis on social harmony and also must be pre-occupied with way and manner in which the resources are managed, and access to global market which would require high level of productivity through internal competitiveness and in turn determine how much this change would affect individual countries economic structures in Africa and Nigeria in particular. The structure of Nigeria’s economy shows that

it is essentially agro –based.

There is no doubt the country remains a nation with great potentials to become a reference point to lead the African economy ,in terms of market size and rated third largest market with hidden opportunities in agro business and the agric sector in general.

U

ndoubtedly, agriculture would continue to play an important factor to reshape the global economy in the coming decades. Nigeria’s economy with agriculture accounting for 44 percent of its GDP, signifies the extent of other opportunities open to investors as the country seeks to sustain growth through new economic strategies to develop agrobusiness for both local and internal market.

Attention is focused on high agricultural product importation on one side and to reverse the current low yield to encourage efficient domestic production on the other side. Statistics shows that Nigeria has land area of 98.3 million hectares of which 74 million hectares is arable and little is being utilized, indicating significant opportunities for growth. To sustain growth, development strategies must focus essentially on the three most important areas. As matter of urgency, the country must investment heavily in infrastructure, particularly in power , education, skills acquisition and agriculture to diversify the economy.

Economic development policies are conceptualized as a result of strategies and synergies between enhanced human capital of a nation, involving complementary investments in physical and social capital. If Nigeria lacks the ability to innovate in response to economic growth,as well as in strategies and policies, the possibility to sustain growth and transform growth into real economic development will be constrained.

Aderohunmu is an economic analyst

Lagos begins inspection of commercial boats, arrests 5 for non-safety compliance

BY GODWIN ORITSE

L

AGOS State Waterways Authority (L ASWA) may have taken a cue from the Dana air crash and commenced the bi-annual inspection of commercial boats operating in the state with a view to ensuring their compliance to the safety rules and regulations guiding water transport.

Disclosing this in Lagos , L ASWA ‘s Director of Operations, Engr Segun

Adekoya, stated that about five boats in the unsafe vessels category had been arrested and detained by officials of the agency.

The inspection, carried out twice every year, has seen L ASWA keeping unsafe commercial boats off the waters of Lagos State.

Adekoya stated that most of the ferry service providers had refused to come forward with boats and, as such, LASWA officials had to go to their yards and jetties to carry out the

inspection.

L ASWA’s Managing Director, Mr. Yinka Marinho, said the essence of the exercise was to ensure that these boats are seaworthy.

Marinho explained that besides the inspection of the boats, the safety equipment are also inspected before they are allowed to ply the waterways.

He disclosed that water laws of the state are currently being reviewed and amended to make it stiffer for people who violate the laws.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 35

‘Aviation needs guarantee of new aircraft, not financial support’ Alhaji Bello Ahmed Alkali is a stakeholder in the aviation sector. He has being in the industry for 21 years now. He was a station manager with Triax Airline, general manager, Tran-Saharan Air, regional manager, Chanchangi Airline, general manger Rahamaniya and director of operations with Trade-Craft. He speaks on the need for government to ensure duty free importation of airplanes spare parts, to address multiple taxation and guarantees purchase of new craft for serious operators, instead of giving financial support.

S

INCE the Dana crash, everyone is calling for an overhaul in the sector, do you share this opinion?

To start with, when I joined the sector in 1991, l knew some airlines that had 36, 11, 22, 5, and 7 airplanes. Today, none of them is operating except just one that is still being mentioned. That time, Nigerian Airways was the supplier of pilots, engineers and everything needed in the sector. They had the best trained professionals. Every private airline started from the magnanimity of Nigerian Airways. I worked with one of the pilots who flew Nigerian Airways 727 into Nigeria .

These airlines had managements and chief executives who had good intentions to run the business but suddenly everything disappeared.

The regulators are doing very well in following the rules and check-list but the major problem is mismanagement on the part of the operators.

Government should tackle multiple-taxation, allows duty free importation of spare parts for airlines and guarantees purchase of new craft for serious operators, instead of giving financial support. For instance, most airline operators brought philanthropy into their businesses, instead of running them as commercial ventures to make profits in order to stay afloat. For example, your chairman could tell you to fly his friend coming in from Kaduna , or his friend going to Calabar, without carrying passengers, thereby giving the airline huge overhead costs.

When I was a station manager, my chairman instructed me one time to drop every passenger in his airplane just to fly his friend to Maiduguri .

I had no option than to follow his instruction because he owned the business.

What exactly do you think is C M Y K

working against the development of aviation industry in Nigeria ?

Sincerely, with over 20 years of experience I can not proffer a solution to what is happening in the sector. There is a peculiar problem that you and I can not explain. May be mismanagement is in-built in us. For instance, we tried so much to create an airline for Nigeria after the exit of Nigerian Airways, till now we have nothing to show for it. We had Nigerian Global, Virgin Nigeria and so many others, yet nothing seems to work. For instance, Sir Richard Branson who is behind Virgin Airline is a shrewd business man. He owns Virgin Atlantic. I witnessed the signing of the

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BY UDEME CLEMENT

I do not believe in government giving anyone financial support because it will not solve our problem, rather it compounds the problem

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Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Virgin Nigeria. He bought over 51 per cent shares of Virgin Nigeria but today, Virgin Nigeria is no more. Branson has airline companies in Australia , America and other countries doing very well. He simply could not operate with Nigerian context. If an astute business man like Branson can’t not do business in Nigeria , who can do it? I saw many airlines opened and folded up just like that. There is an individual that a particular government gave 11 airplanes to operate in Nigeria today the business is no more.

How will you rate the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NACC)?

The NCAA of today is not the NCAA of 10 years ago. It has become so specialised that you must have the qualification to work as an aircraft inspector.

NCAA has done very well and must be commended. For instance, you can not buy Category-One certification anywhere in the world. NCAA worked tirelessly to earn Nigeria Category-One certification. There is absolutely nothing wrong with NCAA because they certify airplanes based on the manufacturers approval of the components. That is why today Arik can fly to New York

Alhaji Bello Ahmed Alkali , London and other places.

So, why are people asking for the removal of the DG of NACC? Like I said, it is the same Nigerian factor. The reality is that accident can happen any time. The issue of plane crash is not limited to Nigeria because it has become a global problem. A brand new car can collapse just like a brand new aircraft can crash. It is only in Nigeria that when such a thing happens people begin to talk carelessly. In the industry we have rules and check-list that operators are expected to follow. From 1991 till 2012, operators in the industry are still following the check-list as expected but I’m shocked to here people talked about cutting corners. There is nothing like that because aviation is a specialised sector, which requires high level of professionalism. No pilot that has his life and a family would fly an aircraft that is faulty.

When an accident happens people should wait for investigations to be concluded before speculating. In the case of Dana air, the black box had been found, so people must wait for the out come of the findings. Those who are saying the engine of the aircraft was bad or the plane was faulty are just talking what they do not understand. That aircraft was not manufactured in Nigeria and was not flown by a Nigerian. Why are people from other countries not talking apart from Nigerians?

What is the function of the black box?

It is an instrument inside the aircraft that records all the activities involved with the movement of the aeroplane from when the flight begins until landing at the final destination. For example, the speed limits the height, the landing speed and even communication with the control tower.

As a stakeholder, can you tell us precisely how the sector works?

In the past we had a situation where people who had the financial capacity came into the sector to start an airline business in collaboration with technical partners. After a short period the business collapsed due to poor management, which is basically the major problem in

this country. That was what killed Nigerian Airways and other airlines. Now people are calling on government. Is government going to business your business for you?

Government can only create an enabling environment in terms of reducing the cost of taxes, fuel, allowing you to buy dollars from banks with government official rate to reduce your overhead costs in the business. But if you are not a good manager, who is prudent in utilising resources adequately the business can still collapse.

I had a boss who believes in just giving out money to people even when it is not necessary. That is his style and any day he does not have money to give out to people it becomes a problem. He ran an airline business. The aircraft worked in the morning and returned in the evening with all the money made for the day squandered the same evening.

We had cases of chief executives of airlines going to the counters to collect money without records. I knew some people who got airplanes from other countries just to remit few dollars at the end of every month but they still could not meet up, due to bad management.

In that case, what do you think government can do to revamp the sector?

Government can assist airline operators by way of guaranteeing them acquisition of brand new aircrafts. For instance, you have Boeing aircraft manufacturer producing Boeing 737, so government can discuss with the manufacturer to ensure acquisition of airplanes while Boeing company gets his guarantee from government.

That way, the manufacturer will be free to do business with Nigeria . Also, we will have brand new airplanes flying our airspace because this is what most people want.

I do not believe in government giving anyone financial support because it will not solve our problem, rather it compounds the problem.

Boeing is a recognised American company and our government has good relations with American government. All they need to do is contact them to help us out in guaranteeing purchase of modern aircrafts. If we have

modern airplanes, we will spend less money in maintenance, fuel and less cost of operations. I am not saying the airplanes flying now are not good. No, on the contrary, the purchase guarantee will build connectivity between the government and Boeing company to bring in more modern airplanes

From left: Oba Otudeko, Prof. Anya and Dr. Stella Okoli at the 6th Chike Okoli Foundation Heart & Soul Gala recently.

From left: Chief Bola Akingbade, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN; Mr. Peter Igho, Director-General, National Lottery Regulation Commission; Mrs. Steph-Nora Okere, Nollywood Star and Mr Kola Oyeyemi, GM. Consumer Marketing, MTN at the presentation of MTN Goodwill Automania Car Prize in Lagos, yesterday. Photo Diran Oshe.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

PDP: When things fell apart!

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HE last couple of days may not be the best moments for the national leadership of the self acclaimed largest party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following the in-house fight for supremacy. The period may also not be probably what the delegates who gathered at the Eagle Square, Abuja to ‘elect’ the present members of the National Working Committee, NWC, bargained for.

It may not also be the best time for those aspirants who were on Saturday, March, 24, 2012, cajoled, coerced or forced to step down, depending on the synonym one may decide to use. No member of the ruling PDP would envisage that crisis would rear its head in the party barely three months after the NWC, led by an erstwhile governor of old Gongola State, a former Minister, a technocrat, an international businessman, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, the National Chairman, and a former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who is the National Secretary.

B

ut crisis, like smoke, cannot be hidden, Wadata Plaza, the National Secretariat of the PDP, became a theatre of the absurd with Tukur and Oyinlola as the playwrights while Tukur ’s Chief of Staff, Habu Fari, is the main actor.

To settle down to his job as the National Chairman of the party, Tukur had, in May, appointed the former Chairman of the National Democratic Party, NDP, Fari, as his Chief of Staff, along side the former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, as his Special Adviser on Security Matters.

Others aides appointed by the PDP chairman were Senator Saidu Umar as the Special Adviser on INEC and Electoral Matters; Hon. Abduallhi Gumel, Special Adviser on National Assembly, with the former Principal Secretary to the former National Chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Alhaji Aminu Yakodima, as the Special Assistant on General Duties. Osaro Onaiwo of the Red Carpet Protocols was also appointed Special Adviser Liaison to the National Chairman, just as the former deputy governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Gusau, was also appointed a Special Adviser to the National Chairman.

Weeks after the emergence of members of Tukur ’s kitchen cabinet was the coming on board of the 50member Committee with former Vice President Alex Ekwueme as Chairman. The C M Y K

Committee has as its members, former Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT of the party, Chief Tony Anenih; Second Republic Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas; Second Republic AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide; a former governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar; an ex- Minister of Petroleum, Don Etiebet; a former National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; Ex- Inspectors- General of Police, Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo and Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie; a former Minister of Foreign affairs, Chief Ike Nwachukwu and a former National Chairman of PDP, Senator Barnabas Gemade.

Other members of the Committee are former deputy Senate president, Senator Ibrahim Mantu; Senator Victor Kassim Oyofo; an exDeputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Bode George; former governor of Borno State, Alhaji Muhammadu Goni; an ex-governor of Ondo State, Chief Olusegun Agagu; a former Deputy governor of Kaduna State, Mr. James Bawa Magaji; Chief Graham Douglas; Senator Bello Maitama; the PDP deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja; Oyinlola; Gusau and Dr. Emeka Enejere.

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hese, among others, brewed the crisis that became the topic of discourse last week with memos flying from the office of the National Chairman and that of the National Secretary. At the centre of the imbroglio is Fari, who doubles as the Chief of Staff and Principal Secretary to Tukur, and what provoked Oyinlola was that Fari replied to memos from outside without recourse to the National Secretary’s office for reply to their respective places or offices.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that one of such incidences that annoyed Oyinlola was when the PDP was almost late to submit its Edo State gubernatorial candidate, General Charles Ehigie Airhavbere’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, because when the letter from INEC got to the office of the National Chairman, Fari allegedly delayed it until the National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, and the National Secretary raised the alarm.

Another incident, as gathered at the party ’s National Secretariat, was when Oyinlola got infuriated that the Chief of Staff, with directives from his principal, wrote a letter of introduction to the leadership of the National Assembly presenting Hon. Abdullahi Gumel as the Special Adviser to the National Chairman on

•Alhaji Bamangar Tukur parliament.

According to the former Osun State governor, such a letter ought to have emanated from his office, but sources said that when Oyinlola raised it with Tukur, the latter said that Special Advisers are his personal staff, including the Principal Secretary and therefore the introductory letter should come from Fari.

Fari was also said to have written to his boss that he (National Chairman) should have twenty-seven aides, whereas the manual of the PDP provides for seventeen personal staff, just as the Chief of Staff is said to have six personal assistants and his personal assistants in turn

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BY HENRY UMORU

effective working of the party. It was gathered that the NWC members were not happy over the setting up of the 50-man advisory committee by Tukur without recourse to them.

Also to underscore the power tussle between the National Chairman and the National Secretary, Oyinlola has allegedly written to states chairmen of the party that correspondence must be addressed to his office directly.

Also in a letter to Fari, dated June 8 2012 and entitled, “Illegal Acts Prejudicial to the Interest of the Peoples Democratic Party ”, with reference number PDP NS 03/ 12, Oyinlola accused the aide of the National Chairman of engaging in acts and action prejudicial to the party as well as usurping the powers of the National Secretary.

I

n the letter, Fari was also accused of engaging in external correspondence, which Oyinlola claimed ought to be his duty.

It was also gathered that the problem is being engineered by some Directors of the PDP who have come to a conclusion that the appointment of the aide to the National

I cannot imagine how we can set the National Working Committee (NWC) on collision course with the PDP Governors and how I intended to settle scores with staff of the National Secretariat over disagreement in the past

have secretaries, but the National Chairman has only one personal assistant.

As the crisis continued, the NWC had to reject the recommendations from the National Chairman on how to reform the party. Part of the observations in the Tukur memo was that some of the Directors that have spent over eight years in office were part of the problems of the party.

Tukur had in the turned down memo proposed that some of the Directors be moved to other departments of the PDP. At the NWC meeting of June 6, 2012, the National Chairman presented the memo for the reshuffling of the Directors because of what was seen as vested interests, but the working committee rejected the memo.

Also rejected was the memo from the National Chairman to establish more committees that would ensure smooth and

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Chairman was a threat to their continued stay in office.

2015 presidential election is also seen as a hidden reason for the power game because it is believed that Tukur represents President Goodluck Jonathan’s interest, while the National Secretary is the voice of the PDP governors and also loyal to former Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of the party, ExPresident Olusegun Obasanjo, who may think assisted him to become the National Secretary.

Sources said when Fari could no longer stomach the insults from Oyinlola, he had to fire back, reducing the threats from Oyinlola to mere nothingness and carrying no weight.

The Chief of Staff allegedly told Oyinlola that he was only answerable to his boss, the PDP National Chairman.

In his reply to the National

Secretary’s letter. Fari said, “All letters written by me including the one you mentioned were done and dispatched on the authority of the National Chairman.

“I sincerely believe that the correspondence was in good faith and without any calculated attempt to undermine your office as you misrepresented. For your information, there was no correspondence in effect carried out by me without directives of the National Chairman. You may wish to cross check in order to ascertain my source of authority”.

He copied President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, Chairman of Governors’ Forum, Chibuike Amaechi, his boss, Tukur, and all members of the National Working Committee, NWC. On the insistence by the National Secretary that the PDP establishment manual must be adhered to, the National Chairman aide said, “I want to visit your persistent emphasis on establishment manual and your attempt to recognize it far and above the constitution of the party. In order to educate you substantially, the constitution came first above the establishment manual and any regulations governing the party.

“The establishment manual, which we produced in the year 2000, before you joined the party, was with a singular intention to run the National Secretariat smoothly. The said establishment manual is currently under review. It was reviewed by the immediate past National Working Committee (NWC) without its adoption and approval by the National Executive Committee (NEC) hence its present review status. For the fact that the document is to be reviewed has given room for consistent inputs to accommodate new ideas for the best interest of our great party.”

