AGATU INVASION: Benue lawmakers slam Buhari

C M Y K

2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016 — 3

C M Y K

4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016 —5

AGATU GENOCIDE: Benue lawmakers slam Buhari •Threaten to defend themselves •We’ve lost over 1000 people •Fulani herdsmen occupying destroyed communities — Rep Okwu

By Emman Ovuakporie and Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

M

EMBERS of the Benue State caucus in the House of Representatives, yesterday, slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for downplaying what they described as genocide against the Agatu people of the state.

Briefing journalists, the 11 members led by Rep Orker Jev, decried the lukewarm attitude of the Federal Government towards the ‘jihad’ being waged against Benue people by Fulani herdsmen.

Jev who read the press statement on behalf of the group insisted that if nothing was done to address the issue Benue people would have no other option than to defend themselves against the herdsmen.

The 11 lawmakers, who urged urgent resolution of the problem and signed the statement were: Orker Jev (Buruku Constituency), Herman Hembe (Konshisha/ Vandeikya), John Dyegh (Gboko/Tarka), Samson Okwu (Oju/Obi), Ezekiel Adaji (Otukpo/Ohimni), Hassan Saleh (Ado/ Ogbadibo/Okpokwu), Adamu Entonu (Apa/Agatu), EmmanuelUdende(KatsinaAla/Logo/Ukum), Dickson Tarkighir (Makurdi/Guma), Wayo Benjamin (Kwande/ Ushongo) and Gbillah Mark T. (Gwer East/Gwer West.)

Specifically, Samson Okwu lamented that after massacring Agatu people including women and children and razing down the eight communities, the alleged perpetrators of the calamity, the Fulani herdsmen, have taken over the areas unchallenged.

Okwu told Saturday Vanguard that the killings that took place in Agatu were nearly the same style used by the Boko Haram in NorthEast and that the Federal Government should set up an intervention fund to rebuild Agatu.

Speaking for the 11-man caucus, Jev said: “A genocide that is typical of the Nigerian state has been downplayed or ignored until it spirals out of control. After the Agatu mass massacre, a few headlines were recorded, a few sympathetic comments in high places but concrete moves to stop the killings have not been made.

FG’s lukewarm attitude “We decry the lukewarm attitude of the Federal Government towards this ‘jihad’ being waged against our people by the herdsmen. We condemn the belated reaction of President Muhammadu Buhari and his Minister of In-

terior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazzau (retd), who broke their unholy silence a week after over 500 people were killed and 10 villages razed in Agatu area of the state.’’

Wondering why the Federal Government has not made public the Investigative Panel report it set up, the legislators lamented, ‘’it’s disturbing that every planting season is heralded by serial attacks by these Fulani herdsmen. They also return during the harvesting season.”

They wondered where the herdsmen get their sophisticated weapons and ammunitions from and why it is taking the government so long to bring to justice those behind the genocide since no herdsman has been arrested.

They warned that they may be faced with no other option than to mobilise their people against the herdsmen in the absence of protection from government.

We’re being pushed to embrace self-defence “If the Federal government fails to end this regime of impunity and senseless killings, we will not hesitate to mobilise our people and defend ourselves in whatever waywecan.Wecannolonger continue to remain sedate while the Fulani herdsmen desecrate our land.

“We want to bring to the notice of Mr. President, the Federal Government and indeed the whole world that not less than eight local government areas including Agatu, Buruku, Guma, Gwer-west, Logo, Kwande, Gwer- East and Katsina- Ala and Otukpo have been under perennial heavy attacks from the Fulani herdsmen since 2013.

“The incessant attacks by these Fulani herdsmen have resulted in the death of thousands of Benue people. Since the beginning of this year, not less than 1000 people have been killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed by these ravaging Fulani herdsmen.

“It is despicable and unacceptable that despite the outcry that trailed the killings and sacking of Agatu communities by the Fulani militia, the marauders have continued unabated laying siege to other local governments and killing more people. The visit of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and his unsympathetic statement that the number of those killed was blown out of proportion expectedly encouraged the herdsmen who have intensified their killing bazaar in the state. Two days ago, they sacked over 25 villages in Logo Local Government Area of the state, killing many. The attackers also renderedcloseto3,000homeless after several houses and

Senate President Bukola Saraki arriving Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) during his trial on false declaration of assets in Abuja yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan huts were razed in the affected villages. ‘’The herdsmen have taken over the affected villages that include Ukemberegya, Bwarer, Mbawar, Gov and Gambe Tiev communities. They are presently occupying Abiam Koya, Iordye, Nyakoo and Mkpikpa. Others are Afom, Uzaagir, Ugbende Mue, Dam, Shaausu, Ukume, Chenbe, Anwen, Sebungen Ubosha,Chia,Asemngoroko and Inderkar.

“Two days ago, they attacked some communities of Mbaya, Mbaapen and Binev in Buruku Local Government and killed seven people, destroyed farmlands andmanyhomes.InKwande Local Government, they have attacked seven Council Wards including Moon, Yaar, Mbadura, Mbakyior, Live I, Live II and Mener.

“The most affected Council Ward is Moon, where the entire community has been sackedanditsinhabitantsare now refugees in Jato-Aka and Adikpo. More than 150 people have been killed and about 300 homes destroyed.

These herdsmen do not spare anyone.

“The Benue state Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, himself has lost over 50 hectares of paddy farm to the attackers since coming into office.

A few days ago, some policemen were also reportedly hacked to death in the state by these marauders. This is in spite of the fact that Governor Ortom, on taking over last year, had gone to great length to negotiate peace moves with the herdsmen.

Apparently, the more the herdsmen are appeased, the more flagrant and audacious they carry on with their activities.

“There is a grave danger ahead because if the Federal Government continues to shy away from taking pragmatic actions to end this car-

nage and genocide against our people; if the Federal Government fails to end this regime of impunity and senseless killings, we will not hesitate to mobilise our people and defend ourselves in whatever way we can. ‘’Wecannolongercontinue to remain docile and sedate, while the Fulani herdsmen desecrate our land, kill our men, women and children; rape our women, destroy our farms and raze our houses.

“We urge the security agencies to stop the attacks, killings and wanton destruction of property by the Fulani militia. They should arrest, disarm, prosecute and jail the foot soldiers and their sponsors. We also call on the Nigerian Immigration Service

to be alive to its responsibilities in identifying and expelling foreign nationals who constitute security risks to the country”.

Need for joint security patrol On his part, Okwu described the killings that had made eight Agatu communities to seek refuge in neighbouring communities of Apa and Otukpo as planned and coordinated, lamenting that after killing the people, the herdsmen have taken over the areas roaming about with their cows.

The lawmaker who was in company of former Senate President, David Mark, to

inspect the level of destruction in the eight communities, said: “What happened in Agatu require more than sending relief materials...

The Federal Government should send patrol teams to the communities in order to allow the displaced people to return to their houses. A joint patrol team comprising the police, the army and the Air Force ought to be on the roads there, then it will give confidence to the people living there and take away the Fulani herdsmen. The Fulani herdsmen had after destroying the houses, razed everything down. They are now going out to destroy farm produce knowing full well that the Agatu people are predominantly farmers.”

Alleged false declaration of assets: Discharge me as you discharged Tinubu, Saraki begs CCT •Insists tribunal lacks jurisdiction to try him •You must face trial, FG replies

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

T

HE embattled Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday, adduced reasons the 13-count criminal charge the Federal Government preferred against him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, in Abuja, should be quashed.

Saraki, who was alleged to have falsified the assets he declared while in office as the Governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011, insisted that the allegations levelled against him were not different from the ones that were also slammed against the erstwhile governor of Lagos state and national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Ahmed

Bola Tinubu.

In a motion he argued through his lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, Saraki, urged the Justice Danladi Umar-led CCT panel to go ahead and discharge him the same way it did for Tinubu.

He noted that Tinubu was freed on the premise that FG failed to fulfil necessary condition precedents capable of conferring jurisdiction on the tribunal to hear the substantive charge against the defendant.

Saraki said the same conditions have not also been met in the instant charge the government entered against him.

Specifically, he observed that the tribunal had in the case against Tinubu, stressed that the Code of

Conduct Bureau, CCB, which recommended the prosecution, ought to have invited the defendant to clarify discrepancies in the assets he declared, before the charge was initiated.

Agabi said his client was never invited by the CCB to admit or deny the alleged irregularities that were discovered in four assets declaration forms he submitted to it.

“My lord he has not been invited up till now. That was the same reason you gave for allowing Tinubu to go home, on the ground that ten other governors were invited by the CCB to make clarifications on discrepancies in the assets they declared.

Continues on page 7

6 —SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

Rivers re-run: Fear of violence spreads •Gridlock as people desert Port Harcourt •DSS operative feared dead during crossfire with hoodlums

•Wike tasks INEC, security agencies on rule of law •Don’t be intimidated, Peterside tells voters •No electoral material missing - PDP, APC agents

By JIMITOTA ONOYUME & DAVIES IHEAMNACHOR

I

N SPITE of the huge presence of security men for today’s rerun for some National and state Assembly seats in Rivers State, there is thick fear of violence in the state.

And the fear that is hinged on the incessant violence and killings that have totally ruptured the peace enjoyed in the state prior to the 2015 general elections, may affect voters’ turnout today.

The killings, allegedly instigated by some political gladiators, who want power by all means, had worsened after the Appeal Court annulled the election of the legislative seats that would be recontested today.

Less than 24 hours to the scheduled polls, anxiety has enveloped the state leading some residents to leave Rivers for neighbouring states.

Some junctions in the state, yesterday, wit-

nessed heavy gridlock as people were leaving Port Harcourt in droves.

The palpable fear deepened based on an interim injunction secured by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from a State High Court, Wednesday, barring the Nigerian Army from participating in the rerun elections.

Based on suit PHC/601/ 2016, filed by the PDP, Justice G O Omereji, ordered: “That an Order of Interim Injunction be and is hereby made restraining the 1st (Hon. Chibuike Amaechi) 5th ( INEC) and 6th ( REC) respondents from the use and deployment of the 2nd (Chief of Defence Staff) 3rd (Chief of Army Staff) and 4th (Brig-Gen. Steve Olabanji) respondents whether by themselves, their agents, servants, operatives or privies to conduct, monitor and supervise the state and National Assembly rerun.”

The knowledge that the military may not be part

of the elections today worsened the situation of voters.

Some residents told Saturday Vanguard that they would not take part in today’s elections because of the fear that armed men may invade some polling units to unleash mayhem.

One DSS operative feared dead

There was serious crossfire, yesterday, between security operatives deployed to Rivers State ahead of the today’s legislative rerun elections and unidentified gunmen, and an operative alleged to be attached to Department for Security Service was feared killed.

This is coming barely 24 hours after a major in the Army and two other soldiers were killed in a creek around Akuku-Toru LGA. It was gathered that some masked gunmen had yesterday, evening, around Egi clan in the volatile Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state engaged the security personnel posted to the area

*Electoral materials for the Rivers State re-run election being arranged for onward distribution at the INEC headquarters in Port Harcourt yesterday.

in a gun duel.

It was learnt that during the heavy shootout that the security operative was gunned down.

At the moment, tension has heightened in the area as some communities are already becoming lifeless at the time of this report.

Confirming the development, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Capt. Eli Lazarus stated that hoodlums engaged the joint security team in a gunbattle.

Voters from the Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni, Gokana, Khana, Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru, Ikwerre, Abua/ Odua and Emohua local councils that were recently affected by killings or military invasions expressed deep fears.

A resident of Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, Mr. Osere Rafter said: “I don’t want to vote in the election. We will not participate in the election because of the insecurity in ONELGA. We want to be apolitical because we don’t want to die.

“My wife was supposed to work as an SPO in the election but I asked her to turn it down. There is nothing special about it.

What heightened the fear in the area before the people took the decision that they will not vote was the murder of Ward 4 APC chairman in ONELGA, Franklin Obi. He was beheaded and his wife and son were also killed.

“We know Obi very well as a gentle man who does not have problem with anybody. If they will kill him then they may just come to any polling unit and open fire.

“Although, Thursday night, some troops of soldiers, police and civil defence came into Omoku town and were patrolling that will not be enough to bring voters out. Me, I will not even come outside,” he stressed.

Don’t be intimidated, Peterside tells voters

However, Dr Dakuku Peterside, Director-General, Nigeria Maritime Ad-

ministration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, urged electorate to ensure that they exercise their franchise in today’s re-run polls in the state. He also urged the people not to be intimidated by any individual or group from voting in the elections.

Peterside told newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday, that the era of intimidating the people to manipulate the electoral system was gone.

“The Federal Government has assured of adequate security during the re-run elections on Saturday (today). Nobody should feel intimidated and I urge the people to go out and vote for their candidates. There is nothing to fear because security agencies are there to protect you,” he said. Peterside, who was the governorship candidate of All Progressives Candidate (APC) in the 2015 general elections, said that people were still scared of the experience of the election. “ Our people were intimidated and scared to come out to vote last year; that fear is still there, but we urge them that there is nothing to fear. That era is gone; government has provided security for the election,” he said.

He said that every voter had the right to cast his ballot without being intimidated. Peterside also described as barbaric, the killing of two soldiers by sea pirates along Abonnema creek on Thursday.

He said that the incident was condemnable because the soldiers were carrying out their legitimate duties.

Be law-abiding, Wike tasks INEC, security agencies

This is as Governor Nyesom Wike urged the INEC and security agencies to work within the law in the conduct of the polls.

Receiving the ConsulGeneral of the U.S., Mr John Bray, in Port Harcourt, Wike said that the people of the state were committed to peaceful

and credible polls and that INEC and security agencies should work within the law. The governor also said that the call became necessary to avoid acts capable of provoking violence. Wike commended the government and people of the U.S. for showing interest in the election. He also urged observers to go round the state to effectively monitor the election.

The governor condemned the death of soldiers during an encounter with sea pirates, saying that the incident had nothing to do with the election.

Speaking earlier, the Consul-General said that the team was in the state as part of the international observers to ensure peaceful and credible rerun elections.

We’re short of observers - Group

Meanwhile, some international observers have expressed worries over the number of observers accredited to monitor the rerun elections in the state.

Director West Africa Network, Prince Herbert, who spoke for the observers, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, said only 12 of them were accredited to cover the elections, adding that this was unusual. Besides, Herbert said observers don’t have life jackets to travel through the rivers to observe the elections. Continuing, he said they observed that sensitive and non sensitive materials had been moved from the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on Aba Road to the various local government areas, adding that the commission had also resolved matters of missing result sheets.

While appealing to voters to turn out en masse to cast their votes, the observers enjoined security operatives to discharge their duties professionally.

“As observers we observed that there are only 12 groups including American Embassy in Continues on Page 7

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016 — 7

BRIEFS

Ibori returns home in July —Ayiri *Explains why he launched campaign against pipeline vandalism

By Egufe Yafugborhi

C

HIEF Ayiri Emami, investor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said his benefactor and former Delta state governor, Chief James Ibori who is serving jail term in the United Kingdom, UK, would return home to Nigeria not later than July this year.

Chief Emami, confidant of Chief Ibori, disclosed this on Friday in Warri where he hinted on his planned project to mobilise stakeholders and resources on a campaign to bring lasting solution to the menace of vandalisation of oil facilities which he said was causing huge damage to the nation’s economy. He said, “There have been speculations as to when Ibori would return, but I can confidently tell you that

by June or at most July, he would return home to Nigeria and we all need him, especially in Delta to sanitize things again.

“If he were here, a lot of things would not have happened. Ibori was one of those who predicted that Goodluck Jonathan and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, would not win the 2015 Presidential election. It was fear of the unknown that

C M Y K

made his brother, former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to remain in PDP. I listened to Ibori, I had to leave” On content of his campaign to end pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, Ayiri said, “Far from applying of force of arms to shut out the vandals.

The whole idea is to ensure that the oil and gas being taken from the region make

meaning in the lives of the host communities. We’ll not achieve this if the vandalisation continues.

“The gas Nigeria produces supplies electricity to several parts of the country, but the communities from where it is being extracted don’t have the electricity to use. The crude oil from the land is refined into fuel but there are no fuel distribution

outlets to serve riverine communities so they perpetually buy from the black markets.

“People are shouting now about fuel scarcity because of recent irregularity in importation, but year in year out, coastal communities in Niger Delta never get fuel at the normal pump price.

My campaign to unfold soon is to ensure adequate provision of infrastructure and opportunities in the oil producing environment so that vandalism will stop”, Ayiri added.

‘Discharge me as you discharged Tinubu’ Continued from page 5

“But till now, the defendant here, who is the Senate President of this country has not been invited. It is our position that the law is not discriminatory”, Agabi submitted.

More so, Agabi queried the powers of the Attorney General of the Federation to institute the charge, a responsibility he said was legally vested on the CCB to the exclusion of any other anti-graft agency in the country.

He said the laws establishing the Bureau stipulated that any one perceived to have falsely declared his assets, must be summoned to give explanations.

“The defendant was never afforded such opportunity, not even a chance to kneel

down and apologise”, Agabi stated, insisting that the charge was not only politically motivated, but also brought in bad faith.

He said failure by the CCB to summon his client to give explanations was not only fatal to the charge but indicated a presumption of regularity in favour of the defendant.

Maintaining that his client was denied fair hearing, Agabi contended that Saraki’s fresh application was totally different from what was earlier decided by the Supreme Court.

Agabi urged the tribunal to quash the charge against his client and discharge him accordingly.

Saraki who stormed the tribunal yesterday with 80 lawyers, was accompanied by

more than 60 Senators, including the Senate leader, Ali Ndume, Andy Ubah and former governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji.

Meantime, FG, yesterday, opposed Saraki’s application which it said constituted a gross abuse of the judicial process.

Government lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, urged the tribunal to dismiss the application which he said was only aimed at scuttling the trial of the defendant.

Jacobs relied on sections 220, 221 and 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, and argued that the law provided that such objections must be considered along with the substantive case and ruling delivered at the end of the trial.

Mile 12 Market: We don’t want to relocate from Lagos, women leader pleads •As normal business activities resume

T

RADERS at the popular Mile 12 have expressed dissatisfaction on the plan to relocate the market to another area in the state just as they lamented the attendant economic hardship the closure had brought upon them and the customers over the last few days.

Meanwhile, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state Thursday announced the re-opening of the market after the stakeholders’ meeting comprising of market men/women, traditional leaders in the community, residents and Community Development Associations, CDAs.” In the wake of the crisis, Ambode announced plans to relocate the market permanently to a site yet to be determined. The announcement shocked the leadership of the market which made frantic efforts, and intense lobbying for the governor to have a rethink.

Rivers re-run: Fear of violence spreads Continued from page 5

stead of 20. There are shortage of observers. There are 44 observers group for FCT election group. INEC accredited only 12 for Rivers. INEC should always consider observers in their arrangement. They should consider security of observers, we have no access to life jacket to access riverine communities,” he said.

No electoral material missing – INEC, PDP, APC agents

As the electoral materials were moved to the local councils, Party Agents for the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, have confirmed that no electoral material was missing. There were rumours yesterday morning that result sheets meant for some LGAs were missing.

This rumour which suggested that the material which included original result sheets caused uneasy calm at the state office of the INEC. However, the party agents told Saturday Vanguard that all the materials, sensitive and non-sensitive were intact, stressing that all were set for the election. Sir. Elenchukwu Obowu, the State PDP representative, said: “Our business here is to ensure that all the material, both sensitive and non-sensitive, get to their various LGAs.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

B-R-I-E-F-S

Alleged N5.6bn fraud: S-Court orders EFCC to prosecute ex-Gov Kalu

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri HE Supreme Court, on Friday, gave the T Economic and Financial

Crimes Commission, EFCC, the nod to prosecute the formerGovernorofAbiaState, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu on a 107count corruption charges.

The charges border on the alleged complicity of the erstwhile governor in money laundering and illegal diversion of public funds to the tune of N5.6billion.

Kalu was alleged to have perpetuated the fraud while he piloted the affairs of Abia Statebetween1999and2007.

Though the anti-graft agencydockedhimbeforethe Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on July 27, 2007, however, for the past eight years, the defendant, through various interlocutory applications,frustratedmoves by the prosecution to open its case against him.

The defendant firstly challenged the competence of the charge against him, as well as the jurisdiction of the High Court to hear and determine the case.

Meanwhile, following refusal by the trial court to quash the charge, Kalu, took the case before the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment, upheldthecompetenceofthe charge, adding that the high court was constitutionally empowered to exercise jurisdiction on the trial.

Dissatisfied with the verdict, Kalu approached the Supreme Court, begging it to set-aside the concurrent findings of the two lower courts.

The former governor, throughhislawyerChiefAwa Kalu, SAN, pleaded a fiveman panel of Justices of the apex court, headed by the ChiefJusticeofNigeria,CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, to quash the criminal charge against him.

He contended that the EFCC failed to establish a prima-facie nexus linking him to the ingredients of the offence contained in the charge.

It was his contention that the proof of evidence the antigraftagencyadducedagainst him did not nail him to the commission of any crime.

Reacting to the judgment, the former Governor of Abia State said that the decision of the Supreme Court directing his trial by the EFCC for alleged N2.4b fraud as governor was a welcome development, pointing out that there was nothing unusual about the order.

Dr. Kalu expressed his readiness to face his trial and prove his innocence on the

C M Y K

107-countcorruptioncharges brought against him by the Commission.

Dr. Kalu, who made this known from London where he was delivering a convocation lecture, declared that he was ready and highly disposed to the trial. “This is another opportunity to prove my innocence. I have all the records and facts of the case.

I am willing to submit myself for the rule of law to take its course. That has always been my passionate advocacy right from the lower courts where the case emanated.

According to a release signed by his media adviser, Mr. Ebere Wabara, “this clarification has become imperative lest oppositional forces mischievously misinterpret the ruling and

•I am ready for trial, says Kalu mislead the public by injecting their jaundiced opinions into the routine directive as had always been with similar cases where the apex court intervened. There is nothing novel about the latest manifestation in the ongoing litigation — it was the next thing to expect.”

Nevertheless, the apex court, in a unanimous judgment on Friday, dismissed the appeal, even as it ordered the appellant to go and face his trial before the high court. While upholding the Court of Appeal verdict, Justice Suleiman Galadima who delivered the lead verdict, said the apex court was satisfied that the former governor has a case to answer pertaining to allegations that were levelled against him by the EFCC.

Besides, the apex court ordered the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to reassign the case to another Judge to enable the trial to commence de-novo (afresh).

Theapexcourtalsoordered accelerated hearing of the matter.

Trial Justice Binta Murtala Nyako had on July 27, 2007, granted Kalu bail in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in like sum.

The court directed that the two sureties must be tax payers with evidence of regular payment for three consecutive years.

The court equally seized the travelling documents of the defendant, warning that he must always apply for leave to travel out of the country.

Court remands Ikorodu kidnap suspects in prison custody

By Onozure Dania

M

AGISTRATE Mrs I. O. Adelaja of an EbuteMetta Chief Magistrate’s Court, sitting at Oyingbo, yesterday remanded the six suspects who allegedly kidnapped three pupils of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in prison.

The six kidnappers that were remanded are: Emmanuel Arigidi, 37: Gift Pius, 30: Omoni Rufus Fred, 32: Owei Omobo Geofrey, 38: Akanji Seun, 38: and James Henry Segun, 29.

Magistrate Adeleja ordered their remand, following a remand application filed and argued by the lawyer to the Police, Mr. Godwin Osuyi.

Osuyi, while arguing the remand application said the application was brought in pursuant to section 264(1) and (2), of the administration of Criminal Justice of Lagos State, 2011.

He further informed the Court that the remand application was to enable the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP, to issue an advice on the matter.

He therefore urged the court to remand the suspects for the first 30 days, pending when the advice will be issued by the DPP. However, the six suspects who were represented

by Mr. Ola Ogunbiyi did not oppose the application.

RCCG Region 20 showcases talents

A

The Order of Farewell Mass for Late Mr Patrick Bosun Akerele took place at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos yesterday. From left Miss Fayokemi Akerele,Daughter, Mr Abiola Akerele,Son. Mr Tokunbo Ogunbiyi,Son-In-Law and Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi, Daughter during the service Px Biodun Ogunleye

WIDE range of talents were showcased at the celebration of Region 20 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)’s First Regional Redeemer’s Day at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere Lagos on Saturday, March 13, 2016.

The event which was the grand finale of the three-day programme featured march past by schools, calisthenic displays, invitation relays, inter-school relays, soccer match finals and other sporting activities. 13 schools participated in the events where Redeemer’s International School, Apapa Road emerged the best overall winner. It received the highest number of medals at the event. The theme of the Programme was “God: Strength for All Times.”

Region 20, led by Pastor Idowu Iluyomade as Pastor-in Charge and his wife, Siju, is made of 10 provinces. The provincial pastors and their wives were on hand to cheer the children as they marched and competed in the sporting activities.

The celebration was attended by several dignitaries including Her Excellency, Hon. Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Deputy Governor of Lagos State as the Special Guest of Honour, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr Micheal Ola Dawodu; distinguished members of the RCCG City of David; and The Arise Foundation dignitaries.

Medical services were provided by The Arise Mobile Clinic team for over 400 people at the event. The Arise Foundation is a women ministry, an initiative of Pastor Mrs. Siju Iluyomade, wife of the RCCG Pastor in Charge of Region 20.

Akala thanks God for losing Oyo guber

By Omeiza Ajayi

A

Also at the farewell Mass for Late Mr Patrick Bosun Akerele at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos yesterday. From left Mr Mac Ovbiagele, Dr. Lai Ogunbiyi, Chief Mrs Folasade Ogunbiyi and Bar Yemi Adefulu during the service.

Ecobank pledges support for improved healthcare delivery in Nigeria

T

HE Ecobank Plc says it would continue to promote activities that would improve productivity and servicedeliveryinthenation’s health sector.

The bank said that one way of tackling the growing medical tourism among Nigerianswasintheprovision of facilities that could not only

providecomfortforthemedical staff but also impact on their jobs.

DeputyManagingDirector of the bank, Mr Tony Okpanachi stated this in Enugu during the handing overofabuildingcomplexbuilt by the bank for the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State.

According to him, time has come for Nigerians to look inwards and tackle their immediateproblems.

He said that the building complex, tagged, “UNTH ConsultantDoctors’ CommonRoom”waspartof theeffortsofthebanktosupport the health sector and improve efficiency.

