Nigeria's problems not caused by my regime

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2— Vanguard, SARTURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

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SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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HE Presidential Amnesty Programme for militants among Niger Delta youths who laid down their weapons to give way to peace and development in the region, once again, took a centre-stage of activities at the House of Representatives on Thursday. About 60 members of the Itsekiri National Youth Council, INYC, stormed the National Assembly, to give strength to an earlier petition to the federal legislators over the exclusion of former Itsekiri militants from the Amnesty Programme.

Their complaints was that over 2, 000 Itsekiri youths voluntarily surrendered their arms to the Federal Government on June 25, 2009 which was within the 60- day deadline, but were not invited to the programme.

The youths, led by a patron of the council, Dr. Lucky Akuaruese were armed with a copy of their earlier petition, as well as, and a video showing clearly the affected youths surrendering their arms which included rocket launchers, AK 47s, Sub-Machine Guns, SMGs and several other automatic weapons, to buttress their claims.

The House Committee on Public Petitions prior to last Thursday’s public hearing had invited the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku to appear before it.

Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Uzor Azubike who arrived the venue at about 1.45pm read all the necessary sections of the constitution which empowers the committee to issue a warrant of arrest and other sanctions on public officials who fail to honour the committee’s invitation. The sections include 88 and 89.

However, before presenting his paper, Hon. Kuku made an appeal to members of the committee to switch off the CD which displayed how the arms were surrendered saying: “I have developed an emotional attachment to the whole exercise, watching this clip will definitely disturb my flow while making my presentation.”

Kuku in his presentation did not mince words when he declared that , “ I am just a boy who listens to his father once an instruction is given by his father. It is only the president who can include the Itsekiri youths in the Amnesty Programme. If I am asked to include them right now , I promise you that by 7am tomorrow, the youths will be included because they are qualified since they met the deadline.

“In the past, my office had written to the President on this issue that the Itsekiri youths should be included in the programme because we have a common problem bordering on poverty and suffer same deprivations”.

The Itsekiri youths, numbering over 60 had earlier that Thursday, stormed the National Assembly venue of the on-going House of Representatives investigative public hearing of the probe of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs over the noninclusion of Itsekiri former armed youths in the Amnesty Programme.

Their demands included an C M Y K

Vanguard MA Y 19, 2012—3 MAY

Amnesty Programme:

Only President Jonathan can include Itsekiri youths — Kuku

From left: Hon. Griftson Omatsuli; the Akulagba of Warri Chief Ayirimiemami ; Spokesman of INYC, Mr Akaruse; Hon. Michael Didem and David Tonwe, during Public Petition Hearing on the non inclusion of formally armed Itsekiri Youths in the Post-Amnesty Programme held at National Assembly Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan

From right: Chairman House Committee on Public Petition, Hon Uzor Azubike addressing during Public Petition Hearing on the non inclusion of formally armed Itsekiri Youths in the Post-Amnesty Programme held at National Assembly while Hon Hassan Sali and Hon. Daniel Rayeneju look on at the event. immediate inclusion of over 2,000 Itsekiri youths in the Federal Government of Nigeria Amnesty Programme.

In a presentation read by a patron of INYC,Dr. Lucky Akuaruese titled: ‘Petition over the non-incluson of formerly armed Itsekiri youths who responded to the June 25, 2009 , Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, Amnesty Proclamation into the Post Amnesty Programme’ , the aggrieved youths asked the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal to urgently look into the non-inclusion of their youths in the Amnesty Programme.

They argued in the petition that the Itsekiri youths who obeyed the FGN’s call for truce were deliberately and wickedly excluded from the programme for no just reason by the Office of the Special Adviser.

Sequel to this development, the House in plenary on Thursday March 29 had acknowledged the petition written by the president of INYC and subsequently mandated the House Committee on Public Petitions to institute an investigative hearing into the allegations by the council.

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he INYC further stated in the letter that “ if we ask ourselves to individually define the different specifics that can be identified as constituting the Niger Delta crises-a phrase that now assumes the status of a universal, we shall discover that the various unpleasant events , the collectivity which are now categorised as ‘Niger Delta crises’ began in Warri in 1997.

The ‘constituents’ of the Niger Delta Crises as the Causal Factor of the Amnesty Proclamation:

According to INYC, “the Niger Delta Crises, even though a phrase , its conceptualisation and application have however given it the status of a ‘universal within which consists different ‘particulars’. In identifying these particulars , we must be quick to point out that we will reframe from beng judgmental, nor shall we bother ourselves with delving into their respective causal factors, that is, the different causes of the different crises, the collectivity of which are now being referred to and categorised as the Niger Delta Crises”.

He further explained that “without equivocation, what is being referred to as ‘Niger Delta Crises’ are the different events of destructive dimensions both in human and materials that took place in different parts of the region which started in Warri and its environs in march 1997 as manifested in the bloody inter-ethnic crises.

“The constituents of the Niger Delta Crises are concisely listed below and not in any particular order but all between 1997 and 2004.These include: 1.Itsekiri/Urhobo bloody confrontation in Warri urban.

2.Itsekiri /Ijaw blood bath in Warri and environs.

3. Ijaw/Ilaje/Yoruba) war in EseOdo Ilaje Local Government Council.

Of Ondo State.

4. Ijaw/Bini confrontation in the riverine areas of Ovia South West axis of Edo state.

5. Ijaw/Ikwere confrontation in Rivers State 6. Ijaw/Ogoni confrontation in Rivers state.

7. The Ijaw/Ibibio battles in the Continues on page 41

4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

Nigeria’s problem didn’t start from my regime — Jonathan

BY TONY EDIKE, Enugu

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RESIDENT Good luck Jonathan, yesterday, declared that the numerous problems confronting the nation did not start from his regime which commenced only two years ago.

He asked Nigerians to reassess their journey from independence till date with a view to ascertaining the areas where the nation had gone wrong in order to make amends.

The President spoke at Udi in Enugu State during the funeral service in honour of Governor Sullivan Chime’s Mother, Chief Mrs. Theresa Chime, whose remains were laid to rest yesterday.

According to the President, something must have gone wrong along the line from 1914 when the Southern and Northern Protectorate amalgamated till date, stressing that the problem of Nigeria did not start today.

He said: “Sometimes when critics are lambasting the government, my self as President and the governors sometimes begin to think that yes it is starting today. But what we promise Nigerians is that this country must change.

“When the Priest was speaking, I started asking myself – what must have gone wrong from 1914 that the Northern and Southern parts of the country were amalgamated? They were under colonial rule since 1960 when we started governing ourselves. From 1960

to date it is about 50 years.

“I don’t think it is the two years that President Jonathan assumed the office that these problems came up. So something must have gone wrong and all of us citizens of this country must reassess ourselves, our journey from independence till date, the areas that we have not done too well in order to effect a change.

“Let us not play politics with the development of the country. Let us work hard to change our country for the better. We have no other country to go to. There was a time we had a television play where Andrew wanted to check out of the country; we are not checking out of this country, we will all stay, we will all work together, do our best to change the country for our children.”

While commiserating with Governor Sullivan Chime and members of his family over the demise of their mother, the President noted that the woman contributed enormously to the successes recorded by her children.

Emphasizing the role of parents in the upbringing of their children, Jonathan recalled that when he was growing up, his mother warned him “that if I smoke, I will die” stressing that it was that advice that kept him away from smoking till date.

Governor Chime had earlier in his speech thanked the President for attending the funeral ceremony and prayed God to continue to give him courage and vision to carry out his reform agenda for the nation.

In his sermon at the fu-

neral ceremony, the Principal of College of Immaculate Conception (CIC) , Enugu ,Rev. Dr Nnamdi Nwankwo stated that the late Mrs. Theresa Chime was so fond of her children, adding that she was a devoted christian.

Describing the deceased as a naturally born lawyer and symbol of love, the cleric stated that she also showed love to all children within her environment.

Fr. Nwankwo recalled that the late community leader demonstrated her transparency when she produced the money she saved for Udi Women at the end of the war exactly as they were and refused to change them into Biafran money, a development, he said, earned her the nickname “Bank of Women”.

President Jonathan read the first lesson from the book of Wisdom 3:1:9 while Governor Sullivan Chime read the second lesson from the second letter of St Paul to Corinthians chapter 4:16 and 5:10.

President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife Patience, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, former Senate President Chief Ken Nnamani, former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Babanga Tukur, Governors of Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, Cross River, Abia, Benue and Rivers states, some members of the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly among others witnessed the funeral of Mrs. Chime, who died at the age of 87.

FG loses $7billion to crude oil theft •Sets up new joint task force to battle the menace BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

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HE Federal Gov ernment said it is losing about $7billion annually to crude oil theft in Nigeria, at the rate of 180,000 barrels per day.

To stem the trend, which government claimed rose rapidly in the last 12 months because of the collusion of some foreign nationals , a new industry joint task C M Y K

force, JTF, has been set up to tackle the menace.

The task force comprises the Police and the Armed Forces, in collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, as well s multinationals and indigenous operators.

Announcing the move at a roundtable discussion on crude oil production and the state of the oil industry in Nigeria,

in Lagos yesterday, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, said the rising incidence of bunkering bordered on the security of the nation and the economy.

In terms of losses, she said, “the country is losing approximately 180,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily at this time. Of course, to the nation, if you look at the international cost for a barrel, it will be estimated at $7billion yearly.”

•Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan with His Deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama during the Delta State Retreat for top government officials at Hotel Excel in Effurun yesterday. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Bayelsa to immortalise late Boro, Dappa-Biriye

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA,

Yenagoa

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AYELSA State is to immortalize the late Major Isaac Boro and late elder statesman, Harold Dappa-Biriye as part of efforts to project Ijaw history and culture.

The move is also aimed at tourism development to project Bayelsa to Nigeria and the entire world as part of plans to diversify the state economy from over reliance on crude oil.

Inaugurating a com-

mittee in Yenagoa to come up with recommendations on the establishment of world class Boro historical research centre, Governor Seriake Dickson also charged them to look into how Kaiama home town of Boro could be preserved as an Ijaw historical site as well as launch a research into Boro’s life including how he started the struggle, how he died and how he influenced all of us.”

The governor recalled that in view of the pronouncements he made during the marking of Boro’s death the previ-

FG sends delegation to plead for Nigerians on death row overseas

BY VICTORIA OJEME Abuja

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HE Federal Gov ernment said it has sent a 2- man delegation to Indonesia to plead for clemency on behalf of 17 Nigerians sentenced to die by hanging by Indonesian court for drug trafficking offences.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during the Ministerial press briefing to mark the one year anniversary of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Minister also urged Nigerians traveling abroad to desist from acts that run foul of the law of their host countries, in view of the consequences of such on the image of Nigeria, as well as on their successful stay in such countries.

According to him, “what we have as the number of people on death row

in Indonesia , which have been bandied around is not correct. I believe we have about 17 and we have been appealing to the government of Indonesia for clemency. We are still waiting. In fact, I have sent a delegation of two to go on tour of all the countries: Malaysia , Indonesia , China, where we are having Nigerians in prison. They have gone around to see to their welfare, to see to their problems, so we are concerned.

ous day, “I inaugurate the committee to advise us on how to properly immortalise him and in due course properly document our history.”

He stated that the late elder statesman, Harold Dappa-Biriye should be immortalised for his efforts to teach the Ijaws how to play politics in a multi ethnic country like Nigeria.

Although, Dappa-Biriye hailed from Okrika in neighbouring Rivers State, Dickson explained that Bayelsa will champion the cause of his immortalisation being the only homogenous Ijaw states as well as the centre of the Ijaw nation.

Stressing that the committee has two weeks to submit its report, the governor disclosed that “our intention is to commence any physical construction to have a befitting monument in place before the next Boro Day.” Responding, the state deputy governor, John Jonah who is the chairman of the committee said the inauguration of the committee has reinforced the character of the present administration to follow up on pronouncements that are made.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012 — 5

Another shake-up in Police Force: 67 ACPs, 70 CSPs redeployed

BY MITAIRE IKPEN Abuja

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ETERMINED to reposition the Nigeria Police Force to face the challenges of insecurity in the country, Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has effected another major rejig of the senior cadre of the force, involving mass transfer and posting of 67 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and 70 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) across the nation.

It would be recalled that about three weeks ago, the IGP similarly ordered the swapping of 38 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and 53 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) across various commands and formations nationwide.

Moreso, IG Abubakar in a recent parley with newsmen noted that mass transfer would be a regular exercise in line with his transformation

agenda to restore the lost glory of the Nigeria Police Force and to square up to security challenges.

Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, in a statement, said this latest move approved by the IGP is part of on-going efforts aimed at restructuring the Nigeria Police Force and repositioning it for greater efficiency.

He said the IGP urged the officers to rededicate themselves to the service of their fatherland and to shun all acts that may portray the Force and the nation in bad light.

The statement added that the affected officers are expected to resume duties in their new commands and formations with immediate effect.

In the latest postings, CSP Adeyinka Adeleke Bode becomes Coordinator, South West Border Patrol while CSP Matthew Amos is in

charge of Procurement “C” Dept, Force Headquarters. Others include CSP Hussein Rabiu, A/CDR Warri Delta State; CSP Nosekwu Nosakhare Osakwe, Welfare ‘A’ Dept.

FHQ; CSP Abdu Umaru, CID FCT Abuja; CSP Alhassan Aminu, Intelligence FHQ; CSP Benjamin Onoja, AC ‘X’ SQD zone 6 Calabar; ACP Janet Agbede, AC SCID Oyo State.

How to make Asaba airport a hub — Uduaghan G O V E R N O R E m m a n u e l Uduaghan says the ongoing expansion of the Asaba International Airport was aimed at meeting the requirements of the Aviation regulatory authorities to enable bigger planes land at the airport. Speaking in Effurun while

Boko Haram has foreign fighters — FG

BY VICTORIA OJEME Abuja

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INISTER of Interior, Mr Abba Moro yesterday said the sophistication of the operational strategies as well as the arsenal of members of Boko Haram sect point to the involvement of foreign fighters in their midst.

Speaking in Abuja during the Ministerial press briefing to mark President Good luck

Jonathan one year anniversary, the Minister also lamented the sorry state of the nation’s fire fighting infrastructure.

Moro while speaking on government efforts to contain terrorism in the country noted the presence of foreign dimension in the scale and sophistication of attacks by terrorists, saying, “ because of the nature and sophistication of the attacks by this terrorists,

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio (middle) in a group photograph with some local and foreign investors led by the Managing Director of Desicon Engineering, Mr Akan Udofia (3rd from right) at the Governor’s Lodge, Abuja.

certainly there is a foreign dimension and so, this foreign dimension indicates that certain foreigners must have infiltrated our ranks. There’s no doubt about it”.

He attributed this development to the porous nature of the Nigerian border, particularly between Borno state and Chad , resulting in a situation, “ where every place is a route.

responding to the issue raised over the airport by the publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka at an on-going retreat tagged ‘Landmarks and Legacies’, Governor Uduaghan said with the success so far recorded in the use of the airport by smaller planes, people are now anxious to see bigger planes land at the airport.

According to him, “We are on target to make the Asaba International Airport meet the required standards set by the aviation authorities and we are doing everything necessary to ensure that larger planes can land there”.

Continuing, he said, “there is so much pressure for bigger planes to start landing at our airport and we needed to speed up the pace so that when the regulatory authorities come,

they would see that we have done all we need to do”.

The Governor clarified that the regulatory authorities requested that the hills around the airport must be reduced as one of the requirements to be met before approval can be given to enable bigger planes land at the airport.

The Governor added that the demolition of the hills had nothing to do with the visit of dignitaries to the recently concluded South South Summit at Asaba. In his words, “the contract to bring down the hills around the airport was not awarded because of the South South Summit, the contract had been awarded from the onset but the contractor was slow, so because of the time frame, we had to engage two other contractors to fast track the completion of the work”.

Explaining further, Dr.

Shocker ! Man,60, arraigned for raping 20-yr old man

BY DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

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T was a shocker when a 60-year-old businessman and a contractor, Olusegun Adesina, was yesterday arraigned at an Abeokuta Magistrate Court sitting in Isabo, for allegedly having a sexual intercourse with a-20 year old young man (name w i t h h e l d ) .

The accused who was arraigned on a onecount charge before the Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Ayobolu was reported to have committed the offence last Tuesday at his residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun S t a t e capital.

According to the Police Prosecutor, Paul Etusi, Adesina allegedly lured the boy by promising to help him secure a job

pending gaining admission into a tertiary institution.

Etusi claimed that the accused inflicted physical injury on the victim during the escapade with him through the anus.

He stated that Adesina’s offence was punishable under Section 214 of Criminal Code Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria 2006.

Uduaghan said the ongoing work to demolish the hills is at no additional cost to the total project sum as it was conceptualized from the beginning.

The Governor pointed out that apart from bringing down the hills, the project also included filling up areas that were below the level of the runway due to erosion problems in the terrain.

“We are not only demolishing the hills but we need to rebuild other areas around the airport runway as well as the valley and the banks of the stream in the area to check the flooding and erosion problems there”, he added.

He disclosed that given the topography of the state capital, there was nowhere a four kilometer of land can be achieved without meeting an obstacle in the form of a hill, valley or river. Governor Uduaghan also spoke on measures being taken to improve on security in the state. He said his administration was working with the security agencies to ensure that criminality was brought down and that people in the state can have a better sense of security. He revealed that the Police in Delta State have been provided with some of the most modern security gadgets and vehicles to aid their campaign against criminals in the state but quickly added that Delta State does not have the worst criminal case scenario in the country.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

security breach: F FAAN AAN ar arrrests 216 persons T

HE Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, said yesterday that 216 persons were arrested by the Joint Airport Security in Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja, between January and April this year.

Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, Deputy General Manager, Public Affairs, FAAN, Abuja, who made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said the offenders were arrested over security breach.

She said the development was part of measures by FAAN to intensify security at the airport along with making sure that it achieved zero tolerance on crime.

Yakubu assured the passengers and other airport users that the airport was safe and secure, adding that all efforts were in place to make sure that no tout would be found at the airport.

“Human and aircraft traffic has increased in this airport, the volume of passengers and flights with the commercial activities is also increasing everyday but our security men had not failed in discharging their duties properly.

“With our manpower, we were able to arrest 216 suspects between January and April this year, many of the suspects have been charged to court and convicted while some are still been prosecuted.

“The suspects were arrested for committing different offences ranging from touting, hawking, loitering and theft but we transferred them to the right authorities who later charged them to court,” Yakubu said.

She told NAN that other security measures would be applied to monitor the activities of the touts and other criminals at the airports in order to put a final stop to such activities at the airport.

Yakubu, however, advised airport users to be careful and stop dealing with unknown people, especially the airport staff who were not in uniform with identity cards.

Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, Deputy Governor, Imo, Mr. Chris Agbaso, and Governor of Akwa Ibom, Obong Godswill Akpabio at the funeral service in honour of late Mrs. Theresa Chime, mother of Enugu State Governor, Mr Sullivan Chime in at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Udi, Enugu

Navy hands over seized oil bunkering vessel to EFCC

BY EVELYN USMAN

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HE Nigerian Navy (NN), yesterday

o Salami’s recall saga: I’ll not lobb lobbyy tto be confirmed — Ag PCA ...as S/W PDP faults Fayemi

BY OLA AJAYI AND CALEB AYANSINA, Abuja

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CTING President, Court of Appeal, Justice Dalhatu Adamu has said that he would refuse any attempt to push him to lobby to be confirmed as the substantive President of the Court.

Justice Adamu who played host to the National Association of Nigeria Youth Leaders (NANYL) during a courtesy call in Abuja said the state of things in the judiciary is devoid of politics in all forms whatsoever.

Justice Adamu said his ascension as Acting President of the Court was by the grace of God, noting that the criteria adopted when the court experienced the crisis, was that the most senior Justice should act and that he is ready to leave whenever he is asked to do so. The Jurist continued, “I am a career judicial officer, having rose through the ranks, from State counsel, High Court Judge, then appointed to the Court of Appeal, bench and rose to be the most senior presiding justice of the court.

“I happened to be on

this seat by the grace of God. The criteria adopted when the court experienced the recent crisis were that the most senior presiding justice should act in the capacity I am today. The state of things you see in the judiciary is very much devoid of politics in all forms howsoev-

er.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest has said it was improper for Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and others to call for the implementation of the National Judicial Council recommendation for the reinstatement of the President Court of Appeal (PCA),

Justice Isa Ayo Salami when the governor had refused to swear-in two persons recommended for appointment as High Court judges by the same NJC. The party said this through its South West Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kayode Babade after the party’s Zonal Working Committee (ZWC) meeting in Ibadan.

Buhari: PDP suffers from selective amnesia, says Tinubu

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HE Peoples Democrat ic Party (PDP) suffers from selective amnesia by its claim that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), endorsed Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential win as free and fair.

Reacting to Olisa Metuh, the PDP national publicity secretary’s claim that Tinubu endorsed President Jonathan’s election at a lecture he gave at Chatham House, London, Sunday Dare, Tinubu’s special adviser on Media, accused the PDP of wilful mischief, as Tinubu’s statement was “deliberately” quoted out of context.

Mr. Metuh was reacting to the ACN support for Gen. Buhari’s warning that dire consequences awaited the polity if elections were rigged in 2015.

But putting the records straight, Dare insisted that though Tinubu said he thought Jonathan won the election, his tally was exaggerated, thus casting a slur on the integrity of his victory.

Hear Tinubu, from the Chatham House speech, on 18 July 2011: “I believe Jonathan won the election but that the returns attributed to him in some parts of the country obviously appeared exaggerated.

Thus, celebrating the election as free and fair might lead to INEC beat-

ing its chest and might short-circuit the process of fundamental electoral reform. We must not relent in our struggle for fundamental reforms.”

handed over an oil bunkery ship to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution , five months after its seizure.

The seized vessel , MT Takoradi and its 11-member crew which included the Captain and chief Engineer, Musa Mohammed and Otuagoma Freeborn, were arrested on 26 January, 2012 for conveying N1million worth liters of Diesel without Navy’s clearance as stipulated in bunkering regulations. The Commander, Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Martins Njoku, while handing over the ship to EFCC, explained that the ship was arrested by the newly acquired warship, NNS Thunder while on patrol duty on the sea and subsequently handed it over to his command for discrete investigation.

Preliminary investigation according to him, revealed that the seized ship was sailed by the

charter NEPS Nigeria Limited which claimed to have applied for NN clearance at the Directorate of Marine Services (D’ Marine) but was rejected on the ground that its documents were incomplete.

“Since NEPS Nigeria Limited failed to tender relevant documents to prove their claims that they had attempted to get clearance,thus failing to obtain NN clearance before carrying out the operation, it thereby contravened the Federal Government order to obtain clearance from NN to bunker.” .

While receiving the vessel, Head, Counter Terrorism and General Investigation, EFCC Lagos Office, Mr. Aminu Aliu, said evacuation would be done later, assuring that the commission would do justice by investigating further whether the bunkery was illegal or not.

He said: “We are very happy at the arrest and we are ready to work with Navy to find solutions to corruption that is battling the nation’s economy.”

FG denies having neglected military pensioners military, debunking ru- pensionable years upon

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI & CALEB AYANSINA, Abuja

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ILITARY Pension Board, MPB, weekend, said that some people attacking the government over their noncapture by the board in its pension service were in no time served in the

mours that the board refused to pay them their entitlements.

The Chairman of the Board, Real Admiral Muhammed Mshelia who stated this in a press conference in Abuja however noted that ‘some few among them actually served in the military, but never qualified for pension, because they did not serve up to the

retirement.

Reacting to a media report featuring one Mr. Smile Markson who paraded himself as ex-soldier, the chairman explained that Markson had never been a soldier, and that, their record shows that he is using regimental number belonging to another exofficer.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012 — 7

FG bans pregnant women from hajj •Allocates 76,000 to 1st timer

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (right) making a point while showing the joint Senate and House of Representatives committee on Power, the new Afam Power Plant built by his administration in Afam, Rivers State, Thursday.

EDERAL Government yesterday banned pregnant women from going on pilgrimage even as it intensified medical screening of the 2012 Hajj pilgrims.

Chairman, National Hajj Commission (NAHCON, Alhaji Muhammad Bello who disclosed this in Abuja while briefing FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide on the preparation for the 2012 pilgrimage, said the commission would ensure that it collaborates with FCT Pilgrims Board to screen and avail each pilgrim with his or her medical history and cer-

FG, States, LGs share N563.089 billion

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

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HE Federation Accounts Allocation Committee , FAAC, met in Abuja, yesterday and shared the sum of N563.089 billion among the three tiers of government from a gross revenue of N626.178 billion that accrued to the federation coffers in the month of April.

Following the successful FAAC meeting, the accounts of all states and local governments will be credited on Monday to enable them meet their financial obligations, especially the payment of workers’ salaries on schedule, according to the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, who presided over the meeting.

A breakdown of the shared figure showed that N441.167 came from Statutory Federation Accounts, N57.291 billion from Value Added Tax, VAT; N21.465 billion for augmentation from the Excess Crude Account; N35.549 billion from the Subsidy Re-Investment Programme, SUREP; and N7.617 billion represented a refund by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to the FAAC .

The federal government received N207.547 billion, representing C M Y K

52.68 per cent; states got N105.271 billion, representing 26.72 per cent ; while LGs were given N81.159 billion, representing 20.60 per cent. The nine oil producing states were given an additional N47.189 billion as 13 per cent

derivation. The high level of oil theft in the Niger Delta had a negative effect on oil revenue in the month as gross revenue of N626.178 billion received for the month was lower than the N726.726 billion received in the previous month by

N100.594 billion.

With the launch o the SURE-P, the federal government has directed all tiers of government to open special accounts for the SURE-P projects, in order to create an environment for a transparent utilization of its

funds.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Dr. Yerima Ngama said the directive became necessary following the “disaggregation of the SURE programme funds into the accounts of the three tiers of government.”

tified status appended by the doctor that carried out the screening on that person.

Bello said that doctors’ signatures have become imperative so that if any woman is discovered to be pregnant at Saudi Arabia during the 2012 Hajj; the doctor concerned would be sanctioned.

He explained that the intensive screening was designed to address the issue of pregnant pilgrims and people with chronic illnesses, assuring that mobile clinics would be made available for pilgrims throughout the period the Hajj would last.

He further said the commission would provide the country’s pilgrims with wrist band identification, I.D. Cards containing details of the each pilgrim such as the country he comes from, the state or the camp he belongs, name and the type of sickness diagnosed on the person and phone number of Nigeria’s pilgrim officials should anyone of the pilgrims miss his or her way so as to be able to trace the person’s origin with ease.

Brief

Unions mourn Bafyau

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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NTEGRITY Group of Industrial Unions, IGIU, yesterday expressed its shock and sadness over the sudden death of former President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Paschal Bafyau,

on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, describing him “as one of the most dedicated and accomplished leaders of the labour movement in Nigeria.”

IGIU in a statement by Comrade Peters Adeyemi, in Ibadan, Oyo State, recalled that Bafyau, as President of the NLC, he

deployed his leadership skills to lay a solid foundation for the NLC even in a period of authoritarian military regime that was determined to tame the activism of Congress and its allies.

Comrade Adayemi who is also the General Secretary of Non-Academic

Glo launches special Sim for Ogun traders

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LOBACOM Limited yesterday introduced a unique, low tariff calling platform tagged Oloja, a variant of Glo Infinito tariff platform, for market men and women in Ogun State in the company’s bid to make telephony affordable to them.

The Globacom Business Director, Lagos 1, Mr Akeem Kazeem, who stood in for the Group Chief Operating Officer said with the Oloja tariff plan, the traders have

the opportunity to carry out their commercial activities while spending less on calls to their c u s t o m e r s . ”Consequently, we are offering more value for money, quality service delivery and a slice of the prosperity Globacom promised to its subscribers in Nigeria and across the African continent”, he added.

According to him, Globacom chose to tap into the huge informal sector

of the economy by partnering with the market associations in Ogun State in order to develop a new platform based on the new Infinito rate but with more and cheaper offerings.

On the platform, the traders will make on and off network calls at 25k per second on each of the SIMS designated for the purpose and can also register five friends and family to whom they can make calls at 18k per sec-

Staff Union Universities, NASU, said “Comrade Bafyau’s NLC led its allies in the student union movement, civil society organisations and the Nigerian masses to challenge the military governments over several unpopular policies that culminated in the struggle for the actualisation of the annulled June 12 elections. It is the activism of this period that led to the proscription of the NLC along with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and NonAcademic Staff Union Universities (NASU) in 1994 by the dictator, General Sani Abacha.

According to him, “Comrade Bafyau sought to build a strong economic foundation for an activist Labour centre. In this regard, Comrade Bafyau will be regarded as towering above all others that held that office before.”

First Nigerian female a m b a s s a d o r, Ogbon dies at 62

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HE first female Nigeria Ambassador to the Philippines, Ambassador (Princess) Mrs Elizabeth Ogbon-Day, is dead. She died at about 11 p.m last Sunday at her residence in Effurun, near Warri, Delta State at the age of 62.

The family in a statement issued by OnaAgori-Iwe and Prince Godwin Ogbon, which was made available to newsmen, yesterday said the late Ambassador (Princess) Mrs Elizabeth Ogbon-Day is a descendant of the Ogbon Royal Family of Olomu Kingdom, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The family in the statement said: “Ambassador Princess (Mrs.) OgbonDay was very active politically and she contested the primaries of the PDP in 2007 for the highest office of the land.

8—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

Edo 2012: INEC postpones fresh voters registration

BY OKEY NDIRIBE Abuja

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N order to defuse the charged political atmosphere in Edo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended a fresh voters registration exercise ahead of the July 14 governorship election scheduled to be held in the state. This decision was announced yesterday by the Chairman of the Commission Prof. Attahiru Jega while addressing news men on the outcome of the meeting held between the commission and stakeholders in the forth-coming election.

Citing reasons why INEC took the decision which Jega stated had been accepted by all the political stakeholders who attended the meeting yesterday, he explained that the commission had become worried over the charged political atmosphere in the state adding that there had also been many allegations and counterallegations by different candidates and political parties contesting the election. Said he: “Now in the past two weeks or

so, INEC has received letters of complaint or petitions making wide-ranging allegations from the Governor Adams Oshiomhole who is the candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria for the forth-coming poll; the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gen. Charles Arhiavbere(rtd); Edo State Secretariat of the PDP and two other petitions from unknown groups”.

According to the INEC boss: “…In view of the allegations and counterallegations which have been made in the last two weeks on the preparations for the continuous voter registration exercise in Edo State, and given the weighty nature of some of these allegations and the need to thoroughly investigate them and take a firm decision regarding them well before the elections, the Commission has decided to postpone the continuous voter registration exercise in Edo until after the elections so we can do it in an atmosphere devoid of suspicions and fears and so that we can focus on rebuilding confidence and preparing for free, fair, peaceful and credible

elections”. Jega explained that the commission had decided to embark on continuous voter registration exercise in order to accommodate persons who had attained the age of 18 since the last registration of voters was conducted early last year.

Said he: “With regards to the continuous voters registration exercise which was to have commenced on May 15 2012, we planned that it should be consistent with the Commission’s earlier decision oncontinuous voters registration in all states with pending rerun elections since April 2011 to give opportunity to those who have qualified since the last registration.

Hence we did continuous voters registration in Kogi, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Sokoto and Kebbi states.

“He further explained that the Commission could not do continuous voter registration before conducting the Cross River State rerun governorship election because there was no time since the poll was shifted backwards adding that in Sokoto state even though the Commission conducted fresh voters

(L-R) Chief Information Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. John Murray; winner of Range Rover Sport in the Etisalat FC Barcelona Promo, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ojukwu and Director, Marketing Segment & Strategy, Etisalat Nigeria Mr. Oluwole Rawa, during the FC Barcelona Promo prize presentation held at Etisalat office in Lagos recently.

registration in that state INEC could not utilise the fresh register because re-

C

ONFUSION and anxiety reigned supreme amongst staff and guests of Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri, as one of the customers, Mr. Uzoma Onyekuru, suddenly slumped, started foaming from his mouth and later died.

Our Correspondent, who was at the scene of the incident, noticed how the hotel staff made panicky efforts to move the dying man to any nearby hospital for immediate medical attention.

A KIA Rio saloon car, sporting the hotel’s inscription, was moved to the lobby while the hotel staff, who exhibited serious shortcomings in handling medical emergencies, managed to lift Uzoma into the waiting car.

Most members of staff kept sealed lips over the issue, even when some concerned citizens who

got wind of the ugly incident made frantic efforts to get an update of the incident.

When Saturday Vanguard called again yester-

day morning to find out the development, people were seen in groups and talking in hushed tones but a hotel staff that

•Parade man eater

K

OGI state police command has arrested and paraded a pastor and two others in connection with the last month robbery of First Bank and Unity bank in Ankpa, Ankpa Local government of Kogi state. Also arrested and paraded by the

spoke on strict grounds of anonymity said “the man died on the way to hospital”.

Adedamola gets new appointment

A

new Managing Director/Editor-inChief has been appointed for Mandate International Publications ( Nigeria ) Ltd, publisher of National Pilot newspaper, based in Ilorin , Kwara State capital. He is Billy Adedamola.

Adedamola, was a Special Adviser, Media and Communication to the immediate past governor of Kwara State , now Senator of the Federal Republic , Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

Speaking at the official handing-over at the newspaper head office, along Asa-Dam Road , Ilorin , his predecessor, Alhaji Yunus Abdulrahman, thanked the management and staff of the organisa-

tion for their support and cooperation within the last six years of his leadership.

Abdulrahman said he was able to improve on

the new register within the legally permissible timeframe.

Police arrest pastor for robbery

Guest at Concorde Hotel slumps, dies in Owerri

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA Owerri

vision of the electoral timetable prevented the commission from publishing

staff welfare and quality of the newspaper while in the saddle, stressing that he had no regrets working with the organisation.

command was a cannibal who specializes in using Okada to lure victims to the bush where he will kill them for meat and sell the remaining parts to ritualists.