O

n allegations that the office of the National Chairman was prepared to cause a division within the NWC as well as settle some differences, Tukur ’s Chief of Staff in the letter said, “It is most regrettable that in your capacity as the National Secretary, you listen and believe in speculations without substantiating and recourse to facts. I cannot imagine how we can set the National Working Committee (NWC) on collision course with the PDP Governors and how I intended to settle scores with staff of the National Secretariat over disagreement in the past. All these are unfounded allegations and were figments of your mere imaginations.

“I will like to remind you that my appointment as the Chief of Staff to the National Chairman was strictly at his pleasure. I do not think there is any guiding regulations or law that prohibits the National Chairman in doing so. I am certain that this is applicable to other appointments made by his Excellency, the National Chairman. I also wonder why you erroneously declared my Office as nonexistent. For what reasons and on whose authority”.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 37

When Mimiko marked June 12 the Abiola way

BY DELE AWOGBAMI

J

UNE 12, 1993 presidential election, widely believed to be Nigeria’s fairest election and won by Chief Moshood Kasimawo .Olawale Abiola , has remained a water shed in the countr y. On June 23, General Ibrahim Babangida, the then military leader, using several pending lawsuits as pretence, annulled the election, thereby throwing Nigeria into turmoil. Several thousands were killed (particularly in the South West region) following the riotous protest that greeted the annulment before Babangida agreed to hand over power to an interim government on August 27, 1993.

19 years after, Nigerians continue to mark the anniversary of the election. In Ondo State, the 2012 edition was grand. It held at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade ground in Akure where school pupils were part of the epoch event.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko

chose a unique way to mark the date. He chose not to toe the traditional pattern of a parade and work free day. In fact, it was a remarkable day for the school pupils. They were the main beneficiaries of the day as the state government rolled out 10 free shuttle buses to convey them to and from school free of charge. In the view of the Mimiko administration, the day must be celebrated with meaningful impact on the lives of the ordinary man whose interest Abiola vowed to protect event to the point of death.

Mimiko believes that the anniversary of the annulment of the 1993 election should not come and go without rubbing off positively on the masses whose mandate was jettisoned by the military junta with the annulment, hence the decision to make the day memorable for the people of the state whose wards attend public schools.

On that day, the governor launched free shuttle bus scheme for school children.

construction of world-class mega schools across Ondo State so that the children of the poor could have access to quality education under a conducive learning environment with the children of the rich and the Abiye (Safe Motherhood) programme, which provides quality healthcare to pregnant women and children of the poor and the rich at no cost.

According to Mimiko “We decided to celebrate this year’s June 12 with the launch of the free shuttle bus scheme for school children because the late Bashorun M.K.O Abiola, in his lifetime, was a great philanthropist and cheerful giver. We therefore thought that the free shuttle bus scheme is a worthy legacy that we can bequeath to our children at this auspicious moment”.

The governor went on: “The scheme is also one of the many pronged approaches at reducing poverty level and improving the living standards of our people.

Parents naturally strive, with the attendant challenges, to provide three square meals a day for their children. Added to the burden of payment of school fees, procurement of books and transportation among commitments, many children stand the risk of dropping out of school. The construction of mega schools, some of which would be inaugurated soon, is intended to uplift our educational system. The structures are designed to provide conducive learning environment for our children to be able to compete favourably with their contemporaries anywhere in the world. Today’s launch of the free shuttle bus scheme is one of the complementary actions to the new concept of primary school infrastructure intended to achieve this noble goal. Consequently, we have consciously packaged the school free shuttle to specifically operate in the major towns for the transportation of our children to and from schools.”

Perhaps what can be termed the most instructive of the Ajimobi government achievements is the advent of peace in the state. By May 2011, the impression all over the world was that anyone from Oyo was inherently violent and possessing sanguinary affiliation with a late NURTW kingpin. This conclusion was based on the incessant bloodshed in the state in which the past government featured as a prominent cast. When he came on board, Ajimobi was persuaded that the only way peace could be restored into the seeming internecine among drivers’ union was to be impartial. This non-aligned statesman role, combined with a Daniel-like sagacity, has weaned Oyo of rascally and periodic blood-thirsty hooligans, making the state safe for investors.

This paid off a few months ago when the prestigious Financial Times ranked OyoState, which had hitherto been literally delinked from civilization, as one of the 10 investment destinations in the world.

Ajimobi also inherited a very filthy state, literally and metaphorically. Ibadan, over the years, became typecast as one of the dirtiest cities in the country.

Amidst the daunting challenge of a resignation to a life of filth, Ajimobi has begun an aggressive clean-up of the state through the introduction of a weekly environmental sanitation exercise, aside the traditional monthly exercise. It is the first time in the history of the state that waste disposal agency collects dirt at night with a systematic waste collection

strategy that is gradually yielding dividends.

In spite of the Oliver Twist disposition of workers all over the world, Ajimobi has sought to satisfy Oyo workers. His administration has offered N19,100 as minimum wage, one of the few states in the nation to so do, pays salaries before 25th of every month and is the first government in the state to pay full 13th month salary to workers, aside the periodic overseas training of civil servants that he has been facilitating.

One other major fart that his government inherited was the parlous state of education in the state. At the last examination, Oyo came 34th out of 36 states of the federation. For a state which, less than six years earlier in 2004, came 4th in same exam in the country, the aggressiveness with which the Ajimobi government is facing the exercise of an all-round restoration of the glory of the state in education is understandable. He reduced tuition payable in the state tertiary institutions and has embarked on an aggressive renovation of 235 dilapidated schools in the state, among other efforts. One very uniquely instructive bit about his administration is that it is arguably the only in Nigeria that is political party-blind. His party, ACN, PDP, AAA and others find refuge therein. This has been held as consequent on his exposure as an oil industry czar for over thirty years.

The above are just a minuscule of Ajimobi’s strides in 365 days. *Dr. Adedayo is Governor Ajimobi’s Special Adviser on Media.

fuel. With this noble idea of the state government, children of the poor majority would now be able to enjoy the dividends of democracy the more, thereby “putting more money” in the pockets of their parents to attend to other pressing family challenges.

It has always been the desire of the Mimiko government to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich. Hence, its populist programmes anchored on its bottom-top policy. Notable example of the programes are the

Ondo State Pupils queuing to board one of the free school shuttle buses after the launching of the free school shuttle buses for Ondo State pupils by the state government to commemorate the 2012 June 12 Day celebration in Akure.

10 buses of 59 seating capacity were inaugurated to operate along five routes (Afunbiowo Housing to Army Barracks, Oba-Ile to FUTA Junction, Agbogbo to Army Barracks, Ijoka to Mega School Irowo and Araromi to Oke-Ijebu). This decision was part of the palliative measures put in place to cushion the effect of the increase in the pump price of

Oyo from ground zero

BY FESTUS ADEBAYO

W

HILE some administrators of states in Nigeria inherited templates of good governance which they are bettering, Abiola Ajimobi, the current governor of Oyo State, inherited a dysfunctional state.

From the basic to the essential, Oyo occupied the proverbial Ground Zero. Let us begin from the intangibles. If you assume that, indeed, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo sat at Agodi to administer the whole of Western Region, by May 2011, it would be safe to conclude that some locusts had invaded the forest of Ibadan governance. In renown, Ajimobi inherited a state with a remarkable typecast as hotbed of violence of NURTW kingpins, ably abetted by the state.

The tangibles were no less decrepit. N24 billion had been spent building a hospital that COREN adjudged an engineering disaster. Virtually everything that makes a hospital worthy of its name were absent in Adebayo Alao-Akala’s LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, which had set the state account balance back by an amount which could build twice the Africa-renowned UCH, Ibadan but with less finesse, less sophistication, less architectural sense In the area of roads, the state inherited a government renown for road construction that lasted about six months before caving in to the hammer of potholes. Indeed, generally, the morale of the state was at its nadir. The above, akin to C M Y K

academics’ mantra – Statement of Problem – is necessary to understand where the Ajimobi government was coming from.

Ajimobi was aware of overwhelming public expectations from him and his government. His highly cerebral disposition, education and pedigree convinced the electorate that his would be a discontinuation of the yeleyele brass-tack governance of the past. This apparently translated into impatience from a people who, for decades, smelled governmental performance in foreign lands, heard of it like a fable and were thirsty for good governance in their clime.

By May 2011, virtually all roads that were hitherto constructed with billions of Oyo money had begun to go bad again, including one that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was dragged by the nape of his trousers to commission at New Garage. So the governor began to ginger his local governments on the need to construct roads that would endure. Their specialties were roads that had been abandoned and ones badly constructed. Ajimobi’s sworn avowal was to construct roads that would endure like those of Awolowo, whom he had admired right from his youthful days.

Indeed, he ordered that for any road to pass his litmus test, it must be COREN-certified. That effort is now yielding fruits. Till date, the state has constructed/is constructing 192 roads within the period of one year. This is not to talk of a N2.1 billion overhead bridge it is constructing at the Mokola area of the state capital, the first by any civilian

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi government in the state and about eight major bridges washed away by flood which are being reconstructed.

Ajimobi chose his team, made up of professionals, across board. He also underscored the need to leave an identity of excellence and for his aides to key into a philosophy of transparency and accountability in governance. At various fora, Ajimobi impacts into his team, whom he likens to the American marines, an identity of qualitative discharge of responsibilities.

In the area of health, a few months into his administration, Ajimobi began a free healthcare programme which, so far, has catered for about 300,000 people of the state. They were provided with free health screening, drugs and minor operations like hernia etc. Today, beneficiaries of that scheme are lauding this health intervention that has saved thousands from the jaws of death.

PAGE 38—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

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How Edo people will vote, by Ihonvbere Professor Julius Ihonvbere is the former Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Projects and Programmes Monitoring. Until last week when he joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) , he was a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He participated in the 2006 governorship primary of the PDP in the state and also the February 25, governorship election where Gen.Charles Airhiavbere emerged as the party’s candidate for the July 14 election. Ihonvbere like other aspirants described the February primary as a sham and decided to call it quits with the PDP. Excerpts:

YOU have been in the PDP all these years. Why did you have to leave now for the ACN? People join political parties with certain expectations: To be part of building institutions, generating politics and programmes, to have opportunity to participate and express their own political interest in order to be able to assess positions and authorities to support their own supporters or empower their supporters.

And to win political power, the leadership of the party must believe in the elements of democracy. There must be transparency, accountability, fair ness, fair play, social justice, mutual respect for each other and the commitment to the constitution of the party and of the nation. For almost ten years I have been in the PDP in Edo State and I can assure you that not one of these expectations was present. It was a case of a small cabal manipulating the people, manipulating policies, manipulating politics, rigging primaries and often presenting candidates and, because they make wrong choices, they compel innocent party members to engage in negative political practices such as election rigging, snatching ballot boxes, influencing electoral officers.

So, wrong choices easily translate into desperate political posture. And, for me, I have tolerated the PDP in Edo for this long until it got to a point where I had to call it quits with the party. I was fed up with the shenanigans of the cabal. And it is sad that the Presidency often listens to the lies told by these people that any appointment that comes to the state, there won’t be any opportunity for people to discuss it in order to carefully and strategically allocate such positions. Rather it was one man who dictates who gets what. And one cannot continue to tolerate rubbish all the time. And, personally, I have r un for governorship twice, I was not C M Y K

afraid of losing but I did not lose because I was not popular or I did not work hard. I lost because a PDP leader made sure that the primaries were rigged and I participated both in 2006 and in 2012. When you do some things like this, you go around begging people again, making vague promises and hoping that that will cover up the misbehaviour and political irresponsibility that has been displayed by adults. If you are a man of conscience and independent thought, at a point, you will say enough of the nonsense. And that was exactly what I did when I left the PDP to go to the ACN. The July 14 election is less than six weeks now, your former party, the PDP, is strategizing on how to sack

,

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

The ‘federal might’ theory is being invoked by lazy politicians to confuse people and fool the little followers they still have that there is hope

Governor Oshiomhole while Oshiomhole says he is ready to battle the PDP forces. How do you think the people will vote?

I

win his own ward; so what value does he add to the ticket? Both of them are not known to have given one lecture any where in which they point to any idea about politics, policies, women, environment, the youths, security. Let Abulagba – the PDP deputy gubernatorial candidate - bring out one page he has ever written on any thing in Edo State, and tell us where he has ever delivered a lecture. These are illiterates parading the political landscape, they want to confuse Edo people. They want to take Edo State back to twenty years ago. These are people that have never done any thing for their people, and that was why the community where the PDP candidate comes from rejected him. And they want to compete with somebody who is on ground.

think the election in Edo is between the CAN, the ANPP and Labour. The PDP is out of the game, they have lost out already. The governorship candidate (Airhiavbere) is a stranger to the party, he is a stranger to Edo politics and a stranger to Edo people. Even up till now they don’t know him, they don’t know his politics, they don’t know what he stands for, he has no pedigree in this state. His background of being in an autocratic military formation shows that you cannot expect democratic disposition from him. The running mate,during the last election, he could not even

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We can see the schools, we can see the roads, we can see the health system, we can see the effort being made to provide water even in the god father ’s village, we can see the empowerment schemes, we can see the buses on the road. There is no comparism between Oshiomhole and these people at all. If the PDP or the elite don’t appreciate what Oshiomhole is doing, the masses of Edo appreciate him. I moved around with the Comrade Governor in Egor, I can say with all sense of seriousness I have never seen any thing like that before.

Ordinary people, old women, children scampering to get a glimpse of him, to touch him just to show appreciation for the work he is doing and what he promised to do. I know how much Edo State makes and I know the amount of

Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.... PDP will not even score five per cent of the votes because of their track record. work that is going on here. So I don’t think there is a competition between them.

People appreciate what Oshiomhole is doing and they want that to continue and they will vote massively for him. If some people have spent the last two three weeks in Abuja running from the Presidency to one other place looking for help instead of campaigning and mobilizing people, or educating people and building structures and network, they will discover that the masses of the people will resist any attempt to rig the election. The people on ground, the ACN members are fully mobilized to vote and defend the votes. So, for the election, I have no doubt whatsoever that the ACN will win. You can see that the ACN is not taking it easy even though they are popular in the state, they are campaigning vigorously and they will campaign till the very last day as allowed by law. That is the measure of a true politician to come out and campaign. The PDP people are dodging debate, they like individual TV appearance but come, let us both of us talk together to Edo people so that they can measure you and I together and know who is telling the truth, who is committed to the truth and who is able to perform.

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ut don’t you think the much talked about ‘Federal Might’ might sway the votes?

Was the ‘federal might’ not there when Ikedi Ohakim lost in Imo? Was there no Federal Government when Akala lost in Oyo? Was there no ‘federal might’ when they have not been able to get Lagos State or the other ACN states? The truth of the matter is that the Federal Government is not going to come here to vote.

The ‘federal might’ theory is being invoked by lazy politicians to confuse people and fool the little followers

they still have that there is hope.

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othing is coming from ‘federal might’; this is an Edo election by Edo people for Edo people. When they even went to beg Jonathan, the man told them he believes in one man one vote. And, I think any body who watched the statement of the Chief of Staff to the President when they were in Igarra campaigning, he made it very clear one man, one vote; one woman, one vote; one person one vote. And honestly, if we do that in Edo State, PDP will not even score five per cent of the votes because of their track record, because of the leadership and their past record. ‘Federal might’ theory is just rubbish, President Jonathan has three years in office and I am sure he does not want to corrupt it by coming to Edo State to take actions that he should not take. His international recognition and reputation today is totally based on the kind of election that was conducted last time. It was not totally perfect but it was better than what ever we have done before. And to be honest to you, Oshiomhole stuck out his neck for him on the issue of oil subsidy. So where were these same people running to Aso Rock today to beg Jonathan when people were abusing Oshiomholoe because of Jonathan? Again, Goodluck knows very well that there are other challenges in the system, from the Boko Haram to other problems he does not want to come and generate a new one in Edo State. So I believe that the whole theory and expectations from ‘federal might’ is contrived to miseducate, confuse and mislead Edo people into thinking that President Jonathan is with them in their attempt to perpetrate illegality. This is an Edo election and only Edo people will decide it not Abuja

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 39

Why the electorate should vote for ‘corn’ – Edebiri

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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KA, the Benin word for maize or corn, dominated the arena last weekend when the governorship candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Chief Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri, flagged off his campaign in Oredo local government area of Edo state.

Party faithful and his teeming supporters from all parts of the state stormed Uwa Primary School on First East Circular Road, venue of the rally. Oka was the slogan on all lips. Some of those at the gathering, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, they wanted change in the political leadership of the state. They hinged their demand on what they termed the failure of the AC.N government to meet their aspirations.

National Chairman of the ANPP, Dr Ogbonnayan Onuh, set the ball rolling when he spoke of the party ’s governorship candidate as a bridge-builder, one who would give governance meaning in the state. He called on the electorate to vote the corn symbol on the ballot

Left: Edebiri with Dr Ogbonnaya Onuh, national chairman, ANPP. paper come July 14. He reminded the mammoth gathering that Edo State had continued to play a significant role in the history of Nigeria. According to him, the state had made landmark impact in the world with its art and culture. He enjoined the people to make good use of another opportunity offered by the governorship election to vote the party’s candidate who would provide purposeful leadership for the

state.