“As a bank we have a policy of corporate social responsibility. We have observedthechallengesofthe health sector, especially here

attheUNTH.Herethereisthe need to support the Consultantswhoarerendering services and providing healthcare inspite of the challengingtimes.Wesawthat when they moved from their temporary site to this permanentsite,therewasno facilitytosupporttheirworkor make their stay in-between workcomfortable.Wefeltthere wasagapandtherewasneed to provide facility for them so that they can come in and in betweenwork,restandattend to their patients. We feel it can improveproductivity”,hesaid.

He stated that the bank decided to support the hospital, following the numerous cases it was handling, stressing that “a tertiary hospital of this nature should not lack in anything man can provide as it is the only way we can promote efficiencyinservice.”

FORMER governor of Oyo state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Friday in Abuja said he is now very happy for losing out in the last gubernatorial election in the state.

According to him, the present state of the economy is such that continues to give managers sleepless nights, saying he would have lost sleep if he were to be a governor now.

Akala who contested the last governorship election in Oyo state on the platform of Labour Party later defected to the ruling APC. Speaking to journalists shortly after conferring with party executives at the national Secretariat of APC, Mr Akala said he pitied present-day state governors.

Delta ex-commissioner buries sister

By Oghene Omonisa

T

HE remains of a community leader, Mrs. Gladys Nkadi Umekwe (Nee Izagbo), sister to the former Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Delta State, Dr. Austin Izagbo, has been laid to rest at her husband’s residence, Nnono-oboro Umuahia, Abia State.

Delivering a sermon at the funeral mass held in her honour, the Catholic Priest, Rev. Livinus Akangba admonished Christians to be faithful and remain steadfast in their service to God and mankind.

Rev. Fr. Akangba who described death as inevitable, stressed the need for everyone to be prepared as no one knew when, where and time it would come.

The clergy remarked that the late Ezinne Gladys Umekwe until her death was a virtuous woman.

He commended the children and one of the brothers to the deceased and ex-commissioner Dr. Austin Izagbo, for leading the children to accord their mother and sister to the burial rites.

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016 — 9

BRIEFS

sacks SGI Ocholi’s son vows to continue his legacy as Okorocha

By Chidi Nkwopara, OWERRI. Osinbajo, others bid farewell to late minister MO State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has an IGovernment nounced the immediate sacking of the Secretary to the HE Vice President of of Imo State, SGI, Sir Jude Ejiogu.

T Nigeria, Prof Yemi The Governor’s directive, which did not come as a shock Osinbajo; Governors of Kogi State and Benue State, Yahaya Bello and Sam Ortom respectively; Minister for Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige where amongst dignitaries who attended the funeral of the late Minister for Labour and Employment, Barr. James Ocholi (SAN) Ocholi was committed to mother earth at about 2:30 pm at his country home in Abocho, Dekina Local Government area of Kogi state amidst tears from family members, village people, political associates, and other sympathisers present.

Speaking at the Church service conducted at the Local Government primary School open field, Abocho, the Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo described Ocholi’s death as heartrending; coupled with the passage of his wife, Blessing and son, Joshua in the same fatal accident.

He however eulogised the late minister for his uprightness in dealing with issues. “In the late James Ocholi, Nigeria has lost a true patriot. He was one who we all respected, not just for his personal integrity but also for his humility. His contribution to bringing about what today is the Federal Government of Nigeria was truly significant and so was his zeal for service as a minister these few months.

“He was someone I held in very high esteem. Personally, I have lost not just a friend but also a brother a brother in the faith and a Minister of God, a brother in the public service. I know that his legacy, his life speaks for itself and we are all enriched and ennobled by the fact that we met him, shared our common hopes for our nation with him and served with him”.

The state Governor, Yahaya Bello on his own described late Ocholi as a brother and friend. He eulogised him for his greatness and quest for the unity of the state which he said was always paramount.

He said: “My dear people, without doubt, this is one harvest of death to many for Kogi State. We have again lost an illustrious son, a loving wife, and another youthful prospect in the most horrible circumstance possible. Today, after barely any respite from a similar sorrow in the recent past, Kogi State mourns again, greatly.

“James was a brother, a true Christian too. Though we battled for our party’s ticket, and passions often ran wild, it was without bitterness. When James was made a Minister while

to careful political observers in the state, was repeatedly broadcast yesterday, on the radio and television channels of Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC. According to the terse radio and television announcements, which was signed by the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Paschal Obi, the sacking was “with immediate effect”.

Okorocha thanked Sir Ejiogu for his previous services to the state and wished him well in his future endeavours. Meanwhile, mixed reactions have started trailing the sacking of the SGI, even some chieftains of All Progressives Congress, APC, who spoke yesterday, on strict grounds of anonymity, expressed shock at the sacking of Ejiogu. While some people described Ejiogu as “very loyal to a fault”, others were however of the view that “the man should have honourably quit the office when the ovation was highest”.

Another APC chieftain reasoned that “since Sir Ejiogu came into the corridors of power on the ticket of the former deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso that was similarly sacked by Okorocha in questionable circumstances, he should have known that he was next in line to go”. As at the time of going to press, no government official was prepared to speak on the issue.

Nigeria’s merchandise trade volume declines by 9.2 per cent

By Emmanuel Elebeke

Ocholi’s children at the burial in Abocho, Kogi yesterday. some of us were still in the trenches, he remained gracious. When I emerged Governor, he immediately gave me the highest cooperation.

“One thing was of paramount importance to James Ocholi - the greatness and

Unity of Kogi State”.

One of the sons of the late minister, Aaron (first born) said though the exit of his parents and brother, Joshua was painful, he will carry on their struggle in the manner his late father did. In his sermon, Rev.

John Ibenu described death as the end of every mortal. He urged the family, political class and friends not to mourn but to imbibe the selfless and exemplary lifestyle of the late minister.

We’re with you, Saraki tells Ocholi’s children, family

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

S

ENATE President Bukola Saraki has assured the immediate family of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Chief James Ocholi, his wife and eldest son of his full support.

Senator Saraki who noted that the uprightness and good works of the late minister will continue to speak in favour of the family in particular and the government and people of Kogi State in general, however urged the family not to see the burial as the end of the road “seeing that the late Ocholi had sufficiently immortalized himself through his courageous and exemplary life style during his brief sojourn on this earthly plane.”

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja said that he was yet to recover from the shock resulting from the loss of such a great Nigerian and one of the leaders of the North Central, adding, “Ocholi’s life, though brief, was dedicated to the service of God and humanity. This single realization ought to cheer us

rather than make us shed tears over his sudden transition to the great beyond.

“Yes, it is difficult not to give way to emotions in circumstances of this nature, but his godly qualities give us hope - a hope that should mitigate our anguish. It is

painful that he left us when his services were most needed, but we are comforted that he had proved his mettle as a legal luminary and politician to the satisfaction of all,” Saraki stated.

Activist warns youths against pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering

By Daniel Gumm

P

ROMINENT Niger Del ta activist and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Ayirimi Emami has admonished youths, especially those from the South- South geopolitical zone to join the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in the fight against pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, sea piracy and illegal bunkering, saying the activities of the vandals are sabotaging the socio-economic growth of the country.

Chief Emami gave the advice, yesterday at his private residence in Warri, Delta State during a chat with newsmen to formally flag off his new campaign targeted at mobilising youths against

vandalism of crude oil and gas pipelines, sea piracy and destruction of electricity lines.

While noting that his struggle in the past for people of Niger Delta to get their fair share in the allocation or sale of Oil Mining Leases, OMLs was frustrated as a result of corruption, political patronage and sharp practices by past administration, he explained that the recent blasts of Escravos Gas and Crude oil pipelines in Warri South-West Local Government Area, as well as Forcados Terminal in Burutu Local Government Area, both in Delta State has made the movement of refined products from Warri to Benin, Ore and other parts of the country very difficult, thus draining the nation’s economy of its scarce resources.

T

HE total value of Nigeria’s merchandise trade during the fourth quarter of 2015 stood at N3, 653.1 billion.

The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its quarter four 2015 merchandise trade report, released on Friday indicates that the figure represents 9.2 per cent, lower than the value of N4, 021.4 billion recorded in the preceding quarter.

The report showed that the total trade volume recorded in Nigeria for the 2015 calendar year, stood at N16, 426.8 billion, which amounted to N7,251.6 billion (30.6%) less than the total trade value recorded for 2014.

According to the report, this development was largely due to sharp decline in the value of exports; from N16, 304.0 billion in 2014 to N9, 728.8 billion in 2015, a decline of 40.3 per cent.

Don’t panic, Army tells Ogun people over detonation of expired bombs, others

By Daud Olatunji, ABEOKUTA

T

HE Nigerian Army has called for calm in Abeoku ta, Ogun State capital, as it began detonation of expired bombs and other explosives as well as demolition of unserviceable ammunition in the state capital.

The Army said the detonation of some expired and unserviceable ammunition and explosives was to reduce the risk associated with their continous storage.

The People of Abeokuta have become jittery following the strange noise that occurred every day with lightening.

But, the Army in its statement, signed by the new Army Public Relations Officer of 35, Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta , Major Rilwan Ishida, yesterday, said the exercise would last for six months.

MAN’s erring contractors to face EFCC

By Tom Moses

T

HE House of Representatives Committee on Maritime, Safety, Education and Administration has bemoaned the spate of contracts abandonment at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria-MAN, Oron, Akwa-Ibom State insisting that such defaulting contractors must appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The House Committee led by its Chairman, Mohammed Bago which was on a visit to the Academy to sympathise with the institution over the demise of its former Rector, Mr. Joshua Okpo yesterday said the MAN’s contractors would be summoned to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where their contracts would be revoked and the funds paid them recovered.

10—SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

AGATU INVASION:

Victims accuse Buhari’s govt of insensitivity •Say military posted to Agatu not permitted to stop Fulani herdsmen •Killings continue as more herdsmen move in with their cattle •Defence Headquarters reacts

BY PETER DURU, MAKURDI

*“As I speak with you the soldiers and Police are there in Agatu, the number of the herdsmen and their cattle are increasing by the day and they are not being chased away by the security personnel who just sit there and watch while the invaders continue to increase in number in order to take over Agatu for good.” * “ It is only the soldiers who can chase the Fulani herdsmen away from our villages, because they have

completely taken over Agatu, and from what we heard, government has not directed the soldiers to do that, it then means that the government wants the Fulanis to occupy our land

T

his is certainly not the best of times for farmers of Benue state, no thanks to

a regime of Fulani herdsmen who in the last few weeks have launched premeditated attacks on various communities of the state.

These attacks have left huge tolls on the affected communities where so many lives have been lost and property worth several

billions of Naira lost to the somewhat bloody exploits aimed at forcefully occupying the affected communities for the purpose of grazing cattle.

From Agatu to Gwer West, Logo to Buruku down to Guma and Makurdi, it’s been tale of grief and anguish occasioned by the incursion of suspected Fulani militia who have unleashed havoc on the farming populace of Benue state.

•President Recently, residents of Buhari virtually all the villages in Agatu local government area of the state came under severe attacks from the herders who took over Okokolo, Akwu, Ocholonya, Adagbo, Ugboku, Odugbeho and Aila in a military fashion and chased out the locals from their ancestral homes.

The siege by the Fulani militia left

no fewer than 300 persons killed within the interval of one week just as all structures and economic trees in the “captured territories” were also razed.

The development also created a huge refugee situation in the area with over 10,000 persons fleeing their ancestral homes for makeshift refuge camps located in neigbouring Apa local government area.

After conquering Agatu, the militia moved quickly to establish its presence and dominance by moving into the area close to ten thousand cattle, to graze freely on the people’s farms.

While the large expanse of Agatu farmland was converted to a ranch, the invaders also laid siege on parts of Logo local government area where not less than 25 villages were sacked.

The attackers also rendered close to

Continues on page 11

SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016—11

Military posted to Agatu not permitted to stop Fulani herdsmen

Continues from page 10 3,000 homeless after several houses and huts were completely razed in the affected villages.

Saturday Vanguard learned that the invaders took also over the villages in an incursion that was started last Saturday at Ukemberegya, Bwarer, Mbawar, Gov and Gambe Tiev communities.

A victim of the attack Mrs. Terungwa Torhemba who spoke through an interpreter said, the armed herdsmen had completely occupied, Abiam Koya, Iordye, Nyakoo and Mkpikpa.

Others include, Afom, Uzaagir, Ugbende Mue, Dam, Shaausu, Ukme, Chenbe, Anwen, Sebungen Ubosha, Chia, Asemngoroko and Inderkar.

According to Torhemba, “our people have been killed, so many cannot be located at the moment, we have also lost all of our belongings, farm produce and farmland to the well armed herdsmen who have completely taken over our villages.

“At the moment we have no source of livelihood because they have also converted our farm land as grazing settlements for their cattle.”

The Local Government Caretaker Chairman of the Council, Simon Ugba who confirmed that two persons were killed in the attack said his administration was overwhelmed by the number of displaced persons who were fleeing from the crisis.

Ugba who asserted that no designated camp had been created for the displaced persons said the council was working in close collaboration with the state government to provide succour to the displaced persons and sued for assistance from public spirited individuals and organizations.

Reacting to the spate of attacks on Agatu particularly, the member representing Agatu state constituency at the Benue State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sule Audu described it as unwarranted and unprovoked.

Sule who berated the President Muhammadu Buhari led government for doing little to stem the killings in Agatu lamented that his people had been left at the mercy of Fulani militia to annihilate the Agatu race. He claimed that both Nigerians and non Nigerians constituted the militia.

“What I know is that the Fulanis attacking Agatu are not the normal Fulani that we know in our communities. These are hired Fulanis who come in from outside the country and from the North east.

“On the action taken so far by the federal government, I will say I’m totally disappointed with what we are seeing. The invaders and their cows have taken over our villages that they captured. The security personnel that were sent their are not asking them to leave our communities.

“We expected that the military and Police who were posted there were expected to chase these people away from our communities and farmland so that our people can return home but they are not doing it. We are saddened that the federal government has not directed the security personnel to send them out or evacuate these people from our ancestral homes.

“As I speak with you today over 100,000 cattle

More herdsmen move in with their cattle have taken over Agatu land and they are grazing freely on our farmland, while the well armed herdsmen lay in wait for anyone to come close.

“If the federal government and indeed the state government desire that this crisis be brought to an end, they should order an evacuation of all the cows and herdsmen who have taken over Agatu.

“As I speak with you the soldiers and Police are there in Agatu, the number of the herdsmen and their cattle are increasing by the day and they are not being chased away by the security personnel who just sit there and watch while the invaders continue to increase in number in order to take over Agatu for good.

“I am disappointed in the actions of federal and state government because Agatu is still being occupied and despite all the talks nothing concrete has been done to move them away, because if that is not done, the displaced persons cannot return to their homes.

“So as the representative of the people I’m pleading with the federal government to do the needful by authorizing the security agencies to chase the marauders and their cattle away from Agatu land.

The lawmaker lamented further that several lives were being lost in the displaced persons camps especially in Ogbalu, Ogbagaji and Oshigbudu were hundreds of person had taken refuge but could not access food and medicare due to the terrain of the communities.

Reacting also, the Opiatoha K’Idoma, a pan socio-cultural organisation of Idoma sons and

daughters, through it’s general secretary, Adoka Adaji, expressed disappointment at the manner the government was treating the killings in Agatu.

In a statement issued in Makurdi by the organisation, the killings in Agatu could only be compared to the activities of the insurgents in the North East.

Part of the statement read, “what we see happening in Agatu today can be likened to the happenings in the North East and we call for an urgent action by the federal government.

“The people of Idoma nation are helpless in the attack on Agatu by suspected Fulani herdsmen with over 300 Agatu people killed and others maimed in one week without concerted effort by the government to abate the attacks, killings and destruction of property.

“We call for a decisive action to be taken without further delay to remove the invaders away from Agatu so that the inhabitants can return to their ancestral home, unless this is done nothing would be seen to have been done to restore peace in the area.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Coordinator of the Stop Agatu Killings Movement, SAKM, James Oche who told Saturday Vanguard that Fulanis had suddenly become emboldened in their attacks on Benue communities unlike what obtained in the past urged the federal government to take decisive steps to end the crisis “before it snowballs into what we see

happening in the north east.”

This same position was taken by not a few of some of the victims housed in the displaced persons camp at the LGEA primary school Ugbokpo, Apa local government, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard.

Most of them expressed fears that they may not return to their communities in the nearest future against the backdrop of the fillers they got that the soldiers on ground in Agatu were not permitted to chase the invaders away or use force to enforce peace.

According to 70 year old Mama Agnes Adamu, “It is only the soldiers who can chase the Fulani herdsmen away from our villages, because they have completely taken over Agatu, and from what we heard, government has not directed the soldiers to do that, it then means that the government wants the Fulanis to occupy our land permanently.” she retorted with an emotion laden voice.

Following the comments of Agatu people that the Fulani herdsmen occupying their villages have not left even with the presence of military men whom they claimed had not been directed to move them out our defence correspondent KINGSLEY OMONOBI sought comments from Defence Headquarters in Abuja and filed in the report below.

WE ARE NOT AWARE OF MORE AGATU KILLINGS- DHQ The Defence headquarters has cautioned Nigerians particularly those with vested interests in the Herdsman/Farmers crisis in Agatu Local government area of Benue State to desist from fanning the embers of violence among the people and prevent further killings.

The DHQ gave the warning even as it noted that it was not aware of alleged new and continuous killings of Agatu people by headsmen since such has not been brought to its knowledge.

Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar who stated this in an interview, noted that “The armed forces of Nigeria are always willing to contain or quell any civil crisis whether in Agatu or in any other place” adding “That is why the military, the Police and other security agencies are in Agatu to calm and quell any unwholesome situation”.

“I can tell you that since we deployed there, there have not been cases of killings that we are aware of.

People should not because of interest be emotional and sentimental and give out information just to encourage violence. We are not saying that human life is not important. Even if it is one person that is killed, it is painful and worrisome”.

“However, people who have information about those that are bent on perpetuating this violence should endeavor to give security agencies information so that they are fished out before attacks are carried out and lives are lost. It is when they do that, that we can successfully tackle these issues”.

Continuing, the DDI said, “Killings will never solve whatever problem there is, and violence will only aggravate the crisis. Peace is always the answer.

The armed forces and security agencies will not tolerate any form of violence that will resort to loss of lives and property” .

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

MENACE OF FULANI HERDSMEN:

Troubled spots

awaiting govt’s action

By Oghene Omonisa, Abel Daniel (Lafia), Marie-Therese Nanlong (Jos), Wole Mosadomi (Minna), Peter Duru (Makurdi), Favour Nnabugwu (Abuja), Dayo Johnson, Aderonke Adeyeri (Akure), Samuel Oyadongha (Yenagoa), Emma Unah (Calabar) & Umar Yusuf (Yola)

W

ith a dry stick hung across his shoulders, weather-beaten raft hat perched on the head and a not-tooconcealed dagger stuck into the waist of his trousers, the Fulani herdsman is a common sight across Nigerian highways and in interior bushes and farmlands as he traverses villages, towns and states. With hissing sounds with which he communicates with his herd, and with the use of the stick when necessary, the Fulani herdsman can be seen guiding his herd in search of greener pastures to graze on. The Fulani herdsman can herd alone or in a pair.

That remains the image of the Fulani herdsman. However, the impression of a harmless herdsman has since disappeared from the minds of most Nigerians following cases of clashes between these now mostly heavily-armed herdsmen and members of the communities they take their herds to graze, not to mention confirmed cases of Fulani herdsmen going outside their trade to engage in sinister activities like armed robbery, kidnap and rape.

Nomadic exports Spread across the vast dry hinterlands of Northern Nigeria, a significant proportion of Fulanis (an estimated 13 million) are nomadic, making them the largest pastoral nomadic group in the world, according to wikipedia.

The meat of adult cattle is a staple food in Nigeria, and the Fulanis, who remain the major source, go round the country rearing these cattle till they are old enough to be sold for consumption.

However, they have apparently added more to their cattle trade: sorrow, tears and blood! … South-East The blood these Fulani herdsmen have shed as well as the sorrow and tears they have brought to the rest of the country are no longer news. The news presently is the level and frequency. In Abia State, South-

Eastern Nigeria, three local government areas mainly affected by their activities are Umunneochi, where incidentally the cattle market is located, Bende and Ohafia.

Indigenes of some communities in these council areas have been complaining of the activities of these Fulani herdsmen, ranging from destruction of crops on their farm to raping of their women.

There was a case in point in Uzuakoli where a man nearly lost his life when he went to rescue his wife being attacked by these men.

The herdsmen have become so emboldened that they were alleged to have hoisted a flag somewhere in Ohafia, declaring it a “Fulani Republic”. This attracted the attention of Abia State House of Assembly which ordered an investigation into it. … South-South The incidence of Fulani herdsmen/ natives clash is minimal in the

predominantly riverine Bayelsa State where the bulk of the population especially in the rural enclave are involved in fishing and small-scale farming.

Unfortunately, the farmlands the women labour under the scorching sun to cultivate are frequently destroyed by cattle brought for grazing by Fulani herdsmen, thereby pitching the defenceless rural women against the heavily-armed herdsmen.

But for the swift intervention of the chiefs and the Community Development Committees (CDCs) of the communities, such crisis could have snowballed into violence as sometimes witnessed at Aruke and Ogboropre farmlands on the bank of the River Forcados.

It was gathered that the incessant faceoff between the herdsmen and the rural women over the destruction of the latter’s farmlands, informed the decision of the

Continues on page 13

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016—13

Continues from page 12 leadership of the communities to bar the Fulani herdsmen access to their communities, especially the farmlands, a development responsible for the relative peace in the rural enclave.

In Cross River State, conflict between Fulani herdsmen and farmers leading to loss of lives and property in virtually all parts of the state is a familiar occurrence.Early this year, two communities in the Northern part of the state, Wanikade and Wanihem were involved in a communal conflict where over seventeen people received gunshot wounds and machete cuts following disagreement between the two whether to allow herdsmen settle and graze their cattle along their common border. While one was amenable to it, the other was averse to it and after verbal exchanges and squabbles, the disagreement led to communal conflict.

In July 2014 the of Ntan Obu in Odukpani Local Government Area in the Southern part of the state was attacked

by Fulani herdsmen in collusion with villagers from Ikpanya in neighbouring Akwa Ibom which left over fifty people dead and almost all residential homes set ablaze.

What led to the crisis was the reported lease of the flood plains, a rich grassland belonging to the Ntan Obu people to one Alhaji Bature to graze his cattle by their Ikpanya neighbours which did not go down well with the Ntan Obu people who preferred to use the rich soil for planting of crops after the floods, which usually over flow the place, have receded.

Angered by the refusal of the Ntan Obu people to allow them the use of the land, the Fulani herdsmen in collaboration with the Ikpanya villagers who had leased the land to them, invaded Ntan Obu on the night of July 16 and killed over fifty people including the chief of the community. … South-West The menace of the Fulani herdsmen across Ondo State got to a boiling point last week when the state government wielded the big stick by announcing the ban on night grazing, stoppage of the movement of cows in the night across the state and rearing of cattle within Akure and its communities.

Findings by Saturday Vanguard showed that the Northern senatorial areas of the state are worst hit by the activities of the herdsmen, being agrarian communities.

The four council areas in the Northern parts of the state, Akoko South East, South West, North East and North West, are the troubled spots where several clashes had occurred between the nomads and the farmers.

Also, Ogbese in Akure North, Ala River in Akure South where the hand of a farmer was chopped off by some of the herdsmen that invaded his farm, Owo in Owo council area and Ifon in Ose council areas are also flashpoints .

Also, the incessant invasion of the farmland of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae and his eventual kidnap in Ilado area of Akure North has been a source of concern, until recently when security was provided for the elder statesman. … North-Central The crisis between the Agatu in Benue and the Fulani herdsmen is an extension of attack on Agatu communities in Nasarawa State. The Agatu in Nasarawa State have suffered endless attacks by the Fulani marauders that have led to the death of thousands and destruction of properties since September last year.

becoming alarming in Adamawa State that no single week passes by that there are no reported cases of cattle rearers/farmers feud resulting in the destruction of lives and property.

The fertile land along the bank of the River Benue provide available places for farmers, while their cattle rearers counterparts capitalize on the green vegetation for their animals.

Therefore, communities, villages and local government areas that fall within the bank of the River Benue are most affected by the unending farmers/ cattle rearers bloody clashes as the hostilities continue unabated, even as the herdsmen move from one place to another.

Most vulnerable local governments in Adamawa State are Fufore, Girei, Demsa, Numan, Lamurde and Yola South.

Other local government areas not speared by the ugly trend are Guyuk and Shelleng situated within the Kiri Dam Project that provide fertile land for farming and pastoring.

Menace of Fulani herdsmen More than 300 people were reported to have been killed by Fulani herdsmen who invaded and occupied the area in Benue. The police and other military forces appear helpless.

There were reported cases of unswerving killings of Agatu farmers on their farms, raping of Agatu women and destruction of farm produce by suspected Fulani militias till last week.

Nasarawa over the past five years has never known peace as a result of Fulani invasion of several villages.

Both the Eggons, Tivs and Alago communities have had their own share of Fulani attacks which have left hundreds dead and properties worth several millions destroyed.

Plateau State is not new to deadly attacks of every kind, from bomb blasts, mass and isolated killings of rural farmers by suspected Fulani herdsmen as well as communal fracas bordering on boundary issues; the list is endless.

However, the worst hit communities are mainly in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos North, Jos South and recently, Jos East, Mangu and Bassa local government areas of the state. Since September, 2015 there seems to be a reprieve on attacks of indigenous farmers.

In the recent past, especially in Riyom and Barkin Ladi local government areas, hardly a day went by without any incident of someone being killed or attacked by these suspected herdsmen but the fragile peace being experienced now is not unconnected to the claim by the Hausa/Fulani community that there is “inclusive government” in the state as many from the community have been appointed into key political positions by the present administration.

For close to a decade, several communities in parts of Benue State have had to contend with the menace of Fulani herdmens who undoubtedly

have turned most of the susceptible communities to theatres of war.

Aside leaving huge casualty figures, these incursions also created enormous refugee situations in the affected communities where the ancestral homes of the helpless victims are razed and most times occupied by the marauders.

Notable amongst the areas that have felt the pangs of the armwielding herdsmen recently are Agatu, Guma, Logo and Gwer West local government areas of the state.