Parading the suspect before newsmen yesterday, the state commissioner for Police, Muhamed Kastina said the pastor, Karachi Ekwenye of Divine Restoration of God Mission, Oyi road, Rivers state is the spiritual father of the robbery gang who offers prayers for the gang in return for money each time they are embarking on their robbery mission The other duo, Innocent Onyeonura and Joy Onyeonura who are relatives, according to him, led the Ankpa robbery operation of 25th April, 2012 where they carted away millions of naira and paid N300,000. 00

to Pastor Karachi Ekwenye’s account for his ‘assistance’. Mohammed revealed that the suspected robbers were apprehended through robust intelligent and expanded network while trying to flee the country through Badagry in possession of N4.091 million naira, a Toyota hilux Jeep with registration number, 43 W0026 and another Toyota Previa bus with registration number TH 289 KJA. Two other suspects connected to the Ankpa bank robbery he disclosed, are at large but promised that the command in collaboration with Interpol would apprehend the suspects since intelligence report shows the robbers are presently located between Cotonou/Togo axis.

Edo 2012 guber race: Ogbemudia group meets with Oshiomhole, Airhiavbere BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, B/City

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HEAD the July 14, governorship election in Edo State, the Enunuedo socio-cultural organization led by the two-time former governor of the old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, has interacted with the Governorship candidate

of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gen.Charles Airhiavbere, with a view to know the programme they have for the Binis.

The group had also sent out an invitation to the

Governorship candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Solomon Edebiri, to appear before it so as to know his porgramme for the Binis.

Apart from Governor Oshiomhole, the two other candidates Airhiavbere and Edebiri are all from the Benin speaking area (Edo

South senatorial district) of the state. The group had last month, extended invitations to the candidates with a view to interact with them and find out the package they have for the Binis so as to enable the group know who amongst them will receive the majority votes of the Binis.

SATURDAY

Vanguard MAY 19, 2012—9

Hospitals grounded, patients groan as doctors shut down Lagos hospitals

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE, CHIOMA OBINA& GABRIELOLAWALE

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A patient at the hospital.

C M Y K

Pregnant women appealing to Lagos State government to resolve their differences with the doctors who are currently on strike.

However, in other hospitals, a handful of patients were seen outside the gate of the hospitals. At the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, patients who claimed that they have been at the hospital as early as 6:00 AM, said they were not allowed to enter into the hospital as the gate was under lock and key.

In all the hospitals visited, patients lamented the development saying the strike caught them unawares and wondered why the doctors were going on strike when there was no dispute with the Federal government. A patient, who simply identified himself as Joseph said: “Since morning the security men have not allowed anybody to come in as the gate was completely locked.

Before now, due to the strike called by health workers, they never allowed us to even col-

lect our drugs but yesterday, we were allowed to collect our drugs. Unfortunately, with the doctors’ strike now, things will become more diffi-

,

AGOSIANS yet again tasted the bitter pill of a state-wide doctors’ strike as hospital services were completely grounded in Lagos and environs as medical doctors in Federal hospitals in the state m a d e good their threat to embark on an indefinite solidarity strike following the sack of 788 doctors by the State government.

Thousands of patients seeking healthcare services were either locked out of the hospital premises or denied access into the various clinics, several of which were either devoid of activity or under lock and key.

The latest strike was called by the State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, following expiration of an ultimatum issued the state government to reverse the sack order on doctors under the aegis of the Medical Guild. As early as 8:00AM when Saturday Vanguard arrived the premises the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, in Idi Araba, Mushin, large crowds of patients were seen waiting to be attended to at the numerous clinics of the tertiary health institution.

A couple of patients were seen being wheeled into the extension wing of the Accident & Emergency ward, but no doctor was seen on duty. Some of the patients who spoke claimed they were given appointments yesterday, but were later instructed to go back home.

At one of the Federal hospitals on Lagos mainland, new patients who had hoped to get medical treatment were turned back at the clinics and the emergency wards.

Since morning the securitymen have not allowed anybody to come in as the gate completely locked

,

cult. We have been told that there is no doctor to attend to us.”

Joseph who lamented his woes said: I brought my mother who is hypertensive for her routine checkups, what will I do now going home without her d r u g s ? ” However, the gate was opened at exactly 11.00AM. Investigation by Saturday Vanguard revealed that there were already few patients in the ward as many others had been discharged to go home in the wake of the recently suspended health workers’ strike.

The Accident & Emergency unit of the hospital was under lock and key. No cases were waiting at the outpatient wards. At the admission wards, there is no single medical staff accosted attending to patients.

The usual heavy rush of patients was absent. Efforts to speak to the Medical Director proved abortive as the Public Relation Officer of the Hospital, Mr. Henry Etim said she was away on official assignment and she could not be reached through the phone.

The Medical doctors had Thursday announced the commencement of a solidarity strike to sympathise with their colleagues recently sacked by the Lagos State government.

Since the dismissal of the doctors for their failure to honour queries given to them following a three-day warning strike, activities at the state -owned hospitals have remained g r o u n d e d .

At the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), IdiAraba, its usual beehive of activities was absent. The wards,

including the emergency wards, were empty except for a few old patients, whom the doctors had promised to take care of.

A hospital source who preferred anonymity told Saturday Vanguard that only few consultants are attending to patients already on admission. As at the time of writing this report, a meeting which includes the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Akin Osibogun, was said to be ongoing to find a way to reduce the strike’s impact on patients.

At the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos, it was a similar case as new patients were not being admitted even though few patients in critical conditions in the wards were being attended to.

In a chat with Saturday Vanguard, President of the Association of Resident Doctors, Igbobi Branch, NOHI- ARD, Dr. Bright Igbinoba, hinted that even though the NMA had instructed all its affiliates to shut down services, critically ill patients could not be asked to go home. ”The NMA has instructed us to embark on the strike and we have no choice but to do that but even at that, the patients cannot be left totally helpless and therefore critically ill patients are being taken care of. Patients who are strong enough to go home can go but those who cannot would be taken care of would either be referred to other places or would be taken care of “However, new patients are currently not being admitted and until we get an instruction from the NMA to modify their earlier instructions, this still stands.”he said.

10----SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

W

hat started as a three-day warning strike over sun dry issues whereby government issued queries to them and also ordered that they appear before a disciplinary panel to explain their action, the medical doctors in Lagos State-owned hospitals then embarked on indefinite strike which led to their mass dismissal, as both parties are now in court.

The Lagos State Government, in a severe response announced it has sacked 788 doctors in one fell swoop for embarking on an “illegal strike”. It was the crescendo of the persistent faceoff between the doctors under the platform of Medical Guild led by Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote and the state government headed by Governor Babatunde Fashola.

The doctors demanded for full implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) and other allowances which they alleged that government was not willing to pay. The sudden strike paralysed healthcare delivery services leading to untimely death of many people. The causalities would have been higher as most of the state-owned public hospitals were filled with patients and sick persons unattended to, but for the quick response by the government which temporarily recruited hundreds of doctors to the rescue.

Many people were baffled by the industrial action of the resident doctors who seemed to have betrayed their Hippocratic oath taken when they qualified as medical doctors.

The oath enjoins them to “do everything possible to preserve human life and to maintain high working standards.”

Sampled opinions of Nigerians point to the non-challant attitude of doctors who do not show sufficient adequate care for their patients. In several instances, patients had been at the mercy of doctors, many of them lacking the milk of human kindness and slow in responding to emergency calls. Against professional ethics, they insist on payment or some forms of gratification when patients come for treatment, divert government drugs to their private clinics, direct people elsewhere for treatment, engaging in flourishing private practice at the expense of government hospitals where they are working.

Doctors are not however, have doubled; Lagos State immuned from the economic doctors are the highest paid in hardship other people are ex- Nigeria, earning far more than periencing, including profes- their colleagues in other sionals such as engineers, states. It is believed rightly teachers, lawyers, architects, that Lagos State is implementjournalists, to mention just a ing the consolidated medical salary scale in full. few.

It’s an open fact veriSo why won’t the doctors agitate for better pay, en- fiable that new doctors hanced emoluments, condu- known as House Officearn about cive working environments, ers N174,000 monthly, improved allowances and other things that could inspire while consultants go and motivate them towards home with about higher productivity. To ease N802,000 excluding the agony of patients who had teaching allowto bear the brunt of the strike, ance, although the senior medical doctors were doctors have comdrafted to take care of preg- plained about nant women at the point of high taxation on giving birth and people taken their earnings. to accident and emergency t has been noticed units. It is just impossible to by all and sundry that docreplace all the 788 dismissed tors’ strike have become a regdoctors.

All pleas and entreaties to ular occurrence in recent times the striking doctors to sheath and therefore the need to stem their swords and be compas- this ugly tide seemed parasionate fell on deaf ears. Gov- mount.

“Most of the strikes were ernment was too hasty in sackbelieved to be politically sponing the doctors. sored and motivated, a ploy Our checks roughly revealed that from 2008 to date, the sal- calculated to distract the focus aries of doctors in Lagos State of the Lagos State govern-

Fashola, doctors in unending war

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C M Y K

ment,” according to a statement signed by Dr. Smart Ofonyiri, President of the National Council of Christian Youth Societies and Evangelist Daniel

Bamgbola, its General Secretary.

After the sack of 788 doctors,they were given eviction notice to leave their official quarters within two days.

But governor Fashola later directed that the action to forcefully evict the doctors be stopped having realised it contravened the State Tenancy Law which he signed some-

time in 2011.

In another development, the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) condemned the sack of the 788 doctors, saying it would not hesitate to initiate legitimate actions to protect its members if the outcome of the intervention by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) was not successful.

NARD described the action of Lagos State Government as unwarranted, unexpected of a democratic administration and smacked of executive recklessness and extreme high handedness of tyrannical proportion.

Also, the two major political parties have jumped into the fray between the doctors and government.

For the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West, the decision to sack the doctors was dictatorial, insensitive, inhuman and evil, adding that, no responsible government will allow doctors in its service to resort to strike all

the time, not minding the effects on the masses.

In its own reaction, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), said the doctors went on strike often and warned that the health of Lagos State residents should not be compromised on the pursuit of “restricted group interests.”

As if in a hurry, the doctors failed to follow due process in declaring the strike. The Lagos State Resident Doctors Association did not file the statutory period of time of notice to their employers which should expire before embarking on the strike. The government either did not give the required notice to terminate the doctors appointment or pay something in lieu of notice.

Moreso, the doctors did not file their petition before the National Industrial Court for determination. It was like putting the cart before the horse when they later approached the court for relief. This is unfortunate although the decision of the court could be in their favour and the dismissal quashed, nulled and voided.

I

n the history of industrial actions in any developing nation, the mass sack of 788 doctors could be the highest in a profession regarded as elitist, and the most sought after. Many countries cannot boast of such number of doctors in their healthcare system.

It could lead to a brain drain of medical doctors to other parts of the world looking for such skilled personnel.

The Lagos State Government may have acted on bad advice because it was wrong to sack the doctors without thoroughly exhausting all the available avenues and means to resolve the dispute. The Federal Government has intervened raising the possibility of settling the matter in the interest of the people now suffering.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012—11

tion of the baby and that will cost you the sum of five thousand naira only, N5,000.00.

“Then, he said, we should deposit the sum of thirty-five thousand naira, N35,000.00 and after the delivery, we will pay a balance of sixty thousand naira, N60,000.00. It was hell that day. My husband started running helter skelter and to worsen the situation, we were to pay before the doctor could attend to us”, she continued.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t afford the bills, the balance and so we sought help in traditional birth attendants, TBA in my area and as God would have it, everything went well.

“And now, I am pregnant again, history has repeated itself, but, I don’t pray to go through that rigour again.

That is why we are begging our Governor to help call back all these doctors so that

Doctors’ strike: Our lives are not

safe in the hands of baby doctors--Lagosians

BY EBUN SESSOU

R

eactions have been trail ing the empolyment of baby doctors in place of the sacked doctors in Lagos State Government hospitals.

Lagosians especially those seeking medical attention in the state hospitals have expressed doubts over the appointment of new baby doctors, raising questions if they would be able to proffer solutions to critical situations.

An encounter recently in the Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos revealed that baby doctors attending to patients have not only been finding it difficult to address some strident issues with the patients but also are unable to handle some of the prevailing situations.

Although, the doctors are now seen in all the state owned hospitals attending the patients, nothing seems to be working as these doctors are according to the patients incompetent and inexperienced.

One of the patients who spoke to us said their impact is yet to be felt in the lives of patients.

A visit to one of the hospitals during the ante-natal clinic on Tuesday revealed that some of the pregnant women who were lining up to be attended to, were yet to come to terms with the reason for the face-off.

In a gathering of more than twenty-five women who were waiting for doctors as at 11.30 am, the bone of contention was the on-going face-off between the State Government and doctors as they discussed the issue in hushed tones.

One of the women, who wouldn’t want her name in print told the reporter that since the emergence of the baby doctors, there have been series of complaints from patients who have had cause to meet one-on-one with baby doctors. And in all, their complaints were basically issues of competency.

Without mincing words, she said, “the truth is that, I have been sitting down here for the past two hours and I don’t know if any doctor is attending to people yet but I saw one particular doctor whose face wasn’t familiar and I don’t know what is happening”.

Asked if she was aware that doctors have been sacked, she said, “I only knew that the doctors were on strike, I don’t know if they have been sacked. What I know is that, I haven’t been seeing those former doctors, I thought it was the strike thing that is keeping them away from the hospital”, she answered.

Another woman who joined in the discussion said, “the fact that new doctors have been employed doesn’t make any difference. Citing some encounters with the new doctors, she said, “Most of the people who have had cause to meet with these new doctors haven’t any good news about them.

“A particular woman told me that the new doctor attending to her has no experience whatsoever to attend to health issues. For instance, imagine a doctor asking a woman who was already in her Estimated Date of Delivery, EDD, if her pregnancy was just sixth months old. He didn’t take his time to go through the woman’s record to know what the issue is”, she ended.

Then, another woman said,

zGov Babatunde Fashola “I don’t know why state government should put its people in such a horrible situation. If it is going to sack doctors, at least, those who will be brought in should be competent enough to attend to critical health issues”, she said.

“Right now, our lives are not secured, we are not even sure of the doctor who will be attending to us. And they know that we are handicapped”.

Another woman who has had experience of the 2010 doctors’ strike said, “Ï remember my experience last time when these same doctors went on strike. A particular doctor in this hospital introduced my husband and I to his private hospital in Lagos. We were left with no choice than to subscribe to his referral. Unfortunately, the doctor made us pay through our nose. The first experience came when he said, “ You will have to do a scan to ascertain the posi-

our lives can be secured”, she lamented.

Some of the women who had different opinions on the issue said, “we don’t even know why doctors should go on strike in the first place when all what they know is to refer people to their private hospitals. At least, we know of some doctors in this hospital that refer people to their private hospitals. They even recommend those hospitals for us to go and conduct scan and anyone who fails to bring report from those hospitals will not be recognised or even be attended to.

“So, if they decided to go on strike at the expense of people’s lives then, God will judge them accordingly ”, they chorused.

“The biggest problem is the issue with baby doctors that are newly employed. They are not experienced and their

Continues on pages 12

12----SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

Continued from page 11

mode of operation has been totally different from the former doctors.

“We believe the Governor should consider our lives and recall the doctors so that there can be peace in this state.

“Government is aware of our predicament and it shouldn’t be compounded by sending doctors away. I believe there is room for dialogue so that everybody can be happy thereafter.

“And the doctors should be placed in strategic situations especially to oversee the baby doctors so that they can learn faster ”, another

Our lives, not safe in the hands of baby doctors, Lagosians cry out patient cuts in.

Asked if there is need to curb the excesses of doctors, she said, “For me, I believe government has a lot to do in that regard. For instance, there should be a task force put in place to monitor the activities of doctors such that if there is anyone who engages in any funny act

like diverting drugs to his or her private hospital, such a person should be sanctioned. And anyone who refers patients to his private hospital should be reported and government must take lawful decision on such individual”, she opined.

Meanwhile, after the court

ruling sometime in the week, Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote said: “It was a fair outing, the Judge pronounced there would not be eviction of any of the doctors and we are rest assured on that. By and large it was a fair outing and we are satisfied.” On the eviction order, he noted that

BY EBUN SESSOU

A

Dauda Daud

Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote

Akin Jimoh

Face-off: Lagosians say it’s dangerous as it involves lives

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s the face-off between Lagos State Govern ment and its doctors lingers, Lagosians have been pouring out their anger especially as the issue is critical to human life.

When Saturday Vanguard visited Lagos metropolis, it was revealed that the on-going problem has not only put fear in the minds of the people but it is also capable of endangering the lives of the people of the State.

For Mr. Akin Jimoh, a media practitioner and programme director, Devcoms Networks, “the on-going problem has shown a breakdown in communication between the State government and the doctors.

“It shows that dialogue has not been able to solve the problem. Both parties are holding to their own polemics without looking at the other side of the coin. And in a situation like this, nobody can say, he or she is totally right or the other party is totally wrong. So, we have to look at it holistically. What is the state of health care delivery in Lagos State and when we are talking about health care delivery, is it only in the teaching hospitals alone? We are talking holistically at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

“This situation has been there from time immemorial.

And everybody knows that during the military regime, what they usually say is that “our hospitals have been turned to mere consulting clinics”. They give that as a reason for taking over. But the question is, are these hospitals up to standard at the moment? Have they really turned the bend to say that we have standardised health facilities in the country? It is not enough when we point at one facility and we leave out oth-

”So, if they decided to go on strike at the expense of people’s lives then, God will judge them accordingly”, they chorused

ers.

“The question is, do we have a better healthcare system?

Are they being professional about their jobs? Do we have situations whereby, we have been able to address some of the common health issues in the state?

“People are quick to pass blames but we need to remember that individuals have a role to play. If there is an agreement, what are the terms of the agreement? The truth is that Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has been at the fore-front of the issue that has to do with medical practice in this country.

,

“When one looks at the agitation during the military regime, during the Buhari/Idiagbon era, issues like this made some doctors flee the country for fear of arrest. And when one takes a look at the on-going crisis, the same people that sacked doctors now were part of the people who were agitating for better medical service in those days but now they form part of the team that is sacking those doctors. “And if the government says, it is bringing in new doctors, the question that will be going through the minds of the people is the fact that the new doctors are without ex-

perience and so, how do they fit into attending to critical issues? If an inexperienced doctor is brought in to attend to patients, then the lives of the patients are at stake. And in a situation where three hundred inexperienced doctors are employed to replace professionals and experts, then, there is need for a sober reflection.

“And if government says, it would bring in private doctors who will provide service free of charge; the question is, is that the whole truth because I am yet to see a doctor who will leave his own private job to go and work freely for government. I see a situation whereby people will suffer. The fact is that some of the doctors’ mates have sought greener pastures in other countries but these ones have decided to work in their fathers’ land.

“And unfortunately, the same doctor will be expected to oversee more than one hundred patients in a day. Those are pressing issues in our feder-

the Medical Guild was aware of the counter order given by Governor Babatunde Fashola, even though there were no documents to back it up. “We could not rely on that and we were only being careful. Now those who have moved out can return based on the court ruling”.

al, state and local government levels. And when we start passing blames, the fact is that lots of people are dying.

“So, there is need for both parties to dialogue. It is a shame that those who are in power in this country get their treatment outside the country whenever they have issues. A good leader will access healthcare from within and send their children to public schools so that public schools will change”, he concluded.

For Dauda Daud, a motor cyclist, the present situation in the healthcare system is not encouraging and therefore, it shouldn’t be compounded.

According to her, “when two elephants fight, the grass suffers. I believe people will suffer because the new doctors are not experienced. The truth is that the two parties should learn to swallow their pride and come to a compromise so that the doctors can return to their work or the poor masses are the ones that would bear the brunt.

“If government is going to employ new doctors, they must be well trained on the job.

Sack of doctors in this country is a taboo because we are talking about the lives of people.

“Already, the scenario in hospital environment is not encouraging because there are no drugs and no good healthcare facilities. Negligence and other factors are discouraging people from accessing good healthcare service in the country. It’s just like a child who is not being taken care of. Such a child will be violent in the city.

“So, if the state government refuses to take care of its doctors, then, there will be a problem. And for things to be better, government must be

Continues on pages 13

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012------13

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

K Kaduna’s aduna’s unsung unsung victims victims of of tterr errorists’ orists’ attac attacks ks

I

n Rigassa, a dingy, uncharted, crammed suburb about 5 km west of Kaduna State Government House, death lurks on select enemies of some unidentified gunmen, suspected to belong to a rising cell of a militant sect in the area.

Penultimate Saturday, some of the gunmen leaped out from a bush and took on soldiers mounting a check point by the area, and after a gun duel, a soldier and one of the assailants laid dead.

According to the spokesman of 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna. Col. Sani Kukasheku Usman, the incident happened around 9 pm.

Said Usman: “Some armed men sprang a surprise attack on our troops at a checkpoint in Rigassa last Saturday evening. After repelling the attackers in a fierce exchange of fire, our fire power and gallantry overwhelmed them.

One of our soldiers was shot dead. But we also killed one of them and wounded several others. We are still on their trail, as we are collecting useful information from the populace”, he said.

It could be recalled that last Friday night, unknown gunmen in the area also killed one of the traditional rulers and another police man.

This would bring to about ten in two months, series of murder carried out by gunmen in the area, almost exclusively Hausadominated.

Others were just ordinary folks, including a school teacher who all seemed to have begrudged the sect for one or two reasons.

Unfortunately, since there are no links connecting these deaths to Boko Haram, their

families are left to mourn alone, with no consolation or any form of compensation from government.

These are the some of the unsung victims of terrorists in Kaduna.

Okada Taxi Riders The Public Relations Officer, Kaduna Okada Taxi Union told Saturday Vanguard recently that not less than 150,000 riders have registered with

the union, out of an estimated 500,000 professional and non professionals okada riders.

According to Saturday Vanguard’s findings, about 200,000 are involved in night business all over the state, making an average of N20,000 per night.

“I usually sleep when I return from my security work around 4pm”, said Bala Katuga, an Okada rider that

Face-of f: Lagosians sa ous as it involves lives ace-off: sayy it’s danger dangerous Continued from page 12 responsible. The truth is that most of the government officials do not access healthcare in this country and so it is not possible for them to know what people are passing through especially since the strike problem began.”

A man who does not want his name mentioned said, “It is wrong for government to have sacked its doctors.

Instead, more deliberations and dialogue should have been encouraged.

Government should be humble enough to listen to the yearnings of the doctors instead of sacking them”, he said.

Meanwhile, Badmus’ opinion is that the two parties should learn to consider other people when taking certain decisions. “I think the two sides should come to a compromise because it is a serious issue that involves lives.

“And by the virtue of the doctor’s profession, it is a sensitive thing and that is why they should put their plans into consideration. I think, there is need for both parties to sit together in a round table and look for a way forward. The new doctors are not experienced and therefore it is dangerous to be playing with people’s lives.

“My opinion is that government should reinstate the doctors. The new

doctors should not be used as instruments to jeopardise the lives of the people,”he added . Another motorist also joined in the support for everybody to settle the case amicably. “It is better to settle amicably with experienced doctors because the new doctors do not have what it takes to take care of patients especially critical conditions”.

This sack has the potential of completely destroying the sector —-Dr. Odusote

M

eanwhile the Chairman of the Med ical Guide, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote spoke after the court ruling during the week on the pronouncement by the Justice Benedict Kanyip of the Industrial Court, that Lagos state government should step down the eviction notice it served the sacked doctors.

According to him, “it was a fair outin. The judge pronounced there would not be eviction of any of the doctors and we are rest assured on that. By and large, it was a fair outing and we are satisfied.”

On the eviction order, he noted that the Medical Guild was aware of the counter order given by Governor Babatunde Fashola even though there were no documents to back it up. “We could not rely on that and we were only being careful. Now, those who have moved out can move back based on the court ruling.

Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, described the

decision of the state government to negotiate with medical doctors after they have been sacked as deceptive.

“I do not think this government realises what it has done. This sack has the potential of completely destroying the health care system of the state.You will remember that during the Buhari era when doctors were sacked, that led to a massive exodus of doctors to other countries and that was the beginning of brain drain which the nation has not recovered from. What is going to happen is that there will be a massive brain drain of doctors in Lagos. It is just unfortunate that the Lagos State government is embarking on this illegal act at a time the Federal Government is still trying to bring back those doctors sacked during the Buhari era from abroad.

I’m sure those that want to come back are going to have a rethink.”

Asked what would happen if the doctors are called back, he said, “We will not reject any opportunity to serve this country in any capacity but this government is lying. On Saturday, we were at the negotiation table with this government but meanwhile, they had signed our dismissal letters on Friday before coming to the meeting and they are now saying they are open to dialogue”.

resides in Kakuri, Kaduna.

“The best time for me to start work is by 9pm after taking about four hours’ sleep.

“I take people to night clubs, churches and hospitals etc.

The charges are usually a bit higher. You could make between N2000 and N3,000 depending on the market”, he said.

“Every month, I make about N50,000 from my bike”, he went on.

“But that is gone now, since we cannot operate after 9pm.

It has been tough for us”, he lamented.

All commercial movements of Okada have been banned in Kaduna State from 9pm to 6am. In Rigassa the ban starts from 6pm.

Night life Kaduna is famous for its exuberant night life. But, with the fear of insecurity, all the major night spots in the town have either been closed or are operating under loses.

From the International NAF Club on Rabah Road, Rose Base night club at Narayi Hight Cost Housing estate, Rampage night club on Obadu Road, Viviana, in Narayi, Sea Breeze at Unguwan Pama, night life has become a shadow of the past.

Even the infamous Maiduguri road, notorious for its scarlet ladies is now scantily attended.

Shops and businesses Bida road was once a Mecca for stationeries and interior decor. But, all the shops have been closed permanently, cutting off means of livelihoods for thousands. The reason is that it is on the street that Kaduna State Police Command Headquarters is sited. The police have sealed off the street.

In the mammy markets, all shops must close at peak of business, between 6 and 8pm, when those who consume booze are at their best moments. A good number owners of some shops in all the mammy markets have closed shops for lack of patronage.

Big gulf between Christians and Muslims.

While, it may be true that both Christians and most Muslims reject and condemn the tenets of terrorism, there is left a deep suspicion among the two faiths.

Today in Kaduna, there are areas that are exclusive to both Muslims and Christains.

Places in the Southern part where Muslims prayers emanate from loudspeakers on minarets are largely gone.

Likewise, there are places where no church is found in the northern part of the city.

Muslims and Christians seem to have drawn a green line that separate them both physically, spiritually and politically.

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

Edo 2012 guber: Our people will resist rigging —Oshiomhole z As he dedicat es A ward tto o lat e Olaitan dedicates Aw late

G

overnor Adams Oshi omhole of Edo state received the Champion Man of the Year Award at Sheraton Hotels and Towers Lagos in Lagos, last Tuesday May 16, 2012. Incidentally, the award came barely 24 hours after the Governor led a protest to the Edo state secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin City, where ACN members protested what they described as the alleged illegal registration of voters ahead the July 14 governorship election in the state.

ACN is pointing accusing fingers at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in collaboration with some INEC officials at the ICT unit as masterminds.

However, the colourful award ceremony which was chaired by the former Secretary General of the Common Wealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, attracted dignitaries such as the Governor of Lagos State, Raji Fashola, former Governor of Ogun State, Aremu Olusegun Osoba, National and state Assembly members from Edo state, captains of industries and representatives of the revered Oba of Benin.

Shortly after the award which he dedicated to his late Principal Private Secretary, Comrade Olaitan Oyinrinde, who was brutally murdered penultimate week, Saturday Vanguard cornered the Governor for this interview to know why as a Governor he is still leading protests and other issues.

You led a protest to the INEC office in Benin City last Monday, where a fake INEC official was caught with a DDC machine, what actually happened?

You can’t say he is fake in the sense that he is an INEC man. The issue is that he carried the machine, our people saw him coming in the morning before 8am. He brought the machine and he was apprehended. We asked what the machine is for, he said it C M Y K

is being used for training in Igueben, but he was asked to take it to Uromi and that it was taken to Uromi and since Sunday, they have been doing registration. Having done the registration in Uromi, they are now taking the machine back. Clearly, the official registration is supposed to start on Tuesday (May 15) but they started registration in Uromi on Sunday. We confirmed the information we had that they have perfected arrangement to deploy machines to secret locations.

Whereas in other states, they did registration at local government levels, in Edo, they wanted to do it at every ward, as if it is a general registration exercise. And of course in addition, they have 472 machines whereas they need only 192 if they were to do it in the wards. If they were to do in local governments, they need only 18. So clearly, they have about 214 more machines which they were going to use secretly to register people from neighboring states, including thugs that they will use on election day. Jega is not aware of what they did. It is like as I am governor here, I am talking of transparency here, whereas the clerk in the Ministry of

,

SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

•Governor Oshiomhole than this. They planned to mix up the name, remove a name from polling unit A, ward 1 and take it to ward 4 so that on that day when you come, you can’t find your name.

There will be all kinds of confusion. There are some couple of things they planned that is based around the voters register but as luck would have it today, we got one of

Those qualities that brought me into this office include mass protest. If as a governor I feel that an institution of state is being misused or being mismanaged, I have a right to lead a protest

Works has decided that before you get your cheque, money must exchange hands. Jega is not aware of some of these things. This is purely an arrangement between some people in ICT in INEC in Edo and some official in Abuja .

Obviously, they have a deal with PDP to use the voters registration exercise to doctor votes in advance. What they want to do is even much more

,

the boys and he has confessed.

Y

ou have persistently spoken about an alleged meeting which held at the house of a leader of the PDP, what happened at the meeting?

The PDP leaders met in Abuja at the residence of a god father and they concluded

that they just have to rig the election if they must win. They said they will use the voters registration exercise, that they will bring thugs and exmilitants; that they will recruit them and register them in a particular ward so that on election day, they will say we are registered here but they are actually there for thuggery. And of course, they also said there that they have settled a lot of people in INEC, particularly those in ICT. And when you see what they have done today, it shows clearly that they have a deal with the ICT department. It is basically on how to rig the election.

But some people felt you should not be leading a protest now as Governor of the state?

Is the opposition in a position to define what should be my role? Who are they do define my role? So if it is coming from opposition, that is not an issue. If you say that members of the public said that, I might pause for a second. But the difference between me and opposition is that their candidate cannot walk the streets of Benin where he claimed to come from. Nobody will follow him. Dan Orbih cannot walk the streets of Be-

nin, Chief Anenih cannot walk the streets of Benin or even the streets of Uromi outside their bullet proof vehicles. They cannot. So I will not conduct my office according to their dictates. I will conduct my office according to my own style.

A

nd I have the back ground of the masses.

Those qualities that brought me into this office include mass protest. If as a governor, I feel that an institution of state is being misused or being mismanaged, I have a right to lead a protest. If it is some thing that I can sit in my office and clean out, I will do it. But INEC is not under my control. Even much more than that, I am the candidate whose election is being manipulated. And I am not one of those leaders who ask people to go and die whereas they remain in the comfort of their homes. I want to lead by example. If I ask my people to go and protest, I will lead the protest; share the burden and the stress of protesting under the sun. Like the other day, we went out and it started raining, people said I should

Continues on page 15

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012—15

As he dedicates award to late Olaitan people.If we are going to have free and fair election, we must be vigilant and we must have the courage to come out and deal with these agents of darkness. We have told them they will not be able to change the rules of the game in Edo. What they could not do in Cross River, they cannot do it in Edo. Someone phoned me from the Presidency that he heard that half a million people have occupied the INEC office in Edo. I said yes, I authorized it.

Now, if half a million people occupy INEC over manipulation of the voters registration exercise, just imagine how many people will pull out if they attempt to rig the election. There is no hiding place for any of them. You know what caused trouble in the Arab world was one truck pusher who was being harassed by a police man.

T

•Governor Oshiomhole

get into my car. For a minute, I said no why should I ride inside my car when these people are following me. I am the candidate, so I asked the driver to stop and I walked with them.

S

o if PDP says they agreed with what I did, it means it was wrong. If they say what I did is wrong, it means it is right. And I am ready to lead more protests. If there is any attempt to rig this election, if anything is going to happen, I will lead it. I am not going to hide. I will not plan it at night.

I walk in the day time. You see, this country is ours. We cannot allow people to mess up our country. What I am going to do is to put them on notice and that is the party, we don’t do like cowards; like those who will go in the dark to go and kill or use tipper driver to try to kill their enemies. But all those who kill in their 90s, hell fire is their portion.

Fighting god fatherism Many people out side Edo state who read my comments from time to time wonder why I’m fighting godfatherism.

But to start with, I think to even use the word god is even

wrong, the actual word should be the devil fathers. There is nothing Godly in their lives.

Some people have asked me how can I look at an elder in the face and say some of the things I have had to say. Let me repeat, by my own up bringing, in my community, the basis for respect is actually seniority. And I have no difficulties in respecting elders.

My difficulties are that where-

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Continued from page 14

are going to have sustainable development, the starting point was to get rid of those forces who are opposed to progress. Those who said they are Mr Fix It, we have unfixed them. More than 95 per cent of Edo people are very appreciative of what we are doing.

The remaining 5 per cent are those who have been denied access to our common wealth which they have feasted on

I was convinced that if we are going to have sustainable development, the starting point was to get rid of those forces who are opposed to progress

as I respect the age of these people who have detained our state, I have no respect for the age of their ideas. It is the same ideas that explained the paradox of a rich country whose people are increasingly being pauperized. And it is those forces that explain why fewer people are buying jets and more and more people are getting poorer. Unless we reverse it, there are no miracles.

So I was convinced that if we

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over the years. But we know that they are not ready to give up in a hurry, they are like snakes and until you cut off the head, it will keep surviving.

But if they try to rig the election again, then they should be ready to face the people.

How optimistic are you that INEC will conduct a free and fair election I know Prof Jega is a good man and an honest perso . So he will not listen to these evil

he man said alright, with all my hardship, you are still coming to harass me, now kill me. If you can’t kill me, I will kill my self. The man set himself ablaze. That fire he put on himself is burning Arab now. So, if Abuja does not understand that they can’t allow an old man in his 90s to create trouble, President Goodluck Jonathan has enough headache managing security in many parts of the country.

