Why we'll not make Buhari's assets public - CCB

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2—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

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Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—3

4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

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APC crisis: Party demands apology from Saraki, Dogara “You don’t joke with the man (Tinubu). He said they must make a public apology to him using the newspapers. A meeting that will involve all APC governors has been scheduled to hold either on Monday or Tuesday. Wait and see what will happen.

They have to do it”, the source said.

It was not ascertained whether president Mohmmadu Buhari would be at the meeting but Saraki and Dogara are expected to be at the meeting.

It will be recalled that after the National Assembly leadership that brought Saraki and Dogara as the new leaders of the 8th assembly, tempers have continued to flare up in the party.

Upon their elections on

June 9, APC immediately issued a statement where it declared the outcome of the respectively against the elections unacceptable and

By Levinus party’s official candidates, also threatened sanctions Nwabughiogu Senator Ahmed Lawan and for the new leaders.

Femi Gbajabimila had said The threat however LTHOUGH some of what can assuage his divided the party with chieftains of the All anger and that of the party. some of the national leaders Progressives Congress, A competent party source frowning at the decision.

APC have initiated moves told Vanguard in Abuja that One of the them was the to reconcile the aggrieved principal among the deputy national publicity camps and bring back conditions is that both Saraki secretary, comrade Timi peace in the party, its and Dogara must tender Frank who also called for national leader, Asiwaju and publish a full page the resignation of the Bola Tinubu is not yielding apology publicly using the party’s national chairman, to it until his conditions are national dailies. chief John Oyegun on the met.

To this end, the source grounds of his failure to Vanguard exclusively hinted that an extended harmonize the variegated gathered yesterday that meeting of the national interests that later cost the Tinubu who felt greatly leaders of the party with party the office of the slighted by the elections of APC governors involved Deputy Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and had been slated for next DSP. Rep. Yakubu Dogara as the week.

According to Frank, senate president and the The meeting, it was Oyegun compromised to Speaker, House of learnt, would hold either have agreed to conduct the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s Monday or Tuesday. mock election that threw up Lawan and Gbajabimila as official candidates of the party.

Meanwhile, national chairman of the party, Oyegun has assured Nigerians that peace was underway in the party.

Rising from the meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC which held at party’s national secretariat in Abuja yesterday, the chairman said that the party had reached out to all aggrieved parties, stressing that Nigerians would see a united APC by next week.

He also marshalled out defence for the party’s national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who he said had been Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right) presenting an Eyo plaque to misunderstood in some the Deputy Director, Integrated Delivery, Global Development of Bill & Melinda quarters while discharging Gates Foundation, Mr. Carlos Cuellar (left) during the Delegation’s courtesy visit to his responsibilities. the Governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

*Peace underway — Oyegun

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Accept democracy as a way of life, Buhari tells Nigerians Hausa called on those positions to look for a Buhari said that he

By Ben Agande, Abuja

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R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari on Friday urged Nigerians to accept democracy not as a system of government but as a way of life in order to ensure development of the country.

He spoke in Daura when he paid a courtesy call on the Emir, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, after attending the Juma’at prayer.

According to the President, ‘If Nigerians continuously follow the tenets of democracy the country will always be at peace since democracy on its own with its institutions has the mechanism for resolving conflicts peacefully,” he said.

The President whose speech was rendered in

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who were aggrieved after the 2015 elections to seek redress through democratic means and institutions.

He said if Nigerians decide to be hasty in the process of learning the tenets of democracy, avoidable mistakes could be made.

He urged those interested in elective

political platform of their choice, declare their interests and the party would support them.

The President noted that his election in 2015 was the pure handiwork of God. “It is not by power, it is not by wealth but by the Grace of God that I won the election.”

decided to contest elections because of his commitment to serve the people and not to be served or to amass wealth.

He said all he had over time “is integrity and commitment to serve the people” and said that he would fulfill his promises to the people.

Extra Judicial killings: Amnesty Int’l can’t substantiate claims — Military Kingsley Omonobi & Caleb Ayansina

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HE Nigerian Military, yesterday, said that no new facts had been unearthed by the Amnesty International (AI) to warrant their repeated allegations against the Nigerian Military.

The AI had alleged the Nigerian Troops of human rights abuse and extra

judicial killing of civilians in the ongoing war against insurgency in the northern part of the country.

Consequently, the Nigerian Military said it had launched a comprehensive investigation into the recent allegations by the AI, appealing to AI to be patient to see the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

The Chief Administration, Army Headquarters, Major Gen. Adamu Abubakar, who stated this during a press briefing on the allegations by the AI, in Abuja, maintained that it took AI six years to chronicle their allegations, and they wanted the Nigerian military to investigate and report immediately.

Ambode reiterates commitment to primary healthcare … Hosts Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

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AGOS State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday hosted a delegation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation where he assured of the readiness of the State to support the new integrated health delivery programme of the Foundation as part of measures to improve access to Primary healthcare for Lagosians.

The Governor who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said that the present administration is opening its door of partnership as his government’s main focus is to bring healthcare delivery to the people at a minimal cost.

“We are willing and ready to support the new integrated health delivery programme that the foundation wants to put on the table. In Lagos here, you already have a willing partner because our main focus is bring healthcare delivery to the people with the minimal cost and dwindling financial revenue for the country which obviously is going to affect Lagos state”.

“No matter how much we do on our budgetary provisions, we also need complimentary efforts from Multilateral Agencies and Donors.

And even private sector stakeholders to deliver health service to our people”, the Governor said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna.

Zonta Int’l conducts free diabetes test on market women in Ibadan Ola Ajayi and Bukola Ifegbayi, Ibadan

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ONTA International, an organisation of professional women and executives in conjunction with Diabetes Association of Nigeria yesterday conducted free diabetes and blood pressure screening for women traders at the popular Bodija Market, Ibadan.

The diabetes association through the screening exercise said it discovered some people who were diabetic with-

out them knowing.

According to the President of Zonta International, Ibadan, Professor Olufunke Egunjobi, “the Diabetes Association of Nigeria are anxious to educate the market women on diabetes which is a silent killer, a terrible ailment which has no cure but can be managed. The management is educating the people on what to do, especially testing their blood whether they are diabetic or not and that is where to start from”.

Labour refutes reports over nonpayment of salaries

By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo

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ABOUR movement in Akwa Ibom state has refuted reports that workers were owed seven months salaries by the state government.

The union leaders led by Trade Union Congress TUC and Nigeria Labour Congress NLC made this known on Friday during a press conference in Uyo, the state capital.

Speaking on behalf of others Chairman NLC Comrade Etim Ukpong described the purported report that the state government was not owing seven months salaries as malicious.

He stated, “The reason behind this press conference is a piece of news carried by the network of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA that Akwa Ibom state has not paid salaries of workers

under its employ up to May 2015.

“We the workers are those who receive or do not receive salaries and other entitlement whenever they are paid or not. Therefore we are in the best position to speak for ourselves and for or against those whose duty is to pay us.

“Let us say emphatically here that workers in the employ of Akwa Ibom state. government have received salaries up to May, 2015.

“Labour therefore view that report as deliberate attempt at blackmailing the workers of the state, a callous effort to cause dissention among workers.

“It is a malicious attempt to create discord in the relations between labour , workers and the new administration in the state. Labour is capable of fighting its own cause and can defend itself”

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015 — 5

Wike probes Amaechi •Begs Buhari to support his bid to recover stolen funds •Amaechi’s govt most corrupt – Former Deputy Gov

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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OVERNOR Nye som Wike yesterday commenced probe of the administration of his predecessor, Chibuike Amaechi as he constituted a seven man Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice George Omereji to investigate alleged sale of some state assets as well as the projects for which funds were allegedly released but not executed.

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry which has 23 terms of reference has one month to turn in its report.

Wike’s action was coming against the backdrop of claims by Amaechi’s former Deputy, Tele Ikuru that the former administration under which he served was the most corrupt in the state.

Ikuru alleged that his former boss allegedly spent N812 million to furnish his private residence.

The former deputy governor spoke at Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday while handing over the final report of the transition committee he chaired adding that the former government also spent N4.96 billion on the proposed Justice Adolphus Karibi Whyte Hospital with no structures on the ground.

However, inaugurating the commission of inquiry, Wike said, “In exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Section 2 (1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Law of Rivers State (Cap 30), 1999 and all other powers enabling me in that regard, I Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Governor of Rivers State, hereby constitute and appoint a Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the investigation of the administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi”.

He asked the Commission of Inquiry to investigate the sale of Omoku 150 MW Gas Turbine , Adam 360 MW Gas Turbine, Trans-Amadi 136 MW Gas Turbine as well as the Eleme 75 MW Gas Turbine.

The Commission of Inquiry is also expected to investigate the mono rail project and the sale of the Olympia Hotel by the Amaechi administration as well as the non execution of the contract for the construction of the Justice Karibi White Hospital after the former administra-

tion had paid $250 million to the contractor.

He further directed the Commission of Inquiry to investigate the expenditure of N96 billion from the Rivers State Reserve Fund without compliance with the extant laws as well as make appropriate recommendations that would assist the state government recover proceeds from the gas turbines sold by the former administration.

Furthermore, the commission also has the mandate to recover alleged funds wrongfully disbursed on the failed Justice Karibi White Hospital; the alleged funds illegally withdrawn from the state’s Reserve Fund and the alleged N2 billion illegally disbursed under the Agriculture Credit Scheme.

Responding, Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, Justice Omereji assured the governor that the panel would carry out its assignment diligently and in line with the terms of reference, pointing out that, at the end of the day, the Rivers people would be happy with the job of the commission.

Other members of the Commission of Inquiry include Dr Edith Chukwu, Chief Monday Ekekenta, Rev. Canon Alex Usifo and Elder Ignatius Piegbara. Mrs Florence Fiberesima is to serve as secretary while Dr Zacheaus Adango would serve as the counsel to the Commission.

Meanwhile, receiving the report of the transition committee he set up from

From right Alhaji Danjumu Goje, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Bukola Saraki, Senate President and Alhaji Sanni Yerima in group photograph during the visit. PHOTO BY WUMI AKINOLA the former Deputy Governor Ikuru, Wike asked President Muhamadu Buhari to support his bid to recover funds allegedly stolen by the past Amaechi’s government.

He said : “ I am confident that President Bu-

hari will support my administration in the quest to tackle the massive corruption that characterised the Amaechi administration.

“We are aware that the immediate past administration and her officials

will resort to blackmail and propaganda for the purpose of diverting attention from their corrupt practices. We shall remain focused on the task of getting back Rivers State resources and assets.”

Saraki holds secret meeting with Obasanjo in Abeokuta ...says he has no problem with APC

BY DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

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HE Senate Presi dent, Senator Bukola Saraki stormed Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, Friday and held a closed door meeting with former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in his residence.

The meeting which lasted for two hours commenced immediately Saraki who came with some of his supporters

and colleagues in the Senate arrived at 9:10am and ended at 11:10 am.

Saraki emerged from the meeting which had in attendance former acting national Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Kawu Baraje , former governor of Osun state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governors of Zamfara and Gombe states; Ahmed Yerima and Danjuma Goje who are now Senators.

Other prominent personalities who were on Saraki’s entourage include; Senator Andy Uba and Senator Tayo Alasoadura .

The closed door meeting with Obasanjo, according to findings was not unconnected with the circumstances that surrounded his emergence as the Senate President.

Though, the content of the meeting was not disclosed, a source at the meeting hinted our correspondent that, Saraki

came to seek support of Obasanjo.

After the meeting, Obasanjo posed for pictures with Saraki and others, but, did not grant any interview with newsmen who had besieged his residence.

While fielding questions from newsmen, Saraki said his visit to Obasanjo was for consultation and to tap from the wisdom of the former President.

When asked why he was at Obasanjo’s resi-

Why we’ll not make Buhari’s assets public — CCB

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HE Code of Conduct Bureau says it will not make public the details of assets declared by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo due to limitations in federal laws covering such release, the office has said.

The presidency said those details will be made available after the Code of Conduct Bureau authenticates claims in the declaration forms.

There has been controversy following the inability of President Buhari and his Deputy Osinbajo to release details of their assets since their inauguration May 29, despite the promise to do so.

Buhari pledged to publicly declare his assets despite the lack of a law

requiring him to do so as the 1999 Constitution stated that office holders declare their assets, without requiring them to do so publicly.

A civil society group, Stop Impunity Nigeria, an affiliate of the Centre for Social Justice, had on June 1, 2015 applied to the CCB to request copies of the completed assets declaration forms by the President and his deputy.

The application, signed by the Lead Director of the Centre, Eze Onyekpere, was pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, 2011.

But, in its response CCB/HQ/670/G/1/104 dated June 10, 2015 and signed by Ijeanuli Ofor

on behalf of the Chairman, the CCB declined the request, citing the absence of prescribed law by the National Assembly authorizing the release of such information to the public.

The Bureau however, conceded the right by Nigerians under section 1(1) 3 and 4 of the FOIA 2011, to “access or request information, whether written or not in written form, in the custody of any public agency”.

According to the Bureau, regardless of this, ‘’sections 12(1) (a) (v), 14(1) (b) and 15(1)9a) of the same Act empowered it to decline any request, which it considered an invasion of personal privacy.

“Assets declarations by public officers contain such personal information, which falls within the exemptions to the disclosure of information in the FOIA,” the Bureau added, explaining further that, paragraph 3(c of the Third Schedule, Part 1 of the constitution (as amended) empowered it to “make assets declarations of public officers available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria only on terms and conditions prescribed by the National Assembly.

“However, the terms and conditions under which that can be done have not yet been prescribed by the National Assembly.”

dence, Bukola Saraki replied “I’m here with some of my colleagues.

Since I’ve been the Senate President, as one of our fathers, the former president, we are here to pay our homage to him, to seek his advice, to get his blessing and also to consult. We all know President Obasanjo’s value to this country and we are here to tap from his wisdom and that knowledge and that experience”.

On the crisis between him and his party , Saraki said “as you can see, things are moving smoothly. Definitely, be rest assured that all that would be put behind us very shortly. We are very confident about that”.

On his view over the planned downward review of legislators’ salaries and allowances, the Senate President said “Well, I think already that is in progress. If you remember last time, it was about N150billion and it’s coming down to N120billion. I think the situation in the country deserves that every public servant must make sacrifices and whatever sacrifice that is necessary, we will do it. And that is being done. So, be rest assured that we are sensitive, we are aware of the situation in the country and if we are going to lead, we must lead by example. And we would do that”.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

Ambode scraps, merges ministries, offices for efficiency

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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ARELY 22 days after assumption of office as the 14th Executive Governor, Lagos State Governor, M r.

Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday announced the scrapping of the state M i n i s t r y o f Ru r a l Development and Parastatals Monitoring Office as well as Po l i t i c a l and L e g i s l a t i v e Po w e r s Bureau, while merging others with the aim of reducing government expenditures.

Other offices scrapped by the governor include: Office of the Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue, Debt Management Office.

H o w e v e r, A m b o d e directed the merging of some offices created by his predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

He merged the office of Works and Office of Infrastructure; Office of Drainage Services and Office of Environmental Service.

The announcement was contained in an executive order EO/AA 01 of 2015, issued by the governor recently.

Ambode stated that the action would improve the process and procedure of service delivery and create opportunities for global competitiveness.

According to the order, “As one of the

core strategies for implementing the proclamation in my inaugural speech as the governor of Lagos State, it has become compelling to institute some changes and realign the structure of Ministries, Department and Agencies in the state.”

The governor in the document created Office of Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n , Creativity and Innovation and Office

of Civil Engagement, assigning them to the office of the Deputy Governor and the Officer of the Head of Service, HoS. It will be recalled that the governor in his inaugural speech announced the planned creation of the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment and Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment (Lagos Global).

Ambode directed the Head of Service, Mrs.

Folashade Jaji to effect the necessary realignment of office allocation and distribution of human resources in line with the new structures.

According to the realignment order, “The new office of Civil Engagement is now saddled with the a s s i g n e d responsibilities of the erstwhile Political and L e g i s l a t i v e Po w e r s Bureau alongside other responsibilities.

Alleged extra-judicial killing in Enugu: NHRC seeks coroner’s inquest

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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HE National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has asked the Chief Judge of Enugu State Judiciary to convene a coroner ’s inquest into the cause of death of one Chukuma Ihezie who was allegedly extrajudicially killed by personnel of the Special Anti-robbery Squad Enugu.

The commission equally requested for an investigation into the circumstance that led to alleged dumping of 50 corpses at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu by the police.

NHRC had in 2014 received a complaint from the Enugu office of the

Civil Liberties Organization alleging that the late Iheizie, a 30year-old male, was extrajudicially killed by one Mr. Bolu of the Special Anti-robbery Squad of Enugu State Police Command.

In line with the Commission’s Standing Order and Rules of Procedure, it undertook a p r e l i m i n a r y investigation into the complaint and discovered additional human remains of about fifty young men (with red marker on them) at the same mortuary where Chukwuma Ihezie’s body was deposited.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Officer at the NHRC, Mrs. Fatima Agwai Mohammed, “In the exercise of its

statutory mandate, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof.

Bem Angwe has requested for the coroner ’s inquest into the alleged killings to enable the Commission determine whether or not a systemic case of extra-judicial execution has occurred in the circumstance.

“Prof Bem Angwe stated that extra-judicial execution is a violation of right to life contrary to S. 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended); Article 4, of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Allegations against Okiro ill-motivated — NGO

BY EMMA NNADOZIE

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nongovernmental organisation, People United For Societal Harmony, PUSH, yesterday in Lagos, described the recent allegation of financial impropriety against the Chairman of Police Service Commission, Sir Mike Okiro, as not only illmotivated but aimed at smearing his sterling and unrivalled records.

The group also decried allegations of threats to the life of the petitioner stating that it was a clear case of ‘guilty conscience of a drowning man wanting to pull as many reeds as possible.’

In a statement jointly signed by the DirectorGeneral and Coordinating Secretary, Dr. Sylvanus Ujumandu and Mrs. Sade Jaiyesimi respectively, the organisation noted that Okiro served in the Nigeria Police Force and got to the peak as the InspectorGeneral after which he retired honourably without a dent on his records.

“We are, however, pained and piqued that apart from the incontestable fact that the said petition of alleged financial fraud against Okiro emanating from a nonaccountstaffofthecommission, Aaron Kaase, was not only lacking in truth but spurious, ill-motivatedandpurelyaimed at smearing his sterling and unrivalled records.

“The petitioner was arrested and arraigned for allegedly collecting various amount of money from unsuspecting persons under the guise of helping them to procure Visa to some European countries.

In such circumstance, the normal thing for any organisation whose staff was fingered in such corrupt and sharp practices is to suspend the suspect and allow free and unhindered investigation and thatwasdoneinthecaseunder review.

For the suspect to turn around to concoct an unfounded and mindless petition against the person of Okiro in order to get at him is a clear case of misguided revenge.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015 — 7

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UK courts didn’t exonerate Kashamu — AGF

BY INNOCENT ANABA & KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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HE Federal Government, yesterday, faulted claims by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, that two United Kingdom courts exonerated the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu of complicity on illicit drug trade, describing it as not only untrue, but also misleading.

Arase, had in a statement in Abuja Thursday, insisted that from inquiry made by the police to the UK government and the reply it got, Kashamu had been prosecuted before a London court, which found nothing against him (Kashamu).

Kashamu was arrested, tried in UK criminal court—Police Arase’s statement signed by the Police Force Public Relations Officer, Police Commissioner, Emmanuel Ojukwu read, “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a publication on June 18, 2015, concerning the extradition battles of Prince Buruji Kashamu with the NDLEA. “For the records, the chambers of TRLP Law, acting on behalf of Prince Buruji Kashamu, had on April 14, 2015 written the Nigeria Police Force concerning the status of Prince Kashamu’s legal battles in the United Kingdom and United States, following which the Nigeria Police sought relevant clarifications from the British High Commission.

“The authorities of the British High Commission confirmed on April 27, 2015, through a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, that Prince Kashamu was indeed arrested and tried in theUnitedKingdomcriminal court, but that the court was not satisfied that Prince Kashamuhadacasetoanswer.

“However, for the avoidance of doubt, the British High Commission’s letter in question did not derogate from the extradition request by the US authority pending with relevant departments and agencies of government in Nigeria.”

But, Counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, who spoke on a contempt charge filed

by Kashamu over alleged disobedience of court order, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, said the claim that UK courts

Ms. Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, receiving the Support Our Schools Initiative award from Mr. Babatunde Fashola, former Lagos State Governor, during a breakfast meeting organized for private sector stakeholders in Lagos, recently. exonerated him, was aimed at achieving some sinister motives. The government also appealed another order issued on June 8 by Justice Ibrahim Buba, also of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The order restrained the Federal Government and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency from taking further steps to extradite Mr. Kashamu to the U.S., pending the hearing and determination of Mr. Kashamu’s contempt application against the Attorney-General of the Federation and the NDLEA boss.

The Federal Government had appealed the judgement delivered by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on May 27, upholding the fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by Buruji Kashamu.

The government also appealed another order issued on June 8 by Justice Ibrahim Buba, also of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The order restrained the Federal Government and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency from taking further steps to extradite Mr. Kashamu to the U.S., pending the hearing and determination of Mr. Kashamu’s contempt application against the Attorney-General of the Federation and the NDLEA boss.

When the matter came up yesterday before Justice Buba, Ngige, told the court that he had been briefed by the Office of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation to handle the matter, adding that the case of an appeal against the ruling of the court made on June 8.

He further drew the court’s attention to an application to stay further proceedings on the matter, pending the determination of the case at

the Court of Appeal.

But in his response, Counsel to Mr. Kashamu, Ajibola Oluyede, said the application by Mr. Ngige amounted to an ambush on the contempt proceedings.

Mr. Oluyede said apart from the fact that he had not been served with the motion for a Stay of Proceedings, it was also important for the court to determine whether it could hear a party that had refused to obey a court order in respect of such application.

In his brief ruling, Justice Buba said that in view of the prevailing circumstances, he would adjourn the matter to enable all the processes to be properly placed before him.

He, however, assured that justice would be done expeditiously.

The matter was then adjourned till June 22, for hearing.

In the appeal against the June 8 ruling, the AGF contended that Justice Buba erred when he restrained the security agencies from taking steps to extradite Mr. Kashamu, a Senator representing Ogun east in the Nigerian Senate, which is the subject of another suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The AGF said Mr. Buba ought to have dismissed the matter, as the judge could not exercise supervisory role over another Federal High Court, which was a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

“The court cannot fetter the hands of security or prosecuting agencies in the lawful discharge of their functions,” the AGF argued.

In the appeal against Justice Abang’s judgment, the AGF submitted that from a careful scrutiny of the case, it was clear that the lower court aided Mr. Kashamu to abuse the processes of the court.

Speaking with newsmen

at the Federal High Court in Lagos after the matter was adjourned, Ngige said contrary to widespread belief, Kashamu was not exonerated by the British courts.

He said that Kashamu was not tried in the United Kingdom over the drug crime, but only faced extradition proceedings.

“You see, that is the misleading aspect of the whole thing. Kashamu was not tried before the British Courts. He only went through extradition proceedings and the extradition application failed based on the facts before the court.

“Now, that does not and cannot constitute a bar on further extradition proceedings or trial for drug crime in any other country or other courts,” Ngige said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has appealed the judgement delivered by Justice Okon Abang on May 27, 2015 upholding the fundamental human rights enforcement suit by Kashamu, quashing the extradition proceedings initiated against Kashamu by the AGF and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. The government also appealed another order issued on June 8, 2015 by Justice Ibrahim Buba also of the Federal High Court, Lagos, restraining the NDLEA from taking further steps on Kashamu’s extradition to the United States pending the hearing and determination of his contempt application against AGF and NDLEA. When the matter came up before Justice Buba, Ngige told the court that he had been briefed by the office of the AGF to handle the matter, adding that an appeal against the ruling of the court made on June 8 had been filed.

APC working to end crisis — Oyegun

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HE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, has assured that the party is working around the clock to resolve the crisis that has rocked it in recent times, to pave the way for the party to fulfill its campaign promises to Nigerians. ‘’The party has reached out to all interested parties, and when the National Assembly resumes next week, Nigerians will see one harmonious, happy APC family,’’ Chief Oyegun said in a statement he issued in Abuja on Friday. ‘’We owe it to our party, our teeming members and supporters and indeed all Nigerians who reposed so much confidence in us by voting us into office to quickly put the unfortunate incidents of the recent past behind us and forge ahead,’’ he said.

In the meantime, the APC Chairman has risen to the defence of the party ’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who is being vilified in his home state of Kwara for signing the statement conveying the party’s reaction to the election of the National Assembly leadership on June 9th.

Chief Oyegun said Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s statement was issued with the knowledge and consent of the party, hence it would be wrong for anyone to make him a sacrificial lamb for carrying out his party responsibilities.

El-Rufa’i stops free Ramadan rice, oil, sugar

BY AGAJU MADUGBA

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ADUNA State Governor, Malam Nasir ElRufa’i, has ordered a stop to government’s free distribution of grains during fasting in the month of Ramadan.

The Governor said that his administration would not continue with what he described as the People’s Democratic Party’s culture of sharing state’s resources.

“I have been made to understand that this Ramadan period, we are supposed to have started sharing rice, milk and sugar, but we will not do that,” El-Rufa’i said yesterday at the Government House.

He spoke when the executive members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) visited him.

El-Rufa’i explained that he took the decision to stop the annual tradition of distribution of the products because he does not want government to be involved in religious affairs, more so, according to him, “as the government is broke.

“If his government continues in such direction, the administration will only exist to pay salaries and allowances.

“This beautiful office complex in which we are cost the government about N10 billion.

“The Deputy Governor and I would not have built this when there are many masses-oriented projects yet to be executed, but it has been built, we have to use.’’

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

B-R-I-E-F-S Oshimili Council honours Asagba

“PDP senators will defend Saraki, Ekweremadu”

By Joseph Erunke

Five out of the nine suspects involved in the CBN and other Banks fraud were granted bail yesterday. A lawyer to one of the suspects whose bail was refused by the judge, Chief Nathaniel Oke (SAN) addresing journalist afer the ruling.

The senator was reacting to recent statement credited to former Kano State

governor and senator representing Kano Central, Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso and other aggrieved inter-

est groups that the emergence of the two leaders was faulty.

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SHIMILI South Local Government Council has renamed the Director Labour Agency, DLA, Road (DLA) after the Asagba of Asaba Kingdom Obi (Prof.)

Chike Edozien while Vanguard newspaper has been named as official media for the 90th birthday anniversary of the Octogenarian in July.

Oshimili South Local Government Chairman, Barr. Chuks Obusom who performed the brief ceremony yesterday where the old DLA road is now to be called Asagba (Prof) Chike Edozien road, with

immediate effect.

The council boss said the council has decided to honour the monarch whose tenure has brought remarkable development of infrastructure in Asaba as the capital of Delta State.

Prof. Edozien became the Asagba on July 1, 1991 which was just seven weeks before Asaba became the capital of Delta State.

Chief John Iloba who represented the Asagba at the event, said “it was an honour well deserved, coming at the time the Asagba is marking his 24 years on the throne and his 90th birthday all in July”.

HRH Igwe Micheal Oko Maduekwe joins his ancestors

highness, Only enemies of Ndigbo would call for HISIgweroyal Michael Oko Maduekwe, The Ohabuenyi 1, of Umunevo Ekweremadu’s resignation — WIC Nike Autonomous ComBy Francis Igata

T

HE World Igbo Con gress, WIC, a global network of Ndigbo has congratulated the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu on his re-election into office, declaring that “anyone asking him to resign his position is an enemy of the Igbo people”.

Also, the Enugu USA, an umbrella body of Enugu State people residing in the United States of America,

has poured encomiums on Senator Ekweremadu, describing his re-election as historic and well deserved.

In a statement signed by the Secretary-General of the WIC, Dr. Agatha Anosike and the Media Director, Dr. Acho Orabuchi, the global body under the leadership of Joe Nze Eto, felicitated with Senator Ekweremadu and all the Governors of Enugu, Imo, Abia, Delta, Ebonyi, and Rivers States on their successful election and in-

auguration.

It urged them to brace up for the implementation of their campaign promises in order to improve the quality of life of their people.

Continuing, the WIC said: “We congratulate Dr. Ike Ekweremadu for his selfless service to the country, as well as his unparalleled leadership in the Senate and ECOWAS. We are strongly behind him and will do everything to support him in office”.

Over 68% of new internet subscribers in April chose Glo — NCC report IXTY-EIGHT percent of all the new internet data subscriptions on telecom networks in Nigeria in April were made on Nigeria’s National Telecommunications Carrier, Globacom, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said.

The current Monthly Internet Subscriber Data

By Hugo Odiogor

O

A

S the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) struggles to come to terms with the emergence of Senators Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively, against its will, an opposition Peoples Democratic Party senator, Clifford Odia, has boasted that PDP and its members in the upper chamber will protect the leadership of Senate to the end of the ongoing dispensation.

To this end, Odia, who is representing Edo Central Senatorial District in the Red Chamber has warned the leadership of the APC, to steer clear of the affairs of the National Assembly, saying attempt by the party to dabble into the matters of the legislature would be strongly resisted by his party and its members.

He also boasted that no amount of conspiracy by leaders of the party to remove the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, will scale through the 8th Senate.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja,he insisted that the present leadership in the National Assembly has come to stay, saying the leaders of APC must realize that the National Assembly was an institution with representatives of different political parties.

V anguard nominated as official birthday media

by the industry regulator showed that Glo gained over a million new internet users on its network in April, 2015, thus retaining its position as the second largest data service provider in the country.