Just few days back, no fewer than eight persons were reportedly killed in Logo Local Government Area.

That attack came on the heels of the Agatu massacre where over 300 person were killed in close to two weeks of sustained offensive in the area.

Saturday Vanguard learned that in that attack, the marauders invaded four villages including Tse Chia, Tse Nhumbe, Deghkia and Ngorukgan at about 2am, shooting sporadically and burning down houses and huts in the affected communities.

In rural areas of Abuja, the growing menace of Fulani herdsmen has continued to spark armed clashes between the farming communities and the ethnic Fulani herdsmen thus posing challenges to the country’s already strained security forces.

Farmers are crying loud; they can no longer leave their foodstuff in the farms. Their yams, cassava and millet that are left in their farm huts are broken into by herdsmen for their cattle to feed on. Yam and cassava mounds are destroyed and those who sow their yam seedlings get them eaten up by the cattle. … North-East The ugly clashes between Fulani herdsmen and local farmers is

Boldest attempt The boldest attempt yet at finding a lasting solution to this menace remains the 2014 bill entitled ‘A law to make provisions for the control of nomadic cattle rearing in Enugu State and other matters related thereto’, by the Enugu State House of Assembly that sought to regulate cattle rearing in the state. The bill stipulated that herdsmen who take their cattle to unauthorized areas would be guilty of a criminal offence, and that grazing areas would be marked and any grazing outside the approved areas would amount to breach of the law and punishable under the law.

Sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, and member representing the Nsukka East Constituency, Chinedu Nwamba, the bill made provisions for the establishment of grazing reserves for cattle rearers in all the 17 local government areas of the state.

The then Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Eugene Odo, had dispelled insinuations that the bill was just targeted at Fulani herdsmen. Odo rather said the proposed law was aimed at promoting peace, mutual cooperation and security in Enugu State.

However, sources said the political will to pass the bill was far from being near which culminated in its abandonment.

Lasting solution Not a few Nigerians had looked forward to President Muhammadu Buhari extending his change mantra to the menace of Fulani herdsmen.

However, not much has been seen in the form of change in Nigeria generally, let alone a perceptible change in how these herdsmen go about their trade.

Speaking in January, on conflicts between farmers and herdsmen, while receiving a delegation from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, an organization active in the promotion of peace in Nigeria,President Buhari said that a plan to map out grazing areas would soon be presented to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) as a temporary solution to the frequent conflicts until cattle owners are persuaded to adopt other means of rearing their cattle.

Many Nigerians are waiting its implementation and if it will bring about a final solution to this menace.

14—VANGUARD, SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2016

•CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed

•Mahmood Yakubu

ANAMBRA PDP:

•Oguebego

INEC has found it difficult to act on the Supreme Court decision of January 29 the way it acted on the decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal,” Uche said.

INEC had never denied the fact that it removed the names of candidates sent to it by the recognised PDP leadership in Anambra State because of the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which judgement has now been set aside by the Supreme Court.

The Oguebego-led PDP, while accusing the INEC of bias against the candidates it lawfully forwarded to it in the execution of various court judgements on the leadership of the party, urged the INEC chairman to do the right thing in accordance with the oaths of office he took.

Uche drew the attention of the INEC chairman to the ruling of Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, the presiding justice of the Supreme Court on the day the issue of clarification of the apex court judgement was rested, to guide him.

The eight-paragraph ruling signed by Justice Ngwuta specifically read: “The judgement of this court delivered on January 29, 2016 does not require any interpretation. This court allowed the appeal and set aside the judgement of the court below, which had set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court in favour of the appellants.

The said judgement of the Federal High Court was restored.

“In any case, the reliefs sought in the motion did not relate to or emanate from the judgement of this court delivered on 29th January, 2016 in appeal no 37/2015. When the Federal High Court granted the plaintiffs (now appellants) reliefs, the 2nd respondent (INEC) did not seek interpretation of the judgement of the high court before it published the list submitted to it by the appellants as the candidates in the 2015 general election for the National Assembly.

“The respondents then appealed to the court below and the said court set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court. The 2nd respondent (INEC) did not seek interpretation of the judgement of the court below before it withdrew the appellants’ list, which it had earlier published on the order of the Federal High Court.

“Why would the same second respondent, now applicant (INEC), ask for interpretation of the judgement that merely allowed the appeal which set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal and restored the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered in favour of the appellants (now respondents in the motion?) “There is nothing to interpret in the judgement of this court. If the 2nd respondent (now applicant) needs interpretation, it is the restored judgement of the Federal High Court that it should interpret and not the judgement of this court, which restored same. From the above and the fuller reasons in the lead ruling, I also strike out the application for want of jurisdiction.”

Given the scenario, it is to be seen how the Anambra conundrum will be resolved and in whose interest.

When will the crisis end?

By Clifford Ndujihe

T

HIS is not the best of times for the Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Since 2007, the party has always had issues producing a list of candidates for elections. The scenario repeated itself in the 2015 general elections where two factions produced two parallel lists of candidates. The development led to an avalanche of litigations that have been resolved but the implementations have raised more dust for the party.

The January 29, 2015 Supreme Court judgement, which was expected to put an end to the prolonged crisis bedevilling PDP in Anambra State appears not to have done much.

Rival candidates are still laying claims to the electoral victories of the party at the polls with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, voicing its confusion over what to do with what it considers a battery of conflicting judgements from the courts.

INEC’s confusion on Anambra baseless – Anambra PDP However, the Anambra State PDP said the electoral umpire’s confusion over what to do with the rulings on Anambra is baseless because the verdicts are clear.

Before the 2015 polls, Ejike Oguebego and Ken Emeakayi laid claims to the party’s state chairmanship.

However, the Federal High Court ruled that the Oguebego-led executive was the constitutionally recognised faction.

Justice H.A. Ngajiwa of the Federal High Court had in a judgement in the suit FHC/PH/CS/

2013 (now FHC/AWK/CS/247/2013), delivered on September 12, 2013, affirmed Oguebego and members of his team as constituting the authentic executive committee of the PDP in Anambra State.

The judge refused the prayer by the plaintiffs asking the court to recognise a former state chairman of the party, Ken Emekayi, and some others as the authentic PDP executive in Anambra State.

Contrary to Ngajiwa’s order directing INEC and the PDP to “recognise and deal” with only the Oguebego-led executive, the PDP set up a caretaker committee, which organised primaries that submitted the list containing among others the names of Senator Andy Uba, Senator Stella Odua, and Senator Uche Ekwunife, whose election was nullified because she was not validly nominated as PDP candidate.

INEC obeyed the order and published the names of candidates that emerged from the primary conducted by Oguebego-led exco, which was monitored by INEC. Some weeks later, the Court of Appeal, in Abuja, set aside the Federal High Court judgement and affirmed the Emeakayi as the state PDP chairman.

Oguebego appealed the judgement and a five-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, unanimously affirmed the earlier verdict delivered by the Federal High Court, which had affirmed the Oguebego-led executive committee of the party, along with the primaries conducted by it, and its list of candidates that emerged from the exercise.

Ruling in favour of Oguebego on January 29, Justice John Okoro, who read the lead judgement of the apex court, upturned the verdict of

the Court of Appeal, saying that the lower court's decision was based “on a wrong appreciation of the claim of the appellants before the trial Federal High Court.”

Okoro ruled: “Having resolved all the five issues in favour of the appellants, I hold that there is merit in this appeal, which is hereby allowed. The judgement of the Court of Appeal is hereby set aside.

“The order of the Federal High Court I Suit No FHC/PH/CS/ 2013 now Suit No FHC/AWK/CS/ 247/2013), recognising the Ejike Oguebego-led Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Anambra State chapter is still subsisting until it is set aside by another court.

Citing confusion, INEC approached the Supreme Court for clarification. However, the apex court held that its judgement by its ordinary meaning did not need to be subjected to any clarifications Speaking on the failure of the INEC to implement the Supreme Court ruling on the grounds of confusion, Mr. Chris Uche, SAN, counsel to Oguebego, said “The Supreme Court judgement has effectively restored the list of candidates upheld by the Federal High Court.”

Uche said the ruling had cleared the way for his clients to benefit from the judgement delivered on January 29. He said when the Federal High Court gave the ruling on the issue, INEC complied immediately without seeking for clarification and when the Court of Appeal over turned the decision of the Federal High Court, the same electoral body complied with the appellate court’s decision without seeking for any clarification.

“I am surprised that the same

VANGUARD, SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2016—15

By Emmanuel Aziken,

T

Political Editor

he unprecedented tension shadowing today’s election has been variously traced to several factors, but none as is important as the consequences for the political class.

On offer are the three Senate seats, 12 of the 13 federal constituencies and 22 of the 32 state constituencies.

Today’s election is expected to be dramatic not just for the political contenders, but would also possibly impact on the national political space.

The greatest impact of the outcome of the election could be on the stability of the term of the governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike.

The governor is determined to ensure the stability of the House of Assembly under the dominance of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP which won 31 of the 32 seats in the April 2015 elections before the courts annulled 22 of the election victories.

Given constitutional requirements that stipulate that a governor can be removed by the approval of two-third of the state House of Assembly, it is not surprising that Governor Wike is bent on ensuring that his opponents in the All Progressives Congress, APC are denied that latitude to threaten him.

Two-third of the 32 member House would be 21. With the APC already having one

High stakes in

Rivers

member, and the party now having the liberty of openly contesting for seats unlike in 2015, the prospects of the party attaining a substantial number of seats to make life difficult for Barrister Wike as governor is not beyond imagination.

The PDP is thus hoping to win as many seats as possible to give the governor the necessary comfort to stave off the potential attacks from the APC. Even more, the conclusion of the elections

today would put the machinery of the House of Assembly in full motion.

Since the invalidation of the election of the 22 members of the House last December, the House has not been able to seat given the absence of a quorum which is 11.

Remarkably, of the ten members remaining, nine belong to the PDP while one belongs to the APC. The single APC member, Victoria Nyeche who won her case in the Court of Appeal to

represent Port Harcourt 1 Constituency has remained locked out as the speaker has refused to swear her in as a member.

Also, the absence of a quorum has impeded the state from having a working budget for the 2016 financial year.

Beyond the issue of the survival of Barr. Wike as governor is the fact that whoever controls the House of Assembly would also control the purse given the constitutional role of the legislature in budget making.

However, the absence of a quorum did not prevent the governor and the PDP lawmakers from collaborating to confirm a new chief judge for the state penultimate Monday, March 7.

bly.

Will Oshiomhole risk it all?

Why our budget is detained

The dithering procrastination of the National Assembly in passing the 2016 budget proposals should by now be spinning political imputations in concerned quarters.

After the controversy over the alleged smuggling of a fake budget which the Senate put on the doorstep of the Special Assistant to the President, Senator Ita Enang, it was believed that all the issues had been settled. It was as such welcome news when after that episode that the National Assembly projected that it would pass the budget on February 25. However, as that date approached, the legislators found cause to defer the approval.

After some period of cogitations, the legislators again put the passage for March 17 and that date came and passed last Thursday.

Remarkably on that date, reports in newspapers alleged fresh padding in the budget. The revelations have inevitably fuelled speculations of an alleged conspiracy to frustrate the passage of the budget. What could be

responsible for the seeming reluctance of the legislators to push forward the budget for approval and with it, the immediate implementation of the programmes of the APC administration?

The immediate suspicion could be the usual hints for gratification as was the case in the past.

However, given the present administration’s firm stance against corruption, such demands would be seen as foolhardy.

Another suggestion is that the legislators are peeved by the continued trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Given that the budget is about the most useful working instrument of the administration, there are suggestions that the lawmakers could be demanding their pound of flesh in the matter of what they allege as the persecution of the chairman of the National Assem-

Few would doubt the dramatic restructuring that the advent of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole brought to the political configuration of Edo State. It is indeed no longer hushhush that the former Labour leader may have lived up to his claims that he would retire the political kingmakers who held court before his coming.

Besides the political restructuring, the governor has also been well commended for his infrastructure development efforts which have largely lifted the road infrastructure of the state.

With his exit now approaching, there is increasing fear that the governor that has been praised for demystifying godfathers and recreating the road infrastructure could as well become ensnared in the politics of the emergence of his successor.

The governor’s case is not helped by the fact that the man that had been naturally positioned as his successor, and who served as his campaign manager, in the last election, Pastor Osaze Ize-Iyamu is now operating from the opposing political platform.

Given Ize-Iyamu’s knack for political engineering, there is increasing apprehension from followers of the

Should the control of the House of Assembly change hands, the approval of Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra as the new Chief Judge could become an issue.

The three Senate contests on offer today could also impact separately at the national and state levels. At the state level, the impact of the election would be consequential on the political staying power of the contestants directly involved.

Senator Magnus Abe, who was a contender for the governorship on the ticket of the APC, could remain a more viable contender for the same position in 2019 should he win in today’s election.

Should the untoward political lot befall Saraki on account of his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT Abe on returning to the Senate, could be in good position to project himself as the South-South candidate. Recall that at the South-South zone was left out of the permutations for the office of Senate President on inauguration because the zone did not have any returning senator.

On a global scale, the outcome of the Senate election would impact on the tilt of the political parties in the Senate. The APC presently has 59 senators with the PDP having 44 senators and Labour one senator. The outcome of the election would either strengthen the PDP as a strong minority or strengthen the APC in its majority position in the legislative chamber.

governor that going to battle with the singular belief of tying the PDP top contender with the ills of the past may not be enough.

The comrade governor's prospect is even further ensnared by the cloudy issues of history surrounding the man said to be favoured in the governor’s succession plan. For a man who has led millions of Nigerian workers, Governor Oshiomhole would indeed need all the prayers to successfully ensure that his succession does not turn into a hostile takeover. His agenda is not helped with what is believed to be the avowed determination of the national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to play a fatherly role in protecting the interests of all concerned governorship aspirants.

Where is Patience Jonathan?

A year ago in the thick of the campaigns for the last general elections, Mama Peace as Dr Mrs Patience Jonathan is generally known was the rave of the moment among the political gladiators in her native Rivers State. At her word, political fortunes were made and hopes realised.

Just before the general elections, her loud presence was a general discomfort to her neighbours as security men took positions at the major entry points into and out of the street leading to her residence.

But just 12 months on, Mrs. Jonathan’s has been conspicuously absent on the political terrain in an election that could make or mar her continued relevance in the politics of her native state.

What a change of fortune that she is seemingly helpless as the political fate of her godson hangs in the balance.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

By Agaju Madugba If the Kaduna State House of Assembly eventually passes into law an Executive Bill currently before it, a resident risks spending two years in jail if he plays any cassettes containing religious recordings or music in his car. This is one of the several provisions of the proposed legal document tagged, “A Bill to Substitute the Kaduna State Religious Preaching Law, 1984” which Governor Nasir ElRufai wants the lawmakers to approve, ostensibly as part of measures to curb the spate of religious upheavals in the area.

Kaduna has had perhaps more than its fair dose of violent religious riots in northern Nigeria. Reports from human rights groups show that about 15,000 persons lost their lives in February and May 2000

alone when metropolitan Kaduna virtually went up in flames as sections of residents protested the move by government to hoist the Shariah flag in the state. Incidentally, the then Governor Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi had proposed before the House of Assembly, a Bill seeking to implement the Islamic Shariah legal system, after a successful launch of the initiative in Zamfara Started months earlier.

JNI, CAN to issue preaching licences

A major thrust of ElRufai’s proposal is the establishment of an interfaith ministerial committee to regulate the practice of the two main religions in the state, Christianity and Islam. Apart from this, there shall also be a committee of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) with

equal representation of the Izala and Darika religious groups, for Muslims and another committee by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The inter-faith ministerial committee is expected to exercise supervisory control over JNI and CAN. Apart from certain restrictions which the proposed Bill places on the playing or blaring of religious recordings outside churches and mosques, a preacher may also be jailed for a period not exceeding two years if he preaches without a valid licence or engages in inciting religious teachings and uses derogatory terms in describing any religion. Under the Bill too, a preacher visiting Kaduna from outside the state is expected to obtain a permit to cover the period of his stay. For preachers who are resident in Kaduna State, the licence to preach has a life span of one year which

may be renewed.

Rampant hate, inciting preaching

In fact, before now, the issue of alleged inciting statements credited to some preachers has been a source of worry to leaderships of religious groups in the state. In fact for the JNI, the matter was a subject of debate during the group’s 2015 annual pre-amadan conference last June in Kaduna when it noted that in spite of repeated calls by the Muslim leadership, some scholars still employed divisive comments during their Tafsir preaching, in the month of Ramadan. According to the JNI, “there is a growing trend of mystic doctrines expressed by some unguided extremists which are completely contradictory to the Islamic faith and principles.

Many of the media houses that air Tafsir during Ramadan do not care to censor statements capable of destabilizing the Ummah.

Continues on page 17

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016—17

Preachers already licensed by Allah

•Sheikh maraya Continues from page 16 Negative conducts contrary to the established creed of the Islamic faith are being exhibited by some scholars in their Tafsir sessions.

Some Mufassirun (commentators) delve into unnecessary juristic arguments on issues which are categorically clear and on which there is consensus. There are some scholars whose sessions are inciting and there are some scholars whose sessions are full of mockery of others, rather than uplifting the spiritual well-being of the listeners.

A number of the Mufassirun do not have the basic knowledge of Tafsir, therefore lack the capacity to conduct Tafsir.”

The JNI solution to such infringements appears to be similar to provisions of sections in the ElRufai proposed regulatory document.

According to the JNI, “the (Muslim) leadership should regulate the conduct of Tafsir, to control erring commentators and make it mandatory for any Mufassir to be screened and be given permission by the JNI or any authorized body before he can be allowed to venture into Tafsir.”

Beyond what may be a general consensus that government has the right to sanction clerics found guilty of inciting comments, however, some Christian and Muslim leaders in Kaduna say the proposed religious preaching law is as irrelevant as the Kaduna State Regulation of Religious Preaching Edict No 7 of 1984 which the Bill seeks to replace. For the Secretary of the Kaduna State branch of CAN, Rev. Sunday Ibrahim, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Penal Code law which is in force in northern Nigeria already prescribed sanctions to deal with clerics who err in the course of their preaching. He argues that provisions of the Kaduna religious Preaching Bill tend to duplicate extant laws of the land. Also speaking in an interview with Saturday Vanguard, another cleric, Sheikh Haliru Maraya, former Special Adviser (Islamic Matters) to former Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, described the Bill as unrealistic saying that if it scales through the Legislature, the law will strip Muslims of the Constitutional right to practise their faith.

Preachers already licensed

by Allah According to Maraya, “if you look

C M Y K

•Rev. Ibrahim at the concept of preaching for the religion of Islam, it comprises two major aspects.The first one is the preacher and the second aspect is the mode of preaching, that is, how the preaching is conducted. As far as Islam is concerned, no government has the right to license a preacher because Almighty Allah has already given preachers their licences. They do not work for government, they work for the religion of Islam.

Allah has enjoined believers to call people to the right path. But government has the right to come in when it comes to the aspect of the manner of conducting the preaching. Allah has enjoined preachers to to preach with wisdom. If it is conducted in a manner that is apparently considered in a bad manner, then that one is not preaching, as far as Islam is concerned.that is where government can regulate manner of preaching. Hate preaching should not be allowed. Government can say that no preacher should mention the names of individuals, nobody should use the podium to cast aspersions on people or groups or other sects of the same religion, or cast aspersions on another religion. Government can say that no preacher in Kaduna State is allowed to abuse anybody while preaching. So, everyone should be allowed to preach but under certain guidelines. It contradicts the teaching of Islam to say that one cannot preach unless he is given a licence to do so. During the time of the Prophet of Islam, everyone could preach but under proper guidelines and during the times of the companions of the Prophet, particularly during the times of the first four Caliphs, everyone could preach but also under certain guidelines. And, it is also inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended

to say that somebody cannot preach without a licence. Section 38 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives every person the right to propagate their religion, either alone or in association with others.

This means that whether you have a licence or not, every person has the right to preach. Preaching is part and parcel of the religion as far as Islam is concerned. If you say that I cannot preach without a licence it clearly means that one should not practise the religion. The Constitution says every person has the right to practise any religion, the right to change a religion and the right to propagate that religion. Government may have good intentions but it should not say that a preacher cannot preach without a licence.

What happens if you give me a licence and then I go and conduct hate preaching? Giving a condition of obtaining a licence before preaching is contrary to the tenets of Islam and it is inconsistent with provisions of the Constitution.

Problems

Going by provisions of the Bill, if it is passed as it is now, what it means is that you cannot play CDs or cassettes with religious recordings in your car.I do not think that anybody has the right to stop you from playing a religious cassette in your car.

Laws should be designed in such a way that that they are implementable. If this Bill sails through, the way it is, it cannot be implemented. And that is why nobody has even implemented the law since 1984. It is not practicable especially the areas of licence and playing of recorded religious materials.”

Pastors, evangelists

The CAN scribe says he shares the same view as what he describes as the larger section of Christians in Kaduna, concerning the Bill to check religious preaching. As he puts it, “the law has not even been in force since 1984 when it was enacted and amended in 1987. We have issues with the Bill.

We define a preacher as someone called by God. There is a general call which has to do with everyone as Jesus said in the book of Matthew chapter 28, go ye into the world and make disciples of all nations.

That is the general call.

Then we have a specific call which has to do with the pastors, evangelists, prophets, teachers, among others.These ones have an office in the body of Christ. They go through particular denominations, schools or seminaries. They are then ordained and licensed by their various churches. Those are preachers by our definition.

Kaduna problem not religious Government ought to have sat down with stakeholders and discussed, more so with all the crises we have had in Kaduna although if you dig deep, you find out that the crises didn’t actually start as religious crises. They were more of political but some people hijacked the situation. The problem in Kaduna is not religion. If there is improvement on the lives of the people, there will be development and where the people are not idle, nobody would want to go and cause problem. There is a saying that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Government should create more jobs and create conducive atmosphere for learning in the schools and workers should be paid their salaries as at when due. I should think that the government believes in the people and if Christians and Muslims say no to this Bill, that means there is a problem and government should listen to the people.”

Govt’s intention However, the intention of the government is to check hate preaching that could lead to religious violence.

The bill may not be passed as it is but the good intention of the government should be appreciated and not misconstrued as being against freedom of religion which is already enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. And the governor has repeatedly said so. Freedom of religion remains.

Hate preaching will be barred by law and punishable by law.

The entire Nigeria not only Kaduna needs such laws.

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

EYEI:

Why Ibusa natives dread eating rabbit

BY CHARLES ADINGUPU

T

he people of Ezukwu Community, Ibusa in present-day Delta State have lived in peace with the rabbit for as long as they can recall. For them, the animal has spiritual affinity with their belief. Hence, whenever the rabbit finds its way into the home of an Ezukwu man, all he has to do is sing praises of Mother Rabbit until it goes out unharmed. The mystique surrounding this ancient myth is still upheld till date.

Ibusa bans eating of rabbit

On a certain day, according to one of the town's folktales, one of the strangers living in Ibusa discovered that his trap had caught a big eyei (rabbit) the day before.

He initially ignored it and resumed work on his farm. After considerable hours of work, he decided to prepare the rabbit for launch. He went to the farm hut otherwise known as unno-ugo (usually built with raffia palm leaves and serves as a resting place after some hours of work), owned by an Ezukwu native, to borrow his cooking pot to prepare the rabbit as the neighbour did not come to farm on that day. At the end of the feasting, the stranger washed and returned the pot. The next farming day, the Ezukwu man resumed work and was told what transpired in his farm on the day he didn’t come, but he ignored the disclosure made by his neighbours and went to use the same cooking pot to prepare food for himself after hours of work, as it was the custom. But the next morning, his nose pulled off. Diokpa Esogbue Ezeudigwu in Okponta Village, Ibusa who claimed that the victim was a maternal relative of his, described the victim’s situation as a terrible one as those who witnessed it saw his back head through his damaged nose. According to the folktale, after that unpleasant experience at Ezukwu, the people

of Ibusa unanimously embargoed the eating of rabbit in their land.

“Although the incident happened in Ezukwu, just one of the communities in Ibusa land, the people of Ibusa live like the eye and nose, for whatever affects the nose makes the eye to shed tears”, said Diokpa Ezeudigwu.

“Conversely, whatever affects the eye affects the nose as well. In other words, they live as brothers and sisters. Beyond this, they inter marry.”

Civil war myth

Another folklore to the rabbit myth in Ibusa land states that during the Nigerian civil war, sometime in 1969, when the Federal troops invaded Ibusa, the natives took to their heels and hid in the forest in order to avert the onslaught of the Federal troops.

According to the story, immediately the Ibusa natives scampered for safety and abandoned their homes for the forest, rabbits in their numbers came out of their hiding holes and started building mot in every nook and cranny and at the same time erasing the footprints of natives from the earth, which did not help the Nigerian soldiers in easily tracing the whereabouts of the natives. The folklore also maintains that the feat by the rabbits helped to create the impression to the soldiers that the people may have abandoned their homes for a long time, therefore, it was needless running after them.

Diokpa Ezeudigwu dismissed this version as hearsay that only exists in the figment of the imagination of a few Ibusa indigenes. His words: “This is only a recent development. A supposed event of the civil war of 1967 or thereabout cannot be tied to the ancient myth of Ibusa people whose existence pre-dates the Nigerian/Biafran civil war.”

Rabbit, rabbit everywhere

One noticeable irony in Ibusa land is that eyei, the rabbit, has

become a common sight. The reason for their presence is better appreciated on the ban placed on killing it and eventually eating it.

According to Elder Frank Okade, the rabbit may have seen Ibusa as a safe haven as neighbouring towns and villages feast on rabbit.

However, Diokpa Ezeudigwu disclosed that some Ibusa natives, though not from Ezukwu Quarter, still kill and eat rabbit secretly. He added: “But the Ezukwu man dares not try to eat rabbit for any reason irrespective of his religion.” Okade said the average Ibusa man is duty bound to call strangers to help him remove rabbit from his trap whenever it caught the animal. “Whatever the stranger does that nothing would happen to the native, as he did

Ibusa natives scampered for safety and abandoned their homes for the forest, rabbits in their numbers came out of their hiding holes and started building mot in every nook and cranny

not set the trap for the rabbit.” An artisan in Ibusa, Emma Iwendi who hails from Ogwashi-Uku, a neighbouring town, said rabbit remains a relish to the average Ogwashi- Uku man as no community in the town forbids it.