If he allows a party man in his 90s to create crisis in Edo, it is his luck. But we will fight them. I am putting everything to it. As we are now, they are holding nocturnal meetings on how to cheat. But we will do everything to frustrate any cheating. I think what we showed in that protest was that we have men and women that if the system fails, there is no hiding place for them.

We have the capacity and we will deploy the capacity. You know you could have capacity and you may not have the will to deploy it but I have the will to deploy the capacity.

And I will be there live. I am not going to hide and say I am not part of it.

What about building infrastructure?

We still have a lot of infrastructural deficiency. In Benin City alone,we have done many roads but the roads that are yet to be done are still more. We still need massive investment in rural and urban infrastructure. We still need to deliver water to more communities. We still need to deliver rural electricity to many communities. We still need to open up more rural roads and we still need to build more health centers and equip them to function. So we are not done yet with infrastruc-

ture. But of course infrastructure is a means to an end.

When you open up a rural area, you provide water, roads, electricity, you will have the appropriate environment to attract investors. So in the second phase, we believe that a number of those who want to locate companies in Edo will have the required environment for them to do so. So we have to continue with the way we have started.

You can see that we are seriously addressing the flooding problem in Benin City. We are also working on power supply.

Edo is usually a hub that we can give power to neighboring states. If the Federal Government deregulates their monopoly of the power sector, there are a number of investors in that area that want to come. A number of farmers who are interested in farming in Edo state are coming. All of that will lead to job creation and that is the only way to fight poverty.

Industrialization Well, the issue of industries, talking reality, which government is setting up industries now across the country? There is none. What government can do is to create the environment for private people to set up businesses. Government cannot run a business. That is the unfortunate truth. But we are doing some thing to revive the existing ones. In Okpella, they are working there now when I threatened that I will revoke the privatization. The place was privatized by the PDP government. Bendel Brewery was ran down by PDP. They had a huge debt of over N1.8 billion guaranteed by the state. We worked out a deal with AMCON; we are going to pay almost a billion naira, we have started paying to take that debt off because with the debt hanging on them, you cannot get a private investor to invest there and there are challenges between Churchgate and Edo state government arising from PDP deals with Churchgate that went sour. Until we resolve all of these issues, there is not much that we can do with Bendel Breweries.

The Juice Factory at Egor, Fertiliser at Auchi, Cassavita at Uromi; all those were fake projects. What we want to do now is to privatise them and the only asset they have is the land because the equipment ab initio were second hand.

They never really worked but we are attracting a lot of businesses now to the state that is best for the state and creating an enabling environment for people to come and invest.

C M Y K

16—SATURDAY Vanguard , MAY 19, 2012

W

t may all be politics, of course, but obviously a ploy that is based on wrangling with the opposition will ultimately prove to be counterproductive to those in power.

Apart from the devastation it does to the image of government, it only highlights the fact that the sensibilities of the masses are ruffled when the lightest touch of hectoring is perceived by the people as a device of governance. For instance, in coming down so heavily on Buhari, his critics u n f o r t u n a t e l y C M Y K

*baboons and monkeys *one more for the team

has noble action, sound thinking, and patriotic utterance as its important components. Irresponsible statements, no matter how much they might have emanated from the stress of disappointment and the bitterness of disillusionment, should not be the habitual brand of someone who plays, or aspires to play, a leading role in society.

A statement from the camp of the beleaguered former Military of Head of State characterizes those who resent the controversial remark of Buhari as those who would stand in the way of a fair and free election. Are those the “baboons”?

And are the “monkeys” then those who would cause the blood to flow? As far as I can see, so many bloated baboons are behaving too much like mischievous monkeys, to tell one from the other at this time.

A

•Buhari simultaneously exposed their own flanks to blazing— though similarly— ineffectual criticism themselves.

Could you imagine anyone less uncomfortable with quoting someone’s former statements to illustrate a volta-face in that person’s new position, than Dr. Rueben Abati, the present mouthpiece of the presidency? How could he

,

I

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hat did the former military ruler and f o r m e r Presidential Candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, General Muhammadu Buhari mean by saying that, if the national elections in 2015 were not fairly conducted, “the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood”?

It seems to be an idiomatic phrase portending evil, especially with the chilly connection of blood in its connotation. Could it have meant that “blood would flow”? Or that certain elements would be drenched in blood? Who is the “monkey” and who is the “baboon”?

One believes that the broad interpretation would be that a rigged election, which the nation has suffered before, would provoke a bit of mayhem if it was repeated in 2015. But those who are making so much of out of it give the impression that: one , the CPC leader has issued a threat that there would be bloodshed if his party did not win the elections in 2015—the accompanying caveat of rigging is carelessly, or carefully, deemphasized; and two , that he was already inciting, or even preparing, for the occasion of such a bloodbath.

However, we all know that several other people have made statements that stopped short of making “a call for revolution” (with apologies to Osita Agwuna, peace to his shades.) Highly placed intellectuals have mentioned the word “revolution”; highly respectable politicians —an endangered species —have also raised it in alarm; highly revered clerics have also spoken about it in trembling voices; all as the possible outcome of any perpetrated assault on the freedom of the people to determine their destiny through the ballot box. Buhari could not have intended to convey anything much more than that, or could he? He did not even say the dread word, “revolution”.

and allowances must be given for his frustrations. A judicious reference to his failures to return to power, this time legally, might have been enough to set him back on his seat, instead of a lengthy harangue from the seat of power. It was almost as justifiable, and practicable, as attempting to swat a fly with a mallet. The entire exercise seemed to represent

mong the many burning issues before this nation today is the towering question of how we can exist together. Some people even delimit it to whether we should live together at all.

We seem to have passed through the initial fever of the first notion that gripped us; I refer to the Sovereign National Conference. It stayed with us for quite a while, and might not have entirely said goodbye to its most ardent adherents. It had a number of those, at the beginning, until it became apparent that it would naturally destabilize those who were in a position to

General Buhari’s remarks may not have been statesmanlike, especially in the way they were couched. But he is in the opposition and allowances must be given for his frustrations

feel comfortable to recall whatever Mallam Nasir el Rufai might once have said about Buhari, without inviting a reprise of his own unflattering statements about the personification of the presidency for which he now goes to bat?

General Buhari’s remarks may not have been statesmanlike, especially in the way they were couched.

But he is in the opposition

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an attempt at a total squelch, an over-kill purposed to reduce the opposition’s view to smithereens. If that is successful all the time, of course, we would totally have lost our much-touted democracy since it cannot exist in the absence of an opposition.

On the other hand, responsible leadership is also a function of the opposition in any democracy. It perforce

•Awolowo

Who is the “monkey” and who is the “baboon”?

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facilitate its coming to life. It is simply not feasible in our country to reshape our lives to that extent.

So we began to speak about fiscal federalism—in other words, the determination of how we can share our resources equitably, with regard to the source of the revenue—mainly petroleum products, our preoccupation with which has drowned the serious interest we should take in other resources.

However, some states seem to be recovering from the petroleum obsession. They are revaluating the strengths of their past and rediscovering the beauty of their heritage.

They have come to the realization that they can reestablish the old glory that was theirs. And this has come not a moment too soon as events make them to realize that they have been singled out as the team to beat. It is apparent that they can stand secure and unassailable, if only they indeed had a team— the full team.

Now, this goes beyond winning elections, or belonging to a particular political party, or establishing a personal cult of independence. It is gradually emerging in the shape of regions now, the old regions which the mindless pursuit of state creation slashed into shreds.

T

he North valiantly held on to that heritage of a monolithic philosophy which embraces Tiv, Hausa, Fulani, Gwari and so many other groups into one massive

visage. Many people of the old West know who is keeping aloof, and preventing the emergence in the West of one mighty voice.

This page calls today for a total unity of purpose among the inheritors of O b a f e m i Awolowo, to strengthen the unity of Nigeria.

And why not?

The Ondo people have always identified with the brightest heritage of Yorubaland.

Time out.

TURD AY, MA Y 19, 2012 — 17 Vanguard, SA SATURD TURDA MAY

C M Y K

18 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, MAY 19, 2012 Dear Aunty Julie, Please I need your adivice before I make a mistake. I ran into an old flame recently. I dated him for six months but I must confess he didn’t treate me well. He slept with almost all my friends and when I asked him why he was humiliating me, he said it is a place of a woman to say no. When I realised that I had dumped three female friends and could not have the confidence to make new ones because he would go for them and sweettalk them into his bed and later come and tell me, I dumped him and moved on. EventualDear Rita, ly, I left Lagos for Abuja and There is something excithave lived there for the past ingly mysterious about old seven years. Then, there was flames. Bumping into an old this day I went shopping and flame after a long time has somebody touched me at the passed and seeing how good shopping mall and it was him. they look is understandably He looks more mature and going to arouse your curiosimore presentable and said all ty, especially if they not only those things he did were just look good, but also seem to part of growing up and he has have bettered themselves outlived them. He wants us to since you last saw them and get back together and I’m doing well. tempted because the last guy The two of you talk, laugh, I dated just travelled abroad catch each other up on your two months ago and I’ve been lives and boom- you begin to feeling quite lonely. Should I wonder if maybe you should date him again? give it another go. Maybe Rita, Abuja things will be better this time or perhaps you two were just

She lies a lot

An old flame wants to rekindle our love?

I have a crush on my friend’s girlfriend Dear Julie, I came back to Nigeria after living in the united States for nine years. I just got a new job in an oil firm and some old friends decided to throw a party for me. I went with my closest pal and he brought along his girlfriend and her female cousin who partnered with me throughout the night. But the truth of the matter is that I don’t like his girlfriend’s cousin. I like his own girl because she is classy and hot and I can’t get her off my mind. I met her againa in the line of duty and we hit off as good friends but she spoilt the day by calling her cousin to come over. I don’t want to hurt my friend but I won’t take second best either.

I want my pal’s girlfriend or nobody else and I want her for keeps.

Simon, Port Harcourt Dear Simon, Ah, yes, the dilemma of being attracted to your friend’s

lover is human. But there are some lines in life that we know should not be crossed and one of them is going after your friend’s boyfriend or girlfriend.

It is a loyalty that friends expect from each other and rightly so .

The best thing you can do in this situation is to remind yourself just that. You cannot control who you feel attracted to, but you can control how you handle it. There is nothing wrong with feeling attracted to your friend’s boyfriend or girlfriend .

What you privately feel and think is your business and hurts no one, but you have to remember that this person is in a relationship with your friend and you should give their relationship the same respect you would expect your friend to give your relationship, if they were attracted to your boyfriend or girlfriend. Another thing is to treat others the way you would like to be treated.

not mature enough or ready the first time you got involved. Should you start seeing each other again?

Sure, but that all depends.

Firstly, it is most important to listen and trust your instincts.

Based on the reason of why you broke up in the first place, if your instincts tell you that it seems okay, then go for it!

Sometimes people are just too young and immature to make a relationship work the first time around and then meet up again as more mature adults and are able to build a beautiful and loving relationship.

However, if your relationship ended in the past due to abusive circumstances, for example whether it be physical or emotional, then it would be best to either not get involved at all or approach it with extreme caution, as it would take a lot of time for your ex to prove that he or she has truly made the changes necessary in order to have another chance with you.

If you and your old flame decide to give things another try, just start at a slow pace. Enjoy getting to know each other again slowly and be prepared for either outcome.

C M Y K

Dear Aniedu, The word “lie” can be such a dirty word, because it means keeping the truth from someone and involves some kind of deception. Is lying always a bad thing though? It depends on the lie. While we all prefer to be told the truth all the time or so we think we do anyway, sometimes it is best if certain things are left unsaid.

There is a difference between a big lie where you are really deceiving your partner and a little white lie that will not really hurt anyone and is actually better if not said at all. It also depends on the relationship and friendship you have with your partner. Some couples are very close and open with each other completely and are not sensitive to hear all kinds of truths from each other. However, there are some relationships where one partner may be sensitive to hear certain things about themselves or certain things, where it would be better for you to answer certain questions or make comments in a more sugar coated way.

These kinds of white lies are not hurtful and will not be a betrayal to your relationship in any way. Lying about who youwere out with the night before or being in one place and saying you were in another for example, are lies that can be damaging to your relationship and can break a trust that can be very difficult to earn back.

In your own case, the lady you wanted ( or maybe still wants) to take to the next level overdid it and there was no need for that. You just found her out and honestly, a relationship founded on lies cannot stand and I believe your lady will tell more lies.

He wants me to move in with him

Aunty Julie, My fiance wants me to move in with him but my parents are frowning at it. I live in a selfcontain apartment while he lives in a four-bedroom apartment. I have agreed to move in with him but I told him I would still keep my place and he is against my keeping my place while living with him. I am only being careful because we have not commenced preparation for our marriage and I have had an experience in the past where I moved in with a guy

C O C K - TA L E S Difference between men and women A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t. A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, and she does. A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

Fooling around There was a middle-aged couple that had two stunningly beautiful teen-aged daughters. They decided to try one last time for the son they always wanted.

After months of trying, the wife became pregnant and sure enough, nine months later delivered a healthy baby boy. The joyful father rushed to the nursery to see his new son. He took one look and was horrified to see the ugliest child he had ever seen. He went to his wife and said that there was no way that

Aunty Julie, I met this lady last Xmas when I travelled home and we became acquainted. She was very beautiful and I imagined we could take the relationship to the next level. I made further enquiries about her even though she had already told me she is a lawyer and I liked that professional aspect of her. She even went as far as telling me she would soon be in the law school but had gotten a temporary employment somewhere. I was so proud of her and went home and told my parents who gave me the go ahead to court her.

We kept in constant communication until when I ran into another friend who would be attending law school in the same place with my lady. My friend suggested that we visit her first before the law school programme and we did. We traced her to her address at Ogui layout in Enugu and one of her younger sisters offered to take us to her office. You can imagine how shock I was when we got to this seedy place at Abakpa Nike where they played pool and while we waited, I asked her younger sister about the the law school programme but she told me she knew nothing about the law school affair, as her sister was only trying to get into the University to study OND law programme.

It was at that point that my lady came out and suspecting that her sister had spoilt things for her, she became rude to her and was very unfriendly and dismissed us in the most terrible manner. Ordinarily, I would have forgiven the two lies she told me but how many more lies would I contend with?

M.B. Aniedu, Enugu

and five months later, he threw me out. I don’t want history to repeat itself and so, I took time and narrated my past experience to him and even though he showed understanding, he still maintains that I don’t keep my place but I’m not comfortable with that. I would rather remain in my place and move in with him after our marriage which is what my parents want anyway. What do I do?

Doris, Lagos Dear Doris, Many people move in together, so this is nothing new.

he could be the father of that child. “Look at the two beautiful daughters I fathered.”

Then he gave her a stern look and asked, “Have you been fooling around on me?” The wife smiled sweetly and said, “Not this time”.

Superbaby A baby was born so advanced in development he could talk. He looked around the delivery room and saw the doctor. “Are you my doctor?” he asked. “Why, yes, I am,” said the doctor.The baby said, “Thank you for taking such good care of me during the birth.”

He looked at his mother and asked, “Are you my mother?” “Yes, dear, I am,” said the mother, beaming. “Thank you for taking such good care of me before I was born,” he said. He then looked at his father and asked, “Are you my father?” “Yes, I am,” his father proudly answered. The baby motioned him closer, then poked him repeatedly on the forehead with his index finger. ”Hurts, doesn’t it!?”

Whether it is a good idea or not really depends on the two people involved. Some claim moving in together is good, because it gives them a chance to really get to know their partner, making it easier for them to decide if they want to really spend the rest of their lives together or not.

This gives you two the opportunity to enjoy the experience of sharing your lives together without finalizing marriage , so you can change your mind later if things do not work out, without going through all the legal stresses. But that is not our way of life here. Be wise.

A Christmas wish

An elderly couple was celebrating Christmas at home when a fairy appeared. The fairy told them that since it was Christmas, she would grant each. them a wish The wife said, “I’ve lived for so many years, but I’ve never seen the beautiful Swiss Alps. I wish we could travel there.” The fairy waved her wand

and SWOOSH! She had a pair of return tickets to Switzerland in her hand.

Surprised at what he saw, the husband became excited and started racking his brain for a wish.

He contemplated for a moment, and then said, “I am envious of those guys who have young wives.

If possible, I want to be married to a woman who is 20 years younger than me.” The fairy waved her wand and SWOOSH! He became 20 years older.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard MA Y 19, 2012 — 19 MAY

08056180152

Being tth he o ther w oman - b ett er than n oth ?! other woman be tte no thiing ng?!

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agos life has never held that much ex citement for me”, said Kike, a 38-year old mother of three. “When I was admitted into a nursing school in Lagos after my secondary school, I was ecstatic. But I soon saw Lagos for what it was —a city with a frenzied lifestyle that I could never catch up with.

1'd been born and bred in a fairly big town but to a protective parents. When I came to Lagos, I stayed with an uncle, my mum’s elder brother, and was amazed at the freedom he gave his children, including me. My parents thought I would be safe staying with my uncle instead of the den of vice they thought the nurses’ hostel would be. But in six months, I’d lost my virginity to a man who said he loved me. The depth of his love became shallow as soon as he found another conquest.

After a few more sweetmouthed fickle men, I was thoroughly disillusioned and cynical about love. “

hen I finished at the nursing school, I worked for close to a year in one of the teaching hospitals before I snapped up the offer of work with another uncle who just opened an ultramodem practice in our town.

I was glad to be back with my parents even though the hospital offered accommodation. The salary was good and I soon got together with lost friends. I was working nights some few months later when a man was brought in with a nasty gash on his leg. He’d accidentally fallen into a ditch during the rainy season. I tended his wounds and he wanted to know if I could come to his house the next day to dress his wounds. He said he would make it worth my while if I came. So I went. He was

much older of course, and a bit on the stocky side, but distinguished and sophisticated.

“When I looked at the card he gave me, I discovered that Gbade was his first name and the address was the impressive factory that had just been opened on the outskirts of town. The house address was one off the fancy houses that were recently sold by the state government at the town’s GRA. When I arrived, I was Shown into a very posh living room, with leather sofas, glass-top dinning table, Impressive bar and other nick-nacks. As I dressed his wounds, he chatted, but you could see he was trying to fin~ out all about me. I told him of the nasty experiences I’d had with men and that I was bidding my time in looking for a boyfriend. He asked me to stay for lunch and the meal the cook prepared was like a feast. When I was ready to leave, he gave me an envelope for my ‘trouble’ and asked the driver to drop me at the hospital in one of

his posh cars. My eyes nearly popped when I checked the envelope and saw how generous he was. I went to dress his wounds a few more times and got to know him better. He taught me how to have wine with

pregnant. It wasn’t planned.

He refused to use the condom because he said he couldn’t be bothered fiddling with the stuff at his age. My contraceptive must have failed and when I told him, he asked me to move into the house straight away. I

My parents thought I would be safe staying with my uncle instead of the den of vice they thought the nurses’ hostel would be. But in six months, I’d lost my virginity to a man who said he loved me

,

my meals and it was during one of my tipsy moments that we kissed and made love. Of course he’d told me that he was married and that he used this beautiful house as his ‘base’ four days a week. The rest of the week he spent with his wife and two daughters.

“Six months after I met him, I discovered I was

was aghast. What would my parents say? “I’11 deal with them”, he assured. I was at work when he went to visit my parents. My mum found time to call my mobile to tell me what to expect from my dad but she said he would come round in the end. When I got home, dad really tore into me. What example did I think I was setting for my siblings getting

H

e took his time in giv ing his consent for me to move into Gbade’s house and he didn’t visit until Gbade had done the traditional wine-carrying ceremony.

When he eventually visited, he admitted I’d really struck gold. Gbade’s wife never came to the premises - I doubt if she knew of its existence as he had another flat at the factory.

Every weekday, his wife would call around 7.00p.m. and that was it. Within eight years, I’d had three lovely boys. I have since left my nursing job to be a fulltime housewife. My husband sees to it that I want for nothing.

The kids are well taken care of and he’s rebuilt my parent’s house and given them a car.

Just last year, on his 60th birthday, he transferred the ownership of the house to me and has been buying shares in the boys’ names. He’d told me he didn’t want any embarrassment with his wife when he eventually dies, that I wouldn’t need to fight his family over any inheritance and he is true to his words.

Just last year, he opened an ultra-modern supermarket, the first of its kind, so I could have my own income for life.

“Now that the children are not so young, I’m thinking of starting a business of my own to supplement the super market and he’s encouraged me to do that. I pinch myself at times to believe my good luck. Some of my friends are still struggling with their notso-young husbands and a few are divorced. The other woman? If this is what it’s all about, then I feel privileged and grateful to be one!” “

,

W

“

hitched to a married man?

Was a second wife the best I could do? I wish I had the nerve to tell him the rotten treatment I’d been subjected to by former boyfriends, but my mum had warned me not to contradict him.

How to stop a serial cheat

C M Y K

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oes he have a Peter Pan notion of staying young and free? This may not surface until family responsibilities start to impinge on the lifestyle he thinks he should be leading. For example, when children come into the picture, it may be necessary for him to cut back on spending, but he doesn’t or

Sometimes, a man who outwardly appears powerful, confident, charismatic and in control, can actually have a poor image of himself

perhaps, he ought to stay in to give you a rest, but he doesn’t.

Other signs can include

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having greater difficulty than his peers in giving up trappings of his youth when it is needed, like his flashy car

or his freedom to go out with the boys regularly .

Does he seem to need constant thrills? With such adulterers, the affair is often not about the other woman at all, it’s about the chase, the secrecy, the risk of being found out. Once the thrill has gone, he becomes bored and moves on to his next target. He fears commitment.

Under his surface charm, does he have a poor selfimage? Sometimes, a man who outwardly appears powerful, confident, charismatic and in control, can actually have a poor image of himself. He has trouble taking criticism, so seeks out women to reassure himself that he must be okay.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19 19, 2012

are many other factors that women generally do not like in men such as arrogance, lies, submissive behavior, etc. Never ever show a woman that you have a weak character.

This is one of the traits

SMS (ONLY)

What women hate about men

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....

he relationship between men and women has always been a love-hate type.

Though this is a much debated topic, we know for sure that a woman never likes a man who is weak or shows too much of interest in her initially. Similarly there are many points that psychologists have tried to analyze. It would be very easy to put it down in a few simple points, but perhaps it

is best to approach this topic by asking questions.

How would you feel if you see your man with another woman drinking together at a restaurant around the street corner? Chances are, you would feel a sense of jealousy, even if the woman is just an office colleague who just wanted to feel a little relaxed.

This is just an example and hundreds more can be cited. Any relationship can survive just on one sentence ’Trust me and I will never let you down’ If you really mean it, this can be the foundation of any statement.

Many Psychoanalysts often point out that women often contradict themselves while expressing what they desire and do not desire in men.

Though women publicly admit that they like men who are strong, secretly they like a man on whom she can wield certain amount of power. No matter what, men will always enjoy the company of women. Let me now bring out certain points which women definitely find annoying in a man.

Imagine your man calling you up every 15 minutes, when you are in the middle of a busy road. Regardless of how much you love your partner, this can become very irritating, as you would feel you are free to be on your own, due to the constant phone calls.

Now imagine you are on a first date and he starts talking about the amount of money that he has made in the stock markets or the newest automobile that he has bought. I am sure more often than not, a woman would not like to hear about these things on the first date. While some do talk about what they do for a living on first dates, it is usually considered annoying and ruse for someone to brag about their earnings.

It is also likely majority of C M Y K

the times that a woman would not like a person who would show insensitivity towards her

feelings. This is a mistake that many men make and

women do not like this attitude from them. There

that women dislike in a man.

It is a mistake that many men make by making a woman feel that he is ready to fall at her feet. Contrary to a man’s thinking that a woman would appreciate it, women get annoyed with men who are too submissive and ready to do anything for her. This does not mean that a woman does not want a sensitive man who is open about his feelings, but it does mean that a woman still wants a man to be his own person, think for himself and claim what he wants from a relationship.

A woman’s relationship with a man is very delicate and she looks for a strong shoulder to rest her head. A woman

always likes a man who has

a big heart and ready to share and care. A selfcentered man is rarely loved by women and more often than not will crave for female company. You are setting yourself up for failure, if you show undue interest in other women when you are with a woman. This is a behaviour that women dislike and will definitely put her off.

Manipulative attitude is something that women dislike in a man. Hence, try to be as open in your behaviour as possible and at the same time do not fall prey if she displays manipulative behaviour. Keeping these points in mind, you can win over a woman.

Remember that love blossoms slowly and you need to give your woman time and space if you really want to win her over.

We have tried to explore few points that make a woman annoyed with a man. There may be many more and hence it is always advisable that you always be yourself when you are on your initial dates

He wants marriage; I don’t I

met this cute guy and we later became lovers. I must confess I really love him but we have different career and life goals . To be specific, we are not on the same page. Every individual has his or her own idea of what success is, whether it has to do with career, love, family and life in general. I believe in love and marriage but I have an idea of whom I want to love and marry but as much as I love my guy and respect him, getting married to him is not in the books. Unfortunately, he wants us to get married and he has proposed severally but I sweetly turned him down. He is still hoping that one day, I would change my mind but I’m not about to do that. What should I do, discontinue the relationship?

Victoria, Uyo

on your beliefs and values, marriage can indeed be essential and necessary in expressing true love and commitment.

There is hope for a relationship if both people involved love and respect each other enough to find a compromise they both feel good about. If you are not completely “against” marriage, then it should not be such a huge problem for him to compromise . I think your guy wants to be in a more secure love relationship with you. If marriage is something you don’t really want, then reach a compromise with your guy whether he still wants to continue with you under the circumstances or not.

Having said that, I disagree with what you said about career differences being the impediment to your marrying the guy. No one is going to think and believe exactly alike and there are going to be differences, which can actually help add variety and Ans: Two people do not have to get keep things interesting in a relationship. married in order to show how much they You both will have something different to mean to each other. However, depending offer and learn from each other, which can

really help you grow into a very strong couple. So there is nothing wrong with having different ideas about things and your relationship should be able to work out just fine, as long as you both truly want to be with each other and support each other in these differences.

However, one exception is if your differences are extreme. If, for example, you believe both people should work and contribute financially but your partner is more traditional and believes one person should stay home while the other brings home the bacon, then this probably will not work out in the long run. Also, extreme religious differences and opinions on values can create serious issues. So, make sure you talk about this with your partner and see if a comfortable compromise can be reached before you take any further serious steps.

07066287372. *Eglon, male, dark, in is 20s, desires a lady of 18-28 on 08101044860. *Deji, based in Abuja, needs a decent lady of 18-25 on 08038942047. *Umar, 38, Muslim, Urhobo, needs a Muslim lady resident in Warri of 20-35 on 08157976231. *Ikenna, 49, based in Onitsha, fair, educated, from Enugu State, single dad, needs a humble, homely lady who is Igbo, graduate, employed and 40 or above on 08064537307. *Paschal, 30, male, employed, is searching for a lady to marry on 08035400073. *Gift, 27, undergraduate, based in Warri, needs a Godly man on 08136178263. *James, 31, employed, male, needs a lady for marriage on 08035440203. *Dr. Adono, 52, from Delta State, wants to meet a lady of 5053 from Delta or Edo State on 08137929025.

*Ike Oluwa, 40, employed, Christian, dark, needs a woman for marital relationship. She must be beautiful and educated, employed and within the age-range of 21-35 on 07057539172. *Taofeeq, 31, from Lagos, needs a Muslim lady of 24-27 for a serious relationship on 08052235875. *Olu, 45, civil servant, from the South-West, Christian, needs a lady of 23-45 who is a Christian and disciplined on 07055913484. *Patrick, 38, based in Abuja, wants to meet an employed and God-fearing lady of 28-36 for marriage on 08164422058. *Emeka, 25, based in Lagos, needs a sexualy active woman of 25-40 who lives in Lagos, for a relationship on 08123082175. *Dele, 28, employed, from Kwara, based in Benin, needs a caring graduate lady of 22-28 who lives in Benin on 08038222923. *Ay, male, resident in Abuja, adult, wants a lady of 20-25 on 08073402682. *Kings, male, needs a beautiful lady who Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want understands what love is all to share with our readers? Please e-mail,anyagafu2@gmail.com about for marriage on 07057373593.

Do you want to be linked? *Ayo, 43, tall, dark, lecturer, Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal information of people Christian, wants a graduate who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for disappointments or female of 25-40 who is embarrassments some people may encounter in the process. employed for marriage on

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012—21

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ort Harcourt Airport on the other hand is a total mess.

The Omagwa International Airport needs to be extended and totally overhauled. There is no order at all, check-in desks are on the exterior of the building, one’s luggage is battered on the bare floor as it is dragged to the aircraft; the departure lounge downstairs leaves a lot to be desired,and the so called VIP lounge is just a rip off!

Passengers pay 1000 Naira for a little more comfort and end up being seated in there like sardines in a tin, not to mention the deplorable state of the toilets. They are far from hygienic, and like I always say, just because it is where we dump the waste from our bodies, it does not need to look and smell like a dump!

Flying out through the Muritala Mohammed International(I use the word international loosely) airport on Thursday last week, my heart went out to the ground of staff of Virgin Atlantic. The queues at the check-in desks were horrible. No fault of

T

here’s a Yoruba prov erb that goes…”owo die die lara nfe… “ Literally translated it means the body demands at least a little respect.

I had gone to the bank to transact some business and on this particular day I had time on my hands and my mind was free of the usual clutter, so I was able to indulge in one of my favourite past times – observation and people watching. Every actor worth their salt knows the amount of resource material that is available just from people watching.

A

nyway, I had gone to withdraw some money from my domiciliary account,and for the first time I noticed certain peculiarities about the process. For one, you get express service; it doesn’t matter how long the other queue is. You could chalk that down to the fact that there is a designated teller and the queues for foreign transactions aren’t usually long, but it was much more than that.

I watched the tellers as they conducted their business, almost all the others were either grumpy or sullen and very few had a welcoming smile. Most of them went C M Y K

Years of procrastination theirs I must say. The system for check-in was down, why I wonder? Thank God I had checked -in online the day before. The staff were sweating profusely as the air conditioning at the airport was not functioning. No surprise there. The electricity

45minutes and the panic button in the lift was not functioning. My goodness I cried out; how did you feel I asked her, She just shook her head in frustration at the whole scenario and said” it was not funny at all my dear”. Later Federal Airport

One staff told me of how she was trapped in the lift for 45minutes and the panic button in the lift was not functioning. My goodness I cried out; how did you ?

kept coming on and going off.

They decided to do a manual check-in and then revert to their system when the electricity came back on but at the end of the day, doing it manually turned out to be the best way though tedious as the electricity was unstable(tell me something I don’t know).

One staff told me of how she was trapped in the lift for

through to the departure lounge which was already filled to capacity. I would sincerely appeal to the airline to get a bigger space for its passengers as the current space they have cannot cater for the amount of passengers passing through. I suspect they have applied for one but the usual bureaucratic red tape has been a stumbling block and so they make do with what they are given.

A

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Authority staff came to pry the doors open and released her from the cage called lifts at the airport. Moving along to the bureau de change area to change some money, no electricity as well and so it was manual counting of cash. he ATM machines were out of order; an endless stream of non functioning systems. Finally,I made it

T

t the boarding gate, we were all given information on a sheet of paper informing us of delays at the Heathrow Airport when we arrived due to Industrial action by the Uk Border force.

It read “ Due to Uk Border Force Industrial action on the Thursday 10th May 2012,passengers on flights arriving at a Uk airport may experience queues and delays at passport control the management of Uk Border Force have been doing everything they can to minimise disruption for passengers”. It gave more information on how passengers could help manage the situation and then

W

e landed at Heathrow Airport behind schedule because of the delay back in Lagos but going through passport control was actually not as bad as we thought. The skeletal service provided by the few staff present was swift and thorough and one did not feel the effect of the strike.

Luggage was already out and going round on the numerous conveyor belts available. I look forward to the day this will also be the case at Muritala Mohammed and truly International Airport, where one would not wait endlessly for luggage after we have disembarked from a flight, where the escalator would be extended and fully functional(on my return it was not functioning), where the passport control area would not be choked. It is not rocket science. It can be done.

These ongoing renovations or expansions at the airports must bear the mark of a much needed change when they are finished, else they would have been an exercise in futility.

The airport is the first port of call for visitors entering any country and as such it must reflect positively on Nigeria. doesn’t matter who’s convening the event we get there hours behind schedule and call it ‘African time’. Yet invite these same people to the British High Commissioner’s house for tea and they’ll be there in shirt and tails 30 minutes before the appointed time.

Y

... Just a little respect about their business as if they were being put upon and they were mostly brusque rather than brisk. The teller at the foreign desk on the other hand was brisk, polite, welcoming and eager to conclude the business. Okay, you could be tempted to chalk that down to volume of business and the number of customers the other tellers has to deal with. money is counted it is then But again it was more than placed in a crisp white envelope before it is handed that. over. Our naira on the other ven the way the hand—well we’ve all been to currency is handled is the bank at one time or the different. The dollar notes are other, you know how crisp, clean, and handled dilapidated or mutilated if reverently. It doesn’t matter you like, our currency can be. whether you’re withdrawing a It doesn’t matter how much hundred dollars or one you’re withdrawing all you thousand dollars once the get is a cheap plastic bag.

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ended by saying that the Uk Border Force wish to apologize to all our customers for any inconvenience caused.” It was signed by the Customer Relations Manager.

Receiving this kind of information ahead of time makes one prepared for eventualities. The reverse is always the case in my dear country. Most times, no information, no apology, no explanation is given. You just deal with whatever scenario you are faced with.

info@katehenshaw.com

,

get it that there are major renovations going on at a few major airports across the country. I totally understand it and believe me when I say they are long and truly well overdue. How do we claim to have an international airport that looks like a cargo hall? The Abuja International Airport renovations are in full swing going by what I witnessed ...though quite an inconvenience, a lot of thought has gone into making it as painless as possible for air travellers. It is an organized chaos and am sure if the task at hand is done properly,all will be glad at the upgrade.

E

well we’ve all been to the bank at one time or the other, you know how dilapidated or mutilated if you like, our currency can be

,

Tiny, almost negligible differences, in fact,till that day it never struck me as odd.