Specifically, Glo had 19,690,526 subscribers browsing on its network in

April, a sharp rise from 18,617,607 users in March. This shows a gain of 1,072,919 additional internet users on its network during the period covered by the report.

This is equivalent to 67.58% of total number of new internet subscriber figure of 1,587,514 for all the telecom networks for

munity, Enugu North, Local Government Area of Enugu State has joined his ancestors.

According to a press release by his family and signed by the Palace Secretary, Ohabuenyi passed on the 24th of April, 2015 after a protracted illness. •Igwe Michael Oko Among the early sympa- Maduekwe thizers who called on the The Chairman of Enugu family were the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, North Local Government Rev. Raph Nwoye, the Dis- Area of Enugu State, tinguished Senator Prince whom the late Igwe was Gil Nnaji, who remarked his uncle, also paid glowthat the Igwe lived an ex- ing tributes to the late Ohabuenyi. emplary life.

April.

Conversely, the NCC data showed that MTN lost 384,487 internet subscribers in April, after it recorded 39,520,285 users, down from 39,904,772 in March 2015. Airtel Nigeria, it said, had 17.2 million internet users in April, as against 16,603,147 customers recorded in March.

Amauzam Ugbawka community elects new executives

T

HE Amauzam U g b a w k a autonomous community in Nkanu East Local Government area of Enugu state recently elected a new executive to pilot the affairs of the community in the next four years. Speaking after the election, the newly elected President General, Chief Boniface Okoli, thanked members of the community for the honour done to him by electing him to serve.

He pledged that the executive under his

leadership will work very hard to consolidate the peace currently reining in the community and will champion projects to ensure rapid development of the community. He noted that he will be the first president general of the community to work with an elected Igwe and pledged to work handin-hand with Igwe to ensure that peace continues to reign and development projects

attracted to the community.

He congratulated members of the community for the orderly and peaceful manner the protracted chieftaincy title was eventually resolved and the excellent way the coronation of the Igwe (His Royal Highness, UZAM 1, of Amauzam) was done.

Chief Okoli said that his immediate priority is to galvanise members of the community to embark on projects that will lead to rapid development of

the community. He identified reconstruction of the community ’s dilapidated town hall as one of such key projects.

He stated that the executive under his leadership will explore ways of further empowering the unemployed youths and the women of the community warning that he will work with relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that the community is rid of all criminal elements.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015 — 9

BRIEFS

Ogogoro dealers protest in Yenagoa over police harassment

By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

P

RODUCERS and dis tributors of local gin, popularly known as “Ogogoro” yesterday barricaded the Ijaw House axis of Sani Abacha expressway in the heart of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital in protest over the ban of the product by the Federal Government.

Motorists and commuters were stranded on the usually busy road for hours until the State Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolo intervened and pleaded with the protesters to vacate the road to allow free passage for motorists.

The protesters were armed with placards some of which read, “Kaikai does not kill, Bayelsa Police stop harassing us”, “We use Ogogoro to train our children in school, local gin doesn’t kill, Gamalin 20 kill”, “Kaikai is use for medicinal purpose,” “Ogogoro is the only legitimate industry in the Niger Delta, banning Ogogoro is like passing death sentence on us.”

Lamenting the plight of Ogogoro dealers in the state, the Publicity Secretary of the group, “Izon Otu Keniwemo Oru yeri ogbo” Jackson Boubara, said they were compelled to stage the peaceful protest on the Sani Abacha expressway

to voice their anger over the ban on the local gin, the only legitimate thriving industry of the Ijaw and people of the Niger Delta region.

He specifically decried the high handedness of the police and the arbitrary extortion of ogogoro dealers in the state.

Boubara, a 2008 university graduate noted with sadness the Federal government blanket ban on the production and consumption of the local gin popularly known as Ogogoro saying it amounts to condemning families involved in the business to death.

“The police are capitalizing on the ban on Ogogoro to harass and extort our members.

Every Nigerian know the product has been in existence since before the Europeans came to our shores and it even competed with the white man gin in terms of quality and acceptability. So placing a blanket ban on the product because of the Port Harcourt incident is a disservice to the people of the Niger Delta.

“Our members cannot bring the products to town again because of the excesses of the police. We are suffering, we cannot meet our bills.

Our children in higher institutions that came for money cannot return to school because of the ban on production and sale of Ogogoro.”

Don’t ignore Amaechi, Northern community in South-South tells Buhari

By Jimitota Onoyume, Port Harcourt

N

ORTHERN commu nity in the South South has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to adequately reward former governor Chibuike Amaechi for the role he played in his emergence as President of the country.

Speaking at the end of a meeting of the body yesterday in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the Northern community in the SouthSouth, Alhaji Muhamadu Ali-Kwande lauded former governor Amaechi, describing him as one of the few courageous and transparent Nigerians President Buhari should have around him in government.

Alhaji Ali-Kwande recalled that Amaechi stood firmly behind Buhari during the presidential race to the point that people from his South-South Region called him all sort of names.

Continuing, he said it was now time for President Buhari to genuinely reward a man who gave him all the support even at the risk of his life, “Amaechi almost lost his life because of his support for Buhari , he stood his ground for Buhari. He said he was supporting an Hausa man because of what past Hausa Presidents have done for the state. He said the former President did not do anything for the state so he will not support him.

“Now it is the turn of Buhari to reciprocate. We thank Amaechi. And I believe that Buhari can’t for-

C M Y K

Itsekiri students warn against sale of job slots

N

AT I O N A L Association of Itsekiri Students has promised to dealt with any politician or contractor that specialises in collecting money meant for developmental projects in Itsekiri land without execution of such projects.

In a statement signed by Comrade Otikpere Precious, National President and Comrade Boyi Williams, Secretary General also warned against the sale of jobs meant for Itsekiri people to other tribes as anyone who attempt to do so would be dealt with accordingly

within the ambit of the law.

The students explained in the statement that the Itsekiri tribe contributes over 32 percent of the nation’s crude oil production, hence they should not be shortchanged in the scheme of things.

They commended, former Commissioner for Health, Delta state, Dr. Joseph Otumara, Hon. Daniel Reyenieju, Hon. Daniel Mayuku and Ugbarajo Itsekiri USA for giving the Itsekiri indigent students reasons to continue their education by awarding them scholarships.

Workers’ salaries: Ugwuanyi promises prompt payment … Demands more Study Centres from NOUN

By Francis Igata

T

HE Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue payment of workers’ salaries promptly as was the case during the administration of his predecessor, in spite of the economic challenges in the country.

The Governor made this known while receiving members of the Governing Council and Management of National Open University of Nigeria,NOUN, led by its

Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Vincent Ado Tenebe, who were at the Government House on a courtesy call.

Ugwuanyi noted that Government is a continum, adding that his administration is poised to fulfill all promises made by the past administration in the face of dwindling allocation He also demanded for more study centres for Enugu State from the University to boost education in the state and the premium his administration places on education.

Gunmen kidnapp VC as Peterside condemns act R-L: Mr. David Babajide Adepoju and Onanasa, daughter of former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi shortly after they were joined in traditional marriage at Gbagi's country home, Oginibo, Ughelli South LGA, Delta state on Thursday.

get Amaechi”, he said.

Alhaji Ali-Kwande said some Northerners voted for Buhari because of the support they saw

Amaechi giving him.

Fielding questions from newsmen on the nature of responsibility he wanted President Buhari to as-

sign Amaechi, AliKwande said it was a decision that the President was in a better position to take.

Gbagi dedicates private Catholic chapel ...Gives daughter out in marriage

By Egufe Yafugborhi

G

OVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa on Thursday commissioned a Catholic Chapel in the country home of former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbabi in what the host considered a commitment by his family to be closer to God and draw others nearer.

The occasion at Oginibo, Ughelli South council area, Delta state also coincided with Gbagi’s release of his daughter, Onanasa, in a marriage to David Babajide Adepoju from

Oyo state with President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and South South head of CAN, Arch. Bishop Goddowell Avwomakpa in attendance.

In the dedication of the private chapel officiated by the Bishop of Warri Catholic Diocese, Bishop John Afereha, represented by Vicar General of the Diocese, Rev Fr. Martins Akusu, Christians and well wishers present were asked to rededicate themselves to service of God and humanity.

In the event’s sermon,

Fr. Martins Okoro of Okwagbe Parish of the Catholic Church said, “In dedicating the temple, Gbagi has drawn God closer and make his home the house of prayer and house of God. And we all must seek that kind of closeness to God.” Shortly after, the Governor and other dignitaries where ushered into the marriage session where Babajide Adepoju, in company of his parents, family and well wishers, paid the bride price and other rites to become man and wife with Gbagi’s daughter, Onanasa.

By Jimitota Onoyume, P/Harcourt

V

ICE Chancellor, Riv ers State University of Education, Professor Mrs Rosemind Osahagolu has been abducted by unknown gunmen in the state.

She was reportedly taken hostage in her residence in Port Harcourt Thursday night.

Meantime, governorship candidate of the All

Progressives Congress APC in the April 11 election, Dr Dakuku Peterside has condemned the abduction.

“Security is critical to development and the wellbeing of citizens,” said Dr. Peterside. ‘’No society can achieve any meaningful progress in an atmosphere of continuous fear and intimidation. I believe the protection of life and property should naturally top the priority list of government.

Kumuyi charges Christians to shun double mindedness

By Ochuko Akuopha, Oleh

G

E N E R A L Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams F. Kumuyi has charged Christians to shun double mindedness and be unwavering in their faith in God. Giving the charge during his one week crusade in Delta State, Kumuyi lamented that many Christians were living in perpetual fear as

a result of double mindedness.

Kumuyi held the crusade in Asaba, the state capital, Ogwashi-Uku, Agbor, Kwale, Sapele, Bomadi and Abraka.

He stressed the need for Christians to remain steadfast and single minded in their faith in God so as to reap His abundant blessings of salvation, healing and deliverance, saying double minded people are powerless people.

10 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

B-R-I-E-F-S Gunmen kill 13 villagers in Kaduna communities

21-year-old American admits killing blacks R to start a race war T HE 21-year-old white man suspected of gunning down nine people at a historic black church in South Carolina has confessed to the crime, US media reported Friday, citing unnamed officials.

One law enforcement official said that the alleged shooter Dylann Roof told investigators that he “wanted to start a race war” when he walked into the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston on Wednesday night and opened fire on a Bible study class.

All of the victims were black.

Roof — who was arrested in North Carolina on Thursday and brought back to South Carolina after he opted not to fight extradition — was due in court later Friday for a bond hearing.

“We are getting cooperation at this point,” another official said.

Two sources also confirmed that Roof — whose Facebook page includes a picture of him wearing the flags of defunct white supremacist regimes in South Africa and Rhodesia — has confessed.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said Friday she believed Roof should face the death penalty if convicted. Capital punishment is legal in the southern state.

“This is an absolute hate crime,” she told NBC’s “Today” show.

“We will absolutely will want him to have the death penalty. This is the worst hate that I’ve seen and the country has seen in a long time,” she said.

“We will fight this and we will fight this as hard as we can.”

The carnage was the worst at a US place of worship in decades and recalled the darkest periods of US history, in a church once burned to the ground after a failed slave revolt.

The young white man , Dylann Roof has been charged with nine murders, city police said Friday.

Charleston Police said on Twitter that 21-year-old Dylann Roof would face a bond hearing at 2:00 pm (1800 GMT). He has been charged with the killings as well as possession of a firearm during a violent crime.

Several US media outlets have reported that Roof confessed to investigators that he walked into the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston on Wednesday night and opened fire on a Bible study class.

The carnage was the

C M Y K

BY AGAJU MADUGBA

EPORTS from Katsak village of Jema’a local gov ernment area of Kaduna state say that about nine persons were killed by unidentified gunmen, in the early hours of Thursday.

A similar attack, according to the reports, also occurred at the Ungwan Danborno community of Birnin Gwari local government area where five other persons were also murdered.

A total of about 15 persons were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries during the incidents.

Confirming the attacks in a statement yesterday, Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i, conveyed his sympathy to families of the victims.

El-Rufa’i said that series of comprehensive measures were being designed to tackle the problem and secure sustainable peace across the state.

The Governor said that he was determined to work with the security agencies and the judiciary to end what he described as the epidemic of killings and the impunity that feeds it.

According to the statement, “government is working to contain the killings and criminal acts menacing Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Kaura, Sanga, Jema’a and Zangon Kataf local government areas.

Executive Chairman, Lee Engineering and Construction Limited, Dr. Leemon Ikpea (l) in a handshake with IG Solomon Arase (m) during a visit to the Police Headquarters in Abuja yesterday, with them is Managing Director Raji Roma Limited, Lagos, Mr. Fransco Corona. worst at a US place of worship in decades. All of the victims were black.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said Friday she believed Roof should face the death penalty if convicted. Capital punishment is legal in the southern state.

Quiet loner or racist monster — who is Charleston suspect?

A week ago, Dylann Roof is said to have bragged that he wanted to kill a bunch of people.

But the skinny 21-yearold high school dropout with a boyish bowl-style haircut — and a menacing, deadeyed scowl, at least in a photo on Facebook — apparently has a dry wit. So no one paid attention.

In the end, Roof — middle name Storm — seems to have been very, very serious.

The South Carolina man was to appear in court Fri-

day, charged with nine counts of murder in a shooting rampage in an historic African American church in Charleston. Roof is white; the victims were all black.

Conflicting descriptions are emerging of the latest protagonist in a mass shooting in racially tense, gun-crazed America.

Roof was quiet and introverted — a soft-spoken loner, one narrative says.

No, he was a bomb waiting to go off, bristling with hatred — a calculating believer in racial segregation.

Indeed, he wanted to kill blacks to stir up another war, says the opposing one.

An uncle of Roof, Carson Cowles, is quoted as saying Roof’s paroxysm of violence at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church came out of the blue.

Cowles said he got word

to turn on the television Thursday when Roof was identified in surveillance footage from outside the church as the suspect in the shooting.

Roof allegedly sat in on a Bible study class for an hour before opening fire on the worshippers around him, and left some alive to tell about it afterwards.

“I watched it for 10 minutes, trying to convince myself this is just a nightmare, and I need to wake up,” Cowles was quoted as saying in the Los Angeles Times.

“None of us saw it coming, but here we are, and there’s no turning back,” said Cowles.

But Roof himself told investigators he wanted to start a race war, one law enforcement official told CNN Friday.

Sanctioning Saraki, Dogara ’ll be counter productive — Ogunjebe

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

A

LAGOS based pub lic affairs analyst, Dayo Ogunjebe has cautioned the All Progressives Congress, APC, against sanctioning the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives , Alhaji Yakubu Dogara for contesting the National Assembly leadership polls, saying such move would be counterproductive for the party.

He also said that the emergence of Saraki and Dogara, should serve as a caution to the APC against underrating the Peoples Democratic Par-

ty, PDP. Briefing newsmen yesterday in Lagos, Ogunjebe said the outcome reflects the fact that the country is fast maturing in its democratic journey.

He further stated that the NASS has asserted its independence as an autonomous arm of government devoid of external influences, saying the development portends good omen for the country in its democratic journey.

His words: “The election of the leadership of the two chambers of our National Assembly is a gladdening feat that must be applauded by

all and sundry who mean well for the country. The outcome shows that we have indeed matured in our democratic experiment.

“I understand the position of the APC on this issue but the reality on ground is such that they should live with the consequences of the action of its members. In any case, they are still members of the APC, so rather than wield the big stick, they should bring them closer and indeed apologize to the Senate President, Speaker, the National Assembly and all Nigerians for their outbursts, which were uncalled for.”

Dogara laments state of Nigerian economy

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG.

S

PEAKER of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yaku bu Dogara has said the state of Nigeria’s economy is at the state of unmitigated disaster and needs the contribution of every stakeholder to be addressed before the country gets into serious trouble.

Dogara stated this yesterday in Jos while speaking with newsmen and assured government is working hard to rescue the economy from total collapse and appealed for support from the citizenry.

The Speaker expressed confidence that the House of Representatives under his leadership would experience peace and stability stressing “stability of an Assembly is anchored on fairness and justice, equal treatment for all irrespective of their background.”

Commenting on the alleged jumbo pay for lawmakers, he added, “most of the figures being branded about as the salaries of National Assembly members were far from reality. The lawmakers don’t fix their salaries but Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission.

“People should take the benefit of Freedom of Information Act to seek for information on that from the Agency, I do know that our salary is not in the region of N1 million per month.

“There are discussion going on relating to allowances being paid to members, this is a matter under our watch, we intend to bring this to front burner of national discourse. We have started it, as soon as we take root in the House of Representatives, position will be taken on this.

“This will be done by competent CSO in conjunction with development partner that we are discussing with that would help us conduct the needed assessment. By the time that the need assessment would be out, every Nigerian will know the true state of things.”

Ambode names Agosu as Ag GEO of LSDPC

L

AGOS State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday approved the appointment of Engineer Jacob Agosu as the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC).

Governor Ambode also approved the immediate reorganization of the LSDPC to stem the tide of negative capital returns in the corporation, according to a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Habib Aruna.

“Consequently, Mr Taofeek Abiodun Oki, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer and three Principal officers of Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSPDC) have been relieved of their appointment” he said.

Prior to his new appointment, Engineer Jacob Agosu was the Deputy General Manager (Joint Ventures) in the Corporation and a member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Nigeria Institute of Structural Engineers.

He joined the services of the LSDPC in March 1984.

See more news on page 45

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—11

•President Buhari

Highways to hell How Buhari can avert fuel tanker tragedies on Nigeria’s highways

BY CHIOMA GABRIEL

T

he spate of fuel tanker explosions on Nigerian highways is getting curious by the day, once again, raising questions about what has became of the rail-line projects of past administrations as an alternative routes to Nigerian highways. Nigeria bemoans losses everyday caused by heavy duty vehicles on the nation’s C M Y K

highways but yet nothing concrete is being done to alleviate the problems, a situation which postures the nation as one whose leaders play the fiddle while the country burns. Otherwise, the leadership of any serious country would call a spade by name and tackle the issue head-on.

Within a space of one week, four fuel tanker fire accidents occurred in Nigeria’s two major

cities claiming lives and destroying properties. The first incident was at Onitsha which claimed over 70 lives at Upper Iweka in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State.

Nigerian leaders were always quick to send condolence messages to victims and their families but the question of bringing a permanent solution was clearly forgotten. It was not the first time Nigeria was experiencing fuel tanker fire on the highway but nothing serious was ever

done. Typical of Nigeria, while the inferno raged, men of the fire service always tend to arrive late at the scene to extinguish the fire.

Condolence messages were still flying over each other to get to the victims and their family members when another accident occurred in Lagos.

Here, another fuel tanker conveying 33,000 litres of petrol exploded at IyanaIpaja, Lagos, and injured no fewer than 14 persons, gutting about 21 vehicles and razing 44 shops.

The incident also completely burnt down five buildings and six tricycles, even though officials of the Lagos State Fire Service and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) responded to the distress call of residents in the neighbourhood.

The tanker driver had reportedly lost control at Iyana-Ipaja due to fatigue and the tanker swerved roadside and fell just a few metres away from the middle of the bridge, thus leading to the spill of its content and outbreak of fire that gutted buildings and vehicles within the vicinity.

Nigerians were still lamenting the tragedy at Iyana-Ipaja when yet another occurred at Idimu in Alimosho local government of Lagos. The petrol tanker fire incident destroyed property worth millions of naira and no fewer than 34 buildings, 70 shops, one tricycle, one truck and other property were consumed by the fire ignited by a fallen petrol-laden tanker.

As usual, the governor visited the venue and promised that he would ensure that those who lost

Continues on page 12

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

‘What Buhari should know’

Continues on page 11 property to the fire got back to normal business life.

Before this time, related incidents have been recorded in Badagry, where the driver of a tanker conveying 33,000 litres of diesel was contesting the road with a tipper, and in Ejigbo where fire razed a building.

During his visit to the scene of the tanker fire disaster in Onitsha, Anambra governor, Willie Obiano reportedly broke down and wept.

In Lagos, the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode blamed frequent fuel tanker explosions in the state on carelessness and indiscipline of the truck drivers.

He also promised to help those who lost properties and shops.

But the truth of the matter remains that the era of weeping, sending condolence messages or apportioning blames should be jettisoned.

The Nigerian government should sit up to its responsibility and do the right to push the tankers off the roads.

All the fuel tankers lifting fuel from the tank farms along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway have done tremendous damages on the high ways, causing death, pain and gridlocks on the highways. A time has come for government to seek a permanent C M Y K

solution instead of temporary palliatives. Nigerians are familiar with the tragedy of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway which appears to have defied solution . But history is pointing accusing fingers at past and present administrations which neglected its civic responsibility to the people.

Fuel tankers from all the states in the North, the South-East and the South-South states come to Lagos to lift fuel and besiege the highways causing the type of tragedy we have recorded recently at Onitsha and Lagos.

The poor situation of some of Nigerian highways have not helped issues.

The problem traverses between bomb crater-sized potholes, roads resembling muddy rivers in the annual rainy season and the carelessness of tanker drivers.

In Lagos, the road situation has gotten worse and most unbearable with the traffic situation and congestion of the highways which daily causes pain and loss to people and businesses.

The real problem If past Nigerian governments have made good their promises

of constructing new rail-lines or rehabilitating old ones, that would have moved heavy-duty vehicles off the highways and restrict them to the rails especially those travelling long distances from Lagos where they lift fuel to other cities and states. With an effective rail system, tankers coming from Sokoto, Maiduguri and the Northern states or from the South East and South-South states would not pass through the highways.

If our refineries were functional, all the tankers in Nigeria would not have any business coming to Lagos to lift fuel as refineries in PortHarcourt, Warri and Kaduna would have taken care of that.

Nigerian government has to revisit the issue of rail-lines as an alternative in order to ease heavy duty vehicles and trucks off the highways.

In every ramification, the current road networks around Nigeria are inadequate for the operations of the trucks, tankers and the likes. In civilized climes, ports the size of the ones in Apapa have rails and expansive road networks serving them. But Nigeria cannot boast of an effective rail system.

During the second republic, President Shehu Shagari’s

If our refineries were functional, all the tankers in Nigeria would not have any business coming to Lagos to lift fuel as refineries in Port-Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna would have taken care of that

government awarded a contract for the 974km Lagos – Sokoto Expressway leading through Badagry and Agbara to Sokoto. The distance is a day’s travel time of 765 Minutes or 12 hours, 45 minutes. Shagari’s proposal was a ring road that would evacuate goods from Apapa ports through the Badagry Expressway to Sokoto, the contract of which the Shagari regime reportedly had awarded.

Many alleged it was awarded to Fougerolle Vs Fougerolle and nothing else was heard about it. This major road construction would have strengthened the rails too, including a new line from Calabar port through Gombe to Maiduguri. That project did not see the light of the day.

With the palace coup of December 31 that ousted the regime of President Shehu Shagari who initiated the projects, the ideas died.

Indeed whatever solution that would nail the menace in the nation’s highways must consider the volume of tankers lifting fuel from tank farms along Apapa ports

Continues on page 13

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—13

Continues on page 12 which have crowded the roads in and around Lagos and extended to other cities in Nigeria. Almost everything used by Nigerians is imported and more than 80 per cent of the imports are through Apapa ports and are transported along the highways. Tankers and containers should be restricted to rail-lines.

Nigeria appears to be wasting resources, investing billions of Naira on the present road networks and then watching them turn back to ruins in months.

According to stakeholders, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the other major highways that lead in and out of Nigerian cities are bearing burdens meant for the rails.

Tankers that lift petroleum products are usurping the role of the rails. They are a disruptive alternative. Poor government decisions are also contributory to this problem.

If the rails were operating, fewer trailers would jam Nigerian roads and other cities. As far back as year 2000, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had taken a cursory look at the entire scenario and had suggested that only the completion of the Lagos–Sokoto Expressway would solve the problem.

Tinubu had then urged the Federal Government to as a matter of priority, embark on the completion of the Lagos-Sokoto Expressway as a panacea for making the federal highways within Lagos state more durable.

According to him, “the Lagos Port-Sokoto Highway would take pressure off the highways within the state. The Lagos- Harcourt Harcourt coastal link road should also be given the same priority as the twin effort will impact positively on the safety of lives and property on the road”.

He had further advised that tolls be taken on the two road networks via a private sector involvement that would provide the federal government with the needed revenue for the roads’ execution.

During Obasanjo’s regime as civilian president, his government had directed the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure the completion of the BadagrySokoto Highway which the government said was actually kick-started during Obasanjo’s first tenure as military Head of State more than three decades ago before handing it over to Shagari’s government.

Railway as panacea for the problem The Nigerian railway system is about 115 years old. Between 1898 and 1964, Nigeria had reportedly built a network of narrow gauge rail lines totaling 3,505 km. In 1986, the Federal Government commenced the construction of 274 km standard gauge line from Itakpe – Ajaokuta - Warri Port. In February 2011, the FGN commenced the construction of 187km Abuja – Kaduna standard gauge.

C M Y K

‘Railway as panacea for the problem’ Before 2010, most of rail tracks have suffered deterioration because of long neglect and lack of maintenance which is further compounded by flooding. In a bid to turnaround the railways nationwide, the Federal Government articulated a 25year strategic rail vision containing milestones for future programmes of development in the Nigerian railways to be implemented in three stages starting with the construction of new lines and extensions to key economic centres (i.e. cement factories, refineries, agricultural zones, mining sites, power plants e.g.

Kaduna 200MW plant ), state capitals, seaports, River ports, airports and tourism centres.

There was also the connection of Tincan, Onne, Calabar and Warri ports with rail lines; and connecting the Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kaduna, Jos, Minna, Ilorin, Ibadan, Maiduguri Airports with rail lines. Pursuant to this strategic vision, the rehabilitation of over 90% of the entire existing narrow gauge lines throughout the country was commissioned but the level of completion of some of them is not yet determined.

The western line; Lagos – Kano was completed and passenger services and haulage of goods along the line was flagged off in December 2012 while the Eastern line Port Harcourt-Maiduguri was expected to have been completed before the end of 2013. But one cannot state the efficiency of these rail-lines. If they were efficient, the pressure would have taken off the road and disasters like experienced in Onitsha and Lagos recently.

What Buhari should know In one of her comments, former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jumoke Akinjide had blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for the traffic problems and disasters faced daily by commuters in Lagos and other cities in Nigeria.

Akinjide had said that the fault lies on President Buhari’s shoulders due to his termination of the Lagos Metroline project initiated by the Alhaji Lateef Jakande for the purpose of easing traffic in Lagos. According to her, Buhari had terminated the project during his tenure as Head of State between December 1983 and August 1985. She said that, “The visionary Jakande administration had concluded all

Nigeria appears to be wasting resources, investing billions of Naira on the present road networks and then watching them turn back to ruins in months

the plans to finance the project, putting everything in place for its successful execution. My father, Richard Akinjide (SAN), provided the legal frame work in his capacity as the Attorney General at the time, and the state government had deposited $50m after securing a $450m loan at six per cent fixed interest rate for 25 years. At the time the project was cancelled, the government had paid part of the loan and, therefore, had no worry about financing the project, but Buhari stopped the project. He went ahead to pay another $500 million which was almost enough to complete the project, as fine to the foreign company handling the project for terminating the contract”. The Lagos metro-line project if successfully executed would have also helped ease the traffic around major highways in Lagos.

Jakande had paid the full amount of $100 million, eighty five million pounds for Inter Alpha to come and start it and the military came and cancelled it.

Expressing his dismay over the cancellation of the Lagos metro rail-line, first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, had also blamed the duo of former President Shehu

Continues on page 14

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

‘15 railway projects mapped for completion in 2015 across Nigeria’

Continues from page 13 Shagari and former military ruler, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) for the cancellation of the project which he initiated to solve the traffic problem in the metropolis in 1983. Jakande, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, had accused Shagari of ordering the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to release N70 million mobilisation fund for the metro line project.

According to him, “President Shagari was angry for two reasons. First, I did not congratulate him on his reelection in 1983. Second, he stopped the fund because I was not his party member” The scrapping in 1985 of the metroline project by the military regime of Muhammad Buhari was at a loss of over $78 million to the Lagos tax payers. The idea of developing a light rail network for Lagos was revived

by Governor Bola Tinubu in the early 2000s with a formal announcement of its construction in December 2003.

This initial $135 million proposal was part of the greater Lagos Urban Transportation Project to be implemented by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

LAMATA initially concentrated on developing a Bus Rapid Transit system, running from Mile 12 to Lagos Island. In 2008, LAMATA began also to make progress with the rail project, focusing initially on the Blue Line and the Red Line.

Why I cancelled Lagos metroline project – Buhari Explaining the cancellation of the Lagos metro-line project, President Buhari during his presidential campaign in Lagos said he cancelled the Lagos C M Y K

metroline project because he did not want to take more loans or devalue the naira.

At the presentation of his party’s manifesto during his campaign in Lagos, Buhari had explained that when he got into power in 1983, the relatively stable economy which was handed over to the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, had been badly plundered and corruption was rife in every sector. He said that the rail line project was meant to cost N100m, which was a large sum of money then, and the Federal Government was asked to guarantee the loan meant for the project.

He said, “Then, we didn’t know how much debt was on us as a nation and we felt that we should not add another N100m to it. I had to set up two committees to assess how much we owed and we promised not to take more loans or to devalue the naira but to develop the economy.”

Buhari further argued that tagging him an enemy of Lagos State because he cancelled that project was mischievous and unfair, stating that the first one billion naira he spent when he was heading Petroleum Trust Fund was on Victoria Island and Ikoyi waterworks in Lagos.

But the big question is what happens now? Will his administration continue what it stopped in 1983 and make the dream a reality in 2015-2019?