His words: “As far as I can remember, from Asaba and even to Kwale, which are the Anioma (Igbo)-speaking people of Delta State, it is only Ibusa natives who do not eat rabbit. Among us, the Ika people, indigenes of Agbor and environs, we relish the animal with great delight. It is alleged in certain quarters in Ikaland, that the men folks even use rabbit as bait to trap their women folks into romantic escapades.” Iwendi also recalled with nostalgia that in the mid 1970s, there was a sick woman who made the gate of Saint Augustine Catholic Church, Ibusa, her home and lived on the alms received from the church faithful. He revealed: “One remarkable aspect of this woman, was a live rabbit that kept her company. She communicated and fed the rabbit.”

SA TURD AY Vanguard , MARCH 19, 2016—19 SATURD TURDA

M

y compliments to Remi Oyeyemi. His comments on the recent controversy raised by the classification of Yoruba rulers, made by the Alake of Abeokuta – or Egbaland? – were rather illuminating. He outlined the cause of the different versions of the history of the Yoruba that were offered by those whom he described –perhaps not too charitably – as “every Jick and Jack”. But he also conceded that most people are moved by “patriotism and the love of their immediate source of origin; just wanting to project pride in their own roots.

The query after the Alake’s title is prompted by questions that have been raised about the extent of the of territory of His Royal Highness, from several sources. The people of Owu have mostly been twitchy about this. They even have a song extolling their preeminence within the Egba domain. And it is difficult to find any Owu man or woman who would contravene the assertion of that song.

One is however rather intrigued about the descendants of Oduduwa.

According to your version, Oduduwa was born and raised in Ile-Ife. Many of us were brought up on the legend that he descended by chain from heaven. He was reputed to have been sired by no human being, and hence the interpretation of his name as a being separate by himself – “Odu-tio-da wa”.

•Oba Sikiru Adetona, The father of Oduduwa, you Awujale of Ijebuland further state, was Okanbi, so named as the only one born of his parents. This, as you postulate, is in keeping with the Yoruba tradition of naming a child according to the circumstances of the parents at his birth. My problem is how the parents would have known that he The wrangling was the only child they between the Alake and were going to have when he was born? That would have the Awujale , festering become apparent only after some time after his birth, by like an open sore, has which time he would have indeed begun to run, normally been named.

Talking about names in with Egba chiefs Yorubaland, Okanbi would chipping in, and with normally fall into the line of a cognomen, or a pet-name, no means in place to for an only child. The debar their Ijebu nearest name to that is Akanbi or Akanni which counterparts from attests to the circumstance also having their own of a child who is born with the deflowering of the day in the sun mother. Other variations on that theme include Akande, Alani, Alade and Ala-o, the female variety being Alake.

As for the descendants of me years ago for describing Oduduwa, two were his Oba’s antecedents in a supposed to be female way he found offensive. according to one version of The case of the Benin popular history, and they connection is quite were supposed to have complex. A version deposes become, one the mother of that Oduduwa was actually the Oba of Benin and the a prince of Benin. Others, other, Onisabe of Sabe. But including you, say regarding the issue of the otherwise. I don’t know, or eighth child who eventually it is not for me to say, else became the Oni, I would I might put myself in the rather shelve that in way of another personal complete agreement with attack. The Ijebu you. My version, or the connection, by the same version I was brought up token, has always with, might not agree with frightened me as a topic of yours. I know it is totally even the most lightunacceptable to most Ile-Ife hearted discussion. It is sons and daughters. One true, very true, that most almost physically attacked

*naked in the market square

C M Y K

the

•Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Alake of Egbaland

people take an inordinate pride in the projection of their cultural heritage as they understand it to be – or have been made to believe it to be.

Hence His Highness Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland took umbrage at being relegated to a position below some other traditional rulers. A titled chief of Benin Kingdom also rejected the classification which lowered the status of his Oba in his estimation. In his re-appraisal, he declared that the Yoruba language even borrowed a word for kingship,” oba” from the Edo language. To a Yoruba man, that may sound funny against the backdrop of the popular notion that Edo is much younger than Yoruba, while a Benin man won’t take that lightly at all.

The wrangling between the Alake and the Awujale , festering like an open sore, has indeed begun to run, with Egba chiefs chipping in, and with no means in place to debar their Ijebu counterparts from also having their own day in the sun. It was really on the verge of a free-for-all among the venerated traditional rulers of Yorubaland.

Over and beyond all that, the news came down that the recently crowned Oni of Ife has taken a new wife from Benin. At his age, that is not unlikely to be the first among many more.

Not even all the bickering could drown the good feeling that the romantic news has roused all around.

Such a marital union across States is indeed a practical demonstration of the Oni’s wish to unite the descendants of Oduduwa. It was partially towards that end that he visited the Alake whose embellished welcome threw up the controversial classification of Yoruba traditional rulers, which resulted in the scruffy dispute among his peers.

The intervention of the State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, is indeed timely.

One could very well accommodate his statement, at the end of his meeting with both traditional rulers, as a political statement. But His Excellency’s suggestion that journalists shouldn’t just “sit somewhere and write”, as though the incident between the two obas was an invention concocted by the press – was uncalled for. The age of blaming every faux pas among the more prominent citizens in our midst on the press went away at the introduction of the social media. All Governor Amosun needed to have told the press was, “Yes; there was a little issue here but it has all been thrashed out.” That would have been more of a political statement.

All the same, all “Jacks” and “Jills” should kindly withdraw to a quiet corner and let the cloud of

controversy disperse peacefully. However, there is more that can be done to prevent such an unpleasant incident in future. The governor ’s office as a medium of adjudication does not enhance the prestige of our natural rulers. Their office is older than that of the governor and closer to the people than the governor ’s office. They need a caucus where they can discuss their aspirations, their challenges and disputes among themselves. The Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs – where it exists, will be little less than an extension of the governor ’s office. What is needed is their own forum, created for the peculiar concerns of the positions they hold, and champion.

We had had occasion to refer on this page to the colourful conclave that was convened in the past among the natural rulers in each provincial locality years ago. Such a forum was then where a disagreement between the natural rulers would have been discussed. There was also a House of Chiefs as a parliamentary adjunct in each region. Ministers were thus appointed from among them. By extension, a chairman of the House of Chiefs in the Western Region, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, was even appointed the governor of the region, although it was not a chief executive position in those days. But such dispensations had potentials for a respectful accommodation in the administrative structure of the day. It also increased the self-worth of the traditional rulers. The due conferment of national honours would, I believe, further help in this direction.

And so also would the restoration of some role in the administrative structure, even if it is only at the local government level.

Finally, we would appeal to the natural rulers themselves to take an active – in fact, a premier – role in the in the establishment of every aspect of the apparatus that would bring greater glory to themselves as well as to their positions in future. That would minimize, if not totally prevent, the ugliness of those whom we consider our fathers, stripping themselves naked in the market square.

Time out.

20

— SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

Agatu massacre and the triumph of evil

H

ow would anyone expect that, in rural communities where cows are not deities, herds of cattle can march through and destroy farmlands and be spared? And how can anyone parade hundreds of cattle through a Nigeria filled with armed robbers and yet consider cattle rustling as such a crime which unfortunate local inhabitants must pay for with their blood? Human lives are worthless where every other thing is exorbitantly priced . You need not wonder, there is a death penalty for murder but mass murderers are rarely apprehended.

Some deaths are nightmarish. Olu Falae and his community were perhaps fortunate. Many seem committed to plumbing the depths of depravity. Cruelty in mass killings is steadily searching for the ultimate barbarism. Rwanda and the Holocaust were unspeakably horrible but Plateau state has since revealed something particularly gory. Janjaweed type midnight assaults that guarantee the total wiping out of whole villages. It’s exceptionally frightening because the victims can barely get out of sleep. Before they realize it is not a nightmare, they are mangled corpses. Death served in the dead of the night. Then everywhere is littered with bits and pieces of human flesh and everything is burnt. It has become the trade mark of a certain group, others are signing up. They are called reprisals. The perpetrators are conscious of their righteousness.

Then there are tales of retaliatory cannibalism. Kill, roast and eat. No mass graves, nothing left for an unlikely prosecution. A fiendish rivalry in that macabre enterprise.

Rwanda may one day lose notoriety.

There is no determined effort to make such horrific acts prohibitively expensive. Like a child toying with fire, the nation witnesses massacres happen again and again, C M Y K

and fiddles around with lame reconciliations. Culprits remain eternally at large. Herds of cattle are touched, humans are indiscriminately slaughtered.

Reprisals. Feuds and disputes, thefts and damage to property are settled by massacres. The government finds not the fury to quench such depravity, Armageddon must be getting close. It is at least not as far fetched as our collective tepid moral outrage and near official indifference suggest.

Poor villagers are dispensable, disposable. Cheap lives. The nation only mourns when commercial airliners crash or big politicians die.

I shudder at the thought whose possibility is now more palpable. A herd of cattle passes through my village and a fracas leaves herdsmen cursing and vengeful. I wake one morning and my village of Orodo and my ancestral linkages have been decimated, erased. But it could be worse. A weekend family trip could be punctuated with deathly shrills and booming guns and cracking skulls , one ordinary night. Avengers and their vampiric reprisals. And you don’t have to imagine Rwanda. Rwanda had a long build up. Tragedies of the Agatu variety can happen , comparatively, in a flash. There is something horribly disquieting about the sight of cattle herders, teenagers, hugging AK 47 rifles. But that which threatens apocalypse is the impunity flaunted. The inability of these horrendous evils to attract more than mere platitudes of condemnations. The abject impotence of a state that has failed to protect lives, to trouble mass murderers. After massacres, perpetrators don’t go to jail. Their emissaries attend reconciliatory meetings organized by bumbling politicians. Where is our sense of justice?

There is something that speaks of a yet brewing apocalypse in the

pictures that came out of Agatu. The pictures of babies hacked to death in their ancestral homes. The picture of deep seated, blood sucking hate.

It should be revolting. But it was not.

Monumental evil can acquire banality through a terrible regularity. Massacres are now rampant, fairly routine. The middle belt is a seething volcano. That which will jar nerves and jolt senses is being awaited? Do the pictures therefore speak of violence yet to begin? Cattle rustling is criminal.

It’s armed robbery. It must be stopped. Fulani Nomads have right to life and property. But it is unthinkable that the cattle herdsmen would consider massacre

sickening lack of fury. Days after the massacre, days after the government promised action, ordinary people who scampered into the bushes for safety were yet to return.

These days nothing , including national tragedies, is spared political opportunism. Before Buhari’s response could be objectively assessed, the PDP jumped in and politicized the massacre. If the PDP is to be believed the murderous gang of herdsmen were sent in to liquidate Agatu, a PDP stronghold.

Consequently, conscientious attempts to hold the government responsible for its perceived nonchalance to the Agatu horror were dismissed as PDP shenanigans.

Cheap conscienceless politicking is a dangerous phenomenon. If the PDP is a drowning party, clutching at straws, what about our presidency? Where is the statesmanship? The Inspector General of Police doubts Agatu’s monstrosity. He thinks the casualty figures are exaggerated, contrived.

When the police have failed woefully, they should speak mournfully.

Speculation can be thoroughly insensitive . He is yet to apprehend the murderers, he should not grate sensibilities . But the police boss contributed yet another theory. The murderous herdsmen, he believes, aren’t Nigerians. He could be right.

But again he is being speculative.

Nigerians want facts from the police. If they aren’t Nigerians why then is the government so pacifist?

Why are reconciliatory meetings the priority? The police should learn when to speak.

The president granted an interview to Al Jazeera. He loves the foreign press. The president has a reputation for bluntness and forthrightness and revels in it. But when he allows a bit of arrogance have a hold on him he comes across as insensitive and brash. He dismissed the talk about Biafra with such a contempt that left those of us who have stood firmly against the IPOB and their charlatanism dismayed. There is more to dignity than solemn gait and self satisfaction. Dignity entails charity and sensitivity. When he got to Agatu, he let me down totally. He forced on me the suspicion that, in spite of all his good attributes, ethnic jingoism was not after all beneath him. Did the PDP help him lose sense of the tragedy? If the president was emotional about the senseless killing of 300 Nigerians including babies in one night he didn’t show

But it is unthinkable that the cattle herdsmen would consider massacre of hundreds of people as vengeance for cattle touched or poached of hundreds of people as vengeance for cattle touched or poached. Hate is worse than madness.

The president lacks the credentials of an ethnic champion.

I may be wrong. Vindictiveness and pettiness didn’t allow any objective scrutiny during the campaigns.

Buhari , Fani Kayode had insinuated, once went to Oyo as an ethnic champion to protect the interest of Fulani herdsmen. It was swept into the bin where Fayose’s ‘diaper’ vomitus was discarded.

Then came Agatu. Three hundred people were reported murdered in one night by cattle herdsmen. The public waited for Buhari’s severity.

The government responded with a

it. Rather, in saying that the problem between the cattle herdsmen and farmers was old and intractable, he lent banality to the evil. Was the president playing a different kind of politics? Was he unduly concerned with public perception of his performance on security? Or was he possessed by tribal sentiments?

Modern societies with governments exist so that vengeance is not exacted through blood feuds.

When a conflict culminates in the killing of a human being, the loss of life relegates the issues in the conflict to the background. And until the matter of homicide or mass murder and the necessary penalties are effected, nothing else matters.

Morality entails the prioritization of others ahead of self. Leadership entails much more than moral uprightness. A president must discharge any conflict of interest in such a manner that denies self and fosters national unity. Between the cattle herdsmen and the murdered souls in Agatu, the president should be visibly and vigorously on the side of the dead because the security of lives is his primary constitutional responsibility. And because he is Fulani, he must leave no doubts of bias in Agatu minds.

But when the president dabbled into grazing routes and right of way, I was left disheartened. The gross unspeakable inhumanity committed in Agatu should leave any president too apoplectic for such historical excursions. His grief should be visible. And if such a president’s position is complicated by past accusations of ethnic jingoism then he has an added moral responsibility to respond to the calamity with manifest equity.

Any suggestions of ‘old problem’ and such like exposes such a leader to unhealthy suspicions and the society to needless schisms and tensions.

Grazing routes once existed. And Fulani cattle herdsmen plied their trade peacefully throughout the whole of the West African belt.

Communities have enlarged. Land has become more scarce.

Encroachments have become rampant. Desertification has complicated life for nomads.

Political and ethnic tensions have gripped the land. Armed robbery and cattle rustling are now run by professional syndicates. Cattle herdsmen have acquired a reputation of wading through farms and destroying crops and livelihoods. Farmers settle disputes by dispossessing and sometimes killing herdsmen. Cattle herdsmen attend to disputes by visiting mayhem and liquidating whole villages. With a convoy of cattle, tears, sorrow and blood everywhere they go, realistically, the cattle herdsmen’s cross country nomadic days are numbered. So much violence has been sown, animosity and hatred has bloomed.

The era of grazing routes has passed. If the nomads attract violence everywhere they go, then the sensible thing to do is to confine them in grazing reserves. They say that will take time and money. But what other options really exist? The menace that cross country nomadic cattle rearing constitutes is tearing at the very soul of the nation.

Violence always has the prospect of going out of control. Religious fuels are being poured into the cauldron.

No sensible leader should watch this play out.

States that have a sizable population of herdsmen can create grazing reserves and extend modern agricultural techniques and practices to diary and meat farmers.

States can elect not to have grazing reserves. Fears of Hausa-Fulani irredentism or expansionism must not be stoked by a federal government policy that mandates reserves in all states.

The government should know that Boko haram waits for opportunities to claim legitimacy. If it allows ethno religious chaos fester in the middle belt and boko haram intervenes on one side then the complexity of that insurgency will change dramatically. That insurgency must be denied every opportunity to pretend to be freedom fighting. Unrestricted cross country grazing should be prohibited.

But the immediate focus must be breaking impunity. The mass murderers must be apprehended and punished now.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, MARCH 19, 2016 —

I

am told that Ovuodoroye translates roughly to mean ‘everyman with his own greatness’ in Urhobo language. If that is so, then Olorogun Felix Ibru who passed on last week certainly lived up to his name. Ovuodoroye is the native and middle name in Olorogun Felix O. Ibru.

Born into a middle class family, he was one of seven siblings which included five very illustrious brothers. His senior brother Michael was the Dangote of his time with fingers in many juicy pies. At a time, he was the Chairman of at least 46 companies. It seemed that Felix, his immediate younger brother, was destined to be in his shadow because by the time Felix entered Igbobi College, Mike was already the Head Boy with a towering personality. But somehow, Felix perhaps the most rascally of the Ibru brothers in their younger days, showed enough individuality to be given early leadership roles by the school and even his classmates. He became the class monitor and secretary of their prestigious social club. He also became the Head Boy in his final year shattering the convention then that no two brothers could be Head Boys in the same generation.

Prompted by his senior brother who felt the future lay in construction, young Felix who had initially planned to go into the Nigerian Army, went to the UK in search of the Golden Fleece and ended up studying Architecture. He was to emerge with the best Year Prize in his final year. His sojourn in the UK started a series of ‘Firsts’ quite apart from being the first Ibru to have travelled abroad when he represented the Western Region in a trip sponsored by Elder Dempster.

He became the first African to be elected the President of the British Council with responsibility for Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. He became, on his

Ever yman with his own greatness…..t Everyman greatness…..too Olor ogun Felix Ibru Olorogun return to Nigeria, the first Resident lecturer in Architecture at the Yaba College of Technology. He crowned it all by becoming the first Civilian Governor of the newly created Delta State.

He was among his brothers, perhaps the closest to Mike, the Ibru patriarch not only in age but in other areas as well and shared, upon his return, the vision of the Ibru dynasty with his already illustrious brother. Together, they worked assiduously to provide the building blocks to what later became a giant edifice. The decline of that edifice in later years was to make a philosopher out of him. It can be said that each of the Ibru brothers achieved his own greatness since each stood out individually but Felix probably had an edge in the sense that he made successful forays into different arears. By the time he died, he was a successful Architect who had pioneered the design of domes in Nigeria and had many architectural landmarks which included Sheraton Hotel and Tower, Port Harcourt Civic Center and Universities of Benin and Lagos Master-plans; a successful politician who became a Senator and Governor; a successful businessman who helped in building one of the biggest

indigenous companies in Nigeria; and a successful cultural ambassador who became the President-General of the powerful Urhobo Progress Union UPU. You would expect Felix ibru to be vain if not down- right proud given his achievements. But the reverse was the case. I once mentioned his humility to an older friend who asked rhetorically if I had ever met a proud Ibru. On reflection, all the Ibru brothers carried themselves with civility even at the height of their pomp and power. They were young, good looking, rich and very well connected; all the ingredients that could easily mix to produce arrogance, yet they were to a man, humble and refined. I had been around the Ibrus for a while albeit from a distance because we all shared the same Alma Mater with the exception of Goodie. I was also one of the very few, if not the only reporter to have done a full page interview with Mike, the oldest of the brothers. But I got close to Felix only last year when I was contacted to collaborate

Felix Ibru was a man who was meticulous but extremely humble

with him on his biography. We had several deep and sometimes private sessions during which, like all biographers know, you get to know the core of a person.

Felix Ibru was a man who was meticulous but extremely humble. He was also a firm person with a high sense of justice. His penchant for the truth would not allow him to be quiet in the face of injustice and he would invariably find a

A

bout a month before, I decided not to th celebrate my 50 birthday for some r e a s o n s ; I just wanted it to pass by like a beautiful yacht at night: unnoticed, and I made this very clear to my wife severally. She never argued.

While I felt she was sensitive to my feelings, I also decided to be on my guard just in case she decided to be “mischievous.”

On March 9, my birthday, we went for morning mass and everybody left for work and school subsequently. I wanted to go somewhere and spend the whole day alone, but decided against it since I was panning out well. already home alone. I settled By 5:20 pm she requested we went to down to medicate and reflect on church for Stations of the Cross, a very the last 50 years. There was no sobering spiritual exercise I cherish so power supply, but I refused to put much. But I had already made up my on the generator because I did not mind to stay at home the whole day want anybody to know I was and told her so. She took it calmly. home. Meanwhile when I woke up Eighteen minutes later, my parish that morning, I saw birthday priest, Fr. Pius Omofuma, called me for messages from two old friends, an urgent meeting. I wanted to tell him Beatrice Aghwadoma at 4:01am I could not come, but refrained since and Chudey Pride at 6:04am. No he said it was urgent. course for alarm, these two people Off I left for church with everybody have a way with birthday dates. and the “doors and gate firmly locked.”

There was also a message from The “urgent meeting” over, I called my my cousin, Dicta Onuorah and her wife so we could go home, but she husband, Ekene, at 5:03am. Still complained of “serious stomach no course for alarm, they live upset.” She wanted to use the church nearby and we see every other toilet. That was odd because she day. avoided public toilets, unless

The birthday coup

By 8am the messages had started pouring in. I suspected and checked Facebook; my wife had posted it. Not what I planned, but nothing spoil, I carried on amidst congratulatory phone calls. Just before 4pm, my wife came back with the children carrying a big cake. No problem, usually, every birthday celebrant in my household cuts a cake. Then she went into the kitchen to cook “little soup because there is none.” Still no problem, but I ensured there were no drinks beyond the usual. The day was C M Y K

impossible, and had not used the church toilet in 16 years! She spent eternity in the “toilet” while I waited patiently pitying her.

Finally we left. When we got home the generator was on, but I remember seeing her putting it off. She immediately accused my son of failing to put off the gen. I reminded her I saw her putting it off. I was still trying to make sense of the “mystery” when I stepped into my dark sitting room to hear shouts of “happy birthday” and the lights came on. I had been badly

outwitted. A successful coup had just taken place. It then occurred to me why she desperately wanted me out of the house: to smuggle in the coup plotters, food and drinks. Everything now began to fall into place.

Among the coup plotters were my octogenarian and septuagenarian neighbours, the Bajomos; my other egbons, the Sowandes and the Morgans.

Mrs. Tayo Akintunde, Bode Akinboye and Godwin Evwaire, friends, close insurance associates and former colleagues at Industrial and General Insurance, were also involved. Of course my younger brothers, Emma and Edesiri, were active participants in the coup; I also suspect that my other brothers, though far away, were actively involved.

Others coup plotters are: Mrs. Stella Edafioka, Sir and Lady Lawrence Amadi, Aremo and Pastor (Mrs.) Tope Babayemi, Mr. and Mrs. Onoriode Oludemi, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Agbofode and the Egeres; not forgetting old coup plotters like Emma Esinnah and Ejike Ekwegbalu, friends and brothers of over 30 years since our days at Jackson Building (Mass Communication Dept.), University of Nigeria.

My church members, led by my Parish Priest and the Parish Pastoral Council First Vice Chairman, Sir Victor Anyanwu and his wife, were also part of the coup,

21

way to make his views known. It could be said that he respected but feared no one.

His mentor if any, would be the late Pa Awolowo with whom he shared the passion for truth and bluntness. If the sessions were warm and pleasant it was because he made them so. Not once was he late despite his failing health. I always found him seated with a file and his warm glass of water, and he would get up to usher me to my seat. He could be solicitous to a fault, always fussing over me with water, tea or even food.

He tried to make sure there were no interruptions during the sessions by way of visitors or calls. The height of his humility was when he asked for my permission to take a call that had become persistent! At the end of the sessions he always saw me to the door where we would talk about golf, the alma mater or some private stuff he did not want on tape. I found him a very decent man whose show of respect for people was genuine.

Another pointer to his person was how he chose to mark his 80 th birthday last year. He could have chosen to worship at the Cathedral in Lagos because he was a member or at the Arch Bishop Vining in Ikeja because he was also a member. But he wanted a chapel worship. So he chose a small chapel inside the Lagos State Teaching Hospital Ikeja where he worshiped with close friends and family.

Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye lived a good life; some would say a high life.

I relived part of that life with him last year. It was a life with its ups and downs including when he was wrongly locked up for a coup he knew nothing about.

His legacies however, are all around in his designs and contributions to the society. For me, the only regret is that I did not get close to him earlier. I would have wanted to spend more time around him. He was my kind of person. And I don’t say that of many people. also Fr. Vincent Bankole and some Rev. Sisters from nearby St. Anthony ’s.

Other coupists are Ezinne Esinnah, Pastor Deola and Bose Adekeye, three very mischievous aburos; Comrade Oghenetega, Ese, my sister-in-law; Juliet Enebeli, Efe Adaraugo, his wife and shockingly their toddler. Even my usually quiet neighbour, Sunkanmi Oladimeji got sucked in; his wife’s involvement was not surprising though. She looks like a coupist.

I took away two three lessons from the experience: one, do not underestimate a determined woman. Two, pray the determination is positive. Three, I will never finish reading that bulky book titled, Florence Oghenerume Eseoghene Ewherido, until I go to my grave.

To rub in the successful ambush, Mrs. Amadi teased me, “I think say Warri no dey carry last?” I replied, “na true, but sometimes dem fit catch Warri man mugu, expecially when trusted family members and clergies join the matter.

After all Warri man no be God, na man.”

Was I angry with my wife for the “betrayal”? Not at all; I loved every bit of it, especially the laughter, the love and the reunions. It is good to be loved.

My prayers as the awaiting-trialcoupists departed: God should not let laughter depart from them. May they enjoy health of body and mind and 10 years hence when I turn 60, may none of them present be missing through death as I experienced between my th th 40 and 50 birthday parties with my brother, Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido, my uncle-figure, Commodore David Edafioka and my friend of 28 years, Douglas Ude. I also thank other friends and family member for their love and well wishes via visits, phone calls, Facebook and other social media. God bless you all.

22 — SATURDAY Vanguard, March 19, 2016

Gospel music is poorly promoted – El Levite

BY JULIET EBIRIM In this interview, gospel reggae artiste, Hilary Okechukwu Ogbuagu popularly known as El Levite talks about his musical journey and his recently released album ‘Falling in love’. Excerpts…

When and how did you start doing music?

Music for me started in the church in 1998, the year I gave my life to Christ and joined a church band. As for how; I can say that it’s a thing of passion and interest. I developed interest early in the Rastafari movement. Due to this, I started listening to reggae music a lot and writing my own reggae songs too. I got influenced by the songs of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Beres Hammond, Ras Shiloh and more. I joined the reggae movement of Nigeria in 1993, then in JSS 3.