There is just a certain irreverence when it comes to our own things. Some of the strongest symbols of any nation are the flag, the coat of arms and its currency and they are treated with reverence. There is a palpable disdain for our own things. It

ou don’t have to look too far to see the collective disdain we have for our country, the way we talk, our absolute disregard of rules and regulations, the lack of courtesy towards one another as evidenced by the way we drive and jump the queue, how Nigerian ‘businessmen collude with foreigners to shaft their fellow countrymen….and that’s just the trivia; let’s not even start with the really deep things.

The list is endless.

I guess this is the point where it is pointed out that there is no ‘country’. It’s difficult to blame anyone who feels that way, given where and how we are as a nation. The truth though is that for now at least, this ‘geographical contraption’ is all we’ve got. How do we expect other people to respect us if we don’t respect ourselves?

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

BY IYABO AINA

I support gay marriage

Lauryn Hill’s babies’ father, Rohan Marley, engaged

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— Jay Z

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E recently celebrated his fourth wedding anniversary with Beyonce Knowles, and now Jay-Z wants to ensure that every couple — gay and straight — is able to do the same.

The “Who Gon Stop Me” rapper, 42, voiced his support for same-sex marriage Monday during a Budweiser music festival press conference in Philadelphia.

“I have always thought of it as something that is still holding the country back,” Jay-Z (real name: Shawn Carter) told CNN’s Poppy Harlow, 30.

“What people do in their own homes is their business, and you can choose to love whoever you love. That’s their business. It is no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination, plain and simple.”

The 14-time Grammy Award winner and first-time father to daughter Blue Ivy, 5 months, joins a growing list of celebrities and politicians who are using their fame as a platform for social change; President Barack Obama, 50, recently came out in support of same-sex mar-

riage during an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts.

“I think it was the right thing to do,” Jay-Z said of the President’s history-making change of heart. “It’s really not about votes. It’s about people. So whether it cost him votes or not, I think it was the right thing to do as a human being.” (His wife, 30, sang Etta James’ “At Last” at Obama’s inauguration in 2009.) Other stars who have applauded Obama’s new stance include reality star Kim Kardashian, 31, and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, 54.

“We’ve never had a President so supportive of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and today I am proud to be an American!” Kardashian blogged May 9. “I’m so happy that our country is making history and moving forward.

No more living in the past!”

Echoed DeGeneres: “There have been moments in history when someone has had the courage to stand up for what they believe in and that one

•Jay Z

action changes everything. I hope that this is one of those times. It takes a brave man to take a stand like this especially in an election year. Mr. President, to you, I say, thank you, very, very much.”

Jennifer Lopez tops Forbes’ 100 Richest Celebrity list

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ORBES revealed its an nual Celebrity 100 list on Wednesday, and Jennifer Lopez landed in the top spot for 2012 ousting Lady Gaga, who claimed the title in 2011.

Forbes compiles its annual Celebrity 100 list by looking at both the pretax income (from May 1, 2011 to May 1, 2012) and fame of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars meaning how often we see their names and faces on TV, in movies and online, as well as their social media following.

Taking all of that into consideration, Lopez is sitting pretty atop the high-powered list, and it’s no surprise, especially after the banner professional year she’s had. According to Forbes, Lopez brought in $52 million in earnings over the past year, and when that’s added to her star power, it’s clear to see she’s no longer just a singer she’s a brand, and has ample avenues to promote her various endeavors.

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•Jennifer Lopez Whether she’s judging “American Idol,” filming a new music video, promoting a new film or chatting about her exhusband Marc Anthony (or current boyfriend Casper Smart), it’s hard to miss Lopez in the entertainment world these days — and easy to see why Forbes

considers her today’s top celebrity.

Trailing behind Lopez is Oprah Winfrey, who brought in a whopping $165 million in the past year. She may have ended her talk show in 2011, but she has continued to create headlines thanks to her OWN cable network though she may not have the everyday media presence Lopez seems to command.

Justin Bieber lands at No. 3 on Forbes’ list and while he’s only 18 years old, it’s no surprise that the entertainer and mogul-in-training he made $55 million in the last year made the cut. After all, he makes hundreds of millions of young fans scream on a daily basis.

Rihanna and Lady Gaga round out the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, respectively, on Forbes’ 2012 list.

Other stars making the Celebrity 100 list include first-timers Kim Kardashian (No. 7, with $18 million and lots o’ divorce drama), Khloe Kardashian (No. 73, with $11 million and a popular reality show) and the one and only Ashton Kutcher, whose personal divorce drama and professional gain with a role on “Two and a Half Men” helped him land on the list for the first time at No. 51, with $24 million in earnings.

OHAN Marley, Lauren Hill’s former boyfriend, recently announced that he is engaged to Brazilian model Isabeli Fontana.

MTV reports that Hill and Rohan, who have five children together, split up last year. Hill and Marley dated for fifteen years. The relationship ended last year when Marley found out that Hill was pregnant with another man’s child.

Fontana and Marley, who is the 39-year-old son of reggae legend Bob Marley, don’t have definite plans for their wedding but said that they are thinking about getting married in Ethiopia.

“Rohan told me we have to return to the roots so the marriage will last forever.” Fontana’s mother said that the wedding is coming a little fast, but that she isn’t surprised that her daughter has fallen in love.

“I think everything is happening too fast, but everything has a different rhythm with Isabeli.”Isabeli Fontana found herself in the news last week when H & M’s new ad campaign was criticized for having a model that was “too tan”. Marley has also been in the news lately. Marley, who runs the Marley Coffee Company, recently filmed the documentary “Marley” about his father. Marley said:

•Lauryn, Rohan, Isabeli

‘Terminator 3’ actor Nick Stahl reported missing

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HIRTY-two-year-old actor Nick Stahl has been reported missing by his wife, the Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed with TMZ and with People.

His wife Rose Stahl, who submitted the report on Monday, claimed Nick was last seen Wednesday, May 9. Sources tell TMZ ... it is believed Stahl had been frequenting the Skid Row area of Downtown Los Angeles recently and there are concerns he may have gotten himself involved in some bad stuff.

Indeed, Rose Stahl reportedly filed court papers in February describing her worry that Nick may be using drugs. He was also in trouble with the law earlier this year for allegedly stiffing a cabbie when he was out of his fare.

If it is true that Stahl is entangled in Los Angeles’ infamously dangerous and druginfested Skid Row, it is certainly reminiscent of the late young actor Brad Renfro. In 2005, Renfro admitted to using heroin and methadone after he was arrested on Skid Row by the LAPD as part of an undercover operation . He later •Nick tragically died of a drug Stahl overdose in 2008 at the age of 25.

19, 2012—23 SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19

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t is perhaps a shame that couples live in 22 nd century and yet know so little about how to make each other happy in that most human of all endeavours, sex.

With a few small additions to your sexual vocabulary, you can break out of boredom and lead happier, more satisfying sex lives. Here, we’ll look at three important additions to your sex life: position, time, and location.

SEXUAL POSITIONS Man on Top Everybody starts out in this so-called “missionary position”: man on top, woman on the bottom, faceto-face. That is how most people lost their virginity.

This position gets a lot of bad press these days because it’s “old-fashioned,” or perhaps because it’s “patriarchal.”

Actually, there’s nothing wrong with this position; it affords excellent support for performance, close intimate contact between couples and is an ideal position for conception. The woman may lie with her legs spread wide and to the sides, or may draw them up to her chest. In either position, the man cannot reach her vulva for manual stimulation although in the first, he can reach her breasts.

A variation on this position is for the woman to sit in a chair or on the edge of a low bed, thus allowing the man to kneel on the floor for better performance. For heavyset men , it can reduce the weight he places upon his partner, and allows for both partners to reach each other.

Although technically regarded as “superior” to traditional missionary position by many sex therapists, most people who actually have sex feel this position is less “intimate.

A third variant of man-ontop is one in which the woman lies on her stomach and the man operates from behind. While this position has many of the disadvantages of any position where two people are not face-to-face, it is still popular with some couples.

Woman on top

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his position is highly recommended in marital sex manuals still lying around, mostly because it allows the woman to fully control the speed at which sex occurs.

There are several different positions classified as “woman on top.” The most common is that she straddles his hips, taking him inside her, and then lies down or crouches atop him, either with her legs bent or stretched out. She may also choose to just sit straight up atop him, sliding up and down; this position is both visually stimulating for the man and allows him to play with her breasts freely.Occasionally in adult movies, one may see this position done with the C M Y K

How to have great sex woman facing away from her partner. While the sensations giving to both partners in this position are very different and may be very stimulating, most people feel the loss of intimacy involved is not worth the difference.

Sitting This position is for sex in slow motion; the angles are all wrong for any sort of vigorous thrusting.

The man sits in a chair or cross-legged on the floor while the woman sits astride him, usually face-to-face although it can work equall y well if she faces away. This position is good for caressing and intimacy. Some people recommend rocking chairs for this position.

Standing

Reminiscent of “quickies” and illicit sex in alleyways, standing is actually one of the more complicated positions to achieve, at least face-toface. Insertion can be difficult; standing, the female organ is not tilted forward for easy access. Since women are on average shorter than their male partners, this position may require a short footstool or convenient staircase step to make it possible. At any rate, someone may want a friendly wall to hold both of them up during this act.

Another variant of standing is similar to the third one in man- on-top; the woman faces the wall or bookcase or whatever she’s using to hold herself up and the man operates from behind. This position is considerably easier than face-to-face

standing, and many people like it for it’s “naughty” or “illicit” connotations.

Side-by-Side These positions all mirror the “on top” positions, except that the partners now lie on their sides on the bed. They can be achieved face-to-face, at an angle or from behind.

The one difficulty with this position face-to-face is that someone has to rest their leg atop their partner’s, usually the man’s leg is on top of the woman’s lower leg; after only a few minutes of keeping still or resting in this position, the partner whose leg is below may feel cramping, pain, or a sensation that the leg is “falling asleep” due to a cutoff of the blood supply; however, many women find that if a continual rocking inand-out movement is kept going, blood will naturally flow into the lower leg and the position can then be sustained in comfort for the duration of i n t e r c o u r s e .

Done when the woman faces away from the man, side-byside can be slow and relaxing; one can almost fall asleep comfortably like this. In this position, it is known as “spooning.” The term applies mostly to the act of sleeping in that position, not necessarily the act of sex.

Rear-position Although several positions already described can also be covered under the term “rear-entry” (see man-on-top and side-by-side), most people use this term to describe the position in which the woman kneels on her

hands and knees while the man performs from behind.

The woman is braced on both hands and knees; a common variant is for the woman to crouch with her arms bent, her face turned to one side on the bed, and her butt tilted upward; this allows her to distribute her weight more evenly along her forearms, chest, knees, and shins.

Some people strongly dislike this position because of the lack of intimacy and the suggestion of male “dominance”; others like it for the freedom and strength that can be employed during the act of intercourse. The term “doggy style” has been employed to describe this position in the past, although this description is inaccurate at best.

When should you have sex?

When you have sex is a decision you will start to make only after you’ve gotten through the initial “all the time!” stage. Eventually, though, any person will develop a habit of making love with a certain pattern.

Acquiring that pattern is the start of boredom; breaking that pattern can be the road to a new discovery.If you and your partner are prone to making love only at night, try it for breakfast instead. Run home during lunch for a quickie. No time is more significant to lovemaking than any other, except that the time be good for both you and your partner.

To be continued next week

24— Vanguard, SARTURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

Edited by Ogbonna Amadi amadi_o@yahoo.com

World music stars pay tribute to Donna Summer

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he US singer, famous for disco classics including I Feel Love and Love To Love You Baby, died at the age of 63 on Thursday.

Stars including Dolly Parton, Sir Elton John and Mary J Blige praised her vocal talent and huge impact on music.

Her family said they were “at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy”.

Summer was one of disco’s biggest stars and also had a huge influence on the synth pop and dance music scenes.

At the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, fans gathered to lay flowers in tribute to her life and career.

R&B singer Blige said on Twitter that Summer was “truly a game changer ”, while producer Quincy Jones said her voice “was the heartbeat and soundtrack of a decade”.

Pop star Kylie Minogue described her as “one of my earliest musical inspirations”, while Dolly Parton said “she was the disco queen and will remain so”.

“I knew her and found her to be one of the most likable and fun people ever,” the country and western singer added.

Summer, who was reported to have had cancer, had been living in Florida with her husband Bruce Sudano.

A statement from her family said: “Early this

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•Donna Summer morning(Thursday), we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith.

“While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy. Words truly can’t express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time.”

Elton John said Summer was more than the “queen of disco”, adding: “Her records sound as good today as they ever did.

“That she has never been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame is a total disgrace especially when I see the second-rate talent that has been inducted.”

Duran Duran keyboardist

Nick Rhodes said: “It’s extremely rare that you hear one song that completely changes the way you perceive music. I Feel Love achieved that.”

Singer Marc Almond recalled how Summer’s work with Italian synthesiser pioneer Giorgio Moroder had “changed the face of music and changed my life”.

“I Feel Love was a truly original and barrier breaking record, and Now I Need You and Working The Midnight Shift are simply some of the best euphoric electronic tracks ever,” he said.

Madam Modesty, Emelda Osuji, set for TV talkshow

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OCIETY lady, Emelda Osuji, has revealed the aim of the concept of her trademark long-styled cap. The woman, who is the brain behind Women and Modesty, a Non-Governmental Organization, which champions decency among women, youth and the society at large, said that the cap is unique in that it serves as the perfect link between her personality and what she preaches.

“I preach decency and my image and appearance must be seen to tally with my campaign to rid the society of indecency”, she stated.

Osuji, who has just berthed a television talk-show, tagged ‘Decent Time, aimed at taking her campaign to families at the comfort of their sitting rooms, has also won the support of government to her project which kicked off with Women and Modesty three years ago. She is happy that at last the government has realized the genuineness and her seriousness to help the society overcome the danger of indecency that has hitherto eaten C M Y K

Highlife great, Ochonma stages a come-back

deep into our system. Also, the virtuous woman expressed misgivings at reports in some quarters allegedly against her cap concept “I am worried at the media reports that the concept of my cap is not creative. The media is a friend but the privilege must not be stretched. I don’t joke with my cap. First, it is a unique contact with my decency campaign.

Besides, I designed the concept of the long and flat caps to fit into my face structure because I don’t wear hair style, low-cut is my favourite. So, you can see that it is also my privacy. And it is the same concept that daily wins me recognition both at home and abroad. That is why I have introduced the cap now to serve as the logo for my campaign. So, if anybody must talk about my cap, it must be for the positive because I could go to any length to protect my image.

•Emelda Osuji

IGHLIFE, Makossa and Soukous Exponent of the late 80s and 90s, Innocent Chuks Onyekwere Ochonma is set for a full comeback to the Music Scene following a long period of absence from the industry.

Ochonma, as he is popularly called started Music in 1986 and went fully professional in 1996. His songs always carry a significant message the society could relate to and helps to expose certain ills in the society The Abia State born crooner caused waves and earned his stripes back in the days as he became popular for hit songs like O Di Giwe and Sofri -Sofri, the Anti- Aids Campaign Tune with which he used to send and spread the message on the dreadfulness of the HIV/AIDS disease to the society.

Ochonma is back with new music coupled with a new style. His first single that will hit the airwaves in matter of days, Got To Be Me is an eclectic R&B song beautifully delivered by the veteran singer. On what informed the new style, Ochonma told revealed that he is only diversifying. “I’m not abandoning my highlife music but only diversifying to do mainstream music and to also increase my fan base. I want to use this song to attract the attention of the younger generation who are not fortunate to listen to my music years back. It is a process and everything will soon balance”.

The Musician has Three Albums to his Credit which are Afro Highlife released in 1996, Sofri Sofri in 1999 and O Di Giwe in 2001. He was also nominated for various awards such as the 1999 AMEN Award for Best Culture Music Category, 1999 Fame Music Award For Best Highlife Award and in 1999, The National Career Youths Organization Of Nigeria [NACAYON], University of Lagos Chapter nominated him for The Best Highlife Award Of The Year, an award which he also won.

Ochonma, apart from having a successful career as a Customs Officer since 1991 was also The National Coordinator and President of AIDS, this role he carried out successfully with his Non Governmental Organization [NGO], LIFE CAMP in collaboration with the Society against the Spread of Aids [SASA].

The singer whose love with music as medium of communication, is now fully prepared and is leaving no stone unturned as all is set for his return to the music industry , in no time his singles will be enjoying massive air play with an Album Launch soon on the way.

•Ochonma

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, MAY 19, 2012—25

Edited by Ogbonna Amadi amadi_o@yahoo.com

Agbani Darego gradautes from NY

BY OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO

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OLLOWING her victory as the Miss World 2001, Nigeria’s Agbani Darego has recorded another giant stride in her life.

The beauty queen is a proud gradauate from the New York University, clinching a certificate in Psychology.

Co-incidentally, super model, Oluchi is also an ex-student of the same university, having gradauted two years ago.

It would be recalled that Darego won the 2001 Miss World pageant after being crowned the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN).

•Agbani darego and super model, Oluchi

Star Trek parades Tuface, others across 10 cities

Celebrity supermom unveiled T

HE 2012 edition of the emotive reality television show, Supermom, was unveiled to a colourful cross-section of guests, celebrities, the media and fans and followers of the show last Sunday at the Grandeur Events Centre, Oregun, Lagos. Unlike the previous two editions, this year ’s Supermom has been tagged The Celebrity Edition.

The rationale behind this is not far-fetched. In view of the popularity of the show, which has continually been supported and sponsored by Procter and Gamble, and Promasidor, the executive producer of the show, Sola Fajobi, says, “The Season 11 of the show saw thousands of entries from people who just wanted to win the prizes and which turned out to be fabricated stories. Hence, we want to use the celebrity

edition to confirm to viewers across Nigeria and beyond that The Supermom is just a way of showing appreciation to our great mothers.”

Even more importantly, Fajobi continues, is that, “Our Superstars are human beings; they eat, they drink and do the things that we do. They did not fall from the sky. They were raised, groomed, trained and nurtured by mothers. They were once kids and now they are celebrated all over the country because of their talent and achievements. We are confident of the fact that Nigerians really would love to see and share from the experiences of their idols and their mothers.”

Thus, when the Supermom 2012 begins airing on May 26, viewers should watch out for the sacrifices made by the mothers of visually impaired singerproducer, Cobhams; Fuji Star, Abass Akande Obesere; actress,

Foluke Daramola; afro hip hop stars, Flavour Nabania, Mr Olu of the Yahooze fame, Skales, Ice K, one half of the enduring duo, Artquake, Kennis Music act, Jaywon, Tony Tetuila and acclaimed female drummer, Ara. There are also celebrities like OnAir-personality and consummate theatre artist, Yaw; actors, Femi Adebayo, Binta Ayo Mogaji, Kunle Afolayan; and comedians, Seyi Law and Julius Agwu.

The Nollywood producer popularly known as Mr. Prolific also shares the story of his mother ’s sacrifices while nurturing him to adulthood. Contemporary gospel artiste, Kenny Saint Best and bulky DJ Humility are the other celebrities.

Some of these celebrities were present last Sunday as clips of the show were previewed.

Reggae star, Stereoman arrested for alleged murder?

BY OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO

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ne-time popular reggae star, S t e r e o m a n , popularly known as Ekwe Sample is currently held at the D4 section of the State CID Panti for an alleged murder of the mother of his daughter, Rukayat Idris.

Rukayat was found dead in her car under a bridge around Mile 2-Bdagry express way last month.

According to eye witnesses account, she was found dead with marks on her neck which suggested she was strangled C M Y K

to death.

After the sad incident, her family was said to have reported the matter at the police station, accusing the reggae star of killing the mother of his daughter.

Showtime gathered that Stereoman lived together with the deceased and their daugther until last year when the Ekwe Sample crooner ended their love affair and mo ved out of the house to live on his own.

While the couple were still together, Stereoman was alleged to battered her several times, a situation which led to their separation.

However, Stereoman has denied having anything to do with Rukayat’s death.

Stereoman’s song Ekwe was popular some years back. He was also once a Glo ambassador. Not much was heard from him for many years until news filtered into town last week thathewas arrested for the alleged murder of his baby mama, a lady called Rukayat Idris.

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HE 2012 edition of Star Trek is set to parade some of the hottest rave-making stars in the music industry across 10 cities across the country. This is true as organizers of the yearly show, Nigerian Breweries has released the list of the expected artistes. Tops among those on the list are TuFace, D’Banj, MI,Tiwa Savage and Others. And as said earlier, this trip will be taking them across cities for the first time in his very eventful musical career.

Tuface Idibia performed at a Nigerian Breweries Plc event, themed ‘Hat Trick’. The event was held on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, of 2011 (November 11, 2011).

Three musical superstars symbolically unveiled each of the three Nigerian Breweries brands being relaunched. In ascending order, Bez unveiled Fayrouz in a PET bottle; MI uncovered Legend in cans while Tuface was the highlight of the Heineken Magnum reveal, as well as the night’s main attraction. It was also an element of surprise that worked, considering that Tuface was a former brand ambassador of one of Nigerian Breweries Plc’s competitors.

•Tuface Not too long after, Tuface was the surprise guest artiste at the official send-forth ceremony of the company’s former Marketing Director, Mr.Jacco van der Linden, who was transferred to Heineken UK, as Marketing Director.

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ut for the last-minute decision by Nigerian Breweries Plc to shelve plans for Star Mega Jam 2011, Tuface would have been one of the big acts at the highly popular concert, which had paraded the best of international acts in past editions.

Again,Tuface is featuring in another Nigerian Breweries Plc activation. Nigeria’s biggest brewery has just released the schedule of activities and artiste line-up for the 2012 edition of Star Trek.

Quite expectedly, Tuface will be performing at some of the concert locations. Despite his gargantuan status as one of Nigeria’s biggest music exports, his contract to perform at the 2012 edition of Star Trek should mean a lot to him. It should also mean a lot to all other big Nigerian acts who are billed to perform on the platform.

Other Nigerian musical superstars who will be performing are: D’Banj, MI, 9ice, Obesere, Wande Coal, Flavour and Sound Sultan. Tiwa Savage, J. Martins, Naeto C, Ice Prince and Omawunmi will also mount the stage. Others are Yinka Bes •Stereoman

26 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

True story of Uche Jombo’s arrest, release

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*She was unruly — Police source

t is no longer an issue of contention that Uche Jombo recently slept in the police’s cell while filming in Surulere, Lagos.What is news rather is the ugly incident that preceded her action.

HVP findings during the week indicated that the actress was arrested and detained at Bode Thomas police station in Surulere, following what the police described as her ‘unruly behaviour.’

A source close to the police told HVP that Uche Jombo defied all protocols, as she took the law into her own hands by going to shoot her film in a Police station without duly obtaining a written permission from the Inspector General of Police.

The IG, according to the source, is the only authorised person to approve of such undertaking.

Narrating further, our source said while Uche was filming

with her cast and crew members, trouble ensued when the policemen led by the Divisional Crime Officer(DCO) confronted them.

But rather than explaining things politely to the policemen, the actress was said to have flared up, raining abuses at the policemen, a situation that angered the Divisional Police Officer at Bode Thomas Police station who ordered for her immediate arrest and detention.

Hear the police source; “Uche Jombo and her team came to shoot film in a government establishment without duly obtaining a written permission from the IG, who is the only person authorised to do so. When the police confronted her, instead of explaining things politely, she became rude to them, shouting and telling them that she can pay their salaries.

She particularly assaulted the DCO. So, when the matter was reported back to the DPO, who was also furious with her action, he quickly ordered his men to get her arrested and detained.

“She lacks respect, and if she is truly one of the ambassadors of GSM brand, she should reflect the same in her conduct and dealings with other people.”

According to the source, the police threatened to charge the matter to court just to embarrass the actress. But for the intervention of some members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria(AGN) who prevailed on the DPO to temper justice with mercy, Uche would have been standing trial for “unruly behaviour, unlawful invasion of government institution to shoot film and assault on the police.”

Uche Jumbo was arrested by the police at Bode Thomas

*Uche

police station in Surulere, alongside Ghanaian actor,Van Viker and other crew members while filming on Thursday, May 3.

They were detained by the police for about 12 hours

before they were released on Friday.

Meanwhile, attempt by HVP to reach Uche Jombo for reaction proved abortive as her cell phone, at the time of filing this report was switched off.

Jackie Appiah dazzles at 65th Cannes film festival

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*Jackie

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hanaian star-actress, Jackie Appiah joined a list of top film stars from across the world at the opening ceremony of the 65th Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday afternoon.

The actress, who wore an elegant hand beaded Kente dress

by JiL, certainly brought some A f r i c a n colours onto the r e d carpet all the w a y t h e South of France.

T h e glamorous dress she rocked f l a w l e s s l y complemented her natural beauty on the red carpet, shinning like ‘an eagle in the sky ’ that she is.

She was among the invited special guests to grace the all important

opening red carpet.

Among some of the top actresses that made appearances at the opening were Berenice Bejo, Eva Longoria, Jessica Chastain, Freida Pinto, Jane Fonda,

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Diane Kruger, and Tilda Swinton . They were all gussied up and cameraready as they walked around the arrivals area. Singer Lana Del Rey and supermodel Eva Herzigova were equally in

attendance. Representing the guys were Alec Baldwin (with fiance Hilaria Thomas), Chris Pine, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Ewan McGregor and Bill Murray.

Eri Mi premieres

t was an afternoon that was full of cultural parade, glitz and fun fare as fast rising Nollywood actress cum producer, Wumi Bello premiered her much anticipated movie, ‘Ere Mi’ in grand style.

Wumi, has over the years distinguished herself as a fast rising movie maker who’s always ready to give a good account of herself in the makebelieve world. The event, which has been the talk of the town for well over six weeks, finally held at the Wallan Hall of D Rovans Hotel, Ring Road, Ibadan.

The actress who has featured in over seven movies since joining the industry, admitted that she never knew she could come up with such a project as her family members never supported her when she decided to join the movie industry.

“They thought I was not serious then, but I thank God for the people He has used to help give my career a lift”.

The movie, which starred Wumi Bello, Saidi Balogun and others will hit the market as soon as other arrangements have been concluded. “I appreciate everyone who has made it down to this venue to support this project. She stated further that she would stop at nothing to “keep producing

movies that would continue to touch the lives of the people in a positive way”.

Though it was Wumi’s first since she has been in the industry, the crowd and eminent personalities that graced Wallan Hall that afternoon were pointers to the fact that she had worked tirelessly towards the successful launching of the new movie.

*Wumi

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012 — 27

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unke Akindele’s much talked about engagement ceremony is billed to hold next week Saturday(May 26) in Lagos amid pomp and pageantary.

Already preparation is in top gear as the actress who has starred in several movies, produced several blockbusters, including the “Return of Jenifa”braces up to play host to friends, colleagues in the movie industry and well-wishers who will be thronging the event venue to be part of history.

However, those in the k n o w claimed that Akindele’s heartthrob is married with k i d s .

Debunking this rumour early in the week, a close friend of the award winning actress said that Funke's beau, Alhaji Kehinde Oloyede AlMahroof, is divorced.

According to her, “they started dating about a year ago and Funke did not meet any woman in his home.”

Overwhelmed by the news of her wedding, some of Funke's fans have gone online to awash her with encomiums, while very few others faulted the Glo ambassador's decision

Why I went back to classroom — Ikechukwu Onyeka

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opular Nollywood director, Ikechukwu Onyeka who recently went back to the classroom in far United States, is back in the country to direct a new movie by Oakfil Film Productions.

Onyeka disclosed that he was inspired to go back to the classroom because of his insatiable desire to acquire high knowledge in his chosen profession.

He is currently a student of cinematography at Colorado Film School. He got the admission last year, and is already four months in the school.

In a chat with HVP during the week, the director of the wave-making movie, “Mr and Mrs” said, after his eight years sojourn as a director in the industry, he felt unfulfilled and needed to grow more than he was, a situation which prompted his decision to travel to the United States in search of fulfillment and high knowledge.

Narrating, he said “I have never shot a film I think I really like. Though I have done a lot of jobs people applauded , I still feel unfulfilled. There are lots of things I think needed to be done in Nollywood, especially in the area of sound and lighting. Last year, I made up my mind to go back to school in order to update my knowledge.”

*Ikechukwu

Onyeka's dream is to set up a training centre as soon as he completed his studies. Interestingly, he is back home to test run his newly acquired experience in the production of the movie, which working title is given as 'Brother's Keeper.'The film is featuring the likes of Majid Mitchel, Omoni Oboli, Babara Soky, Uru Ekeh and a host of other stars.According to the producer, the shooting of the film will commence next week in Umuahia, Abia State capital.

to settle for a second wife.

Some of the comments posted online read thus; “Congratulations Funke,God will bless the union with wonderful children...I’m happy for her. She really deserves to be happy. At 34, I think she has endured enough. I wish her happy married life.”

Meanwhile, in a statement by Funke’s publicist, the University of Lagos Law graduate's traditional wedding ceremony will take place next Saturday in Lagos.

The statement said the union will be solemnised in December.

Funke’s preparations for her traditional marriage remains very private but open to very few friends and colleagues

of the bride-to-be.

But the details swirled around when a visibly excited Funke sent BlackBerry messages to some of her friends and associates to keep the May 26 open for her as she will be getting married.

“We want to inform you officially that your darling actress will be getting married in December with the introduction ceremony taking place on May 26. We won’t be giving more details now until the wedding in December. The engagement ceremony is for few friends and family members,” Funke’s publicist disclosed. The “Omo Ghetto” movie producer’s groom is said to be into real estate business. They were said to have been dating for quite a while and only just decided to formalise their relationship.Funke’s groom is said to be an Oshodi, Lagos born property developer.

Cultists, professional hooligans disrupt ed A GN disrupted AGN election ...as BoT appoints Rachel Oniga as new secretary of electoral committee

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eading Nollywood actor, producer, director and compere, Charles Inojie who contested for the position of National Secretary during the recently aborted Actors Guild of Nigeria’s general election, in Benin, has blamed the disruption of the election largely on the activities of some professional hooligans and cultists who parade themselves as AGN members.

Inojie made this insinuation, while speaking in an interview during the week, saying that given the aborted election, AGN today is like “an association without a leader.”

He described the ugly incident that preceded the cancellation of the election as ‘sad and unfortunate” adding that cultists and professional hooligans

*Charles

invaded the election venue and disrupted it.

Members of the guild gathered at Baden Hotel in Benin City, Edo state, on Friday, April 27, to conduct their over delayed general election but this was not to be, as violence marred the election which has witnessed series of challenges, including three postponements and a court injunction halting its conduct, championed by Emeka Ike.

BBA Stargame update

Sierra Leoneans to rescue r epresentatives from eviction

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hief Executive Officer of Transnational Sierra Leone Limited has urged Sierra Leoneans to vote rapidly for the nation’s representatives at the on-going series 7 of the Big Brother Africa Stargame in South Africa.

The country is presently being represented for the first time in the biggest and most popular TV show on the continent by Zainab Sheriff and Dalphin Alexandra, but the pair stands the risk of being evicted from the event soon.

Speaking with newsmen in his office, in Freetown, Dr. Adonis Abboud intimated newsmen that Zainab and Dalphin are on the list for eviction and people need to vote rapidly to prevent that from happening.

“Our representatives on the show are on the list for eviction."he said C M Y K

28 —Vanguard, SARTURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

* Lizzy

BENJAMINNJOKU You are gradually branching into business.

Is it the destination for you now ?

Actually, business is something you can fall back on, if anything happens today.

One can hardly quit business, but in the area of acting, the problem of piracy undermines the well-being of the profession.

C M Y K

,

D

espite all the controversies surrounding her acting career, Elizabeth Ibukunoluwa Anjorin fondly called Lizzy strikes you as one actress who has an insatiable desire to stay on top of her game. She has come a long way, having featured in over 50 Yoruba movies,in the last few years of her sojourn in the industry. Today, Lizzy is breaking new grounds for herself in the area of business. Only recently, she opened a supermarket, ‘Peam Me’ , located around Ogba area of Lagos, as a way of expanding her business interests. Showtime Celebrity caught up with this Badagry, Lagos State born actress at her supermarket, where she relives memories of some of her old tales, her growing interest in business and why she is still single.

God is my Sugar Daddy . If there is any man that helped me to achieve all that I have achieved in business, I’m sure I wouldn’t have gotten away with it.

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Apparently, I love acting and if I didn’t act for a long time, it looks as if I’m missing out something. Acting is in me, but business is something I have been doing right from my childhood days.

As a student, I was into buying and selling of clothes, perfumes and other things. I combined doing business with my studies. Later, when I went into acting, I did not give up my interest in business.

In other words, you didn’t initially set out to become an actress . You are acting for the fun of it?

* Lizzy I’m acting because I have a passion for it .But business is something that can be there for one as long as you are existing. Yes, I’m acting for

the acting sake. Acting is ephemeral, it doesn’t last long.

My interest in business is to grow stronger everyday

and to open branches in every nook and cranny of the society .

How much have you invested in your business?

I can’t really disclose that now. But all I know I have invested a lot of money in my business.

Are you sure there is no sugar Daddy behind all these investments?

God is my Sugar Daddy . If there is any man that helped me to achieve all that I have achieved in business, I’m sure I wouldn’t have gotten away with it. I would have been living under the man’s roof.

A man cannot be doing all this for you just for nothing. I also have a branch in AbuleEgba area of Lagos. At AbuleEgba, I am dealing in wines, costumes, assorted biscuits and shoes. I am also into supplies.

Would you say business has been more rewarding to you compared to acting ?

Acting has been rewarding to me too. As a celebrity, people are ready to meet you and to do business with you as well. In my supermarket, my fans come to patronise me.

If I’m not a star they will see the supermarket as a normal super market. Some of them visit my shop just to meet me one on one. As my acting

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, MAY 19, 2012 — 29

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career is expanding, so also is my business interest .

What has been the reaction of the people each time they see you at the market arena, bargaining for goods ?

Each time I’m going to the market to buy goods for my supermarket, I try as much as possible to do away with the ego of stardom. I go into the market as a really market woman though there are some traders who will see you and then scream loudly, while many others will stop and be staring at you.