15 railway projects mapped for completion in 2015 across Nigeria It was recorded that about 15 different railway projects were penciled down for completion between 2014 and 2015, according to reports. The completion of these rail projects

across cities in Nigeria could perhaps bounce back positively on the highways across cities in Nigeria. N1.61trn was recorded for the projected. According to a document on the 2013 capital projects of key federal ministries , 13 of the projects were to receive attention at a total cost of N44.35bn. A detailed analysis of the development projects by the Centre for Social Justice, however, indicated a difference of over 50 per cent between what was proposed for railway in 2013 and the amount prepared for the transport mode in the 2015 budget.

The railway investment, it was learnt, would involve the construction of new rail lines across the country and rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge lines. Money was also voted for some railway projects last year, including the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Kano rail track. Top on the list of projects in this year’s budget is the construction of new Lagos-Ibadan rail line on standard gauge at a cost of N8.6bn. A sum of N229.5bn was approved for this stretch of rail line under the Transformation Agenda of former President Jonathan. The former Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, had last year announced that the project was set to commence and gave the contract sum as $1.5bn.

The plan is to take the new line to Kano on a standard gauge double line. The government also provided N3.56bn in this year’s budget for the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna rail line. A total sum of N243bn was voted for the project. The old Lagos-Kano rail line was recently inaugurated after its rehabilitation. The breakdown shows that the maintenance of Lagos-Jebba end and Jebba-Kano end will attract N700m each. The rehabilitation of another old rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, also got N1.2bn this year. The Ajaokuta-Warri rail line

If there would ever be a permanent solution to the problem of fuel tanker accidents on Nigeria’s highways, Nigeria would have to go back to the basics

should be ready this year with a provision of N4.1bn for its completion and the rehabilitation of the earlier constructed stretch.

About 22 kilometres from Ovu to Warri, which had remained uncompleted for a long time, received N7.6bn under former President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda. The feasibility studies for the preparation of tender documents on East-West rail line attracted N195bn. A total of N200m was provided in last year’s budget to commence the studies. The government had earlier in the year reopened the old Lagos-Kano line, after its rehabilitation by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Costain West Africa Plc. A total of N12.2bn was earmarked for the project. Despite these expenditures on rails, nothing seems to have been done.

If these rail-lines were effectively completed, would the chaos on the roads have remained?

What experts think

If there would ever be a permanent solution to the problem of fuel tanker accidents on Nigeria’s highways, Nigeria would have to go back to the basics. This according to a senior engineer with the Ministry of Works who preferred anonymity is the only near-permanent solution to the problem of fuel tankers on Nigerian roads.

Speaking to Saturday Vanguard , the official said that what started the problem was lack of vision on the part of those at the helm of affairs over the years.

“Those who were in charge of affairs then did not envisage the current problem because they lacked foresight. If they were more proactive, they should know that the Lagos city development is an ongoing thing and should be able to project what should be the situation in ten, fifteen, twenty years. If you really want to know, I would say that lack of patriotism and commitment are highly contributory to the problem and like you asked about the LagosSokoto road project, the new government can wake up the project as a near-permanent solution to the highway issues in Nigeria. “ There is need for a total overhaul of the rail system in Nigeria. Tankers come all the way from Sokoto, Maiduguri, Kano and other parts of Nigeria to Lagos to lift fuel .

If the tankers are off today, tomorrow they would all rush back and block the roads and that is our problem. They park on top of the bridges for days thereby weakening their life span. “So, the road should be made a priority or things will continue to deteriorate.

I blame it on lack of vision because if it were elsewhere, they would have projected how the road would be in the next ten,twenty, thirty years, fifty years and since they failed to do that, it has now become a problem.” For President Buhari who was blamed for misdeeds of the past, the time to make up for it is now. Whatever was not done efficiently in the past could be corrected now. The search light should be on the rails as an effective alternative.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—15

NGF:

A body of creative minds or pressure group for power mongering?

•Why Nigerians should rise against them — Chekwas Okorie, Ozekhome

series of disagreements with NGF on some issues, especially the excess crude oil receipts, revenue receipts from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Sovereign Wealth Fund and dwindling national revenue resources to the federation account.

At the time, many of governors could not understand the sense behind “saving for the rainy season”. All they wanted was money, money and nothing but more money in their custody. It didn’t matter what they spent the money on. All they wanted was to have the money.

And you can bet that the development prompted a conflagration that eventually serrated the forum. Perhaps, that was the first time, a sitting president decided to call their bluff even though it backfired.

In the ensued imbroglio, former Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Jonah Jang emerged as a rival chairman to former Governor Chibuike Ameachi of Rivers State who actually won the election.

Since then, their meeting became ineffective.

But the meeting resurrected last month when another issue of money cropped up. Then, they formed a common front to, again, make more demands on the federal government.

This time, it is a bailout of the states that are bankrupt.

In fact, the governors in their configuration and nature inherent from the constitution can never take responsibility for any failure even when they have all the money in the federation account. It is always the federal government that is to blame for Nigeria’s failure.

Even if this is partly true they hugely contribute.

Bankrupt States

•Former NGF members

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

I

t is supposed to be a body of creative minds and problem solvers but unfortunately, it has practically become a burden on the nation, always playing Oliver Twist in financial matters but doing little to improve the economy. What exactly is the responsibility of Nigeria’s Governors Forum, NGF? Is it constitutional? Were the governors of Nigerian States elected to form a pressure or provide service and leadership?

Read in this special report how the governors of Nigerian States have turned themselves into trade unionists.

If they are not trade unionists, C M Y K

then, they would be greatly encumbered to give themselves a different, convincing identity.

Otherwise, they are not likely to wriggle themselves out of the web of negative impressions their actions always convey. But to many people, trade unionists are what they are. Yet some people see them as a pressure group while many simply tag them Oliver Twist, always asking for more. This is what they have become.

From their various States, they, periodically assemble in Abuja under one umbrella, Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, chiefly pursuing two things: to make financial demands and apportion political offices to themselves or scheme on how to occupy political offices. Nothing more,

nothing less.

Sometimes, when their demands are not sailing through, they resort to the use of all political subterfuges and maneuvering. Occasions were when verbal fisticuffs, mudslinging and legal safaris were their handy tools of “war”.

Unfortunately, their victims have always been the federal government and the president, any president. And you can bet that when money is involved, their political platforms do not matter. What now matters is meeting their demands. At all costs.

For instance, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo got a a taste of that but not as much as former President Goodluck Jonathan did. Jonathan had a

Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, chiefly pursuing two things: to make financial demands and apportion political offices to themselves or scheme on how to occupy political offices.

Nothing more, nothing less

At the moment, 18 States have been confirmed bankrupt and cannot pay workers’ salaries. In fact, some of the the states are owing arrears up to 7 months. Yet, the federal government is blamed for it.

So, what happened to the funds so far allocated to them?

According to the Nigeria Labour Congress, the states owing salaries include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers and Zamfara. Can you imagine Akwa Ibom owing salaries with the flamboyancy displayed by the “owners” of the state?

But the NGF wouldn’t relent. They are still meeting. The subject matter Continues on page 16

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

‘The new set of demands’

•Former NGF members

Continues from page 15 is still money. And on Wednesday in Abuja, they opened up, saying that they wanted a review of the revenue allocation to enable them get money to pay salaries. That is it.

The new set of demands To this end, they now want the Federal Government to have 52 percent allocation of the national resources while states have 36 percent to enable them concentrate on the development of their various states. The current revenue formula stands at 52.68 percent for Federal Government, 26.72 for States and 20.60 for Local Government.

Hear the chairman of the forum and governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdullazeez Yari, who spoke to Journalists.

“Well, we discussed that extensively, and we are trying to see that we find a lasting solution to it. The Federal Government is also affected, so it is a problem of the entire nation. Therefore, we are going to send the communiqué to the president so that we can get a lasting solution to it.”

But on a serious note, the recurring supplication exposes them. Though they may be quick to defend their action on the basis that most of the resources domiciled in their states are under the control of the federation, that may not suffice to justify why a governor should not be creative in his state.

Now, imagine a governor as a branch manager of a C M Y K

multinational company where he is expected to deploy his intellectual, creative sense to make money for the company and then gets promotion. One year after, the branch didn’t generate money or make any returns. The second year, the same situation. To pay workers of that branch, he runs to the company’s headquarters, cap in hand, begging for money.

Fine. He gets lucky the first and second times. Yet the situation persists. No progress.

Would he dare go back the third time, asking for money?

Problem.

This may not be a perfect example. But it is a working one which X-rays the situations in Nigeria. Loans taken are not invested in what will fetch returns. Resources in the states are not tapped.

Internally Generated Revenue is all about taxation and not about creating wealth. Every governor banks largely on federal allocation.

The governor Nigerians desire A working, nay creative governor, knowing the economic viability of his state could raise more than enough money to pay workers salary.

He should be creative otherwise, he is not fit for leadership. But that is not the case in Nigeria. Very unfortunate. What if oil was not in Nigeria? How do people in non oil producing states survive?

Now, the economy is down and the governors can still afford to fly in private jets, travel to choice places and lead

stupendous and ostentatious lives at the expense of the state and the civil servants. The worst is that in some states, there are no visible infrastructural developments.

Indeed, one would have imagined an NGF that will discuss the issues of public importance away from their self aggrandizement when it meets.

If the members care a little, just a little, they can commonly raise money even from their respective salaries, allowances and security votes to help pay salaries of workers and use resources to create wealth instead of waiting for the federal government all the time. But that has not happened? Not at as yesterday, not even today. All they care about is just for themselves.

Hardly for the States even in booms. Though, there could be a few amongst the governors who had distinguished themselves and showed, still showing leadership, many of them are simply opportunists.

Do we name them? No need.

Nigerians have good memory of them.

And this is according to some Nigerians who spoke exhaustively to Saturday Vanguard on the subject matter.

Now, they have elected to convey their demands to President Mohammadu Buhari.

Would they do that as a trade union, socio-cultural organization, a pressure group, a non Government Organization, NGO or just what?

Today in Nigeria, there are People’s Democratic Party’s, PDP Governors forum, Progressives Governors Forum,

They now want the Federal Government to have 52 percent allocation of the national resources while states have 36 percent to enable them concentrate on the development of their various states

Speakers Forum and Senators forum. This is not all. There are the ridiculous ones: Former Governors forum, Former senators forum, Former House of Representatives members forum, and the list goes endlessly. Of what impact?

Your guess is as good as mine. Meanwhile, below are the views of some Nigerians on the composition, configuration and modus oparandi of NGF.

It is a forum of cabals— Dr. Chekwas

Okorie, National Chairman, United Progressives Party, UPP “I have never been enamoured of the Nigerian Governors Forum from its inception. The Nigerian Constitution has no provision for the establishment of the Nigerian Governors Forum and it is not also contemplated by any of its provisions, in spite of the conventional provision of Freedom of Association. The Governors Forum is at best a Trade Union of Governors in terms of its content, character and modus operandi. This unconstitutional Forum has no socio-cultural, economic or political value. I have not seen how it has helped to deepen democracy in Nigeria.

“It operates as a cabal and a Pressure Group, often

Continues on page 17

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—17

Continues from page 16 deployed to blackmail the Federal Government, to extort certain benefits that have not impacted on the people they govern in their various States. The Forum often pressurizes the Federal Government to allow its members make nominations for ministerial appointments and other Federal appointments not with any altruistic intention to nominate persons of proven integrity and merit but rather to patronize their stooges. This in itself is a form of corruption that Nigerians must rise to resist.

“President Muhammadu Buhari should not lend his credibility and goodwill to an extraconstitutional contraption called Nigerian Governors Forum. To receive this body as a Union to discuss matters of State is an aberration. The Constitution has established the Council of States which provides the platform for the Governors and others who are qualified to belong to the Council the opportunity to ventilate their views and canvass their positions on issues of national importance and issues that are peculiar to their States. In addition to this, each of these Governors irrespective of their Political Parties and ideological leanings (if any) have direct access to the President and Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces to deal with issues that will require presidential intervention which may not have to wait till the next Council of States meeting is convened.

“The business of governing a State is a serious business which requires the energy, intellect, capacity and all the time available to a Governor. A State Government should not exist only to disburse Federal Revenue Allocations from the Federal Government, award contracts and occasionally make public show of supervising the execution of such contracts. A State Government should be imaginative and creative in exploring and exploiting the comparative advantage of the State in growing the State economy, creating jobs and generating Internal Revenue in order to be competitive and developing, and self sustaining.

“The several meetings of the Nigerian Governors Forum are no more than a jamboree, wasteful and unproductive. It is not on record that any profound policy option to improve governance in Nigeria or deepen our democratic process has ever emanated from the Nigerian Governors Forum since its inception. It is ridiculous that the Forum has further been divided into Forum of Governors of Political Parties while still converging at some other level as Forum of all the Governors.

“As Forum of Governors of Political Parties they constitute themselves into an unnecessary intrusion into the administration of Political Parties even when the Constitution of their Political Parties have no organ called Governors Forum. This is yet another nuisance value that elected Governors have introduced into the political

•Chekwas Okorie

•Mike Ozekeme

Why Nigerians should rise against NGF — Ozekhome system. They know that it costs tax payers of their various States enormous amount in State income to foot the bills of these Governors junketing across the country. The situation is made worse by their wives who have joined in this craze to form Governors Wives Forum to join their husbands in plundering the scarce resources of their various States.

“I very strongly recommend that Nigerians should rise in unison to demand the disbandment of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Nigerian Governors Wives Forum. In the interim, President Muhammadu Buhari should distance himself from giving any kind of legitimacy to the Nigerian Governors Forum and their wives equivalent.”

A forum of rabble-rousers

—Chief Mike Ozekhome, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN “As far as I am concerned, it

has made absolutely no impact on the lives of the common people of this country. It is a rabble-rousing, self aggrandizing, highly ostentatious, power mongering forum where the governors exhibit their new found power to oppress the common people of Nigeria. It has not added any value at all. If it has added any value, it is only nuisance value to our political development.

“You have the Nigeria Governors Forum, you have the PDP governors form, the Progressives Governors Forum.

These various fora, rather than cement the bond of political developments amongst Nigerians, they have further pulled us apart centrifugally rather than uniting us centrically.

We have seen the ridiculous situation where in their fight for political power, 16 became greater than 19. It is the shame of Nigeria.

“As far as I am concerned, the forum is not a constitutional forum but anybody is entitled to have their own organisation and

It is a rabblerousing, self aggrandizing, highly ostentatious, power mongering forum where the governors exhibit their new found power to oppress the common people of Nigeria

association as permitted by the Nigeria constitution. So, they can continue to delude themselves that their forum approximates the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians. Nigerians know better.

“When the president told them to save a certain fund for the rainy day, they demanded for the money and most of them frittered the money away under dubious circumstances including the so called security vote which has never been accounted for. So, the forum is just a pressure group that selfishly protects the interest of their members and not that of the country. It should be done away with.

Bottom line To be fair to the governors, the Nigerian constitution guarantees freedom of association. On this basis, anyone including the governors are entitled to their association in whatever nomenclature. But should that be for selfish reasons? That’s a question for the governors.

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

Why Ekweremadu’s re-election is in order A

BY NICOLAS OZOR

lthough the election of Senator Bukola Saraki as the President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as his Deputy, and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives have expectedly not gone down well with some quarters, it has been widely celebrated across the nation as democracy and independence of the legislature in action.

While there are some innocuous concerns arising from the Ekweremadu reelection, there are also several outright mischief going on, with some All Progressives Congress (APC) apparently incoherent and mischievous- a clear sign that they are still dazed. Otherwise, how do you explain their double standard? How do you explain the crazy call by some disgruntled APC Senators -Senate Unity

Forum (what an irony in a name) for Ekweremadu’s resignation? Or the vituperation of former Governor?

Whereas one can easily agree that it is not common for lawmakers from minority parties in parliament to be elected presiding officers, Ekweremadu’s reelection not only has precedents, which even the APC has benefited from, but is also part of the wind of change blowing through the polity for good.

When the Benue State House of Assembly made up of 15 Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 14 APC lawmakers (Minority), elected Honourable Terkimbi Ikyange of the APC as the Speaker of the House of Assembly and Honourable James Ejembi of PDP as Deputy, it was change in action. And where were those crying blue murder now over the election of Ekweremadu?

When events in the Plateau State House of Assembly also saw a ranking Member

Once a quorum (one-third) is formed, presiding officers of the National Assembly are elected by a simple majority. Even if they insist it must be 55, they seem to forget that the Senate is short by one member following the demise of late Senator Ahmed Zannah

of the Assembly, Honourable Peter Azi of the APC emerge the Speaker at the expense of the PDP, which has 13 seats as against APC’s 11 seats, it was still change in action and heavens did not fall.

Although the developments in State Assemblies might not have received adequate national media mentions, they are nevertheless noteworthy, especially in interrogating the Ekweremadu re-emergence.

The first question is whether the emerging leadership structures in these State Assemblies and the National Assembly are democratic. I would say yes.

Democracy, they say, is a game of number. It is about liberty. It is about choices.

As was rightly pointed out by the APC Publicity Secretary, the veteran Alhaji Lai Mohammed during the movement of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the respected Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, from PDP to APC, all these point to the fact that our democracy is

growing by the day. It shows that our democracy is dynamic. It also facilitates a balanced setting in government, which in itself is good for democracy. I mean, according to Alhaji Lai Mohammed. So, why is APC comfortable with the Benue and Plateau scenerios, but uncomfortable with Ekweremadu’s democratic re-election?

However, are these developments legal? Yes. The Nigerian Constitution in Section 50 (1)(a) says “There shall be a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves”. There is no caveat that it must be from the majority party.

Also, the claim by the Senate Unity Forum that Ekweremadu ought to have been elected by at least 55 Senators, whereas he was elected by 54 is pure falacy.

Once a quorum (onethird) is formed, presiding officers of the National Assembly are elected by a simple majority. Even if they insist it must be 55, they seem to forget that the Senate is short by one member following the demise of late Senator Ahmed Zannah.

Do these developments enjoy the backing of history and precedences? Yes, Rt. Hon. Tambuwal’s defected in 2014 meant that Nigeria had an APC Speaker and PDP Deputy Speaker in the person of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. We also had

Continues on page 19

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—19

Why Ekweremadu’s re-election is in order Continues from page 18 Joseph Wayas of the NPN heading the Senate in the Second Republic, whilst Chief Umezoke of the NPP (NPP was third in number of seats) headed the House of Representatives. The Minority Party also headed the Cross Rivers House of Assembly in1991.

Have presiding officers of the National Assembly ever emerged against the wishes of their party’s leadership? Yes. The Rt. Hon. Tambuwal Vs. Hon. Adeola Akande scenerio in 2011 answers that adequately. Interestingly, it was perfected with the support of the former Action Congress, which has melted into the APC. They gave a block vote to the Tambuwal/Ihedioha ticket, just like the PDP lawmakers did in the case of Senator Saraki and Hon. Dogara.

Will the emergence of a PDP man as the Deputy President of the Senate obstruct the programmes of the Buhari Administration as alleged? No. The legislature is a game of number and the presiding officer has no vote, except when there is need to break a tie.

Importantly, it all depends on the political and psychological temperaments of the individual involved.

Even a presiding officer of your own party can as well sabotage your programmes. It is not also a must that APC lawmakers will always vote yes on every of Buhari’s bill or nomination. For the most part of the 16 years it was in power, PDP was both the majority and opposition party in parliament. Also, from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, we have always had the leadership of at least one chamber working at crosspurposes with the presidency.

Now, if some of his public comments are anything to go by, it is safe to say that Ekweremadu favours a responsible opposition. For instance, in his widely published address to his constituents after the presidential and National Assembly polls, Senator Ekweremdu said: “It needs to be reiterated, however, that the South East PDP and indeed

Ndigbo have nothing against General Mohammadu Buhari (retd) as a person or against his incoming administration. We will work hand-in-hand with him in line with our regional agenda and the overall development of Nigeria. We will give him all the support to succeed because he was elected as the President of Nigeria, not president of the APC or any section of the country in particular”.

During the recent retreat by PDP National Assembly Members-elect in Port Harcourt, Ekweremadu was also to caution against destructive opposition. He told his colleagues: “But, let me quickly add that ours should not be an opposition that sees nothing good in any government action or policy. We should not engage in market square propaganda and destructive criticism that turn truth upside-down or tends to incite the citizenry against the government in power…. So, we must oppose responsibly and patriotically. We must play by the rules and stick to verifiable facts.

The PDP lawmakers in the 8th National Assembly should hold the ruling APC accountable on each of its campaign promises…. We should also provide policy alternatives, dissect every executive bills on its merit, and provide informed and energetic oversight of the executive to ensure that Nigerians are not cheated by the ruling party. We should ensure that successive national budgets address national needs and that they do so equitably. We should only support the confirmation of appointments that meet competency test and comply with the principles of federal character and equal opportunity”.

Will Ekweremadu’s re-election as Deputy Senate President not make the ruling party or Buhari to deny the South East “juicy” positions such as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation it had planned to give to the zone? My answer is “No”- unless the party never really had any plans for the South East in terms of substantive and appointive positions in the first place as it does appear. The official position of the APC is a North-East Senate President (Senator Ahmed Lawn), North-Central Deputy Senate President (Senator George Akume), South-West Speaker of the House of Representatives (Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila) and North-East Deputy Speaker (Hon. Monguno). The North already has the Chief Justice of the Federation, President of the Court of

So, if Buhari appoints an SGF outside Igboland, it is because he and APC never had such plans for the South East

Appeal, and Chief Justice of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

Where was the South-East and South-South in all of this ab initio?

So, for the political stunt pulled by Ekweremadu and the PDP, there would not have been any South East/South South person from number 1 to the number 7 positions in the country. Instead, Igbo stalwarts in the ruling party have been fighting dirty among themselves and with other interests in the country over the position of the SGF. Yet South East produced some APC Members of the House Representatives. South-South also produced both House Members and a Senators.

Was the Deputy Presidency of the Senate dashed to the PDP, Ekweremadu or the South East by the APC? No. It was actually the PDP that gave the APC the Senate Presidency. The PDP could have taken advantage of their numerical strength on the day of the inauguration to re-elect David Mark or anyone else since many APC Senators were sipping tea at the International Conference Centre at the time voting was going on. But the PDP just wanted to work for the stability of the Senate. It occupies 49 out of the 109 seats in the Senate. Out of the 49 seats, the South East and South-South contributed 32 seats. People like Kwankwaso and Senate Unity Forum who think the party is toothless and deserved nothing in the Senate are living in a political Fool’s Paradise.

So, if Buhari appoints an SGF outside Igboland, it is because he and APC never had such plans for the South East. Count Ekwermadu and PDP out of it!

Some have also worried that Ekweremadu’s co-headship of the Senate means that the PDP could share in the blame if Buhari fails to deliver on the change mantra and other campaign promises? Well, we have had so many instances in the US in which the ruling party does not enjoy majority or headship in the Congress. In fact, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives since January 5, 2011 under the Barrack Obama’s Democratic Party Government is John Boehner, a member of the Republican Party.

Americans would never hold Boehner responsible if Obama fails.

In fact, many Nigerians would actually have preferred a situation where APC and PDP are in charge of the executive and legislative arms, respectively.

So, the sooner the likes of Kwankwaso and the Senate Unity Forum get over the Ekweremadu nightmare and face the task of governance, the better for them and the nation. As for Ekweremadu, staying focused is the answer. Many thought he had come to the end of the road when he needed to cross the ex-governor Sullivan Chime hurdle, while others thought he had finally crashed as a presiding officer after PDP’s abysmal performance at the elections. There are also hypocrites who believe that Nigeria belongs to them by virtue of winning presidential election and majority in parliament. They have every reason to kick and fret. But their dashed expectations are not enough grounds to call for his resignation.

•Ozor writes from Enugu

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

BY AGAJU MADUGBA

a threat to the legacies of sociopolitical and economic stability bequeathed by the PDP,” the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Mansur, told Vanguard.

Although the PDP’s position is certainly debatable what may turn out to be even more controversial is El-Rufa’i’s latest decision to equally ban the allocation of fertilizers to traditional rulers and to prominent politicians across the state.

Describing the previous process of distribution of fertilizers to farmers as corruption-ridden, El-Rufa’i directed that henceforth, fertilizers should be sold directly to interested farmers from designated sales points.

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ess than four weeks after his inauguration on May 29, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, may have begun the implementation of aspects of the promised “change” which he believes will restore what he has consistently described as the lost glory of Kaduna.

Indeed, the All Progressives Congress (APC) journey to the Kaduna Government House was laced with the party’s change slogan which El-Rufa’i had vowed to execute. Some three weeks on and a couple of reforms already introduced in governance, the opposition is screaming foul, accusing the Governor of adopting and promoting extremist measures in the admnistration of the state.

During his inauguration, El-Rufa’i had declared that, “I say to you today, my fellow citizens of Kaduna State, that the time has come for us to face up to our responsibilities as citizens. We must take many difficult decisions. We have no choice but to postpone immediate gratification and sacrifice the fleeting comforts of today for a better future for our children. This is what change means.” Perhaps as a demonstration of his commitment to the programme, ElRufa’i also announced his decision to donate half of his salary and allowances to oil the change initiative.

Difficult decisions For El-Rufa’i, any efforts at “repairing” Kaduna must begin with the mopping up of funds from various sources which will include blocking all areas of leakages to enable more money accrue to government for the implementation of programmes that will have direct impact on the people.

Having sacrificed part of his legitimate income along with that of the Deputy Governor, El-Rufa’i had proceeded to the House of Assembly, literally cap in hand, begging the lawmakers to also make contribution to the donor basket, by approving a cut in their salaries and allowances. “We appeal to all political office holders to embrace this example and attitude of sacrifice,” the Governor told the lawmakers even as he explained that, “the stark fact is that Kaduna state spends 80 per cent of its total revenues on its public servants and political office holders.”

It is not known yet whether the lawmakers are ready to thread the same path as the Governor, but for a state where majority of the people swim in poverty and diseases, according to El-Rufa’i, with a ranking as the second highest in HIV prevalence in the country and only 36 per cent of pregnant women having the benefit of being attended to by skilled birth attendants, there may indeed be a certain level of justification for ElRufa’i’s craving for more funds. Still in the health sector alone, El-Rufa’i told participants at a health summit in Kaduna last Tuesday that, “current coverage of measles vaccination is 56 per cent, a dismal immunisation coverage for 12-23 months-old children and latest available data suggest that only a paltry two per cent of under-five

•El-Rufai

Opposition trails El-Rufa’i’s Kaduna change initiatives Our goal is to deliver for Kaduna State citizens, better health and longer life expectancy,” ElRufa’i insists, explaining why a cut in his salary and allowances alone may not generate the desired amount of money to handle the issues

years old children with malaria are treated with ACTs.” There may be extraneous factors outside funding, for the poor report card especially on the compliance level for the nationwide immunisation programme as some parents in the north still forbid their wards from receiving immunisation against the known child killer diseases. But reports indicate that the general status of healthcare delivery for Kaduna state is miles away from being healthy. “Our goal is to deliver for Kaduna State citizens, better health and longer life expectancy,” El-Rufa’i insists, explaining why a cut in his salary and allowances alone may not generate the desired amount of money to handle the issues.

The development may not therefore be unconnected with his decision to also prune the number of ministries as one of the costsaving measures. In one deft move, El-Rufa’i slashed the number of commissioners to 13, from 24 even as he scrapped the Ministry of Information. Perhaps, for political patronage considerations under previous administrations, each of the 23 local governments in the

state had at least a commissioner.

But according to government’s explanation, reduction in the number of ministries, “is intended to cut costs, spur efficiency and improve service delivery. El-Rufai has repeatedly stated that the Kaduna State government must direct more of its resources to delivering public services, and that such a move requires a reduction in the proportion consumed by government. The realignment of mandate has also resulted in the emergence of two new departments. The erstwhile Ministry of Lands, Survey and Country Planning is being moved to the Governor’s office as a department.

Similarly, the former Ministry of Rural and Community Development becomes a department in the Deputy Governor’s office.”

However, the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) describes some of the actions of government so far as amazing. “With barely three weeks in the saddle, steps being taken by the APC government have become a source of worry for the generality of Kaduna State people as they pose

Extremist measures But in spite of El-Rufa’i’s confessed intentions for embarking on some of these reforms, the PDP contends that the APC government in Kaduna lacks focus. According to Mansur, “the other day, the APC government unwittingly conveyed their unpreparedness to Kaduna people before the state lawmakers by raising unwarranted alarm that almost 80 per cent of the state’s total income is spent on wages of public servants and political appointees, leaving a paltry 20 per cent for payment of contractors and provision of social services for the people.

The PDP views the ruling party’s lamentations before members of Kaduna State House of Assembly and other related tendencies as the highest degree of unpreparedness.

It is an unwitting confession that APC has always lied against the PDP which recorded landmark achievements in the state in the face of greater challenges. The party’s lamentations are equally a subterfuge to evade providing a ‘paradise on earth’ which they had promised Kaduna people during their campaigns.

“Kaduna people are sufficiently informed about the antecedents of the top echelon of APC government in the state – a cesspool of political opportunist who have found themselves in power on the platform of opportunism. The PDP is vindicated because since two weeks in the saddle, the APC has continued to take steps that point in the same extreme direction.

Time shall continue to expose their unmitigated arrogance in victory, naivety and incompetence.”

Whatever the rhetoric may be, as the Arewa Consultative Forum observed on Tuesday in Kaduna, “the change Nigerians voted for in the 2015 general elections is not only change in government but also change in the way and manner the elected leaders provide adequate security and welfare for the people.”