Onu further enjoined INEC to conduct a credible election.

He said people run to tribunals after elections because they are not satisfied with the processes of elections.

Ogbonnayan maintained that a transparent election would save the nation the burden of court processes.

Shouts of Oka, Oka, Oka rented the air as the governorship hopeful, Edebiri, took the microphone

to speak. He assured that his administration would provide the state with qualitative education, adding that it run free primary and secondary education while he would reduce school fees at the state university to eighteen thousand naira. Edebiri said, when voted in, he would revive moribund industries in the state.

He said it was lamentable that several companies in the state like the Bendel Wood Treatment Plant, Bendel Printing Press, Agbede Wareke Farm, Edo Line, etc had closed shop, thus creating poverty and hunger in the land. He said he would give special attention to empowerment programmes with a view to seeing that youths of the state were productively engaged.

Edebiri who echoed the slogan Oka (corn) intermittently as he spoke, charged the people to vote the corn (Oka) on the ballot. He said the corn symbolised bountiful harvest and a productive economy. Boiled corns served with coconut were shared to the mammoth gathering.

Edebiri said the people of the state were not only going to see corn but must eat of their harvest. According to him, his administration would not earmark projects for the state but the people would eye mark them, meaning that they would see the projects.

The governorship candidate is contesting the July 14 election on a coalition of seven other political parties. The chairman of the coalition, Mr Roy Uwagboi, also spoke at the rally, urging the crowd to vote for the ANPP. He said the coalition of parties was convinced in the ability of Edebiri to deliver the dividends of democracy.

Chairmen of the various parties in the coalition also charged the crowd to vote Edebiri.

Earlier in his welcome address, the state Chairman of the ANPP, Engr Steve Aimufia, said his party was set to coast to victory in the election. He said this was the first time a true election Would hold in the state, adding that the electorate should make good use of the opportunity to vote in Edebiri.

EDO POLL: Finding an end to the bloodbath WITH about six weeks to the governorship election in Edo State, violence and tension seem to have characterised preparations.

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DO State governorship election is another litmus test for electoral democracy in Nigeria. Ahead of the poll scheduled for July 14, the state is not at ease. The campaigns are hot, from Benin, the capital, to the interior parts of the state.

The race is perceived as a two-horse race because the two main parties- Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP - are locked in a media war.

There have been accusations and counter-accusations of assassination plots, rigging and general insecurity from the two parties.

Aside, monarchs and other prominent indigenes are worried by the tension unleashed by the political combatants.

Sources said that the traditional rulers are making spirited appeals to politicians on the two sides of the divide to abide by the rules of the game. So far, their counsel may have fallen on deaf ears as clashes between rival supporters have left scores injured just as politicians recruit miscreants to disturb public peace.

To the ACN, the campaign is issue-oriented.

Its candidate, Governor Adams

Oshiomole, who is assiduously working to secure a fresh mandate for a second term, is eager to point to his marks at colourful rallies. The ruling party said the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has impressed the people with his brilliant performance in the last four years.

But his main challenger, PDP’s Charles Airhiavbere, a retired General, has objected to the claim. He is also leaving no stone unturned to succeed the comradegovernor, although observers contend that he is handicapped by the past failure of the PDP in the state and dearth of PDP Federal Government projects since 1999.

In the last four years, PDP has been in pains in Edo State. Key party elders and leaders have been engaged in a war of supremacy. When its candidate in the 2007 election, Prof. Oserhieme Osunbor, was deposed by the Court of Appeal for getting to power through the back door, the ego of party’s god fathers was further bruised.

Fixing Airhiavbere became the ultimate priority, although the party remains disunited.

Another minus for the opposition platform is that its chieftains have been defecting to ACN across the local governments.

However, the electoral climate is cloudy in Edo. Campaigns have been marred by hooliganism, arson, and

thuggery. Barely a month ago, the governor ’s convoy was attacked on the road. A vehicle rammed into the convoy.

Oshiomole escaped, but some journalists attached to the Government House died.

ACN put the blame on PDP agents, urging the police to investigate the incident. PDP

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BY DAPO AKINREFON

In the last four years, PDP has been in pains in Edo State. Key party elders and leaders have been engaged in a war of supremacy

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denied complicity, saying the governor drove without license. Security agents are still combing the state and fishing for information.

Few weeks later, the governor was bereaved again.

His private secretar y, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, was murdered. Oshiomole cried out, saying that PDP was on the rampage in its desperation to violently capture the state at the election. PDP chairman, Dan Orbih, said his party had no hand in the killing. He fired salvos at ACN, saying its members are responsible for the violence in the state.

Sun EdoGuber

During the failed registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the state, a man suspected to be a PDP agent was arrested for carting away the data capturing machine. ACN also alleged that PDP was conniving with electoral officers to register nonresidents, the under-aged and thugs who would tilt the scale in favour of the opposition party at the poll.

Sources said that Edo PDP relies on the presidential might and heavy funding to oust ACN from the Government House. In fact, President Goodluck Jonathan is said to be interested in restoring the lost glory of the party in the state. Also, there have been reports about intelligence reports which gave the president the assurance that power would shift back to PDP in a free and fair election.

However, ACN said the PDP’s arrangements are laughable, adding that Jonathan cannot deliver the state to the PDP. The party also said the plot to capture the state by PDP would fail.

Lamenting the growing in security in the state, ACN said that it is not unconnected with the PDP’s desperation to rig the poll as it did in 2007.

The party appealed to the police Inspector General Mohammed Abubakar to investigate the murder, assassination attempts and violence being perpetuated by

15/06/2012

unpatriotic elements ahead of the governorship election in the state.

The Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Owegie, maintained that desperate Edo PDP leaders perceived the July 14 poll as a do -or-die affair, thereby heating up the state.

He also urged the police boss to investigate alleged PDP’s culpability in the failed registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, especially the attempt by the PDP agents to cart away data capturing machines.

Owegie complained that the PDP chair man, Mr. Dan Orbih, has embarked on virulent and provocative media attacks on Oshiomole at a time the people are rooting for his second term ambition, alerting that PDP was bent on promoting violence before and during the election.

He alleged that the investigation of the slain governor ’s private secretary, Oyerinde, the attack on the governor ’s convoy, and other forms of political violence in the state followed the meeting convened by some PDP leaders, where the decision to unleash mayhem on the state was taken.

Owegie said that it is curious and ironic that the PDP governorship candidate, Airhiavbere, has been promising to provide security for Edo people at a time his party is disrupting the peace of the state.

PAGE 40—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

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any people agree that the Abuja mas ter plan is distorted.

Besides, there are varying challenges facing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, speaks on those challenges in this interview.

We are doing so much to restore Abuja master plan’s integrity —FCT Minister Mohammed ’The issue of compensation and resettlement is a big problem’ square kilometers, it can still accommodate within the framework of the master development of districts and resettlement concurrently. In which case, as we develop these districts, people are settled because buildings are

Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed The concept of urban renewal was conceptualized and coined by this administration.

When I came, I inherited the policy of resettlement and compensation in two ways.

First, let me speak on the status of Abuja as a territory just like a state under section 299 of the constitution, which frees it from the impediment

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Are you satisfied with the pace of development of Abuja?

I would have wished Abuja has developed beyond what it is today. I am only satisfied looking at the quantum, the huge capital outlay deployed for the development of Abuja by successive administrations and where we have reached and, to an extent, we have provided infrastructure and services. But we are fast overtaken by social challenges, challenges of population growth, challenges of movement, challenges of demand and challenges of the need to create and firm up institutions within the FCT, so that we can be self reliant, self subsisting and grow to a level where we will be able to provide adequate infrastructure and services, especially affordable houses for low and medium income earners. The concept of development, right from the onset, did not capture these aspects because, if you look at the main city, most of the houses are not meant for 70 or 80 percent of the supportive staff and other people whose wages will not afford the huge rent and what have you.

Population explosion Therefore, I am satisfied to an extent but we are really confronted with so many challenges. Of course we are behind in terms of population explosion which was not envisaged due to planlessness.

Abuja, by now, is supposed to have about 600,000 to 700,000 but we have about three million people.

You don’t stop people from coming into a city that belongs to them because of the citizenship charter. We have to make sure that we open up; we are to expand the city through whatever means, which is why we are discussing how to develop more districts through the three-phase approach of infrastructural development.

Land Swap Model So the normal budgetary procurement process that I inherited is being pursued with so much intensity with other alternatives for revenue generation being explored.

You have seen how some of the corridors and districts are being developed notwithstanding the huge debts owed contractors. Secondly, we have to open new frontiers to do the land swap model where land becomes a resource and we free some money which we are getting through our statutory national budget and concentrate on developing infrastructure in terms of district development, leveraging on capital in the private sector.

Resettlement and compensation for Abuja indigenes have sort of become a big challenge

being provided for them after due enumeration. That is also what is causing serious lapses and gaps. First, the enumeration; what are the integrity, transparency, justice and equity required in terms of ensuring that you really delineate those that are entitled once and for all within the time line provided? This has

Prior to that, the Director, Human Resources, Useni Dauda, had told the panel that due process was not followed in the recruitment of some contract staff

of any person saying he is a citizen and the other person is not a citizen. Every Nigerian that comes here is a citizen of Nigeria but the resettlement and compensation policy recognizes the constitutional rights of the original settlers. Initially, government was supposed to move every original inhabitant out of the city, making sure that his rehabilitation, economic trees and his entitlements are settled once and for all.

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overnment started this but there was policy summersault. You will recall places like Sabon Wuse, when the huge capital required was not forthcoming, government decided that within the territory that is almost 8,000

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failed because we have so many places like Wasa and so on.

Along Kubwa, there are brick houses built and people were moved. Even the ones within the vicinity of Abuja have not worked because there are so many impinging factors like enumeration.

However, the question is, how do you stop, considering the nature of human expansion?

How would you say you are giving justice to the people for you know that they are expected to expand because of procreation?

Nevertheless, that was not supposed to be static; the plan is to build after enumeration.

Apart from not capturing the culture and tradition of the people, there is no money

from the normal budgetary process to provide those houses which the people are supposed to be moved into. If the people are moved within a timeline, there would be no problem of demography where people or family expansion come in from other places to settle and make the place their own primary place of domicile.

These are some of the issues that bring us to the concept of urban renewal. Urban renewal collapses all these problems and challenges because, in the first place, you recognize the idea but there must be community relations in such a manner that they will agree in the same abode and where they domicile. It can be turned around as one portion of it can be developed to accommodate them while the rest of the portion will go to the private investors.

A situation where we have Guzape, Jabi, Garki, Kubwa with the cadastral of land given to individuals who pay premium and fold their arms for the Federal Government to pay for resettlement and compensation and, at the same time, provide infrastructure is not feasible because that land could be used as a resource to provide impetus for urban renewal. Certainly, we are looking at them concurrently.

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he issue of compensation and resettlement is a big problem but we are approaching it from two approaches: continuing and completing existing projects that are geared towards resettling people who are already enumerated. With the urban renewal which is embedded in the land swap, the investor will take full responsibility of doing the cost of infrastructural development in the context of resettlement and compensation.

Can you please expatiate on the distortion of the Abuja master plan?

Abuja is the only city in Nigeria that is built with a well planned and structured urban and regional master plan including engineering infrastructure provision. The master plan is a gamut of activities in terms of the things that are supposed to be put in

place. Since inception, Abuja, as a national project, there have been abuses and these abuses are also within the value chain of land administration.

There is also problem with the exercise of that delegated powers by my office and by my predecessors which appears to be discretional and arbitrary sometimes considering the human factor in administration. It is however a universal phenomenon. It is true; land is converted into uses other than what it is meant for because of the overriding factors of pressure, political and personal consideration and so on.

But we must be able to cultivate the required restraint in order to maintain the master plan. Of course, master plan is flexible; it is not sacrosanct but can be changed in the overriding public interest.

Not because I have a house, I want to have a clinic, hotel, shopping mall etc. these things have been abused and it is clear and, of course, we are doing so much. e understand there is a presidential directive to surmount some of these challenges.

President Goodluck Jonathan has given me express directive not for any reason other than overriding interest of the public to change the master plan which is through the change of land use. Of course, under the Land Use Act, we can have extension, we can have conversion as a statutory responsibility but it is done by a committee under the land related departments, the survey and mapping, the urban and regional planning, the development control, the land administration and the Geographic Information System (AGIS), and that will come in a report.

Even land allocation is supposed to be done under the Land Allocation Committee under which you have the land related departments and stakeholders.

Stake-holding is very important but certainly there is a lot of conversion and abuse of the master plan in the use of green areas because you have parks and recreation centres that have been converted into social uses.

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C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012 , PAGE 41

Farouk and Otedola was meant to hold by 1am, the very first hour of April 24, 2012. It did not. 2am, it did not. At about 4am, according to the timing on the recording device, Farouk entered the premises of Otedola. There, $500,000, out of a set aside $3m, was ready in cash.

According to visuals on the recording, which Sunday Vanguard has now been privy to, Farouk came in wearing a white Kaftan - not the long flowing and sweeping Senegalese type but a three quarter/near full length design.

There was no cap to match.

It was very late any way 4am. Otedola also wore his now familiar white guinea brocade ‘buba and sokoto’. After the exchange of banters, the $500,000 was handed over to Farouk and he left.

Sometime four to five hours later, Boniface Emenalo, the secretary to the House Committee on Subsidy Management, who had been nominated by a very senior highranking member of this administration, entered. The recorder kept rolling. Emenalo was handed two packages containing $120,000.

DISHONOUR AMONG THIEVES

Scams within a Scam —The Video Evidence (EXCLUSIVE) How SSS showed clips to Speaker Tambuwal Otedola faces fresh troubles SSS’ role in the sting operation Why Farouk was not immediately arrested This is the chronology of a now inconclusive sting operation conducted by the Department of State Service, otherwise referred to as the SSS, involving House of Representatives member and Chairman, Committee on Subsidy Management, Lawan Farouk, and oil and gas magnate, Femi Otedola. The complicity of both men in this latest scam signposts a deeper mentality of dishonourable conduct that is pervasive in Nigeria.

By Jide Ajani

F

emi Otedola and La wan Farouk made a mockery of purity they both wore white clothes in the video which showed them giving and collecting bribe.

The SSS swept the house before the operation was set up.

They had to. They called it a C M Y K

STING OPERATION. It was set up at the palatial Aso Drive, Abuja residence of Otedola, the oil and gas magnate. The set-up was for bugging devices for an audio visual operation. With a camera pen for the visuals, ultra-sensitive microphones that could pick the sound of the drop of pins for the audio, as well as telephone bugging devices, the SSS’ communications ex-

perts did their job of installation and left.The question to ask is, why this elaborate operation at the residence of a friend of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan?

IN THE BEGINNING, 15 BECAME 13 Because the heart of man is clouded, the truth about who approached who may never

really be known, without prejudice to the claims being made by Otedola and Farouk.

The truth, however, is that one approached the other.

What is also established, moving forward, is that Otedola’s Zenon Oil and Gas collected forex to the tune of $232, 975,385.13 from the PSF whereas it did not import petrol. There was another company, Synopsis Enterprises Limited, said to have collected $51, 449, 977, for the same purpose but did not deliver - so said the report of the House Committee, presided over by Farouk.

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n the second day of the presentation of the report, a Wednesday, April 24, Farouk told his colleagues on the floor of the House, that the now notorious Clause 29 (5) and (6) needed attention.

That fresh information had come upon the committee which suggested that some companies were erroneously listed as beneficiaries of PSF, whereas it was merely an error and, therefore, the names of the companies should be removed from the list. The House agreed to the amendment of the report. And, therefore, Otedola’s Zenon was removed from the list of indicted companies; ditto, Synopsis.

12 HOURS EARLIER, AT OTEDOLA’S RESIDENCE The meeting between

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menalo, according to the recording, was dressed in a Niger-Delta like attire.

He collected the two parcels, put them in the trousers pockets which swallowed the packages - one in each pocket. The Niger Delta top did not betray the dollar cargo in the pockets of the trousers worn by Emenalo. He left. Mind you, the disputation between the combined sum of $600,000 and $620, 000 came about as a result of the alleged declaration made by Emenalo that he collected just $100,000, as against the alleged $120,000 Otedola gave to him.

The funds Otedola parted with were provided by the SSS. It was part of the $3m that Farouk allegedly demanded for and which had been set aside for the operation. The point of convergence between the video recording of money changing hands and the now infamous bribery saga is the removal of the name of Zenon from the list of 15 later that morning on the floor of the House.

The video recording had very clear audio accompaniment.

The SSS experts moved in afterwards to develop the recording into a full fledged audio-visual production.

A copy of the recording was given to Otedola.

Now, whether Otedola made it available to former Continues on page 42

PAGE 42—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

Continued from page 41 President Olusegun Obasanjo or not could not be verified.

What was verified, however, was that there was a balance of $2.5million allegedly to be collected.