You could hear them openly saying ‘’ I like your film , I bought your film with my money, you must pay back today.” If I’m in my business outfit, you’d meet me as Lizzy the business woman, and if I’m on a movie set , you’d meet me as Lizzy, the actress.

One of the major problems that confronts people in the acting business is that of controversy .How much of these controversies have been tied around you?

It has not been fair when people read negative things about you. They tend to treat you negatively when they see you outside. I wonder why people derive joy in destroying other people’s hard earned name . I’m no longer bothered because my destiny is my destiny.

Nobody can take away my destiny from me and no one

Nobody can take away my destiny from me and no one can use his or her pen to change my destiny . Anybody that is writing negative things about somebody that is not real is evil , and that person remains an enemy of progress for ever .

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can use his or her pen to change my destiny .

Anybody that is writing negative things about somebody that is not real is evil , and that person remains an enemy of progress for ever . Most of the negative stories that have been written about me don’t get to me , because I don’t buy the papers to read the stories . Reading the stories would mean giving the writers some kind of relevance that they don’t deserve . It doesn’t bother my heart any more .

As a child, what kind of relationship existed between you and your late mother ?

We were very close , she loved me a lot as her only child . She already prepared me to face the challenges of life ever before she passed on , early this year .

* Lizzy C M Y K

How often do you remember her ?

I remembered her during the mother’s day celebration .

Every mother’s day , while she was alive I usually called her in the morning and she prayed for me . In fact , I really missed my mother indeed , she thought me so much about life.

As an only child, what was growing up like for you without siblings around you?

It was okay , my parents were there for me . I lacked nothing ,except the fact that I had no siblings around me .Before my mother gave birth to me , she recounted how she was mocked by her fellow women and all that . She told me that giving birth to me wiped away every of her tears and consoled her .While she lived , she never allowed anything to hurt me . I will forever miss her and I pray that God should grant her soul eternal rest.

Your enemies once alleged that your controversial nature contributed to the death of your mother .Was it true ?

The person that wrote that story and posted it online is cursed forever .How could somebody talk ill of the dead .Normally, no mother would be happy to read negative stories about her beloved daughter .I’m the only child of my mother and she loved me so much , and did everything to protect me while she lived .How could somebody be so callous to insinuate that I was responsible for the death of my mother .

My mother never had any heart attack as a result of negative stories that were written about me . I did her final burial in March, and I tried as much as possible to give her a befitting burial . Everybody loves his or her mother. And I loved my late mother very dearly. She was everything to me while she lived . The person that wrote that story will live to regret it.

When I read the story online, I was shocked and dumb founded. How could somebody just sit down and fabricate stories that are capable of tarnishing another person’s image . I just want to see how

that person will end his own life .

In one of your interviews , you said you are still single because you want to accomplish a few things before getting married . Are you saying that you have not accomplished those things up till now ?

I will get married when I will get married . You will definitely be invited to my wedding .

Your mother would have loved to see you get

married in her lifetime ?

My late mum was a very strong woman .

S h e allowed me to * Lizzy folow my heartbeat , and never in any way influenced my decision .

When you kneel down to pray , what do you usually ask from God ?

I thank him for his mercies.

I don’t have to kneel down to pray . Even when I’m driving , eating , on the set , my mouth is full of praises for his goodness unto my life . He is worthy of my praises .

You recently reconciled with your long lasting friend Iyabo Ojo , what actually happened between you and her ?

I don’t want to talk about it again . We have resolved our differences and I like her .We are friends now .

Do you still believe in love ?

Yes I do .There is true love .

But in Nigeria of nowadays ,there is no true without money .Even as a young girl , if you are not well equipped financially , men will be far from you. In fact most Nigerian men are gold diggers . They want to get married to ladies with good family background (big men’s daughters ). They don’t want to build their own women .

I could remember when a guy brought one lady to the city and refused to assist her become a full -fledged woman . His fear was that the lady would later dump him for another man after he had finished investing in her .

That’s absolute nonsense .

Men want to reap where they did not sow but you can make a woman and take the whole glory .

If the father of your 15 year

old daughter returns to you today, would you accept him ?

Unfortunately , he is late now . My daughter will be entering SS1 very soon . And she is 15years of age .

Have you ever experienced true love ?

Of course , I have but …..

Meaning what ? They broke your heart or you broke theirs ?

Are men’s heart breakable ? No human being can break my heart .Break it for what ?I’m not a lazy person .You can only break somebody’s heart when that person does not know what he or she is doing .

You break my heart because you told me you are no longer interested in the relationship or I break your relationship because I said to you I can no longer cope with the relationship .Talk about true love , there is no sincere love. How can you see me on screen and want to take me to the altar? You love me apparently because of what I’m doing on screen ,or who I am .You want already made woman and you don’t want to help in building one , my heart has no room for such men.

Are you in love at the moment ?

Yes I’m dating someone .

I’m in a relationship. After my mother’s death , life continues .

30—Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

Borussia Dortmund

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ECURING back-to-back titles by virtue of being one of Europe’s most lethal counter-attacking sides, you’d think Dortmund would already be a force to be reckoned with in Europe.

However, the 1997 European champions endured a humbling experience in the Champions League last season, finishing at the bottom of their group with just one win to their name—at home over Olympiacos.

Shinji Kagawa may be likely to leave the Westfalenstadion this summer, but the signing of Marco Reus and keeping other stars like Mario Goetze, Robert Lewandowski, Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic should see Jurgen Klopp’s team be a far more formidable unit outside of Germany next season.

• Borussia

10

European Clubs Set to Soar Next Season

Now that the vast majority of places in European competition next season have been settled, clubs across the continent can start planning for their excursions abroad. UEFA’s two club tournaments will play host to most of the same major clubs as they do every season, plus those which either enjoy success more sporadically or regularly come up short in Europe.

Here are 10 clubs who, for one reason or another, have genuine cause for optimism that they will light up the European stage next season.

Malaga

Like newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester City, Malaga are reaping the benefits of being backed by a Middle Eastern sheikh, in their case Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani of Qatar.

The southern coastal club, more used to celebrating avoiding relegation, finished fourth in the table last weekend and thereby earned a qualification playoff for next season’s Champions League. Even without European football to offer, they were able to attract the likes of Santi Cazorla, Jeremy Toulalan, Joaquin and the recentlyretired Ruud van Nistelrooy. Now that a place in Europe’s top competition is on the cards, there is no telling what they could achieve.

Paris Saint-Germain

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S soon as the Qatar Investment Group completed their takeover at the Parc des Princes last year, big things have been expected of Paris SaintGermain. The only major club in one of the biggest cities in Europe, PSG have the potential to be a truly dominant force in Europe if they can continue to invest their new-found wealth wisely.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team look as though they will be beaten to the Ligue 1 title by relative minnows Montpellier this weekend, but a flexing of their financial muscle in the summer could see them start to make waves on the European stage.

•Malaga

Schalke

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CHALKE, one of Germany ’s biggest and best-supported clubs, were Champions League semifinalists only a year ago. If you had forgotten their limp 6-1 aggregate defeat to Manchester United, don’t worry—the Gelsenkirchen club’s fans have been trying to do the same ever since.

After reaching the last four of the Europa League this term, Die Knappen finished third in the Bundesliga—well b e h i n d champions Dortmund and B a y e r n Munich. But Germany ’s favourable coefficient as one of the top leagues in Europe means they still go straight into the group stage of the Champions League.

C M Y K

•Napoli

Napoli

Atletico Madrid

Newcastle United

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HO would have thought 12 months ago that missing out on a Champions League place would have been seen as a disappointment for Newcastle?

However, after a stunning year which exceeded all expectations and won Alan Pardew the Manager of the Year award, that is what happened when the Magpies “only” finished fifth in the Premier League on the final day of the season. As such, Newcastle will contest a playoff for a place in the Europa League come August, and the thought of Papiss Cisse being unleashed on the continent is just one of many reasons to make watching them on Thursday nights a worthwhile exercise

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NLIKE the last time they won the Europa League in 2010, this year Atletico Madrid lifted the trophy in real style. They had two of the competition’s three top scorers, and they won 17 of their 19 matches in the competition (including their final 12).

The Rojiblancos narrowly missed out on a place in the Champions League on the final day of the season in La Liga, but will be optimistic of keeping hold of stars like Radamel Falcao, Diego and Arda Turan.

Atletico have turned not realising their potential into an art form, but the club will be confident that they can make a big impact on La Liga next season and mount a credible effort to finish in the top four domestically.

Sporting Lisbon

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HIS year’s Europa League final may have been between two Spanish clubs, but Sporting Lisbon’s involvement in the semifinals meant the last four was also a clean sweep for clubs from the Iberian Peninsula.

En route to the latter stages, Sporting topped their group above Lazio and eliminated Manchester City in the last 16. Finishing fourth in the Portuguese league secured them a playoff spot for next season’s tournament and with the talent in their squad, Carlos Freitas’ side will be hoping to go at least one better .

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APOLI’s run to the knockout phase of the Champions League in their first season in the competition was certainly a lot of fun. The Partenopei progressed through a group that included Manchester City, and they certainly gave Chelsea a run for their money before going out in the last 16.

Walter Mazzarri’s side saw their form dip sharply after that European exit, but they got their act together in time to recover a position in the Europa League.

If they can keep their “Holy Trinity” of Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik together, then they are extremely well equipped to take Europe’s second competition by storm

* CSKA

in the third qualifying round for next season’s Champions League, and instead have to make do with a playoff to put them into the Europa League.

Assuming they can keep hold of talented forward Alan Dzagoev, playmaker Keisuke Honda and striker Seydou Doumbia—all three of whom have attracted attention from far and wide—then the Russian giants will fancy their chances of going far in that competition.

* Atletico

PSV Eindhoven

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FTER dominating the Dutch Eredivisie in the last decade, PSV have gone four years without winning the title. However, despite only finishing third last season, earning a Europa League playoff place in the process, the Eindhoven club were arguably the most exciting team to watch in Holland, finishing with three of their players among the division’s top 10 goalscorers.

With former manager Dick Advocaat (who was a success in his first spell in charge in the 1990s) back at the helm, PSV can look forward to bigger things next term.

CKSA

A

FTER finishing second at the end of the regular season of an extended Russian Premier League campaign, a lacklustre run in the Championship group stage led to them being overtaken by city rivals Spartak.

As such, CSKA missed out on a place

* PSV

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012 —31

OFF THE PITCH

Man City ready to pay •36m for Llorente

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Barcelona reject chance to bid for Arsenal wantaway

ANCHESTER City are closing in on Atletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente and are ready to pay the • 36million buy-out clause in his contract.

Reports claim the new Premier League champions have already met with the forward’s brother Chus, who also acts as his agent.

It has been reported that a meeting took place on April 27, when Eastlands officials made clear their desire to take the 27-year-old Spanish international to England.

The paper says City are willing to splash out that huge fee as they believe Llorente could be the perfect partner for this season’s top scorer, Sergio Aguero.

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ARCELONA have rejected the oppor tunity to try and sign Robin van Persie from Arsenal this summer.

It is understood that the European champions were sounded out recently by parties representing the Dutchman about their interest in making a move for the striker, whose contract expires in 12 months’ time.

But Barcelona made it clear they do not want to make a move for Van Persie despite a sensational campaign in which he scored 37 goals for Arsenal in all competitions, including 30 in the Premier League.

It is believed that the combination of Van Persie’s age – he turns 29 in August and the expense of a £20 million transfer fee plus expected £10m-a-year salary have put off the Spanish giants, who are trying to cut their debts and rein in costs.

It was revealed recently that Juventus have pulled out of the race to sign the Dutchman because of his £200,000-a-week salary demands, which leaves Manchester City as the clear frontrunners to capture Van Persie if Arsenal sanction a summer transfer.

The 28-year-old and his agent Kees Vos opened contract talks with Arsene Wenger and Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis on Wednesday before Van Persie flew out from England to link up with the Netherlands squad as they begin their Euro 2012 preparations.

Why Bayern Munich won’t get a better chance to end their Champions League drought “Fans have waited 11 years for the German giants to claim Europe’s elite club trophy for a fifth time. Today, they can break that streak, and their chance could not be cleared.”

These were the words of Bayern president Uli Hoeness, who made perfectly clear the club’s intent at the end of last season. That day has arrived as Munich will host the most anticipated European match of the year: the grand finale of the Champions League between Bayern Munich and Chelsea. For both sides, victory would be an incredible relief after years of falling short of the ultimate prize. For Bayern especially, it’s now or never to stamp their mark on history.

C M Y K

*Llorente

Wenger had said that he expected the future of his captain and star player to be resolved before Van Persie joined up with his national squad but the Dutchman’s future remains shrouded in doubt. Arsenal fear the spending power of Europe’s richest clubs have turned Van Persie’s head but are adamant they would rather let him go on a free next year than sell him for around £20m this summer.

Real Madrid have yet to make a move for the Dutchman, whose principal admirers are new Premier League champions City.

Vos admitted on Monday that he was a guest of Brian Marwood, Manchester City’s highest ranking football executive, at an Etihad Stadium match “three months ago” although he de-

nied that the meeting was to discuss a possible transfer for his superstar client.

Roberto Mancini spoke earlier this year of his admiration for Van Persie and is targeting an A-list centre forward in the forthcoming transfer window, with City ready to off-load Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko.

However, it is believed that the City manager does not want a repeat of the Samir Nasri saga last summer, which dragged on into the new season before it was resolved.

Mancini wants his principal targets to be captured in time for City’s preseason programme, which begins in the second week of July and will turn his attention elsewhere if Van Persie is not signed by them.

Owen confirms Man United release

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ICHAEL Owen has confirmed he will leave Manchester United this summer after Sir Alex Ferguson decided against offering the striker a new contract.

Owen, 32, has played a marginal role for United since joining the club on a free transfer in July 2009, making just six starts in the last three seasons.

His last competitive outing came in the Champions League, against Otelul Galati last November, before a hamstring injury brought a halt to his campaign.

The former England striker is now back fit and played just over an hour for United in Harry Gregg’s testimonial against an Irish League Select XI in Belfast on Tuesday, but Ferguson has opted not to extend his stay.

“The Manager informed me after our testimonial match on Tuesday that the club would not be offering me a new contract,” Owen wrote on his Twitter page. “I have loved every minute of the 3 years I have spent at such a fantastic club. I would like to thank the players, staff and fans for their support and wish them well for the future.

“I now plan to have a short holiday during which I will contemplate my next move."

Special Sport

• Llorente

Man United target opens door for summer move

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ANCHESTER United target Robert Lewandowski has hinted he won’t sign a new contract at Borussia Dortmund but the Red Devils fight with Bayern Munich for his services. The striker, who is set to star for Poland at Euro 2012, joined Dortmund in 2010 and his contract expires in 2014.

He scored 30 goals in all competitions this season as Dortmund completed a league and cup double - with clubs across Europe watching him closely.

Lewandowski’s agent Maik Barthel has claimed United are keen on the 23-year-old, with Sir Alex Ferguson in the market for a striker.

Lewandowski scored a hat-trick in Dortmund’s 5-2 win over Bayern Munich in last weekend’s DFBPokal Final and Ferguson was in the stands to watch him.

He is said to be ready to move for Lewandowski as well as his teammate Shinji Kagawa whom he met for talks on Tuesday but the striker says Munich are also keen.

•Robert Lewandowski

32—VANGUARD, SATURDAY, MAY 19 , 2012

I like decency, not flamboyancy — Bode Adediji

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

Bode Adediji ...My success today was not basically as a result of academic brilliance, but a grace of God

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C M Y K

the communication between us started. Incidentally she was going to visit a place near my village where she did not know. We exchanged addresses and one thing led to another. Five years later, we got married.

I choose my friends on the basis of the values and passion we share. One of them is one of the best Professors in one of the South African universities; others are successful bankers, Fola Adeola, Jim Ovia.

Right from my youth, I have cultivated the act of service and as soon as I returned from my post graduate studies in the UK, I started to actualise my vision in my official capacity. Before becom-

,

ode Adediji is the President, Nigerian Institute of Es tate Surveyors and Valuers and CEO, Bode Adediji Part nership, one of the front-line property consultants in Nigeria. Besides his professional callings, he has dedicated himself to mentoring and delivering lectures to inspire the younger ones to greatness. He was trained at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, and University of Reading, United Kingdom.

I started out like an ordi- among others are ex-Ife. It nary village boy. I was born was because of their practical and bred in the village. My exposure to quality knowlschool, University of Ife was edge, practical training and in a village setting then. It was discipline. So, growing up in the youth service that took Ada village in Osun was fun. me out of my village first.

My success today was not I see life as strategic. This is basically as a result of acabecause I was born into a hard- demic brilliance, but the working and very disciplined grace of God. There are so family. Right from my youth many unseen forces in life. As days, I had imbibed the cul- a result, for every thing I have ture of hard work. I was also done, I have always seen the lucky to attend a secondary hand of God. The choice of school where they believed in my school, the choice of my working round the clock such career, the choice of my wife, that the school opened at 6:am the choice of my place of work and closed whenever it pleas- and the friends I keep. So, I es the principal. I had to read will not ascribe brilliance to and read, not having time for my success. I have come across any other thing. You can imag- several people who are pheine that I spent three and half nomenally brilliant in acayears in secondary school as demics. That is just a means a result of double promotion. to an end and not an end in And I came out with grade itself. You still need the direcone. Again, everybody knew tion and wisdom of God. WithUniversity of Ife for its efforts out these, academic brilliance in driving knowledge, where may turn to a liability. you had the likes of Pro. Oluwasanmi, Prof Aluko who died met my wife for the first recently, Prof Igun, the fronttime while I was returning line Development Economist, from the first break during my Prof Ojetunde Aboyade youth service. I was returning amongst others. In fact, it was from Port Harcourt to my villike a educational war zone. lage and I was in the same taxi In the university then, I was with her. She was at the front also in the forefront. By the seat and because of her skintime I left the university in ny stature, the driver decided 1979, I was the best graduat- to carry another passenger ing student. Today, there is with her against the rule of one nothing to regret. person at the front seat. As a I was admitted to read ac- result, argument ensued and countancy but after one year, as a bubbling youth corper, I I changed to Estate Manage- put my feet down in support ment merely because I didn’t of that young lady since she want to read any popular was paying the same fare. course. As at that time, the Don’t forget that was the era estate Management depart- that student unionism was efment was the broadest in terms fective especially in asserting of course content of all univer- their rights whether in the sities in Nigeria. You can see campus or outside. And with that that the products of that the spirit of esprit de corps, department are actually the anything that affected a stupillar of all the leading estate dent, affected all. So, the head firms in country today. Fatim- of the park intervened and we ilehin & Co, Jide Taiwo & Co had our way. That was how

only the buying and selling of lands and renting houses. I kept asking myself, if that was all about the profession, why I would spend five years in the university to go and learn the art of buying and selling of landed property. It is ridiculous. The truth is that the profession is one of the most cerebral and broadest profession anybody can come across by virtue of their training and what they do especially in advance countries. Some of the areas they engage in are client advisory services, construction, engineering, project management evaluation. Anyone who studied Estate Management must have knowledge in building, engineering, construction designs, and

The truth is that the profession is one of the most cerebral and broadest profession anybody can come across by virtue of their training and what they do especially in advance countries

ing the President,Nigerian Institute of Es tate Surveyors and Valuers, I started as the Public Relations Officer, Lagos state branch, then I moved to the National body as the PRO and later served as Treasurer, and as Secretary and later as first Vice President.

Now as the president, the motivation is the need for a radical change in the ways in which the public perceived the practice of Estate Surveyors and Valuers. Largely speaking, members of the public used to see Estate Surveyors and Valuers as mere estate agents; those who engage in

,

all other areas that are germane in building like electrical, mechanical designs. So when you look at the whole gamut of these knowledge and exposure, certainly, an estate Surveyor and Valuer must not be seen as a mere estate agent.

So, we have been working to change that perception and I think we have achieved that to a large extent. We have been able to tell the corporate industries, government and other bodies that as you have them in other countries, so it is here or even better in some areas. In 2005, I led a team to conduct the evaluation of

the entire federal government assets in this country before their capitalisation. We have also taken a look at all the assets belonging to Lagos state government and advised them as to their values and their management. These are what we don’t usually convey on the pages of newspapers.

My style of leadership is by example. I used to say that Nigeria is the easiest country to govern in the world. When the people believe in you, when they cry to you and you cry with them, when there are challenges, you are in the forefront trying to resolve those challenges and you did not disappoint them, then you will be their best leader. In fact, they will sacrifice everything to make sure that you succeed.

But when leaders double-talk, Nigerians don’t respect them.

T hat is why we will con tinue to refer to the likes of Awolowos, Azikiwes, Balewas whose vision are yet unmatched. Look at Ahmadu Bellow who galvanised the entire intellectual principl e and re-

sources of his own region to advance the cause of his own

people without asking for anything in return. So, my own concept of leadership is based on service, sacrifice and empathy to humanity. You must feel whatever your people feel. You cannot live an affluent life when majority of people are in abject poverty. Again, in specific reference to my association and as President, we all agreed that we should move the profession from the pedestrian platform to a level of substance, relevance,performance and collectively, we have achieved that to a large extent. Today, when surveyors speak, they speak from the context of adding value and not in terms of primordial instinct.

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, MAY 19, 2012—33

on my dream and my pet project. Right now my pet project is my boyfriend .

Apart from your pet project, what other things would you like to do?

Apart from my pet project which is to campaign for eradication of typhoid fever in our country, I would like to float my own fashion label and establish a school to groom other young girls who want to be like me. Even before now, many girls have come to me to ask about how to be a beauty queen.

Many of them ask how to even catwalk. I would like to have a school to help all these people.

Inner beauty means more to me — Ayuk,MBGN Few weeks back, the name Isabella Ayuk is not a name that would mean much to majority of Nigerians until last Saturday in Edo State when her fortune changed.

She emerged the winner of the 2012 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria which held in Benin .

Isabella Ayuk, 25, will represent Nigeria at the Miss World competition taking place in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China in November this year.

Living up to her new status, the new Queen on Tuesday, May 10th was made to have an interactive session with pressmen at the Silverbird office on Musa Yar’Adua Street in Victoria Island.

Looking every inch like a true queen, she comported herself with dignity, poise and elegance. For one who has been described as a veteran of the MBGN competitions, hers was a confidence that was overpowering and as captivating .

She is called a veteran of MBGN pageants because she has contested the pageant three times. Besides that, she is the Ex Beauty Queen Of South-South Nigeria (2007/ 2008), Miss Global Nigeria (2009/2010), and delegate Miss Global international (World) in Jamaica ( 2010).

She hails from Etung Local Government area of Cross River State, and represented Cross River State at the pageant. She is a graduate of University of Calabar, and grew up in Ikom. She stands five feet tall and loves travelling and cooking.

In this chat she talks about what drives her and what she intends to do with her crown of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2012. Excerpts:

Why did you chose typhoid and not other ailments like HIV/AIDS, Cancer and others like that?

About six years ago, I lost my sister to typhoid and I have seen some documentaries on the disease. So many families have lost their loved ones to typhoid.

•Isabella Ayuk: I have always wanted to be a beauty queen

By Ayo Onikoyi

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What does it take to win this pageant?

For me it is not really about your physical beauty but your inner beauty and your confidence. You don’t really have to have the wow looks to come tops.

Like how much did you spend to get this far?

Funny enough! I didn’t spend much. Because this is my third time,the only thing I had to spend money on was my traditional costume which cost me about N70,000. But for others like my evening dresses, I spent nothing because I have had them two-three years ago.

Who made the dresses?

Frank Oshodi made the dresses I used for the competition and I have had them two-three years ago.

Who are your own most beautiful women in the country?

To me the most beautiful woman in the country is the First Lady of my state, Obioma Imoke. She is a very beautiful woman. To me, beauty is not just about your facial looks or physical ap-

Oh my God! I am so sorry to disappoint you; I don’t have a boyfriend or dude as you said ;I am totally focused on my dream and pet project

pearance. I believe true beauty comes from within.

The inner beauty that comes from reaching out to others.

She has done so much for widows and the less-privileged children in my state.

She will be my number one anytime any day.

What lessons have you learnt from participating in this pageant?

One big lesson I have learned here is never to give up on your dream no matter how long it takes. I am a living testimony. I have been here three times,and if I hadn’t emerged as the winner, I would have come back again just as long as it takes me to realise my dream.

When I lost out in 2010 and coming back for the 2011 pageant, I asked some of my friends who participated in the 2010 pageant with me to

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come along but they told me since they have tried their luck once, it means their luck does not lie with pageants and they did not come. When I came in 2011, I wasn’t picked again,but here I am in 2012.

So, what drives you?

My drive is my determination. It is a push inside me. I have been dreaming about it.

Everyday I wake up, it is what I pray about, what I think about. I just didn’t believe because I wasn’t picked first, second time, it means I don’t have it in me.

What advice do you have for aspiring contenders?

Just like me,never give up on your dream. Whatever you set your mind on to do, never give up because it is achievable. Never mind the negative stuff people would say, they are bound to say many things. Just keep your

mind on your dream. When you are up there ,they would be the ones to welcome you.

Who gave you the most inspiration?

My family have been most supportive. They say charity begins at home. My family has given me every reason to go on. They have always believed I have what it takes and they have stood by me all the way. So, my family comes first on the list of those who have encouraged me.

How would you describe yourself?

I am simple, quiet and down-to- earth.

What has been your passion in life?

Well, I have always wanted to be a beauty queen. So all along, I have learnt the ropes about becoming one.

Long before I even came for the pageant, I have learnt how to catwalk and dance and how to carry myself.

For a pretty girl like you, there must be a guy cheering you on?

Oh my God! I am so sorry to disappoint you. I don’t have a boyfriend or dude as you said. I am totally focused

You said this is your third shot at the MBGN; what was your experience at each point and how far did you get in the first two shots?

In 2010, I made it to top 10. In 2011, I wasn’t so lucky, I made it as far as the top 15.

One thing that didn’t change at every shot is that I got to represent my state each time I contested. I have always been lucky because each time I went for the screening, there were no contenders for Cross River. So, I usually ended up being the one to represent Cross River.

So what gave you the confidence to come this third time?

Like I said, my resolve to help people with the dreaded typhoid kept pushing me to come because I believe as a beauty queen, I would be able to help more.

Have you always thought you could win at every shot at the pageant?

Yes. I never thought I could lose even though I was not picked in 2010 and 2011. I have always believed my mission is noble and I have what it takes to be the winner.

And you didn’t see anyone at the camp who could be a threat to your dream?

None at all. Like I said, I went there to win ; not to compete. I knew what I wanted and how to get it. My pet project was an extra push that kept pushing me to go on.

Besides, each time you are not picked ,they keep telling you ‘better luck next time’. So, I kept trying my luck.

34—SA TURD AY 34—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, MA Y 19, 2012 MAY

Email: youthfulvibes@gmail.com

January 5, 1980 was the day I was given birth to. I had my early childhood in Kogi State, where I had my primary school education. Growing up as the only girl with my four brothers and parents is quite intriguing. As a little girl, I had passion to make people beautiful and healthy. This passion became stronger during my secondary school days as I began to develop interest in improving people’s appearance; I attended Adeolu Secondary School, Tolu Complex, Lagos. During this time, I became a student entrepreneur and I was fortunate it didn’t affect my studies. I sold shirts and ties to my teachers just with the objective of making them look good. I even went as far as making hair for the female teachers as well as helping them before their meetings to tie their head gear or‘gele’ as it is fondly called.

This journey into my childhood dream enterprise continued into my university days where I met people from various walks of life with diverse needs. I saw this need gap and I employed my business skill in filling this gap by bringing out splendour from mostly those ‘wanna be girls’. My fingers and brushes could easily bring out heavy makeover and unblemished skin complexion. I gradually introduced my homemade herbal soap which gained wide acceptance and led me into offering some tutelage in manufacturing of the herbal soap.

I believe so much in training and retraining that I had to enroll in a beauty school to perfect my skill.

Over the years,I have been

First impression matters to me a lot —R ekiat Ibr ahim Ok oje Rekiat Ibrahim Okoje

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t is said that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. However, Rekiat, whom at a glance passes for a replica of Mercy Johnson(Nollywood star), thinks differently as she believes that beauty is not entirely subjective. She opines that everybody has some beauty that is inside looking for expression on the outside, but only waiting for professional intervention which can make this exquisiteness visible. Rekiat,32, a Kogi State indigene is a graduate of Lagos State University, and has over the years been making lives beautiful and healthy through her work. She shares her story with Youthful Vibes. producing herbal soaps for several individuals and beauty homes. The soap has a tripartite function cum solution:healing, toning and rejuvenation. The healing has to do with those with skin disorders such as eczema, heat rashes, skin reaction, pimples and so on while the toning element as it implies is to help enhance the complexion irrespective of skin colours. And for the rejuvenation, it is for people with skin problems primarily from dry skin, cream reaction into good skin.

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BACKGROUND.

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OCIAL ENTERPRISE

As we know, a child needs a role model, right values and good morals to be able to fulfill destiny by way of career, profession and vocation, and also to be able to impact its environment/community and the Nigerian Society at large.

Raising such child is undoubtedly the primary responsibility of parents but many parents are too busy to understand their children and

I even went as far as making hair for the female teachers as well as helping them before their meetings tie their head gear or‘gele’ as it is fondly called

Rekiat working on a client C M Y K

Rekiat

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this leads many of them into becoming irresponsible.

However, in order to proffer a solution to this disturbing phenomenon, I established a nongovernmental organization called Tere. It’s mandate is to address the ever complex needs of a child; to identify the most intrinsic and extrinsic needs of a child. We visit schools, hospitals, social events and even home services to people who

truly require guidance and counseling.Parents and children have benefited immensely through the testimonials that follow from our health, beauty and moral talks. It does create a good avenue for parents to understand their children and vice versa.

and socially as it makes me have some sense of fulfillment. I am inspired at my finished work especially when I do remodeling of an individual’s look. Indeed, looking good is good business and first impression matters.

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ORDS FOR NIGERIAN YOUTHS

Y MOTIVATION

I must confess it has not been easy at all but Jehovah God has been my strongest support and father that never fails. I am also motivated by my passion in seeing people empowered both economically

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I have just these few words for Nigerian youths: No good comes easily.

Therefore, never give up as the best is yet to come.

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

TOCHI EZE LAGOS STATE

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ochi is a classical combination of vision and virtue. A prolific writer and sought after speaker, she runs with a mandate to restore hope, revive dreams and repair broken expectations, which she does through the instrumentality of insights and inspirations. She is a graduate of law from the University of Lagos and an alumni of the prestigious Queens College Yaba. She is currently the Chief Effectiveness Officer of SELAH Inspirational, a social enterprise centred on youth empowerment and nation building.

Her passion for African youths is depicted in the plethora of initiatives piloted by Selah Inspirational one of which is the Life Enhancement Series aimed at creating platforms for the socio-political emancipation of Nigerian Youths.She is the author of the recently released book:’Dreams come true’.Tochi is a phenomenal young Nigerian whose giant strides speak volumes.Her sight is set on achieving her dreams one day at a time.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012—35

—Ngozi Princewill Utchay

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one day seminar in Lagos themed, ‘branding yourself for success’ organised for managers and supervisors by Artelier Lifestyle consultants was quite an eye opener. For many of the entrepreneurs who attended the seminar, one problem seemed to be a recurrent decimal with them all-the problem of finding the right staff with the right attitude!

Convener of the seminar, Ngozi Princewill Utchay addressed two key issues that of branding and etiquette. While she posited that corporate branding must match individual personality, on etiquette, she summed it simply as consideration for the next person pointing out that the deepest principle in human nature is the need to be appreciated.

A gifted speaker and writer, Mrs Ngozi Princewill Utchay holds a bachelor’s degree in French and a diploma in Translation. The wellcultured mother of one took time out to shed more light on some of the issues raised.

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How would you rate Nigerians when it comes to etiquette; especially social etiquette?

Well, I have always said that in Nigeria, our culture is one that is based on respect especially respect for elders.

So, fundamentally, we know that this respect should be in place but we could do a little more just to show consideration for one another and perhaps, take it further.

But people are getting increasingly impatient?

It’s true but it is not peculiar to Nigeria alone.

But that is making consideration even difficult?

It is making consideration a little bit difficult to achieve but is the impatience getting them the result that they want? If it is not, then maybe we should go back and try consideration because I think we are able to get more out of each other when we show some respect, consideration or courtesy for one another. Impatience only makes the other person a little more hostile and that leads to aggression. At the end of the day, the important thing is that you achieve what it is you set out to achieve. And if you find that impatience is not getting you there, try courtesy and consideration.

What kind of consideration can an employer show to an employee or a boss to a subordinate?

Well, I said it earlier that appreciation comes from the top. When a boss appreciates his or her employees, recognises their efforts, when they do the right thing commends them for it from time to time, not just criticising all the things that they are doing wrong, encourages them to

Employees also need to realise that they are working for themselves. They are working to pay their bills and helping build up an organization so that you too can benefit from its growth and its expansion.

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develop themselves, then the employees are happier. If they are happier working, then it will trickle down to the clients or customers.

Nigerians react to commendation by saying things like ‘na praise I go chop?’ So should exclude money?

We are leaving money out of it because we already know that money is there. That is fundamental. In some cases, you give both commendation and money. If I give you a lot of money and I abuse you verbally and abuse your efforts in the sense that I make you do so much more than is required of you and don’t appreciate you for going that extra mile, I think at the end of the day, even with the money that you are getting, you are going to feel quite frustrated. So, they both go hand-in hand.

So what s h o u l d employers a n d employees be doing to help each other?

This is a very broad question. Employees also need to realise that they are working for themselves. They are working to pay their bills and helping build up an organization so that you too can benefit from its growth and its expansion. So the more profitable an organization becomes, the more the efforts of employee would be rewarded. So they need to realise that they are not just working for the organization but that they are also working for themselves.

What we call etiquette in

the work place is actually good manners or home training which we learn from home. So what should we begin to do at home?