Although Kaduna may have had its fair dose of the Boko Haram insurgent activities, the area still has other forms of insecurity to contend with. For several years, the authorities are yet to break the jinx concerning the deadly attacks on communities in the southern part of Kaduna state and the equally bloody sporadic raids on other communities at the Birnin Gwari axis.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JUNE 20, 2015—21

P

A hungry man can be an angry man secretary. Many of these people have nothing to do besides increasing State bureaucracy and slowing down the system. Then there are ‘civil servants’ who just wait for pay day without lifting a finger all month.

Having said this, if you are ‘smart’ enough to employ all manner of people, then you should pay them.

Meanwhile, there is no difference between the carriage of a state Governor whose monthly allocation is three billion Naira and another Governor who collects 15 billion Naira monthly. All, and I mean all, our Governors lead lifestyles that have no correlation with their States’

,

eople who know Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Governor of Osun State say he is a brilliant man. I have never met him despite my close ties with Osun State but have watched him on the soap box a couple of times and I can attest to his oratorical prowess. But there was nothing brilliant or oratorical about him last week when he appeared on TV trying to defend his inability to pay salaries.

He looked incoherent and pathetic. He stammered and almost choked on his words when he talked about how he transformed the sleepy, rural State he met some six years ago. He talked about the various empowerment programmes he embarked upon and the lasting impact they would eventually have on the State and how he should be remembered for those good deeds of the past. You now wonder with what has since happened, if the empowerment programmes were mere populist gestures or real transformations. Given his socialist background, what I suspect he did was to collect hand-outs from the Federal purse and simply distributed them to his various welfare programmes. A real transformation should have concentrated on teaching people how to fish and be self- reliant. In any case, nothing justifies not paying workers’ salaries.

Unfortunately, Osun State is just one of 22 States that are unable to pay salaries and Aregbesola is one of the many Governors that have mismanaged their States’ economy. It is disingenuous to blame the Federal Government for your inability to pay your workers. I am not going to quote the cliché that ‘ workers deserve their pay’ here because that is really part of the problem. Many of the workers don’t deserve to be on the pay roll. For years, people had been crying about the unviability of many of our States but our politicians and tribal leaders refused to listen. They load the pay roll with relatives and ego massaging cronies. A P.A has a P.A and a secretary who in turn will have his own P.A. and

it would fight for its market share.

Chinese economy had slowed down.

More African countries had discovered oil in commercial quantities. All these meant there would be a glut in the short term and prices would drop. But nobody, including our world renowned economists did anything about it. In any case, we had been talking about diversifying the economy for a while and it had become just that— talk. Any State Government that therefore uses the dwindling revenue from the Federal purse as an alibi for not paying salaries is just as inept as the Federal Government it is accusing because we all saw it coming.

Governors lead lifestyles that have no correlation with their States’ economy or even the Nation’s economy

economy or even the Nation’s economy. Many have taken to private jets to ply the air, luxury boats to ply the waters and bullet proof cars to ply the roads. Many have rebuilt Governor’s lodges and filled them with hangers- on. The more visible and grandiose the project, the better to catch the attention of our governors.

The bubble was bound to burst at some point. Last year, it did and not surprisingly, it caught our leaders both State and Federal, napping.

America had been talking about shale oil for quite a while. Saudi Arabia had indicated long ago that

What is wrong with the age-old tradition of trimming expenditure in line with your income? Any good business manager would have trimmed the work force in line with the looming reality a long time ago. Some would say it is not that straight forward in politics especially in a Civil Service State but look at the alternative. A senior Civil Servant in Osun State almost committed suicide two weeks ago because he could no longer meet his financial obligations.

And this, unfortunately, is where it leads to; the suffering of the masses.

At the best of times, our workers live from hand to mouth. And these are not the best of times. These are the times

“My aunty directed me to a ‘baby factory’, victim says in Enugu The operator had revealed during police interrogation that he operated ahospital/ maternity(name withheld) which is no longer functional.

The Operator said,”I decided to run the maternity from my house. I am supposed to inform the Social Development and Women Affairs Ministry within 24 hours of admitting any pregnant women. I called the Ministry on phone instead of writing them. The people I admitted came without referral.”

•Rescued girls with the operator

BY FRANCIS IGATA

S

ome residents in Enugu State and its environs have expressed dismay over the return of ‘baby factories’ in the state.

This came as the operatives of the 9th Mile Division of Enugu Police command, through intelligence operation, raided a baby factory located at Etiti, Amankwo-Ngwo Udi Local Government Area where they rescued nine pregnant girls.

The baby factory, allegedly operated

by Obinna(not real name) of Etiti,Amakwo-Ngwo was discovered on June 13, during a raid at the private house of the owner.

Police Spokesperson,Mr.Ebere C M Y K

Amaraizu confirmed the arrest in a statement to newsmen revealing that nine pregnant girls were rescued during the raid.

Amaraizu said,”we had strong intelligence report about his activities. We had to put a tab on him for some time which eventually paid off. “Nine pregnant girls at various stages of pregnancy were rescued.

Continuing,the Police Spokesperson however noted that the operator claimed he got a provisional approval in October 2007 from Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development Enugu State to admit and shelter pregnant women in his home.

OPERATOR CONFESSES

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VICTIM NARRATES ORDEAL Ugwu Christabel, one of the pregnant girls revealed that she was allegedly raped as she was returning from school.

She said,”I could not report the incident to my parents until it resulted to pregnancy. I was forced to marry an old man or leave the family which made me seek assistance through one of my aunties.

“She was the one that directed me to the home. At the home, all we do is to eat. We were asked to list what we want with the agreement that after delivery,we will leave our babies and go.”

CLO LAMENTS Member governing board,Civil Liberties Organisation,CLO,Mr. Gambo Danjuma tasked the police to

when the month end does not bring any financial relief.No honest worker can survive not earning a salary for seven months. Some are being owed almost a year ’s salary. For starters, no serious work or productivity can take place in any institution where workers are owed for that long. But that’s half of the problem. The economy of the State itself, no matter how strong, will begin to slow down and previous gains, if there was any, would be lost.But the real story is what happens in the homes. It starts with house rents not being paid, school fees not being paid, credit being sought for food and other essentials. Then sources of credit dry up because everybody is broke and scarcity of household essentials begins to bite. The real tragedy is when infant mortality rate begins to rise, malnutrition rate begins to rise and friction at home between spouses begins to rise as well. Then depression sets in; tempers are short, aggression is on the surface. Those who think the Arab Spring cannot happen in Nigeria should rethink. A hungry man is an angry man. A hungry man who has reached the end of his tethers and has lost hope and faith in the system is a very dangerous man indeed.

As for the Governors, I think some of them should be charged for gross mismanagement and criminal neglect that can lead to social unrest. Many of them lack character, lack vision and are entirely without conscience. Even as dire as the situation is, many of the outgoing ones still took money from the empty coffers to pay themselves outrageous severance packages.

Governor Aregbesola is touted to have done a lot for his State. He is also said to be a simple man with a caring heart. It is a pity that his feet of clay have been exposed. He is obviously not a good manager of resources. His transformation is probably on the surface at best. A true, genuine transformation is when you make your State economically viable and independent of both local and international hand-out.

Most of them who claim that they are doctors are responsible for impregnating the girls.

When the girls deliver,they sell the babies to their buyers

unravel who contracted the operator to get the babies.

Danjuma said,”most of them who claim that they are doctors are responsible for impregnating the girls. When the girls deliver,they sell the babies to their buyers.

“We had cried out over the activities of baby factory operators in Enugu State. The police should conduct serious interrogation on who is responsible for the pregnancy, who gave them the contact to the home,who is the buyer and how they share the booty. “The price of the baby varies depending on the sex.

Most times,these babies are used for rituals. The police should reveal how the buyers are linked to the facility.

“The public should always go through the appropriate channels whenever they intend to adopt babies. Most of these babies go for N500,000 to N750,000 depending on sex.”

22—SA TURD AY Vanguard , JUNE 20, 2015 22—SATURD TURDA

T

he first time I saw Uncle Sam, it was on a football field in Enugu. It must have been in the 50s. We warmed to each other without anyone introducing us to each other. I was a sportscaster in those days, and he was a great enthusiast. So we had that broad platform, sports, for our acquaintanceship to stand on. We met occasionally and when he began to write for Daily Times, the most widely read journal of its day, I followed his column closely. I liked his capacity for a turn of phrase, especially when he made a word explode to expose a kernel of realty out of the shell of truth. One of such astounding phrases was unforgettable to me: The rich get richer, the poor get cholera. Just think a second about it. That is vintage “Sad Sam.” It was the pen-name he had adopted for himself.

The reading public seemed to have taken it with a pinch of salt. How could a young man with a good job and other bright prospects of life call himself sad? But Sam Amuka, if we could use his real name for once, was not describing what he felt about himself, but his emotions about the injustice, dishonesty, crime, cruelty and all the ugliness of human existence, especially as they affected the victims.

And that was about what he wrote—about the poor who not just got poorer but got cholera to boot. He could never abide the infliction of unkindness or any kind of cruelty on anyone.

Generosity came to him as a normal way of life, and the effect could be seen in the way his workers relate to him.

One appreciates the reality of this as one moves closer to him. This began for me after I began to work for him. I had achieved all •Uncle Sam my set goals in broadcasting. I had through the sponsorship, received expert training at and courtesy, of Ayo the BBC, worked for years at Oshitelu, the Sports Editor the VOA in Washington, of beautiful memory, just headed a radio station an to keep my hand in, so to say. But I had got bored

uncle sam and i

He found everything I did commendable, and identified with all my efforts

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even founded another in Nigeria, got bored and retired. I was not even 50 years old yet, and looked forward to years of delightful indolence ahead. I started a beer parlour— where I was my own best customer. My only serious diversion was in the NFA (Nigeria Football Association) where I was the Publicity Secretary. It was while on tour in Abidjan with the national team that I learnt that Uncle Sam was to start his own newspaper.

How sweet, I thought. I had run across him occasionally at the Punch Newspaper where he had become the Editor-in-Chief, or Managing Director. I was really at the Punch to deliver my weekly sports column, “Inside Sports”, which I took up C M Y K

,

with Punch and preferred my pastime of absolute laziness.

Then soon upon my return from Abidjan, Uncle Sam came to visit me to invite me to write for his newspaper. And leave this life of tranquil inactivity to face coverages, and interviews, and deadlines, and ….? No way. But he was back at the week-end, ostensibly to enjoy himself at the bar. Totally at ease, I let him break down my defence by engaging him in a discussion about current events. Before I knew it, I had been spouting about what was wrong, and what was right. And what needed to be done to set things right. He then slipped in the offer of a column, and I had agreed before I could think

it all over again. I was in the premises of what was to be known as “Vanguard” newspaper the next Monday, and I have been there ever since, thanks to Uncle Sam. Perhaps the good company in which I found myself was also partially responsible for my continued stay. Imagine being in the company of Henry Nwanna, Dapo Daramola.

A

fter the first flush of enthusiasm, I had come back to myself and was sure I would soon return to my favourite corner at “Ibi T’o Tutu” — that was the name of my bar—and stay there. But Uncle Sam would not let that happen. First, he began to call me “Uncle Bisi” and everybody took that up to make me comfortable because of the possible embarrassment of the age difference between me and the rest of the staff.

He would ride in my car and make his driver follow us in his own whenever we had to go out together. He found everything I did commendable, and identified with all my

efforts. So I felt elated and comfortable, and did more and more. At a certain point, it had gone beyond Uncle Sam’s encouragement to my own position in life.

You see, at my retirement, I was still a big noise in certain quarters—General Manager, Radio Lagos. A few months after my retirement, much of that noise had died down.

Quietly, and without any noticeable impact, one’s relevance was fading until one bean to feel naked in the village square without anybody looking back. A few more months without Vanguard, all I have valued in my position as a Radio Chief Executive would have evaporated.

My identification with a newspaper house had been no less than auspicious. It had clothed me anew with a sense of being someone to be noticed, someone who was still in the arena or movement of meaningful action—that’s the word, meaning: it added meaning to my existence the way I was used to. I

became the Vice-Chairman of the NFA; I was able to attend international sports events like the World Cup, as I used to, I was recalled to life. I closed down “Ibi T’o Tutu”, my beer-hole, and resumed a presentable life. I even started to attend church regularly.

Of course, I was doing more in the newspaper to the delight of Uncle Sam, who told people about how much of a help—help? I was to the paper. I often wondered if he realized how much of a help the paper had been to me, how much of a help he had personal be to my life, but he never showed it. I owe him a rebirth, and I am unabashed to say it. I have never expressed my appreciation to him personally. He would only have dismissed it, anyway. The last time I saw him, he had practically forced me to go to the hospital where he met me and encouraged me to see the doctor. Decades had come and gone. We had become quite advanced in years, and rather close. As usual, I was touched by his obvious concern for my welfare. He repeated some of the old jokes we used to share and got me laughing over my pains and aches. He was very gentle, treating me with the affection of a friend, almost of a girl-friend, even.

I

took the opportunity to ask him how he was preparing for his 80th birthday, and he brightly replied that he would be travelling to China. I was not surprised. It is in the character of this gentleman who would almost give his right arm to show his appreciation of others that he would avoid being on the receiving end of other people’s genuine appreciation.

I had to wait till today to wish him all the best one could wish a human being on his 80th birthday. I was afraid the golden showers from all and sundry would put my tawdry effort in the shade. Of course, it has been said that he is everybody’s “Uncle Sam”, which is true enough; some call him a veteran, which is like a sub-title for him; some call him a professional, which he will always remain; I call him my friend, which is all he is to me.

Many happy returns of the day, and thanks, Uncle Sam. Time out.

Dear PMB, You shall live long sir. You will leave positive legacies that will entrench you in the hearts of men and long after you are gone , you will yet live.

God bless you sir.

I write to you not in the manner of Obasanjo to Jonathan. My heart is clean.

Please forgive them that ridiculed you in the run up to the elections.

The task at hand is enormous.

Forgive Fayose and his diaper talk, politics make men do desperate things. Forgive him and his frontpage wishes, your days shall be long . Forgive, but do not forget the Ekitigate scandal. We can’t sweep everything under the carpet. Is Captain Sagir Koli still in hiding sir?

I know you get security reports.

Forgive those media houses and their poisoned documentaries.

Peddlers of malice. Regulatory reforms are needed Leave Okupe and Fani Kayode , e jor. We can’t be chasing rats, our economy is on fire. I like your rapport with the military people. Let us leave vengeance for God. Have they found your certificate sir? I suggest you keep one file at home. Hearts of desperate men, who can tell?

You have hit the ground running and flying sir. London, Niger, “West Germany”, South Africa, O ga ju.

Well done sir. The Boko haram and anti corruption wars have taken new positive dimensions. It is good you put your foot down and made the headship of the multinational JTF exclusively Nigeria’s. These our neighbours can be sarcastic. The other day some half baked soldiers from Niger republic had the temerity to call our gallant soldiers cowards.

And those insufferably loquacious Chadians. See what ‘condition’ has caused for crayfish.

The EFCC officials have been struggling to impress you sir, please consider them. Forgive the DSS and that their spokesperson. They will learn neutrality and professionalism in due course. They thought there was no vacancy in Aso rock.

The probes have started quietly, nice one sir.

It was good you dropped the title ‘General ‘. Put it away sir, it still belongs to you. Drop all excess baggage , you are not like them who crave vain titles, those ex permanent secretaries. I know you are simple and hate hyperbolism. Consider dropping that “His Excellency”, it doesn’t mean anything sir, let them not use it to confuse you. Even that ‘commander in chief of the armed forces’. It is superfluous sir. You have no rival . You are the commander in chief of both armed and unarmed forces, military and political.. Oga at the topmost top. You are a democratically elected president. A tiger need not declare his ‘tigeritude’.

Baba, your people live in darkness.

Erratic + epileptic= partial darkness. We have been told many ‘mega watts’ stories in the past.

When the rains come with a paltry improvement for two months they will claim glory due rains. We need light. The privatization has been done but ………nothing! They say we should be patient, that electricity cannot be bought like ‘kulikuli’ . 16 year old PDP tale. That story should have an expiry date. Biko.

We know you have inherited a weak economy and that national revenues have plummeted. Many in many states have not received salaries for months. The economy has been on vacation since November. Naira is floundering.

Governance was suspended the day Jonathan congratulated you. I know you have just come and criticisms C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—23 centered , treacherous opportunists . These are no virtues and leaders must abhor them.

Democracy does not permit rascality. The parties are political clubs and members don’t trample on club decisions in the name of constitutional freedom. Parties aren’t ‘jankara’ platforms.

Democracy is not furthered by “Iskanchi” and anti party activities. Some say we must move forward. The way forward is not the endorsement or validation of rebelliousness.

Let me tell you sir, you cannot improve this country without your party, without a strong disciplined party. Take your positions early and whip people into line, when you dilly and dally , you cause confusion.

Don’t use body language like our Baba from Ota. Some are now saying we may have to wake the late Tunde Idiagbon, just imagine.

If you want to bring about change sir then broken windows theory suggests you must not tolerate even misdemeanours within your party. Run a tight shift and people will sit up.

Tackle little things first and the big ones will disappear. Some of us dreamt of roads purged of policemen extorting money from motorists in broad daylight the day after your inauguration. They are still there sir, taking bribes and giving “change”. That’s not the change we want , people want to see visible positive change sir. Before inertia sets in , do something sir.

Corruption must leave the sitting room and head back to the boys quarters where it once lived in 1984.

I was happy when you abandoned that Rolls Royce car in London. Fleeing from all appearances of evil.

Leave them and their sybaritism sir. People are watching, your ministers must fall in line. Don’t hire any goats sir, the other set of goats nearly emptied the barn.

Tell Madam and the children to be compliant .

That wrist watch can be donated to a motherless babies’ home. We know Madam didn’t steal the money but in the spirit of the times let it go to charity. I don’t know if you have paid back the loan for the APC ticket.

Sir, you made many promises. Some will be difficult to keep and the people know. You know the PDP people were making , so you were making. But Some are easy to keep. I can’t remember what exactly you said about the presidential fleet.

Something about converting the fleet to a commercial airline. I know you are an honest man.

Always try and remember the names of important persons sir. I have the same problem, so when I speak publicly I am deliberately slow and tactful.

I campaigned for you. I voted for you. Please sir, don’t let me down.

Permission to carry on sir!

Nagode sir.

Sai Buhari!

First letter to my president

may seem harsh but understand our plight sir . The fuel queues are gradually becoming permanent even in Abuja. Marketers sell petrol at different prices. Sir, please remove the petroleum subsidy, remove it. Don’t listen to NLC, it’s a trade union , they will have to make the ‘right’ noises. Middle men and profiteers and cronies of powerful officials have grown fat on the subsidy meant for the poor.

Push the PIB through sir. Meet the banks and organized private sector. Give the economy an immediate sense of direction. Any hope for true federalism? What do you want to do with the confab report?

Sir, I know you have a disdain for politics, dirty politics. But you are the leader of a political party now sir. And that is where you belong. People are unhappy that you have left the Lion of bourdillon to run the party machinery whimsically. Some of them are complaining for selfish reasons.

The big man from Adamawa jumps from party to party and cannot even install his candidate as governor in his state. Many paper tigers.

Some are eyeing your seat come 2019. I don’t know why they are in such a haste. The Lion of bourdillon is politically savvy and you must keep him close but APC is not AC and Nigeria is not Lagos.

He should step back a bit sir. But he is a good ally. Without him you would never have been president, gaskiya. Though I agree, God did it. The Lion of Ubima is a good ally too.

And that brings me to Saraki sir.

This your non intervention policy , with all due respect, is flawed sir.

Sir , pardon me, how can you seek to enthrone probity and order and you won’t care who controls the law making body? How can you seek to bring about change but you don’t care to nudge change agents into driving positions? I don’t understand sir. Non interference is an ideal but look at our situation.

Minimal ,non-shackling, moral , selfless , patriotic, intervention won’t hurt. It is true that the

legislature should be independent but you cannot close your eyes completely to what goes on there sir. You are the leader of your party and you must protect your party ’s interests .

Impunity in all shades must be arrested.

How can Saraki go unpunished? If your party had left the contest of the senate presidency the way you left it, then you all would have donated it to the PDP. And when the party hierarchy organized a poll and endorsed the winner you should have stood by them . Not reluctantly but enthusiastically, visibly and strongly. Are you not the leader of the party? If you didn’t like the arrangement then you should have told them frontally. Prevarication makes you look weak sir.

How else could the party have gone about protecting itself against the prospect of the PDP taking that seat?

When Saraki sneaked into the chambers with his co conspirators , he exposed the party, put the interests of the party in jeopardy. If the PDP men wanted it that badly, were unscrupulous , they could have nominated their own and made him senate president that morning.

And did you really call a meeting sir? Your spokesperson said you did?

You can’t afford to be seen as a hesitant leader sir, you were not once shoeless, don’t be clueless sir. How could that clerk proceed without a half of the senate?

If you tolerate Saraki’s perfidy then we must consider late Mr Iscariot for a posthumous award! Do not start with a very bad disciplinary precedent.

After all what did Judas even do sir?

If this Saraki’s treachery is not a gross anti party activity tell me what is sir. If the majority of APC senators and the party hierarchy preferred a candidate then that is the party’s position. Saraki negotiated away the deputy senate president position to further his personal interest, how can you condone that?

What Saraki did is only as constitutional as what Judas did. It’s not about constitutionality. I prefer Saraki to that Lawan but he has committed a political abomination.

Some say it’s democracy at work.

That our politicians are essentially self

The EFCC officials have been struggling to impress you sir, please consider them

Your son, Ugoji Egbujo.

24—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi flanked by his Deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, Chairman of Enugu east L.G.A., Prince Cornelius Nnaji, left, and Mr. Victor Atuonwu, State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, right, as he addresses the Abakpa Nike market traders, Enugu

ENUGU: Gov.

Ugwuanyi’s peace and

development initiatives

BY LOUIS AMOKE ust recently Governor Ifeanyi J Ugwuanyi of Enugu State played host to journalists in Enugu at the

Government House to interact with them, brief them on his action plans for the state and also give an insight into his administration’s approach towards achieving a harmonious relationship amongst the political class in the state.

The interactive session, also gave most of the journalists in the state the opportunity to exchange pleasantries with the Governor who thrilled them with warm handshakes, ‘executive’ jokes and broke news of his first key appointments.

On the appointments, the Governor, who looked convinced in his decision, first announced the former Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Governor, Mr. Gabriel Ajah as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), when he said: “There is someone who was appointed as a Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service since 2001. He has served in that capacity in many Ministries and today, he is the longest serving Permanent Secretary in the state.

He has gathered a lot of experience and has served the state meritoriously. I believe such a man is what we need to efficiently drive the policy thrust of this administration, as the Secretary to the State Government, and that man is no other person than Mr. Gabriel Ajah, the present Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Governor”.

The Governor also announced the South East Bureau Chief of New Telegraph Newspaper, Mr. Uwakwe Abugu, as his Chief Press Secretary and a trained journalist and the former Special Assistant to the immediate past Governor on party matters, Mr. Louis Amoke, as his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity. Mr. Silvanus Onoyima, a former Head of Service and immediate past Special Adviser to the former Governor on SERVICOM was

equally announced by the Governor as his Special Adviser on Due Process.

Shedding further light on the choice of Ajah as the new SSG, the Governor, during his (Ajah’s) swearing-in ceremony recently, pointed out clearly that the appointment was “based purely on merit, devoid of any sentiment or political consideration”.

Describing Ajah as “a thorough-bred civil servant”, he went further to declare that his appointment “marks a further demonstration of our resolve to take what we believe would constitute giant strides in the arduous task of governing our dear Enugu State in this dispensation” Gov. Ugwuanyi, in the same vein, charged the SSG to deliver on the new mandate given to him, in order to justify the confidence reposed in him.

From all indications, these appointments show that the Governor in his long held belief in quality service, due process and commitment to hard work, diligence and performance, carefully selected a team that would assist him drive the policy thrust of his administration aimed at developing the state, which he said was paramount in his mind.

Apart from the appointments he announced during the interaction with pressmen, the Governor as a man of peace restated the resolve of his administration not to engage in any form of acts that would undermine the relationship between the new government and old ones, when he said: “The era of new guard fighting the old guards in Enugu State is gone, my administration will not fight old guards to settle old scores. Where there is no peace, the people will not make meaningful progress”.

In this regard, he disclosed his readiness to run an all-inclusive government by accommodating all former Governors of the State and other leaders through the reconstitution of the Elders’ Council, stressing that “everybody is our friend and the era of politics is over”.

In his determination to actualize his

vision for peace, the Governor also said that he had reached out to eminent indigenes of the state, including past leaders and opinion leaders, to join hands with him to move the state forward, adding that he cannot ignore the experience of these former leaders of the state.

According to him, “the peace we enjoy here, we have to maintain that peace. It’s peace enmeshed in agape love, covered by the Holy Spirit…., a situation where once there is a change of baton, the new guard will start fighting the old guards is over.

“The experience of Boko Haram and experience in the states where there is no peace are enough to teach us some lessons.

It is not worth it, instead we will move from strength to strength”. On his action plans, he noted that his administration since assumption of office on May 29, 2015, had identified some areas that need urgent intervention as a result of the outcome of the unscheduled visits he undertook in the first and second weeks of his administration to inspect ongoing works in some schools, hospitals, markets, etc.

He also used the opportunity to reiterate his earlier resolve not to take the people for granted and went further to announce his decision to make accountability the watchword of his administration in order to utilize the lean resources of the state for the betterment of the people, considering the adverse effects of the economic meltdown in the country.

The Governor went further to inform the journalists that his administration will as a matter of priority, embark on rapid development of Nsukka town, 9th mile corner Ngwo, Abakpa-Nike Enugu, Emene, Awgu, Oji River and other satellite towns in the state, adding that a supplementary budget will be presented to the State House of Assembly for the State Government to be able to actualize its action plans for the areas.

He assured the people of the state that his administration will not tamper with the funds of the Local Government Councils in the state, but will, however, put

From all indications, these appointments show that the Governor in his long held belief in quality service, due process and commitment to hard work, diligence and performance, carefully selected a team that would assist him drive the policy thrust of his administration aimed at developing the state, which he said was paramount in his mind

in place all necessary checks and balances to ensure that all council funds are judiciously utilized for the overall interest of the people, stressing that “our government will be a serious business” On the drastic decline of the country’s oil revenue, which is a nightmare to the nation’s economic growth, Gov. Ugwuanyi disclosed his administration’s plan to set up an Economic Committee to harness ideas on how to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state through the wealth of experience of the members.

He added that a Tenders Board will as well be constituted for the award of contracts in the state for transparency and accountability, because according to him, the Office of the Governor will not be awarding contracts again, in the spirit of due process.

On diligence to work, the Governor who paid unscheduled visits to two Local Government Council headquarters frowned at workers’ negligence to duty as he met few staff at the offices he visited.

“We wanted to check the actual number of workers in each local government area, who come to work on regular basis and on time. Since our visits, attendance to work has improved.”

The governor added that his visits had made him aware of the suffering of residents of the state.

“We were touched by the plight of the people at the various places we visited, particularly the public schools and hospitals.

“The government is willing to make life meaningful for our people but our bane is dearth of funds. We have tried the much we could to alleviate the sufferings of the people we met.”

He disclosed to journalists that the government made a donation of 10 Modern Braille machines to blind students at the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu and was able to make arrangements for the settlement of hospital bills for 21 indigent patients who were held back at the hospital after treatment due to their inability to pay their bills.

Gov. Ugwuanyi said that his administration had also resuscitated the Enugu Marketing Company in order to maximize the full benefits of the State’s status as a Free Trade Zone for the overall interest of the people.

On conflict resolution, it is worthy of note that the Governor who had made peace implicitly the watchword of his administration, had within a space of two days, personally intervened in the recent disputes that arose between the management of Enugu State Transport Company (ENTRACO) and Commercial Vehicle Owners operating under the company, and that between the management of San Carlos Pineapple Farm in Amoli, Awgu Council Area of the state and a clusteradjoining host Communities in the area over alleged ill-treatment by management of ENTRACO and the expected social responsibility of the management of the San Carlos Farm settlement to the people of the area, respectively.

After listening to their complaints, the Governor, apart from ordering the ENTRACO management to release all confiscated vehicles belonging to the transporters, with a mandate that both parties meet within two weeks to resolve their differences, he also got the Chairman of the Awgu Council, Mr. Mathanus Nnanna Nze to continue with effective interface with the leaders of the aggrieved communities in order to maintain peace and order in the state.

In all, there is no doubt that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s approach to governance signposts a new dawn and a clear indication of his sound vision for the advancement of the state.

Amoke, the Senior Special Assistant to the Enugu State Governor on Media, writes from Enugu

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015 — 25

I always study young artistes to learn from them -- Azeezat people as well.

However, I still have a lot to do. I'm still recording in the studio, and releasing new singles.

I know that there are greater moments to come.

What would you regard as your lowest moment?

I've had a lot of low moments in the past. But now, when I think of the loss of Da Grin, the pain is still indescribable.

Anytime I remember

industry?

That's impossible when someone inspires you to do better. Every chance I get, I 'Google' their songs and their performances just to see what I can add to my skills and my branding.

So which of them do you like, and which would you be willing to work with?

I love a lot of them like Tiwa Savage, Chidinma, Waje, Simi among others. Right now, everybody in my house knows that Simi is my favourite because I'm always playing her music. There's a song I have titled, 'Love Yourself,' it’s about female empowerment and female love. Definitely, I'll be featuring a lot of female artistes on it to add their

, that he's no more, it kills me. This was a boy I knew when he was struggling, and when he started making it, he just went like that. You can see that he revolutionized the industry with the content that we have now in the industry.