Finding myself in a church band helped to reshape and redirect my passion to a right direction, which is gospel reggae. That’s how it started.

Why did you choose to do music?

God designed us purposely to please Him by being blessings to the world through the talents and gifts He gave to us. We are to discover the gifts and use it to please Him. Coming to your question on why I chose music, I will say, I never chose music; rather, I grew up to discover that I was made

by God to do music.

Why reggae?

Yea reggae, because that is my area of strength. That is the genre of music I will be able to do even if you wake me up. It is a waste of time for one destined to be a lawyer playing football. So it is, if I go on playing any other genre, because others do. I learn to stay in my area of strength. That’s what uniqueness is all about.

What influences the messages in your songs?

Bible, experiences, nature, happenings, loved ones, almost everything.

I recently attended your album launch and it was explosive, tell us more about it and what’s your new album ‘Falling in Love’ all about?

I really have so much to say before

my call home.

Falling in Love is a preamble.

Next album is already in the pipeline, just letting you into my secret, it’s •Hilary Okechukwu Ogbuagu going to be titled ”Heaven Bound People ” Back to the launch, God did it. All my friends and mentors like Buchi, Orits Wiliki, Righteousman, Broda Martins, Big Bob, E’Davids, Jheri, Dason and more all honoured God by attending. In ‘Falling in Love’ album, I intend to as much as I can tell of God’s love from my own perspective. Where He picked me from and where I am today. How out of someone thought to be hopeless and useless, a message of hope is emanating. I also wish to encourage one out there to come to this same Jesus that did all these for me. If you listened to to track 2, ‘why do you love me so’, I clearly explained all these. Track 1, ‘Falling in Love’ too is a declaration of the path I have chosen to thread all my life, ‘Falling in love’ with Jesus.

My musical journey so far has been very fulfilling.

Nothing gives joy like finding yourself in your place of calling.

I am doing what I’m made to do,

What’s unique about your music?

I will give this answer from the feedback I get from people. I do ask my fans and loved ones similar question and what I get from them is that my delivery of reggae music is different from others. I actually emphasise on my message because that is the crux of it all. I also love good music and that’s where professionalism comes in. I try to do a universally acceptable music, not music that will not endure the test of time.

So far, how would you describe your musical journey?

My musical journey so far has been very fulfilling.

Nothing gives joy like finding yourself in your place of calling. I am doing what I’m made to do, just like a car designed to transport load from one place to another. People get blessed with what comes out of me and that is all that matters to me. I know I’m not there yet but the journey of a thousand miles starts with a step.

What are the challenges you’ve encountered in the course of doing music?

That’s a good question I always love to hear whenever I get interviewed.

You see, the platform we chose to do music in, which is gospel is poorly encouraged. Few record labels operate as gospel labels and the non-gospel ones rarely sign gospel artists. Also, Christian music in most cases are aired only on Sunday as the radio DJs and music presenters on TV hardly play gospel. What these tend do to us is that we are left to do our own things on our own. We promote our own works, market it and all that. That is our major challenge as gospel music artists.

Who do you look up to in the industry God first, Buchi, Righteousman, then internationally, King Stitchie, Papa San and Osmond Collins, these are some Jamaican friends I link up with.

Which reggae artiste do you look forward to working with?

Yea, in the next album, which I just mentioned a while ago, I am discussing with a lot of friends already. Buchi, Righteousman, Larry Kingdom (Jamaican), Kwesi Frontinelle (Trinidad & Tobago) Big Bob and more will be part of the album. And I promise you, it’s gonna be bombshell.

Where do you see yourself musically five years from now?

Romans 8:19 says: ‘For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed’. There is so much to do because there are so many souls out there that need to be reached. All I can say for now is that five years from now, I will not be where I am now as I will be better that I am now.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 19, 2016—23

Rotimi Agbana 08137741609

P-square br eakup Saga : Peter a

announces new manage m e nt as fans app e a l to Dangote to wade in P

opular Nigerian twin singers, P-square, has since been in the news over a possible breakup and change of management. The possible breakup which trended on all social media platforms in the last few weeks has finally culminated in what seems to be an actual breakup and change of management. One part of the singing duo, Peter, has announced a new brand name ‘Mr P’ and a new management.

Peter resorted to his Instagram page to break the news on Monday 14th, 2016, he posted a photo of himself in the studio and wrote “Work mood. Thanks for all the love, support and concern, please continue to remain blessed as always. For bookings and enquiries, please contact my new management…”

Though the estranged twins have not made an official statement or announcement about their breakup, maybe because of the endorsement deal they have with Glo, but signals from both of them suggests it. Meanwhile, fans of the twins have continued

reacting to the breakup saga, their fans and social media followers have been appealing to them to reconcile and continue doing music as a group. Fans even went as far as calling out to Nigeria’s business mogul, Aliko Dangote, to help settle the rift between the warring twins.

Majek Fashek goes to church:

shares t es timon y N

igerian reggae legend, Majekodunmi Fashekun, popularly known as ‘Majek Fashek’, made a surprise appearance in Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministries (CLAM), at Omole, Ogba, Lagos, on Sunday 13th March, 2016. The living legend, who recently returned from rehab, during a testimony session, revealed that Senior pastor Apostle Wole Oladiyun and his church had his back during his time of trial. “My testimony is that Jesus Christ is the master, you know before I went to Abuja for my rehab, Baba Oladiyun here came to my rescue, most churches won’t do that. May God bless him and keep this ministry, materials and spiritual are two different things, because Jesus Christ cannot come from Heaven to heal you. This Baba is a correct prophet”, Fashek said.

AY re veals wh ved out reveals whyy his wif wifee mo moved N

igerian multi-award winning comedian, actor, radio and TV presenter, director and MC, Ayo Makun, a.k.a ‘AY’, has finally come out to clear the air on his alleged marriage breakup.

How sickness inspired my latest single ‘Adura’ — Wehmmy Smith

By Kehinde Ajose hen Oluwole Wemimo a.k.a W Wehmmy Smith fell sick sometime last year, little did he know

Ushebebe welcomes baby boy

P

opular Nigerian comedian and OAP, Justice Nuagbe, a.k.a ‘Ushebebe’, and his wife, Annette recently welcomed a son. The funny comedian broke the joyous news when he posted a photo of his new born son on his Instagram page. Welcome to the world ‘ushebebe junior’.

C M Y K

that a song will be birthed out of his experience. Wehmmy Smith is a budding artiste, who stands out among his peers not only by his unique vocal delivery but also by his charming charisma. The dread-lock -wearing singer narrates how sickness inspired him to compose his latest single titled Adura. “I was sick last year December and my friends thought I was going to die. I even had to spend my Christmas in the hospital. After I became healthy, I went to the studio and my producer had created a reggae instrumental that he wanted me to sing on. It just dawned on me that I should do a prayer song, thanking God for his mercies. People often say artistes of this generation only talk about women in their music. I decided to do something different from what everyone else is doing.

What is actually unique about me is that I am versatile and I can blend with different genres of music”.

Recall that a few weeks back, a blogger, Stella Dimokokorkus (SDK), broke the news on her blog of an impending marriage breakup between the comedian and his wife, Mabel. The social media went haywire with series of pleas and advice from fans to Ay, pleading with him to forestall the alleged breakup, because there were a few pointers that could serve as evidence to the rumor. Mabel moved out of their home, unfollowed AY on Instagram and deleted his pictures from her page, which she restored some days later, reassuring her followers that she and AY were still together. AY recently confirmed that his wife moved out but because he fumigated his house. He came back the same day without his wife and this sparked off the rumor that his marriage was heading for the cliffs. He lamented the blogger as an amateur who sent the social media agog with false news that he was having marital issues without making verifications first. The comedian has reassured his fans and lovers that he would love his

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016 Edited by Ayo Onikoyi 08052201215

IBINABO ON HER JOURNE

I almost com suicide the was jailed —

By BENJAMIN NJOKU

S

•Ibinabo

C M Y K

ince the incident happened, I have learnt how not to trust anybody any more. I put my trust now in the Lord. And this is better explained in the new song I recorded.

The music captures my story.

Emotionally, I have been drained and to some extent humiliated, even in public...I wasn’t happy that I was involved in that accident. I have said it over and over again that I’m deeply sorry that it ever happened. I don’t know how else to atone for the accident.

I started begging my victim’s family from the very day the accident happened. My family attended the funeral rites and service of songs and I even attended the 40 days prayer when I was strong enough to move about. I met with the mother and the wife of the deceased. There’s virtually nothing I didn’t do to plead with the family of the deceased to let me off the hook. I’m still pleading with them as I speak with you right now.”

With this heart-rending statement Ibinabo Fiberesima broke down in tears after she was released from Kirikiri prison in 2009. It was same again Friday last week, as the appellate court dismissed her appeal and affirmed the High Court’s judgement, which sentenced her to five years imprisonment for manslaughter.

She was convicted following the death of a Lagos-based medical doctor, Dr Giwa Suraj, whom she killed in an auto accident along Lekki–Epe expressway, Lagos.

However, seven years after she had that horrible experience, the ex-beauty queen and incumbent president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria,AGN, is back to face the music. When the news of her conviction went viral on the internet, even her enemies wept for her. But despite the odds, the good thing is that Ibinabo has come to accept her fate, even as she said, she’s always praying for the family of her accident victim, Dr. Giwa Suraj.

Apparently, since the judgement was delivered, it has been greeted with an outpouring of emotion, pain and regrets on the part of Ibinabo’s colleagues.

Following her ordeal, major stakeholders in Nollywood refused to last Saturday as they met somewhere in Surulere, to fine-tune plans to mobilize

A-list actors and actresses prior to prevailing on the Lagos State government as well as the family late Dr Giwa Suraj to temper just with mercy.

The practitioners, including M Zulu Okafor, Mr Raph Nwadike Directors Guild of Nigeria, DGN president-elect, Fred Amata, vete film maker, Zeb Ejiro, Segun Arin Felix Duker, Ifeanyi Dike, Yakubu Mohammed,Mike Iliam among equally stormed Kirikiri prison th following day to show their solida with the incarcerated actress.

While at the Kirikiri prison, emo pervaded the vicinity as the mov took turns to see the actress seate small waiting room. Looking dep and in low spirit, once cheerful Ib expressed faith in God that the d storms would soon be over. Her l confirmed one thing and that’s th nothing that rends the heart, tha a life so quickly as being shut ou world. But while she was trying t her emotion, other female inmate busy having fun, as they kept sh

When I was granted a b the condition for granti the bail was that I shou challenge a jail term slammed on me by the High Court, and urge th court to restore the decision of the Magistr Court which sentenced to a N100, 000 fine, wh I did. And the appeal w only heard in January.

That’s all. The case was between Lagos State government and I

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016 — 25

EYS TO THE PRISON

mmitted first time I — Ibinabo

o

y of the tice

Mr. Zik e, N, eran nze, u others he arity

otion vie stars ed in a pressed binabo days of look here is at ruins ut of the to hide es were outing

bail, ing uld

he

rate d me hich was

s

and waving at some of the popular Nollywood faces who were at the prison.

Ibinabo’s lawyer was among the early birds at the prison. He disclosed that he would be heading to the Supreme court, on Monday, to apply for stay of execution of the jail sentence, even as Ibinabo’s son, Sean Liam Coughlan Saturday, urged Nigerians to pray for his mother.

He described Ibinabo as the “most humble woman I know, I was not aware she was a celebrity until I was about 14 and that’s only because my uncle told me. She does not see herself or act as if she is above any other person.”

My relationship with my accident victim’s family Meanwhile, a week before she was convicted, the actress painted a clear picture of the kind of relationship that was existing between the family of the deceased and herself.

Speaking with Showtime Celebrity, Ibinabo revealed that the late Dr. Suraj’s family banned her from coming to visit them.

According to her, “I don’t have a relationship with the family. They banned me from coming to see them. I used to visit the mother, but they warned me to stop coming to their house. So, I can only pray for them and that’s what I did always.”

Asked if she has ever tried to send the family goodwill messages, the actress replied, “If I had their GSM lines, I would have sent them messages. But like I said earlier, I was banned from visiting them. They said I should not dare get close to them.”

Also recounting what led to her present predicament, Ibinabo revealed that part of the condition for granting her bail in 2009, was that she should appeal the decision of the High Court, which sentenced her to five years in imprisonment. When I was granted bail, the condition for granting the bail was that I should challenge the jail term slammed on me by the High Court, and urge the court to restore the decision of the Magistrate Court which fined N100,000 and I paid. And the appeal was only heard in January, that’s all. The case was between Lagos State government and I,” Ibinabo recounted.

Second journey to Kirikiri prison Surprisingly, the appellate court, Friday last week dismissed her appeal as it

affirmed the High Court’s judgement.

Devastated by this development, the embattled actress broke down and wept like a baby as she was led out of the court after the judge ordered that she should be sent to Kirikiri for the second time.

Painful also was the fact that she was on her way to Port Harcourt when she got a call ordering her to turn back and present herself in court, unknown to her that it would be the beginning of her second journey to Kirikiri prison.

I’m still AGN president Ibinabo also addressed some of the burning issues affecting the smooth running of the actors’ body. According to her, while she was away, they freezed the guild’s bank account, making it almost impossible for the leadership of the guild to draw money for their health insurance scheme. She debunked the insinuation that she abandoned her office following the High court ruling that sacked her as the president of the guild, maintaining that she’s still the incumbent president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

Explaining why she has been away for some time now,the first AGN female president said it was as a result of health challenges. She revealed that she travelled abroad for medical test and they discovered a lump in her breast which has been removed.

Speaking further, she said, “the welfare of my members comes before any other thing. We must continue to push on our health insurance scheme for our members. I have my own health challenges too. I went for a test and they found a growth- a lump in my breasts which I had to remove. So, if we don’t do these tests continuously anything can happen. We usually take our lives for granted. You must continue to go for routine medical examinations. That’s what AGN is all about. We are here to ensure that our members are properly taken care of. We can’t get our money in the bank to pay for our health insurance because they froze the account. I opened the account before the case started.”

“We are back on track and everything is beginning to happen again. From next week, we would start touring all the states with a free computerized eye screening exercise for all members. We are getting back to our rhythm after all the distractions. “ Our members are the ones that have

suffered. I think it is time we helped them and pay attention to them. We have lost a lot of our members to death recently. It is very painful because we have not been able to pay for insurance scheme following the crises in the guild." However, following the prolonged crisis rocking the actors' body, Ibinabo lamented a situation where aggrieved members of the Guild would refer to her prison ordeal each time they want to attack her. " Every time they want to throw things at me, they would bring it up. I didn't steal anybody's money snd I am not a criminal. I was involved in an accident and I have internally remained sorry that it happened. They said I am going to jail again. I almost died the first time I was sent to jail in 2009. I almost committed suicide. But thank God that He brought me out of that depression," she lamented.

Miss Earth Palaver On the recent legal action instituted against her by former Miss Earth, Ibinabo dismissed the beauty queens claims that she was not paid for three months prior to the expiration of her tenure.

Explaining, She said, “I run a company and a girl signed a contact with the company. She goes to represent Nigeria in Philippines. There is this thing about beauty queens after coming back from international pageant, they are already superstars.

This was the case with Miss Earth. It wasn’t me, it was the company because we have people assigned to different things.

But they couldn’t reach her, they sent her text messages, they e-mailed her but when it is time to collect her salary, it’s automatic. This is like three months to the end of her reign. We couldn’t reach her.

She said she was at University of Port-Harcourt and we went there but she wasn’t there . So, they removed her and put the girl that came second in the competition to complete her reign.

The next thing I heard was that I was being sued. She said we didn’t give her the money for three months to the end of her reign. I hit a lawyer from Port-Harcourt, then called WAZOBIA and asked her to tell her story, but she refused to talk. My lawyer said he didn’t understand what they were suing me for. She signed contract with a company, not with Ibinabo, so they should remove my name because I had nothing as a person to do with it.

But the judge refused so my lawyer appealed that until they remove my name this case will not go on. An appeal is still pending on why my name shouldn’t be in the suit before the judge hurriedly gave judgement,”

•Ibinabo

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

By TOFARATI IGE 08068792241

•Olamide

•P-Square

•Dija

Top Nigerian artistes likely in copyright mess

•Davido

•2face

By TOFARATI IGE Copyright infringement is a crime that is frowned at all over the world.

Albeit, it is taken more seriously in some countries than others. In Nigeria it is hardly a crime to scrounge on another ’s intellectual property, little wonder it is practiced with some measure of gusto. In this illuminating piece, we take a look at some of the culprits of this particular crime. Enjoy...

P-Square

PSquare eter and Paul Okoye of Pare one of the biggest

artistes out of Africa. They’re also one of the most guilty when it comes to copyright issue. The duo brazenly lifts lyrics and rhythms from other songs; especially international ones. They are known to have sampled existing music for their songs like ‘Danger,’ ‘Get Squared,’ ‘Last Nite,’ ‘Roll It,’ ‘Onyinye,’ ‘Game Over’ among others. It should be recalled that an actress, Steph Nora-Okereke, once accused the twin brothers of stealing her song, ‘Jeje’ which she had earlier sent to their brother, Jude, to get his opinion.

Ketchup

Kwarming etchup’s career is just up, but he needs to

be really careful if he wants to have a long stay in the music industry. In one of his latest songs, ‘Pam Pam,’ Ketchup wantonly lifted the lyrics from Shaggy’s ‘It Wasn’t Me,’ and Chaka Demus & Pliers’ ‘Bam Bam.’ The copyright infringement is so blatant as Ketchup sang, ‘Shoddy came in and she caught me red-handed sleeping with the girl next door...’ which is the exact lyrics used by Shaggy in the original song. It would be interesting to

see what will happen if Ketchup travels out of the country to perform ‘Pam Pam,’ and Shaggy, Chaka Demus & Pliers, or their representatives, get a wind of it.

Well; your guess is as good as mine!

DI’JA

HNigerian alf-Sierra-Leonan, halfMavin singer,

Dija,is also culpable when it comes to copyright infringement.

In her latest song, ‘Take Kiss,’ she sampled another Nigerian singer, Jodie’s ‘Kuchi Kuchi’ melody. She also borrowed a leaf from Ketchup as she ‘stole’ from Shaggy’s ‘It Wasn’t Me’ for one of the verses of her song as well.

Olamide his dude from Bariga, T Lagos, is distinctly talented and creative; everybody knows

that. But he is also in this copyright bus. He used the name of a popular old movie, ‘Yemi My Lover’ as the title of his 2013 hitsong; and of course, that made the record more successful as it invoked nostalgic feelings in people who are familiar with the movie. In an earlier chat, Yemi Ayebo, who is the producer of the

movie, stated that Olamide did not seek his permission in any way before using the film-title.

However, Yemi stated that he likes Olamide’s music; hence, he wouldn’t be dragging the ‘Durosoke’ rapper to the court.

It should be recalled that D’banj’s producer, Deevee, recently called out the rapper for stealing D’banj’s song to make his own ‘Don’t Stop’ which is contained in his ‘Eyan Mayweather’ album.

Clarence Peters

N

igerian music video directors have been given

kudos for the good quality of music videos they have managed to churn out over the years. But many of them are also borrowing other people’s goods without acknowledgment Clarence Peters is alleged to have stolen concepts from many foreign songs for the videos he directs. He reportedly copied the idea of South African rapper, Tumi Molekane’s ‘Asinamali’ for Tiwa Savage’s ‘Eminado.’

Clarence was also accused of yanking the concept of US rap group, Slaughterhouse’s ‘My Life’ video for Ice Prince’s ‘VIP.’ The above examples are just some of the many allegations

against Peters, though he has never addressed the issue.

MOE MUSA ondon-based Mr. Moe L Musa is another video director walking the thin line of copyright infringement.

He is alleged to have stolen the concept for Davido’s ‘Skelewu’ music video from LMFAO’s ‘Party Anthem’ as both music videos have similar scenes and sequence.

2face/Blackface

Fgroup ormer Plantashun Boiz members, 2face and

Blackface have been at loggerheads for a while due to issues of copyright. Blackface is alleged to have written the widely-successful ‘African Queen’ which 2face got acclaim for. However, 2face later paid Blackface royalties from the song.

More recently, Blackface accused 2face of also denying him credit in the song ‘Let Somebody Love You’ which they both wrote together in their days as Plantashun Boiz. 2face later featured American singer, Bridget Kelly in the song, and included it in his The Ascension album.

•Wizkid

Wizkid/Blackface lackface also recently B accused Wizkid of stealing the lyrics for his global hit, ‘Ojuelegba’ from him.

Davido/Password

O

mo Baba Olowo singer, Davido had his share of copyright infringement controversy when an upcoming act, Password accused him of stealing the concept and lyrics of the song, ‘Gobe.’

Skales/Wizkid

F

ormer EME signees, Wizkid and Skales went for each other’s jugular over the widely popular song, ‘Azonto.’

Skales claimed that Wizzy stole the song from him.

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2015—27

100 Years: “The Movie You ’ll Never See’ coming to Nigeria

A

fter it was celebrated last November with an exclusive preview of the film’s trailer at the Sheats Goldstein Mansion in Los Angeles, “100 Years: The Movie you’ll never See,” starring French actor, John Malkovich, is set to conquer the world.

The ground-breaking movie, which envisions Earth one hundred years from now (not to be released till 2115) began its tour of the world recently after it was transported to London under heavy security, having commenced the journey last December in Hong Kong.

The film is now on its way to Tokyo, Moscow, and the United States. It is expected to storm Nigeria and South Africa later in the year before it reaches its final destination at the House of Louis XIII in Cognac, where the safe box will be finally unlocked in one hundred years from now.

Directed by Robert Rodriguezn, the film is said to be inspired by the century of careful craftsmanship and patience it takes to create each decanter of Louis XIII Cognac. Ludovic du Plessis, Global Executive Director for Louis XIII Cognac, the sponsors of the film, was in Nigeria last week where he unravelled the mystery behind the big-budget film, stating categorically what his company intends to achieve by embarking on such ambitious project. According to him, “We want to use the movie to increase awareness on the beauty of Louis XIII Cognac, and at the moment, we have over one billion followers on Twitter and other social media platform.” Ludovic, who has only worked with the company for fourteen months now, said he approached actor John Malkovich to develop an original screenplay for “100 Years” that would reflect the incredible legacy of craftsmanship that goes into one decanter of Louis XIII, and the fact that its creators will never experience the results of their work. “ I told Malkovich that when the movie is produced, we are going to put the only copy of it in a luxury safe box for the next 100 years. So, the source of inspiration of that movie is Louis XIII, is the fact that it takes 100 years and four generation of Cellar Masters to craft one,” he said.

According to him, to ensure that “100 Years” remains secure until its official premiere on November 18, 2115, one century from now, the film was placed in a state-of-the-art safe which will open automatically in 100 years when the timing is complete.“One thousand important guests from around the world received an exclusive invitation to give to their descendants to attend the premiere of “100 Years”, on November 18, 2115, at the House of Louis XIII in Cognac, France.”

Interestingly, just as each cellar master dedicates his life to creating a masterpiece that he will never experience, the cast and crew of “100 Years” will never see the final cut of the film.

C M Y K

*Ludovic du Plessis,

Remi Momodu fights domestic violence through film

U

S-based Nigerian actress and producer, Remi Momodu has commenced her fight against domestic violence on African women in diaspora as he concludes plans to premiere her much talked about debut feature film,” XYZA” in Nigeria.

The film which premièred in Baltimore last year addresses the stigma associated with domestic violence among Africans in diaspora. Momodu expressed her heart-felt desire to create awareness for this topic that no one wants to talk about. She was in Nigeria last week to promote the film.

According to her, “This is of interest to me because the situation is very rampant in the place where I live in the United States.

In recent times, we’ve had major cases where African men, particularly Nigerian men, who travelled back to Nigeria and •Remi Momodu brought their women back to America, many of the times, they are usually in the heath care business. They are interested in having affairs with registered nurses and people that are in the medical profession. For them, having anything to do with these equel to the success recorded by his epic movie, people will help them regularize their stay abroad.

“Invasion 1897”, which broke new grounds at the international scene last year, Lancelot Imasuen has landed They become cash cows another big deal as he signs a multi-million naira production where they can make more money. Because there was no contract with a leading online TV platform, Nollytv. This is coming, as the Nigeria Police has courtship, the couples are having commissioned the celebrated film director always misunderstanding. There to produce a TV series, “Beyond Your Sight”, to up its ante. Already, Lancelot is were incidents where we on a location, in Abuja, shooting 13- actually lose these women to domestic violence.” episode of the TV series. It centres on a Speaking further, she true life investigative exploits of the narrated an incident where a Nigeria Police. “For the first time, we are Nigerian man shot his wife to going to have a Nigeria Police sponsored production with all the Police equipment death and also took his own and uniform on parade. The TV series will life because of irreconcilable differences. “ Before I came be the flagship on how the Police should be perceived by the public,” Lancelot said. to Nigeria two weeks ago, we However, on the Nollywtv deal, D’Guvon had a case. A Nigerian man married to an Igbo lady shot as he’s fondly called by his fans and colleagues, will be producing about ten her to death. She had a five quality movies subsequently for the online months old baby in the house with her mother and a seven TV platform within the next one year. The project, HVP gathered would kick off next year old son too. He also took month in Abuja with the production of such his own life. They were all gone. So there are five short movies as “The Girls are Not Smiling”, and York upon the Hill.” children left. He had three Overwhelmed by the new deal, the celebrated director said, children from Nigeria and two in America; so, five kids with “I am excited and honoured to be chosen pilot this big project.

It speaks volume of how much my works are appreciated by no father or mother. So the the people, given the number of years I have put in, in the story continues. It’s an endemic problem, it’s a public industry. I can only it my best shot.” health issue.”

Lancelot signs production deals with Nollytv, Nigeria Police S

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

08 11 6759 759 081 6759759

‘If I got pregnant, Lucy would definitely get pregnant straight away, because our bodies need to be the same’

I

dentical twins who share everything including a bed and their boyfriend, have vowed they will try and fall pregnant together as well.

Anna and Lucy DeCinque, 30, from Perth, have spent nearly $250,000 on cosmetic enhancements to look more alike including lip fillers, breast implants, and fake eyebrows and eyelashes. The pair have both been dating electrical mechanic Ben Byrne, 32, for four years and have claimed they must have children together as their 'bodies need to be the same,' news.com.au reported.