Charity definitely begins at home. We have to get our children to imbibe the right values. If we do it right then when they are adults, they will not veer from what they have been taught. It is important to do things right. You may take the short cut, but at the end of the day, you may not get the values or the satisfaction or even long term value from it. So it’s good to do t h i n g s properly.

Do it properly, it may take a slightly longer way but t h e foundation is right and in t h e l o n g run, it w i l l serve y o u well.

How did this start f o r you?

I’ve always been doing this. I think it’s a gift.

Y o u a r e w h a t you are. I am not Steve Jobs o r somebody who takes delight in solving all kinds of IT issues, or trying to invent the next best thing in IT. This is just who I am.

So I’m taking that gift and who I am and trying to make myself into the best conveyor of this gift that I can possibly be.

Customer service is a big problem here. Why do people have a problem with apologising?

Some times, they just don’t know. It is ignorance because those little words, I am sorry, will go a very long way in smoothing over an interaction.

Sometimes, people just don’t know. You’d be

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Project a good image if you must be taken seriously

They need to know that if they go this extra step, they will make their customer happier and if a happy customer comes back, because its not just about customer service but about customer satisfaction, then also the business is doing well.

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surprised that they are just ignorant. Sometimes they don’t realise that they are being that rude. It takes somebody to point it out to them and show them the correct way and then they can improve.

How come business owners don’t realise that training will help them build their brands?

I think they are becoming aware of it. Service culture is developing in Nigeria. But another way of course, is for people like me to point it out to them that they could use a little help here and there in other to improve in the areas that customer expects improvement. They need to know that if they go this extra step, they will make their customer happier and if a happy customer comes back, because its not just about customer service but about customer satisfaction, then also the business is doing well.

But you have situations where the personality of the owner of the business conflicts with the corporate brand?

Well, that is the thing.

Sometimes you have a fantastic corporate brand because you are smart enough to hire the right people to give your company the right image. But if your personal brand is not reflecting the image of your company then there is a discrepancy and people are going to notice. So, it will be good for you to work on your personal branding so that it matches the corporate brand.

You must practice what you preach.

Is image part of it?

Yes, image is part of it because if you are supposed to be projecting a certain thing and you are looking untidy, your buttons are missing, your shoe is torn somewhere, people are not going to take you seriously as you would like to because human beings look at appearances. Only God looks at the heart. So, if you don’t appear to be taking yourself seriously, it will be difficult for others to take you seriously.

36—SATURDAY VANGUARD, MAY 19 , 2012

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012—37

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38—SATURDAY VANGUARD , MAY 19, 2012

*Renault Duster

Chidoka tasks FRSC commanders on patrol A

Renault Duster: Compact SUV with attributes of big 4 x 4

BY THEODORE OPARA

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URPRISE, Surprise. TopGear, the revered British car magazine, in its March 2012 edition, tried to compare the Renault Duster with the Legendary Land Rover Defender. The compact SUV was rated high by the magazine for its outstanding qualities even when it could not be said to be in the same segment with the Land Rover Defender.

According to the magazine, the “Defender is so much more expensive that the two (Duster and Defender) don’t really compete, the gap is chasm-like £17,000.

But this is about philosophy. The share a thought process – workhorses, capable, off-road and with basic interior that simply washes down.”

This means that the Renault Duster despite being a compact sport utility vehicle has what it takes to challenge bigger utility vehicles. It is rugged, spacious and economical with fuel.

Alliance Auto, in order to underline the built quality of the car, backed it with three years or 100,000 km warranty in Nigeria. The car, last year won the award of car of the year in 2011 by the Institute of Government Research and Leadership Technology.

Powered by a 1.6 litre engine, the Duster is a particularly versatile vehicle which combines the spacious interior of large SUV with the comC M Y K

fort of luxury sedan. It comes in 4 x 2 and 4 x 4 versions with fuel consumption standing at 7.5 and 7.9 litre/100 km respectively, making it one of the world’s most fuel efficient sports utility vehicle.

Marketed in Nigeria

by Alliance Autos who also distributes Nissan vehicles in Nigeria, the Duster entered the Nigerian market in 2011 and has since won the heart of many compact sport utility vehicle lovers.

Built to conquer terrains, the Duster is unmistakeably a 4 x4 with good ground clearance and capability. From the

front, it exudes an impression of toughness: the wide wheelarches, the imposing lines of the chrome grille and the sump guard clearly emphasise the 4x4 DNA of Renault Duster. From the side, the high ground clearance, clearly defined wheelarches and protective mouldings encourage the driver to tackle even the toughest roads and tracks. You can further enhance the looks of your duster by fitting bigger alloy wheels, roof bars, satin-finish chrome exterior mirrors, front and rear skid plates and sills.

A comprehensive range of accessories (including wing extender, broad side protectors for doors, lateral bars) will compete this unique look. The beauty of the Duster goes beyond the external look. With a modern dashboard, leather pack seats, steering wheel and gear lever knob, the Duster gives you an impression of the top-end sport utility vehicle inside.

The Duster owes it excellent ride, not only to the powerful engine but also to the suspension.

At the front is the Pseudo MacPherson type suspension with wishbone.

The 4x4 versions rear

multi-arm arrangement, developed specially for the Duster ensures that it overcomes all terrains no matter how tough while the programmeddeflection flexible Hbeam favoured for the 4x2 version is strong and permits a large boot, which is a key consideration for Duster customers. Duster is also equipped with a new six speed gearbox with a short first ratio, which allows the vehicle to travel at very slow speed on uneven terrain, and improves performance as you can pull away from standstill with heavy loads on steep slope.

*Renault Duster conquering a rough terrain

S part of measures towards delivering on the Federal Road Safety Corps’ mandate and global initiatives of the United Nations decade of action on road safety, the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka has tasked Sector Commanders drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory on the need for regular performance evaluation as a yardstick for improved service delivery.

This charge formed part of a presentation by the Corps Marshal titled: “ Need for Resuscitation and Revival of Field patrol Activities,” during a one-day strategic interactive session with the commanding officers in Abuja.

According to Chidoka, the United Nations’ adoption of road safety model in Nigeria has also initiated a safe corridor project in the country, which has thrown up numerous challenges in the area of the Corps redesigning its operational and administrative strategies in order to meet with the expectations of not only the Nigerian motoring public but also deliver on the global mandates of the United Nations in the next 10 years.

In the words of the Corps Marshal, “the thrust of this meeting is for us to undertake a vigorous and holistic review of existential challenges facing the Corps , as the nation’s leading agency on road safety management and traffic administration and design realizable modalities towards addressing and reversing unfolding negative trends.”

A further analysis of the FRSC performance in the last one year according to Chidoka, indicate an increase of 7% in road crashes and 15% reduction in fatalities (deaths) at the end 2012 first quarter; which calls for regular review and evaluation of the Corps’ policy initiatives/implementation, operational and administrative road map, paramount to stimulate and enhance growth and improved performance especially in the area of visibility on the highways through intensive patrol, surveillance and prompt response to road crashes in addition to coverage of critical corridors and robust public awareness matched with strict enforcement of traffic rules and regulations.

SATURDAY

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he muscles of the body must have the qualities of strength and stretch-ability. To have strength without the ability to stretch out means we can easily tear muscles on account of their being stiff.

Therefore, any fitness programme must deal with the two qualities.

Most people have what will pass ‘or appreciable strength, The trouble is that most of the people will fail the simplest flexibility tests. And this is very bad as a body that has flexible muscles has a great edge over one that is stiff all over.

The fact is that no matter how inflexible your muscles are, they can be trained to acquire suppleness. But this must be done on a gradual basis.

Too much haste and you could be stirring trouble. You could tear muscles and these torn muscles can hurt like crazy. Hence the caution having to start and carry on patiently but consistently.

In a fitness programme, the thing to guard against is want of zeal. Once you can get the mind to agree that exercise is good for you, it shouldn’t be too difficult to invoke the discipline to workout regularly. The good thing about regularity is that you never need to do too much at any given time to awaken your muscles.

It is not true that we grow stiff with age. Our stiffness stems from a life of less and less activity. Indolence is the real culprit.

want to do a thing, but do not give in.

With will-power you will get the body up and exercising. The only true excuse for not exercising is when we have fallen sick. Once we’re serious with our working out, the body will ‘ail far less frequently.

When we have learned to thaw and loosen up stiff muscles, we will then begin to enjoy life in the flesh and bone structure we call the body. And we’re also capable of relieving ourselves physical and mental stress.

Here are a few exercises to try out.

Leg-Pulls

Limber up!

When I met my yoga teacher, I was 22 years of age and he was in his seventies jut my youthful body couldn’t do most of the postures that this elderly man could get his body to do. He was all the inspiration I needed. He had been into yoga some fifty years before I met him. This drove home the point that yoga could be a life-long affair.

How sad, for a majority of persons on the surface of the earth, exercise stops when school or college days are

Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012 —39

over. Is it then any wonder that we’re putting up hospitals all over and yet man’s health doesn’t seem to improve.

We can go to hospitals to get patched up, but true health and fitness are the individuals’ responsibility.

No one can tread the exercise path for you. You have to do it yourself. It’s true, whatever requires discipline doesn’t come easy. The same goes for the discipline for exercise. When you have started a fitness regimen, there will be days when the body will not

Leg-Pulls Technique: Sitting with both legs out stretched infront of you, draw the right knee and place the right foot on the inside of the left thigh. Now grasp the inner left foot with left hand and the outer left leg with the right hand. Stay in this position between say 10 seconds. Rest a bit and repeat.

Benefits: This posture ensures a great workout of the leg muscles. The abdominal organs are favourable affected.

The Bridge Technique: As you lay flat on your back place the palms down. Now, raise up the entire body, supporting yourself only on your palms and heels. Stay in the posture between 7 to 10 seconds.

Benefits: The Bridge strengthens the muscles of the shoulders and, belly and legs.

40-----SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

All that glitters

BY FELIX STEPHEN

CRIME

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fter four years of a fruitless job search in Lagos, I considered today to be one of the best days of my life. I met a man who offered to employ me and pay me a monthly salary of N500, 000. That sounded unbelievable to me since I couldn’t remember that last time I held such huge amount. I therefore asked him what sort of job he wanted me to do for that kind of amount considering that fact that I was only a second class lower graduate.

“The job is very simple” he said. “ you get to work only

we will transfer your salary to your account”.

“What is inside the packages” I asked the man.

BY NNAMDI JOHN, “oh, you want to know?’ he LAGOS replied, “ well, I will tell you. They contain cocaine.” rimes are offences and “Cocaine?” I exclaimed. “I wrong doings that are knew I would get this punishable by Law. They are reaction from you as a first also offences that involve breaking timer ” he said as he the law which guides a particular opened his drawer. place, State or a Country.“The “Anyway, here is my card, rate of crime in Nigeria is call me if you are still astonishing, to the extent that interested” he implored me. even the very young most times I collected the card and left commit it.““How crime can be his office still baffled. reduced“1.

Young people I couldn’t wait to relate should be educated on the what I called my once in a dangers of crime.“2.

The lifetime opportunity to Government should provide for Aunty Bukky the police and other forces in the whom I have been staying with ever since I started my job search.

To be

BY AYODEJI OSHO, continued...

•Felix Stephen once in a month and you will still have your salary. What he said made me raise a brow.

“All you have to do is this” he continued, “on a chosen day in a month you will be given some packages which you will deliver to a given destination.

When we have confirmed you have delivered the packages,

Child abuse research LAGOS.

Did you know?

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ome dogs are trained security agents and their job is to sniff traveler’s belongings in case of hidden narcotics?

And that these dogs are ten times faster than humans!

Hello Jets’, How was the long holidays?

Hope you all had great time at home? I hope you are set for another wonderful term learning to become useful to yourself and family in the nearest future? Dogs are indeed wonderful animals and it is amazing what they can learn if you train them well.

In fact, they are faster than humans when it comes to picking up crime trace. In this edition, Mrs. Lawretta Ogrih, a school’s proprietress sent an article on Peer pressure. It is a must read, Chon in her story was able to change his community because he change himself. Stephen Felix, a recent graduate of Kings College Lagos and a member of Jet Writers Club sent us his article he titled “all that glitters”. Crime and its consequence is written by Nnamdi John and the last, but not the least is Ayodeji Osho, he sent us his research on Child abuse. These are the stuff on your darling page. Have a good read and a great weekend.

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Country with good equipments to be able to battle crime and criminals a t •Nnamdi large.“3.

The criminals if caught should be dealt severely, so as to serve as warning to others.“4. The Government should provide good jobs for the unemployed.“If all the above points on the reduction of crime is put into place, crime in Nigeria will be reduced, and our Society or Country at large will be crime free Society for us all.

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abused by a parent, stepparent, a sibling or some other person present in the home. Child abuse of any kind is dangerous and has many bad effects on its victims, such

buse is the unjust, cruel and violent treatment of somebody, while child abuse is the crime of harming a child in a physical, sexual or emotional way. A child can be abused in different ways, it includes: •Ayodeji Osho 1. Neglect: This occurs when people fail to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter and as: medical care for children. Young a. The child is left in a state children should not be left alone to care of daily fear. for themselves. b. It can break up a family.

2. EMOTIONAL ABUSE: This occurs c. It can lead to death of the when there is a regular pattern of verbal child. attack on a child for instance, when d. The child may become adults keep using statements like these emotionally unstable in future on children ‘ you are an idiot, you are a as an adult. fool or you are good for nothing’, such Some effects of child abuses verbal attacks give a child emotional are: scars that will last a life time.

3. PHYSICAL ABUSE: This occurs SEXUAL ABUSE when children are deliberately beaten 1. It can lead to early up and bruised or given other forms of pregnancy in children. physical injuries. Such abuses often leave injuries or scars.

WORK ABUSE 4. INCEST: This is a sexual activity 2. This leads to accident between people who are closely related. especially to those engaged in For instance, a child may be sexually hawking along the way.

A story on positive & negative peer influence, Chon changed his community!

BY MRS. LAWRETTA EMIAKPOR

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n a third world country, there once was a very violent and insecure community where stealing, drug abuse and immoral practices were the norm, and Christians were not allowed to openly talk about the true God.“In this community lived Chon, a young boy of 12 years, whose father was a Pastor of one of the few quiet Pentecostal churches. Chon was a very interesting boy,

gifted with a high sense of humour and he had the ability to lighten the mood of anyone around him and he did that well in church, as he shared the word of God especially among the few teens and youths. Chon would create cartoons and humour out of Bible passages and entertain his audience with a much simpler message. Soon, the teens and youths wanted more and even started inviting their friends to church.“News of Chon’s ability to occupy the young

for long in a most exciting and productive way started going round his community such that his father ’s small church could no longer take the large number of those who started trooping in from the streets to listen to him. This new development made Chon’s father to ignore the strict rules of the land towards open Christian worship as he approached the community leaders so they could allow him rent the community central hall

for his church use. As a confirmation that all things are possible with God, especially when we take the right step, a community that would not ordinarily allow an open church service did not see any reason why Chon’s father’s request would not be To be continued...

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012------41

there is a political will to do the right thing. So, the people are now resolved to hold their political destiny in their hands and put the political contractors whose specialty is looting of the treasury to shame by voting against them in the coming election.

JULY 14 GUBER POLLS:

Edo people will vote on issues, not abuse Against the backdrop of political violence in Edo State in recent time, Louis Odion, Edo Commissioner for Information fielded questions from a group of journalists. Excepts: Lately, Edo politics seems to have assumed a violent dimension. Not being a politician but a technocrat in government, how have you been coping?

Well, we live in interesting times like the Chinese would say. For me, I consider it a rite of passage to finally bury the forces of darkness in Edo State.

You are very correct to describe me as a technocrat and not a politician. As a journalist, I consider it a privilege to be part of this historic awakening. At the end of my tour of duty, of course, I would be too glad to return to journalism.

For me, ultimately, the biggest reward would be being counted among the Team Oshiomhole. In the last three and a half years, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole started a revolution in Edo State. Edo story has changed so dramatically within 42 months so much that there is almost now a consensus across the state that he should be given a second term come July 14. Of course, you don’t expect those who had profited from the underdevelopment, the rot of the past, to give up without a fight. That explains the tension in Edo today. It is a contention between the forces of light as embodied

by Oshiomhole and the forces of darkness Edo people now know too well.

You recently escaped attack by gunmen in Benin. Unfortunately, a colleague of yours, Olaitan Oyerinde, was not that

lucky? How do you feel?

It is quite regrettable that what ought to be an occasion for healthy debate on how to grow Edo State has turned to a show of force and shedding of innocent blood. For instance, it is quite sad that in a space of one week, the state witnessed the deaths of three journalists in an attack on the governor’s convoy and the gruesome murder of the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde. But it wasn’t as if this chain of unfortunate events came as a big surprise. Early last month, we had raised alarm that some political desperadoes had perfected a plot to foment trouble in the state. When we made the allegations, some people felt we were crying wolf where none existed. But it has taken the deaths of four promising young men for such people to now accept the truth in the points we were making.

As I speak to you, these political desperadoes are not relenting in their nefarious activities. We are aware that just few days ago they had another nocturnal meeting at the residence of a powerful politician in Abuja to review the events of the past three weeks in Edo .

We are aware that one of the resolutions they made that day is to sustain their current reign of terror by targeting more officials of the Oshiomhole administration for elimination. We have turned some of the intel-

Odion...Oshiomhole has proved that Edo State can work once there is a political will to do the right thing. ligence we gathered to relevant security agencies and can only hope that they take steps to act on such leads before it is too late. It is just unfortunate that some people will do anything to gain power. But believe me, the present contestation in Edo is between the forces of light and those of darkness.

It is a titanic battle between the forces of positive change, of progress as represented by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and those who see the state as their private estate. You will recall that from the word go, we have always maintained that this electioneering campaign should be based on issues.

Whatever agitation we make today, always listen to the fine points.

Whereas we demand the sanctity of the ballot through ‘one man, one vote’, our friends in opposition do not seem to share that. We want clean politics and clean elections.

But our friends in opposition believe otherwise. Whereas we canvass issues and ideas to

take the state to the next level, others would rather engage in the politics of name-calling and character assassination. Of course, that should be expected, because they have nothing to offer. Of course, the rightthinking people of Edo are not fooled.

They can see the party that means well and the one that is seeking an opportunity to return and loot the treasury as they did in the past. But the people are wiser now and more than ready to defend their birthright in the coming election.

There is this popular saying that anyone who was beaten by rain and found shelter is unlikely to willingly go back to the rain again. Within three and a half years, Edo people have found shelter through the selfless service Oshiomhole has rendered. The people can now see that the old tale that the state was poor and as such sentenced to poverty forever is false. Oshiomhole has proved that Edo State can work once

Only President Jonathan can include Itsekiri youths— Kuku Continued from page 3 Oquo-Ibeno areas of AkwaIbom State.

8. Ijaw/Urhobo bloody confrontations as manifested in the wars between Aladja and OgbeIjo, Siama and Gbarigolor and Oboro and Olota.

9. Ijaw/Ilaja killings in the Binbioye axis of Burutu Local Government Council area of Delta state.

“Besides the above, there were other bloody incidences lagely of intra-ethnic pattern in the different communities of Bayelsa and Rivers State particularly in C M Y K

the Ijaw areas within this identified period. It was all these (among a few others) that are being categorised as the Niger Delta Crises.

“Let us briefly put forward two other constituents of the Niger Delta Crises, both of which are consequent on the collectivity of the above mentioned particulars.

Briefly, when all these respective ‘wars’ due to several factors which include possible efforts of respective governments, federal inclusive and possibly the super ordinary of the principle of ‘balance terror’, there was no imme-

diate defined visible effort from any quater (official or private ) to disarm members of the respective groups of ethnic militias.

“By 2006, some of these groups of ethnic militias introduced two new ‘particulars’ to the universal Niger Delta crises.

They include breaking of crude oil pipes solely to get crude oil and other petroleum products for sale and kidnapping of foreign oil workers to obtain huge cash on ransoms.

“The second has significantly experienced sub-phases such that all the states in the region

are respectively reeling under kidnapping phenomenon such that an individual’s safety has significantly receded into the realm of dream”.

Hon Daniel Reyenieju representing Warri Federal constituency in a brief contribution praised Hon Kuku for admitting that the youths were eminently qualified to be part of the Amnesty Programme.

He said, “ when I met with Kuku in the past, it was always combative but today, I am really impressed with his presentation.”

As far as we are concerned, the battle is already won and lost. The question now is by what margin will ACN defeat PDP on July 14. For us, it will be a referendum by the people to endorse the massive reforms the Comrade Governor has unleashed in all ramifications in Edo. Some people are of the opinion that Governor Oshiomhole’s rhetorics in recent times are unduly combative.

In fact, PDP in Edo has said that the governor is trying to incite the people against it.

What is your comment?

I disagree with you. On the contrary, I think the Comrade Governor has been a moderating influence on our supporters in the face of unwarranted provocation. Take the day Comrade Olaitan was assassinated.

You will recall that there was a spontaneous demonstration that morning once the news filtered around that a close aide of the governor had been gruesomely killed.

The governor had left for Abuja Thursday evening and was supposed to attend an official engagement Friday morning.

He had to cut short his trip and rushed back to Benin and arrived early enough to meet the demonstrators marching through Benin streets.

Before Olaitan’s assasination, a gang of four assassins had invaded my private residence.

I was fortunate not to be at home around 2.30AM when they came. Then, five days later, a killer gang of four, presumably the same gang that came to my residence, got Olaitan at his residence and brutally killed him before his wife and kids.

This chain of hit and miss es by the 4-man killer squad was clearly provocative, especially considering that despite being in power, Comrade Oshiomhole has never in any way oppressed members of the opposition. I tell you, without the Comrade Governor being physically present that day, it is doubtful if some of our supporters would not have vented their pent-up anger by attacking those they think are behind these acts of provocation. So, I think Oshiomhole deserves praise for showing a lot of maturity in the face of sheer provocation.

Right from the word go, ACN has stated that the electioneering campaign should be based on issues, you have to tell people what you have done within the period you were entrusted with power. ACN never bargained for nor canvassed violence. In our peculiar political environment, the norm is that it is the opposition that will be at the receiving end. But the big irony in Edo today is that it is the government in power that is at the receiving end of violence.

42—SA TURD A Y Vanguard 42—SATURD TURDA anguard,,

MA Y 19, 2012 MAY

Don't blame northern leaders for nation’s woes – Munir Ja’afar, Yariman Zauzzau

Alhaji Munir Ja’afar

A

lhaji Munir Ja’afar, mni, OFR, is the Crown Prince of Zauzzau Emirate (Yariman Zauzzau) and District Head of Anwa in Zaria, Kaduna State.

He had earlier been commissioner at various ministries in Kaduna State; Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety (NIMASA); Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZ) and he’s chairman and director, boards of many companies.

He spoke with Saturday Vanguard at his palace in Zaria, recently on Kaduna peace and reconciliation process and some national issues. Excerpts: Could you let us into the brain behind the peace and reconciliation that you just concluded across Kaduna State?

Well, for too long, we have had a lot of crises in the state and the Judicial Commission of Enquiry that was set up following the last postpresidential election crisis recommended that we should form a state peace and reconciliation committee to reconcile the people of the state against future problem like religious, ethnic or political crisis.

That was why the governor C M Y K

set up the committee and I happened to be a member.

We went around the state and spoke with the people. Going by the progress we have made so far, we hope by the grace of God that we won’t have any crisis of such magnitude in Kaduna State in future, be it political, religious or ethnic.

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan recently launched Al-Majiri Education System in the North here.

What prospects do you see of this and what are the things you think the government should put in place to avoid collapse of the system?

I think this is just the beginning and we pray that it is going to succeed and be sustained. What we need to do collectively and individually is to make sure that we assist all those in need so as to avoid a situation where children roam about the streets in the name of Almajiris. The responsibility first of all lies on their parents and the relations. And I think maybe the Northern governors should put heads together, look seriously at the situation and then come out with their report and recommendations or a law that would stop people from releasing their children to these malams who take them out of their places in the name of Al-majiris or in the guise of trying to acquire education.

Northern leaders are being

blamed for not taking drastic action against the menace of Boko Haram.

What is your take on that?

Well, I think blaming the Northern leaders this way is wrong. The cause of this insecurity in the country cannot be laid on the door of the Northern leaders.

Because I know individually and collectively that we have tried all we can to ensure that there is peace and security.

The greatest problem that is the cause of the insecurity is lack of justice, equity and fairness.

,

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

half-educated, but because he has opportunity and has joined political party, gets to power and within a short period of time, his condition has changed and he doesn’t think of how to improve the situation of the people, things like this cause the kind of problems we are having.

T

he President is passionate about his pursuance of national transformation. What do you think he can do to achieve this and not fail like some of his predecessors who

I think blaming the Northern leaders this way is wrong. The cause of this insecurity in the country cannot be laid on the door of the Northern leaders

If the leaders of the country can be just, equitable and fair in their distribution of resources and amenities, I’m sure things like this wouldn’t be happening. In a situation where we have a lot of people that have completed their education roaming the streets doing nothing, what do you expect? An idle hand they say is a devil's workshop.

Whereas somebody who is

,

claimed to do the same but couldn’t achieve anything?

First and foremost, he has to have the fear of God at heart in the way he administers the country and then he should treat Nigeria as his own (primary) constituency. In a situation where he treats the Niger Delta as his only constituency, I don’t think it will augur well with the unity,

peace and stability of this country.

Once you are a leader, you should know that a leader has to embrace everybody, take everybody as his own person and take the whole country as his own. But where such leader says because he is from one part and he is going to take only that part as his own at the expense of others, automatically, he will not succeed.

So for President Jonathan to succeed in his national transformation programme, he should have the fear of God.

T

here is one issue that sounds like mere noisemaking at the moment, which may explode into another version of national crisis in future: the issue of who becomes the President after Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. The Igbos are saying it is their turn and the Hausas are laying claim to the same rights. As a Northern leader, how should things go to avoid bad situation as a result of this?

I think all these crises in which we find ourselves in the country are caused by the politicians and this is how they start it. What we the people of Nigeria want is somebody who is just, fair and who has the fear of God at heart to be our President. That is the fundamental principle that many of our leaders in this country have lacked that is causing problems for the country and the people. Like I said, justice always comes with peace and injustice brings the opposite. If we observe the fundamental principles of justice, fairness and equity, the issue of who becomes the next President of the country will not be a problem.

Again, we want a leader who will make the difference from what we have always had; a leader who will not discriminate and that is just what I can tell you.

SATURDAY

C

hief Cliff Mbagwu, a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is an Economist, management consultant and chairman of Simeon and Rose Associates. He speaks to Saturday Vanguard on 13 years of civil, controversies trailing delayed implementation of the fuel subsidy probe report, capital market probe and constitution amendment and 2015 presidential polls among others. Excerpts: On controversies surrounding implementation of fuel subsidy probe report The report has exposed what everybody knew all along, that people are using fuel subsidy to milk the country. The only way to fight or handle the problem is to ensure we have enough domestic refining capacity apart from prosecuting those, who were indicted. Fuel importation is inefficient and removing the inefficiency is the surest way to address the fraud. Those found wanting should be sanctioned and made to refund the huge amount. The only fear is that corruption has a way of fighting back; the beneficiaries of this fraud will fight to ensure that the report is not implemented.

President Goodluck Jonathan should be courageous. And the people should pressure the leaders to do something.

Comments that some of those indicted may not be prosecuted because they supported the PDP in the last president election People make statements they are not sure of. I won’t like the name of the President to be dragged into it. Let’s give the President time to study the report and not pre-empt what he wants to do with it.

On Capital Market probe Nigeria is like a theatre of the absurd. It shows that corruption is not limited to the public sector; it is pervasive in the private and banking sector as well. The probe has revealed what we knew; that the banking sector is almost irrelevant to the common man. The banking sector has deviated from its primary responsibility of driving the economy.

Bankers have now developed a dangerous mercantile philosophy that is like that of the fish seller. They are mainly funding importation and thereby contributing to the weak exchange rate of the Naira.

2015: Jonathan has constitutional right to run — Mbagwu zMinerals, oil producing areas deserve 25% derivation zWe need to re-engineer the ‘banking DNA’ in Nigeria z13 years of civil rule: Our leaders have under-performed nity clause is if a governor commits murder he won’t be tried unless he is impeached or he completes his tenure. In other countries, executives are tried for minor offences while in office. There was no immunity clause in the previous constitutions except in the 1999 Constitution written by the military.

The security vote is also a fraud. It allows some individuals to draw huge funds they don’t account for. Some governors take between N700 million to N1billion monthly as security votes while the people wallow in abject poverty. These are areas of the constitution that need to be looked at. My fear however, is that the greatest obstacle to change are those benefiting from the status quo.

,

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, Deputy Political Editor

Vanguard Vanguard,,

People are deprived of economic opportunities because they don’t belong to ruling political parties or know people in government

Without Lamido Sanusi’’s intervention the banking sector could have collapsed.

On the way out In our circumstances, it is naive to leave the economy completely to the dictates of market forces. Banks pay little or nothing (1 to3 per cent) on savings but are charging 25 per cent on loans. So they are neither encouraging savings mobilisation nor productivity.

We need to re-engineer the ‘banking DNA’ in Nigeria.

What we are doing is not banking.

On removal of immunity clause The 1999 constitution is a fraud. It was written by the military, kept a secret and

,

handed to the incoming civilian regime without a referendum.

People were not consulted. The entire document is a fraud.

Some of the provisions are antipeople. The immunity clause is one of them. Why will someone ask for immunity if he has done nothing wrong?

The immunity clause is proving a haven for leaders to milk the nation dry.

In most states you cannot see the evidence of all the funds being collected from the centre. Where did the funds go if not into private pockets? The Ibori case has shown the true face of governance in Nigeria and his case provides a strong reason for the removal of the immunity clause.

The implication of the immu-

D erivation should also be looked into. Much as I don’t believe in 50 per cent derivation, 13 per cent is too small.

I think 25 per cent is ideal to enable all parts of the country to have funds to develop and the oil producing states to have enough funds to take care of the environmental problems of oil production. This is a federation; we need to be our brother’s keeper. Those who are saying that 13 percent is too high are not being realistic. They are entitled to their opinion but I think such comments are essentially driven by empathy deficit and warped thinking.

On gains of civil rule 13 years after T he fact that people are choosing those who govern them is a significant achievement. The worst civilian regime is better than the best military rule. But our leaders must improve on governance because 13 years into civil rule, most people in government are there for themselves irrespective of political party.

They are not driven by the urge to render service or improve on the fortunes of their people. We

MAY 19, 2012—43

don’t seem to have people like Azikiwe, Awolowo, Aminu Kano, Ahmadu Bello, M.I Okpara, Mbakwe, etc. Even in the South-West, those who are claiming to follow Awolowo are only copying his eye glass.

They seem to be pretenders.

Politicians should do more than they are doing now. There is no internal democracy in most parties. It is hard to find politicians, who want to put up people based on merit. Most of them are not committed to any principle or ideology.

We have to look at the cost of governance. Our type of democracy is too expensive to be useful to the people. At the end of the day, nothing is left to provide democracy dividends.

If 13 years of civil rule is measured by its impact on the welfare of the people, then it would be safe to say that it has failed.

Majority of the people are subjected to massive deprivation. Don’t mind the flashy cars on the roads. Most of them are proceeds of fraud and embezzlement. You cannot use the cars to measure the welfare of the majority because they are driven by two per cent of the p o p u l a t i o n .

But if the measure is in the number of over-fed government officials and houses and hotels built with graft money, then you can say we are making progress.

Will it continue like this?

I don’t think things will continue like this. There will be an improvement naturally. To move forward, we have to address two problems: corruption and the culture of exclusion.

The winner-takes-all mentality must give way. The culture of exclusion is not compatible with peace and stability.

When the majority of the people are excluded, a lot of people are left with no option than crime.

Let’s return to the era of competition and merit where anybody, who satisfies set standards and qualifies for a position or contract, gets it. The winner-takes-all mentality is leading to criminality. People are deprived of economic opportunities because they don’t belong to ruling political parties or know people in government, etc. There is no due process.

There can’t be peace in an atmosphere of injustice and deprivation. We are courting disaster without fair-play and justice. Irrespective of the number of armored cars and policemen you surround yourself with you cannot have peace in a country riddled with injustice, inequity and deprivation.

44 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

End of 5-yr search for the most wanted trans-border kidnappers ...How police arrested suspected couple

By IFEANYI OKOLIE

I

n 2008, members of Folarin Coker’s family, a former aide to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, were thrown into disarray when his little daughter was kidnapped and smuggled to Ghana by a man who was apparently employed into the Coker’s home as a driver. The man, identified as Emmanuel Nwangwu, who worked barely one month before absconding with the little girl, didn’t show any sign that may have attracted the attention of his employees to his evil intention. On the day he left, he craftly deceived a female house help working for the couple who normally accompany him to the school to pick the girl by sending her to a departmental store along Awolowo Way, Ikoyi to buy some drugs. However, as soon as the girl left, he smartly ferried the child to Mile 2 area of Lagos State and through the aid of his fiancee, Patricia Abena, they boarded a cab that took them straight to Ghana. On arriving Ghana, Nwangwu placed a call to Mr. Coker’s wife, Folake and broke news of the abduction and location of her child and also warned that they shouldn’t get the police involved. The fear-stricken woman was said to have pleaded that the kidnappers should not harm her little child assuring that she will heed to their instructions. She also offered to pay any amount to get her back safe and healthy. Following this development, N22 million ransom was later paid and the Cokers reunited with their daughter in a hotel room in Ghana.

M

eanwhile, the Cokers weren’t the only family who fell victim to Nwangwu’s exploits. In 2009, two other families, Mr. Afam Edozie, a resident of Banana Island ended up paying N21m as ransom before their girlchild was released to him and one Mrs. Folusho Odegbaide, of Magodo area of the state who paid N2.5 m suffered the same fate. In the case of Afam Edozie, there was an ugly twist to the kidnap saga after the Police in Ghana ended up releasing Nwangwu’s wife, Patricia, after she was arrested while trying to withdraw the N12m ransom they demanded. Crime Guard learnt that after kidnapping Mr. Edozie’s daughter and demanding for a ransom, Nwangwu and his wife became apprehensive when they noticed that the Edozie’s contacted both the police at Interpol, Alagbon, Lagos and their Ghanaian counterparts. Both security agencies perfected plans to arrest Nwangwu and his wife when they attempted to withdraw the ransom money and also rescue the kidnapped child. But the reverse C M Y K

was the case as the Ghanaian police took the ransom from Patricia who they intercepted after she withdrew the money from the bank and set her free without informing Mr. Edozie and the Nigeria Interpol who were waiting for a good news.