By TOFARATI IGE

P

opular singer, Azeezat broke into our consciousness with the release of her hit single “Lonely World” in 1999, and she released other songs such as “Hold On” that did quite well commercially, but not much has been heard from her recently. However, in this chat with Vanguard Newspaper, she reveals that she has been working hard behind the scenes and will surprise her fans very soon.

What would you regard as the high-point of your career?

I've recorded a lot of great moments. I've performed on big stages...I can't even remember the best. I mean, music has been very fulfilling for me. It has opened doors for me, and helped other

C M Y K

Do you regret not working with him?

Definitely. I was still discussing it with someone recently.

Actually, it wasn't me, but my husband. He was always telling Da Grin that he wanted them to work together.

What are you working on presently?

I am presently promoting the remix of the song, 'Nigeria Go Survive' by Veno Marioghae. I've remixed the song and I'm promoting it. I also have some songs that are ready, and by the time I finish promoting this one, I'll put them out.

Don't you feel threatened by the new crop of female artistes we have in the

We also try to educate and entertain people in most creative ways possible. You can only achieve all these by good thinking. When you think well, you produce well

,

voices to the cause.

You were part of 'Girls Night Out' back in the days which was about bringing female artistes together. Do you think there is unity among female artistes in the industry these days?

I don't think there is dis-unity.

I just believe that things have become more business-like.

When you go on social media, you still see that a lot of them hang out together.

For example, when Omawumi had her baby shower recently, a lot of female artistes were there to support her. It's just that people are more busy now than it used to be.

There's more money in the industry now than in your heydays. Do you sometimes wish you 'reigned' at a time when the pay was better?

Well, I'm still working hard to be able to cash in on what's happening in the industry now.

Why do you think some artistes strive to achieve fame but cannot sustain it?

I do not like to comment on issues that seem judgmental, because I'm not walking in some people's shoes. So, I do not know how or where it pinches them. We all have challenges, and sometimes we cannot meet them. Some people may not have the required talent. But again, I don't think making it is all about talent. Sometimes, it's also because there are no stable structures to sustain creativity.

Celebrity marriages crash on daily basis. How have you been able to sustain yours?

I think it's by knowing what is important.

Marriages are full of ups and downs. But at every stage in life, you should be able to ask yourself that what is important.

There is a place for business, and there is a place for marriage. You cannot sacrifice your marriage at the altar of your career, so also, you cannot sacrifice your career at the altar of marriage. It also has to do with having the right partner who uplifts you, and also putting God first.

What’s your

definition of a right partner?

It is very subjective. However, I believe that a girl should have a partner who loves her success even more than she loves it herself.

Apart from music, what do you think you could have done better?

I think that’s my business side. People are complaining now that they haven’t heard anything from me for a while, but if my business side was well developed, I don’t think that would be the case.

How do you handle advances from male admirers?

There have been situations where I have mis-behaved to my fans when they pass their boundary even though they know that I am married. I prefer to talk about progressive things.

Last words to your fans.

I love singing, so it means music is my life and I wouldn’t stop singing. I want them to know that I keep on working hard towards making them happy.

26— SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

With FLORENCE AMAGIYA 08061644307 email: daise4000@yahoo.com

Bovi and wife

The rise and rise of Bovi

The fact that BOVI Ugboma was raised in a very comfortable home didn’t stop him from working hard and creating a niche for himself. Although he hasn’t gotten to the zenith of his career, he is taking giant strides on daily basis. He first met the theatre and entertainment seventeen years ago in 1998, when he gained admission to study Theatre Arts at Delta State University. Since then, he has grown in the business like fine wine. Today, Bovi is considered the most sought-after comedian in the entertainment industry both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. In this edition, I introduce to you an actor, poet, MC, writer, comedian, father, brother, son and husband to his lovely wife.

Enjoy!

I

am from Isoko in Delta state. I was born 36 years ago in Benin City, then Bendel state. I attended UNIBEN Staff School and voyaged through three secondary schools because my parents were civil servants and we had to move each time there was a transfer. So I attended Government College Ughelli, Edokpolor Grammar School Benin, and Boys Model C M Y K

Secondary School, OnichaOlona. Finally I passed out from secondary school and studied theatre arts at Delta State University, Abraka and graduated in 2002. During my service year, I was a news reporter at NTA Lokoja. After Youth Service, I moved to Lagos state and landed a job in 2004 as personal assistant to leading actor and former commissioner for Culture and

Tourism, Richard MofeDamijo.

Although I had always wanted to be an entertainer from childhood, my family didn’t approve of it at the beginning. I worked for more than 2 years and decided to finally do what l really wanted. So in September 2006, I launched the hit sitcom

‘Extended Family’ in which I also featured as the main character ‘ONORIODE’. What began as just fun for me became my life. By the grace of God I have been featured in major comedy concerts, shows and events in Nigeria and a host of others outside the shores of Nigeria. I am married with children.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015 —27

Challenges

As it is known, Rome wasn’t built in a day. So, there were times in my life that I couldn’t even afford three square meals, good clothes or a car, neither did I have the energy to fake it. To be honest, looking back now, I don’t see them as challenges. I was so passionate about my career I never took no for an answer. I believed if one door closed, it would only be a matter of time before I knocked again. I started off with my sitcom ‘Extended family’. My challenge was on the flipside.

Fame hit me earlier than expected. Dealing with it was huge because the love from the streets was intense. It's still intense till date. So all I did was watch and pray for my brand to be born. Another hurdle I surmounted was being able to resist the industry’s practice of being stereotyped.

Jokes

I am inspired by life, hence I study it. I look at the way people live from the other side of the mirror. I see things people are blind to. I do a lot of research and read a lot. I watch TV and also travel and meet people. Now that it’s a job, I deliberately make an effort to look out for the funny

side of life.

Business

I am an actor and a writer as well. I believe in focusing on my passion and this is my passion. I get tired doing any business that isn’t related to entertainment.

That’s not to say I cannot have other ventures outside this field. I am the CEO of Kountry Kulture Networks Ltd, a production house

which borders on television, film and events.

Give-back

I would say that l am lucky as well as being blessed but whatever l have to give to the society is between myself and my maker. Yes at the moment l am doing something as a give back to the society, knowing fully well that I would be rewarded in the open some day.

Glory

I am inspired by life, hence I study it. I look at the way people live from the other side of the mirror

I get invited to be MC of high profile events.

By God’s special grace, I do shows abroad that are well attended. I am able to pay some of my bills and give a little when the need arises. .

Bovi and Dangote

Bovi and Ja Rule

Bovi and Basketmouth

Bovi's wife and children

One of his cars C M Y K

28 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

By KEHINDE AJOSE 08024212530

Music reality TV show stars’ struggle for relevance in the industry

BY KEHINDE AJOSE When music reality TV shows hit the Nigerian music scene it was welcomed with open hands and much expectations as many believed it would make a great number of stars. And it did, at least in the beginning until the stars began to fade in the sky.

Life after Project Fame hasn’t been easy

It’s more like a one-man hustle right now for me -Mercy Chinwo, Nigerian Idol Season 2

P

ort Harcourt -born Mercy Chinwo clinched the winning prize at the 2012 Nigerian Idol Reality TV show.

She stole the hearts of her audience when she performed Fela’s Zombie.

Contrary to public expectations, Mercy is yet to make an impression on the music industry. She got a career boost when she was featured in Yvonne Nelson’s movie, House of Gold.

In an interview with Encomium, she reveals that she has been fighting her battles alone after winning the competition. “It’s more like a one-man hustle right now for me. I’m proud to say it’s a one-man thing because if you don’t go through challenges you won’t know your strength. I am not in any record label, I am alone. I have to say the truth. I am not or was never tied to any record label. I get a producer do my song and keep the hustle going. It has been fun for me. I get to learn every day but it’s annoying when you know that you have this thing on the inside and you don’t get that push. I had to take my destiny in my hands and do it by myself, and I’m proud to say that life has taught me a lot of things.”

Aside from the likes of Iyanya, Omawunmi,Chidinma and Timi Dakolo, who have written their names in gold after emerging winners from music reality TV shows, other frontrunners have been grappling with the prospect of finding their feet on the music landscape. This piece takes a look at music reality TV shows stars yet to stamp their names on the scene.

-Monica Ogah, Winner Project Fame West Africa , Season 4

M

onica Ogah won the coveted title as winner of Project Fame West Africa in 2011.What stood her out during the competition was her versatility and stage craft. After releasing the high-life themed Body hug, which gave her a minor acceptance from industry watchers,Monica has continued to strive for relevance. She was nominated for The Headies last year in the Female Best Vocal Performance category. The Star city artiste reveals in an interview, what life has been like after Project Fame.

“Life after Project Fame hasn’t been easy, but I give thanks to almighty God for being with me throughout and also to my family for the continuous support to my music career. But life after project fame is totally different, because you are facing a whole lot of different people, you are competing with the entire world. It’s a different game entirely, the whole West Africa would be watching you and monitoring you and competing with a lot of people to claim your stand in the industry it isn’t easy task, but I think it’s just a process for you to get what you need.”

The road to success not always that easyis —Ayobami Ayoola,Winner Project Fame West Africa Season 5

A

YOBAMI Ayoola Ayolola better known as Ayo made a name for himself when he performed some of Fela’s songs on Project Fame West Africa. This made him gain the viewers confidence and he eventually emerged the winner. Ayo’s talent cannot be doubted,but he is yet to make a hit song from his immense talent. The bearded Afropop artiste in an interview explains what life has been like, after winning Project Fame West Africa.

“Life has been very good, but of course it’s still quite demanding. The road to success is not always that easy and I believe I am on that path too. In five years, I see Ayoola becoming a household name all over Africa. I want to be a worthy export to other continents, that is what I pray and work hard for.”

He has released songs like Duplicate, Aya wa, Ochanya featuring Phyno and Amin featuring Vector.

C M Y K

It hasn’t been easy combining music and my education — Olawale Ojo, Winner Project Fame West Africa, Season 6

O

lawale’s ability to switch from one music genre to another perhaps is the reason for winning Project Fame West Africa, Season 6.

After the music Reality TV Show, he dropped a couple of singles like Jupa, Is nothing and eventually released an album titled Almost Famous.

After the release of the album, nothing was heard of him again. We stopped hearing his music on our airwaves and he stopped headlining shows. This may be as a result of poor music promotion from his management and partly because he is still a student.

He explains this to one of our reporters.

“It has really been hard, I won’t lie about that. I am trying so hard to make it work,I promised my parents that music will not affect my education and I plan to make that happen. But sincerely, it has not been easy, I have had experiences sleeping in the studio and heading out very early to Ogbomosho for an afternoon lecture. My shortterm plan is to make Olawale a household name in the music industry where fans would recognize my sound and know it’s me. On the long-term, I am heading for a Grammy.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015 —29

By AYO ONIKOYI, 08052201215

The Nigerian music industry is very challenging —Yeka Onka,Winner Idols Season 1

E

lizabeth Onwuka also known as Yeka Onka won the first edition of Nigerian Idols in 2011.She was rewarded with 7.5 million,a recording contract with Sony, a car and an all-expense paid trip to South Africa. Armed with all these resources,one would have thought she was on her way to becoming the next big thing, sadly she is yet to make a mark on the music scene.

Commenting on the reason for the delay, she has this to say: “That someone is not making progress today doesn’t mean he’s not going to be successful.

Like I said, it’s very challenging, considering the kind of industry we are operating in Nigeria. Even though I am not moving fast as people expect, I have to say I am making progress. I am not going to remain here, and by God’s grace, Yeka Onka’s brand will be everywhere.”

Yeka has been able to release songs like Follow you,Bamijo and Me and You

1. Doyinsola- Bamidele This song happens to be Doyinsola’s debut.She was part of the music talent show Star Quest.

2. Mc Galaxy-Supaman featuring Muno and Zinnia Mc Galaxy collaborates with his new artistes in this new track titled Supaman 3. Samklef-Ajoma Jaiye video The video of this song is shot on the streets of Dolphin Estate and Marina.It is directed by Samklef himself.

4. Skales –Ijo Ayo video

This highlife tune is off Skales Man of the year album.The video is directed by Stanz Visuals.

5. Magnito-Hoha featuring Phyno

Fast rising rapper Magnito,collaborates with Phyno to create a groovy sound in this song

6. Sarkodie-The new guy video featuring Acehood In this visuals, Sarkodie once again shows us the reason he is Ghana’s top rapper.

7. 9ice-Pacesetter video featuring Vector

The song was released in 2011 when 9ice dropped his Bashorun Gaa album.He has also declared his intentions to shoot more videos.

8. Reekado Banks-Kataput video

After the long wait, Reekado Banks finally releases the visuals of his hit song Kataput.The video concept is brilliant.

9. Falz-Karishika featuring Phyno

No one ever saw this coming.The humorous and talented Falz, blends effortlessly with Phyno in this tune.

10. Olumaintain –Cinderella featuring 2face

Olumaintain has been out of circulation for a while now.Perhaps, this song may give him the hit he desperately needs.

11. Lamboghinny and Clayy-Bolaji The duo of Lamboghinny and Clayy creates a club appealing song from their collaboration.It is a crank and explicit song.

I am trying n ot to make the mi stakes others made —

12Patoraking and Wande coal- My woman my everything Patoraking and Wande Coal teams up in this track to tell anyone who cares to listen that their woman is their everything.

Moses Obi Winner Nig Adigwe, Season 3 erian Idols

M

OSES has come to terms with the challenges reality TV stars face after winning the competition and he is willing to learn from the mistakes of the previous winners. Though Moses is still trying to find his feet in the music terrain, he has a body of works that continues to show his music aptitude. Songs like Love in the air,Number One and Love letter featuring Eva,continues to thrill his fans .In an interview, the chubby musician discloses that he is ready to C M Y K

overcome the difficulty reality TV stars encounter after winning a competition.

“I am different from every other single person who has ever won anything so I know my case is going to be different and it is going to be awesome. I mean I got kicked off the competition and was brought back and I won! I don’t think that has ever happened so I am definitely not bothered about that. I am also learning from the mistakes of other winners and I am trying to make sure I don’t make the same mistakes they did”.

13. Niyola-Last Bus stop Video In the past few weeks, the visuals of this song has got everyone talking, partly because Banky W plays the role of a Pastor in it.The video is directed by Kemi Adetiba

14. Ruggedman featuring Mbryo-My friend

Ruggedman is not new to the music scene.He recently made his acting debut in an Mnet movie.This song is a sound track for that flick.The flick is titled When you die.

15.Yemi Alade-Pose video featuring Mugeez(R2bees) Weeks back, Yemi Alade released behind the scenes photos and video from the shoot of her new video, Pose.Now the video is creating buzz on the social media and it is directed by Paul Gambit and was shot in Nigeria and Ghana.

30 —SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

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*Ugezu J.Ugezu

Ugezu

u z e g U J u Ugez launch a i o t n i t g r se i V n i m u alb

Nollywood films for OSCAR 2016 N

igerian film makers have been given another opportunity to participate in the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, otherwise called The Oscars. This was announced during the week by the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee,NOSC.

films of all lengths and genres will open for submissions from June 16 to July 6, 2015.

It will be recalled that Nigeria joined 82 other countries contesting the Foreign Language diadem, after the approval and subsequent inauguration of the NOSC in February 2014, but could not present any film to the Oscars, as the few submissions were considered ineligible.

The 12-man Nigerian committee seeks Nigerian films whose themes relate to the country and are predominantly in language other than English and Pidgin English. Unfortunately, most of the entries received were either in poorly (L-R)Vchangelo Bullock (Managing Director, Outreach and Strategy English, subtitled or lacking in initiative), Chineze Anyaene (Chairperson, NOSC), Meredith Shae some technical details.

(Award Cordinator) and Tom Oyer (Awards Cordinator).

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The NOSC, in a statement, said that as preparations for the 2016 edition of the Hollywood laurel show begins, film submissions are welcomed from Nigerian film makers living in Nigeria and Diaspora, for the Foreign Language category of the Oscars.

The competition which invites

opular Nollywood director cum actor, Ugezu J.Ugezu who recently delved into music is billed to storm Virginia later next month for the launch of his latest album titled,”Onye Igbo Agonari Ndigbo.”

The tough-talking actor will be launching the album at the Igbo World Festival of Arts and Culture holding in Virginia from July 23 through 25. “Onye Igbo Agonari Ndigbo” meaning an “Igbo person denying their Igbo identity” is Ugezu’s fifth album. His other albums include, “Amuputa Onye Igbo”, “Egwu Igbo Egwu Ego”, “Kpaputa Ego Ka Osie Remix” and “Guys in Holland.”

According to the Chairman, Planning Committee of the festival, Okechukwu P. Oranika, the theme of this great song rhymes with the theme of the festival, focusing on Igbo language and culture all the way.

“This is a great song folks, I can’t help nodding my head and tapping my feet listening to the great melody of this song which is rendered in Igbo language,”Oranika said.

Also, known as Mr. Surplus, Ugezu is one of the respected film directors with so many movies to his credit. Despite directing English movies, Ugezu did not forget where he comes from as he delved into new territory: Igbo language music.

Ugezu is an actor, screenwriter, film maker and Highlife singer who holds the traditional titles of Ayaka Enugwu-Ukwu and Okwulu Igbo Na Umunri. In a recent interview, Ugezu said, he’s using his songs to promote the Igbo language which is speedily going into extinction.”

Basorge TTariah, ariah, K at e Kat ate Henshaw return as DoGood premières R enowned actor, BasorgeTariah Jnr. is returning to the silver screen as Africa Magic premieres its new Pidgin English sitcom, Do-good,on Monday, 6 July, 2015.

Do-good, which is a spin-off of a popular Nigerian drama series of the 1990s, features the exploits of the titular character Do-good, played by Tariah, who returns from a sojourn abroad to woo his sweetheart Emem, played by Nollywood leading lady, Kate Henshaw.

Speaking on the new show, the Regional Director, M-Net (West Africa), Wangi MbaUzoukwu, said: “Africa Magic continues to lead the way in creating and showcasing the best content made by Africans for Africans. Do-Good is the latest in a line of exciting content that continues to appear on our channels.

Besides being a stellar comedy series, Do-good also tells a story of love and ambition and focuses on the struggles of the ordinary man. It is a humorous depiction of real life situations and definitely promises to be a hit with all lovers of comedy and good television.”

The new sitcom, which also features appearances from other popular comic actors including Tony Akposheri and

Yibo Koko, will be aired on the Africa Magic Urban channel (DStv channel 153). Previously renowned for its showcasing of full length contemporary movies, Africa Magic Urban was recently refreshed to focus on general entertainment content and currently features a number of exciting drama series, sitcoms and magazine shows alongside exciting movie content.

Mr. John Ugbe, the Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria, said: “MultiChoice has supported Nigerian entertainment for over 20 years and we continue to pioneer in the production and showcasing of the best entertainment content the country has to offer.

Do-good is a great example of our ongoing partnership with the Nigerian entertainment industry, and it expands our already impressive list of exciting and fun programming for viewers to choose from.

Basorge and Kate Henshaw

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015 —31

FILM REVIEW

Watch Dry, get thrilled A

By Onyeka Nwelue

t the closing of NollywoodWeek Paris on June 7, 2015, I saw Stephanie Linus’s Dry, which begins with Zara Robbins receiving an award at an event, where her adopted mother is present. Her mother is white. If you paid attention to details in the film, you will still not quickly understand how a white woman’s child could have a black skin. This is why every detail in the film is important.

Dry is not really about Dr. Zara Robbins. It is about Halima (played by Zubaida Ibrahim Fagge), who is 13 years old and is married off to Sani (Tijani Faraga), a 60-year-old man, who

constantly rapes her. Immediately after the traditional rites, Sani rapes Halima. She wakes up the next morning and says to one of her co-wives: “Uncle beat me. My body is paining me.”

Halima gets pregnant and suffers Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), after child delivery. Now, we see her abandoned by her husband and her own father and overly discriminated by the society. They say she smells. They throw things at her in the market.

They say she disgusts them. Her co-wives want her out. She is thrown out by her husband and his mother. This is when Zara Robbins (played by Stephanie Linus) comes into the picture.

MTN Project Fame is back T

he award winning music talent discovery and grooming competition, MTN Project Fame West Africa is back for an eighth straight season. Looking for raw talents, the annual show will commence auditions from today in some West African major cities and rest the auditions in Lagos on the 3rd and 4th of July.

This year, thousands of young talents will fight to get into the prestigious Project Fame Academy, where superstars are made, to be tutored by the best in the music and entertainment industry.

For this Season, a major innovation that encourages participation from the comfort of one’s home has been

introduced.

According to Mr Olumide Akinlabi, the spokesperson of Ultima Limited, the producer of the show, aspiring contestants can simply “dial 5900 from their mobile phone (MTN Line Only) and follow the voice prompt to record their audio audition for 45 seconds.”

Akinlabi stated that after this, the applicant will receive a notification PIN number within 24 hours, which will be used to register online.

Previous superstars that have graduated from the ‘Fame Academy’ include Iyanya Mbuk, whose Kukere, with the famous Etighi dance won the best pop single on the 2012 Headies Award in Lagos; Mike Anyasodo, who by virtue of his Fine Fine Lady video won the 2010 Sound City’s Best R&B Video Award; Kesse Frimpong, who was voted the Ghanaian’s Best Male Vocalist of the year 2012 and of course the KEDIKE crooner, Chidinma Ekile who won the Best Female Act (West Africa) of the prestigious Kora Award in 2012. *Project Fame winner 2014, Geoffrey Oji

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For the most part, Dry is excellently made; if the script was different from the actualized story, then it is well understood.

Throughout the film, we are transported back and forth: Nigeria and England. The film makers may not have known, but an anthropological find shows that these scenes were shot in the countrysides. However, one is overly penury-stricken. And those are the ones in Nigeria, where we are waiting to receive Zara Robbins, whose mother should have made the journey, but for illhealth, she couldn’t; she is worried that over 1,000 women’s lives are dependent on her, so Zara has to come in even though she doesn’t want to go, for so many reasons that she carries an internal wound from her past, which takes her to a shrink.

Zara Robbins travels to Nigeria.

On her journey to find Madam Kojo, who sold her daughter, we are presented with details, almost unknown to the world? The questions come: what is VVF? How many women have VVF? How does it happen? How do you cure it? And then, where could Zara’s child be?

No matter how you may want to summarise it, Dry is a propagandist work; it is a beautifully stitched story about humanity. It drags you through the facades of beauty; it takes you on a walk through the surface of imperialism. This is because we are presented with a hard truth about child marriage; it sounds funny, as those parts add to the humour of the film, but Linus has been able to create unforgettable characters, stapled with a storyline that, at once, amazes and truncates you. When we see Halima being married off to a very old man, many times her age, we are stunned. We laugh, but what we feel inside is stronger than what we show on the surface. Dry is masterly orchestrated. The more you watch, the more you want to know what happens to the characters. There is absolutely nothing the film lacks. Those who don’t like it, do so at their peril.

Its cinematography is beautifully

The film makers may not have known, but a n anthropological find shows that these scenes were shot in the countrysides.

H o w e v e r, one is overly penurystricken. patterned and like a journey too far to do, the audience will find themselves longing for the salvation of Halima.

Liz Benson returns to the screen in this film as the Matron, making a short stellar performance as a doctor. We see her drinking tea once she is shown. Her diction is still the same from old projects. Would Liz Benson as a person change?

Would there be a time when she will become something else that she is not supposed to be?

Obviously, not now. If there was stereotype, the moment we see Klint da Drunk as Dr. Mutanga, we know something funny would come out. This is after we see the mild, less humourous Dr. Londi.

Infact, the beauty of Dry is its characterization. No matter how many they are, they are wellcreated, well-developed and they all add to the story.

Not to undermine the hardwork of Linus who happens to be the writer, producer and director, Dry would have been a better film if Linus was directed. Sometimes,

you could feel that she is being conscious of her character and what the character has to say.

Sometimes, she flows into the character; sometimes, she doesn’t.

If she hadn’t directed the film, she would have realized too quickly that there was a mistake when the lady at the hospital gives a form to Halima and her co-wife who brings her to the hospital for treatment, responds: “You can’t read and write?”

They speak impeccable English!

How they can’t read and write is so magical and illogical. If a filmmaker’s dream is to take his/ her work internationally, what he/ she has to do, is to pay attention to details, mostly, language. Linus might have succeeded in executing the project, but maybe, the characters would have communicated well in Hausa or whatever language they are bound to speak. Seeing these Hausa characters meddle in English, at home, was very unreal. If that’s the only issue I have with the film, then there is really no problem with Dry. It is taut and every scene adds to the story.

We can’t argue the genius of Linus. She presents us with facts and figures. She makes it deliberate, but we don’t see the film turning into a propagandist project. It sails through as a work of art, able to make sense and educate in ways that are beguiling and informative. Only that at the end, you want to continue moving with Zara, to know what happens with her and Alex, her boyfriend, whose proposal plan is squashed when Zara finds a ring in the drawer of his dining room. She feigns a call from the mother and runs out on him before a candle-lit dinner.

Dry is funny and at the same time, sad. But it is a story we will all like for the beauty of its storytelling. *Nwelue is an Assistant Professor of African Literature at the University of Manipur, Imphal, India, and Visiting Lecturer of African Studies at the University of Hong Kong.

32 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

REVEALED:

How Pete Edochie Was Chosen For ‘Things Fall Apart’ •He tells his story from broadcasting to his Biafran duties and how he never read the book before he was handed the script to act Okonkwo

T

hree things are bound to endear you to Pete Edochie whenever you are privileged to meet him. One, his sense of humour, two, his values as a father and an actor, and then, his command of the English language. All these qualities played out last weekend, when Showtime Celebrity went after him, and finally tracked him at one hotel in Owerri. Quite inseparable from the roles he plays in movies, Pete who played the lead role of Okonkwo in the NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s best selling novel, Things Fall Apart, speaks passionately about his life as an actor, broadcaster and his marriage. Interestingly too, he speaks about the role he played during the civil war. Intermittently sipping from his palm wine , regularly refilled during the interview, the movie legend opens up on how he got the role to play Okonkwo in ‘Things Fall Apart’, describing it as ‘most challenging, and one that immortalized him. This is Pete Edochie like he never before. It’s only the first part of our Showtime exclusive thriller.

our first son, Uche, who studied Fine Art Y at UNN is my friend. How’s he doing now?

Uche is not my first son, rather he is my fourth son. My first son is 45 years old now, and I am 68 this year.

Wow, you married very early.

Yes, I did. I married at 22.

Why did you marry that early?

Well, the civil war was going on, and I was a very good looking young man. I was being admired by many women and I thought if I decided to dissipate my manhood in their company, it wouldn’t be a plus for me. So, I got married and I think, it is the best decision I have ever taken in my life. I haven’t regretted it.

How old was your wife when you married her?

I wasn’t the person that gave birth to her. So, I wouldn’t know about her age. But she was old enough to get married and she got married to me.

During your time, was there anything like courtship or dating?

My wife and I were contemporaries in broadcasting. I liked her and she liked me too.

With time, it developed into a very strong affection that we thought if we didn’t give a definition to our relationship before the end of the war, there would be strong possibility that

C M Y K

tongues would wag and I would be accused of exploiting this young girl and disappearing at the end of the day. I hail from a very strict paternal religious background. I am not that kind of person who would be ‘in and out’ of a woman. So, we got married and that’s it.

You were talking about the civil war. Were you part of the war?

I was. I was in the Voice of Biafra. We were moving from place to place and whenever the war drew nearer, we moved away from the place. At a point, I had to go to the war front to perform some professional duties which I won’t disclose now. I survived the war, I made my own contribution and I am happy about it. I am always proud of my involvement in the war years. I was born and raised in the northern part of the country. But I was chased out of the region in 1966, and by 1967, the war began. I was a broadcaster then, and because I understood and spoke Hausa fluently I had to go to the war front.

Whenever you relive your Civil War experience, do you feel sad or happy?

No, I can’t be happy. I mean I couldn’t be happy. There was so much carnage and there was no justification for it. There was little provocation for the war. So, it was a programme intended to wipe us all out from the surface of the earth. Some of us were lucky to have survived. It is not what I would wish any enemy of mine. It’s an internecine experience, it’s not a good one. Everybody who experienced a war

,

By BENJAMIN NJOKU

wouldn’t like a re-occurrence of such horrible experience. It’s a traumatic experience.

I was a broadcaster then, and because I understand and speak Hausa fluently I had to go to the war front

,

You present a picture of tough-talking and aggressive Biafran soldier. Do you somehow reflect your Biafran experience in the interpretation of your roles in movies?

Curiously, I was not a Biafran solider. I went to the war for a specific assignment but not as a solider. I happened to be very strict by nature. I have five sons and eleven grand children. It is because I am strict and that’s why I was able to control those young men. If God gives you male children and you are soft, they will be wasted. I think it reflects in my movies because I am a very strict person. If I am playing the Igwe role, I am an Igwe through and through. My wife has a little to play when I am an Igwe.

Ordinarily, in an Igbo culture your wife has little role to play in the Igwe’s affairs. The Igwe has his cabinet, he addresses them and they discuss issues affecting his Kingdom. The wife has little role to play, and when I am playing the role of an Igwe, my wife does not function one day.

She can come in and bring kola nuts and greet my guests. That’s it. In that regard, I am not weak at all.

WHY I DON’T STAR IN MOVIES REGULARLY You happen to be one actor that cannot be beaten in terms of role interpretation, and most times, you are not easily influenced by money to star in some movies. But in recent times, one observed that your face has been missing on screen?