THE AIRPORT RECORDING THAT NEVER HAPPENED he next phase and scene of the sting operation was to be the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. There, the balance of the money was being kept for Farouk.

Otedola insistently told Farouk that he could not carry $2.5m cash to his residence and, therefore, wanted Farouk to meet him at the airport for the collection of the remainder of the money.

Now, whether Farouk had a premonition that he was likely to be set up or that he just didn’t want to be spotted at the airport in the company of Otedola, he simply refused to meet the oil magnate at the airport afterwards.

Instead, according to records of the telephone conversation that was bugged, Farouk instead suggested that he would send a third party to collect the money.

According to the recordings, he gave the telephone numbers of the nominee.

He, according to the recorded conversation between him and Otedola, actually spelt the name of the nominee to the Zenon Oil chief.

But all these were activities in futility.

The high command of the SSS would not have a third party collect the balance of $2.5m. A senior security source told Sunday Vanguard that the reason the airport operation was aborted was that since it was Farouk that was being expected to show up and was now planning to send another party, there was no need to continue.

Had he shown up and collected the money, he would have been arrested immediately, a source confirmed.

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Otedola faces fresh troubles continuation of the report of the committee, especially since Zenon’s name was still on the list of 15, would appear as if he was to be pressured into removing the oil firm’s name and, when he refused, he was set up for blackmail”.

According to a security source, such a “development would have made it appear again as if the government of the day simply decided to overshadow the presentation of the report with the arrest of Farouk”. These were the is-

,

WHY FAROUK WAS NOT ARRESTED EARLIER n fact, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that the “only reason he was not arrested at the residence of Otedola that early morning was because options would be limited in proving that the episode was bribery related; and Farouk could insist that he was just set up, with cash brought in to justify the action”.

More importantly, sources said that “arresting Farouk on the morning of the day he was supposed to be presenting the

Otedola...law maker could not carry $2.5m cash

Farouk...embattled

resentatives, to its office in Asokoro. He obliged.

Upon his arrival, he was met by the Director General, DG, Ita Ekpeyong. A source disclosed to Sunday Vanguard that after the pleasantries, the Speaker was entertained with the recording of the morning of April 24, with the star actors being Emenalo, Farouk and Otedola. It was a totally astounded Tambuwal who was said to have watched in utter amazement footages from the recording.

Otedola insistently told Farouk that he could not carry $2.5m cash to his residence and, therefore, wanted Farouk to meet him at the airport for the collection of the remainder of the money

sues that weighed heavily on the minds of the SSS high command. They let Farouk go.

All these were not known to the lawmaker .

SPEAKER TAMBUWAL AS A GUEST OF SSS nce the operation at the airport was inconclusive, but with Farouk removing Zenon’s name from the list of 15, it was time for the SSS high command to act swiftly.

Later that same week, the Command invited Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Speaker of the House of Rep-

O

,

He was informed of the sting operation which was set up by the SSS. He was also informed of the botched operation meant for the airport.

The Speaker was made to understand that what he saw that transpired in the video led to the actions of Farouk on the floor of the House whereupon Zenon’s name was removed from the list of 15.

While the DG was said to be doing the briefing, it was a Tambuwal, with dropped jaws, who listened in awe and shock. On conditions of con-

fidentiality, what transpired between the Speaker and his host can not be reproduced here.

However, Sunday Vanguard was told that “the Speaker simply said they should call Farouk and show him the recording; that he should come and answer ‘his father ’s name’”.

Upon arrival back in his office, Tambuwal reportedly summoned Farouk and gave him a thorough dressing down.

FAROUK’S CLAIM arouk initially insisted that there was nothing of such. He denied any such thing as collecting any money from any marketer.

It was learnt from associates of Farouk that he also thought “he was doing a sting operation on Otedola; that he collected the money with a view to exposing him; that he wanted to collect the balance before presenting it all to members of the House and the public”.

In addition, Farouk, in a confidential briefing with Sunday Vanguard in April, had hinted at the development.

He disclosed that “one of the marketers wanted me to come and collect money from him at the airport but we are watching him and, when the time comes, we would expose him and the others”.

He also granted an interview published on April 28, in another newspaper, where he openly made the claims

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that an attempt was being made to bribe him and that some people were even threatening his life over the subsidy probe.

Farouk maintained that he planned to expose Otedola by going full length and playing along. Why he did not carry others along remains a mystery.

AND THE MATTER BLEW OPEN olice sources confirmed, last Friday, that “contrary to what was being published, it was the police who first wrote Farouk, seeking to know who the people that were piling pressure on him were and those who were behind the threat to his life”.

The lawmaker responded to the police request and that actually marked the beginning of investigation into the matter.

Sunday Vanguard was also made to understand that investigations by the police had commenced before the matter blew into the open.

Indeed, it was the panic move by some powerful people both in the corridors of power and a few who rose in defense of Farouk that unwittingly blew the whistle in their bid to keep the matter out of public glare.

It was learnt that a very disappointed senior government official, who brought Emenalo in to work with the committee, had suspected that the matter was already being handled by the Economic and Fi-

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Continues on page 43 C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012 , PAGE 43

How SSS showed clips to Speaker Tambuwal Continued from page 42

Tambuwal...stunned after

watching video

Ekpeyong...SSS coordinated

'sting' operation

nancial Crimes Commission, EFCC and made a move to find out the culpability of his ward. This was also another act which unwittingly blew the lid off.

By penultimate Saturday, it had become obvious that the matter had spread like wild fire in the House.

This was what necessitated the statement from the House

How Farouk Lawan fell from grace

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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he aura of integrity and authority which Hon. Farouk Lawan used to radiate within the chambers of the House of Representatives evaporated on Friday when his colleagues within the Green Chamber removed him as Chairman of two important committees; the controversial Adhoc Committee on Monitoring of Subsidy Fund and the Education Committee.

The allegation of bribery levelled against him by oil marketer Femi Otedola was also referred to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for further investigation.

It all began on April 18 , 2012 - the day members of the House received the report of Lawan led Adhoc Committee.

Nigerians hailed the report and expected so much that the committee’s Chairman became very popular. His colleagues respected him and looked up to him. His opinion was sought on vital issues.

But Friday was different for Lawan. Dressed in his traditional white agbada with a white cap to match, Speaker Tambuwal went straight to the day’s business when he asked Hon Bawa to read the only motion of the day. The atmosphere was highly charged. The usual banters the Speaker normally shared with members was missing. He said the usual prayer and went straight to the business of the day which was a motion on the “Allegation of $620,000.00 bribe against the Chairman Adhoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Monitoring Regime (Hon Farouk Lawan) and the Secretary (Mr Boniface Emenalo) standing in the name of Hon Ishiaka Mohammed Bawa the Chief Whip of the House.”

Bawa read the motion as follows: “That the House notes with serious concern the recent allegation of bribery in the sum of $620,000.00 leveled against the Chairman of the Adhoc Committee on fuel subsidy and the secretary by Chief Femi Otedola, an oil marketer.”

He stated that the House was conscious of the various media reports on the allegation and was

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conscious of the resolve of the Legislative Agenda of the 7th Assembly to maintain probity, accountability and transparency in the conduct of its business.

The House however resolved to remove Lawan and Emenalo as Chairman and Secretary of the Adhoc Committee respectively.

Members also decided to rescind the resolution of the House on Tuesday , April 24, 2012 on the items 5 and 6 of the Ad-Hoc Committee’s Report . This had to do with deleting the names of Synopsis Enterprises Ltd and Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd from the list of companies indicted by the Committee.

These companies should have been referred to the relevant anti-corruption agencies with a view to verifying what they used the foreign exchange they collected for.

Bawa’s motion was overwhelmingly endorsed by members.

Chairman of Rules and Business Committee of the House, Hon. Sam Tsokwa( (Taraba), reinforced this position and added that the Federal Government must implement the subsidy report. The same line was toed by Minority Whip, Hon. Samson Osagie (ACN Edo), who noted that, although the bribery allegation was in bad taste, it was wrong to use the action of one person to judge the entire House. He moved a motion for a vote of confidence to be passed on the leadership of the House. The motion attracted applause and was voted for by all the members when the Speaker asked for voice vote.

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arlier in his speech, Tambuwal had cautioned members against engaging in acts that are capable denting their reputation and that of the House.

According to him: “ The object of the session is to deliberate on the grave allegation of bribery brought against a member of this hallowed Chambers. Hon. Farouk Lawal, by Mr. Femi Otedola, an oil marketer, in connection with the work of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime empanelled by the House for that purpose. ”In accordance with our Legislative Agenda, we must continue to be, not only sensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians but also proactive on all matters of urgent National importance. Therefore, while I apologize for the inconveniences caused

leadership declaring that it would investigate the matter fully. Meanwhile, Farouk has been suspended indefinitely by the House.

And Otedola’s Zenon and Synopsis have been re-indicted by the House of Representatives’ Committee of the whole.

THE SEQUEL CONTINUES NEXT SUNDAY

to members by this sudden recall from the recess, I trust, we all appreciate that this is a call to important civic duty for our dear country”. ”Hon. Colleagues, when we elected to pursue the entrenchment of probity, accountability and transparency in the conduct of government business as a cardinal Legislative Agenda we advised ourselves never to expect that it will be an easy task. Accordingly I have had cause to occasionally sound a note of warning and remind that our constitutional task is inescapably hazardous requiring total commitment, diligence, transparency; determination and sacrifice ”I wish at this point to make this pledge that the House of Representatives shall continue to act responsibly by ensuring that all investigations are instituted only when absolutely necessary. Furthermore, we shall insist on probity and fairness on the part of our members conducting such investigations; and we shall not hesitate to sanction anyone who in the course of these investigations overreaches himself or uses the process to intimidate anyone or engages in corruption.

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he recent investigations into two Sectors, namely Oil Subsidy Regime and Capital Market were conducted in public; evidence and testimonies were freely given and taken and in the case of oil subsidy regime, monumental fraud was disclosed in the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee which has since been passed by the House and referred to the Executive for implementation by relevant agencies. ”While we consider it preposterous and hasty to dismiss the current bribery allegations, pending the outcome of ongoing investigations, including our in-house investigation just instituted, we reject in totality insinuations being orchestrated in some media circles to the effect that the allegations have eroded the integrity of the Resolutions of the House on the report and rendered same unworthy of implementation. ”Let me reiterate that the resolutions of the Huose over the fuel subsidy regime remain valid despite this recent controversy. We must as a country learn to separate institutions from individuals and we must admit that, in the present case, the alleged conduct of an individual can not negate the conclusions of the whole House.

Let me also reaffirm here that we have not been compromised and we shall never compromise our stand against corruption. The credibility of that report therefore remains inviolable and we stand by it”. He urged the executive to carry out its promises of implementing the report on the House’s recommendation. Lawan had been House Committee Chairman on Education from the 6th Assembly.

PAGE 44 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

PRAYER

For the Church, is strongest offensive, defensive weapon

By Sam EYOBOKA and Olayinka LATONA OLLOWING ceaseless indiscriminate violent attacks on Christian churches in the North during worship sessions on Sundays, Christians under the aegis of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, are putting aside their differences and are mobilising urgent prayers for peaceful co-existence and religious harmony in the nation. Thursday was the second in the series of national prayers designed to draw divine attention to the prevailing security challenges and perceived plans to exterminate Christians from certain part of the nation.

On Friday, March 16, 2012, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), in Lagos, organized a one day prayer and fasting session, attended by leading *National interdenominational Day of Prayer held at the Christchurch parish of RCCG, clergymen and women to pray for the Gbagada, Lagos. From left: Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, chairman Lagos State PFN, country. The six-hour interdenominat- Pastor Wale Adefarasin, National Secretary, PFN and Archbishop Magnus Atilade, ional prayer session tagged ‘Arise... Let CAN chairman South West at the occasion. us Pray for Nigeria’, was held simultaneously in major cities across Nigeria featuring eminent clergymen. ”Today marks the day of a new beginning in our nation. This is the first time that the Church is gathering to do battle, without guns”, Apostle Alexandar Bamgbola, chairman of Lagos PFN, said in his welcome address at the Lagos segment of that pioneering united prayer conference which held at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites.

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, coordinated affairs at the Abuja end of the programme, while other ministers led prayers in Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Jos, Kano and Sokoto, where people gathered for the same purpose.

“One of the major imperatives of this prayer meeting is unity,” said Paul *L-R: Rt. Rev. D.A Falola, Rt. Rev. B.O Odekunle, Rev. E.T Adeyanju, Rev. S.A. Olatunji Adefarasin, Senior Pastor at House on at the national prayer summit. Photos: Shola Oyelese.

The Rock, adding “from my demography, Christendom is, at least, 65 per retired Deputy Inspector churches in the North has fur- forestall any unforeseen cent of the nation’s populat- General of Police and two ther emboldened the leader- circumstance, especially in the ion, but we do struggle becau- young men said to be on ship of the Christian Comm- North. se of the divisions amongst errand, among others, were unity in Nigeria who have now All executive council members ourselves.” mindlessly killed by yet to be resolved to take their petition of the 19 Northern states, after to the One who created the two days of fasting, converged The preachers were unanim- identified persons. ous that the country is on the The building of Christ Cho- Universe for the protection of in Kaduna to pray for the threshold of greatness. sen Church, Rukuba Road, Jos the brethren in the North from repose of those killed; for the ”What could bring Christians collapsed after a saloon car violent attacks. peace of Nigeria and an end together on a week day, not loaded with explosives ram- Reports from across the nation to the insurgency. only in Lagos but in Port Har- med into one of its walls showed a total compliance to At the Word of Life Bible court, Abuja, even in Maidug- during the Sunday worship the directive of the CAN pre- Church, Warri, the wife of the uri?” asked Wale Adefarasin, service. The bomber reported- sident, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. CAN president, Pastor (Mrs.) Senior Pastor at Guiding Light ly disguised himself as a In most of the states, Christ- Helen Oritsejafor stood in for Assembly, stressing: “The worshipper to evade local ians trooped to their churches her husband who was in Church has come together to security. Once he gained en- to offer prayers for the soul of Awka, Anambra State to cocry unto God. Nigeria must not try to the area, he accelerated the nation. ordinate affairs in the South be the same again.” his vehicle into the church. In Abuja, most of the blocs East where eminent Christian Only last Sunday, two The pastor, Monday Uzoka, that make up CAN went about leaders gathered for the praychurches were targeted in was among an estimated 62 the prayer session in an ers. separate attacks in the Plateau persons who are currently re- organised manner, just Mama Oritsejafor led the State capital, Jos, and Biu in ceiving treatment in different adequate security measures prayers against every evil Borno State in a week when hospitals for injuries. The were put in place in all the spiritual gate against the several persons including a continued attacks on Christian venues across the country to nation, all those personalities

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behind the problems besetting the nation, not forgetting to pray for the light of God to shine upon the nation.

In Lagos, the National Secretary of PFN, Pastor Wale Adefarasin again identified pride, insecurity, suspicion and fear as factors hindering the unity of the Nigerian Church.

He said at the interdenominational Day of Prayer at The Redeemed Christian Church of God, ChristChurch, Gbagada, Lagos. According to him, there can only be unity in Nigeria when the Body of Christ is united in love, doctrine and integrity which is the core of our Christian faith.

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e lamented that the Church is presently divided and disunited along doctrinal teachings, tribe, ethnic and language which have further led to increase in the nation’s woes and catastrophe.

Adefarasin opined that the church has a daunting task to live in peace and eschew all forms of fear and suspicion within the Christian faith which cannot be found in Christ, the head of the Church.

He therefore sued for “brotherly to love continue and reign in our midst and let us be bounded together with one chord that cannot be broken”.

Earlier, the president of Ecclectic Network, Rev. Moses Iloh called for true worship that reflects the true lifestyle of Jesus Christ among the Christian community.

He said that the Church can only be relevant in a world besieged with sin and "all forms of evil deals when we truly reflect the true teaching of holiness, integrity, faithfulness, honesty and brotherly kindness in all that we say and do."

He bemoaned the increasing spate of worship centres which exist in Nigeria without true teachings of repentance and righteousness through redemption of Christ for mankind.

Also speaking at the event, the Senior Pastor of Fountain of Truth, Pastor Yomi Kasali challenged Church leaders to repent of their evil ways and turn to God in true repentance for the healing of the nation.

Kasali said the responsibility of the healing of the nation lies solely on God’s people who will turn to God in true repentance of their sin.

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SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012--- PAGE 45

(John 12:25). L i k e Jesus, we give our lives as a ransom for others.

(Matt-hew 20:25-28).

The atonement

OHN warns Christians: “Many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” (2 John 7). This allegation is applicable to Paul in the bible.

By his own admission, Paul was a sinner who could not walk righteously before God. He confesses: “What I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” (Romans 7:15).

Therefore, Paul creates a self-serving Christology to excuse his sinfulness. He says: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10). He maintains furthermore that, in the flesh, man is totally depraved: “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells.” (Romans 7:18). He then asks: “Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

(Romans 7:24). The answer can only be a Jesus who is not in the flesh.