Later on, Nwangwu placed a call to Mr. Edozie informing him of their losses to the Ghanaian police and then threatened that his child would be killed if he does not pay another N12 m. Mr. Edozie was said to have pleaded that they should accept N9m which he later paid and his child was released to him.

Crime Gurad further gathered that news of the Ghanaian police shameful act soon infuriated the Ghanaian police high command who arrested and tried eight police officers who took part in the ransom theft and later dismissed them from the Ghana Police Service.

The Ghanaian police didn’t stop at that in trying to redeem their image, they quickly declared Nwangwu and his wife, Patricia, the most wanted criminal in Ghana. Their pictures were published and announced in almost all the media outlets in that country.

H

owever, before these steps were taken, Nwangwu and his wife had spirited themselves away from Ghana before the authorities could lay hands on them. Crime Guard learnt that the couple were smuggled into Ivory Coast where they spent some few nights before flying into Sierra -Leone where they spent a year and half before relocating to Benin Republic where they set up a new base. From Benin Republic, the couple returned to Lagos again, using the same modus operandi. His wife secured a nanny job at one Mrs.Odegbaide’s home just as in the Edozie’s home. She worked barely for one month before disappearing with their little daughter. They took her to Benin Republic and then contacted Mrs.Odegbaide demanding N20 m as ransom. She pleaded that she had no such money but begged that they accept N2.5m which she later paid before reuniting with her daughter.

Crime Guard was reliably informed that the Cokers who vowed that the kidnappers of their daughter in 2008 and who also swindled them of large sum of money must be brought to book did not relent in fighting for justice. They reliably kept on fighting and pressurizing the police to track down Nwangwu and his wife. According to a police source who pleaded anonymity, “that man was undeterred. He didn’t go to bed like others did. He kept on pressurizing us. He was highly ready to provide mobility for us whenever we pick up a lead on the man and his wife. First, he was working with the police at Ikoyi Division but

they were finding it difficult analyzing some of the lead they got on the suspects. Then, they transferred the case to the special anti-robbery squad, SARS, Ikeja, where the officer in charge, SP. Abba Kyari, mandated his crack team to trail and apprehend the suspects.”

I

ncidentally, few months after Nwangwu and his wife received the N2.5m ransome from Mrs.Odegbaide, they decided to relocate to Lagos as they always did, but on arrival, they realized that the state was too hot for them as security agents from various quarters were on their trail. By then, policemen from Force Criminal Investigations Department, Alagbon, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, several police divisions in the state, the State Security Service, SSS, and SARS, Ikeja, were frantically searching for them as news of their ejection from Ghana filtered in.

After spending few days in Lagos, the couple ran to Abuja with the aim of starting from there and using Benin Republic as their base. This time around, Nwangwu, wasn’t as lucky as he used to be in getting employment. He was posted to the home of a retired army Brigadier General and on arriving there, he discovered that the General wasn’t as rich as he anticipated and that his youngest child was over 17 years and too old to be kidnapped. He made several efforts to see that he gets redeployed but the agency where he got the job persuaded him to stay at least for one month. While he was waiting, the long arm of the law caught up with him as policemen from SARS who were on his trail for long tracked him down at the home of the General and they apprehended him and his wife.

W

hen the suspects were brought before Crime Guard, at SARS in Ikeja, the 39year-old man, who wore the demeanor of a defeated man pleaded in a remorseful tone “

By EVELYN USMAN

A

MILD drama unfolded itself at New Evolution Hospital, in Ago area of Lagos, where 36-year-old Mercy Nnadi, whose I year-old son was killed by her husband, who also burnt her with hot pressing iron, over allegation that she was having a clandestine relationship with her father in-

law, last Friday. This followed the outright refusal of Doctor Benjamin Eze, to release Mercy to some Non-Governmental Organizations who opted to take her to a burnt specialist that would continue from where Dr. Eze stopped.

However, Crime Guard observed that Mercy was improving compared to the last time this reporter visited. For instance, the burns on her legs, stomach and parts of her back have healed. But the conspicuous wound on her chest, breast and close to her private part were still emitting fluid, a development the NGOs attributed to the cause of their intention to transfer the ailing woman to a specialist.

An earlier press statement issued by the NGO read: Project Alert on Violence against Women, in collaboration with Center for Organizational Development (COD) Nigeria and Zahara Women Foundation, successfully found a Plastic Surgeon and Burns Specialist at LASUTH; Consequently, Mercy will be moved on Friday, May 11, 2012 to his clinic for closer monitoring and adequate specialized treatments of the third degree burns she sustained. Mercy will remain at his private clinic pending the end of strike action, and most likely be moved to LASUTH thereafter” A strategic meeting for stakeholders in Mercy’s case was slated for last Friday at New Evolution Hospital, at the end of which Mercy was to be moved. But the movement never saw the light of the day, as the Doctor in-charge of the hospital

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012 — 45

please tell them not to kill me. I admit I have done wrong and I have brought pain to many families but I want to live and pay for my crime. I heard several scarring stories about SARS but I never knew I was going to be brought here some day. I need a time in court to beg every family I have offended for forgiveness.”

Narrating his exploits, he sated: “Kidnapping wasn’t the only crime I committed. It all started in the year 2000 after I fled my home town in Opi, Nsukka Local Government of Enugu State after I stabbed my fiancee when she decided not to marry me again and I came to Lagos.

I got a job as a security guard

in a company at Apapa and I worked less than one month before stealing over N750,000 from the company. I fled to Ghana with the money and bought a vehicle I used for taxi and I spent the rest.

In 2005, I returned to Lagos when I felt the case may have died down. Since I am a good driver, I started looking for driving jobs. I applied through an employment agency and when they asked me to get a guarantor, I took the forms they gave me, bought two different colored pen and filled it with fake names, addresses and phone numbers.

I would then go to a photo studio and ask the operator to get me samples of their passport photographs, then I would steal two from it and use them on the guarantor form. This was the trick I used in all the employment agencies and none of them bothered to verify.

T

he first job I got with it was at Jon bulls Ikoyi and I was driving the CEO of the company but one day, we were going to his office and my boss said he wanted to visit a friend. The moment he went in, I swiftly took the sum N350,000 he had in the car and ran away to Ghana.

I returned after some months and avoided Ikoyi where the office is situated. I got a new driving job the same way I got the other one in Victoria Island. I can’t really remember the name of the company or the owner of the money. There, I also took N600,000 and ran to Ghana. But in 2008, I came to Lagos again, used same method, got a new job as a driver at

LATEST ON BURNT HOUSEWIFE •Shock, intrigues trail movement of Mercy from hospital •Doctor frustrates NGOs, stops transfer for better treatment kicked against it.

The first indication that signaled the NGOs abortive plan occurred when a bill of N1,786,500 which the stakeholders described as ‘outrageous and a far cry ’ from what ordinarily should be, was presented by the doctor. The bill, according to the hospital was just for twenty days treatment. The reaction of all the stakeholders to the bill ignited the doctor’s anger and he vehemently reacted by saying that it was an indirect way of saying

the bill was inflated.

In a swift reaction to the issued bill, the family protested that the hospital was never responsible for the feeding of Mercy, wondering why it should state the sum of N90,000 as feeding for twenty days. They also faulted the area of blood giving injection which the hospital said was N64,000, arguing that there was never a time blood was transfused into

•Mercy Nnadi

New Evolution clinic bill (breakdown of the 1.8 million bill)

Mercy through drip.

However at the end of the hullabaloo, the visibly angry Dr Eze, was compelled to deduct the sum of N400,000 from his original bill.

In a move to actualize Mercy ’s statement, representatives of the concerned NGOs promised to issue a cheque of N200,000 and an additional cash payment of N100,000 same day, from Mercy’s personal account to offset the hospital bill.

However, when all seemed to be going smoothly, Dr Eze declined Mercy ’s movement, hinging his argument stoutly on the NGOs inability to off set the medical bill. Following his action, an undertaken was at the verge of being signed where the NGOs promised to pay the balance of about N600,000 to New Evolution Hospital at the end of July, 2012. But the outright refusal by Dr Eze thwarted their efforts, as he stated that he would not allow Mercy to be taken from his hospital to another private hospital.

According to him, “ I will only release her if she is being taken to a government hospital and not private. It will look as if I am not capable of treating her. You can see for yourself that there has been a tremendous improvement than when she was brought. She will not die here.

the home of one Mrs. Folake. My target was solely for money when I got there but all of a sudden, I discovered that I was going to spend so much time in that house before I would lay my hands on any money. So, I decided to kidnap their child. I also realized that this family is very rich and they love their little daughter so much.

I took her to Ghana from where I demanded a ransom of only N20million.

But the little girl’s father opted to pay N22 million. The moment I got this money, I ventured into extravagant spending. I bought a house in Ghana, bought over five exotic cars, and a truck.

I started attending several social functions and people were hailing the way I was spending money.

I also spent over N2m on orphanages and local primary schools in Ghana .

The Deputy Nigeria Ambassador to Ghana, and other prominent Nigerians were also in attendance at the handing over ceremony of my donations.

My extravagance soon attracted armed robbers to my home and later the police came in over illegal possession of fire arms. Then, I wasted all the money I got from the Coker’s and I became broke. I couldn’t live up to the standard of my social life. I sold off all my vehicles and my house in paying off debts. Then, I returned to Nigeria to hunt for more victims. But after two successful trips and one that almost got me into police net, I was apprehended with my wife. I am happy I have been arrested. Life on the run is never so interesting. If I don’t get killed one day, I might be a free man again and visit my family in the village.” he pleaded.

The time of fear of possible death has passed. All we are waiting for is time for the burn on the chest region to heal. She may likely do skin grafting.

But that can not be done now because the area where skin will be taken from is the lap and as you can see, the burn there is still healing. She will need to be observed for another one month before that can be done”.

However, 65-year-old Pa Theodore Nnadi, Mercy’s father-in-law whose son accused him of sleeping with his wife (Mercy) had earlier given his consent to the NGOs to assist his daughter in-law in soliciting financial support for her. According to Pa Nnadi, “ as it is, I and my wife and daughter have been the ones taking care of Mercy since the incident. But for the publications in Vanguard, there would not have been any response from members of the public. Tell me, if not for good Nigerians and these NGOs who want to continue with the good work, where will my family get over N1million to pay this bill? I am of the opinion that the NGOs go ahead with their plan of taking care of Mercy because I am not working” In spite of this presentation by the representative of Mercy’s family, the doctor still insisted that he would resist attempts to take mercy to a better hospital. His refusal stalled the negotiation as members of the NonGovernmental Organizations including Crime Guard which witnessed the whole scenario, left the hospital, after a five-hour deliberation.

46— SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

How Sofoluwe, UNILAG VC died zNo foul play, says family zHad premonition of death zFirst UNILAG VC to die in office

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

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he question raised by a national newspaper (not Vanguard) whether the late Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe was poisoned or died of cardiac arrest was put to rest at a press briefing by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research) to announce burial programmes for the deceased, in the Senate Chamber, Wednesday.

The late Vice-Chancellor ’s elder brother, Mr. Deinde Sofoluwe, a retired civil servant, debunked the insinuation of foul play in the death of the Vice-Chancellor, saying, “no time did the Sofoluwe family discuss or felt that the death of our late brother was caused by being poisoned or external sources.”

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ate Professor Babatunde Sofoluwe died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in the early hours of Saturday, May 12, 2012.

Chairman, Burial Committee and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research, Professor Babajide Alo, disclosed fully how he died.

According to Alo, the clinicians, doctors who handled the Vice-Chancellor on Friday May 11, 2012 confirmed the death as he suffered a heart attack. It all started in his personal office at the Department of Computer Science. He had a full day of work in the office, and at 5.30 pm, went to his personal office.

He was always retiring there most evenings. He suffered the heart attack there, and managed to call his personal physician, Dr. Charles Ibeziako from the university’s medical centre who came to his rescue, bringing him in an ambulance and subsequently took a decision to move him to LUTH. He was diagnosed as having myocardial infarction and then resuscitated . When he recovered, he was transferred to Ward E8 of LUTH (The High Depending Unit) where he suffered another attack. This time, all efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. The post

mortem examination or autopsy carried out confirmed the cause of death to be of cardiac origin.

Professor Alo said, “this is to correct and douse any incorrect version because of the several versions of cause of his death.”

Thereafter, the University of Lagos declared three days of mourning in honour of its late 10th Vice Chancellor which commenced from Monday, May 14, to Wednesday, May 16, 2012. All lectures, all statutory meetings and other university activities at its three campuses (Akoka, Yaba and Idi-Araba, including ISL and Staff School) did not hold. All the banks located inside the campuses, shopping complex, shops, stores, bookshops, business centres for typing, photostat, binding, etc, were all shut for the three days.

In fact, the main campus was like a ghost town or grave yard as few people seen looked solemn, sad, forlorn, lonely and unsmiling.

Alo said condolence registers were opened at the VC’s Lodge, PG School, College of Medicine, Senate House, Julius Berger Hall, all Faculties, Distance Learning Institute, all halls of residence Deans offices, in honour of the departed Vice-Chancellor.

From Saturday when he died, several delegations from professional institutes have been coming in. “Before coming to this briefing, the Nigerian Institute of Management delegation was with us. We’ve hosted six sets of delegations today alone. In effect, we’ve been mourning. Total shut down will end today (Wednesday). Low key activities start on Thursday.”

In announcing the burial arrangements, he said it is on a painful and sorrowful note that he is doing so.

“Indeed, the whole university community is yet to recover from the rude shock it went into when it received the sad and sudden news of the death of its 10th Vice-Chancellor.”

Alo heads a high powered burial committee set up by the university to draw up burial programme in conjunction with the family.

Responding to questions, he said that the late Vice-Chancellor will be immortalised.

“Yes, plans are underway to immortalise him as practiced in the University of Lagos. All our Vice-Chancellors are revered people. Pictures of all the ViceChancellors are hanging on the wall of this Senate Chamber as you can see. We will do many things as possible to keep his memory alive.”

On outsiders being involved in the burial events, Alo assured of external participation.

“Certainly yes, we will involve people from outside. Since his

Late Prof Sofoluwe...First Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos to die in office death, between 12 to 15 delegations visit us on daily basis.

Not just one or two people, but 10 in an entourage. Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State came with a large number of people with him. We cannot in all modesty bury the ViceChancellor without involving outside people.”

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sked if Prof. Sofoluwe was the first sitting ViceChancellor to die in office, he answered thus: “He is the first Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos to die in office. It is un-

No family controversy over VC’s death and a time to lose, a time to keep, and a — Elder brother time to cast away. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”

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lder brother of the late UNILAG ViceChancellor, Mr. Shodeinde Olumuyiwa Sofoluwe, rejected a claim that controversy surrounded the cause of his death, affirming that there was no time that the Sofoluwe family discussed or felt the death of their late brother was due to poison or external causes.

He told Saturday Vanguard that there was nothing like that just as the family had always supported the late VC, in his academic career, rising to the top. Shodeinde, a retired, urbane civil servant recalled his last discussion with his brother.

“When the Holy Bible in Ecclesiastes 3 attests that life is a mystery, some people tend to disagree. To everything in life, there is a season. A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to get,

According to him, it seems his younger brother knew he would die. “I last spoke with Professor on Thursday, May 10, 2012, when he called me late in the evening to ask of my welfare and that of my family.

During our discussion, if I could recall vividly, he said ‘Egbon’ (brother) take it easy with life, because man can die at any time.” Shodeinde went on: “In fact, when he (the VC) gave up the ghost at LUTH on that fateful day (Saturday, May 12), what flashed back to me was his last statement before he dropped his call, as if he knew that he was going to join the Lord.”

He disclosed that his late younger brother was the fourth of the children their parents had. “He (VC) took after my father who died some years back, both in trait, character and even complexion. My father was dark in complexion, humble, transparent, easygoing and articulate and this is the embodiment of Professor Sofoluwe.”

precedented. We have had 10 Vice-Chancellors, some have died, some are living. But in the Nigerian University System (NUS), Professor Sofoluwe is the fourth to die in office.” Seth Adebisi Dare, Deputy Registrar (Information) in kicking off the briefing, said it is a grave and solemn press conference on “our amiable, calm, calculated, harmless, articulate, affectionate, erudite and highly intelligent Vice-Chancellor.”

Professor Ralph Akinfeleye, Head, Department of Mass Communication, who is the Chairman, Publicity, Burial Committee described the media briefing as “unusual” and so no introduction of anybody as every one has been invited, all dear to the university. “This is a devastating calamity not only to the University of Lagos but also to the academic world,” he said in an emotional opener before Professor O.O. Amund, Dean of Student Affairs was called to say the opening prayer.

Present were the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Oluwarotimi Shodimu, Ag. Librarian, Dr. Okanlawon Adediji, Bursar, Mr. Lateef Odekunle, Provost College of Medicine, members of the Senate, Governing Council members, Heads of Departments and Faculties, Directors of Units, labour unions on campus (ASUU, NASU, SSANU, etc), representatives of students, journalists, and representative of the Sofoluwe family.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012—47

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA,

Yenagoa

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everal shots were fired at him but he miracu lously escaped unhurt to the surprise of many. This is a strange but true story of the shocking encounter of Mr. Lambert Ngerem, a businessman resident in Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital.

The near tragic incident which occurred penultimate week in the heart of Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital along the Isaac Boro road some distance away from the campaign office of the former Peoples Democratic Party Governorship candidate is reminiscence of a scene in Hollywood action packed movie.

If Ngerem had tied a red or white ribbon around his head or arm, he would have been mistaken for an Egbesu member.

But this unassuming 42 year old businessman is not an Ijaw to qualify him for the Egbesu sect but a staunch Christian and member of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry.

Providence it was that saved this Imo State born businessman from being wasted that fateful Tuesday afternoon as he came face to face with death when he was accosted by gun wielding hoodlums.

Ngerem who will forever remain grateful to God for sparing his life had gone to one of the banks in town to withdraw the sum of N500,000 for a business transaction. But unknown to him, he was being trailed by a criminal gang that specializes in monitoring customers coming out of banks carrying the usual bank polythene bags.

After cashing the money, Ngerem flagged down a commercial motorcycle waiting for passenger which he boarded after agreeing to the fare.

On their way, the heaven opened, which turned out to be showers of blessing for him as he beckoned on the Okada rider to stop on getting to the former PDP campaign office in order to avoid being drenched by the rain.

Perhaps, if there were no rain, he would have proceeded and the hoodlums on his trail would have closed in on him ostensibly in an isolated place to accomplish their evil mission. When he ran to the kiosk in front of the campaign office, he met other passengers also taking refuge there because of the rainfall.

Ngerem who relieved his brush with death told Saturday Vanguard at the state police command that immediately he got to the kiosk, five youths on Okada stopped by the exC M Y K

Ndidi Ezekiel

Lambert Ngerem

How Bayelsa-based businessman escaped death press road and walked straight to him asking to surrender the money in his possession.

His words, “I actually went to the bank to cash some money and after cashing the money, on my way to my destination, little did I know that armed robbers were trailing me. Along the way, there was rainfall prompting us to take refuge at the former PDP campaign office.

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lot of people were there, more than fifty of us were taking shelter there when all

of a sudden a group of people came to me; about five of them wielding guns came to me that I should bring the money in my possession.”

Sensing danger, he said he told them he was a Chosen but they opened fire on him in anger.

“When I told them I am a Chosen, they shot at me, I again told them I am a Chosen and they shot at me. I told them I am a Chosen and they kept shooting at me. So one of them snatched the money and ran but I ran after him.

As he tried to jump on one of

his colleagues waiting with a motorcycle, I held onto him and dragged him.

“The two of us fell on the ground and his partners in crime came back, tried to rescue him and fired shots at me but I kept shouting I am a Chosen, I am a Chosen, I am a Chosen repeatedly and they abandoned their gang member and fled the scene,” he said.

According to him, “As we were struggling, the money fell from him to the ground.

Then a policeman in mufti driving a Toyota Hilux was passing, saw the incident and thought it was an accident.

He stopped, rescued me and took us to the police station.

That was how one of the robbery suspects was arrested.”

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Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe

n where he derived his courage from, he said, “I know whom I serve; most times our General Overseer tells us that when we are in danger we should declare that we are a Chosen. That covenant covers members of our church.”

However, the apprehended suspect, Ndidi Ezekiel, an indigene of Abraka in Delta State, who the police described as a notorious armed robber denied being part of the criminal gang.

The suspect said though he was at the scene of the incident as he was taking shelter because of the rainfall, he only wanted to help the victim from falling prey to the hoodlums.

His words, “I am from Delta, I came to see my mum who is from Kabiama in Sagbama local government area but because I am not familiar with

the place the vehicle that carried me took me to Yenagoa.

“So when I dropped I asked an Okada rider what vehicle will take me to Kabiama but he told that I have to go back to Sagbama, that it is a boat that will take me to Kabiama but the rain started. “ told the Okada man that I don’t want the rain to drench me ,that he should take me to a shelter. He stopped at a kiosk in front a building where we saw several persons. After waiting for about fifteen minutes, we saw some Okada that stopped at the express road and some boys came to join us where we were taking refuge. Our thinking was that they are equally running away from the rain but all of a sudden, they started dragging a man and shooting .

“I grabbed one of the boys and knocked off his gun and what they were dragging fell to the ground. It was then I knew it was money. But he (Ngerem) turned against me to say I was with the boys that wanted to dispossess him of his money. I have never robbed in my life before.”

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, confirmed the arrest of the suspect.

He said the victim was lucky to be alive having miraculously survived gunshots, adding a locally made pistol and three expended bullets were recovered at the scene of the attack.

While some others in the past were not that lucky to escape with their life, Ngerem through his faith not only survived the gunshots but also fought gallantly to tame his assailants.

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48—SATURDAY, Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

Blissful union of Helen and Martins Ighomue

Uvieghara’s daughter weds Oshoffa’s son

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amily and friends of Professor Egerton Uvieghara gathered at his Magodo G.R.A. residence last Saturday to receive the family of Late Oshoffa, who came in pomp and pageantry to seek the hand of Elizabath Uvieghara, in marriage to their son, Olatosho Mathew Oshoffa. The couple were then joined in a traditional engagement ceremony which was as exquisite and it was exhilarating. Photos by Kehinde Gbadamosi

Mr Olatosho Mathew Oshoffa and wife, Miss Elizabath Uvieghara

From Left; Superior Yemi Ayodele, representing groom's father and Mrs Elizabeth Oshoffa, groom's mother

From Left; Prof Egerton Uvieghara, bride's father, Engr Eddy Agbahor and Evang. Andrew Aloko

From Left; Mrs Kehinde Oshoffa, Mrs Matti Oshoffa and Mrs Hellen Oshoffa

From Left; Dr Mathew Eshalomi, Mrs Rebecca Eshalimi, and Commodore Mike Okwesa[ RTD]

From Right; Mr A. O Oyeleye, Mr Godfrey Etikerentse, and Mrs Isabella Agbahor

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amilies of late Pa Wilson Fenemigho Ejuwa of Koko and Ugborodo Warri north, Warri South-West and Mr Omavuezi Dick Ighomue of Ofagbe, Otibio Quarter, Isoko north both of Delta State rolled out a beautiful wedding package for their children; Helen Ejaribaje Ejuwa and Martins Oghenemaro Ighomue on Sunday 29th April, 2012 at church of God mission, Ovwian District headquarters.The traditional marriage and reception took place at Pa Wilson Ejuwa compound, in Warri.

Mr Sonny Ejuwa with the couple; Mr and Mrs Martins Ighomue.

L-R:Pa Miller Oyen, Mr Moses Kolloh, Austin Ejuwa (a.k.a) Okpara and Mr Arthur Yesin

L-R: Prince Godwin Omorogie, Mr and Mrs Martins Ighomue, Master Geege, Lady Roli Ejuwa and Mr Sam Ejuwa.

Serra Club holds dinner with priests

erra Club of Maryland, Lagos held a dinner with Priests and Religious in support of the promotion and funding of Priest/ Religious at McGovern Hall, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos. Members of the cClub from far and wide graced the occasion that was chaired by former gubernatorial aspirant in Lagos, Mr Jimi Agbaje. Photos by Sylva Eleanya

A cross section of Serra Club, Maryland members C M Y K

L-R: Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Chairman, Jaykay Pharmacy Ltd, Mr. Smart Ebhodaghe, President, Serra Club of Maryland and Otunba Tomi Adenuga, PresidentElect, Serra Club International

L-R: Chinyere Lynn Ugorji, Kemi Adeniran and Lizzy Homsak

SATURDAY

Vanguard Vanguard,,

MAY 19, 2012—49

Soyinka, Akpabio and development crux KEN UGBECHIE

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major highpoint of the second South-South Economic Summit in Asaba, Delta State was the open confrontation between the Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio. Soyinka was at his vintage self when he held the over 6000 summiteers spellbound with his lecture titled:‘Mission – The Future’. It was a compelling narrative of the Nigerian story, a blunt disquisition to the failure of leadership in Nigeria. In his 18-page treatise, Soyinka left no one in doubt that he is an angry man; not

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pplause collided with laudatory acclamations as he raced through his speech which was infused with metaphors, anecdotes and downright acerbic jibes at the leadership. He lashed out at the assembly of governors whose collective proclivity to fiscal profligacy has brought impoverishment to the citizenry.

Prof, I’m as angry as you are. I approached governance in my state with anger

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the type of anger borne out of hunger but a variant of anger spawn by a systemic and progressive erosion of the nation’s future by a consortium of non-performing and often thieving governors and leaders. He raised a plethora of questions on why integrity is fading away from the political space and much more from those who rule the roost.

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he playwright commended the South-South governors for the summit which according to him is a way-station to true federalism. Left to him, such aggregation of people to talk about themselves, their political economy and their future should sediment to the states. He wished all states of the federation should from time to time convoke their respective summits. As the playwright spoke, much with candour and charisma, he

By GODWIN ADINDU

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bia State, in the last 11 months, has been a trail blazer in the country in pragmatic leadership. Take the case of the minimum wage regime. Abia State under Governor Orji is one of the first five states that started paying the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure early in 2011, ditto for the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health assistants, health officers, vet officers, agric health officers nurses and doctors. In the same vein, Abia is also one of the few states that immediately paid the ASUU agreed salary structure for universities.

Governor Orji also went beyond the Federal Government prescribed N18, 000 minimum wage for civil servant and followed the NLC standardized salary regime and has been N21, 100 since December 2011.

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betrayed his anger. He was angry at the history of maladministration that has formed the sticky narrative of the Nigerian state. He lampooned public officials who use the occasion of their offices to steal from the public till.

oday, in Umuahia, there is a new life of constant power supply for residents and small scale business owners. The reason being that Ochendo spent N1.5 billion to execute a power evacuation work from the Federal Government installed 132/133 kVA power facility at Ohia near Umuahia. The power is evacuated to other distribution points at Oboro, Afara, Ikwuegwu,

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Soyinka spoke of a former governor who after stealing the future of the youths of his state got a dubious permanent injunction restraining any authority from arresting, investigating and prosecuting him.

He also reminded the governors that it took the judiciary in a foreign land, our colonial overlords, to convict one of their own after a judge in Nigeria had earlier quashed all 170 charges leveled against the rogue governor. The brutal frankness of the Laureate drew a resonating applause from the crowd. It was obvious he was angry at leadership both at the federal and state levels.

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fter his delivery, governors of the South-South states took turns to respond to Soyinka’s stinging dissertation. But it was

Akpabio that won the hearts of the crowd. The Akwa Ibom governor told Soyinka he shared the same anger, the same umbrage at the failure of leadership. Akpabio drew much applause from the crowd when he took them through the development strides of his government in Akwa Ibom, a development streak that runs from education, infrastructure, human capacity building, small scale enterprises, healthcare delivery to transport and agriculture. He told Soyinka that most of the questions he raised in his lecture had been answered in Akwa Ibom State.

“Prof, I’m as angry as you are. I approached governance in my state with anger. I was angry because we are not supposed to be where we are.

My anger has driven me to give development to my people. Prof, you are talking like this because you have not been to Akwa Ibom… come to Akwa Ibom and you will see real development. It starts from the airport as you land to the remotest village”, Akpabio said to the admiration of the summiteers. It was an open invitation which the Nobel laureate and playwright accepted openly. Akpabio’s words cut through the audience.

There was spontaneous an applause that coursed through the ambience.

Akpabio, who himself did not mask his anger at the failure of leadership, said he arrived at Akwa Ibom Government house with a genuine sense of rage. His anger was borne by the fact that Akwa Ibom has come to represent underdevelopment, illiteracy and a breeding ground for the underclass and the very poor. As he spoke, more applause heralded his next sentence. Even the Laureate could not but admire the audacity and self-confidence of Akpabio.

But was Akpabio merely grandstanding? Those who knew the

state before his ascension to power and now would quickly tell you the governor was simply stating the obvious. The man often described as the best performing governor in the country and by far the most decorated has given real essence to leadership in his state.

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alph Waldo Emerson once said “our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be”. This is what Akpabio has done to the psyche of his people: inspire them to attain heights they wish to attain. If leadership is about influence, not authority, then Akpabio has acquitted himself. He has influenced the people’s collective attitude to development, education and work ethic. He has inspired public confidence in public institutions including public schools and healthcare centres.

He has demonstrated like Steve Jobs that what distinguishes a leader from a follower is innovation and ability to see the end before others.

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he tragedy of the Nigeria leadership matrix is that we have always had leaders — presidents, governors, lawmakers etc — who were shooed into positions of authority by default or courtesy of some inexplicable societal contraptions. They rode to office unprepared, without vision, without any plan. At the end, they leave the stage worse than they met it. As for Akpabio, it is obvious he came prepared with a clear development roadmap. He came with vengeful anger; to revenge against underdevelopment and those things that have manacled his state to the backwaters. The result of that anger is the uncommon transformation he has wrought in his state. Akpabio deserves all the bragging rights and it is little wonder he stole the show at the summit…even to the admiration of a fastidious Wole Soyinka.

Ugbechie is publisher of Political Economist

Eleven Months in Abia State and Obowo. In less than 10 months, Governor Orji seems to be a leader in a hurry and the new political will is changing the face of God’s Own State.

At the main entrance into the Abia State Polytechnic in Aba, on the ever busy Aba- Owerri road stands the giant emblem of the Abia renaissance. It beacons on you with a hidden semiotic language which speaks of a re-awakening and of a

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mighty School Road gutter that divides the Aba metropolis into two parts. Constructed by the colonial administration in the 1920s along side with the birth and planning of the city, the drainage pathway is over forty feet deep. It could consume a whole duplex. All the other network of gutters in the city link up into this mighty drainage. But, since 1972 when it was last excavated soon after the war, no administration of both the

Over the years, the gutter became a dumping ground for refuse by the residents

new society. The structure is a solid metal overhead bridge which stretches from the side of the old Aba GRA into the state polytechnic. First of its kind in Abia State, the gigantic structure does not only serve as a traffic palliative to the residents of Aba, especially the students of this tertiary institution but stands boldly as a symbol of the new society being ushered into Abia State by Governor Theodore Orji.

A little drive into town, another structure speaks also in silent semiotics of a renaissance. It is the

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old Eastern Region, Imo State and Abia has thought in the direction of excavating the gutter as a measure towards combating the huge flood menace that has bedeviled the city for many years. Today, a Daniel has come to judgment!

Over the years, the gutter became a dumping ground for refuse by the residents to the extent that mighty trees grew on top of the drainage line.

Having filled up the gutter, traders and city dwellers in Aba now built stalls and kiosks right on top of the gutter. This is the untold story of the cause of the regime of flood in Aba.

This is how a once beautiful city became a city of flood and filth. But, thank God today for the renaissance! Barely three months into his new regime, had Governor Orji awarded the contract for the clearing and excavation of the gutter and the other network of gutters to Chikwe Technical Nigeria Limited. The company has done a fine work in the spirit of the Abia renaissance.

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he lesson from Abia State is the testimony of vision matched with action. With a paltry federal allocation which hovers between N3 billion and N3.5 billion and a menial internally generated revenue, Governor Orji is able to take the bull by the horn. What is spectacular about the Abia renaissance is that the Governor confronts the challenges that have defied the will of past successive administrations like the recently commissioned Ukwu-Mango, Old Express/Samek which has gone into the people’s folklore as the abode of road witches and mermaid spirits because, for over 20 years, this stretch of roads which lead to the international Ariaria market has remained impassable. But, Ochendo came and dared the spirits... .

But, the real story is that all these are happening in barely 11 months.

Adindu is an aide of the Abia Governor on Media .

50—SA TURD A Y Vanguard 50—SATURD TURDA anguard,,

MA Y 19, 2012 MAY

Developmental schemes in Anambra are yielding results— Alor

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hief Hon. S. Nwobu Alor, Special Adviser, Parks and Markets in the current administration of governor Peter Obi in Anambra State. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard Business, he reveals how the idea of allowing the governed to be part of decision making in order to bring peace and tranquility in parks and markets in the state.

And more importantly, how transparency and developmental schemes introduced by the Governor has changed the face of Anambra. Excerpts: As the Special Adviser, Parks and Markets, Anambra state, what new development has taken place since you assumed office?

Let me take you back a bit, because it is not just being in charge of parks and markets, but we discovered that parks and markets are major generator of crisis particular here where all of us are traders and transporters, and if you want peace, you must be in control of these two sectors.

That is the primary motive. Then, you must generate funds too. We are getting a lot of money from parks and markets. So I’m making sure that they are abrest with developments. So, the issue of government issuing an order to individuals or groups does not work because the people feel that they like to feel free, independent and so on, they would not comply.

So, I started using methods that involve all the stakeholders in decision making.

I called meeting of the traders and discuss issues with them and also asked them of their opinions and they offered their own opinions.