Thanks for the compliments. I elect not to feature in any kind of movie. There are people

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015 — 33

without my knowing it. If I am given a script, I read it and if I don’t like it, I will return the money to the producer. I do that most of the time. If a script has a message for the people, I would accept it and if it’s purely intended to amaze people, I don’t star in such movie.

Most veteran actors at one point or the other have veered into producing films, but in your own case, you have remained an actor?

What’s the point. I am an actor through and through. I was trained professionally as a broadcaster in the BBC. When it comes to delivery and interpretation, I don’t think other actors operate at the same level as I do. They don’t and so, why must I leave it and go on to produce films. It doesn’t make sense. I want to remain an actor. Occasionally,I contribute to writing scripts, and I try to bring up my calling too while we are on set and they appreciate it.

The producers like me for that. I don’t think it is my intention to become a producer.

You trained as a broadcaster. At what age did you join broadcasting?

I joined broadcasting at 20 years, and got married after two years. I got married during the war.

What inspired your decision to go into broadcasting?

I have always wanted to be a broadcaster.

There are three professions that have always fascinated me. They are journalism, broadcasting and acting. And I have been able to involve myself in these three professions. I did a course in journalism and television after I left the secondary school. And that was before I joined my father in the Nigerian Railways. I wrote for some newspapers after that. I joined broadcasting after which I am now at the third phase which is acting. So, I have always wanted to be involved in the three professions. I think I have realized it. I was influenced by a few people who sang in those days, and I thought I could also join them and do some singing. I’d sing, but not professionally.

You sing too?

Of course I do! But I do not intend to go into singing. I am satisfied with what I am doing.

You mean I should start singing like some of these little kids that are in our industry?

•Pete Edochie

At what point did you bid farewell to broadcasting?

To be honest, actors don’t really quit. Your involvement may not have the kind of regularity it used to have while you were much younger.

But there must be need for your services at any given time. There was an actor who was playing Dracula in those days called Christopher Lee. He died five days ago at 99.

There were some people who inspired us when we were coming up, most of them you may not know certainly; people like Charleston Huston who was the president of Actors Guild in America - he died a couple of years ago at 82 years; Anthony Queen also was 82 years, D’

HOW I GOT THE ROLE OF OKONKWO IN ACHEBE’S THINGS FALL APART

,

who would star in any movie because of money. That’s the essence of their involvement. But for me, it’s not. One, I am a professional through and through and secondly, in all modesty, I am a role model to a lot of people who see me and believe in whatever I represent. I think it’s some virtue for me. And it’s not my intention to let them down. Societal expectations compel moral rectitude and I don’t want to disappoint those expectations. When I am given a script for a specific role, I read through the script and if I don’t like the role I drop the script. Sometimes, a producer pays money into my account

Martins, Robert Nichem and many others who are in their 80s but still remain relevant till date.

Progressively, your appearances keep diminishing as you age, but again, if you are not playing a father, then you are playing a grandfather. There is no limit to the age when a man is referred to as a grandfather. Therefore, you must always fit in there. So, you remain relevant as a an actor, except you are not a very competent one which means you get rejected by the industry. I mean there is no need for your services again because you never really possess professional competence while you functioned as an actor. So, I cannot tell you that next year I will quit. When the producers think there is no need for your services any more, you become irrelevant.

People still call me “Ebube Dike” and before Chinua Achebe died he was calling me Ebube Dike.

He never called Pete, and we were very close

,

In your movies, there is always a reflection of the Okonkwo character, the role you played in the NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s classic, Things Fall Apart.

That’s what a lot of people say. When I did Things Fall Apart, I was 38 years of age. That was thirty years ago. I am 68 years now. People still call me “Ebube Dike” and before Chinua Achebe died he was calling me Ebube Dike. He never called me Pete, and we were very close.

Each time people visited him in America, he would ask them about me. He created the character and because he thought I interpreted it perfectly, he named me after Okonkwo- Ebube Dike. So, a lot of people still see me and refer to me as a Ebube Dike and I answer them.

When you got the script to play the lead character, what was uppermost in your mind?

When the script was handed over to me, I said to myself. This is the opportunity for me to read the script since we didn’t read the book while I was in school. I was delighted to read it. Before then, I’ve not read the novel, Things Fall Apart.

I knew nothing about it. Now, it was to be adapted into a screenplay. People were invited to come and audition for roles. Somebody who worked with me in the broadcasting House, Engr G.C Ugwu (now late) recommended me.

He was the Zonal Director of NTA in Benin in those days. He had always watched me in the broadcasting house where I worked and the moment they decided to produce the play, the first name that came to his mind as Okonkwo was me. But there were other people that came for the general audition. I was invited to the audition and the venue was the main auditorium of he University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. The moment I walked into the auditorium, the white woman who was invited to handle costuming and other things saw me.

She just looked at me as I was coming in, and screamed, saying: “if this man could act, that’s the man we want for the role.” She never met me before that day. I walked in, and was given the script. Other people were also given the script to read, and when I read mine, they shook hands with me and said, we are good to go.

They said there was no point continuing with the audition; that the role is for me. As at that time, I didn’t know the implications of being in that production. We went ahead and produced the play and I won an international award. I am proud to say that BBC flew into the country to interview me and Chinua Achebe too. Nigerians were phoning and congratulating me. It was a moment of crowning glory for me. I think it was a defining moment in my professional career.

The story as relayed in Things Fall Apart, have you ever come across such stories in our movies again?

This is a tricky question. But certainly no, because most of the stories are not thoroughly researched before the scripts are written. I am a very serious culture custodian. When they give me a script, I try to thinker with it in order to understand the story. If I am not satisfied, I drop it and ask the producer to go and look for somebody else. There is nothing to compare with Things Fall Apart considering what we are doing these days.

Was featuring in Things Fall Apart the first production that brought you to limelight?

Yes, it was the production that projected me. I have played other little roles on television such as Segment of Shakespeare, Every Man, Realm of Violence, Resurrection and others. But Things Fall Apart was a full blown production. Because of its popularity as a set book, it was welcomed by a lot of people. They were not disappointed with the interpretation of the role. I feel very happy about it.

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34—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

By IYABO AINA

Compiled by Iyabo Aina

22 incredible facts about the life & career of Sir Christopher Lee Stories by Rob Bricken

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or those that may not know, Christopher Lee, acclaimed film actor, WWII veteran, and all around amazing human being passed away earlier last week. Lee was 93, and he lived one heck of a life.

Below are 22 reasons why Christopher Lee will always be a legend. * He was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007 for most screen credits, having appeared in 244 film and TV movies by that point in his career at which point he made 14 more movies, with a 15th due later this year (titled Angels in Notting Hill). He also holds the record for the tallest leading actor (he stood 6’ 5" ) and also for starring in the “most films with a sword fight” with 17. * His mother was an Italian Contessa, and through her, Lee descended from the Emperor Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire and was related to Robert E. Lee, the Confederate General. * He met Prince Yusupov and Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich, the assassins of the Russian monk Rasputin. He didn’t do this as research for his later film role as Rasputin in the 1966 Hammer film Rasputin the Mad Monk, but just as a child in the 1920s. * At age 17, he saw the death of the murderer Eugen Weidmann in Paris, the last person in France to be publicly executed by guillotine. * During World War II, Lee joined the Royal Air Force but wasn’t allowed to fly because of a problem with his optic nerve. So he became an intelligence officer for the Long Range Desert Patrol, a forerunner of the SAS, Britain’s Special Forces. He fought the Nazis in North Africa, often having up to five missions a day. During this time he helped retake Sicily, prevented a mutiny among his troops, contracted malaria six times in a single year and climbed Mount Vesuvius three days before it erupted. *At some point during the war he moved from the LRDP to Winston Churchill’s even more elite Special Operations Executive, whose missions are literally still classified, but involved “conducting espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance in occupied Europe against the Axis powers.” The SOE was more informally called and I can’t believe this somehow hasn’t been made into a movie yet. The Ministry of Ungentle manly Warfare. * Lee never said anything specific about his time in the SOE, but he did say this: “I’ve seen many men die right in front of me, so many in fact that I’ve

While best known for his portrayal of Dracula in countless films, he’s also starred as the Mummy and Frankenstein’s monster.

Of course he’s known as Saruman in Lord of the Rings C M Y K

become almost hardened to it. Having seen the worst that human beings can do to each other, the results of torture, mutilation and seeing someone blown to pieces by a bomb, you develop a kind of shell. But you had to. You had to. Otherwise we would never have won.” By the end of the war he’d received commendations for bravery from the British, Polish, Czech and Yugoslavia governments. * Speaking French and Italian, Lee spent his time after World War II by hunting Nazis with the Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects until he decided to give acting a try at age 25. Yes, all of this happened before Lee was 25 years old. * While filming a swordfight with a drunken Errol Flynn during the filming of The Dark Avengers in 1955, Flynn accidentally cut Lee’s hand so badly his finger nearly came off, and permanently injured. Later, Lee cut off Flynn’s wig while Flynn was still wearing it. Flynn stormed off set and refused to come out of his trailer until Lee claimed it was an accident. * While best known for his portrayal of Dracula in countless films, he’s also starred as the Mummy and Frankenstein’s monster. Of course he’s

known as Saruman in Lord of the Rings and Count Dooku in the Star Wars prequels, but his other villainous roles include Fu M a n c h u , R a s p u t i n , Rochefort of The Three Musketeers whose portrayal was so popular the character now inevitably appears with an eye patch, although it wasn’t in the book but Lee introduced it, Lord Summerisle of The Wicker Man, the James Bond villain S c a r a m a n g a , Mephistopheles, and Death himself. * Lee was not only related to James Bond creator and author Ian Fleming they were step-cousins but Lee was actually one of Fleming’s first choices for the role of Bond, not least because of Lee’s World War II and SOC experiences. *He has played Sherlock Holmes, his brother Mycroft Holmes, and also Sir Henry Baskerville of The Hound of the Baskervilles. * Tired of playing Dracula and feeling that the movies had gotten subpar, Lee tried to quit Hammer films, but studio executives guilted him into returning by stressing how many people could be out of work if Lee stopped churning out hits. Lee agreed to star in 1966 Dracula: Prince of Darkness, he felt the script was so awful he adamantly refused to say any of the dialogue. Hammer decided that it was far more important to have a mute Lee as star as opposed to anyone else, and thus had Dracula hiss and yell through the film. * In the ‘50s, Lee was engaged to Henriette von Rosen, daughter of Count Fritz von Rosen. The Count apparently didn’t like Lee, because after hiring private detectives to investigate the actor and demanding references, he also refused to allow his daughter to marry him unless Lee got the blessing of the King of Sweden. Lee got it. *Lee was a major Tolkien fan, reading The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy once a year for the majority of his life. He was the only member of the movie cast to have met Tolkien p e r s o n a l l y.

Tolkien actually gave him his blessing to play Gandalf in any future Lord of the Rings movie. * When Lee heard that Hollywood was going to finally make the LotR trilogy into movies, he took a

role in the terrible 1997 TV series The New Adventures of Robin Hood as a wizard, specifically so he’d have clear evidence of his ability to be a wizard. When he heard Peter Jackson would direct the films, he sent Jackson a personal letter asking to be in the movies along with a picture of him dressed up as a wizard. Unfortunately, Lee’s advanced age and his natural ability to play villains made him an even better choice for Saruman. * The story has gone around a lot, but it bears repeating because it is incredible: During his death scene in Return of the King only included in the Extended Edition to Lee’s disapproval, director Peter Jackson was describing to him what sound people getting stabbed in the back should make. Lee gravely responded that he had seen people being stabbed in the back, and knew exactly what sound they made. * Lee was quite interested in the history of public executions, and reportedly knew “the names of every official public executioner employed by England, dating all the way back to the mid-15th century.” * He’s always been a big metal fan, but he released his first full heavy metal album in 2010 at the age of 88. Titled Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross, this won the “Spirit of Metal” award from the 2010 Metal Hammer Golden Gods ceremony. He made a metal Christmas album in 2012. He was the oldest metal performer, and the oldest musician to ever hit the Billboard music charts. * In addition to his impossibly prolific film career, Lee was a world champion fencer, an opera singer, spoke six languages, and was a hell of a golfer. * He was made a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2009, a Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John in 1997, made a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 2011, earned he British Academy of Film and Television Arts Fellowship in 2011, received the The Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1994, and so many more. * Last but not least: Despite everything you’ve heard about the “six degrees of Kevin Bacon,” Christopher Lee was recognized as being the most connected actor in the world in 2008, again by Guinness. He connects to virtually any actor in 2.59 steps, beating Bacon.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—35

By BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

Mahansa: Re-br anding Nigerian

music with Afr ociori H

e started out with rap music back in the early 90s. But owing to the steady decline of originality and quality music, Chukwudi Ugwu, popularly known as Mahansa, took a bold step creating his own genre of music called Afrociori which is currently leading a call to re-brand the Nigerian music.

Afrociori, according to Mahansa, is an acronym for AFRican OCCIdental ORIental, which simply implies the marriage of Africa with the Western and the Eastern blocs. For him, the necessity of creating this genre also stems from the fact that after the death of Fela and the Afrobeat genre, Nigeria has not exported any other major act to that level.

“In a time when the world is battered by religious wars, racism, neo-colonialism, terrorism, scam, demise of values, and other negative elements, AFROCIORI provides hope and answers to certain vital questions relating to the aforementioned issues, giving a deeper meaning to life.”

“I started from rap music in 1999. I went through the tutelage of Sound City Band, where I learned how to play jazz drums. I was combining rap with playing drums and percussion. In 1999, I discovered that it would be nice for me to have a genre of music I could call my own.

The inspiration came between 1999 and 2000 when Afrociori was born. The experience I had with Afrociori is African OCCidental Oriental which aims at promoting global harmony. With that I went to Nigerian International Song festival, representing Eungu State. I won a trophy for my state. Since then, I went back to keep developing this sound. In 2013, I became the most versatile artiste from the south-east being an award given to me by Encyclotainment Limited in collaboration with DAAR Communications and endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism. That showed that it is possible to have a new genre of music to come out of

C M Y K

Nigeria.”

The Ngwo, Enugu Stateborn experimentalist said he’s looking forward to the day Afrociori and the Mahansa brand will be studied by musicologists in the Nigerian universities. He also believes that with this genre of music, he can travel to Brazil and add their musical pattern to his song without any inhibition. “My kind of music is not the popular type. It’s deep and the message is mainly about serious issues like corruption, epidemics and hunger among other social problems.

On how he developed the Afrociori genre, the widely travelled singer, whose two albums, “Entrapment” and “This Pain Must Go” were created to support Rotary Club International in its polio eradication programme said, “it started like African percursions and music before it dovetailed into western music. I found myself also doing Asian music and playing Asian instruments.

Later, it became a huge fusion to come out of Nigeria. I wouldn’t say someone taught me how to play Afrociori music . I am the

exponent of Afrociori music in Nigeria.”

On the appreciation of this genre of music, Mahansa said it’s impressive, adding that “ those who are privileged to listen to the music kept asking me: 'when are you going to play next, or when are you dropping your next album?" I try to experiment it with a sizable audience and they had very tremendous appeal.”

With Afrociori, Mahansa is launching a new genre of music for a new generation.

His lyrics and concept are immersed in social responsibility, and at the root of it all is a call for everyone to be understanding and empathetic toward one another.

The Afrociori exponent said he’s influenced musically by the yesteryear’s musicians

including Celestine Ukwu, Mike Ejiagha, and Sonny Okosun among others.

Specifically, he said Fela has a strong influence on him because of his activism and being vocal.

Commenting on today’s music, Mahansa regretted that it lacks content or message, adding that “ it’s just

•Mahansa

My kind of music is not the popular type. It’s deep and the message is mainly about serious issues like corruption, epidemics and hunger, among other social problems

straight and monotonous.”

“Some level of electronic creativity, so to say, but when it comes to the essence of music, where artistes display raw inspiration, music of these days lack it so much. I’m sorry, I don’t really feel the music of these days because it lacks content and message. There is no structure in the music. It’s the same beat from intro to end. There are no bridges as well as dynamics in the songs. It’s just straight and monotonous. Besides this, the music we listen to on the radio these days appear to be so harsh. The rhythms are so harsh to the ears. I hardly listen to the music of today,” Mahansa snapped.

Meanwhile, he did not rule out the possibility of collaborating with these new breed of artistes.

According to him, “I would like to do some collaborations with them, but it all depends on who I am collaborating with. My music is message-oriented.

You see that it doesn’t really rhyme with the collaborative thing. I don’t want to contaminate the Mahansa brand. So, I will do collaborations with artistes who sing inspiration music and whose songs have messages.”

Mahansa started singing from childhood. For him, his body and soul have always been with music. “I have always known that I would become a great musician.

From childhood, I have always been inclined to listening to great musicians like Abba, Dynasty and others musicians of the 70s,” he revealed.

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

08 116759 759 081 6759759

Brief exposure!

A

rogue gust of wind proved to be a little too much for Victoria Silvstedt’s summery ensemble on Tuesday morning.

The Swedish beauty ended up revealing her pert bottom to those around her as she made her way to Hotel du Cap in the South of France.

Victoria, 40, put on a stylish sartorial display as she headed to luxurious hotel in an open white blouse and a frilly blue mini skirt.

Adding height to her lean legs with open-toe heels, the model accessorised with a brown lazercut handbag and oversized shades.

Her blonde locks were styled into loose waves as she was sporting a tanned glow that was reflective of the amount of leisure

time she has spent in the sunshine over the past few weeks.

Taking to the waters in Cannes on Sunday, Victoria was in her element as she enjoyed a cruise on board a grand vessel.

Showing off her curves, the buxom blonde wore a plunging blue bikini top with a pair of derriére skimming denim shorts.

Wearing her hair down in loose waves, Victoria appeared to take in the stunning venue as she walked around the deck.

Adjusting her ensemble, Silvstedt avoided any possibility of a wardrobe malfunction as she secured her bikini top and repositioned her shorts.

Accessorising her look with a few pieces of jewellery, the Swedish beauty was pictured

soaking up the sun as she lounged with friends and kept her smartphone close by. The ex Playboy model, who was once married to news anchor Chris Wragge, is known for enjoying the finer things in life which was documented on her E! series Victoria Silvstedt: My Perfect Life.

However in an interview with Stumped Magazine, Victoria revealed that she often plays up to the camera to live up to people’s perception of her.

Explaining that away from the spotlight she enjoys being as casual as possible, Silvstedt admitted that she enjoys switching her glamourous side on and off.

In the interview with Chris Neumer, Silvstedt said: ‘I don’t wake up in the morning thinking, “God, I’m such a hot chick. I’m such a babe. I want to play

Monk who needs medit ation meditation like a hole in the head

W

hile it may look like a particularly gruesome DIY lobotomy, this Shaolin monk in Chinais showing how he has trained his body to withstand incredibly sharp objects. In a series of stunts that should most certainly not be tried at home, Zhao Rui held a running electric drill to the side of his head without breaking the skin, bent an iron bar against a wall with his throat, and led on metal spears while breaking stones with his head.

According to People’s Daily Online, Zhao held the powerful drill against his temple for 10 seconds - but only left a small red mark where it had been.

The display was intended to show how the 24year-old had trained his body during his years of martial arts training - and his skills have made him a celebrity in his home city of Mianzhu in south-western China’s Sichuan province. But the 24-year-old admitted that he has previously

Looking good up front n all-female ‘news’ team in Venezuela A have decided to show their

support for the national football team in this year’s Copa America tournament - by stripping completely naked. Eight presenters from Desnudando la Noticia - which translates as ‘Stripping the News’ decided to bare all as an encouragement to the ‘gladiators’ of football, asking other women to join them.

The team, which consists largely of models and beauty contestants, say C M Y K

it up and live it up everyday”.’

She continued: ‘Unfortunately the work that I do and the way the public perceives me is that I’m the hot, tall blonde. Of course I play it up. Even in photo shoots I play it up, you know what I mean? ‘I work it; I click it on. I turn it off when I go home. Back to being casual and as natural as I can, but I love clicking it on. It gives me a kick.’

accidentally drilled a hole in his head when practising the stunt, ripping off a large piece of skin. He said: ‘It was pretty painful but I got better and I learned from the experience and now I can practice pretty often without any problems.’ And to prove the point he held a drill against his head for 10 seconds. The kung fu master started learning martial arts as a child after becoming fascinated with the discipline and at the age of 16 ran away to join a Shaolin Temple. He mainly wanted to learn Sanda (Chinese kick-boxing) and ‘hard Qigong’, which draws strength from the inner energy force known as qi. He studied there for two years before leaving to continue his studies in kung fu from other masters - and now he is a master himself. He said: ‘I believe in making my body super tough. Believe it or not I used to be quite nervous as a youngster but now that I can break stones with my head I have found it has given me lots of self-confidence.’

Nothing to declare except my nudity

T

their presenting style is aimed at ‘empowering women’ and getting rid of the taboo around nudity.

One presenter and model, Yuvi Pallares, has previously made headlines after taking her clothes off while reporting on a sex scandal involving Christiano Ronaldo.

In a message to football fans in South America, the

team say that for every stage of the contest the Venezuelan team get through, they will post more nude content on their webpage.

ravelers at a North Carolina airport had a rude awakening on Wednesday morning when a man stripped naked to protest at his flight being overbooked.

According to witnesses at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the man was attempting to get on board a US Airways flight to Jamaica.

One witness said he heard a man yelling and sounding very angry. An airport employee told her that the man was angry over his flight. ‘He had his clothes on, at that point, and then he started standing there with his arms crossed and hollering at the lady at the desk,’ Sherry Ketchie told WBTV. ‘He stood there for a moment and then started

taking off his clothes.

I ain’t never seen nothing [like that] in my life.’

Airport security surrounded the man as he started to strip, but he stood naked on the concourse for about an hour, said Ketchie.

‘I was not expecting to see nothing like that, I’ve never seen nothing like that at Charlotte Douglas airport.

Never,’ she said. ‘And that’s when I got out my phone and started taking pictures.’ \ Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police confirmed that they responded to a ‘disturbance call where a male was suffering from a medical issue.’ The man was taken by medics for treatment and a spokesperson told WBTV that he ‘was suffering from a medical issue.’ Police don’t plan to file any charges.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 20, 2015 — 37

Falcons didn’t fail —Okon …..says Canada 2015 a great experience

D

ISTANCE runner Mo Farah missed two drug tests a year before he took double Gold at the 2012 London Olympics, it is claimed.

The speedy 32-year-old romped home in first place in the 10,000m and 5,000m races held at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London.

The Somali-born Brit, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, has been under the spotlight since his coach Alberto Salazar was accused of doping allegations in a BBC documentary.

Salazar has denied the allegations and branded the episode “inaccurate and unfounded journalism”.

Farah has been part of the Nike Oregon Project, which sees athletes training under Salazar’s guidance in Portland, Oregon, in the United States, since February 2011 and pulled out of the Birmingham Grand Prix, a Diamond League meeting, after the programme aired.

UK Athletics is to formally review Farah’s relationship with Salazar in the wake of the documentary.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) requires athletes to specify where they will be for one hour every day so its officials can turn up unannounced to collect a sample for analysis.

Farah is alleged to have missed one test in earlier 2010 and a second some time after he had begun working with Salazar, according to the Daily Mail.

Farah appealed the second to UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), claiming he did not hear his doorbell at his home in Teddington, south-west London.

The outcome of the appeal is unknown.

Salazar warned Farah of WADA’s three-strikesand-your-banned rule in a letter: “If you miss C M Y K

•Edwin Okon

S

uper Falcons coach, Edwin Okon is not crying over the exit of his team at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Nigeria kissed the tournament goodbye on Wednesday, following a 10 loss to USA. It was the earliest stage that the Nigerians would be exiting the competition in the last two editions.

Despite mounting criticisms of his wards’ performance, Okon is adamant that his charges gave a decent account of themselves and should not slated by

fans for finishing last in “It was a great experience for us here in Canada. We weren’t focused enough in a few situations but that does not mean that we failed. I wasn’t surprised to see USA make substitutions that were more defensive after our sending off as they knew they were playing a good team.

You always have a 50-50 chance in every game. Today USA made the most of one of their chances and we didn’t, even though we had several.”

REVEALED:

Farah ‘missed doping ttests ests bef ore before winning double Olympic gold another test, they will hang you.”

UKDA said: “UK Anti-Doping does not disclose personal data •Farah relating to an individual’s test history.

“UKAD has a dedicated Athlete Support Officer who works with athletes on the National Registered Testing Pool, and with National Governing Bodies of sport, to ensure they manage their Whereabouts reporting responsibilities.”

United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) may be investigating Salazar but it never publicly discusses individually cases.

The World Anti-Doping Agency said: “Further to WADA’s statement of 3 June, regarding doping allegations raised during a BBC Panorama programme, I have since been in contact with the relevant bodies USADA, UKAD (UK AntiDoping) and the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations).

“I have been assured by these organisations that they are working together and sharing information with the view to fully investigating the allegations as appropriate.”

Following the BBC Panorama programme Catch Me If You Can, UKAD chief executive

Nicole Sapstead said: “The news tonight reflects the challenge we face to ensure athletes and sports events in the UK are protected from doping.

“Exposing doping athletes and their support network is a responsibility that rests with everyone involved in sport.

“We encourage anybody with information about doping in sport to contact us as it is essential to UKAD’s investigations. “Our deterrence and detection programme thrives on intelligence and we are firmly committed to taking every opportunity to expose serious dopers and those who drive doping decisions.”

Dad-of-two Farah was voted European Athlete of the Year in 2011 and 2012.

Famous for his Mobot move, he was made CBE in the 2013 New Year Honours List for services to athletics.

And he was the first person to beat TV challenge-based gameshow The Cube.

He is yet to comment publicly on the allegation he missed two drugs tests although he did say his name had been “dragged through the mud” by the Salazar allegations.

British Athletics did not wish to comment on the matter and the Daily Star Online has asked Pace Sports Management, which represents the star, for a comment.

38— SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 20, 2015

A

fter the shame in for the Confede Namibia when Eagles refused ration Cup over to fly to Brazil allowances, the Government se t up a panel to Federal panel, headed investigate th by was, among othe one time Presidential spokesm e incident. The an Segun Adeni r occurrence. Th things, to recommend ways to yi, ey recommende av d a Code Of Con oid future meant to regula te duct that was players must be the conduct of players in cam p. It also rule informed of thei s th and they must agree to the term r entitlements before joining ca at mps s in camp before the team for an y competition or th match. Any play ey can be part of the terms would er not satisfied be free to leave with players making th increased deman e camp. It is to guide agains t they had done ds midway into a in tournament as of players which the past. It also emphasizes st rongly on the rig the federation M hts the report probab UST respect. Fa ly ilure to implem World Cup whe led to another shame in Braz ent il during the 20 n players deman 14 that had not ev de d for allowances en been paid to from fifa gr th Nigeria’s perfo rmance. Now, th e federation. The crisis affect ants ed e Amaju Pinnic wants to implem k-led federatio ent the Code O n f Conduct to en Eagles. Amaju sure discipline spoke on this an in d on other issu Ex ce rp ts : es about footba ll.

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something in that direction and that’s why we said the former administration believed so much in doing things magically and that’s why they had many results.

Our administration is to combine their magic with our science. For the past eight months, we’ve been able to do that. We want to harness and introduce science into games by doing things that are radically different, which we will unveil to Nigerians in the second week of July.

So far, you have made a great impact in terms of corporate image, but are you comfortable with the coaches, the results, the game itself?

The good news right now is that we have a good technical director (Amodu Shuaibu) who has seen it all in terms of coaching and managing players. He’s someone we rely on and I speak with him daily. We’ll put on our thinking caps and come out with a good solution - Myself, the Vice-President and the second Vice-President. We feel that our goal is not just winning but creating that culture of sustainable football development. We want to win for Nigerians to be happy, but there are various goals to win; One is physically winning and lifting a trophy and another winning is creating a future talent base for Nigeria which, to me, is more important. We don’t just want to train players alone, we also want to train coaches.

They have to be I.T compliant. They should know the modern technique and rudiment in coaching. We are coming out with a comprehensive programme on that, so that it can impact in the various clubs. Football in Nigeria is a very tough and difficult call, people are very passionate about it and that’s why we’ve been having sleepless nights so as to make sure that we do not fail Nigerians, who have placed confidence in us. We will get to the promise land prayerfully and with

•To present Code Of Conduct •Amaju Pinnick speaks on 2018 a

,

I

t’s been some months since you started heading Nigerian football, where are we actually headed?

We are trying to build a culture of sustainable football and I believe we are right on course. Before we even got elected, we had studied and knew a lot of factors that will enable us achieve our goal.

I’m principally looking at building structures that will attract corporate Nigerians to the fold of the football federation. One of the things that we did was getting companies with very high reputation to act as management and financial consultants to us. Getting these companies has given us a leeway in terms of trying to have an appreciable level of financial independence and at the end of our tenure we hope to achieve about 80% or 100%. Beyond that, we also needed to build capacity for our football administrators, referees, coaches …. because we discovered that there’s a high level of ineptitude and lack of knowledge in terms of the modern day science of football. We’ve been able to achieve that to an appreciable level. We’ve trained about 30 referees and about 20 coaches. We also acquired the pro-zone software used for analysing games. We acquired all these through private sponsorship which we secured short term and a lot of companies have sympathy for our goal. So far, we believe we are doing the right thing and even though we lost at the under-20 level, we saw that those boys are some of the brightest and best brains when it comes to football and they’ll eventually make our country proud in the future. We’re coming out with a plan which we don’t want to unveil now. We have seen that there is a high level of technical ineptitude in the game. One thing we lack generally is technical input from the bench which has impacted negatively in our games, but the talents (players) are limitless in this country. We are doing

NFF mov to tackle tackl indiscip in Eagle

One is physically winning and lifting a trophy and another winning is creating a future talent base for Nigeria which, to me, is more important

,

dedication and support from everyone especially the media. Personally, the media played a major role in enhancing whatever I am today. I have very huge respect for them. But beyond that, we also believe that criticism should be instructive, constructive and scientific. It should not be borne out of deep-seated emotional hatred. It shouldn’t be subjective or based on sentiments because at the end of the day, we are trying to emphasize and develop Nigerian football. We are in a very modern scientific world so whatever you say is captured by Google. We should be guided by a modicum of philosophy to see that we regulate what we say, because whatever we say impacts on us.