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Mystical Jesus

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aul says the flesh is too weak to obey God’s law. Therefore, God sent Jesus to our rescue: “What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. (Romans 8:3). This means Jesus came in what seemed like flesh but which could not have been flesh. According to Paul, a man who never saw Jesus, Jesus came: “in the likeness of men;” and was found: “in appearance as a man.” (Philippians 2:7-8). But he was not a man but “a lifegiving spirit.” (I Corinthians 15:45).

This mystical Jesus washes sinners in his blood and abracadabra, they become new creatures. (II Corinthians 5: 17). In Paul’s jaundiced theology: “God imputes righteousness apart from works.” (Romans 4:6).

Jesus zaps Christians with his righteousness and they automatically become: “the righteousness of God in him.” (II Corinthians 5:21).

JESUS IS A MAN Everything about Jesus identifies him as our kinsman-redeemer Thereby, Paul invalidates the cogent lessons learnt from the life and ministry of Jesus. He says: “From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.” (2 Corinthians 5:16). This is a convenient and expedient position for Paul for the simple reason that he never knew Jesus according to the flesh anyway, although he is economical with the truth here by implying he did with others.

Jesus is human

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owever, Jesus is a man. The fact that Paul never knew Jesus when he was on earth does not mean we should stop regarding him as a man.

When convenient, Paul himself grudgingly acknowledges Jesus’ humanity with characteristic double-mindedness. He says: “(God’s) Son Jesus Christ our Lord, was born of the seed of David according to the flesh.”

(Romans 1:3). But John, who unlike Paul knew Jesus personally, says Jesus was fully human.

He says: “the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory.”

(John 1:14).

Paul maintains: “those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8). But God contradicts this by saying to flesh-and-blood Jesus: “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11). If Jesus is not a man, he cannot be our Saviour. We know God is able. What we want to know is whether man is also able.

Jesus answers this question conclusively. T h e word was made flesh in order that we may fully identify with the word.

The disciples asked concerning Jesus: “What

manner of man is this?”

(Matthew 8:27). Jesus is precisely the manner of man God intended every one of us to be.

Everything about Jesus identifies him as our kinsman-redeemer. He was born of a woman. He increased in wisdom and stature. (Luke 2:52).

When he was hungry, he ate. (Matthew 21:18).

When he was tired, he slept. (Matthew 8:24).

When he was overwhelmed, he wept. (John 11: 35). When he was killed, he died. (Matthew 27: 50). Jesus calls himself “the son of man” over 90 times. He declared his humanity to his Jewish opponents: “You seek to kill me, A MAN who has told you the truth.” (John 8:40).

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herefore, if Jesus was a sacrifice, God is guilty of human sacrifice; mak-ing him no better than other pagan idol gods. We diminish the power of Jesus’ message by trying to make him so extraordinary, he becomes irrelevant to us. Jesus’ message is simple. Man can resist temptation. Man can overcome sin. Man can have the righteousness of God. This righteousness will not be imputed to us according to the bogus precepts of Paul. (Romans 4:11; 2324). It will be learnt.

Isaiah contradicts Paul’s misleading grace dogma. He says: “When (God’s) judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Let grace be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly.” (Isaiah 26:910). God’s righteousness is taught and not imputed. Isaiah says: “(God) will teach us his ways.”

(Isaiah 2:3). We attain God’s righteousness by the systematic process of hating our life in this world and laying it down.

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alaam says: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.” (Numbers 23: 19). Well, I have news for Balaam. God became a man. Paul says: “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Corinthians 15: 50). I say bully for him. Job says: “After my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.” (Job 19: 26). Jesus resurrected bodily as a man of flesh and blood. He said to his disciples: “Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” (Luke 24:39). This means there is now a man in the midst of the throne of God. (Revelation 7:17). That man is our brother. He is looking out for us. He understands our pains and troubles because: “in all (our) affliction He was afflicted.” (Isaiah 63: 9).

We can be like Jesus.

Jesus says: “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20).

If Jesus can carry his cross and lay down his life; then so can we; and so should we. We can walk on water. (Matthew 14:29). We can raise the dead back to life.

(Matthew 10:8). We can even be righteous and sinless. Jesus says; “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5: 48).

The psalmist asks God: “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet. (Psalm 8:4-6). Jesus is the confirmation of man’s ordained distinction. He says: “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

(John 14:12-14).

(Next week: “Doing Greater Works Than Jesus.”)

BRIEFLY...BRIEFLY...

Makinde urges intense prayers for Nigeria

By Olayinka LATONA RELATE of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Sunday Ola Makinde has called for intensive prayers for the nation, especially at these trying times.

Expressing sorrow over the deaths of over 200 people in a 3-in-1 tragedy that beset the country within the last one week, the Prelate said the loss of these lives is most painful because they are avoidable.

In a release made available by the church's Media and Public Relations Officer, Rev. Oladapo Daramola, Makinde said: “We are no doubt facing one of the most difficult times as a people and as a country.

"One is still in shock and profound sorrow over the sad demise of over 160 people in the Dana air crash, the death of about 15 people in an accident on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (coming barely few days after over 25 vehicles were burnt on the same road) and the loss of more than 20 lives in the suicide bomb attack at the Living Faith Church also known as Winners Chapel in Yelwa Tudun area of Bauchi last Sunday," he said.

"Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

This is unfortunately another in a long history of avoidable tragedies in our country and a stark reminder of the dangers we face each day," he stated.

"This is not the time for ‘the usual blame game’ or ‘buck passing’; rather it is that time that we soberly reflect on the number of lives that could be saved on the long term if the right things are done.

"There have been tons and tons of reports from the past probes of air crashes in this country. How much have we learnt from them? How much of transformation has taken place in that sector to prevent avoidable mishaps?

"I therefore use this medium to call on the Federal Government to rise up to the call of Nigerians for something drastic and immediate to be done so that lives can be preserved.

On the menace of Boko Haram which is claiming the lives of innocent people in the name of religious fundamentalism, the Prelate said such cannot be allowed to fester unabated.

While commiserating with Bishop David Oyedepo and members of the Living Faith Church, Makinde said these acts of terrorism against the people of this country, especially Christians in the North must be checked.

"Nobody has the right to intimidate, harass or terrorise others of different religious inclination and the fact that these situation is going on unaddressed as it should is becoming more worrisome and troubling.

"Afterall, it is constitutionally expected of the government (at all levels) to protect their citizens. So one wonders why those who should be protected are left for slaughter in the manner in which we are seeing it happen,” he concluded.

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*L-R: Engineer John Ediale, Msgr Edmond Akpala (College administrator), Dr John Abebe, Msgr Gabriel Osu and Geraid Ibe at the commissioning of ultra modern classroom block and sports complex of St Gregory's College, Obalende.

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

A personal encounter with Tambuwal

BY REV. FEMI AJAKAYE

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The virtues of humility and service

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ITH the unilateral de cision of retired Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida to annul June 12, 1993 presidential election clearly won by the late Bashorun MKO Abiola, June 12 has become a symbolic date in Nigeria’s history. It is a date we cannot wish away. It has come to stay and both the date and the man who sacrificed his life, Abiola, and other people who died in the struggle to uphold June 12 will always be fondly remembered. On the other hand, those who have murdered sleep may remain sleepless due to the ever present ghost of June 12.

On Tuesday, June 12, 2012, I went to the Diocesan Secretariat at Pope John Paul II Pastoral Centre, Ado-Ekiti, to have a quiet moment reflecting on our beloved country, Nigeria. I had planned to leave before 1.00 pm because I had series of appointments, including attending the June 12 Lecture by Dame Priscilla Kuye, the first Nigerian woman to head the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. In spite of the Ekiti State Government’s declaration of the day as a public holiday, people still came from different places to meet me in the office. I had to attend to them,

though conscious of the time as I always strive not to go late to functions.

Two of those who came to the office were one of our priests and his young parishioner, a lady, seeking employment. In fact, these young ones, and even, their parents, kept coming to me for jobs, pleading if I could help them. This is a great challenge. I asked the young girl her town, as I usually do, so that I would figure out her ward, constituency or senatorial district, for me to know who to contact among the elected representatives of her area.

Having known her jurisdiction, I phoned a member of the House of Representatives representing that area. I told him that I would like to see him and we agreed on the time.

Less than two minutes after our brief discussion on the phone, he called back and he told me that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was in Ekiti State on an official assignment. He gave the phone to the Honourable Speaker and I spoke with him. He spoke familiarly as if we had met and known each other before that day. Really, we had never met and I had never spoken with him on phone. I expressed my desire to meet him that day if it was possible. I was touched when Mr Speaker responded positively to my request.

Within minutes, Mr Speaker arrived with four members of the House and I went to bring them to my office. The first thing I experienced was that he came simply with his team. There was no paraphernalia of office as the number four man in Nigeria.

They came in three cars, not Jeeps, with no menacingly looking armed and uniformed security agents.

No siren too. Apart from the four members of the House who came with him, there were two well dressed gentlemen. I think they were security agents. We exchanged pleasantries and we headed straight to my office.

On his way to my office, the Speaker and his colleagues greeted warmly the people they saw at

,

VIEWPOINT

maintain his integrity as good name is better than silver and gold.

Concluding, I expressed my concern over the $620,000 bribe allegedly received by a high ranking member of the House in order to doctor the report of the House Ad Hoc Committee on the Management of Fuel Subsidy. I reminded the House that those who wished to install their puppets as the leaders of the House would be eager to use the oppor-

I observed the high intelligence, humility, ebullience, piety, patriotism and sincere attitude of the Speaker. He is down-toearth and genuine

the secretariat. I then invited Fr Felix Odesanmi, the Vicar General of the Diocese, who was in his office to join us. I welcomed Tambuwal and the House members to our Diocesan Secretariat and I thanked Mr Speaker for the quality leadership in the House in spite of the ‘landmines’ put in place by those who detest the leadership since it has refused to be dictated to. I thanked him for trying to make the House a home for all members (irrespective of their political parties, religions and ethnicities) so that Nigerians could be homely in their own country. I pleaded that he should continue to be committed to the ideals of good governance and

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tunity to fight dirty and engage in negative propaganda to blackmail the leadership of the House.

Tambuwal was grateful for my observations and he asked for prayers and people’s support for the House to keep maintaining its dignity despite the difficult period. We further discussed issues affecting the growth and development of our country. We focused on the recent Dana Air disaster, present security challenges, political issues, religions, sports, particularly football.

We discussed the late Nigerian goal merchant, Rashidi Yekini.

One of the members of the House recollected my May 2012 article on Yekini, ‘Rashidi Yekini: Don’t

Cry For Me, Nigeria’, published in some newspapers and magazines. He remembered vividly my reference to the family of the deceased Green Eagles’ goalkeeper, Mr Best Anthony Ogedegbe, where I wrote that, as a family friend to the Ogedegbes since 2009, that I was saddened I had not succeeded in my struggle to seek employment for Yejide and Gloria, graduates of Computer Science and Education Management respectively. The speaker told me to send Yejide and Gloria’s CVs to his email address which he gave me along with his telephone numbers. I expressed my gratitude to him for the kind gesture.

Yes, God does His own thing in His own way.

I observed the high intelligence, humility, ebullience, piety, patriotism and sincere attitude of the Speaker. He is down-to-earth and genuine. As an example, I called him the next day and he picked the phone personally. Indeed, I have cultivated the idea of deleting the telephone numbers of the people in positions of power who become very busy to pick calls while in power, but they will call one when they want to exploit one, use one or when they are out of power. Sadly too, even those engaged in this ‘very busy syndrome’ are those who were close to one before getting government or political appointments.

Here, I remind such people, ‘no condition is permanent and nothing lasts forever ’. God bless Nigeria. *Most Rev. Ajakaye is Bishop of Ekiti.

Okotie @ 54: Things can only get better

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF A diagnosis of a three-time presidential candidate on his birthday.

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BOUT this time last year, Rev Chris Okotie can celled an elaborate birthday event put together by his church, the Household of God, Oregun, Lagos, because it coincided with Boko Haram’s terror attacks which consumed several innocent souls in the north. It was his own way of flying the flag at half mast in honour of the dead.

On the occasion of his 54th birthday, on Saturday, June 16, 2012, the pastor-politician decided once again to shelve any celebration as a mark of respect for the victims of the Black Sunday tragedy of the Dana plane crash.

We never had it so bad. In one fell swoop, Boko Haram killed several worshippers in a church in Bauchi; there were multiple accidents involving fuel tankers that claimed many lives on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway all happening on this better forgotten Sunday!

For Okotie, this was too much to handle. So, for the second time, members of his mega church

didn’t do more than present a cake and gifts for the iconic three-time presidential candidate and chairman of the Fresh Democratic Party, FRESH. For the media, it was another showstopping coverage that never was because the news about the popular man of God is always a headline grabber.

As is usual with him, special occasions never go without some comments on burning national issues. Good governance, forever a relevant issue in Nigeria because of the absence of it, terrorism, our new found bug, and the economy, are key subjects of Okotie’s comments that make the news whenever the occasion presents itself. According to him, these issues will continue to engage his attention until the country gets into the hands of patriotic, competent leaders.

“Things will get better once the right leaders, not rulers or politicians, take control of Nigeria, particularly at the centre”, said the flamboyant cleric during an informal session with some members of his inner caucus at the office of FRESH in Lagos.

This view is surprisingly shared by no less a personality than veteran northern leader, Alh. Maitama Sule. In a paper entitled, “Governance, Ethics and Morality”, which he delivered in Dutse, Jigawa State recently, the elder statesman said: “What Nigeria needs at this time of her life are

leaders, not rulers, leaders who will not steal, leaders who will not betray the peoples’ trust, leaders who want to serve, not to be served, leaders who are ready to give and not take”.

When statesmen like Sule finally come to terms with Okotie’s position that our ruling elite can’t move this country forward, there’s hope we’re moving gradually towards a national consensus. “For years, I’ve been speaking on the need for a paradigm shift and a generational shift in governance, because therein lies our hope for survival as a progressive nation”, Okotie said.

According to the reverend, good leadership is not the exclusive preserve of any age group. It is a mindset, an issue of personal traits like courage, strength of character; the will and capacity to take important decisions. Okotie said he saw these attributes in former President Olusegun Obasanjo whom he publicly admires.

Sule also thought as much about OBJ, a co-speaker at the Jigawa event, whom he praised for his eight-year presidency. ostalgia about good, old N leaders of the past can only inspire purposeful leadership in the present generation if they are ready to carry the mantle. But what we see across the party divide is that most of the young politicians who occupy the seat of power today have not made a

difference in governance. So truly, the problem is not just about age, but an attitude and individual attributes. Regardless of the age, if the thinking and attitudes of leaders are right, things are bound to turn out well for the

a wise old head. An old, presumably experienced politician may, in fact, be a block head. It does happen like that sometimes.

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VIEWPOINT

in the mind of the public a distinction between what he represents, which is a new beginning; and what the cabal stands for – retrogression, corruption, perpetuation of the old order of stagnation, incompetence and lack of direction. The FRESH leader was quick to defend himself: “It is not about pride but principles. I don’t want to compromise my philosophy. I believe I was raised for a different purpose. I’m not a professional politician; my political activities could be regarded as part of my call”.

Indeed, our leadership challenges are daunting. Most of those masquerading as leaders today are political touts who have nothing to offer the nation.

Even the mercurial ex-P resident Obasanjo recently confirmed that many crooks are now in the corridors of power at all levels of governance. Which is very sad for a country that is brimming with great potentials. In the final analysis what Nigerian leaders make of the nation’s vast potentials is what will determine what verdict they’d get from posterity. For now, our nation is in great distress.

At 54, Okotie himself expresses disappointment with the state of paralysis we are in at the moment because most of our current rulers are in his age bracket

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country.

At 54, Okotie himself expresses disappointment with the state of paralysis we are in at the moment because most of our current rulers are in his age bracket. His response is that it is the affiliations of leaders, and the values they project that determine their outlook. Therefore, while a leader may be young, he could carry

ne reason he has tried to stay apart from the motley O crowd of politicians is to create

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 47

Edo beyond politics of bitterness

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Lessons from the defection of a former governor to the ruling party

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OLITICAL devel opments in Edo State should be of interest to anyone interested in the overall development of this country.

Edo, one of the states in the South-South region, is warming up for the governorship election with Comrade Governor Adams Eric Aliyu Oshiomhole seeking the mandate of the electorate for a second time in office.

Significantly, not a few people from the Peoples’ Democratic Party ( PDP) have decamped to the Action Congress of Nigeria ( can), the ruling party in the state.

Why has the ACN recorded many decampees? Have they all done it for immediate political gains? This seems unlikely given the

fact that some of them were people who wanted to be the governorship candidate of the PDP but were schemed out by Mr. Fix. It and his fixing machinery.

Is it therefore safe to conclude that they decamped because it has become impossible for them to remain blind to positive developments in Edo State? . Or did they decamp because “ their people” have told them that Oshiomhole is their choice ?

Even if they did so for

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VIEWPOINT VIEWPOINT

Edo Government House but the courts unfixed the election with a declaration that Oshiomhole of the ACN and not Osunbor of the PDP won the election.