'We would have to be exactly the same — even if we went through IVF at the same time,' they said. Although Lucy and Anna are not ready to fall pregnant yet, they said they 'love children and kids love them.'

The twins will appeared on SBS's Insight program on Tuesday to discuss how identical twins change and develop as they get older. Ac-

Incredible moment naked cheater escapes via balcony to man had actually avoid being caught by lover's husband desperate come from their flat.

H

ILARIOUS footage has emerged of a na ked man abseiling from a balcony to avoid being caught cheating with a married

R

USSIANS are best known for craving vodka, but when this man woke up from surgery in his local hospital, it was beer he

woman.

The video was filmed by two flatmates who were taking a walk in the garden but they did not realise until later that the

Liu and Zhao, the two friends renting a flat together in the city of Wuhan, capital of central China’s Hubei Province, had left their door unlocked while taking

Three sheets to the wind!

wanted - badly.

Intensive care nurses refused to serve his favourite

brew, so he unplugged his drips, evaded security, and walked out of hospital wear-

cording to the program, identical twins share 99.9 per cent of the same DNA and their intellect, sexuality and health can show genetic versus environmental factors.

'If she walks a few metres, I need to walk a few metres because we have to burn the same calories,' Lucy told the program. 'Our diet is identical. Our food has to be identical. The same glass of water we measure. The same size of chip packets we have to measure.' The pair said they feel as if they 'don't exist' if their sibling is not with them.

The duo met Mr Byrne after he added them on Facebook on the suggestion of mutual friends. 'It's my first time with two girlfriends, and to be honest it's very difficult because it has to be 100 per cent even,' Mr Byrne told Woman's Day in July 2014.

'Whatever I do for one I have to do for the other, so it's a fine bal-

ance. My mates reckon it's a cool problem to have.'

Lucy said the question they got the most was: 'How does one guy keep up with two girls in the bedroom?' 'Put it this way, we're very active girls and he needs twice the energy,' she said.

The three share a 'super king-sized bed'.

a quick stroll outside.

When they rounded their block, Liu noticed a naked man on the second-storey balcony, in an apparent state of panic as he looked for an escape route.

But Liu eventually realised that the man was actually standing on his and Zhao’s balcony, and whipped

out his mobile phone to film the incident. Having failed to notice the pair now recording the hilarious occurence, the man ran back inside to put on a pair of red underpants and put on a white T-shirt. He then flung his clothes from the balcony before looping a rope around an airconditioning unit.

The caught short lover then started lowering himself from the balcony using the rope and anchoring himself on the burglar bars below.

The oblivious abseiling lover then bolted without even putting on his trousers. Liu later told local media that the man was visiting his married girlfriend who was a neighbour in the block of flats, and had most probably fled when her husband came home. Liu assumed that the man had chosen to escape through their flat because it was the only one left unlocked.

ing only a sheet to go in search of an off license.

Reports said he was oblivious to the outside tempera-

ture in his town of Sayanogorsk - a chilly minus 16C. But the unnamed patient got no more joy at the liquor store.

Staff refused his demand for beer and instead called the police, who arrived minutes later.

Officers escorted him, still wearing the sheet, to a van which drive him back to hospital. The hospital is now reviewing its security which was supposed to be on high alert because of a flu epidemic in the region.

SA TURD AY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016—29 SATURD TURDA

Sho wer or Divine Y ugbo vwre @ 60 Show erss of encomiums ffor Yugbo ugbovwre

T

he first thought that comes to mind on seeing the birthday girl, Evangelist Divine Yugbovwre, is the conviction that somebody must have tampered with her age, because if she looks anything, it is nothing close to 60. Even the occasion’s MC joked he couldn’t make out who was the celebrant between her and her children.

From the husband, Pastor Raymond Yugbovwre, to the children, and the family’s friends it was encomium galore for the celebrant. “ You are my open book that I cannot stop admiring deeply, with o many sweet chapters that are sensationally too natural and refreshingly rewarding” says the husband.

The celebration which took place on Sunday, March 13th started with a thanksgiving service at the Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church, Palmgroove and climaxed with panoply of glamour and panache at the Excel Event Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Photos by Akinwunmi Ibrahim

Wedding bell ffor or TTolu olu Osho and Joseph Ajewole

T

he marriage between Temileye Tolulope Osho and Oluwaseyi Joseph Ajewole took place at the Apostolic Faith Church, Anthony Village, Lagos on Thursday, March 17, 2016.

Families and friends of the couple turned out in great number to witness the union and wished the couple marital bliss. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele

L-R: Mr Babatunde Osho; Mrs Adeola Osho, bride's parents;Mrs Josephine Adeniran, wife of District Superintendent, Apstolic Faith Church Anthony Village; Mr and Mrs Oluwaseyi Ajewole, couple; Mr Joshua Ajewole and Mrs Janet Ajewole, groom's parents The celebrant, Evangelist Divine Yugbovwre and hubby, Pastor Raymond Yugbovwre and children

L-R: Mr Bode Odulaja, his wife Bolanle; Mr Benjain Asokhia and his wife, Josephine.

L-R: Richard Mofe-Damijo and Mrs. Joyce Everett

Presiding Pastor of Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church, Bishop Chioma Grace Dauji and her husband, Baba Dauji

L-R: Mr Wole Ajayi; Mr Ebong Asuquo and Bayo Adesanya.

R-L: Chief Sonny Okpurhe; Mrs. Betty and her husband, Mr. Mathew Efole.

R-L: Dr. Mathew Eshalomi; Prof. Egerton Uveighara and his wife, Hauwa C M Y K

L-R: Mrs. Helen Melinfonwu; Mrs. Pamela Arigbe and husband, Mr. Peter Arigbe.

Mr and Mrs Oseni

Mr Jimi Osho and his wife, Sarah.

30 — SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, MARCH 19 19,, 2016

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Men should stop acting as if they could get away with AIDS

S

INCE I came back from the UK a couple of years ago, I have had dates with a string of successful, charming, university educated men from lawyers to bankers and showbiz men and, no matter how serious the relationship became, not one of them ever mentioned safe sex or used a condom without my insistence”, said Nina, in her late 20s and a fairly successful IT expert. “Which begs the question: in a city where unbridled hedonism is becoming the norm, what has happened to the AIDS conversation?

There is a lack of awareness among young people, and the belief that ‘this won’t happen to me’. And saying STDs are something only dirty people get is unfortunately, a typical view which is scary, considering the sexual health record the country has.

“To get a glimpse into the Nigerian male’s head-inthe-sand attitude, I recently met a good banker friend in his 30s for drinks at his elitist club. Though he is successful and well educated, I found his views on safe sex alarming. According to him, If you move in the right circle, that type of thing just doesn’t happen. I don’t go out to sleazy beer parlours. I go to members’ clubs like the one I’ve invited you to, where you know two things about the members you meet: that the membership committee has approved them, and that they can afford to spend over a quarter of a million naira or more to belong.

Otherwise, I tend to meet people at friend’s parties, so it’s not as if I’m picking up women in a randomly chosen bar’.

“Nigerian men also seem to associate condoms with illicit affairs more suitable to a one-night-stand than a proper girl-friend. “If a C M Y K

man carries condoms in his wallet here, women think: he’s obviously after a onenight-stand and does it a lot”, said one of the men I talked with. By that logic, not having the STD discussion implies a sense

of trust and therefore greater intimacy. Unfortunately, the illusion of romance ends when the painful symptoms begin. One of my friends, a 32-year-old investments banker with a boyfriend who adores her, found out the

hard way recently when he confronted her about the pain he was suddenly suffering. He had met her at an out-of-the-way fast food joint and said, ‘I have a sexually transmitted disease, and it can only have come from you since I haven’t slept with anyone else’. He hadn’t even been tested to confirm his suspicion but basically, he suggested that my friend was the whore of Babylon.

Meanwhile, her boyfriend became incommunicado— apparently he found declaring undying love less daunting than talking about his problem. It was several days before he was able to discuss the subject, by which time my friend turned out to have nothing nastier than trust!” Ask the average Nigerian man: have you ever been tested for STDs? And he would want to know why he would do

that since he ‘d never had anything wrong with his sexual life all his life.

“I’ve pointed out gently to quite a few that many infections such as chlamydia (the most common and easily spread) can show no symptom for months or even years. I also realise that not only were Nigerian men completely unaware of the symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhoea, but some of them never even believe they could ever get them!

“Our men obviously have a very prudent attitude towards sex that is riddled with hypocrisy. They all have often been bombarded with explicit imagery, yet fail to have open discussions about the basic facts of life or talk to the children about sex.

We’ve got to discard our belief that safe sex and romance are mutually exclusive”.

Drawing the line between rape and a one-night-stand!

W

Our men obviously have a very prudent attitude towards sex that is riddled with hypocrisy

HAT sort of buzz, drives a man to one-night-stand, relationships? Lola had accompanied her friend to her exhusband’s birthday party, hoping to have the good time she promised. “He has birthday bashes annually”, said Lola, “and my friend has stayed friends with her ex because he was a good provider even when their marriage wasn’t really working.

“He is a real clown, more a Jack-the-dad than the successful man he’s turned out to be. The party, apart from its not being a landmark one, was elaborate —good food, good booze and a good crowd. The music was a jazzy mix. Later in the evening, I stood outside the busy toilet when he said I could use the one in his bedroom. I wasn’t there one minute, when he burst in and was all over me. I was shocked. He mumbled that he’d been watching me all evening; that he’d found me attractive for ages, and all those mushy things men say when they are in heat. I was shocked and terribly embarrassed. I had never given him the impression I fancied him.

“I tried to beat him off but he was too strong. Unfortunately, my knickers were already round my ankles and he raped me there and then. He was out of the toilet before I knew what had happened! I felt so used and humiliated and when I got back to the party, I thought every-one would know what had happened to me. But they all just carried on enjoying themselves. My rapist didn’t as much as look my way and when we left, he even saw us off telling my friend

what a beautiful lady I was. I felt so humiliated, I wanted to blurt out what happened but who would believe me?”

Kayode prided himself on being a good one-night-stand man. “I simply love the challenge of bedding a girl the first time I met her, if I find her attractive, that is”, he bragged. “The moment I clamp my eyes on a victim, the possibilities start running through my mind. Will we be sexually compatible?

Will I come too quickly or won’t I be able to come at all?” One night stands have a habit of cropping up, if not often, then once in a while, especially nights when there is too much flirting and drinking at parties, giving you too much build-up opportunity. Then you kid yourself that the chemistry between you and your victim is right and then, wham!

“Of course, I’ve burnt my fingers from time to time. I’ve discovered, for instance, that my prowess between the sheets—if you call it that—has become topic for conversation at some female get together during the course of their now frequent drinking chin-wags.

Women, like men, now freely discuss their sexual escapades, and I’ve listened to a few deride the techniques of some really influential men. Makes your flesh crawl at times!

‘They are certainly more brazen than men especially when they’ve had a few drinks.

So, it’s not only men that are the predators.

Some women offer you sex on the platter when it is the furtherest thing from your mind!”

SATURDAY

Vanguard , MARCH 19, 2016 — 31 YETUNDE AREBI Yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk tweeterhandle@yetundearebi 08054700825

Ese Oruru: Unanswered questions on my mind (2) On the Orurus and time factor While much has been said about the quality of parenting Ese had with a mother who runs and bukateria and a father out of job, prior to her alleged abduction, I want to focus more on what they did after, though the two are interwoven and adds up to the total bizarre picture that is now working us all up into a frenzy. According to Ese’s mother, the unfortunate incident took place late night, 12th August, 2015 when the then 13 year old girl refused to return from a visit to a sick friend. While no one has identified the veracity of the story told by Ese to her parents, if indeed there was a sick friend or if it was only an excuse to get the exit, it still bothers me that a little child of Ese’s age could be let loose to go visiting a friend all by herself, unless it was on the same street. At what time of the day? After school hours when she ought to be busy with her home work or helping out in the shop?

There is no doubts in my mind that Mrs Oruru must have been distraught when she discovered Ese missing, but much as they claim that there is no relationship between Yunusa and Ese, we are told that it was in his direction that their search began. Why, if they suspected or knew nothing was brewing between them? If I may ask, how many young people confide in their parents about their crushes or boyfriends until they are ready for marriage? It is even taboo in African culture that parents will the pre-marital affairs of their children, especially the females. Ironically, mothers are always in the know and often guide such relationships from their husband’s knowledge. When things work out fine, they take the glory of grooming their daughters well at a proper wedding ceremony and when it fails, they return to the trenches to try their luck with another guy, yet again. Mrs. Oruru may therefore not get away with this instance.

But pray, what was the mother of an innocent, young girl doing about finding her missing daughter between 12th August and September when she finally made the trip to Kano? All sorts of excuses have been postulated by critics in support of the Orurus but my guess is that on ascertaining the whereabouts of her daughter and overwhelmed by anger, Mrs. Oruru might have initially decided to abandoned her to her fate, believing that when the true impact of her naive decision dawns on her, she will retrace her steps home. This sort of initial reaction is not unexpected when one has the misfortune of having to constantly whip a recalcitrant child to order. The Yorubas have a saying; “Omo yi ma pami, to ba ya, omo yi ma pa ra e ni o da” meaning that there is a limit one can protect disobedient children from themselves, eventually, they must learn from experience. Going after Ese, weeks after she left home with Yellow was an afterthought and probably on the prompting of family and friends.

As a mother, I am not convinced that Mrs Oruru did all she could to bring Ese back home on that first trip to Kano, more so, from reports that Ese who had been converted to C M Y K

It is even taboo in African culture that parents will the premarital affairs of their children, especially the females.

Ironically, mothers are always in the know and often guide such relationships from their husband’s knowledge Aisha refused her mother’s help at the time. I know many mothers who would not return home alive without their child, and I am one of them. While I must commend her for whatever stunt she pulled to get the attention and intervention of the Emir, she ought to have stayed behind to see things through and return home with Ese by all means possible. But she left Kano without her daughter and returned to the comfort of her home, business and other children. Nowhere in all the reports I have read has it that Ese’s mother returned to Kano after her September visit. Another two months will pass by before Ese’s father tried again in December. Here, the parable of the Sheppard and the lost sheep by Jesus Christ comes to mind. Jesus went ahead to draw an analogy between the Sheppard and the sheep, parents and their children and God and mankind. The import of the story runs very deep across religious divide, but Mrs. Oruru’s story does not seem to reflect this. It does not also tally with the picture the family is now striving so hard to paint of themselves and Ese now that the story has become public property. The excuse of financial, educational or social status does not wash with me.

Same, goes for the school teacher, Mrs. Arise Douye, who though claimed Ese was a brilliant student, she neither knew her parents, where they lived or her whereabouts until the story went public. This teacher whose very brilliant student did not only stop coming to school, but even failed to sit for an important examination did not bother to make enquiries into her disappearance.

This is not the picture of teachers and indeed, schools that many of us know. Brilliant and well mannered students are assets to any school and such schools often make great efforts to keep them, including offering scholarships and free extra tutorials. Still, Ese might be intelligent or brilliant in her studies, but this has nothing to do with her character, behaviour or attitude. For me,

the much publicised photograph of Ese, before the alleged abduction says it all and I ask, how many of our 13 year old daughters spot such looks, Crinkled hair, sexy make-up et al? It is very clear to my mind and any rational mind at that; that there is a concerted effort to rewrite the script of what actually began unfolding long before 12th August, 2015, for reasons best known to those behind the whole saga, but which has only regurgitated our disgusting display of hypocrisy and loathing of one another. Must we always stand facts on its head just so we score cheap points that will not do anyone, especially our nation, any good?

Also worth mentioning is the role of the NGOs who waded in and helped in restoring Ese to her family. While one must recognise and commend their effort; my question still, is, why did this rescue mission take between December and February to happen? Reports say that Khan Initiative, the NGO that intervened, got wind of the story in December and began the “exercise” of setting her free. Why should there be an “exercise” again to set her free after the Police in Kano had been notified and the Emir had declared Dahiru’s action illegal (even under the Sharia laws) and had ordered that Ese be reunited with her family? The noise that began late February ought to have started as early as December if you ask me. If the Orurus had no knowledge of the importance and power of the media between August and December, same is not true for NGOs that thrive on publicity. The excuse of protecting her identity as a minor does not hold since it was eventually not adhered to. All these noise would have made significant impact back in September when Mrs. Oruru first went to Kano, and not now that the girl has been permanent traumatised, stigmatised and damaged. But still, there is reason to be thankful.

There is no doubt that there is a silent rivalry and aggressive competition going on between the NGOs and the reasons are obvious to social critics. The more successful interventions recorded, the more popular your NGO and the more grants and funds you are exposed to accessing.

All the better if they are high profile cases such as this.

While many of our NGOs have come to the realisation that they cannot handle all cases single handed and must align with others to achieve timely interventions, a lot still depend on their own strength and strategies. It is better to collaborate and achieve something great than fly solo and lose something great. This way, its a win-win for everyone.

On Yunusu, the law and the people’s court There is no doubt that Yunusa Dahiru has erred because the law stipulates so in very clear terms. A young man of 25 years is no baby and by law must be treated as an adult.

Bearing in mind that his actions had also earlier been condemned by his Emir and the Sharia court had been ordered to return Ese to her mother, the issue of religion or demography might also not hold water here. So also, a lack of formal education and knowledge of the Nigerian constitution and Child’s Right laws may not be acceptable as ignorance is not a tenable excuse for doing wrong. But would the story be different, were Yunusa, with the same background, been an under-aged boy? Would it be different if, Yunusa, with the same background, carried on with Ese in Bayelsa under the watch of her parents? Or would it have generated same reaction had Yunusa been a Southern Christian? Ese will get away with all her atrocities because she is a minor. Yunusa may not be so lucky because he is an adult.

The law must take its course. The course of the law is not however straight and narrow. In law, two and two does not always add up to four, so far as lawyers from both sides can argue their cases convincingly without an iota of doubt, against the presentation of the prosecutors. All facts and evidences must be examined without any of the sentiments and emotional masturbation that the public has been subjecting this story to. For, we are not likely to know the whole truth until a proper and thorough investigation in carried out. The Police must cease this opportunity to carry out its duty with fear, favour, sentiments or playing to the gallery, so that whichever way it goes, justice will not be allowed to stand on its head.

An important lesson from this case is a confirmation that young people learn from what they see and not necessarily what they are told. Children are the future leaders of any nation and the seeds we sew in them will determine not only their future but that of the nation too. As individuals and a people therefore, we must reposition ourselves to save our nation from a deep rooted hypocrisy and double standards than can only destroy us. The future has crept in on us and everyone has been found wanting. If Yunusa was told by his father that he was treading on dangerous grounds, same with the Emir, he was definitely not convinced as he knew of similar cases all around him with no one reprimanding them for their actions. What Yunusa probably did not understand however, was that he lacked the social and financial status and the power to pull off such an immoral stunt and get away with it. Paedophilia in Nigeria is a game for the “big boys” only!

32

— SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 19 , 2016

B-R-I-E-F-S

Lawless Fulani herdsmen take over BRT lane

A

s the nation appears to be helpless on the activities of the Fulani herdsmen, causing incessant clashes and killings in several rural and semi urban areas, Lagos is having its own

share of this misdemeanour, as they take their cattle through the Bus Rapid Transport, BRT lane along Ikorodu road, Lagos, constituting traffic hazards to motorists, BRT buses and other road users.

Last week, several cow and their herdsmen were spotted on the Ajegunle axis, and a few days ago, they were also spotted at the Itowolo axis blocking traffic flow on the BRT corridor. We gathered that the timely intervention of the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI officials saved the situation.

Reacting to the development, members of the House of Assembly took turn to condemn the act and calling for drastic action to taken against the herdsmen.

In a motion moved by the Majority leader Sanai Agunbiade, he noted that cattle rearers now take to BRT lanes which has no grass to graze for their cattle, between Owode Onirin and Mile 12 at noon.

Agunbiade said “Surprisingly I saw some Fulani herdsmen taking their cattle on Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, lane in Ikorodu around 10pm and someone on internet shared a picture of same act along Mile12/ Owode Onirin also in Ikorodu in broad day.”

He also stated that there was the need to call the attention of the government and relevant agencies, particularly, the BRT monitoring team to put an end to this ugly development.

Hon. Wahab Jimoh who represents Apapa Constituency I reiterated that the Fulani are also grazing at Mobil Road

in Apapa and they are also slaughtering cows in an unauthorized places in the area. “There is the need to use the necessary law to penalize them.” Meanwhile the House resolved to call on the Governor Mr.

with agency report

I

n spite the suspension of strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), last week, mad rush for the Premium Motor Spirits, PMS, at filling stations still linger after days of acute scarcity within the metropolis.

Similarly, there seems to be no end in sight on the protracted black out partly occasioned by the face off between labour unions and Ikeja Distribution Companies, DISCO. It is therefore an excruciating story of ‘no electricity and no fuel to power generating sets’ as alternative power source.

In spite of the suspension of the strike action embarked upon by oil workers most filling stations are yet shut.

It was however, a thug of war, a near anarchy situation in the few filling stations that dispense fuel as desperate commuters jostle with dare-devil black-marketers C M Y K

T

he Lagos State Government has vowed to demolish part of a new housing estate obstructing the Iya-Alaro stream and canal near Ojota-Maryland axis of the state.

Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, who disclosed this stressed that the government will carry out the demolition to serve as a deterrent to others violating the State Environmental Laws.

He explained that an aerial tour of the state revealed a mixed report of the environment, noting that “on one side, the overall picture reveals a state of natural aquatic splendour that would be the envy of a city like Dubai, while on the other side, there are instances of environmental degradation”.

Adejare revealed further that, as part of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration’s determination to deliver an aesthetically safe and healthy state to Lagos by its 50th anniversary, the popular Olushosun landfill site will soon be a thing of the past.

He disclosed that the new thinking of the government is to consolidate on its waste to wealth programme by harnessing plastic waste from the landfills for recycling on a large scale.

Lawmakers move to sanction fighting teachers •Fulani herdsmen take their cattle through the BRT lane along Ikorodu road, Lagos recently Akinwunmi Ambode to direct necessary agencies to enforce the state traffic law that will check the movement of cows particularly on the BRT lane, while, Commissioner for Information and Strategy should

intensify awareness campaign in Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo languages on movement of cows on our major roads, as well as using only authorized abattoirs in the state.

Lagosians groan under darkness, fuel scarcity

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Mega-city: Govt marks structures blocking canal for demolition

competing for supremacy of rights.

Jerry-cans, particularly the 30litre keg has emerged the standard black marketers gauge either for selling or even for buying at fuel stations, since it attracts standard settlement ‘fee’ before willing petrol attendants who would rather sell into kegs, than into cars.

Commuters are not spared as commercial bus drivers hike the fare to over 100 percent in some cases.

Those who can not afford the exorbitant fee have taken to trekking.

Some concerned residents expressed concern that the fuel crisis situation may adversely affect their weekend activities.

“Is this the CHANGE, Muhammadu Buhari promised us. If it’s so, we are absolutely, disappointed in his administration of no direction”, a worried motorist, Mr. Akin stated.

Darkness The power outage which was due to alleged sack of 400

workers, have thrown most parts of the metropolis into darkness.

The situation is worsened by the non availability of PMSs in most filling stations.

Residents have been thrown into endless search for portable as there is no electricity supply to pump machine of borehole.

Worried by the development, electricity consumers under the network of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company IKEDC, had called on the government to intervene in the face-off to save their businesses from incurring further losses due to lack of power supply.

Irate residents of Alausa, Egbeda, Agege, Ikorodu, OkeOdo, Iyano-Ipaja. Ojota, Oregun and Ikeja axis stormed the secretariat of IKEDC recently, lamenting that the power situation had worsened without any hope in sight.

As at press time, the entire metropolis was in utter darkness, thereby, creating rooms for criminals and men of the underworld to have field day on innocent citizens.

M

embers of the Lagos State House of Assembly have directed the state Commissioner for Education to investigate and prosecute the alleged indiscipline act of some teachers of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin.

Hon. Victor Akande who represents Ojo Constituency I described the ugly incident as an act of indiscipline because teachers are supposed to be a role models to their students and portray moral, cultural and educative excellence to the students but they turned out to be hooligans by stabbing themselves during an argument within the school premises.

“It was sad news for me to see the video of fighting teachers on the internet; these teachers are supposed to be an epitome of morality to the students and the public, but instead they exhibited act of hooliganism,” he stated Contributing, Hon. Funmilayo Tejuoso said if they are found culpable, they deserve to be relieved of their appointment and subsequently banned from the teaching profession, not only in the state but also in the country, because teachers are there not only to teach the students, but also to portray moral attitude, good conduct and self-discipline to the pupils.

Members expressed their displeasure on the development, adding that appropriate punishment should be meted out on them to serve as deterrent to others. The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa therefore, called on the Commissioner for Education to investigate the matter thoroughly and penalize those found guilty.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 19, 2016 — 33

Rivers Utd won’t return emptyhanded against Shooting — Eguma

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

R

IVERS United coach, Stanley Eguma has vowed that his side were not going to return empty-handed when they play Shooting Stars today at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.

Despite being the side to have recorded the most goals on the road this term, the Port Harcourt outfit hold the unenviable record of not having earned a single point in the last three matches that theyplayed away from their Garden City home, a record that Eguma wants to break when they confront Kadiri Ikhana’s Shooting Stars side.

While conceding that his side

were to blame for the points lost on the road, Eguma said that lessons have been learnt by the eight-placed team on the log of the country’s top-flight, promising that the margin of error against Shooting Stars will be near non-existent.

“The game against 3SC is a big one and we know that they have been doing well this season.We hope we can correct our mistakes (from previous matches) as we go to Ibadan.

“We will map out our strategies as we go to Ibadan for the game and ensure that we do not return empty-handed,” Eguma told the club’s media.

And goalkeeper Godwin Anyalogu has challenged his teammates to wake up from their slumber and get a positive result against Shooting Stars today.

“We are too strong to be losing away and we must now correct this ugly trend when we

face Shooting Stars on Saturday,” he said.

While holding out for a starting role in today’s crunch game, Anyalogu said he was going to respect the decision made by Coach Stanley Eguma on who between Anyalogu and Sunday Rotimi to stay between the sticks for the game.

“Have I done enough to start on Saturday? I think that is a decision for the coach but I will have no problems if Rotimi starts ahead of me.