How far are you utilizing your contacts to help Nigerian football?

A lot of people are beginning to appreciate us because we are trying to be global. We are proud to be Nigerians and we’ve decided to take leadership the same way we are taking leadership in the political front in Africa.

We’ve always acted as a big brother to most African countries. Even in Zurich, though I wasn’t the oldest person, somehow people believe that when a Nigerian speaks, everybody listens.

Now we are getting a lot of recognition. I believe this is the first time in a very long time that we are having that

•Eagles

,

ves e pline es

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 20, 2015 — 39

I respect the US Justice Department because whatever they are doing today will impact positively and bring a lot of integrity and sanity into football and also the Swiss Investigative Agency

,

•Amaju

t to players

nd 2022 World Cups

•Vicent

kind of global recognition in football, off the field of play.

There’s ongoing controversy in world football and it’s centred on corruption in fifa and the next two World Cups. How fair and how far will these affect the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar respectively?

I don’t want to speak about that if you don’t mind, because to me all those are subject to investigation which of course could lead to criminal proceedings. But in my personal opinion, I just think they should allow things be the way they are, because people took extreme positions that’s why all these investigations are on. On the other end, they should also realise that extreme positions

can be taken, for instance, Asia can decide to pull out of the World Cup if Qatar is being threatened. Other sympathizers may follow and that will not be good for world football. I just feel there are other years to come; there’s 2026, 2030, 2034 and so on.

The world is not ending today by God’s grace. I respect the US Justice Department because whatever they are doing today will impact positively and bring a lot of integrity and sanity into football and also the Swiss Investigative Agency. I have a very huge respect for them. We don’t believe in corruption and we shouldn’t be an apostle of corruption anywhere in the world.

I heard you talk about the need to bring back discipline to the National team?

We are not going to relent on bringing discipline to the National team because we observed that there’s a lot of indiscipline, unnecessary arrogance and highhandedness in the team. You can’t be in charge with all these in place. We got elected by the people to run football, so we are definitely going to be in charge and we are going make them see that there are rules. For instance, anytime we invite players in the future, as soon as they arrive, they’ll be given the Code of Conduct to sign, so as to moderate and regulate their behaviour and utterances. We believe we pay the piper and so we should dictate the tune.

Whatever comments they make impact hugely on us. I can’t tell you how much money we spent when Vincent made that comment (that Kaduna was not safe to host an international match involving Eagles). It heightened the tension and we needed to arrest the situation by introducing a lot of policing and security measures, because security issues are not what you divulge. We are happy Kaduna was home to all, very peaceful. Even when the Eagles were struggling, their fans in Kaduna gave them total support. I want to use this opportunity to thank the people of Kaduna and the Governor who was there from the beginning to end and cheered the Super Eagles.

We know they’ve not gotten to where we want them to, but we will support the technical crew in making sure they realise their dream of repositioning Nigeria to be one of the best Football nations in the world. That’s our ultimate dream.

40—SA TURD AY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015 40—SATURD TURDA

Lat e Justice Jaho laid tto o rest amid fanfare Late

I

L-R: Barr. Nancy, Mrs Neville Amorighone, Onome Ogbeni, Mr and Mrs Patrick Efekodo, Mrs Rita Amuka, Tuoyo Edun, Vivian Edon, Maria and Lucky Oletue

t was more of a celebration of life than morning when the remains of Late Justice Samuel Jaho was laid to rest in his hometown.

A church service was held for peaceful repose of his soul on Friday June 12th at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, in O g h w r o d e .

Interment followed thereafter at his family compound followed by reception at the same venue, all in Oghwrode.

Vanguard’s Olu Aja yi’s son w eds Ajayi’s weds

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hief Olu Ajayi, Vanguard’s photo correspondence in Kaduna State had the pleasure of hosting colleagues, friends and family members to a delightful evening of deluxe menu and drinks when his son Johnson Alade Ajayi wedded Folashade Janet Afolabi, daughter of Mr and Mrs Samuel Afolabi. The union took place at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State. Photos by Diran Oshe

Officiating ministers with the couple, Mr & Mrs Johnson Ajayi.

L-R: Vivian Edoh Maria, Ejiro Tive, Mrs Rita Amuka, Yeye Rewane, Mrs Ufuoma Baginwa Efekodo, Uduogho Rewane and Mr Omoh

L-R: Dame Bridget Dania, Mrs Rita Amuka, Patrick Tseyi Efekodo, Ufuoma Baginwa Efekodo, Yeye Rewane, Gloria Okeoghene Efekodo and Mrs Tuvie Margaret Odjokpa.

L-R: Mr Diran Oshe, Vanguard's photographer, Lagos, Mr Dare Fasube, Vanguard's Asst. Photo Editor, Oyo State, the couple, Mr & Mrs Johnson Ajayi with Chief Olu Ajayi, groom's father and Vanguard's Photo correspondence in Kaduna State.

L-R: Mrs Rita Amuka, Chief Albert Majemite and Yeye Rewane.

L-R:Mrs Tuvie Odjokpa, Mrs Ufuoma Efekodo, Dame Bridge Dania and Sir Victor Dania

Thanksgiving ffor or A gbor ne w-born prince Agbor new

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ueen Victoria Ikenchuku led other Agbor royalties and nobles at the thanksgiving mass for her new-born prince of Agbor kingdom. The mass held at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Ime-Obi Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State

Queen Victoria Ikenchuku (middle) Hon. Festus Okoh (left) and Chief Hetty Ajubon (right) C M Y K

Cross-section of Agbor chiefs

L-R: Chief Olu Ajayi, groom's father, Mrs Charity Ekundina groom's mother, Mrs Alice Afolabi, bride's mother, and Mr Samuel Afolabi, bride's father.

L-R: Rev. Ralph Osanaiye, AIG ( Rtd ), Chairman of the occasion with Chief Olu Ajayi and Mrs Charity Ekundina, parents of the groom .

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 20, 2015—41

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42—SATURDAY

Vanguard,JUNE 20, 2015

Lifeline:

Saving lives: Between medical ethics and the law W

hat are the duties of a physician and what is the relevance of medical law? How do they relate in patient care? According to the World Medical Association, WMA, International Code of Medical Ethics, originally adopted by the 3rd General Assembly of the WMA, London, England, October 1949, and amended at the 57th WMA General Assembly, Pilanesberg, South Africa, October 2006, the duties of a physician are classified into three broad categories. What are they?

What are the duties of physicians in general, to patients and to other physicians? To whom should the physician exercise his/her i n d e p e n d e n t professional judgment and maintain the highest standards of professional conduct?

Among others, it is stated that a physician shall respect a competent patient’s right to accept or refuse treatment; not allow his/her judgment to be influenced by personal profit or unfair discrimination, and be dedicated to providing competent medical service in full professional and moral independence, with compassion and respect for human dignity.

But shall a physician receive any financial benefits or other incentives solely for referring patients or prescribing specific products, or respect the rights and preferences of patients, colleagues, and other health professionals? What is the physician’s role in educating the public in divulging discoveries or new techniques or treatments?

To patients, a physician shall always bear in mind the obligation to respect human life; act in the patient’s best interest when providing medical C M Y K

•Dr. Efunbo Dosekun

care; owe his/her patients complete loyalty and all the scientific resources available to him/her. Whenever an examination or treatment is beyond the physician’s capacity, he/ she should consult with or refer to another physician who has the necessary ability.

What are the physician’s limits in respecting a patient’s right to confidentiality?

Can a physician enter into a sexual relationship with a current patient or engage such into any other abusive or e x p l o i t a t i v e relationship?

According to the LGCSC – Health Laws, Medical Law governs both medical care practitioners, as well as patients under their care Patients are protected under medical law against medical professionals who cause some form of harm, injury or death to a patient, as well as breaching a level of confidentiality.

How does medical law under Confidentiality, Criminal Law and Medical Negligence,

help to protect a medical practitioner accused of breaching medical laws even though they are innocent. How does it help bring legal action against those practitioners who acted unlawfully toward a patient under their care?

What does the medical confidentiality law say about a doctor ’s disclosure of sensitive or private medical information about a patient in his or her care to other people? What are the ethically moral and legal requirements of confidence pertaining to medical information about a patient? When does a doctor or other health care practitioners who reveal medical information about a patient without their consent breach the medical law? What is medical negligence or medical malpractice?

How can patients who are subject to medical negligence or malpractice have recourse under the law to take legal action against the health care practitioner or medical facility? What does the personal injury law

branch of medical law provide?

In realisation of the foregoing, Outreach Medical Services, the parent company of Outreach Health Innovation Centre, an establishment that is at the forefront of the evolutionary movement in the Nigerian Health care sector, is organising a conference on “Medical Ethics and Medical Law ” . T h e event holds in Lagos on July 15, 2015 at the Panoramic View Hall, Civic Centre, Victoria Island, is one way the Outreach Medical centre is carrying out its vision simply tagged “Saving Lives”, through Continuing Education of Health Care Professionals.

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n a statement, Chief Executive Officer, Outreach Medical Services, Dr. Efunbo Dosekun, described the conference as an imperative now because the rot that has eaten deep into the fabric of society has beset the health sector.

“In order to stem this societal decay, we feel that doctors need to be re-educated on the tenets of medical ethics and the risks that naturally come with attending to patients.

Doctors need to have their duties and responsibilities towards their patients re – emphasised. Doctors also need to be made acutely aware of the requirements that the law places on them and the consequences of dereliction of such duties,” Dosekun noted.

She said while the evolution in the Nigerian health sector involves patients who are increasingly more educated and conscious of their rights and privileges such that they make demands and seek redresses when health service delivery fall below expected standards.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—43

Your feet say a lot about your health Lifestyle:

Cold Feet f your toes are always cold, one reason could be poor blood flow—a circulatory problem sometimes linked to smoking, high blood pressure, or heart disease. The nerve damage of uncontrolled diabetes can also make your feet feel cold. Other possible causes include hypothyroidism and anaemia.

Foot Pain When feet ache after a long day, you might blame your shoes. But pain may come from a stress fracture, a small crack in a bone.

Also, weakened bones due to osteoporosis increases the risk.

Dragging Your Feet Sometimes the first sign of a problem is a change in the way you walk — a wider gait or slight foot dragging. Can be linked to diabetes, nerve damage, vitamin deficiency, and alcoholism. In many cases, no one knows what caused Clubbed Toes In clubbing, the shape of the toes (and often the fingers) changes. The nails are more rounded on top and curve downward.

Lung disease is the most common underlying cause, but it also can be caused by heart disease, liver and digestive disorders, or certain infections.

Sometimes, clubbing runs in families without any underlying disease.

Swollen Feet This is usually a temporary nuisance caused by standing too long or a long flight — especially if you are pregnant. In contrast, feet that stay swollen can be a sign of a serious medical condition. The cause

I

•Swollen Feet may be poor circulation, a problem with the lymphatic system, or a blood clot. A kidney disorder or underactive thyroid can also cause swelling. If you have persistent swelling of your feet, see a physician.

Burning Feet A burning sensation in the feet is common among diabetics with peripheral nerve damage. It can also be caused by a vitamin B deficiency, athlete’s foot, chronic kidney disease, poor circulation in the legs and feet (peripheral arterial disease), or hypothyroidism.

Pain in the Big Toe Gout is a notorious cause of sudden pain in the big toe joint, along with redness and swelling.

Osteoarthritis is another culprit that causes pain and swelling. If the joint is rigid, it may be hallux rigidus, a complication of arthritis where a bone spur develops. Injury to ligaments surrounding the joint is another cause.

Pain in the Smaller Toes If you feel like you’re walking on a marble, or if pain burns in the ball of your foot and radiates

SEXUAL ISSUES & SOLUTIONS PREMATURE EJACULATION - TIPS TO LAST LONGER ost of the guys make big mistake – they think that sex is about having intercourse. But women like long foreplay, because it takes more time to bust a sweat than to reach an orgasm. If you have orgasm before her, she will be dissatisfied. So don’t hurry, spend more time on her erogenous zones by stimulating them and after she’s aroused, you can then switch to intercourse.

Another effective strategy to last longer during intercourse is distraction. A lot of guys make very big mistakes by thinking about having an ejaculation. Think about something unisexual e.g football or something else; breathe deeply and slowly and these will help me manage arousal better thereby delaying your ejaculation.

Im 40 years of age, I find it difficult to go for second round after every short first round. What can I do? Chico It normally takes some time for a man to get strong erection to go for second round, but the time frame in different men differs based on some facts; some don’t even go for a second round at all. I’ll suggest you get either Rhino 5 or X-again to give an instant result, but of you want to correct the condition, I’ll advise you go for Prosolution pills. This Prosolution pills doesn’t work instantly, but result starts showing from the 2nd week of usage. The choice depends of the type of result you want.

I got the Libigirl pill with the sex shot from you some weeks back and I must confess that anytime I take both, I get aroused easily and in the mood for sex which is unlike before that I complained to my husband about not always in the mood. My husband is complaining that my vagina is a bit wide after giving birth to 3 children, please help me –Grace Hello grace Libigirl pill is a herbal supplement that helps stimulate woman alongside the sex shot which you have used. The duo work wonders in putting a woman in the mood and am glad you got that. To tighten your vagina; you can get the Like-a-virgin cream, O’Natural cream or the orgasm ball to help tighten the walls of the vagina.

I have been using the Vigrx plus with the plump cream

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to enlarge my penis and im starting to get result, but I read some weeks back that the optimal plump cream works faster than the plump cream when combined with Vigrx plus. Is it true? Can I change to it then? IK Vigrx plus can be combined with any cream, though some creams works faster than the others due to their ingredients. Since you have started noticing result in the size of your penis, I’ll advise you stick with the plump cream, but if you feel you want to try new thing, you can get the optimal plump cream to continue using with Vigrx plus until the therapy is completed. Optimale plump cream works faster than the ordinary plump cream and they are all herbal creams with no side effects.

Hello Viewden, I have difficulty getting a hard erection and I have tried many supplements all no to avail; I heard Plant Vigra , Sexvolz, rhino 7 and X-again work like magic , How true is that? Lloyd Plant vigra is a very potent herbal supplement that helps give very strong erection. Plant Vigra , sexvoltz, rhino 7 and X-again have proven to be very effective where other supplements have failed. These supplements give no side effects like headaches or pains in the body and they work within 30 minutes of usage.

Im 45 years old and have been diabetic for close to 6 years now which has seriously affected my erection system. If I manage to get an erection- which is not hard enough, I end up ejaculating within 3 minutes of penetration; how can you help me? Tim Yes Tim, there are lots of safe herbal products to give you very strong erection and also make you last long. If you want very strong erection on demand; you can take either of the following; Plant Vigra, Rhino 5, Libigrow, X-again, stiff nite; but if you want to totally correct weak erection and premature ejaculation, I’ll advice you take Prosolution pills or Vimax pills These are all we can take for this week. Adults who needs any of these aphrodisiacs can cal 08034666358, 07059294782 or place your order at www.viewden.com.

For further enquiries, send an email to us at: vieweden@yahoo.com, viewden@ymail.com.

Kemi Fawole (MD VIEWDEN)

to the toes, you may have Morton’s neuroma, a thickening of tissue around a nerve, usually between the third and fourth toes. It is eight to 10 times more common in women than in men. It is caused by injury or too much pressure on the toes.

Itchy Feet Itchy, scaly skin may be athlete’s foot, a common fungal infection. A reaction to chemicals or skin care products — called contact dermatitis — can cause itching, too, along with redness and dry patches.

If the skin on itchy feet is thick and pimplelike, it may be psoriasis, an over-reaction of the immune system.

Foot Spasms A sudden, sharp pain in the foot is the hallmark of a muscle spasm or cramp, which can last many minutes. Overwork and muscle fatigue are common causes.

Other causes include poor circulation, dehydration, or imbalances in potassium, magnesium, calcium, or vitamin D levels in the body. The changing hormone levels of pregnancy or thyroid disorders may play a role.

Yellow Toenails A fungal infection often causes thickened yellow toenails. Thick, yellow nails also can be a sign of an underlying disease, including lymphedema (swelling related to the lymphatic system), lung problems, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis.

White Nails Injury to the nail or illness anywhere in the body can cause white areas in the nails.

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

haveno no IIhave regrets in in life, life, regrets says Mama Mama says Palm Church Church Palm •As she turns 100 today •Total trust in God is secret of longevity •Sings school anthem she learnt @ eight •How I led protest against soaring food prices in 1945 to Governor General

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

C

LEAN, calm and coherent. These three attributes best describe the matriarch of Williams' family, Mrs. Ibilola Williams, who is 100 today.

Unlike some centenarians, whose memories are often vague, Mama Palm Church, as she is fondly called, boasts of the memories of an octogenarian.

This, she gracefully exhibited in a chat with Vanguard at her Lagos home.

Surrounded by some of her children and extended family members, Mama Palm Church recounted the story of her life which began with her birth in Ebute Metta, Lagos on June 20, 1915. ''Oh you have come to interview me,'' she asked this reporter, before the commencement of the chat which was stopped a few times to enable her recollect some events.

In a manner reflective of her age, she started the chat thus: ‘’My name is Miss Ibilola,’’ before being corrected by her fifth daughter, Mrs. Olasumbo Howells, who reminded her that she is Mrs. On that note, Mama Palm Church, said: ‘’My name is Mrs. Eunice Ibilola Williams, JP. I was born at Ebute Meta Lagos. I attended Ago Ijaye Primary School. I proceeded to Casting House School. From there I proceeded to Mrs. Gibson’s school here in Lagos. It was a regular C M Y K

school.’’ ‘’After school, I learnt some trade, I studied catering. Thereafter, I got married. Most of my youth days were spent in Lagos.

I attend Ago Ijaiye Methodist Church Ebutte Metta where I met my husband. I attended the church as a child and adult. I was a member of the choir.’’

While recalling her early days with a spark in her eyes and as though not too sure of what else to say, she blurted asking: ‘’What next?’’

At that point, her daughter, Mrs. Howell said: ‘’She got married at the age of 20 to my dad, Victor, who was an organist in the church.’’

Interestingly, at the mentioning of her husband’s name, Mama Palm Church, chipped in saying that her husband was ‘’ Victor Akintunde Williams.’’

Nonetheless, Howell continued with her narrative: ‘’ My Dad lived at Palm Street. My Grand father was Fredrick Ephraim Williams. He was the like of the Dohertys, Darochas.

We all lived there. After our education some of us went abroad while others stayed back in Nigeria.’’

When asked how she felt attaining the age of 100, Mama Palm Church, joyfully said: ‘’I thank God. I thank God. I give glory to God Almighty. I only thank God for everything for giving me life.’’

On the secret of her longevity in a country where the World Health Organisation, WHO, in its 2014 report pegged life expectancy at below 55 years, she said: ‘’I trust in God. And I always take everything that

comes in life the way they come without worrying myself.

I often committed every challenge to the hands of God.’’ ‘’Any other thing left?’’ she asked amid laughter.

Continuing, she said, ‘’I eat every thing good, I had no preference. I like every food that is good. ‘’ Asked if she has any regret in life, she said: ‘’I thank God for my life. No, I don’t have any regret. I get everything I need.

My children provide for me. I don’t lack anything in Jesus name.’’

On her special wishes at 100, Mama Palm Church said: ‘’I expect every thing good from my God.’’ In addition, her daughter added: ‘’Every Easter special meals are prepared. She is the originator of Roman Cake in Nigeria. It is a special cake.

Her house in Lagos is a big compound and was known as a Christian church. It was a home for all. ‘’After the Second World War, the prices of food items were high in the country. That made mama with Mrs. Kasumu who was her inlaw with other women go to the then Governor General of Nigeria to make case for the reduction of food prices.

And their request was acceded to and prices went down. ‘’ ‘’When we were growing up, you will rather prefer mama to spank you than to talk to you, because when she winks you ought to know what she wanted. She is a disciplinarian.

She is also very neat. She is very hygienic and accommodating. She loves people and she

On her special wishes at 100, Mama Palm Church said: ‘’I expect every thing good from my God

gives a lot. When she cooked, it was with big pots. Our house was a melting point. She is also well travelled across the globe.’’

When asked what her hobbies are, her son, Mr. Opeolu Abayomi said, ‘’Mama likes working. That is why she is still strong. She is very agile and loves children like her mother.

She welcomes strangers. Until now we never knew that some people who were brought up with us were not even our relatives. She took care of everybody and she loves to sing.’’

At that point she was asked if she could sing any of her favourite songs. Behold, Mama Palm Church sang two songs.

One of the songs was one she sang at the age of eight, titled: ‘’ I was glad when they said unto me to go into the house of the Lord’’ With amazing accuracy, she sang all the stanzas of the song and concluded thus: ‘’Praise the Lord.’’

Instructively, her family is one of the prominent aboriginal families in Lagos. The father of her late husband was one of the Brazillian returnees in Lagos.

She is blessed with children, grand children, great grand children and extended family members across the country.

Prominent among her inlaws, is a former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015 — 45

Appoint only 17 Senior Ministers, Joda c’ttee advises Buhari T

he Ahmed Jodaled transition committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to prune the number of federal ministries from 28 to 19.

In its report seen by TheCable, the advisory c o m m i t t e e

recommended that Buhari should have only 19 senior ministers, while 17 ministers of state should be appointed, bringing the total to 36 in fulfillment of the constitutional requirement of one minister per state.

P r e v i o u s governments, starting

from 1999, appointed 42 ministers — picking one from each of the six geo-political zones in addition to one from each of the 36 states of the federation.

Under former President Goodluck J o n a t h a n ’ s administration, there were 28 senior ministers and 14 ministers of state. Three of the ministries were directly under presidency.

The issue of small government has dominated public debate, with the new governor of Kaduna state, Nasir el-Rufai, reducing the number of ministries from 19 to 13 upon inauguration.

Buhari promised to reduce the cost of governance and only on Thursday ordered that nine of the VIP transport aircraft under the presidential fleet,

better known as presidential jets, should be sold.

The Joda transition committee submitted its report to Buhari on June 12, but the details, which the president is expected to evaluate before taking his initial key steps, are yet to be made public.

TheCable can report that under the Joda proposals, only nine ministries will not be affected in the pruning exercise: (1) industry, trade and investment (2) education (3) defence (4) FCT (5) finance (6) labour and productivity (7) justice (8) foreign affairs and (9) national planning.

The report posited: “There is no direct relationship between the number of ministries and efficacy of service delivery. The US with a population of

316 million and with GDP of $17,328 trillion (30 times Nigeria’s GDP) has 15 ministries.

India has 24 ministries, while the UK has 17.

“The current structure of the FGN with 28 ministries and 542 agencies (50 of which have no enabling laws) [results in] very high cost of governance. The portfolios of ministries are not responsive to all the major critical national challenges such as family and child affairs; religious affairs; vulnerable and elderly group affairs as well as the North-eastern crisis. “[There is an] apparent conflict between the desire of reducing the cost of governance through cabinet downsize and the constitutional requirement of a c a b i n e t - l e v e l

ministerial appointment from each of the 36 states of the federation.”

The Joda committee wants mines and steel d e v e l o p m e n t , petroleum resources and power to become one ministry to be named “ministry of energy ”, while environment, land and urban development as well as works and housing will now be known as works, housing and environment instead of being three separate ministries.

These proposals are believed to have been influenced by the report of the Stephen Oronsaye committee which was set up by Jonathan to provide a comprehensive blueprint on reduction of cost of governance in 2012.

Revenue collectors chase school bus into a ditch at Nkpor ...smash newspaper stand

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA - There was a pandamonium yesterday at the popular Nkpor Junction in Idemili North local Government Area of Anambra state, near the commercial city of Onitsha as revenue contractors chased a school van into a ditch on the process of carrying out what they termed as ‘operation show your emblem receipt’ and

5 x 4 ad

smashed some items at a newspaper stand.

This incident is coming barely two days after the police in the state arrested two revenue agents of the state for allegedly killing one Okechukwu Onwuamaegbum, a driver attached to The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Mission during the process of demanding for the driver’s same vehicle emblem.

The driver of the school

bus, a Mitsubishi L300 with Inscription: “Diocese on the Niger Ascension Nursery & Primary School, Isiafor”, according to the source, was driving past the Junction yesterday morning when the revenue contractors started chasing him with motorbike.

Eye-witnesses said that as the three-man task force emblem revenue collectors chased the driver, the driver, sensing danger and suspecting that they were armed robbers, swerved into a side drainage and one of the vehicle’s front tyres crossed over the drainage and punctured.

A newspaper vendor who simply identified herself as Mrs. Ikpe, whose newspaper stand was partially smashed by the vehicle, told newsmen shortly after the incident that if the front tyre had not punctured and forced the vehicle to an abrupt stop, the vehicle would have climbed the drainage with the high speed and would

have pulled down her newsstand completely and possibly kill some newspaper readers at the moment.

She disclosed that when the revenue contractors discovered that the bus had fallen into the drainage and destroyed few things on sale at her newsstand, they quickly jumped into their motorbike and wanted to zoom off but due to a traffic jam that held them back, passersby grabbed them and were about to lynch them when personnel of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC who positioned their ‘Operation Kpochapu’ patrol van within the Junction to checkmate the activities of hoodlums in the area, intervened and rescued them.

She further disclosed that after rescuing them, the NSCDC officials took them and the driver to Ogidi Police Station and handed them over to the police for interrogations.

AMAA 2015 organisers move to Los Angeles

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

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rganizers of the prestigious African Movie Academy Awards,AMAA, have announced that the 2015 nominations gala event ahead of the award ceremony will hold today, at the glamorous LA Live complex in Downtown Los Angeles where the nominees in the 26 categories will be announced.

A-list Hollywood film makers including actors

and actresses will join their Nigerian and other African counterparts including Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Faithia Balogun,O.C Ukeje, Patience Uzokwor, Kingsley Ogoro, Paul Okoli, Chioma Chukwuka, Kunle Afolayan, Emem Isong, Doris Simon, Eniola Badmus, Aki and Paw Paw, Lydia Forson and others who are already in the world motion picture and entertainment capital for the AMAA nominations event.

46—SA TURD AY 46—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

e was a freshman in secondary school. On this night, the seniors were soaping (applying soap to their penises H to get an erection and measure the length). Unless they were

I do not know the origin of man’s obsession with the size of his penis, but it might have started shortly after the fall of Adam when man suddenly found a more pleasurable use for it beyond urinating. This obsession seems to know no colour, ethnicity or nationality.

About 10 years ago, the penises of 1200 volunteers from all over India were measured. The outcome of the survey showed that Indian men had smaller penises by international standards. Irked by the findings, Sunil Mehra, a former Indian magazine editor said: “It’s not size, it’s what you do with it that matters. From our population, the evidence is Indians are doing pretty well. With apologies to the poet Alexander Pope, you could say, for inches and centimetres, let fools contend.” National pride, not just individual or personal egos, was bruised.

These days on the internet, in newspapers and street walls, you see adverts of various penis enlargement products and methods. But what purpose does penis enlargement serve? Does it

help men in siring children?

Certainly not; as long as the man has healthy sperms, even a microscopic penis will get a woman pregnant. If not gorillas would since have gone extinct; they have one of the smallest penis (1.5 inches or 4cm when erect) compared to body size and weight. If size contributes nothing to reproduction, what is the craze for penis enlargement all about?

Beyond procreation, the other reason for sexual intercourse is pleasure. In fact this is the main reason many people get involved in sex; this is also the main reason why prostitution and other forms of sexual activities are rampant and booming? But does size matter in sexually satisfying a woman? The answer from research and interviews is yes and no. Yes, because some men suffer from “a rare micropenis condition...

The disorder, which is present in 0.6 per cent of males, means the erect penile length is less than 7cm ( 2.7 inches). Such small penis will likely not give a woman the desired pleasure.” It might also totally

Penis tinz erode a man’s confidence and self worth.

There have also been newspaper reports of wives suing for divorce because of their husbands’ “small penis.” But some people believe that skills, foreplay and stamina, rather than size, are the real issues in many of these penis-sizerelated divorce cases. In fact, John (not his real name) believes that “the size of the

,

lying or his memory is failing him (it happened almost 40 years ago), he heard 10 inches, 11 inches, then eight inches (“boy, those guys were massive”). When it got to his “senior ’s” turn, he registered under six inches and the others started laughing at him. That was when he giggled and they knew he was awake (it was already lights out and they had used a torch to check earlier if he was asleep). He was hauled down from the double bunk, beaten up and “checked out.” Do not ask for the outcome: what did you expect from a frightened 11-year-old with a flaccid, no, shrunken penis.

inches to about 3.25 inches.

When a woman is aroused, it increases between 4.25 inches to 4.75 inches. “Regardless of how long the vagina is, the area that is thought to be important for most women’s sexual response is the outer one-third.” The import of the above research finding is that the average-size penis is more than long enough to satisfy a woman.

Beyond procreation, the other reason for sexual intercourse is pleasure

penis is not an issue. If it was, how come fingers which are much smaller than the penis can send women to seventh heaven? Men should go and learn how to satisfy their wives,” he concluded. Many women, from research finding, also said skills are more important than size in sexual satisfaction.