Hence the stolen mandate was recovered.

With his open support for Oshiomhole, Osunbor has taught the godfathers of politics in Edo and other parts of Nigeria that there can be politics without bitterness. He has made a clear statement that pol-

Oshiomhole has not only developed infrastructure in the state, he has brought hope to the rural poor

future political gains, they would have to work harder to beat the record of Oshiomhole.

It is significant that Professor Osaretin Osunbor has openly supported the candidacy of the governor Osunbor was the man that the PDP fixing machinery got into

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itics is “not a do-or-die affair ” a n d N i g e r i ans should not be misled by discredited political godfathers.

This singular action of Osunbor, though uncommon in Nigerian politics, has been seen in other parts of the world. In the United States of

America, former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Collin Powell, a Republican; supported the candidacy of Barack Obama, a Democrat.

Back to Edo, one recalls that during the first anniversary of Oshiomhole as governor, a former governor of the then Bendel State ( now Edo and Delta states), Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, said he had verified the claims of projects which the Oshiomhole administration listed as having completed and he found ALL to be true. Ogbemudia , a former labour minister, is not a man who would speak to please anyone. He was also a governor whose achievements in the present Edo and Delta states have remained indelible in the minds of the people.

As the election gets closer, the pair of Oshiomhole and his running mate, Dr. Pius Odubu, have been out campaigning from village to village, town to town , local government to local government while his opponents are planning how to steal the peoples’ mandate.

The Oshiomhole ad-

ministration has so transformed the state that even the blind could feel the development. Yet when he commenced the construction of the projects that has attracted Edo to the World Bank for commendation, many were skeptical.

Some buildings gave way , people were encouraged to pay taxes, business owners who had dogged tax for years grumbled because under the new dispensation, they had no choice but to pay and pay arrears owned the state.

For anyone who has known or worked directly or indirectly with Oshiomhole , you would know that he is a man who is never afraid to take decisions even when he knows that it could come with initial discomfort .

Hence he has a popular saying, “ even the birth of a baby comes with some pains but the new child brings joy” .

Oshiomhole has not only developed infrastructure in the state, he has brought hope to the rural poor . He introduced a policy of deploying quality teachers to the rural areas be-

cause he believes that if these children do not have quality education at the primary and secondary level, they cannot be sure of a brighter future. He was determined to put an end to generational poverty. Some teachers grumbled but today, the students are better off.

Even the teachers have learnt some lessons.

There is no doubt that Oshiomhole is passionate about the development of Edo and is determined to take the state to a level that any citizen would proudly introduce herself or himself as one from there.

This vision he shared with his wife, Clara of blessed memor y.

Even while she was ill, she thought nothing should stop their vision for the State. Hence she told me, “ Even if I die, Adams must develop Edo state . The people of this state have suffered for long”.

Oshiomhole, the first trade unionist elected executive governor, has proved once again that some critics, given the opportunity can make the difference. This earned him the commendation of the respected monarch of Benin, Oba Erediuwa, who said during Oshiomhole’s third anniversary, “ We make bold to say that your struggle for good governance and better welfare for the good people of Edo state has created a deep and positive impression in the great people of Edo state that history will hardly forget”.

An x-ray of the NYSC reform

BY CALEB AYANSINA

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Revolutionary steps of a scheme to protect and empower its members

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ATIONAL Youth Service Corps, NYSC, was established by decree 24 of 22 May, 1973. It was to be repealed twenty years after by Decree 51 of 16 June, 1993 which is now an Act of Parliament.

The almost four-decade old scheme has witnessed its several ups and downs. Most often than not, it has been unmeritedly bashed – even by pundits. The gratuitous killing of ten corps members in the postelection violence of April 2011 fanned the embers of misgivings some Nigerians hold against the service scheme giving rise to a cacophony of voices shouting “scrap the scheme” as it has lost its ‘ relevance’.

Some viewed NYSC as

a threshold to death while others see the twelve months of service as unnecessary waste of precious time – stating that the scheme has ‘outlived’ its usefulness.

It is against the backdrop of these criticisms that the management of the scheme went back to the drawing board to reinvent an NYSC that is tailored to the security and socio-economic realities of the time.

Since security is cardinal to the optimal performance of corps members, the scheme, in the first quarter of this year, concretized the concept of establishing a Distress Call Centre which, if were in place, would have mitigated or even averted the mayhem visited on the unfortunate corps members last year.

The Centre has its base at the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters, Abuja. The purpose is to assist corps members in getting rapid intervention anytime their security is threatened.

The IT based facility holds the data of all corps members cutting across the three batches,

including their telephone numbers as well as that of security agencies, traditional rulers and prominent personalities in all the corps locations. Any call put to the Centre indicates the name and particulars of the caller with his place of service. In the event of threat to the corps member, the Centre alerts the nearest security agencies for rapid response.

To further boost the

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VIEWPOINT

well received by the corps members at the just concluded orientation Batch ‘A’ 2012 and the scheme, according to its helmsman, Brig-Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia, is building on it.

“We had issues of female corps members being molested by Okada riders, some by traditional rulers; the main aim is to give these young ladies a fighting chance so that they would be able to defend

The NYSC will continue to leverage and build on the gains so far achieved with a view to repositioning and making it a pragmatic and result – oriented Scheme

physical and financial security of corps members, the NYSC management introduced martial art training into the orientation course content so as to equip corps members with the requisite skills for self defence. This, indeed was

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themselves before the deed is done. They will not be helpless victims, but able to fight for themselves rather than crying for help”, Okore-Affia said.

A corollary to the above is the introduction of skill acquisition and en-

trepreneurship programmes also into the course content in order to raise an army of entrepreneurs that will drive the economy of this nation and not job seekers that will trudge the streets of Nigeria in search of scarcely available jobs.

Let me hasten to posit that prior to the formulation of the above laudable policy, the scheme had been complementing government’s effort at reducing unemployment. In this wise, under NYSC/MDGs War Against Poverty (WAP), the NYSC has trained and empowered over one thousand, three hundred and seventy-six corps members in various agro-allied ventures/ businesses in the last one year.

Perhaps, one of the most revolutionary policies of the scheme in recent times has to do with the new perspective of corps posting. As a foremost development focused national institution that is responsive to the yearnings of its environment, the scheme

reviewed its posting policy aligning it with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

This policy commenced with the 2012 Batch ‘A’ Corps members who in tandem with the new thrust were posted to the four critical sectors of the economy: Education, Healthcare delivery, Agriculture and Infrastructure/Public works. In the long run, this policy will give a veritable boost to the Federal Government’s Universal Basic Education, food security, increase in quantitative and qualitative rural healthcare and improvement of infrastructure.

In the final analysis, from the body language of the managers of the scheme, there is no gainsaying the fact that in the months ahead, the NYSC will continue to leverage and build on the gains so far achieved with a view to repositioning and making it a pragmatic and result – oriented Scheme that its stakeholders and indeed Nigerians will be proud of.

Contribution of not more than 1,200 words should be sent to sundayvanguard@yahoo.com C M Y K

PAGE 48—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 10, 2012

chimeena@yahoo.com

Unoma Azuah

Chika Unigwe

A writer-to-writer talk: Unoma Azuah converses with Chika Unigwe INTERVIEW Unoma Azuah and Chika Unigwe are two Nigerian contemporary writers that have through their works attracted international and local attentions. The two writers, who both graduated from the Department of English, University of Nigeria, Nsukka have been very prolific in their writing and have consistently used their Diaspora experiences to comment on contemporary life and debates.

In this conversation, Azuah, who last year presented his latest narrative Offering, Edible Bones engages Unigwe, who just released to the reading public her much anticipated novel, Night Dancer.

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noma Azuah: New books sometimes come with a feeling of burden and joy. Burden in the sense that the writer may be anxious about how the world receives the book and joy in the sense that the writer has finally seen the light of day I felt the same way with Edible Bones. How do you describe how you feel now concerning your latest novel: Night Dancer?

Chika Unigwe: I finished writing “Night Dancer” a while ago and have since then started work on another manuscript.

It’s a relief to have it out, but because I am busy with something else, my attention is no longer fully on Night Dancer. Of course one always hopes for good reviews and so far I’ve been very lucky. It’s

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BYUnoma Azuah

been received enthusiastically UA: Well done. So, when can the Nigerian audience hold this latest baby?

CU: When it finds a Nigerian home. Any Nigerian publisher who is willing to publish it is free to make an offer via my agent. Alternatively, any book store that wants to stock it is also free to contact my publishers.

It will give me no greater joy than to have it out in Nigeria UA: Wonderful! Can you give us a peek? Tell us a little bit about “Night Dancer.”

CU: “Night Dancer” is about sacrifice, about love, about acceptance. It is also about how women negotiate patriarchal spaces. My works in recent

creativity UA: That a good number of your stories focus on women is mostly co-incidental and not deliberate?

CU: Certainly not calculated UA: Ok. I tend to be careful when I try to give a synopsis of my new books because I wouldn’t want to give away the “gist” of the story. I feel you just did the same with your summary of “Night Dancer.”

Can we get some specifics or a little more detail about especially the protagonist?

CU: I haven’t re-read “Night Dancer” since I wrote it so my details might be sketchy. Mma is 20 plus, lives in Enugu and has just lost her mother with

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N ight Dancer is about sacrifice, about love, about acceptance

years have been influenced by Obioma Nnaemeka’s Negofeminism (no ego feminism and feminism of negotiation). It is also the story of a relationship between a mother and a daughter UA: Interesting! If I am not mistaken, most of your novels have focused on issues regarding women. Are you not concerned about being tagged “extra feminist or even to an extreme, one dimensional?

CU: I am interested in writing stories that come to me. I don’t sit down and plan my writing.

I’ve never really worried about how others might perceive my writing that’ll be too calculated and stifle my

whom she had an uncomfortable relationship. But going through the letters her mother leaves behind for her, she comes to realize that she never really knew her mother.

UA: I see. Soundings quite engaging. Back to Obioma Nnaemeka’s Negofeminism, it sounds very much like Womanism. As a radical feminist myself, I believe that I can negotiate with men for instance in contested spaces, but when it comes to personal and to a large extent social spaces, I may choose not to negotiate. That may be neither here nor there but I am interested in knowing more about what intrigues you about Negofeminism?

CU: understands that for some women, a radical break with their culture, even if it’s patriarchal, is not possible for so many different reasons. A woman for example in one of my stories who cannot leave her domineering husband because her culture frowns upon women walking out on their husbands, finds a way of getting her own back without him even realizing it. She remains in that space but she manipulates it. What intrigues me about negofeminism? It is a much more realistic way for many African women to fight back African cultures that see men and women as more complementary then rivals. So the ‘fight’ is usually subtle. Let me reformulate that: the ‘fight’ has to be subtle. Negofeminism recognizes this.

UA: That makes sense. At the risk of sounding like a broken record Negofeminism is the theory that drives your novel “Night Dancer?

CU: Negofeminism has influenced me a lot. I am constantly thinking of ways in which women in certain cultures deal with certain things. And what life is like for those who choose to break the boundaries.

Maybe in that way, “Night Dancer” is a post nego-feminist novel. I don’t know.

UA: I guess we’ll find out for ourselves. Now you are already working on another project. Is another novel? And where do you get the energy from?

You’re becoming quite prolific?

CU : Yes, it’s a novel. I drink lots of chocolate milk with powdered milk to get the energy.

UA: At the moment, I am on some tour of sorts, trying to promote my latest novel, Edible Bones. Now whether or not we get to see the Nigerian edition of your latest novel, “Night Dancer,” can some reading tour of sorts take place in Nigeria? That is, would it be possible for you to have a reading tour of Nigeria with “Night Dancer?

CU : if I am invited, and I have some free time I’d love to.

UA: What might your newest project be about?

CU: The protagonist of the novel I am working on at the moment is called Equiano.

The story of Oluadah Equiano has always fascinated me right from the very first day I heard about it.

UA: What fresh angel are you bringing to Equiano?

CU: The novel takes a look at his personal life. I am not very good at talking about work in progress.

UA: That’s good enough.

What’s your impression of up-coming Nigerian writers?

CU: There is so much talent in Nigeria. I’ve read some really good stories from writers in Nigeria. For instance, I enjoyed Eghosa Imasuen’s new novel, “Fine Boys” and I am looking forward to Igoni Barrett’s collection.

UA: Any last words?

CU: I love that I can make a career out of my hobby and I am grateful for the interest.

UA : Congratulations on the release of “Night Dancer,” all the best with your novel in progress and thank you for your time.

CU : You’re welcome and thank you!

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 49

chimeena@yahoo.com

prison walls of underdevelopment are broken open

by A. J. Turner who deploys his resources to liberate Bayelsans politically. It is this reality King Ebizimor has artistically crafted into a musical panegyric – politically, dramatically and philosophically cast to the mesmerizing admiration of literary physiotherapists.

BY EKANPOU ENEWARIDIDEKE MUSIC

rompted by certain developments in Bayelsa state, King Robert Ebizimor, the living music legend of Ijaw from Angalabiri town, has artistically cast his Royal Majesty A. J. Turner as the Liberator of Bayelsa whose unsolicited liberation activities have given him immortal colours in the state and beyond.

In this artistically mesmerising and penetrating portrait, King Robert Ebizimor, unconsciously assumes multiple narrative colours. A critical massage of this song titled A. J. TURNER: THE LIBERATOR OF BAYELSA STATE, throws king Ebizimor up as a poet, dramatist, novelist, authority on oral literature and a great philosopher.

In this single song, there are memorable echoes of Professor J.P Clark and Aristotle, the great ancient Greek Philosopher. It is this cosmopolitan-like stylistic blend which accounts for the communicative imagistic sophistication, philosophical and proverbial profundity and the richness in oral literature that literally bestow on the song the character of a play, novel, poetry and folktale – qualities that temptingly predispose critics to see the song as a complete work of literature.

In King Robert Ebizimor’s song, there are verifiable echoes of JP Clark as a poet and Aristotle as a philosopher whose philosophical tentacles are spread to every genre of literature. JP Clark had long contended that the ijaws are naturally poetic; this characteristic natural poetry of Ijaw people characterises the song. JP Clark had also long drawn attention to a language device often used by Ijaw people, and this language device called INDIRECTION, also flows in abundance in the song.

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he song also parades echoes of Aristotle when he drew attention to dramatic techniques, particularly the plot. To Aristotle, a plot must have a beginning, a middle and an end. Again, a plot must have the structure of exposition, complication, climax, anti-climax and denouement. All these elements which tend to move Ebizimor ’s song from the territory of music to the territory of literary work, are beautifully blended into the musical piece on A. J. Turner – a musical piece categorised PANEGYRIC in the field of Oral literature.

Viewed from this angle, King Robert Ebizimor has metamorphosed into a folk story-teller. Indeed, this is a historic musical piece that enjoys multiple stylistic

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o the entire Ijaw e o p l e , particularly the likes of Governor Seriake Dickson, Peremobowei Ebebi, Walter Feghabo, Starley Gar r y, Chief Mitama Obodor, Bulouereketere, Didigba, Peter, Solomon, Dikifiye, Oruwane, Asiyai Etifa, Bekes Etifa, Darowei, Chief Asamaowei, Ketebu, Zimowei, Ben Bruce, Aziaki Etifa, Timi Alaibe, Fumudoh, Titi Isoun, Fred Agbedi, Puru and Mudabofa cast here contextually as characters for the artiste, A. J. Turner deservingly merits musical immortalisation cast in the mould of a panegyric. It is perhaps in veneration of the accomplishments of A. J. Tur ner that King Robert Ebizimor befriends the multiple communicative style in his musical panegyric.

King Robert Ebizimor ’s musical panegyric on A. J. Turner begins strikingly with a soothingly slow rhythmic congruent instrumentation.

This soothing instrumentation continues for few seconds and then rather dramatically, King Ebizimor projects his voice above the penetrating instrumentation and musically draws the attention of the world to the greatness of the man, A. J. Tu r n e r.

Somewhat incantatory, evocative of Yoruba oracular poetry – King Ebizimor launches into a dramatic monologue: A brave lion-hearted man His Royal Majesty A. J. Turner.

A. J. Turner, the Obigbo Mikimiki I The Olotu of Bayelsa State The Iroko of Bayelsans The Edagbudu I of Niger Delta The Messiah of Bayelsa State The Political Oracle of Africa A. J. Turner the Obanema of Opume Kingdom A. J. Turner the Lion, the Tiger That fights bravely, not alone But supported by Lions like him No giant reigns without solid support Base from his people A. J. Turner, you are a Lion!

We the Ijaws acknowledge your greatness A. J. Turner, May you reign Forever! p

A.J.Turner

King Robert Ebizimor’s epic portrait of A.J.Turner …the example of JP Clark thrusts, elasticity and variability.

Clearly located in the plot is the fact that suffocating darkness has been cast on Bayelsa state leading to daily exploitation and underdevelopment of the people. The crop of politicians entrusted with the management of the human and material resources of the

state selfishly strike acquaintance with selfaggrandizement and appropriate the resources to the detriment of the masses.