By the time we finished the meeting, I was able to put on something that can be used and accepted by all because they saw that we are together. With that the implementation will be easy and

they can go outside and tell others that we have discussed and agreed for good. But if you just give them order like say, move out of this road within 24 hours, they wouldn’t obey it. I discovered that they don’t like order but they want to participate in decision making. That is the method I used and it worked. Then, constant seminars and workshops to enlighten them and tell them what they really don’t know and I getpeoplewhoareknowledgeable in the areas to tell them more.

With all these I have been able to build a situation where peace and tranquility reign in all the parks and markets in Anambra state and that is why crime rate has been reduced by 75% here.

Apart from creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility in parks and markets, what is the governor doing on youth development in the state?

Well, it’s been a very good one.

He started first with agriculture that can absorb almost all the youths if they are willing to work, by providing enough fund for agriculture. And now asked young men and women who are prepared to farm to come forth and take money with a very little interest rate. And quiet a lot of them did that. The only challenge now is that they could not pay back, but even with that, the Governor was not thrown out of balance because of that. He provided another N1billion now for them, but now we must have to be more careful to make sure that whoever you are giving this money has the capability of generating enough fund to pay back. That process is ongoing now and beside that I have been able to absorb five thousands youths into the parks and markets system in Anambra. I found out that motor parks employed what they call touts then, but I have employed knowledgeable people,

provided them with identity cards and uniform and today they are working. That has reduced crime rate in the state. Because most of these touts were criminals, but with our trainings and lectures, they are now behaving seeing crime as a bad thing. We have absorbed a lot of youths and gave them hope by telling them that if they continue to do good, tomorrow, they may become our leaders, even becoming governors and they believed me. People seem to believe me because of the way I behave, talk and what I do myself. Is not enough to say do this or that while you do the opposite. That amounts to deciet.

So when you set a standard, see that you are also an example of the standard you set.

What is your assessment of the governor’s performance, your relationship with him?

Let me say this because I have seen so much of this in the newspapers, Peter Obi’s uncle, Peter Obi’s uncle. Shouldn’t I have a nephew or shouldn’t Peter Obi have an uncle? It has nothing to do with what I’m doing. I’m a very independent man with very independent mind. We could be brothers and sisters but that doesn’t influence my decision.

What influences my decision is justice, equity and good conscience. Nothing else, not relationship. Having said that, I have good relationship with the governor because he is performing. I campaigned vigorously for him before he became the governor and I would have been terribly disappointed if he didn’t perform. So, I’m very happy that he performed beyond our expectations and even beyond his own expectation because he was telling us that every year he would tar 100km of roads, but he has exceeded that by far having spent six years now, he has tarred 800km roads.

Oriental Energy, Afren announce new oil well

T

he partnership between Oriental Energy Resources and Afren Nigeria is yielding expected results as both companies jointly announce that the Ebok North Fault Block exploration well, offshore south east Nigeria, has made a new oil discovery.

According to the managements of the companies, the Ebok North Fault Block exploration well was spudded in April 2012 by Afren and Oriental Energy Resources, with a total vertical depth of 4,320 ft, measured with the Transocean Adriatic lX jack-up drilling rig.

“The well was targeting a

separate fault block structure located to the north of the main Ebok field, and has successfully encountered good quality oil in the same tertiary reservoir sands equivalent to those that have been developed and are in production at the main Ebok field development. The discovery of significant oil pay at this location underlines the high-grade prospect that exists across the wider Ebok/Okwok/ OML 115 area, and represents an important step towards unlocking the full volume and value potential of what is a core hub of Afren’s portfolio.”

Chairman, Afren said, “ we are delighted to have continued our run of exploration success

this year with the Ebok NFB well, which follows on from the Okoro East discovery also offshore South East Nigeria and the Simrit-2 exploration well in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, giving us a year to date exploration success rate of 75 per cent (100 per cent of operated exploration). The proximity of Ebok NFB to existing infrastructure at the main Ebok field production hub means that we can quickly monetise these newly discovered volumes. We now look forward to the test results from Simrit-2 discovery in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, followed by exploration drilling in East Africa.”

Alor: I have built a situation where peace and tranquility reign in all the parks and markets He designed a policy, ANIDS, - developing the state in all sectors, roads construction, healthcare, agriculture, education etc. As a matter of fact, if you go to some states, 80% of the schools don’t have science equipment.

But here in Anambra, Peter Obi has equipped all the schools with science equipment because this is the age of science and technology. In our universities we also got accreditation in all the departments. So, he is investing money and ideas in all our educational institutions. Even though we are second to the last

in terms revenue allocation from the Federal Government, but because he is so transparent, honest, and visionary, people outside the country see him as such and they know he is working. Non governmental organisation have been donating money to his government because they know if they give him money, he will utilise it for the purpose by which it was given.

So, I don’t think there is any sector in terms of government administration that hasnot been highly touched.

Councilor Ariyibi O. Ayodeji (c) and other officials at the Ward A2 town-hall meeting to discuss the way forward for the community and the youths.

La Casera gets Oba’s blessing on Miss La Casera contest …donates to Orphans in Benin

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s the race heats up for the highly coveted beauty contest, Miss La Casera 2012 in the ancient city of Benin, foremost producer of apple flavor carbonated soft drink, the La Casera company Limited has led a bevy of beauty contestants on a courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa in Benin City.

The courtesy visit to the royal father of the Benin Kingdom came hard on the heels of the coronation of the 2012 Miss La Casera held at the prestigious Best Western Homeville Hotel in Benin City.

Speaking on behalf of the management of The La Casera Company, Regional Sales Manager, Benin Zone, Mr. Sunil Pal Singh, eulogized the Oba and thanked his Palace Chiefs for granting audience to the La Casera delegation. Singh explained that his team deemed it necessary to express reverence to the Oba and seek his royal blessing for the success of the beauty contest which is holding on the soil of the Benin Kingdom. He said that when the Miss La Casera 2012 is crowned, she will represent the company in driving most of its corporate philanthropic activities such as donation to orphanages and other community initiatives.

He said that the delegation had earlier made a stop-over at the Edo Orphanage to make financial and material donation to the orphanage.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MAY 19, 2012—51

In the last publication we did identified three types of swollen prostate: -Bacterial prostatitiswhich may be acute or chronic, -Non-bacterial prostatitis and -Prostatodynia which is usually treated as a psychiatric case. In this edition however, we want to examine the symptoms and the diagnosis of swollen prostate.

It is important to note that in few cases, swollen prostate may not give any obvious symptom.

Sometimes however, the symptoms may be vague or not clearly defined.

But, where there are symptoms, the presentation may include: Fever, chill, general feeling of unwell (malaise), fatigue, nausea and vomiting especially at the acute stage.

Increased urge to urinate, i.e. the need to uri-

,

Don’t despair. It’s not over. It may look as though there is no way out. Everyone and experts on the matter may have concluded that it is hopeless yet I say to you there is the God that can do exceeding and abundantly above all that you can think or imagine (Eph. 3:20). No case is hopeless with Him. He thrives always in situations that the devil and the world says it is impossible. Hear me; God will do beyond your imagination.

Don’t listen to the lies of the devil and men. God does not hate you. He has not forgotten nor forsaken you. It is impossible for God to forget or forsake you. You are in the palm of His hands always. He neither sleeps nor slumbers because of you. His plans for you are so awesome that the enemy is so afraid of it and he has made up his mind to do all he can to stop you but he will fail. God will not disappoint you. He is too faithful to fail. He is trustworthy and ever dependable. There is nothing that is too hard for God to handle. Believe me your case is too small. He already has a miracle for you. Get ready.

In Luke chapter 5:1-11, the bible says that Peter went out as usual to his business but returned back empty handed. He must have been feeling terrible, disappointed and wondering what would happen to his family. Today so many are in this condition. The works of their hands are not making any progress and yet they have commitments

Beyond your imagination all over the place and they wonder how they can get out of the mess. I have good news for you, God will not disappoint you. While Peter was wondering then came Jesus and made use of the boat of peter and thereafter asked peter to launch out into the sea and cast his net for a catch. Peter said to Jesus, I have toiled all night and caught nothing but nevertheless at thy word I will let down my net. What was peter saying? He was saying that your word has power enough to change his situation. Peter with all of his expertise caught nothing but with God’s intervention there was a turnaround.

The blessings that peter

encountered were so great that he was afraid. He had never seen so many miracles in his life. This was beyond peter’s imagination.

Beloved, this same God has not changed. The truth of the matter is that what He did for peter is nothing to Him and He can also do for you. He is not a respecter of persons. No man on earth has truly enjoyed the fullness of the kind of blessings that God has for them. The bible refers to His blessings as unsearchable riches. Receive this truth, no matter your imagination, God is far beyond it. Look up to God, your change is at hand. He desires to do

great things for you.

He changed everything about peter. His mindset was changed. What peter never thought was possible became possible. I prophesy to your life God who created the heavens and the earth will show you mercy and turn your case around to the amazement of your enemies. Everyone mocking you will be disgraced by this great God in the name of Jesus.

One thing that made peter to experience the mightiness of God was because he made his boat available for Jesus to use.

What are you prepared to give to the Lord for Him to use? Give it to Him now and you will not be

Don’t listen to the lies of the devil and men. God does not hate you. He has not forgotten nor forsaken you

ashamed. God will do beyond your imagination.

Have you given your life to Jesus? If not, please pray this prayer. Father, I come to you as I am. I invite Jesus into my life to be my personal Lord and Saviour. Wash me cleanse with the blood of Jesus and empower me with the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank

,

you Father for saving my soul and making me your child.

Your prayer request and praise reports will be welcomed. Our contact details are below. You can also partner with us by supporting us financially with a minimum of one thousand naira or five thousand naira a month category.

For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 07029235279, 07029235280. E-mail: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org.

Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407.

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

nate once every 2 to 3 hours- due incomplete emptying of the bladder.

Painful and feeling of burning sensation when urinating.

Urine urgency, i.e. difficulty in holding urine when the urge to urinate comes, and the flow of the urine may be dribbling, with difficulty and sometimes uncontrollable.

There may be the presence of blood or pus in the urine especially during the acute phase of the diseases.

Some patients may experience: -Lower abdominal and lower back pain, -The pain may extend to the groin, upper thigh, above the public hair region and the genital (tip of the penis, testis, and scrotum).

-There may be pain in the perineal region (i.e. the area between the

Prostatitis due to an infection is sometimes difficult to diagnosis using the routine diagnostic methods available to most clinics

,

Natural remedies for prostatitis (swollen prostate) scrotal sac and the anus) and this pain becomes aggravated before and after passing stool.

-Also, there may be pain during and after seminal ejaculation. In addition, the ejaculation may quick and the ejaculate (the semen) may be watery, or low in volume and the content of sperm cells thus giving rise to male infertility.

In serious cases of swollen prostate there may be an inability to sustain penile erection or impotency.

Diagnosis of swollen prostate Just like the female Fallopian tubes, the male prostate gland, usually provide a hidden and safe medium for most microorganisms both sexually transmitted and non-sexually trans-

mitted organisms.

Therefore, Prostatitis due to an infection is sometimes difficult to diagnosis using the routine diagnostic methods available to most clinics.

However, a competent health-care practitioner will first of all - through careful questioning, rule out other conditions that may give rise to similar symptoms as in Protalitis, e.g. irritation and inflammation of the bladder cystitis and other prostate problem like prostate enlargement and prostate cancer, Inflammation of the urethra (urethritis) and Kidney and urinary bladder stones and the narrowing of a spot in the urethra (structure) etc.

To arrive at a definitive diagnosis of swollen prostate, the health care-

practitioner usually carries out the following tests: * Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) –This usually involve the doctor inserting a gloved finger into the patients rectum to feel the texture, the size and shape of the prostate gland. * The doctor will also massage the gland to express prostate secretion for microbiological examination e.g. microscopy culture and sensitivity (m/c/s), along with this, the practitioner may also carry urethral swab, urine and semen. m/c/s.

All these will help the doctor to determine the kind of organism responsible for the problem and the kind of treatment to give.

* In addition to the above mentioned tests the health care practitioner, may want to carry out a more expensive blood tests called PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) in other to distinguish between patients who might have a higher risks of developing prostate cancer from those who may not.

It is important to mention here that there are factors that increases the risks of contracting Prostatitis, such factors include: * Operating heavy duty machines especially those that vibrate strongly. * Frequent horse and bicycle riding, more so, if they causes discomfort or injury. * Insertion of urinary catheter, or carrying out a cystoscopy by a doctor. * Engaging in an intense and prolonged sexual intercourse; excitation of the urge for sex without attaining a natural climax, frequent measturbation with the interruption of ejaculation of semen * Others factors are: - Dehydration (insufficient intake of fluid) - Poor dietary habits, poor health, lack of sleep and stress.

- Excessive use of alcohol and smoking, - Having had previous bacterial prostatitis, urinary tract infection; etc.

,

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

Final too close to call — Di Matteo C

helsea manager Roberto Di Matteo believes the outcome of the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich is too

close to call.

The Blues will be looking to claim European glory for the first time in their history when they take on Bayern at the

Can Chelsea break the Champions League jinx?

A

day of destiny awaits at the Allianz Arena as Chelsea and Bayern Munich stand on the brink of European glory after another remarkable year in the UEFA Champions League.

The continent’s No.1 club competition has produced some extraordinary drama since the first round of

qualifying last June and Saturday ’s showpiece promises to deliver a thrilling climax to the season.

A fascinating story will unfold either way in Munich, as Bayern have the chance to lift the trophy at their home stadium and Chelsea are

going in search of their first European crown.

It has been Roman Abramovich’s dream to win the Champions League since he took control of the club in 2003 and he has been ruthless with those managers that have failed to bring success.

Cahill eyes firirsst tr oph troph ophyy G

ary Cahill says victory over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League final today will make up for the disappointment of missing the FA Cup final.

The Chelsea defender was sidelined for the victory over Liverpool after suffering a hamstring injury against Barcelona.

But the Stamford Bridge medical staff have worked tirelessly to ensure the 26year-old will be fit to replace John Terry at the heart of Chelsea’s backline.

And Cahill is intent on avoiding a repeat of the regret on missing out at Wembley.

He said: “That was a sickener for me because it would have been a big part in my career. So for me to make this one is a huge moment.”

It will cap a great year for the former Bolton man, who moved to west London to win trophies.

“It’s my first final and it’s in the biggest competition - sink or swim,” he said.

“You come here to play in these competitions and be a part of this. We’ve got a great chance now to lift the best trophy in club football. I did win a few things as a kid, but nothing since.”

•Drogba

F

Roberto Di Matteo is the eighth boss to have worked with Abramovich, having replaced Andre Villas-Boas in early March at a time when Chelsea’s campaign appeared to be heading towards a dismal conclusion.

What has followed over the past couple of months could have been straight from the script of a footballing fairytale, with Chelsea now just one game away from the happiest of endings.

The Blues had already had a narrow escape to make it out of the group stage by the time Di Matteo replaced VillasBoas, but they have since pulled off two of the all-time great European comebacks.

Trailing 3-1 against Napoli at the halfway point of their last-16 tie, Chelsea triumphed 4-1 in the second leg on a famous night at Stamford Bridge.

Having seen off Benfica in the quarter-finals, Chelsea then stunned reigning champions and tournament favourites Barcelona at Camp Nou as they somehow prevailed 3-2 on aggregate even after having captain John Terry sent off before halftime.

Chelsea have since gone on to beat Liverpool in the final of the FA Cup to ensure they will finish the season with some silverware, but it is Saturday’s clash with Bayern that could prove to be the ultimate job audition for Di Matteo.

Bayern seek history on home soil

rom the moment it was announced that the 2012 UEFA Champions League final would be held in

OF TO MUNICH,,,, From left, Patrick Onwamaka, Caleb Richards, Busari Adikat, Fomsi Kwabe Samuel and Adewale Abiodun, all winners of the Heineken Champions league draws at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos enroute Munich for the Champions league final fully sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc. Photo by Sylva Eleanya.

Munich, FC Bayern München began to regard it as their destiny to take part.

That dream eventually came true after a penalty shoot-out win against Real Madrid FC in the last four, and now the German giants are looking to lift their fifth European Cup and become the first side to do so on their own ground since FC Internazionale Milano triumphed at San Siro in 1965.

Having overcome FC Zürich 3-0 on aggregate in the playoff round, Bayern proved their potential by easing through a formidable-looking Group A with a match to spare. They finished ahead of SSC Napoli, Manchester City FC and Villarreal CF and lost just

once, in their final match at City when they were assured of winning the group.Die Bayern then brushed aside FC Basel 1893 and Olympique de Marseille in the knockout rounds and got the better of Madrid on penalties in the last four to reach their dream final. While they finished eight points behind Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga title race and lost 5-2 against Jürgen Klopp’s men in the German Cup final, all will be forgiven should they prevail on 19 May. The two sides have only met once in the UEFA

Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Di Matteo accepts that it will be difficult to overcome a side that will be playing at their own ground, and he has stressed the importance of keeping things tight.

“I don’t think either team is going to open up straight away,” he told the Daily Telegraph.

“Bayern will feel they are playing at home, they know the environment, but I don’t think there are any favourites.

It’s 50-50. It’s there for both teams to grab.

“Our defensive organisation has to be right to cope with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. But Bayern also have Mario Gomez, who has scored 41 goals.

“Thomas Muller is a threat as well. They have midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos who can score.”

Di Matteo agrees that players are higher maintenance in the modern era but has paid special tribute to four of his experienced men whose ambitions burn brighter than ever.

Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Dider Drogba and Petr Cech are all expected to line up for the Blues against Bayern and Di Matteo has been impressed by the performances of all them since he took charge at Stamford Bridge.

“Ashley has been unbelievable for me. He’s reached the highest level that we used to see Ashley play at,” said the Italian.

•Di Matteo Champions League, when, having succumbed 4-2 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg, Bayern left it too late to manage a full comeback on home soil and bowed out of the competition 6-5 on aggregate.

•Robben

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, MAY 19, 2012—53

C M Y K

54—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

T ime running out ffor or Nigerian relay teams U

EXCITED: Ladan Bosso

Bosso excited with players’ per formance

By IME BASSEY

C

oach of Wikki T o u r i s t of Bauchi, Ladan Bosso has heaped praises on his young team for their form and performances since the commencement of the second half of the season.

Bosso who told Inside Out Premier League that the players’ performances has attracted the big spenders in the league, said he would be happy to see his wards plying their trade in the best teams in league and also outside the country.

“I am very excited to see my players being sort for big clubs in the

league.

It was interesting to build a team with eighty percent of amateur players that are plying their trade in the professional scene for the first time and they have proven themselves worthy,” Coach Bosso said. “I only crying to the State government to pay the players and technical

W

arri Wolves coach, Maurice Cooreman, has e x p r e s s e d disappointment on the performance of the national team players in his team against South African club, Black Leopards last weekend.

Wolves crashed out of the CAf Confederation Cup on away goals’ rule following a 0-2 loss in the second leg against the PSL team, having won the first leg in Warri 3-1 in April.

“It was a disgraceful performance from my players. We won the first leg 3-1 and we just needed to play well and score at least a goal but my players didn’t do C M Y K

room for improvement, even as other countries are battling to make sure their teams remain in the top 16 qualification bracket. “It’s too early to be bothering about a place in the top 16. By July I’m positively optimistic that our athletes will come up with the right performances.

“Apart from the boys we have in camp, there are others who are doing well. By the time we run our trials in June and go for the African Championships, there will be some level of improvements,” said the AFN boss.

Since 2004 when the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m produced two bronze medals in the

with their 42.74 seconds achieved last year at the World Championships.

Their 4x400m counterparts are ranked 9th with the best time of 3.29.55 seconds.

Ofoedu wants to shoot Rangers to league victory

By KATE OBODO Nigeria Premier League (NPL) top scorer and Enugu Rangers striker, Chikeluba Ofoedu has said he would continue to score goals so as to help his side lift the coveted league trophy this

Cooreman angry with Warri Wolves players

By KATE OBODO

crew sign-on fees this season. We have worked carefully for the points earned in the league.

Well, we appreciate their effort in paying all our match bonuses since the season started, but the sign-on fees helps they players settle family issues,” Coach Bosso pleaded.

nless there is a massive turn around in the fortunes of Nigerian relay teams, the chances of the country winning medals at the London 2012 Olympics remain slim.

With only two months left to the Games, the men and women relay teams have not registered any big performance that will assure Nigerians of a medal. The men’s 4x100m and the 4x400m squads are not even in the scope of qualification for the Games, while the women who are in the qualification zone are not in the top five.

However, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Solomon Ogba argue that there is still

Athens Olympics, they have been unable to live up to the spark even in Africa. The best time of the 4x100m team currently is 39.48seconds compared to Ghana and South Africa who have booked a place in the top 16 of the Olympics with 38.94 and 38.99 seconds respectively.

The men’s 4x400m are maintaining the 19 th position in the world this is based on their 3.04.99 performance in Calabar last year. The women’s 4x100m won a bronze at the 2008 Olympics Beijing but on paper at the moment, they will even be lucky to run in the final eight in London 2012. They are rated 6th

that,” he said “Some of our players are in the national team and this result is just unacceptable.

The national team players (in Wolves) disappointed me the most, but that is football.”

The former Kaduna United manager now wants his team to focus on the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) and salvage their season by fighting to finish among the top three.

“Now we have to go back and work hard and make sure we finish in the top three. That’s the only way we can win a place back to continental club football,” a disappointed Cooreman remarked.

season.

Ofoedu,who led on the scorers chart with 10 goals but was overtaken reclaimed the position when he overtook Mustapha Babadidi of Gombe United during Week 20 rescheduled matches.

“My goals secret can be attributed to hard work.

I have been working on my scoring form since the pre-season. I knew the onus lies on me to score goals for my team and now my extra work (training) is paying off,” he said.

Ofoedu added that “my coaches have really helped me come this far.

I have always adhered to their instructions and I am always ready to learn more. I believe it is my time and no defender can stop me from getting the goals,” Ofoedu boasted.

He disclosed that his wish this season is to be injury free so as to be able to achieve his target by scoring goals to help his team lift the trophy at the end of the season.

“I don’t want to play under pressure. I am taking the games as they come, but I am sure I will score goals this season.

•RUNNING OUT OF TIME? Nigerian 400m relay quartet

Egbunike needs miracle, Urhobo declares

F

ormer Athletics Federation of Nigeria president and national coach, Tony Urhobo has said that it will take a miracle for Nigeria to put up a good showing at the London 2012 Olympics based on the fire brigade approach preparations.

He was speaking against the background of Nigeria camping a group of athletes who have seen their best times in Atlanta, USA, under the watchful eyes of former African 400m champion, Innocent Egbunike.

“There is no change in our mode of preparations. It is still the same pattern of doing a rush job and at the end we come up with nothing.

“We have always had great athletes but it is the way we go about it that have always prevented them from achieving their full potentials.

“Right now in Atlanta, it will take a miracle for Egbunike to bring out

the best from the athletes who are there. I know that some of them are

A

over the age of 30 and I don’t know what we should expect from them.

Montsho ready for Richard challenge

frican leading 400m runner, Amantle Montsho will have to prove that her winning the world title last year in Daegu, South Korea was not a fluke when she meets 2009 champion, Sanya Richards-Ross June 2 in the Eugene, USA Samsung Diamond league.

The Botswana-born Montsho won the gold medal in Daegu after a series of years knocking on the door and not giving up The gold in Daegu was her first, and still only global medal at any level as she rose to No. 1 in 2011. Her best is 49.56 from last year.

But in an Olympic year when many of the world’s very best looking to move ahead, Montsho will have to come up with a

performance that will send warning to the likes Richards-Ross. The American was among those vanquished in Daegu by Montsho last year, and she is looking to return to No. 1 form.

RETURN TO FTNESS: Montsho

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012 — 55

MTN Alumni Golf Cup tees off today T

he Alumni Golf Cup, a golf tournament conceived as a rallying point for old boys and girls of secondary schools to win big prize monies for infrastructural development of their almamaters, while enjoying the game they love, is set to tee off this weekend at the Ikeja Golf Club, Lagos.

The maiden edition in which 35 teams representing different schools would feature is to help the competitors raise funds for their alma-maters.

Each participating school is to have a maximum of two teams comprising four players each to represent it.

Participation is open to both genders. Prizes won at the event would be donated to the schools represented by the players for infrastructural development.

On the rationale for the sponsorship, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Kola Oyeyemi, explained that MTN is always seeking ways to connect with the passion points of its customers.

“Golf is a platform to associate with our customers because of their passion for the game. We will continue to identify with the passion points of our customers as we continue to promote not only golf, but other sporting activities in the country.”

The two-day tourney is expected to attract quality players who would be competing with the love of their

former schools and relishing old school days’ bonds buoyed by the opportunity to contribute something to the schools that made them.

The initiative, apart from presenting old boys/girls with a chance to bond and win prizes, would also in no small way expose the game of golf to students at the secondary school level who are expected to be there to cheer their schools’ teams.

Apex FC of Isoko (in blue Jersy) squaring up against Parl of Warri (in red and blue jersey) in the Gulder 5-Aside competition Mid-West qualifier at the Oleh Township Stadium.

Sports structures discourage genuine Nigerians, says Ejiofor

By EDDIE AKALONU

F

ormer president of Nigeria Gymnastics Federation, Prince Sam Ejiofor, has identified inherent system shortcomings in the country as certainly discouraging genuine Nigerians from coming forward to get involved in sports development.

“The system more often drives away those interested in giving service than encourage them. I offered myself for service before but was driven away because a cabal thought I do not belong. So they also did to others who wanted to serve because they genuinely have interest to contribute the little way possible to sports development.

I could recall that while I

served, I did the much I could to help promote and develop gymnastics in Nigeria because the potentials were there waiting to be tapped. Besides I convinced my governor in Enugu State to back me and we started the Governor ’s national championships which held every year,” he stated.

Prince Ejiofor who was asked to comment on current state of the sport further narrated his experience thus: “And more than that as a mark of interest, we introduced other programmes for the sport, both developmental and competitive and we were poised to do more until they said I was no longer wanted and I left. Since then, I have hardly heard of anything happening, meaning

gymnastics in Nigeria has reached its comfort zone.

But the country must find a way to institutionalise structures that will recognise and encourage those who are genuinely interested in service.”

“The former president noted that “from my experience, gymnastics being an extremely structured sport, offers no short cuts. Shock results are

Gulder 5Aside train 5-Aside lights up Oleh The ongoing Gulder Ultimate Five Aside Football competition which moved to the Mid-Western region

Bask etball: Fir ater sure of thir d league title Basketball: Firsst Deep W Water third

By EDDIE AKALONU

W

ith all 32 games won in the first and second phases of the female basketball league in Kaduna and Ilorin, title holders, First Deep Water Club of Lagos, are back in training in Lagos to ensure what their coach, Lati Erinfolami calls colonisation of the title for a third straight year after their 2010 and 2011 victories.

Jump_ball for the final phase of the league will dunk_off on May 31 and concluded on June 9 in Lagos. With none of the other teams, including former champions, First Bank club also of Lagos unable to match their pace, Erinfolami however, said in Lagos, “ we are not looking down on any team, not taking chances but will approach the final phase with greater zeal and

determination because it’s important we stamp our mission to change the face of the female game in the country.”

He also said that the club has a target of moving from the Nigerian terrain to the FIBA

Africa Zone_3 elimination slated for Monrovia, Liberia later in the year and beyond.

As a booster, an elated Club chairman, Babatunde Babalola has not only urged the players to go all out and demolish all opposition, remain unbeaten,

retain the title for the records but also pledged handsome rewards to the players and handlers when the job is done on June 9. The defending champions have a final phase opener against against Plateau Rocks on May 31.

Lagos teams up with Greensprings

T

he Lagos State Commissioner for Sports and Social Development, Wahid Oshodi has declared the state government’s support for the annual Greensprings/Kanu Football Camp.

The commissioner disclosed this during a visit to the school where he said the state football coaches and players from the just concluded Lagos U-13 championships will be part of the camp holding between July 1 and 7, 2012.

The commissioner praised the effort of the school’s management towards the development of the grassroots sports and pledged to ensure the programme was a success.

He applauded the Football Camp initiative and the sports academy run by the school saying, “it is good to see schools sports grow because athletes brought up through a structured system grow up to become very useful to the society and self.”

The commissioner praised

rare. You have to invest in talents, in the coaches and technical officials, keep training ongoing for results to come. Though you may need to dig deep, you have to also rely on foreigners to make things work. It’s as simple as paying attention to every detail. It’s not about me but the future of the youth, using sports as instrument of developing them,”he added.

the standard of sports facilities at the school saying “it is pleasing to see this in Lagos where most schools now lack sports facilities.”

He expressed joy that some foreign coaches will be in Nigeria for the football camp and made a commitment, “the state will sponsor some children from public schools and some state coaches to attend the train the trainers’ programme in order that they can tap from the experts expected from abroad.

yesterday has set Oleh town in Delta State aglow with scintillating football displays.

The matches which will be concluded on Sunday will see the best two teams represent the zone at the finals of the annual competition scheduled for Lagos in June.

The teams from the MidWestern zone will join Port Harcourt City Academy and Network FC from the SouthSouth zone, Ultimate FC and Etienne FC from the SouthEast Zone and Supremes FC and Gidan Bege FC from the North-Central Zone, who are already through to the finals.

Reacting to the level of play, talent and skill displayed so far in the competition, the Marketing Manager - Lager, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Tony Agenmonmen, said: “The Gulder Ultimate Five Aside Football competition is living up to its billings and objective as a unique platform for raw grass-roots football talents to display their skills and develop their football potentials.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 19, 2012

Falconets ready for final battle – Babafemi

By KATE OBODO

S

uper Falconets of Nigeria would today confront their opponent, DR Congo in Kinshasa in the return

leg, final round of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier with both countries seeking a place in the finals in Japan in August.

Nigeria won the first

Onigbinde laments neglect of sports heroes •Blames govt for Yekini’s demise

By KATE OBODO

F

ormer Super Eagles coach, Chief Adeboye Onigbinde has lamented the neglect and poor treatment of national heroes who have served their fatherland by the various levels of governments in the country.

The Modakeke High Chief was speaking about the late Rashidi Yekini who, he said, was completely abandoned to die even as he blamed government and sports administrators for their non-challant attitude towards the late football star.

Speaking with Saturday Vanguard Chief Sports, Onigbinde said the late Yekini was not only a national property but also a hard working fellow who was rubbished and neglected, having assisted the country in football competitions.

“I have said this over and over again that we don’t have heroes in this country. It is a common knowledge that a mad man does not believe he is mad, in fact he would think that those saying he is insane are the ones mad. The question is, don’t we have experts and professionals who could have handled his case.

And what did they do all these while,” he asked.

Continuing he said, “One thing we forget to understand is that when a man or a woman rises to the top, especially if serving the country, he or she is no longer the proprety of his family.

But do we care? It was

his family members who were taking care of him.

Couldn’t he (late Yekini) be better handled by the government rather than his family or private individuals?

“Remember the topmost Argentina football star, Diego Maradona? While he was in his tough times, his country stood completely by him.

Even after his trying moments, they got him engaged as the head coach of his country before he was later sacked.

Here in Nigeria, the reverse is the case. We don’t celebrate our heroes rather we prefer to punish them to death.

“I was also surprised at the manner in which he was bundled out of house by his family. Is that the way a hero should have been treated? Is this not sad?

Do we even have heroes in this country?

In 1984, I won silver for this country but nobody even recognized me neither did they appreciate the laurel brought to the country. Instead, the only way they could pay me was my removal from the team . Also in 1992 and 1993, the then minister of sports wrote me a letter that I have been nominated for a national award but up till now, I have not had that award.

There are still some heroes that Nigeria is still wasting who have not been mentioned.

Why use these players, athletes when they cannot benefit from their fatherland”.

leg 4-0 in Abeokuta and the Edwin Okon-tutored side are confident they would overcome the stiff opposition of the Congolesse.

Media officer of the team, Ejiro Babafemi however, disclosed to Saturday Vanguard Sports that the team are in a very high spirit and battle ready to end what they started in Abeokuta a fortnight ago.

“The girls are fully prepared for the match in Congo DR. Our victory in Abeokuta two weeks ago gives us an edge over our opponents but we are aware that our match in Kinshasha is going to be a different ball game,” Babafemi said.

• Chelsea’s striker Didier Drogba shoots on goal during one of his club’s recent matches. His fans look up to him to help shoot down Bayern Munich in today’s Champions League final at the Allianz Arena. Photo: AFP

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah – (7) 5 State in Nigeria Known as the “Jewel of The Savannah”? – (5) 8 Place Where Wild Animals are Kept – (3) 9 Former Super Eagles Player, Wilson – (5) 10 Cross River State Governor, Mr. Liyel – (5) 11 Spain & Liverpool FC Goalkeeper, Jose – (5) 12 United States President, Barack – (5) 15 Farm Tool – (5) 17 Insect – (3) 19 Flying Eagles (U.20) Striker, King – (6) 20 Hungarian Currency – (6) 22 Trap – (3) 24 Kogi State Governor, Ibrahim – (5) 27 Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mabarazu – (5) 30 Lagos State Capital – (5) 31 Flower Part – (5) 32 Norwegian Currency – (5) 33 Promise – (3) 34 Former Cameroun Striker, Theophine – (5)

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35 Oyo State Governor, Abiola – (7) Down 1 Former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonnaya – (5) 2 Major Ethnic Group in Nigeria – (5) 3 State in Nigeria – (5) 4 Former Anambra State Governor, Chief Chukwuemeka – (6) 5 Brazilian Premiership Club Side – (5) 6 Former Cameroun “Indomitable Lions” Skipper, Patrick – (5) 13 Vehicle – (3) 14 Italian Primer Minister, Mario – (5) 16 France Capital City – (5) 17 Prohibit – (3) 18 Newt – (3) 19 L.G.A in Anambra State – (7) 21 Worry – (3) 23 Heartland FC Goalkeeper, Ikechukwu – (6) 25 Indian Currency – (5) 26 Manchester City Striker, David – (5) 27 L.G.A in Kano State – (5) 29 Tantalizers Plc Boss, Folu – (5)

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