“What is important to me is for the team to get at least a point in Ibadan. Losing two straight games will affect our position on the table so we must do our best,” added Ayalogu

G

IWA FC have said they were keen to inflict more harrowing pains on Ikorodu United who they play tomorrow at the Onikan Stadium,Lagos.

Unlike Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, who are riding high in their first season in the top-flight, Ikorodu United th are trying times, languishing in the 16 spot on the table and lost their last two games against Ifeanyi Uba and Akwa United, assuming the tag of the whipping team of the Nigeria Professional Football League.

What makes the case of Ikorodu United particularly more pathetic is that they have shipped in seven goals in their last two games, while scoring just a solitary goal.

With these poor statistics stacked against them, Giwa FC goalkeeper, Olorunleke Ojo feels that his side have the chances to turn the Onikan Stadium to a good hunting ground tomorrow.

“We are coming to Lagos prepared to challenge and contest for the three points at stake. It’s going to be a really tough task but fully aware that we are not equally comfortable on the league log, e need all the points to shore up our fortune,” said Ojo. He however warned his side not to expect

W

•Eguma

Giwa keen to compound Ikorodu woes

Ikorodu United to allow the visitors roll over them without putting up a brave fight to stop the slide ‘’We won’t judge them by their past results. We will not look down on them knowing quite well that what they are experiencing at the moment can happen to any side.

“It’s just unfortunate they are being bashed left, right and centre but it will hurt to underrate the side. They are bruised right now and that can make them dangerous, especially when they have home advantage.

“They will not want to commit same mistakes that robbed them of good results at FC IfeanyiUbah and Akwa United at their backyard right in front of their teeming fans so we are not going to take them for granted or take advantage of their recent poor form’’, added the GIWA FC shot-stopper.

TABLE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 C M Y K

MFM Enugu Rangers Kano Pillars Akwa United Ifeanyi Ubah Lobi Stars Abia Warriors Rivers United Warri Wolves Wikki Tourists Niger Tornadoes Giwa Plateau United Shooting Stars Heartland Ikorodu United Enyimba El-Kanemi Warriors Sunshine Stars Nasarawa United

P 6 6 6 5 5 6 6 6 5 5 6 5 6 4 5 6 3 5 5 3

W 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0

D 1 2 2 1 1 1 4 0 2 1 1 1 1 0 2 2 0 0 2 0

L 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 3 1 2 3 2 3 2 2 3 2 4 3 3

Wikki worry over weather against Tornadoes

GF 9 9 9 11 9 8 7 8 3 5 8 5 6 6 2 3 1 4 4 1

GA 7 6 7 5 5 5 5 7 2 3 8 5 11 5 4 9 3 9 7 5

GD 2 3 2 6 4 3 2 1 1 2 0 0 -5 1 -2 -6 -2 -5 -3 -4

PTS 13 11 11 10 10 10 10 9 8 7 7 7 7 6 5 5 3 3 2 0

ikki Tourists captain Mustapha Ibrahim is more worried about the harsh weather condition in Bauchi than the challenge that Tornadoes will pose in tomorrow’s Premier League clash at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.

“The weather in Bauchi is not the best right now, it’s too harsh we are taking the harshness with pride to ensure nothing untoward happens in the match. We are more worried about the weather. The game against Tornadoes is a northern derby and as expected it’s going to be really tough for both sides.

“Usually, any team in the north sees us as the team to beat and they normally come somehow over prepared.

However, we are not leaving anything for chance as we are going the extra-mile to prepare aimed at challenging successfully the three points at stake’’, added the central defeder He said Wikki will work tooth and nail to secure maximum points to improve their 10thplaced standing on the table.

“Right now we consider our position on the league log as discouraging so we are determined to win more points to take the side to its rightful position. Our target in the ongoing league season is to win the league shield or secure one of the tickets to Africa. We must claim the three points against Niger Tornadoes’’, added Ibrahim.

34 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 19, 2016

Moses, Emenike battle Mikel at Stamford Bridge

Everton lay ambush for Arsenal A

quick glance at the Premier League table and you would expect Arsenal to be in more of an upbeat mood than Everton at this present moment in time.

However, scratch the surface even just a little bit and it becomes clear very quickly that ahead of their meeting at Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime, it is the hosting Toffees that have the more optimistic outlook out of the two clubs.

A player of undoubted potential, it seems that John Stoneshas lost his way a little of late. It is a viewpoint that is seemingly shared by Martinez, who dropped the young defender for the clash with Chelsea last time out.

Ramiro Funes Mori impressed alongside Phil Jagielka in the heart of the defence, so there is a chance that Stones will be warming the bench once again.

Aside from that, Gareth Barry and Kevin Mirallas are both suspended, but left-back Bryan Oviedo could come back into contention following his recovery from a chest infection.

The Arsenal side is a lot more difficult to predict, with Wenger having left out the likes of Per Mertesacker,Francis Coquelin, Joel Campbell, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud for the game in Spain.

Potentially all five of those players could come into the starting lineup at Goodison Park.

However, goalkeeper Petr Cech will play no part because of a calf complaint, which means that David Ospina will continue to deputise between the posts.

This is a fixture that has undeniably been dominated

by Arsenal in recent years.

Indeed, since March 2007, Everton have come out on top just once in 18 matches between the pair.

When they faced off earlier in the season, goals from Giroud and Laurent Koscielny earned the capitalbased side a 2-1 win.

T

HERE will be no love lost today at Stamford Bridge today as two Nigerians, Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike of West Ham battle another Eagles star, John Obi Mikel of Chelsea in a teasing Premier League clash.

Over the last few years, West Ham have been forced to watch on as London rivals Chelseaembarked on numerous Champions League

Bayern chase title to Cologne F

Muller

C Bayern München return from UEFA Champions League exploits looking to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the table when they travel to Cologne today.

Pep Guardiola’s side remain five points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table, having returned to winning ways with a 5-0 victory over SV Werder Bremen on Matchday 26. The champions are still weakened in defence, however, with Jerome Boateng, Javi Martinez a n d Holger Badstuber all still sidelined with injury problems, and will be mindful of making any slip-ups that could let Borussia in.

Meanwhile, Köln ended a four-game winless streak last weekend with victory over Hannover 96. The win was also a first clean sheet since November, a return to the sort of defensive stability the fans have been used to seeing under Peter Stöger. Keeping Bayern out will be another matter, but the Billy Goats are well placed in ninth with a nine-point cushion between themselves and the bottom three.

journeys.

Now, though, as they prepare to travel to Stamford Bridge this afternoon, they may find next term that the roles have been reversed.

West Ham centre-back Winston Reid limped off with what appeared to be a recurrence of a hamstring complaint last time out against Man United.

However, it has since been confirmed that it was only a precaution and the Kiwi will be fit to face Chelsea.

That will be music to Slaven Bilic’s ears because Reid’s fellow defenders James Collins and James Tomkins are definitely ruled out with injuries.

Aside from the absent duo, Bilic has a full complement of players to select from, with Sam Byram expected to be back in the squad after he missed the United game because he was cup-tied.

As for the home side, they will have to make do without Diego Costa, who is suspended as a result of the red card that he received at Everton.

That could see youngster Bertrand Traore given a chance to start up front, with Loic Remy once again overlooked.

There is also a doubt over the availability of Eden Hazard because of a persistent hip issue, but captainJohn Terry has returned to fitness following a stint sidelined with a hamstring pull.

Chelsea have proven themselves to be a tough nut to crack during the Hiddink regime. On the flip side, West Ham will be confident and although they will be looking for a victory, a point would not be a disaster. This could be a game where the two teams cancel each other out.

Chelsea’s possible starting line-up for the game comprises Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Ivanovic; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Pedro and Traore while West Ham coach, Slaven Bilic might feature Adrian; Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Kouyate, Noble, Lanzini, Payet; Emenike and Carroll

Federer to make Miami comeback M

uch to the delight of his large brigade of fans, 17time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has announced that he is set to return to the ATP Tour at next week’s Miami Open, the season’s second ATP Masters 1000 tournament. The World No. 3 was out since January after undergoing an arthroscopic surgery on his knee which he injured while walking with his daughters at a park in Melbourne.

The incident happened a day after he lost the Australian Open semi-finals to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. It forced him to withdraw from two ATP 500 level tournaments in February – the World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam and the Dubai Duty Free Championships – besides the currently ongoing Masters event at Indian Wells. The tournament is scheduled from March 23April 3, 2016.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 19, 2016 — 35

City face PSG, Barca, Atletico meet again O

ne of the standout ties in the Champions League quarterfinal draw pits Barcelona against Atlético Madrid. The two teams met at the same stage of the competition two years ago, with the ‘Rojiblancos’ edging through en route to the final.

Meanwhile the third Spanish representative still standing, Real Madrid, face Wolfsburg, who are through to the last eight for the first time in their history.

Another fascinating tie will see Paris Saint-Germain, who put out Chelsea in the round of 16, take on the only English side left in the tournament, Manchester City, in a battle of clubs owned by oil-rich Gulf countries (Qatar vs the UAE).

Lastly, Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich, who had an extremely tough time getting past Juventus, have been paired with Benfica.

Europa League: Liverpool face Dortmund in q-final

URGEN KLOPP is Falconets not afraid of JDortmund heading back to Borussia after Liverpool Canada, Japan— Dedevbo

F

alconets head coach, Peter Dedevbo has said his side will not campaign as underdogs at the eighth Fifa U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea in November.

Thursday ’s draw at Fifa’s headquarters in Zurich threw the Nigerian U-20 side into Group B against known foes, Canada and Japan and relatively unfamiliar side, Spain.

Dedevbo said outright that his side are the team to be feared in the group not Canada, Japan or Spain.

“I don’t see why we need to fear any team rather those teams should be the ones to be scared. Our pedigree at this level is intimidating.

“However, we will not be under-rating any of Spain, Canada or Japan. Our principle as always will be to take it one match at a time and focus on our objective of doing Nigeria proud,” said Dedevbo to thenff.com.

drew the German giants in the Europa League quarterfinals. Jurgen Klopp’s side

secured a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford to book their place in the next round.

And their reward is a trip to Klopp’s former side Dortmund in the last eight.

The German left the Bundesliga giants last summer and pitched up at Anfield in October.

And he’s now set for an emotional return to the club he led to two league titles and the 2013 Champions League final.

It’s a nightmare draw for the former Kop boss.

Braga will play Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk while La Liga side Villarreal were drawn against Sparta Prague.

Athletic Bilbao will face reigning champions Sevilla.

Champions League:

Enyimba out to finish off Vital’ O

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

O

NE of Nigeria’s representatives in the CAF Champions League, Enyimba have vowed to finish off Vital’ O of Burundi in today’s first round second leg encounter in Bujumbura.

Enyimba romped to a 5-1 win in the reverse fixture held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt last week,making today’s duel a mere formality for the twotime former champions of the continent’s most lucrative club competition.

Speaking on his side’s chances of qualifying for the next round, Coach Paul Aigbogun, who came under scathing criticism for Enyimba’s slow pace at the start of the season, urged his boys not to take their feet of the throttle in Bujumbura.

“We won the first leg with a high margin but this is football and we know that it is not

over until it is over. We would be playing them with all the seriousness we can muster in order to reach the next round”, said the former Warri Wolves coach, who would be counting on the likes of Mfom Udoh and Stephen Chukwude to find the away goasl that will make life even more perilous for the homers.

But Vital’ O coach, Etienne Ndayiragije has promised Enyimba a good fight in the quest to qualify for the next round.

“We will chase the game until the final whistle. Miracles do happen in football and you can never know what will happen in Bujumbura. We are going back home to be ready and fortified for the return leg and we are very certain that victory will be ours. We are certain of what we can can do in Bujumbura.”

Confed Cup: Dogo tips Nasawara to beat Constantinois

N

IGERIAN club Nasarawa United face another CAF Confederation Cup tightrope walk this weekend as they seek a round-of-16 place.

A Philip Azango goal four minutes from time in Abuja earned them a 1-0 first-leg lead over 10-man CS Constantinois of Algeria last weekend. So, for the second successive round, the Nigerians take the narrowest of leads into a

return match.

Nasarawa left it even later in the preliminary round to build a 2-1 advantage over Senegalese second division side Generation Foot, scoring the winner two minutes from time.

But they forced a 0-0 second-leg draw in Dakar to become the lone Nigerian survivors after Akwa United were surprisingly eliminated

by V Club Mokanda of Congo Brazzaville.

United are in a slightly better position against Constantine, not having conceded a goal against the

North Africans at the National Stadium in the Nigerian capital.

Coach Kabir Dogo believes the result in Senegal will heighten confidence among his players that they can survive again.

“We were written off after the first leg against Generation Foot only to silence our critics with a brave away performance. We will address our scoring problems in this weekend’s match.

Constantine are a good, typical North African club, but they are definitely beatable,” added Dogo.

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

SATURDAY

Lifestyle

Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016—37

INFERTILITY: Choose your treatment clinic carefully infertility may not have the capability to do a comparative assessment of fertility clinics available in the country, so they are advised to seek the opinion of their gynaecologists before choosing their preferred clinic.

Dr Ekundayo Omogbehin, the Corporate Marketing and Customer Service Coordinator of The Bridge Clinic noted that the absence of a robust regulatory regime in the fertility medicine space has allowed all manner of practices with attendant consequences. “Many clinics combine both the gynaecology practice with fertility treatment, thus misleading the people into believing that those clinics have high pregnancy rates because of the number of pregnant women that come to those clinics.”

Nigerian couples challenged by infertility need to be meticulous in choosing their preferred treatment clinic as their choice goes a long way in determining whether or not and when they would achieve pregnancies.

Currently faced by lack of regulation, the practice of fertility treatment in the country is almost like an all comers’ affair, going by the high number of fertility clinics available in the country.

“You should look out for clinics that have high pregnancy and birth rates, high quality management system, as well as strong ethics, good experience and cutting edge technology and infrastructural setup to boost your chances of getting pregnant,” said Dr Babatunde Bamidele, a fertility doctor with the Bridge Clinic, Lagos.

Speaking at a Welcome Forum recently, he said by adopting international standards and refusing to compromise The Bridge Clinic, Nigeria’s foremost fertility clinic, had recorded high success rates in treatment of fertility issues.

“Since inception, The

•IVF in action Bridge Clinic has adopted international best practices in its operations and these are the standards that have assisted it in achieving its enviable successes in the areas of number of live births and pregnancy rates.

“We pioneered the fertility treatment service in Nigeria

SEXUAL ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS As a matter of fact, about onesixth to one-third of men worldwide are circumcised (their foreskin removed), usually for religious or hygiene reasons.

Judgments differ as to whether it’s a good idea or not, but it’s largely agreed that circumcision makes a penis less sensitive.

The average man has 11 erections during the day, 9 erections during the night, and will ejaculate 7200 times in his life time and one teaspoon of semen only has seven calories.

But let’s be real, it technically has zero since you’ll either spit it out, throw it up, or avoid it altogether My penis is very small compared to my mates and I’m about 35 years of age. I use to disregard the fact until recently that it is starting to affect me psychologically.

What penis enlarger can I use that will give a permanent result and will have no side effect – Umoh There are very safe penis enlargers that give a permanent result. Vigrx plus is a herbal supplement for this purpose that cause a rush of blood to the penile tissues for increment. Vigrx plus can be combined with Plump cream, Max-width , Maximus Cream or penis pump for a faster and more permanent result. You can get the Extenze plus or Neosize XL Im a 55 year old man and a

16 years ago and have so far achieved 1935 live births. This translates to an average of one live birth in every three days.

This is a feat no other fertility clinic in Nigeria has achieved, or is about achieving in the nearest future,” he said.

Couples challenged by

Tips for choosing a good fertility clinic Before taking the next step in your journey to become pregnant, it’s worth seeking out a good fertility clinic. You need to do some homework first. Before you step foot into the fertility clinic, find out what

kind of invasive tests or procedures might lie in wait for you.

When it comes to choosing a clinic, do thorough research ahead of time. Look out for success rates of fertility centres around the country.

Keep in mind that some fertility centres that looked great several years ago may have had high staff turnover and declined in quality.

Ask a lot of questions of every fertility clinic you’re considering. How long has the fertility clinic’s medical director been there?

How long have the doctors and technicians been there?

High staff turnover can be a sign of bad management and can contribute to mistakes.

Be sure the clinic has a wide range of infertility remedies available and is familiar with the latest technology.

How concerned is the clinic about ethical issues?

If you call the clinic and they ’re too busy to answer your questions, try elsewhere.

They may not have time for your questions once you’re a patient, either.

TRUE FACTS ABOUT THE PENIS (IV)

friend of mine referred your company to me. He used the Germany sex drops for his wife and he told me that his wife practically begs for sex anytime she uses this product with or without her knowledge for her. My wife has a very strong body and stuffs don’t usually work on her, do you think if I use Germany sex drops on her it would help put her in the mood for sex as its always difficult to get her in the mood –Chief Linus Hello Chief, Germany sex drop is a very potent herbal drop that helps put a woman in the mood for sex no matter how tough the system of the woman is. Germany sex drop has proven to be the best in all of sexual enhancements for women. You can also combine the Germany sex drops with arousal gel like Mood, Me-so horny, horny honey gel for a better result.

Hello Viewden, I’m a 49 year old diabetic man. I have been suffering from diabetes for the past 12 years and this has seriously affected my erection.

I can hardly get erection and when I eventually get, it’s not hard and I ejaculate within 2 minutes of penetration. But on trying out the Superhard from you guys, my story has totally changed, what other mild herbal aids do you think I can also try that will give the same result-Oba

Superhard is very effective and gives result that last for more than 7 days in the body and is very safe especially for men that are hypertensive and diabetic or have health challenge just like you and im glad you got an amazing result. Other herbal supplement that is safe without side effect is African Superman, Plant Vigra, Manup, Stiffnite and BossRhino Gold to mention a few. All these products are very potent and safe and since you love variety, you can try them out at different times.

I once got Prosolution pill from you guys sometimes ago and I must confess it totally eradicated the problem of early ejaculation. My friend wants it but it has not been available for a long time. Do you now have it? Biola Prosolution is amazing in correcting early ejaculation and weak erection and yes, its now available and your friend can place the order anytime he wants.

I need very small sized and cheap sextoys for women. Do you think I can get that from you? Mariam Yes Mariam, we have very small sized vibrators and very affordable like the Vibrating lipstick, Silver bullet, Pink bullets, Gspot ticklers, Buzzing baby rabbit, etc just to mention a few. You can visit our website to see more on these sextoys.

These are all we can take for today. Adults who needs any of these aphrodisiacs can call us on 08034666358, 07059294782 between 8am to 6pm (weekdays) and 10am to 3pm on Saturdays or place your orders at www.viewden.com. For further enquiries, send us an email at vieweden@yahoo.com, viewden@ymail.com Kemi Fawole (MD

38 — SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

H-O-R-R-O-R I met school kids still in their

uniform in police cell in Lagos

•They arrested them to extort money from their parents •Lagos businessman recounts his torture and that of the students

•His James Bond escape from cell

By Emma Nnadozie,

S

Crime Editor

amuel Nwankwo, 40, is a Lagos based business man with office at the popular Alaba International market, Ojo area.

He is into furniture and interior decoration and lives at Bode Thomas in Surulere. Last Friday, he went to a popular hotel around his residence to unwind. Unfortunately, after the night out around 2am, he jumped into his car to go home but it developed a fault. He then decided to trek home, a distance of two poles, leaving his car in the hotel.

As soon as he entered his street, he was accosted by four gun-totting men dressed in mufti. They emerged from a silver-coloured bus. They asked after his identity and he surrendered his card.

He went further to point at his residence, explaining that he was coming from the nearby hotel where his car broke down. But his explanations fell on deaf ears as the men not only harassed, cajoled but also intimidated him after which he was bundled into the bus. What happened next is better experienced than imagined. He narrated his heartrending encounter thus: How it started My name is Engineer Samuel Nwankwo, Chairman/ CEO, World Ben Associates Limited. I deal on furniture and Interiors. My office is at Alaba International Market and my cooperate office is at Adelabu, Surulere and I live at Chief Natufe street, off Bode Thomas also in Surulere. On Friday night while I was coming from a night club at Ritaroly Hotel and Suites, very close to my house, I noticed a mini silvercoloured bus carrying about five men at about 2 am. The men stopped me.

Though the men were not in police uniform and there were no signs that they were security agents, I obliged and stopped quietly as a responsible Nigerian. When they came down with their guns I was scared thinking that they could be armed robbers or kidnappers because they were looking casual.

Three of the men came down while two remained inside the car with their driver.

Encounter with armed men on mufti They asked for my identity and where I was coming from. I showed them my identification card, they collected it. I was expecting them to give it back to me but the next thing they did was to ask me to get into their vehicle.

Before I realised what was happening, they slapped and pushed me inside the vehicle and then told me that they were policemen. I told them that I live in the area and thinking that they were from the nearby Bode Thomas Police station, I boldly told them that most of the policemen there know me very well. To my surprise, they headed towards another place that had nothing to do with Bode Thomas police station. I became scared and started asking where they were taking me to. They gave me another two slaps and out of fear, I kept quiet because I didn’t know what would happen next. My mind was telling me that they must be kidnappers or armed robbers because they were heading towards Badagry express road. I prayed and said ‘God I put my trust in your hands.”

Trailed by a neighbour Suddenly, my phone rang, it was a neighbour that lives on that same street, Mr Chibuzor. He said ‘’Are you not the one that those people pushed inside that vehicle? I said, yes. He told me not to worry that he was following us behind in his own private car. When I turned back, he flashed his light and at

Continues on page 39

•Citizen Samuel, the victim

SATURDAY

'They were arrested to extort money from their parents'

Continued from page 38 that point, I began to feel relieved. As they were progressing along Badagry express way, my neighbour double crossed them at Orile bus stop, he came down and they also followed. He boldly accosted them by explaining that I am his brother and neighbour and that we live on the same street where they arrested me.

He insisted on knowing where they were taking me to. It was at that point that they mentioned Orile Police station. At that stage, I advised my brave neighbour to just calm down and follow us to that Orile Police station. when I realised that they were actually going to the police station, I felt a bit relieved.

At Orile Police station As soon as we got to the station, I was anxious to know the crime I committed. But, to my utmost chagrin, they took me to a hidden place inside the station where nobody could see what was going on. The next thing they asked was that I should bring money. I said for what? They said, “ok, if you don’t bring money, we are going to keep you here till Monday.” I insisted on knowing my offence but they kept quiet. My neighbour said he had some money and he was ready to give me so that we would go home but I refused, advising him to go that I will take care of myself so long as we are in the police station. I kept on telling them that I did not commit any offence and there was no curfew in Lagos. At that stage, they realised that they could not get anything from me, they then pushed me inside the cell.

Inside the cell As soon as they dumped me inside the cell, I was very calm.

But what surprised me was that the cell was congested. I saw young men and women all lying down, with some standing like slaves. I saw about six children wearing school uniforms, the boys were wearing check blue and white. I then approached them and asked what were they doing here? They said, “Oga, they came and carried us all the way from school, we did not do anything.” I then asked of their ages. One said twelve years while the other said thirteen.

The oldest person said he is fourteen years old. I screamed and asked them how long were they here? Some said, “Sir, we’ve been here for the past two days, others said three.” I asked if their parents knew that they were in police custody they said yes that their parent have been running around to get money for

Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016—39

and above. When they asked me to bring N10,000, I told them that I could not bring any money because I didn’t know my offence.

•Citizen Samuel, the victim

their bail. Some said they were told to bring N10,000 while others said N20,000. They told me that they did nothing, that it was just a normal school play and the police came and picked them up. The other one said they were fighting so the police came and picked them but the most annoying thing was that these children are minors and they had been here for the past two three days in their school uniforms while their parents were still looking for means to release them.

Ordeal of parents I believe that these children are children of the low class citizens attending public schools which we also attended during our time. You can imagine what their parents were passing through realising that their children were held in the cell for three four days and they were unable to do something about it.

These parent had no means to bail their children. I told them to calm down that as soon as I get out of here, I must surely do something but at that point I couldn’t keep their names in my memory.

Pathetic stories Other inmates of the cell saw me as their messiah so they started opening up to me. One

•IGP Solomon Arase

of them said he did nothing, that he sells things in Orile bus stop.

That the police normally collect money from them, at times, they give them one or two thousand naira depending on sales for the day. But on that particular day, they had low sales within these four days and they couldn’t get enough money to pay to them.

They then locked him up in the cell and nobody was aware of the incident. The other one said he was walking along his street around 11pm after closing from work, that he had no transport fare because of the scarcity of fuel. As he was trekking very close to his home, the police just came from no where and arrested him and now asked him to call his people to bail him with N10,000.

Collection of tolls from inmates The next day around 9:30 -10am , they brought some of us out. We were about 8 eight. They moved us to the back of a building where people wont realise what was going on and then asked us to write a statement. After that, they asked us to call our people to bring money for bail. Some quickly obliged and called their people who came with different amounts ranging from N10,000

Escape from Golgotha Then I asked myself how I could come out of this situation? I then told them that I was pressed. One of them accompanied me to their toilet. I used that opportunity to study the place. It was just a straight building with three stair case, one close to their canteen.

I then told them that I was having running stomach. I asked if I could use their toilet. I collected water and then used the bucket of water to hold the toilet door in order to convince them that I was still in the toilet. I then climbed the first stair case to the toilet. From there I came down to the extreme of the toilet near the counter and quietly walked outside. The moment I came out, one of them saw me and asked but I pretended as if I had paid and then told him; “una don chop my 10k” and then escaped.

When I turned, I saw him rushing to the station so, I quickly ran to my house.

Aftermath After my return, it was a terrible thing, my wife was down. She said this is her first time of experiencing such. I was down. I had to go to hospital. I must sincerely tell you that the way the police men treated me that day was so unfortunate. But the incident gave me an opportunity to know what some people are going through in the cell.

The incident was traumatic, that in a country where we practice democracy and human rights exist, people still go through tough situations like this?

Police men who took the oath of office to protect their citizens are the once tormenting the lives of these innocent children?

Action needed I want a proper legal action to be taken to curtail further menace of this sort. I am certain that I can recognise them. Throughout my stay there, none of these children were released. I realised that a good number of people who pass through such a situation don’t speak out. They don’t share this experience. I believe that if they know their rights and disclose same to the media, it will curtail this nightmare that people suffer.