Revolutionary crop of politicians bubbling with development ideas dance weirei into the political arena in a struggle to reverse the precipitous turn of events. A conflict of development

ideology ensues between the two forces. A. J. Turner, a revolutionary progressive, storms the arena carrying Seriake Dickson and eventually installs him as the governor of the state amidst mind-boggling intrigues and blackmail from the reactionary ruling class.

The darkness disappears.

Even the once suffocating

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To be continued

PAGE 50—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

ADVERTISING: The In-House Model StreetjournalMagazine. We at MC&A Digest add our voice to those of many other Nigerians, in thanking the Streetjournal Magazine team for this great service to Nigerians. This piece of information will save lives and protect many more Nigerians.

It is a huge social service of immense value.

We wrote two articles on SHOPRITE some time last year, looking at the promises it makes and the extent to which it delivers on those promises, as a brand. Our concern stemmed from our discovery that the brand’s promise of “BEST PRICE ANYWHERE” was not entirely true on some product categories in its retail business. We then decided to caution Nigerians on the need to be discerning in their patronage of the SHOPRITE brand of retail shop. We had advised shoppers to truly shop right.

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ur focus this week, is thinking through the rationale for brands operating in-house advertising agency, with a view to identifying those plusses and minuses this management and marketing decision leaves on the brand (and the market at a lesser degree though). It is in creating the setting for our objective consideration of the above that we ran through the many service offerings of an average Advertising Agency, as is commonly referred.

Exigent upon some new happenings that have redrawn our work plan for this edition, we shall drive this analysis to a conclusion in our edition next week. Until then, please look through the list of advertising agency services as listed above (add to it if you think what we have written leaves room for addition) and

Now, this discovery! n the days of stock market frenzy, I was particularly concerned with the gullibility of even the educated professionals and high net worth among us who should be guided by reason, with the way they went about lapping up anything on offer as stock.

I warned then, that this stock market will crash! Some friends and acquaintances thought I was wrong, till it happened. It was all too clear to see, because the investment analysis in trying to support the volume and value of offer was not adding up. Tell me, how an investment portfolio will keep adding up on earnings and profit when there was no productivity.

Even some bankers and investment managers did not see the burst coming (though some others knew but took advantage of the Nigerian in us to defraud investors). All of such ugly market situations occur because the average Nigerian consumer is simply not discerning.

It is same carelessness that has informed the size and value of sales the SHOPRITE brand posts daily. To begin with, 75/80% of consumers are excited over new offerings.

Emotion drives us too far at the expense of rational consideration. That explains why brands are mostly sold on

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consider the consequence or benefit of a brand having all of these support being offered by a relative or friend – TILL NEXT WEEK. AS WE DO SAY – Shop Right!

This social media platform has changed the way we live

,

T is not in our character at MC&A Digest to use the word ADVERTISING in reference to brands management; no, it is a sin in so far as we know that advertising is only an aspect of brands management. If we were to contribute to the discussion on the place of PR –Public Relations – in brands communication (and indeed brands management) following the contribution of one of our readers, we published some time back, we would discounted so many of the arguments on the strength of scope. We shall leave that issue for another day.

We have used ADVERTISING on the headline of this piece, for purposes of easy connect with those of our readers who are not necessarily professionals in brands management, but will readily appreciate advertising as a marketing tool. So the professional vocabulary will temporarily accept ADVERTISING to mean brands communication, market and consumer information gathering, campaign planning and execution, strategic planning, competitive analysis, market monitoring, media environment monitoring and evaluation, espionage, brand and corporate image management and experiential marketing support. Let us stop there for now on the activity run-down.

the larger population.

So it is, that these social media platform enabled one information we picked up on Thursday June 13, 2012. It was a report posted by Streetjournal Magazine on my BBM on that date that that our own Consumer Protection Council (CPC) announced

The creative process in brands campaign development becomes smooth-sail if the offer can be pushed on the basis of emotion

our lives, in so many ways. Let me say the areas of its impact that interest me the most, among others, to include its impact on the speed of communication among friends, the extent to which it has broadened freedom of expression and the window of opportunity it has enabled the hitherto voiceless masses.

What a relief it has brought to

,

that it seized some quantity of adulterated and expired food products from the Ikeja and Victoria Island shops of SHOPRITE in Lagos. Put clearly, the statement reads “CPC (Consumer Protection Council) just confirmed seizure of adulterated and expired food items at Shoprite Ikeja and VI”.

Great scoop there, for

emotional appeal in this market.

In brands communication and advertising, offerings are easier sold on the basis of emotion. The creative process in brands campaign development becomes smooth-sail if the offer can be pushed on the basis of emotion. On the other hand, offerings on rational platform demands so much work; it taxes the strategic and creative process immensely.

Consumers in Nigeria must begin to be more rational and discerning in their purchase decision making process.

The immediate question that followed in the discussion we had at a small focus group study held, following the break of this news on SHOPRITE was “HOW DO THEY MANAGE THE lowest PRICES ANYWHERE” offer?

Of course there was no answer to that question at that forum.

Consequent upon which a participant submitted that it is possible that the retail brand can support such offer because, as is known now, the products on its shelves in Nigeria are stocks cleared from their outlets in South Africa and Europe, hugely discounted in their accounting since they were expired or near expired, and brought to (careless and seemingly unregulated) Nigerian market where anything goes, to be sold. So it turns out that what the accounting books capture as loss in ideal market environment becomes huge profit earner for the brand in Nigeria.

W

ell, we will rest our consideration and analysis of the news on the Consumer Protection Council discovery at this point.

However, we shall continue in our quest for global best practice within our local market space, with the objective of creating a population of discerning consumers with rights and privileges open to consumers around the world. On the part of us consumers, we must try to do more of asking questions, reading brand/ product labels, reporting cases of abuse and compromises at the market place to relevant authorities, to protect ourselves.

Always, try to SHOP RIGHT!

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012, PAGE 51

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE Joshua Adeyemo

Being in love

T

here is no remedy for love but to love more. Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.

Tell me whom you love and I will tell you who you are. A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love.

Love is when you look into someone's eyes and see their heart. You know you've found love when you look in their eyes and find yourself. cheers!

Networking/ Sponsorship •Katherine, 22, 5 .8 ft tall,

slim, stylish, beautiful and intelligent, up coming model, needs a modeling agent in Lagos, to take her for modeling and acting. 08089203175 or facebook i.djojo ify.

•Igurube T. Felix, indigent student of Delta State University-College of Education, satellite campus, Warri, needs financial assistance to continue his education.

0 7 0 8 3 4 6 8 9 7 2 • Katherine, 22, tall, slim, stylish, upcoming model, needs a modeling agency to take her over. 08079521318, 0 8 0 7 2 5 1 4 7 1 4 •Chioma, 27, a Laspotech student from Abia state, needs a kind hearted Nigerian to help pay her school fees.08032264025 •Santus, upcoming music producer, needs a musical artist with a record label and capable of full sponsorship.

0 8 0 7 5 1 8 9 7 8 9

caring and resides in Benin city, needs female and male friends, aged 17-22.

08053513252, 08131846672 •Jane, 21, average height and chocolate in complexion, needs a nice, God fearing guy, for friendship, aged 263 0 . 0 8 1 3 6 4 9 6 5 4 0 •Claire, 21, from Anambra state, needs mature male and female friends, for

08056180139

needs lovely and caring female friends, aged 14-19, for serious friendship.

08155472766

Lovers Searching Female • Aderonke, 28, average height, pretty, sexy and romantic, needs a sincere, honest and active man, aged 40and above.08064564108 •Dakore, 20, needs an employed guy, who resides in Benin, for a serious relationship, aged 24-30.

08164793668 •Jessica, 30, big, bold and beautiful with a good feminine features needs mature caring man aged 40 and above for a lifetime union.08052420758 •Alexis, 24, igbo, dark, curvy and very sexy/attractive needs mature men aged 35 and above for a romantic union.

08174092333 •Rita, sexy, romantic and a student, needs a sexually

ABOUT THE MOON

P

ERIODS of the Moon’s fluctuation as given hereunder, are when unexpected frustrations and dis a p p o i n t m e n t s are possible.And those are the times when other people should not be taken for granted.However if I write that such periods/days favour you, you have no cause to worry.Therefore you are advised to plan your week carefully.Such periods/days are: 10.46am of Sunday to 12.02am of Monday* 12.47pm of Tuesday to 2.59am of Wednesday.

7.15am of Thursday to 9.44am of Friday* First and the last of the three periods can be more sensitive.During the week, Moon will go through Gemini, Cancer and Leo. There will be new Moon in Gemini on Tuesday.

GEMINI BUSINESS:Your base may be rumbling but not tumbling.

MONEY:Watchout for dupes and/or thieves.

LOVE:Attractions at work may become more stronger.

CANCER BUSINESS:You’re accident prone.Be safty conscious.

MONEY:Your efforts’ll earn you success.

LOVE:You’ll smile broadly especially on Saturday.

LEO BUSINESS:You’ll become more ambitious.Be practical.

MONEY:Friends can assist you.Avoid unnecessary secrecy.

LOVE:Turn inward for the needed excitement.Be friendly

VIRGO BUSINESS:Mixed trends indicated for you.Be flexible.

MONEY:Watch what you say and do on Friday.

LOVE:Success’ll gladen your heart on Friday.

Links •Oluwadurotimi wants to link

up Serah Okerinde, a Police woman who might be based in Kogi or Abuja.

0 8 0 5 0 6 0 0 9 7 7 •Someone wants to hook up with Robert Adeoye, they attended Iguobazuwa Grammar School together back in 1980.08024131886, 0 8 0 1 5 1 6 4 3 5 7 6 •Chioma, 22, a graduate of Geology and mining, wishes to link up with someone in the oil industry so that she can practice her course.

0 8 1 3 5 0 9 7 8 6 0 •Nas, wishes to link up with Tina, who once lived at Okpara waters but relocated to Abuja last year.

07067218849,07053854202 •Gloria, wishes to link up with Bruce Ugiomoh who used to work with Bagco manufacturing company and resided at Festac Town Lagos. 08034351803

Friends Searching Female •Faith, 20, fair in complexion,

sexy, good looking, lovely,

friendship. 08100649333, 0 8 0 6 7 6 7 1 1 4 9 •Mercy, 18, resides in Delta state, needs friends, aged 18-25.08103400333, 0 8 0 7 3 2 6 9 5 1 3 •Joy, 17, needs male and female friends. 08107732494

Searching Male •Ola, 45, needs a caring, responsible and God fearing man, for friendship, aged 5055. 07067045236 •Samson, 20, 6ft tall, fair in complexion, needs a Christian, obedient girl, for friendship.08077113614 •Desmond, 26, handsome and decent, needs a matured man,for friendship.

08032979896 •Sunny, 43,employed, fair in complexion, needs a fair in complexion, beautiful lady, aged 23 and above, for friendship, either in Lagos, Oyo or Kwara state.

07081199935 •Emma, 23, handsome, cute, from Enugu, needs male friends.08065317531 •Jeffrey, 18, handsome, tall and resides in Benin city,

strong and active man, for a serious relationship.

08065303129 •Edith, 35, tall, busty, chocolate in complexion, self employed, from Edo state, needs a matured and caring man, aged 40 and above, for a relationship that would lead to marriage, tribe is not a barrier.08057301815 •Peace, 28, tall, fair in complexion and presentable, .a single mother needs a Christian man, who is responsible, for marriage.08094029401 •Jane, busty, sexy and fun to be with, needs a tall and handsome guy.

Mail jennybrwny@gmail.com, 08169028494 •Grace, 40, employed and a single mother, from Kwara state, needs a responsible man, for a relationship, that can lead to marriage.

08179010952 •Juwonlo,18, a student, needs a guy, aged 19-21, for a serious relationship.08106146294 •Maryjane, 26, resides in Owerri, lmo state, needs a lady, for a serious relationship.

08188653215, 08038198351

DISCLAIMER! Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.

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

LIBRA BUSINESS:After initial opposition you’ll fare better.

MONEY:Weekend’ll bring success.Thursday is good too LOVE:Nobody can ignore you outrightly.Be more loving.

SCORPIO BUSINESS:It’s important you seek others’supports now.

MONEY:Whatever happens you’ll succeed. Utilise Friday LOVE:Watch it on Tuesday.Try to be more friendly.

SAGITTARIUS BUSINESS:You’re under the fire of enthusiasm.

MONEY:Avoid gambling especially on Tuesday.

LOVE:Early part of the week’ll bring great excitement.

CAPRICORN BUSINESS:You’re under the fire of enthusiasm.

MONEY:Avoid gambling especially on Tuesday.

LOVE:Early part of the week’ll bring great excitement.

AQUARIUS BUSINESS:Many ’ll be willing to assist you now.

MONEY:Success indicated.Watch your steps on Monday.

LOVE:Business can bring stronger attractions.

PISCES BUSINESS:Provided you don’t gamble you’ll succeed.

MONEY:Things’ll workout for you.

LOVE:It looks expensive but highly exciting

ARIES BUSINESS:It’s wrong to experiment with bad ideas.

MONEY:Success indicated.Utilise Tuesday.

LOVE:Unnecessary argument can spoil your good fun.

TAURUS BUSINESS:You’ll strongly desire money more than before.

MONEY: Hard work’ll earn you the desired results.

LOVE:You’re attracting members of your opposite sex.

C M Y K

PAGE 52—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2012

Orike: A tribute to a philanthropist

BY STELLA AMATA

T

HE Oxford A d v a n c e d L e a r n e r s Dictionary describes Philanthropy: as: kindness and good deeds inspired by concern for people’s welfare.

This description aptly describes the person of Ambassador Chief Chukwudi Dixion Orike.

Ambassador C. D. Orike’s concern for peoples’ welfare is unparalleled. Here’s a man, 78 years of age, no longer holding any

political appointment yet always eager to spend his hard earned money solving other peoples’ problems, both medical and otherwise.

“This write up is not about praise singing but to appreciate the efforts of one man who has taken it upon himself to alleviate his fellow man’s problems to the point of sending him oversea for medical treatment which is the reserve of Nigerian “Big men”.

The most unique quality of Ambassador Orike is that he does not care about where you come from, also he has helped even strangers to

get their lives back on track.

Another of his quality is that, he is a cheerful giver, as when he takes on your case, he throws his whole weight into it; he is so personally involved that he even begins to feel your pain.

On this occasion of this year ’s Father ’s Day celebration, I Mrs. Stella Anwulika Amata wish to use this medium on behalf of all of us especially my humble self who have benefited immensely like other numerous people who like me with different ailment have benefited one way or the other of

his largesse, including the youths of Omoku in Rivers State. his home town, whom he spent millions of Naira early this year, to rehabilitate, offered employment and also went further to implore them to engage in fruitful ventures. He also gave scholarship to those within and outside the country while numerous persons like me whom he sponsored to South Africa for surgery in June 2011 and one year after I have cause to thank my God first and of course Ambassador Orike that I have no health problems anymore.

Ambassador C. D. Orike, the Onukuoka I of Ogbaland, on this occasion of this year ’s Father ’s Day, I wish on behalf of all those you have assisted in one way

or the other. thank you and wish you God’s blessing and many more years of good health so that you can continue with your good work of philanthropy.

From left: Ms. Joke Coker of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria and Mr. Mayo Okunola, General Manager, GOtv, during the launch of GOtv in Lagos at Planet One, Maryland, Lagos. PHOTO; Kehinde Gbadamosi

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012 — PAGE 53

C M Y K

54 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012

Sports as image laundering for Nigeria Police

By DAN OSAKWE HE exploits of Samuel Pe ters “The Nigeria Nightmare”, a member of the Nigeria Police and former World Box-

T

Bebeto (l) and Ronaldo, heroes of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup, now members of the Organising Committee for the FIFA Confederation Cup, Brazil 2013. Photo: Courtesy fifa.com.

ing Council {WBC} heavy weight champion of the world, KiKelomo, Ajayi, former skipper of Nigeria Super Falcons, and a member of the Nigeria police, Chioma Ajunwa, and late Sunday Bada, have ignited a feeling of what sports can do to embellish the image of the Nigeria Police.

Over the years the image of the Nigeria Police has been abysmally low. Ask a young Nigerian boy or girl what he feels about the Nigeria Police and you will get an emphatic answer. Ah police? They are not good at all. The fellow could have formed his or her opinion from personal observation, what his parents’, senior or society feel about the Nigeria Police.

The police in Nigeria have been accused of being corrupt, inefficient and brutal. These negative tendencies on the part of the police have made members of the public to look at the police with a measure of suspicion and dissatisfaction.

Hence, the poor public image.

The Nigeria Police on the oth-

Ronaldo, Bebeto excited about 2013 Confederations Cup A

S 1994 world champions, Brazil were clear favourites heading into the final of FIFA Confederations Cup 1997 against Australia, a tag they subsequently justified with a memorable 6-0 rout of the Socceroos. Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick that day, and former team-mate Bebeto, in this interview with fifa.com, take a look back at what was Brazil’s first triumph in the competition and talk about the expectations surrounding the next edition to be held in their homeland in exactly one year.

Excerpts.

What did the 1997 edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup mean to both of you?

Ronaldo: It meant a great deal as it was my second title as a starter with A Seleção. It was a very good period for the team, which was hitting its stride again. The partnership with O Baixinho (Romario) worked really well, so it was, unquestionably, one of my best times with the national team.

Bebeto: I started two or three games I recall. The FIFA Confederations Cup will be the start of everything for the players, especially those who haven’t yet competed at a FIFA World Cup. Back in1997, I’d already been part of the Brazil side that won the country’s fourth world title [three years earlier], but it served to give us a taste of what was to come in 1998. In fact, that 1997 side made up 90 per cent of the team at France 1998. In ’97, I showed that, despite my age (33), I was still good enough to continue helping Brazil – so C M Y K

much so, in fact, that in 1998 I got a starting berth and played in every game.

Was the 1997 tournament a major test for A Seleção ahead of the FIFA World Cup the following year?

Ronaldo: Yes it was. Having not played any qualifying games for France 1998 [as defending champions], we lacked some of the rhythm that competitions give you. We then had the Copa America followed by the FIFA Confederations Cup, both of which we won, allowing [then coach Mario] Zagallo to just fine tune the team for France 98.

Bebeto: The FIFA Confederations Cup is always a tough test. It lets the players see what they can expect to face later and to prepare for it. It’s the starting point and the moment when the penny drops, especially for the youngest players.

Moreover, it allows you to experience the atmosphere of the World Cup host nation and also to adapt to the squad and coaching staff.

What is your main expectation for next year’s edition?

Ronaldo: I have very good expectations. To be able to present six stadiums to the world, something no single country has done previously for a FIFA Confederations Cup, is very positive. If you think about it, it will be a big test for half the stadiums that will be hosting the FIFA World Cup the following year.

Bebeto: I’m expecting a great FIFA Confederations Cup. The team will be practically ready, which will make it a very at-

tractive proposition for the public. Moreover, as member of the Local Organising Committee alongside Ronaldo, I’m enthusiastic not just for the national team, but also from an organisational standpoint.

We’re doing everything necessary to make this a competition of the highest order both on and off the pitch. We want to show that we’re not just capable of playing football, but also of promoting a FIFA World Cup. As a Baiano (native of Bahia), I’m also pleased that Salvador will be one of the six host cities for the Confederations Cup. Bahia people love their football and always fill the stadiums. It will be a great success and a source of delight for them to receive the new Arena Fonte Nova, with its assigned seating and high quality pitch.

With the current FIFA World Cup holders Spain and at least two former world champions - Brazil and Uruguay - certain to take part, is next year’s tournament shaping up to be the most evenly balanced ever?

Ronaldo: Without a doubt.

What global event brings together the likes of Brazil, Spain, Uruguay, Mexico and maybe even Germany, Italy, England or France? With four former world champions, that would be no ordinary competition. Any side that puts on impressive displays at the Confederations Cup will certainly be among the favourites in 2014.

Bebeto: Yes I believe so. I’m following EURO 2012 at present and feel we’ll have

four world champions in Brazil next year. Germany, for example, are doing really well.

Even aside from that, it’s set to be a very competitive edition. Brazil will be able to show off their potential, just like the other nations there too.

Are Brazil favourites for the title in 2013 or does that remain to be seen during the event itself?

Ronaldo: Brazil are in a period of rebuilding. We’ll be competing at the Olympic Games with a very strong generation of players who will be gaining international experience and who should form the nucleus of the team for the Confederations Cup. That competition will be very important in terms of fine tuning the team further for 2014. I believe Brazil are always favourites, but we’ll have demonstrate why out on the pitch, as this will be a very even tournament.

Bebeto: Brazil are always favourites when it comes to foot-

er hand, have always felt that the public’s perception is sometimes over blown. According to them “a corrupt society begets a corrupt police. That the police do not need the public good image rating as claimed by some police officers is rather unfortunate. The truth is that police image in Nigeria in respective of the innovations going on under the Inspector General of Police Mohammed D. Abubakar is still in dire need of respectability and has to be improved upon. One way to do it is through sports.

Of the 35 Nigeria athletes that represented the country at the Nigeria Ghana athletics competition in 1958, 15 were policemen. The Nigeria police team (Police Machine team) were finalists in 1962. Adeleye Samuel (a police officer), was the captain of the Nigeria contingent to the First All Africa Games held in darker Senegal in 1963. He later rose in sporting eminence to become the chairman of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control(NBBC).

Sunday Oyarekhua, now a retired police officer, was a member of the Green Eagles and the famous all Africa Games gold medal winning team in 1973 at the national stadium Lagos. At Kaduna’77 and the First Ecowas Games in ’77 held in Lagos, Sergeant Ogwana, Nnema Udo and Nwabude won medals. At the ’79 National Sport Festival, Azuh won a gold medal each in the 800 and 1,500 meters, while Inspector C. Okonkwo grabbed the gold medal in the weight–lifting event and was invited for the pre Olympic trials.

Nigeria police sportsmen and women have followed these excellent performances with David Izonritei (now a USA based professional boxer winning a silver medal in an Olympics boxing tournament.

Sunday Bada, former head of technical department of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), once dominated the 400 meters race in Africa. He was a world indoor champion in 400 meters. Sunday Bada capped it up by winning a silver medal in the 4 x400 meters relay event at Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The biggest glory brought to Nigeria in sports by the police remain, the spectacular performance of

Ajunwa June 15 caption: Atlanta ’96 Olympics heroine, Chioma Ajunwa, an image booster for the Nigeria Police.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012 — 55

I’ve no plan to leave Wigan —Victor Moses

By JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Calabar

S

UPER Eagles and Wigan Athletic of London forward, Victor Moses has debunked rumours making the rounds that he was on his way to Liverpool, declaring his intension to remain with the team except the manager decides to let him go.

Speaking in an interview in Calabar, the striker said he was aware of rumours linking him and Wigan manager with Liverpool FC next season but revealed that to the best of his knowledge, he has not been approached by Liverpool or any of the big clubs.

“At the moment I’m still a Wigan player. There’s this speculation of my coach going to Liverpool with me. I have not been so approached. If my manager decides to leave Wigan for Liverpool and wants me along, I’ll decide as I’m looking up to him.

“My leaving Wigan is dependent on if my manager will allow me to leave if I have offers from bigger clubs. For now no big club has approached me. I have a wonderful relationship with my manager. I respect his opinion a lot. I’m still young and ready to learn”, he stated The Kaduna State born footballer said he is in the

DASHING … Victor Moses taking on Ronald Ketjuere of Namibia at the U.J. Esuene Staduim, Calabar. Super Eagles won 1-0. Photo by Sylva Eleanya Super Eagles team to contribute his own quota to Nigeria’s qualification for the 2014 Brazilian World Cup and 2013 African Cup of Nations and

Falcons pound Zimbabwe 4-0

BY KATE OBODO

T

HE Super Falcons were ruthless against the Mighty Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos yesterday, hammering them 4-0 in the Africa Women’s qualifier played in a scanty stadium, no thanks to the Super Eagles versus Rwanda match played simultaneously.

Leading African female footballer, Perpetual Nkwocha opened the floodgate of goals in the 6th minute and the homers never gave their opponents any breathing space as Desire Oparanozie and Esther Sunday added more in the 14th and 15th minutes respectively to end the first stanza 3-0.

Old war horse, Stella Mbachu added her name on the score

sheet 10 minutes into the second half to give the Kadiri Ikhana-tutored team a 4-0 victory and 6-0 on aggregate, having beaten Zimbabwe 2-0 earlier last month in Harare.

Super Eagles. I was invited at one other time but could not come due to injury. It is not true that I was not going to play for Nigeria,” he said.

Goals made the difference Continues from BP

MTN World Golfers Championship western Qualifiers final held at the Golf Club Ikeja Lagos recently. Pix L- R Mrs Emamoke Ogoro , the Brand Manager MTN (l) presenting a Tropy to the winner, Mr Chris Obije. Photo by Diran Oshe

promised to cooperate with coach Stephen Keshi so that Nigeria could make it to the two competitions.

“I have played one match for

and free kicks fell short of class. They played two defensive midfielders in Obiora Nwankwo and Gabriel Rueben. Obiorah was fairly good but must learn how to go forward and not turning with every ball. Once he caused problem by turning back when not necessary and losing ball but the danger was averted by Egwuekwe. But Rueben was solid and earned the man of the match award worth US$5.000. When Raheem Lawal came in for Musa he played in front of Obiora and Rueben and that appeared to create a breather although fatigue had set in in the second half and especially Kalu Uche was hard hit.

Enyeama made some saves and Rwandan coach Milutin Saredojovic commended the Eagles’ defence for a good job.

But there were moments Eagles made good moves and gave hope that something could be in the offing with

time Inspector General of Police MD Abubakar was the Guest of Honour and presented the Tom Tom award to Rubden the Kano Pillars strong man. ”We are happy that the Eagles won and they should continue winning,” said the IG, a former NFA member who has passion for football.

The Rwandan team parading Niyonzima Haruna, captain, Ndaka Frederique and Kamana Bokota Labama played very well, taking the game to the Eagles. They showed that there were no minnows in world football anymore. What with the 2-3 loss of Egypt at home in Alexandria to little Central Africa Republic.

Hallmark School wins scrabble tourney

By IME BASSEY

H

ALLMARK School in Ikeja, Lagos has emerged winner of the second edition of the Winifred Awosika Scrabble Tournament for schools (WASTFS) held at the Victor Awosika Hall, Opebi, Ikeja.

Mofetoluwa Lawal of Hallmark School came tops out of over 104 pupils who participated at the 2-day tournament held last Thursday and Friday and went home with a cash prize of

N250, 000.00, a trophy and a certificate. Also, second position went to Samuel Enegbuma of Saint Peter ’s Anglican Pry School while Pese Alo also of Hallmark School finished in 3rd position with a cash prize of N100, 000.00. Lanre Fajoyomi of Chrisland School, Ikeja came 4th. The tournament was organized by the protégé centre and the scrabble in schools initiative and sponsored by the Winifred Awosika Foundation chaired by Doctor Winifred Awosika.

London Olympics: D’Tigers intensify training in China

By EDDIE AKALONU

N

IGERIA’S senior men’s basketball national team, D’Tigers have intensified training for the London Olympics with build-up games in their on-going tour of China. Last week Saturday, they squared up against Foshan Long Lions Basketball club and won 84-54 at the Jiangmes stadium.

The were again on duty the next day against Fujian Quanzhou Bank at the Zhong

Shan City before facing a double cracker against Shanxi Zhongyu yesterday and today.

According to the NBBF programme, the team will thereafter head to Houston, USA on June 19 with 15 players for more build up games against Team Great Britain and later on June 24 proceed to Brazil for a Super Four tournament where they will face Brazil and others.

The preparations are in readiness for the London

Olympic Games qualifiers billed for July 2 to 8 in Caracas, Venezuela. The team will battle for the ticket in a group that has Lithuania and host, Venezuela.

The D’Tigers have never played in the Olympics but their female counterparts, D’ Tgresses featured in the Athens Games in 2004 without a win. The men’s team have Ayo Bakare as head coach and Dominic Okon, Tim Shea and Sani Ahmed as assistants.

Twenty one players who embarked on the current tour include Olumide Oyedeji, AlFarouk Aminu, Melvin Ejim, Ekene Ibekwe, Ade Dagunduro, Stanley Gumut, Derrick Obasohan, Richard Oruche, Tony Skinn, Usman Abubakar, Mike Ohiero and Noruwa Agho. Others are Michael Eric, Solomon Alabi, Akin Akingbala, Ike Diogu, Ejike Ugboaja, Ike Ofoegbu, Ezenwa Ukeagu, Anagonye Aloysius and Koko Archibong.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2012

Goals made the difference for Eagles •My boys played under pressure — Keshi

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE AGLES sent a mes sage to Nigerians through their game in

E

Calabar yesterday, ”We are still far from a perfect team and we can only get better.”

Against Rwanda in a Nations Cup qualifier they had two goals to tell

their story. And that was it.

With many wrong passes and a somewhat uncoordinated play when in possession the Eagles were still a better side than Rwanda. But technocrats knew they could do better and expected more from them. And their coach Stephen Keshi agreed but explained what happened. ”The boys were under pressure to win and win well and when you are under pressure you make mistakes. But the good thing was the victory and with it confidence will develop and they can only get better.”

Ike Uche scored in the 9th minute and with early goal fans expected to see many goals. But there were misses. But their game appeared to lack precision and some players who impressed in the past lacked rhythm. Ejike Ozoenyi played below par and Ahmed Musa became his colleague in this art.

But Musa’s goal in the 55th minute appeared to have made up for his poor play. Kalu Uche who also lacked grit chested the ball backing the post and superbly laid for Musa whose finish was clinical. But Eagles showed they would still have to work on dead balls. Their corner kicks

Nations Cup: Eagles peck Rwanda Wasps twice •As IGP Abubakar hails team

BY PATRICK OMORODION HE Super Eagles yesterday zoomed into the next stage of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifier, hitting the mouthy Wasps of Rwanda 2-0 at the U.J. Esuene stadium in Calabar on a weekend Egypt lost their sting and got beaten 3-2 at home in Alexandria by visiting Central Africa Republic.

The Stephen Keshi-tutored boys signaled they were in for serious business early in the game when Ikechukwu Uche latched unto a rebound off a corner kick from Ahmed Musa and shot beyond the reach of the Rwanda goalkeeper on the dot of 9 minutes.

Seven minutes after the goal, the Eagles were close to making it two when Rueben Gabriel, who bagged the Man of the Match Award, had a brilliant overhead kick in the box but Rwanda goalkeeper, Jean-Claude Ndoli saved his effort.

The visitors came out strong after conceding the early goal and in an attempt to challenge for every ball became hard on the Eagles and in one of such moments, Steven Godfroid hacked Musa

T

Continues on Page 55

WELL DONE … Super Eagles players mob Ike Uche after he opened scores against the Wasps of Rwanda in Calabar yesterday. Photo by Sylva Eleanya. who had become a thorn on their flesh but he escaped the referee’s caution. His team-mate, Dady Birori was however, not that lucky, bagging a card after hitting Musa again.

On resumption, the Eagles, who have been given some half-time pep talks by Keshi, probed for more goals and as well warded off the onslaughts of the Rwandan players who were becom-

ing more desperate to get on the score sheet.

In one of the moves, Enyimba’s forward, Uche Kalu chested down a high ball on the edge of the box and a lurking Musa fired home a leftfooter that caught goalkeeper Ndoli napping for the second goal on 60th minute.

Keshi not satisfied by the two goals threw in 1

2

Victor Moses and Sone Aluko for Ejike Uzoenyi and Uche Kalu respectively. Moses immediately warmed himself into the game with his typical flank runs but one of his powerful shots hit the Rwanda defence.

Rwanda never gave up as they pushed for a goal with three minutes added time but the Eagles defence would not yield

3

4

5

6

7

RESULTS

8 9

Cameroon 1

Guinea-Bissau

0

Uganda

4

Congo

0

S/Africa Algeria

3 4

Gabon Gambia

0 1

Egypt Malawi

2 2

CAR Chad

3 0

11

10

12 13

14 15

16 17

18 19 20

22

23

24 25

Today’s matches

26

27

28

29 30

Denmark v Germany – 7.45 pm Portugal v Holland – 7.45 pm

21

until the referee blew off the match for celebrations to begin in the stadium and around the country.

Nigeria’s first football loving Inspector General of Police, Mohammed D. Abubakar who watched the game alongside Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke told Supersport he was happy with the victory but added that “the NFF still ACROSS 1. State capital (7) 4.Yoruba thunder god (5) 7. Hand joint (5) 8. Pope’s domain (7) 9. Female sheep (3) 10. Result (5) 11. Rent (5) 13. Songs of praise (6) 14. Vapour (3) 16. Old Delta King (4) 19. Thankfulness (9) 20. Jacob’s brother (4) 22. Wager (3) 23. Accompanied (9) 25.Tubers (4) 26. Immature (5) 28. Busy insect (3) 30. Earn (7) 31. Praise (5) 32. Adorn (5) 33. Exacting (7)

has a lot of job to do.”

“I am happy for the victory and I want to see a new team that would return the country to its glory,” Abubakar said, adding that “the saddest moment for those of us who were in football was when we failed to qualify for the last Nations Cup. I felt really sad as someone who was a member of the NFA,” he said.

DOWN 1. Lance (7) 2. Alcove (5) 3. Possessors (6) 4. Strain (5) 5. Commonsense (4) 6. Possessors (6) 12. Theatrical platform (5) 13. Sow (5) 15. Nigerian state (4) 17. Assistant (4) 18. Poor (5) 21. Unused (7) 22. Above (6) 23. Fishes (6) 24. Tailor’s implement (6) 27. Coax (4) 29. Italian wine (4)

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SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE 5

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