Police react The Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos Dolapo reacted this way: “Right now, I will say this is still an allegation. I don’t want to believe it happened and if investigation reveals that it happened, be rest assured that the leadership of the police will not take it lightly. Such a person will be sanctioned but I want to believe that it is still an allegation.

40—SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

By Ifeanyi Okolie

B

arely 48 hours after three female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodo regained freedom from captivity, Crime Guard gathered that operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, swooped on three more members of the gang, bringing the total number of suspects arrested to six.

It was gathered that the IRT operatives, trailed two of the suspects, Wekemei Godfrey 28, a native of Arogbo, Ondo State and Priye Pius Gift 26, from Ovia South LGA of Ondo State in Mosebolatan Guest House, Ibafo Ogun State.

Sources disclosed that a girlfriend to one of kidnappers led the operatives to her boyfriend who was lodged in the hotel when he left the creek in Ikorodu which was used as their den. It was further gathered that during interrogations, the suspects gave police information that assisted them in arresting another top member of the gang identified as Omoni Fred Rufus, 32, a native of Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State at Sango Ota area of Lagos. Crime Guard gathered that while acting on the information obtained from the first two suspects, an auto mechanic working for Rufus was arrested at Ladipo Spare Part Market and he was used to lure Rufus to the point where he was arrested.

When Crime Guard interviewed the suspects, Rufus narrated his role in the kidnap saga.

According to him," I am Omoni Fred Rufus, from Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. I am 32 years old and I finished from secondary school in 2002, and I went into sawmill business.

I was born in Ibuju Lekki area of Lagos State and my father is a wood logger while my mother sells fish. I sell most of my woods at Ebute-Meta and I have never done anything criminal until last January. "One of my friends, known as Bamidele, called me and said he had a job for me. He was arrested last year and was charged to court for kidnapping and remanded in Ogun State prison.

When he was released in January, he called me and said that one of his friends whom he said he met in prison called and told him that he had a job for him.

He said he wanted me to be part of the operation because I had a car. I asked him what kind of job and he told that it was kidnapping and that his friend whom he identified as Gay, would like

“How we kidnapped Ikorodu school girls" —Suspects to meet us so we would plan the operation.

When we met Gay he told us that the man we were to kidnap was very rich and he was going to bring three more boys who would assist us. Gay explained that he was going to monitor the man’s movement and then he would alert us.

The next day, I was with Bamidele and Gay came with the boys and later left, but some few hours later, he called and gave us the description of the man’s car and his location, and when we sighted the car matching the description, we double crossed the car and abducted the man.

We took the man in my car into a forest by the Lagos Ibadan Expressway and I left him with Bamidele and others and went home.

Four days after, Bamidele called me and said that the man had been released and the sum of N2.5 million was paid as ransom. He told me that my share was N200, 000 and I should meet him at Ikorodu for the money.

I was at Ibeju Lekki when he called and l left what I was doing and hurried to Ikorodu and I met him in a fast food joint.

He was with someone when I came in and that person introduced himself as Tradition. He is also from my home town in Arugbo, just like Bamidele. I gave him N1000 from my share of the ransom and he took my phone number and promised to call me.

Two weeks ago he called me that they had a kidnapping job and that it would not be stressful and it would fetch just huge sum of money. I asked him how much should I be looking at and he said, I could likely get N5 million as my share if we succeeded. My car had gearbox issues and I took it for repairs at Ladipo Spare Part Market, in Musihin and I took commercial bus to Ikorodu.

When I met Tradition, he took me to Lamienmu whom he said brought the job and we met him and nine others on the Imota Bridge. They took me to the bush where they said we would keep the victims and I wasn’t pleased with the

arraignment. There was nothing on ground and Lamienmu begged that we should bear with him.

From that point we moved to the school in four speed boats. Those who had guns came from the creek in Fatola and when we got to the school, they tradition and Lamienmu, entered the school, while we stood by the fence waiting. When they brought one of the girls, I carried her into our boat and stayed with her. Others came later with the two other girls and when we went into the creek, we made wooden rafts for the girls to sleep and I slept inside one of the boats.

The guys with the guns were on guard all through. The next, Lamienmu and Tradition interrogated the girls. One of them told us that her father was an engineer, while another told us that her father was a pastor. We took their parents phone numbers from them and Tradition and Lamienmu called them and demanded N200 million as ransom.

After that the girls told us that they were hungry and we asked what they wanted to eat and they told us that they wanted Viju Milk, Lacasera and Indomine.

Lamienmu’s younger brother, Gideon was asked to go to town and get them. He went and came back safely, but three days later when the things he bought got finished, he went into town and came back with the news that policemen were everywhere looking for the girls.

The camp became apprehensive with that news and we started contemplating of how to release the girls quietly. At this time, we had reduced our demand to N30million. By Saturday, we saw Lamienmu’s father creeping into the camp. The guys with guns almost fired him and he yelled that he was Lamienmu and he was allowed to come and he told us that the police had arrested his wife, Lamienmu’s sister and Tradition’s wife as well. Lamienmu insisted that we must release the girls or he will kill himself.

When he left, the camp was thrown into confusion and when it settled we all

agreed that we should allow the girls to go and by 5am Sunday, Tradition and four others took the girls out of the camp and dropped them off. I waited till the next day before leaving the camp and when I came out, I went to Ladipo and checked the mechanic who was working on my car. I gave him some money and I went back into the creek. I had this feelings that the police were looking for me.

By Thursday the mechanic called and said he had finished my car. Then I decided to pick it and drive out of Lagos.

When I got to Ladipo, I didn't see the mechanic and I called him and he said, he was at Iyano Ipaja, washing the car.

When I got there, the police showed up and arrested me and accused me of being part of the gang that abducted the school girls.

At a time, I met Priye Pius and Tradition and since we were all from the same town we became friends.

After a while Tradition left us and went to Lagos while, Pius and I continued our business. Early last year, we started having issues with some militants while crossing into Cameron. The militants were demanding so much money and when we didn't give it to them, they normally destroyed our goods. Things went bad.

Luckily, Tradition came and told us that fuel business was fetching him serious money in Arepo, that we should come and join him. We immediately followed him to Lagos and he bought 100 pieces of 50 liter jerry cans for the both of us and we started going into the creek to fetch petrol from the pipeline. We normally pay the vandals controlling the line between N5000 and N10000 and they would allow us to load our jerry cans.

After that we would take the jerry cans to the shore and sell them to Tradition who would sell to other people. We did this business until there was massive explosion at the

site that killed so many people. Pius and I were just lucky. On the night of the incident, we decided to take a little rest from work and by 2am we heard the massive explosion. By morning when the fire died down, I went into the creek and assisted in the burial of those who were killed. I had a rethink of that business because of what I saw.

Three weeks ago, Tradition came to our place here in Majidun and told us that he wanted us to take part in a kidnapping business. I told him that I wasn't interested because I had no one to help me if arrested.

He mounted pressure but we still refused and he went to do the job with some other guys and they didn't succeed.

He came to us again and said that the reason why they didn't succeed was because they didn't have enough manpower. He told us that the business was going to fetch us good money and because we were his friends, he would want us to take part in it. I accepted reluctantly and by evening of the day we were to go for the operation, I told my girl friend that I was going to spend some time with some of my brothers.

Pius and I met Tradition at the agreed spot, and we went to the creek and from there we drove to the school in three speed boats.

Pius and I stood by the fence watching for any one approaching. After they had abducted the girls and taken them to the forest, Pius and I prepared raft which they slept on and we were the ones taking them to ease themselves whenever they were pressed.

Ask the girls, they would tell you that Pius and I were very nice to them. We were also part of the team that went to drop them. We took them under the bridge and asked them to climb on the bridge and seek help. When we left the camp, I called my girl friend to be careful that I have done something nasty and she should watch her movement because the police may be coming. I asked her to meet me at the hotel where I lodged in Ogun State because I thought it would be difficult for the police in Lagos to trace us down to that place.

But I didn't know how they arrested my girlfriend and she brought them to the hotel where I was lodged and they arrested the both of us."

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016 — 41

C M Y K

42 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016 — 43

C M Y K

44 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016 — 45

C M Y K

46—SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 19, 2016 adjustable baby cots, and 2 Carl Novel baby incubators.

Following the launch, the Foundation hopes to sensitize women in these states to visit the maternal wards, so they can get easy access to the right care in a conducive environment.

Assuring of the foundation’s continuous support Ugboma says, “guided by our discussions with our stakeholders in the private and public sector, we will continue to invest in improving the quality of life of Nigerians in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment. We are also grateful to millions of Nigerians who continue to support our parent company – MTN Nigeria through easy or tough times”.

Expressing appreciation for the initiative, Honourable Abass Tajudeen, a member of the House of Representative thanked the MTN Foundation for taking a bold step in supporting the efforts of the Federal government in addressing issues of primary health care delivery in Nigeria.

With the launch of the initiative the MTNF and JNC hope to continue complimenting Government efforts to reduce child mortality with areas relating to focus on Primary Healthcare, retraining and re-orientation for birth attendants especially in the rural areas and equitable distribution of healthcare facilities around the country.

MTN Foundation has so far invested over N18 billion into key projects spread across Health, Education and Economic Empowerment. It will be recalled that recently the foundation commenced the implementation of another 200 new projects under the MTNF What Can We Do Together initiative.

These projects are being executed based on L-R: Director, MTN Foundation, Honourable Reginald Okeya; Director, MTN Founnominations by members of dation, Elder Dennis Okoro; Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugbothe public last year and have ma; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and CEO, JNC International Nigeria Limited, Ms. been making tremendous Clare Omatseye at the media briefing and MoU signing ceremony of the MTN Foundaimpacts in communities tion Maternal Ward Support Project in Lagos... around Nigeria.

“One of the most overwhelming misfortunes that have endured throughout history is the death of a woman during pregnancy/labour. This adversity is one that comes with so much disappointment and carries a huge burden of grief, pain and heartbreak. The menace of maternal deaths is one that is aggressively damaging to numerous households, terminating innocent lives and resulting in alarming unwarranted deaths.

Experiences have shown that the birth process is perhaps one of the most risky journeys that most women L-R: Customer Marketing Director, Mr. Obinna Anyalebechi; Marketing Manager, are likely to make.

Innovation, Ms. Omosefe Odaro; Marketing and Innovation Director, Mr. Gavin Pike; Portfolio Manager, Innovation & Planning Ms. Tayo Salami and Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, all of Guinness Nigeria Plc., at the media launch of ORIJIN ZERO recently in Lagos.

CSR: MTNF developing Nigerian econom ough vvarious arious economyy thr through empowerments

T

he formation of MTN Foundation in Nigeria has been life changing instrument in every aspect of our development. The Foundation has always been responding timely towards our social, health, education and economic development.

This we have seen through its youth empowerment programmes, SME empowerment, women entrepreneurial empowerment, and millions of Nigerians are beneficiaries of this well thought initiative.

Its empowerment schemes have created employment to all categories of Nigerians thereby reducing unemployment pressure on the economy.

However, worried by the report of World Health Organisation (WHO), the Foundation has seen the need to form a partnership into reducing the worrying maternal mortality rate in Nigeria.

This year, inspired by the joy that accompanies the Mothers Day celebration, MTN Foundation the corporate social responsibility arm of telecoms company MTN Nigeria, joined forces with JNC International to unveil the MTNF Maternal Support Project to enhance the efforts of Government in reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria. The partnership is driven by an objective of creating unhindered access to affordable health care facilities/ services provided by skilled healthcare professionals particularly for the safety of pregnant women and their children.

Present at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding were Commissioners of Health from the six beneficiary states; Abia, Cross River, Kaduna, Niger, Oyo and Sokoto that were selected for the first phase of the project. The six states were selected following a thoroughly rigorous selection process, to become beneficiaries under the first phase of the MTNF Maternal Ward Support Project.

Explaining the rationale behind the beneficial partnership, Ms. Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation said, “We are concerned about how maternal health can be improved. We also believe that the private sector must work with government and the public sector to help reduce

maternal mortality and ensure that our mothers and children lead healthy lives”.

Ugboma who noted that a sizeable number of these deaths are from preventable causes while others occur due to lack of access to pre-natal care which further explained the huge benefit that the initiative brings “This is why we started the MTNF Maternal Ward Support Project.

Through this initiative, we seek to contribute to creating unhindered access to health care systems and skilled health professionals for pregnant women in Nigeria.”

The goal, under the first phase, is to renovate and equip maternal wards in at least 24 hospitals across the six states.

Each maternal ward would be equipped with, 20 hospital beds with cardiac rest, 20 standard hospital mattresses, 20 standard hospital bed pillows, 10 four-way foldable ward screens, 20 metal bedside cupboards, 20 visitors’ chairs, 10 drip stands, 20 hydraulic over-bed tables, 10 height

Catalysing Gr owth ffor or Nigerian W omen Entrepreneur Gro Women Entrepreneurss Cherie Blair doka has grand ambitions for her Lagos-based skin care U company. By 2021, she wants her

customer base to cover the whole of Nigeria. Demand for her products is already high, but to realise her goal she needs to expand her factory, recruit more staff and formalise her finances. That’s why she joined my Foundation’s Road to Women’s Business Growth project, an exciting new initiative we are delivering in collaboration with the ExxonMobil Foundation.

Udoka will be one of the 500 Nigerian women who are celebrating International Women’s Day by graduating from the first stage of the project – and I am honoured to be hosting a special event in Lagos to mark this achievement. Over the last three months women across the country have undergone rigorous training to develop the business management and financial literacy skills they need to take their businesses to the next level.

It is an exciting and important time to be delivering this project. Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, thanks to expansion in sectors such as telecommunications and a booming film industry. And yet, despite this, a significant gender gap in economic activity persists.

According to the World Economic C M Y

Forum’s latest Global Gender Gap report, Nigeria has slipped seven places since the previous year in its ranking on gender equality, sitting at 125th out of 145 countries. On average, women in Nigeria earn 23% less than their male counterparts, and only 34% of women have access to a bank account, compared to 54% of men.

In order for Nigeria’s economic growth to be truly inclusive women entrepreneurs must be empowered to realise their full potential. That’s exactly what my Foundation is seeking to do.

The women I am celebrating with are all established business owners running small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in a diverse range of sectors, from fashion, retail and health, to education and mechanics. These women have enjoyed some degree of success but are struggling to take that next step on their road to growth.

Our research showed that one of the biggest barriers standing in their way is access to finance. Of course, this problem is not unique to Nigeria – women run 30% of all registered businesses worldwide, yet only 10% of women entrepreneurs have access to the capital they need to grow. Our project is tackling this issue in three key ways.

First, we have mobilised the skills and resources of a range of partners.

Training is being delivered by our partner on the ground, the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic

University, an expert in SME business development. Representatives from our financial partner, Diamond Bank, have also connected with women at regular intervals, providing information on financial products and demystifying loan application procedures. Research shows that facilitating direct links between women and financial services is crucial. After all, it’s not enough to simply teach women about abstract financial concepts; they need the opportunity to put those learnings into practice.

Second, the Road to Growth training course is completely unique. It has been built from scratch and customised to meet the needs of women owners of small businesses in Nigeria. Research we conducted at the start of the project showed that these needs centre largely around financial management skills, such as managing cash flow, interpreting financial statements and understanding loan processes. Our technology partner, Emerging360, designed a bespoke learning curriculum which fills these knowledge gaps.

Finally, we are using technology to deliver the project in a way that fits with the realities of women’s lives. The training has been delivered partly in traditional classroom settings, and partly through online learning modules which the women can access via handheld tablets.

Cherie Blair, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, is a leading lawyer and wife of the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Guinness launches nonalcoholic variant of Orijin

A

s part of its strategic drive to innovate new products that meet the dynamic needs of the Nigerian consumers, Guinness Nigeria Plc has launched a variant of its much loved brand Orijin, a new non-alcoholic soft drink, Orijin Zero.

Orijin Zero with the tagline “Rethink your soft drink”, is a distinctive nonalcoholic refreshing drink made from 100% Natural herb and fruit extracts, with a satisfying bittersweet natural taste.

The Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc Mr. Peter Ndegwa said, “At Guinness Nigeria, we are known for our consistency in delivering great brands with ground-breaking innovations that give our consumers unique experiences. Orijin Zero is a brand that is positioned to redefine the experience in the carbonated beverage market as it is masterfully crafted with 100% natural herb and fruit extracts,

lightly carbonated with the unmistakable bittersweet taste of Orijin – to re-awaken consumers to “rethink their soft drink”. At the media launch to announce the new inclusion of the Orijin line, the Marketing & Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc., Mr. Gavin Pike, said, Orijin Zero is a result of extensive consumer research.

“Launched in 2013, the Orijin brand made an unprecedented impact on the Nigerian beverage industry: defining a category and reconnecting consumers with their age-long tradition of herbal drinks. The commercial success of Orijin was coupled with several awards, including ADVAN Brand of the year and Marketing World Award for Marketing Excellence in the Innovation Category. With the introduction of Orijin Zero to the Orijin family, we want to continue to champion the reinvention as a way of celebration of modern African life. Orijin Zero embodies all that is alive and exciting in today ’s Africa,” Pike expressed.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016—47

MOSES NOSIKE & OGHENE OMONISA

D

r. Mariam Adeyele is known for her many virtues, including a dedication to her morning devotion. “It is the best time for me to show appreciation to God Almighty for guarding me through the previous day and pray for His divine protection and mercies through the new day and always”, she says. However this ritual was broken at about 8am on Friday, February 26, 2016 with an interruption of gunshot sounds shattering the neighbourhood of Faith Mission Estate, Satellite Town, Lagos. The 65-year-old widow and Founder of Faith Mission C&S Church was yet to comprehend the interrupting booming sounds when somebody rushed into her room to alert her that certain people on mufti, accompanied by some touts armed with dangerous weapons, had broken the back gate of her house, forcing tenants out of their apartments, manhandling men and women, even pregnant women.

According to Dr. Adeyele, she immediately rushed to the scene to know what was happening. But one of the men on mufti pushed her back and she fell down, sustaining injury on one of her eyelids for which she is still receiving medical treatment.

Genesis of dispute Narrating the cause of the action to Saturday Vanguard, Dr. Adeyele recalls: “I bought this property in 1975, from the family of Agbojo Alagbo who were the original owners and they duly issued me a receipt”, and she presented the receipt to Saturday Vanguard. She continues: “As at then, this whole area was bush and waterlogged – a den of crocodiles. After purchase, we gradually began to sand-fill it before I eventually built this church.”

According to her: “Only few

houses were here then, and mainly owned by landowners. Not quite two months after the erection of the church building, I went out and as I was coming back, I saw the wall of the church marked. So I quickly asked neighbours if they saw who marked the church wall; they told me the people came from the Ministry of Works and Housing, and that they even requested I should report at their office.

“The following day, I went to Federal Ministry of Works and

Housing, Satellite town. There they asked me to regularise the property which I did on June 22, 1987 and it was signed by the then Permanent Secretary, J.O. Onabanjo, and a receipt was issued to me.” I also surveyed the property and I have my document. Dr. Adeyele would later build two more buildings on the property, which she let out to tenants.

“Since 1975 I have never trespassed anybody’s landed property in this vicinity. Neither government nor the

owners I bought this property from have came to disturb me.

“But in December last year, a middleaged lawyer, Adebowale Bayo Philip and his consultant, Austin Ozuagie who claimed to be an employee of City Security Company Ltd, came to me with a paper on which was written, “Aderemi Adeyemo & Unknown Person”, and showing that court had given them order to take over this property, which they referred to as Plot 8. I told them that this premises was not Plot 8. They said one late Adeyemi, sometime in 1991, pointed that this direction was Plot 8 and that the Adeyemi’s wife who is a Canadian, gave them the documents and asked them to sell the plot for N20,000,000 (twenty million). I assured them I would assist them in locating Plot 8, which we eventually did, but they insisted my own property was the Plot 8 they were searching for.”

Invasion She continued: “That was our one and only encounter until that February 26 invasion of my property.” She said she rushed out to see a bulldozer busy demolishing the two buildings occupied by tenants, destroying property worth millions.

“My tenants, both men and women, were beaten; an 8-monthold pregnant women fell down while running, and another woman with 2 months pregnancy was pushed down by one of those men in mufti. Immediately blood started gushing out and she had miscarriage. You can see some of the tenants are still hanging around, while some had run away without anything.”

Seeking for justice After the demolition, Dr. Adeyele turned to the law for justice, and 34year-old Barrister Adebowale Bayo Philip, was arrested and arraigned before an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court, for unlawfully demolishing two buildings and also causing grievous harm to the owner of the buildings. Charged along with the lawyer was 48-year-old Austine Osuagie. The charge was that the two accused persons and others now at large had on February 26, 2016, at 2, Faith Mission Estate, Satellite Town, willfully and unlawfully damaged two buildings belonging to one Dr. Mariam Iyabode Adeleye.

The two defendants however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Upon their plea, Mrs. Imelda Adebambo, who was their lawyer urged the court to grant them bail in the most liberal term.

Consequently, the Magistrate, Miss Ope-Agbe, admitted them to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties each. The sureties, according to the magistrate, must present to court, evidence of threeyear tax payable to Lagos State Government, means of livelihood and have their addresses verified by the court’s prosecutor. Ope-Agbe however, ordered that the two defendants be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail, while she adjourned the matter till April 18 for mention.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Palm Sunday and human redemption

BY MSGR GABRIEL OSU or the over two billion Christians across the globe, including my F very self, tomorrow, Palm Sunday,

is a very special day for us. It is very special for the following reasons: It is the day we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, one week before His resurrection (Matthew 21:1–11); It marked the start of what is often called “Passion Week,” the final seven days of Jesus’ earthly ministry; The day is the “beginning of the end” of Jesus’ work on earth.

It is a remarkable day because the

entry of Jesus into Jerusalem marked the turning point in the history of Christianity. It helped usher in the redemption of mankind from sin and strife.

Palm Sunday as we know it, began with Jesus and His disciples traveling over the Mount of Olives.

The Lord sent two disciples ahead into the village of Bethphage to find an animal to ride. They found the unbroken colt of a donkey, just as Jesus had said they would (Luke 19:29–30). When they untied the colt, the owners began to question them. The disciples responded with the answer Jesus had provided: “The

Lord needs it” (Luke 19:31–34).

Amazingly, the owners were satisfied with that answer and let the disciples go. “They brought [the donkey] to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it” (Luke 19:35).

The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna!” Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! “The King of Israel!”

Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

(John 12:12-15) The Jews of course expected a literal king to restore the kingdom of Israel, not realizing that his kingdom was spiritual - his kingdom on earth is the church. Let us examine two major symbols, starting with the donkey. The donkey represents the lowest natural desires of any person. What this means is that for one to enter the house of God, one must subordinate one’s natural desires to that of God by repenting of our sins.

Next is the palm tree.

Palm trees were used in rituals from ancient times.

It was one of the trees to be used in the Jewish feast of tabernacles: “Ye shall take for you in the first day the fruit of a tree of honor,

spathes of palm-trees, and a branch of a dense tree, and willows of the torrent; and ye shall be glad before Jehovah your God seven days” (Lev. 23:40) Also, King Solomon carved angelic cherubs, palm trees and flowers for decorating the temple of Jerusalem (1 Kings 6:29, 32). And palm trees were used also in Ezekiel’s new temple (see Ez. 41).

In a nutshell, the palm tree signifies a spiritual affection for the truth. It means living the truth of the word of God.

So Palm Sunday is a call for us to follow the spiritual path and bring the natural person under control that is controlling one’s desires, and fighting against them.

If we are not willing to acknowledge a sin as a sin, and just ignore it, we are stuck outside the door of God’s mercy. There is coming a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10–11). The worship will be real then.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 19, 2016

TODAY’S FIXTURES CAF Champions League Vital’ O v El Merreikh v Confed Cup SC Constantinois NPFL Shooting Stars

Enyimba Warri Wolves

3pm 8pm

v

Nasarawa

6pm

v

Rivers Utd

4:15pm

Moses, Emenike battle Mikel at Stamford Bridge >>34

TODAY’S FIXTURES EPL Everton Chelsea Crystal Palace Watford West Brom Swansea

v v v v v v

Arsenal West Ham Leicester Stoke Norwich Aston Villa

1:45pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 6:30pm

SERIE A Empoli Roma

v Palermo v Inter Milan

6pm 8:45pm

LA LIGA Sporting Gijon Granada Real Sociedad Deportivo Real Betis

v v v v v

4pm 6:15pm 6:15pm 8:30pm 10:05pm

Atletico Madrid Rayo Vallecano Las Palmas Levante Malaga

Enyimba out to finish off Vital’O >34 Europa League: Liverpool face Dortmund in q-final>35

Rivers Utd won’t return emptyhanded against Shooting — Eguma >>33

City face PSG, Barca, Atletico meet again >35 CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Minister of Trade, Investment & Industry, Mr. Okechukwu – (8) 5 Country in Asia – (4) 7 Donkey (3) 8 Former Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Joseph – (4) 9 Traditional Ruler of Ife – (4) 10 Senator Representing Niger East Federal Constituency, Senator David – (5) 12 Swaziland Currency – (9) 16 Fourth Month of the Year – (5) 18 Town in Delta State – (5) 19 L.G.A in Plateau State – (5) 21 L.G.A in Rivers State – (5,4) 24 Indian Currency – (5) 27 Prophet – (4) 28 Benin Republic’s President, Mr. Yayi – (4) 29 L.G. A in Enugu State – (3) 30 Cameroun “Indomitable Lions” Right-Back, Allan – (4) 31 Ogun State Capital – (8) DOWN 1 Traditional Ruler of Nupe – (4) 2 L.G.A in Ebonyi State – (4) 3 Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr.

Habib – (9) 4 Major Ethnic Group in Nigeria – (5) 5 Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Clement – (5) 6 L.G.A in Akwa-Ibom State – (4,4) 11 Chart – (3) 13 Former Brazil “Samba Stars” Defender, Ferreira – (5) 14 President, Burundi Football Federation, Mr. Reverien – (9) 15 Paradise – (4) 16 Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Aisha – (2,6) 17 Italian “Serie A” Premiership Club-Side – (4) 20 Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo – (3) 22 Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Kabiru – (5) 23 Shin-Bone – (5) 25 Country in South America – (4) 26 Former France “ Les Bleus” Left-Back, Patrice – (4)

Solution on page 47

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355.

Advert Dept Hotline: 01-4544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) EDITOR: ONOCHIE ANIBEZE. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K