Now let us examine some more facts from a research finding. An average penis length is 5.6 inches.

Meanwhile the vagina length, unstimulated, range from 2.75

,

Still on the vagina, Christine O’Connor, MD, Director of Adolescent Gynecology and Well Women Care at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore (United States) says it is “elastic. It is small enough to hold a tampon in place, but can expand enough to pass a child through. This is because the walls of the vagina are similar to those of the stomach; they…fold together to collapse when unused, then expand when necessary.”

If the above are true, why are men so obsessed with the size of their penis? The answer might be in the Daily Star (UK) story of Dr Roberto Viel and Dr Maurizio, identical twin brothers who specialise in penis enlargement. They said increased girth (circumference) of the penis can improve sex. According to two other studies, about 90 percent of women actually “prefer a wide penis to a long one.”

Roberto also said some men do “penis enlargement because their partners have had a few natural births and the vagina is stretched.” Dr. Martina Agberien, a medical doctor with the Nigerian Television Authority, corroborates: “Truth is that after child birth, the tightness is not much anymore.Some women…use some herbal stuff to wash their Vagina so as to have the tightness before sex.”

However, Roberto insists that most men do penis enlargement surgeries simply to feel more confident on the beach, in communal showers or in the lead up to sex. He said: “Men want to expose and show that they have a good sized penis when flaccid.”

So the craze for a longer penis has little to do with sex.

In fact the length of the penis matters more to men than to women, according to a new study. The penis size seems to be more of an ego trip, a feelgood factor, a confidence booster, a psychological rather than a physical issue.

Much ado about nothing?

May be

(Text Only)

Buck up with exercise The Locust Technique

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ie flat on the floor with face downwards and keep the hands by the side of the body with the fingers clenched into fists. Rest the chin on the ground by raising the head. Inhale and stiffen the body by pressing the fists against the floor. Slowly raise the legs as high as possible. Keep the legs in a straight line, while the two thighs, knees and ankles touch each other. The weight of the legs must fall on the body and hands.

Contract the muscles of the buttocks, stretch the muscles of the thighs and further extend the position of the legs. Retain the posture for a few seconds in the beginning and gradually increase the duration. Concentrate on the upper portion of the body, i.e. above the waist.

Slowly lower the legs to the floor and simultaneously

exhale.Relax with normal breathing. Repeat the posture two or three times.

Relax in Makarasana.

The Camel Tehnique:

S

it on your heels and arrange hands next to the feet with fingers pointing backwards.

Now lift yourself up and hump the chest and let the head drop.

Stay in the posture for some 15 counts.

Lower the body, rest a

while and repeat as much as you can.

Benefits: The Camel, Ustrasara in Sanskrit, endows the practitioner with elasticity. The chest expansion that conies with this exercise coupled with gentle but deep breathing are most rejuvenating.

People with chest and respiratory disorders will gain help from the practice of the Camel.

•The Camel

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

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

•The Locust

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard,JUNE 20 20,, 2015 — 47

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

How common are ‘Surrogate’ fathers?

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was recently in the office of an old schoolmate when the arrival of a girlfriend of his was announced by his secretary. “Let her come in,” he instructed . Akin and I briefly worked together a few decades back. He’d done fantastically well for himself since he graduated and we’d remained good friends over the years.

When his visitor was shown in, she looked in her mid-thirties and was a bit embarrassed to find me in the office. After a decent interval, Akin reached into a drawer of his desk and passed a bulging manila envelope to the woman. A tall very pretty lady with glowing skin, she thanked her obvious ‘benefactor ’ with a kiss and a hug, slipping a slim envelope on his desk as she left, I was curious.

Akin extracted two photographs from the envelope, looked at them interestingly for a while, then passed them to me with

fertile. In spite of that, I supported her when she had fertility investigation and the gynaecologist said she was ok. It was then the husband’s turn to be tested but lyabo told the gynaecologist she would rather the husband didn’t know about the investigation as she didn’t want to make him feel inadequate. So the gynaecologist arranged for her to come to his clinic any time they both had daytime sex so her husband’s spermcount could be checked for potency. It was when his sperm was examined that it was discovered his sperm count was very low. lyabo confessed she suspected that could be the problem when she didn’t get pregnant before and after they got married. If she did involve her husband in any investigation, springing a pregnancy on him could be very risky. It was then it dawned on me that she wanted me to father her child. In other words, she did plan everything long

With the reckless dimension sex is hurtling an arrogant smirk, they were photographs of a very cute infant. “My son,” he informed me proudly. I didn’t know what to make of this revelation. I knew Akin’s wife, was aware he had been married for almost 20 years and had three lovely children. Had he fallen into the trap of the second wife syndrome?

“Not a chance,” he laughed. lyabo (his lady friend) is married. He told me she was married for over five years without getting pregnant. “When her husband and in-laws became too anxious about her childlessness, she came crying to me,” he continued with his interesting story.

“She is an old girlfriend, you see. When she was getting married, I encouraged it —I told her I wasn’t a two-wives material and I supported her financially through all the ceremonies of the marriage.

She did have a few ‘accidents’ when we were together, so I knew she was

,

before she sought my consent.

“The husband is a very decent man with a good job.

He loves lyabo and she couldn’t have settled for a more considerate man. I wrestled with my conscience for weeks. In the end, I relented. If I couldn’t marry her after all she had meant to me, I would do the next best thing. Luckily, her husband is dark just like me and look at the wonderful son they now have! The man was over the moon when the baby arrived, and their marriage is rock solid. With her in-laws off her back, she can concentrate on building a strong home.”

And the money he slipped her, was it conscience money? “Don’t be silly,” he scoffed, “I give her financial support from time to time— just as I did before she got married. I am sure a lot of you girls go back to your exes to touch them for cash whenever you are short! In spite of the so-called financial independence of

most women, a lot of them are not as independent as to leave an infertile husband and embrace motherhood alone. I learnt some men, knowing they are infertile, have encouraged their wives to play the field with the hope of their getting pregnant and a few wives who went abroad to be artificially inseminated with donor sperms have ended up producing as quirky a result as mulatto children!”

Not too long ago, some well known names were publicly linked with paternity disputes. With the

reckless dimension sex is hurtling, no man can really beat his chest that all his children are his. “And have you noticed that some of these hybrid children actually have a striking resemblance to their supposed dads?” sneered Jade, a close friend when a few of us had our usual chinwags in her house.

We’d called to wish her a happy birthday she refused to celebrate because her 15year-old daughter just flunked her mock exams and might not be recommended for the WAEC, she explained:

“Take my uncle Billy for instance. We had a family get-together recently and he brought his nine-year-old son. The old man is in his mid 70s and the wife, his third. He only had a child to his name from a fling he had in his school days, and with all the gang-rapes going on in their days, only heavens know who that one’s real dad was! Anyway, he came with his wife and new son and it was as if the little boy was a crown jewel!

My uncle followed him all over the place, confessing he was so attached to the boy that, God forbid the boy should peg off before him— he would simply commit suicide! In the mean time, the boyfriend whom his loving wife had had for ages, had been telling anyone who cared to listen that but for him, my uncle wouldn’t have had an heir as the first child, now married is a female. What could the family do about this embarrassment?

Nothing. All you have to do is compare the boy’s looks with the braggart and see a striking resemblance. My uncle’s saving grace is that he is fair too, but not as chubby cheeked as his socalled son.”

Don’t be obsessed with having a child

R

ecognising the fact that trying for a baby can quickly become an obsession, nutrition health expert, Marilyn Glenville has written a book to help couples boost their fertility in just three months. According to her, no matter what you do, you might not get pregnant without the right help, “knowing you are doing everything you can will allow you to get on with the rest of your life and, importantly, enjoy baby-making”, she says. Here is a selection of the tips she gave in her book: Getting Pregnant Faster: Change your diet: Good nutrition means eating healthily at least 80 per cent of the time without cutting out any food groups. Keep your weight in check and blood sugar levels

balanced so your reproductive hormones work.

You: Getting your five –aday of fruit and veg will ensure good levels of fertility boosting antioxidants like Vitamins C and E. Him: Eat foods high in zinc such as eggs, apricots, vegetables and dried fruit to boost sperm production.

Vitamin C can increase sperm count by stopping the sperm clumping together.

Lead a healthy life-style: Cutting out cigarettes and alcohol is essential but other factors are as important.

You: Exercise daily to help regulate your menstrual cycle and encourage regular ovulation, but don’t overdo it— not more than 15 hours per week. Get at least six or seven hours undisturbed

sleep to boost your libido and prevent hormonal imbalance.

Him: Don’t binge on alcohol. A single drinking session can wipe out your sperm count for months.

Come home sober for sex instead and do it often!

Abstaining for even a week increases sperm quality and chances of fertilization.

Go green: Having spider plants, geraniums and peace lilies around can help extract fumes, chemicals and smoke from air.

You: Get some plants for home and work. A walk in the park every day will boost your oxygen level.

Him: Never use a laptop on your lap as it raises the temperature of the testes by about 2.8 degrees Celsius.

Just one-degree increase reduces fertility by 40 per cent.

48 — SATURDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

YETUNDE AREBI to one full month (or one full menstrual cycle) for the pill to become completely effective. In fact, doctors often recommend that you use an additional control method in the first weeks of taking the pill. Merely skipping the pills is enough to alter its effectiveness.

Myth: The average penis size is about 5 to 6 inches.

Fact: According to the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction at Indiana University, Bloomington, US, the average erect (hard) penis length is between 5 to 6 inches, and an average flaccid (not erect, or soft) penis length ranges between 1 and 4 inches. Unfortunately, the size of the penis is a constant source of worry or concern for most men as the penis is associated or synonymous to their manhood and even virility. In recent times, there has been an increase in the promotion and sale of medications said to aid penis enlargement and elongation. The effectiveness of this is however still scientifically uncertain.

Myth: The stock of semen in the body is limited, so if you waste it by masturbating, you will soon run out of semen.

Fact: This is simply not true because semen is not stocked but produced in the body throughout a man’s life. It will continue to be produced as long as the reproductive organs are working and in good, health condition.

Sex: How much do you know?

S

exually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain a major public health challenge in many countries of the world. In Nigeria, many factors, including cultural and economic challenges make effective taming of STDs difficult. Coupled with these are the challenges of social stigmatisation, education and lack of access to accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Recent health reports indicate that there is a rise in the transmission of STDs, especially Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis and the two most affected groups are young people between the ages of 17-25 and older people between 45 and 65. The most vulnerable of these groups of course remain women who suffer more devastating effects from these diseases. Most worrisome is the fact that many of the infections are also asymptomatic, meaning that unless tested directly or at advanced stages, they may go undetected by their carriers. Unfortunately, sex is an acquired art and training will lasts through the course of a life time. Acquiring all the knowledge required about sex and sexual health has nothing to do with age as even many adults have been found wanting in this area. Today, I have decided to assist us juggle our memories or update our information on the subject.

Do have a wonderful weekend!

Myth: A girl can’t get pregnant or a guy can’t get a girl pregnant if: you have sex standing up; the girl is on top; you have sex in a hot tub or a swimming pool; you jump up and down immediately after sex; the girl douches, takes a bath, or urinates immediately after sex; it’s your first time; you’re both virgins; the guy pulls out before he ejaculates or if he doesn’t go all the way in; the girl doesn’t have an orgasm; the guy and the girl don’t orgasm at the same time; the girl pushes really hard on her belly button after sex; or the girl makes herself sneeze for fifteen minutes after sex; if a girl is having a period; or she has never had a period; if the girl or guy drinks lemon based sodas.

Fact: Please forget you have ever heard these stories.

You can get pregnant anytime you participate in sex, with or without full penetration; sitting, kneeling or standing up, no matter the gallons of Soda you consume. The only 100 percent way to prevent pregnancy is abstinence.

Myth: You can tell by looking if you or someone else has an STD; or I would know if I had an STD. Fact: Many STDs, including HIV, often show no symptoms (e no de show for face). Thus, many people who have an STD do not know it until they have been tested. Research has shown that about one in two sexually active people will get an STD by age 25 and most of them will not know it. Some STDs are very common among teens and young adults so it is recommended that a sexually active person should go for testing once a year. For example, all sexually active young women should be tested every year for Chlamydia, which silently affects millions of people, and can leave women infertile (unable to have kids).

However, there are some common STDs that doctors will not carry out in a routine examination unless the patient presents symptoms or specially requests for it.

Myth: Guys who drink alcohol and use drugs have

better sex.

Fact: Getting drunk or high makes you incapable of making sound decisions about sex. Most people have admitted doing things they otherwise would not have done, if they were not under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Having sex under the influence means that you are not likely to practice safe sex and could end up with something much worse than a hangover.

Myth: If a rape victim did not physically struggle with or fight the assailant, it wasn’t really rape.

Fact: Rapists are not usually looking for a fight or someone who will give them a tough time. The psychology of the rapist is to have power or control over his victim and so they can adopt as many methods as possible to get their victims to succumb to their wishes and this might include, coercion, threats and manipulation. Many rape victims do not fight back because they are afraid of getting hurt or even killed, while others simply feel they are compelled to cooperate. Sometime, rapists induce their victims with alcohol and other drugs to incapacitate them.

Myth: A woman cannot sexually assault a man.

Reality: Although majority of perpetrators are male, men can also be sexually assaulted by women regardless of size, strength and sexual orientation.

Myth: Douching is a healthy way to clean the vagina.

Fact: This is so not true. The vagina is self-cleansing and douching actually does more harm than good. The natural bacteria found in the vagina helps keep it clean and healthy.

Douching can disturb that balance and cause the spread of vaginal infections into the fallopian tubes, uterus and ovaries.

Also, douching does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy. In fact, it may make it easier for a woman to get pregnant because it pushes semen farther up into the vagina and cervix. Wash only the outside of the vagina with warm water and mild soap to keep it clean. Even the natural odour of the vagina makes it the more sexy!

Myth: Guys are always ready for sex.

Fact: This is mere stereotype and not necessarily true. Guys may have a reputation for always thinking about sex, but, it does not mean that all of them go through with it or that some of them don’t prefer to do other things with a female companion other than sex. Indeed, there are hundreds of virgin guys in their 30s and 40s choosing to hold out till their wedding nights. And please, some guys are also asexual.

Myth: You can’t get HIV or a sexually transmitted infection (STI) from getting a tattoo or through body piercing.

Fact: Any instrument used in cutting or piercing the skin, if unsterilized, can cause the transmission of an infection.

Therefore, the risk of contracting HIV or another blood-borne infection (like hepatitis B or C) if the instruments used for tattooing or piercing are not sterilized or disinfected thoroughly after using them on another client is high. Insist on proper hygiene when you visit your salon for such services. You may even demand to see the equipments and how they go about the sterilisation process. Why not? It’s your money and your body, isn’t it?

Myth: A woman can start taking birth control pills right before she’s going to have sex.

Fact: It will not work. Birth control pills are made up of a series of hormones that must build up in the body over a period of time to be effective. The pills are meant to be taken in a specific order at about the same time every day. It can take up

Myth: Only homosexuals have anal sex.

Fact: Some heterosexual (male and female) couples also have anal sex.

Myth: Vasectomy makes a man impotent.

Fact: Vasectomy makes a man sterile, not impotent.

This means that his semen does not contain sperms any more, and therefore is unable to impregnate a woman.

However, he can still achieve full erection and have a pleasurable and fulfilling sex life.

Myth: Losing one drop of semen is equal to losing about 40 drops of blood.

Fact: Semen is not made of blood and so losing semen cannot affect your blood.

Myth: Masturbation leads to psychological problems.

Fact: Only anxiety and fear caused by myths about masturbation can cause psychological problems, not masturbation itself.

Myth: Nocturnal orgasms (wet dreams) occur only in men.

Fact: Women also experience nocturnal orgasms.

Myth: It is abnormal or immoral to feel sexually attracted towards more than one person at a time.

Fact: It is natural and common for both men and women to feel sexually attracted towards more than one person at a time, particularly if you are a young, single adult. For those in a committed relationship, restraint is advisable to avoid relationship problems.

Myth: Menopause is the end of a woman’s sex life.

Fact: Though women cannot conceive after menopause, they can continue to have a normal sex life.

Myth: Sex education leads to promiscuity in young adults.

Fact: This is certainly not a scientifically sound opinion. Sex education can help young people have safe and responsible sex. Lack of information from correct channels fuels curiosity and makes them experiment with sex in the wrong manner.

Myth: The “morning after” pill causes an abortion.

Fact: Plan B, also known as the “morning after” pill, is a medication taken for the prevention of pregnancy when one has had unprotected sex. It can be used up to three days or 72 hours after unprotected sex. The main function of the morning after pill is to delay ovulation or prevent the egg from being fertilized. It cannot affect an already fertilized egg which has been implanted in the uterus. Therefore, it cannot be used to terminate an already existing pregnancy. The morning after pill is not the same as RU-486, a pill that causes an abortion.

The morning after pill is an over-the-counter drug while the RU-486 is not.

Myth: Most women can have an orgasm through vaginal sex only.

Fact: Only about 25-30% of women reach orgasm through vaginal sex only. The other 70% need more manual or oral stimulation to achieve orgasms. As a man keen of giving pleasure to your partner, you might need more than the wham bang.

Myth: Emotional “abuse” is not really abuse.

Fact: Emotional abuse is perhaps next to physical abuse. In my opinion, it is even worse because it is often difficult to prove, making it even harder to get help. Some emotionally abused persons may even not know they are abused until someone points it out to them. This sort of abuse impacts not only of the victims self esteem as it can have long term psychological trauma and health implications.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 20, 2015—49

Olaoshebikan Clement, Executive Director, Development & Leadership Institute, flanked (l)

by Ukpabi Precious of Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokuta and (r) Fidelia, ABEC Secondary School, Port Harcourt, with Jibrin Abdullahi, Graceland International School, Port Harcourt.

MTN Nigeria gets investors in People Gold Accreditation

L

eading ICT company in Nigeria, MTN has been awarded the prestigious Investors in People (IIP) Gold certification by the governing board of the UK-based organisation. The Investors in People Standard is a UK quality standard introduced in 1991.

The Gold certification followed an earlier accreditation of MTN Nigeria as an Investor in People organization in 2013 - the first company in all of West Africa to receive such recognition.

The assessment of MTN Nigeria was carried out by a team of IIP assessors from the United Kingdom; their findings culminated in the award of the Investors In People Gold Level accreditation.

Organisations accredited by the IIP go through a series of precise assessments with

particular reference to the company’s people management practices in line with the IIP Framework. The rigorous process involves the administration of structured questionnaires among all categories of employees and contract staff to establish the correlation between the company’s people management practices and business performance.

Recent studies into the impact of the IIP standards on performance in companies accredited by the body revealed that abiding by the IIP standards improved organisational performance regardless of organisational size, emphasising improvements in customer service, productivity and employees turnover. It further suggested that IIP enhances employee’s understanding of the

businesses.

“For us, achieving the IIP Gold Standard is a validation of the strength of our Employee Value Proposition also known as the MTN Deal. Indeed, the accolades speak to the depth and impact of our people management practices. MTN Nigeria strongly believes that our people are our most critical competitive asset and a key differentiator in the marketplace. The IIP Gold Accreditation is an independent and o b j e c t i v e confirmation that we care about our

Home Lottery Gives Out First House To Winner

H

ome Lottery Limited has given out the first house, a three-bed room bungalow valued about N12 million to the winner Mr. Gabriel Mokogwu in its ongoing housing lottery scheme, designed to ameliorate the plight of Nigerians in the area of housing.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Lagos last Wednesday at Gold Estate located on Ishefun Road in Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, Mr. Kelvin Otung, managing director of the Home Lottery firm observed that “the population of Nigeria, estimated at 170 million, requires at least 820,000 housing units per annum based on an C M Y K

estimate of nine dwelling units per 1000 of the population yearly,” adding that the “World Bank estimate puts it that over N59.5 trillion will be required to bridge the gap of 17 million deficits in housing.”

According to him, all over the world, there is scarcity of housing. The United Nation’s report on the challenges of affordable and qualitative housing shows that over 100 million people are homeless around the world.

He added that the “United Nations’ projection inferred that global urbanization rate is higher than global population growth.”

He said the objective of the lottery became imperative

because government might not be able to address this problem in the nearest future and the efforts made by private estate developers in partnership with the banks seemed to yield very minimal progress since the majority of the Nigerian population cannot afford the mortgage facilities offered by these institutions.

Otung said the “need to make owning a home easily accessible and affordable to the “ordinary Nigerian” becomes the driving force behind “The Home Lottery” scheme.”

In an interview with our correspondent, Mokogwu said he was delighted to be presented with the house, adding that he

people and deploy global best practice people solutions and policies that make MTN Nigeria a great place to work,” said Amina Oyagbola, Human Resources Executive, MTN Nigeria.

MTN’s Talent development strategy amongst other people investment interventions which have been carefully implemented over the years has facilitated rapid career development and up-skilling of the Nigerian work-force across all divisions of the company.

Oyagbola informed that 99% of MTN Nigeria’s workforce is Nigerian, and that 98% of senior management is also Nigerian, in line with MTN’s robust local content policy.

Beyond this, according to Oyagbola, the Gold certification will have a ripple effect on human capital development in Nigeria through MTN’s footprint everywhere you go. “We plan to share the benefits of the IIP standards through the MTN value chain. By this, I mean we will enable the development of best in class people management standards in our ecosystem – suppliers, contractors, trade partners and others in line with the IIP standards to

improve their performance.

Speaking further, she explained that there will be periodic reassessments and interviews with MTN staff and contractors to ensure the IIP Gold standard is sustained to improve engagement, organizational profitability, performance and return on investments.

Speaking on the accreditation as a motivation for corporate governance that is value based, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria said the company is consistent in its determination to motivate members of staff and other stakeholders.

“We are delighted to receive this global recognition; it is the highest accolade in people management practices from an independent and internationally recognised body. It has given us additional impetus and determination to continue to deploy global best practice and people solutions to contribute to the development of the nation.”

Goodluck informed.

MTN Nigeria’s talent development creed has been demonstrated over the years through the rapid skills transfer to a predominantly Nigerian staff compliment since its inception and the export of Nigerian talent to various MTN Operating Units outside Nigeria.

Transcorp Ughelli Power releases 2014 Annual Report, assures increase in capacity

T

ranscorp Ughelli Power Limited (TUPL), the power generation and investment subsidiary of Nigerian conglomerate Transcorp Plc, recently released its 2014 Annual Report as it held its 2nd Annual General Meeting of shareholders.

The Report details outstanding progress during the first year of operations at Ughelli Power Plant, the group’s power generating asset and Nigeria’s largest gas-powered generating company.

The CEO, Mr. Fadeyibi outlined TUPL’s short term, post-acquisition operational strategy — one based largely around the recovery of installed capacity.

“In 2014, TUPL increased generation capacity from 342MW at December 2013, to 610MW at the end of 2014 — a 78% increase yearover-year and a 300% increase from takeover and this year, financial advisory firm Renaissance Capital (RenCap) predicted that Transcorp Plc would more than quintuple its profitability by 2017 in part because of the outlook for TUPL”.

According to RenCap, “We believe the government’s determination to make centralised electricity supply a reliable source of power for the economy, at half the price of the currently widely used diesel generators, is sufficient reason to see a bright future for the asset.

Transcorp Plc Group President/CEO Emmanuel N. Nnorom was pleased with TUPL results, saying, “Our team is excited and united. Ade has done a fantastic job of assessing existing generating assets at Ughelli and determining a course of action for total recovery and as a result, we are on track to achieve 850MW per day by year-end 2015, which represents a major contribution to the country’s total energy output.

During the TUPL Board meeting on 16 June, Transcorp Plc Board Chairman Tony O. Elumelu, CON predicted long-term mega-growth, saying, “We are determined to produce a quarter of all power generated in Nigeria and we are clearly on track to achieve this, thanks to the cohesiveness of the leadership team and the hard work of the staff, driven by the TUPL CEO.” According to the Board, 2015 will see the execution of expansion plans through key acquisitions, as well as a Greenfield project set to begin operations in 2018.

got to know about the scheme while he was browsing on the internet.

He said he played the lottery with two lottery coupons of N250 each last May and later got a telephone from an official of the company that he emerged a winner of a house in the lottery.

Under the lottery scheme, every Nigerian, regardless of his or her social class or status is afforded the opportunity to own a home through The Home Lottery scheme.

The company is a limited liability company registered under the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in March 2015, with the Corporate Affairs Commission to carry on the business of providing housing for the Nigerian

populace in an easy to play, affordable, sustainable and trusted lottery scheme.

The company was founded under the collaborative partnership of seasoned professionals in real estate development, entertainment/ gaming and the communications and information technology industries.

The management of the company with its partners such as Locke Homes Limited, Gab Lotto Limited and Itex Integrated Services deploys its wealth of experience and expertise in their various professional fields in innovative and cutting edge technological solutions to deliver a platform that serves credible, transparent and logically balanced lottery promotions.

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

L

ife has seemingly become hell for residents of Ijaiye Community in Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area of Lagos following incessant attacks by men of the underworld. Business activities have also grounded to a halt in the area as a result of the activities of these criminals who terrorize and rob them.

How it all started Reports said it all started last year when a gang of armed robbers stormed the community and robbed six houses around Rekea Close. The operation, as gathered by Crime Guard, began in the early hours of the morning and lasted over three hours.

Since then, armed robbery attacks have become a reoccurring decimal in the neigbourhood.

Foiled police ambush Victims that spoke with Crime Guard said the area has been attacked severally in the last three months and each time the bandits stormed, it was a bitter tale for victims. Areas robbed in recent times include: Anifowose , Ogundipe , Biogyun , Olaniyi, Olorunda, Tunde Olusola Streets and Rekia Close.

Crime Guard learned that during one of their operations, residents alerted the police who arrived from Ikeja and Otta.

They parked quietly to enable them ambush the bandits on their way out. Regrettably, policemen from Alagbado Division who were on routine patrol also arrived the scene with blaring sirens which alerted the robbers and they eventually escaped.

Investigtions showed that the hoodlums have devised different means of carrying out their nefarious activities. Most times, they rob with commercial motorcycles, ambushing workers on their way to work. At other times, they attack traders and shop owners while closing for the day.

Victims open up A member of the landlord association, Chief Aramide Akinolye told Crime Guard, “This neighbourhood used to be very calm and peaceful till the bandits began to terrorize residents. On April 5, they came to rob, in the month of May and June they also robbed the area, last week they also attacked the area.

Initially, we were dealing with petty thieves who stole batteries from parked cars because the area is close to Jankara Spare Parts Market. Presently, it has taken a very troubling dimension since they began to move from house to house, robbing residents. Unfortunately, efforts by residents to employ the service of private security like the local vigilante, failed woefully as the landlords were not united in the decision.”

Narrating her ordeal to Crime Guard, Olubunmi (surname withheld for security reasons) C M Y K

Robbers besiege Ijaiye Community •Residents send SOS to Lagos CP

These bandits seem to carry out these operations successfully and we suspect complicity between security operatives within the area as the police hardly go on routine patrol

was when I returned that my neighbour told me that robbers struck again.”

Lamentations Lamenting their plight, a resident who gave his name as Joe Eniola told Crime Guard that they are at the mercy of these miscreants.

“They ambush and rob resident on their way to work early in the morning. Just last week ,they robbed one of my neighbours around Ogundipe Street and the robbers carted away N500,000 and other valuables. These bandits seem to carry out these operations successfully and we suspect complicity between security operatives within the area as the police hardly go on routine patrol.

We want the Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, to come to our aid urgently. He should deploy policemen to comb dark spots in the community where they use as hideouts to unleash terror on the rest of us.”

who lives around Tunde Olusola Street said, “I was robbed a few blocks from my house on my way to work at about 6am. As I walked along the street, six men attacked me, collected my handbag, my phones and N36,000 I wanted to use to pay my children’s school fees. There are several dark spots in the community where these hoodlums gather in their droves to smoke Indian hemp. The police need to comb these dark spots like Ogundipe/Anifowose

Junction, where a vendor sells Indian hemp during the day and you find a lot of these jobless young men smoking.”

Another victim who spoke on the condition of anonymity revealed that they have been living in fear since this ugly episode began. “Last week Sunday, June 14, I travelled when they robbed in my area. My building was attacked, my apartment was burgled and all my valuables were stolen. It

Police react When contacted, Lagos State Police Public Relations Office (PPRO), DSP Kenneth Nwosu said, “The Command is working assiduously to ensure that street urchins who occasionally attempt to breach the peace of that neighbourhood through armed attacks, senseless bloodletting are kept in check. We encourage residents to co-operate with us by giving us timely intelligence and information to rein in these hoodlums. Working together with the residents, we can clean up that area as we have done in other areas.”

Help...Residents of Ijaiye Community in Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area of Lagos

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—51

We deceived victims by roaring like lions – Robbery kingpin • Victims judged by interior décor

•The suspects (Taiwo, Amzat and Aremu)

BY EVELYN USMAN

A

cursory glance at the three able-bodied youths whose ages range between 18 and 26, will easily pass them for malnourished and ailing individuals, judging by their fragile and seeming innocent and harmless looks.

But how wrong that can be.

The police in Lagos alleged that they are rather suspected members of a notorious sevenman robbery gang that had been terrorizing Iyana-Ipaja, Dopemu and other areas of the state, including neighbouring Sango-Ota in Ogun state.

They were arrested by operatives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) last Monday, in Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos. Detectives also alleged that the gang had been unleashing mayhem on residents of these areas. Their method of operation, according to police sources, included, carrying out a house-to-house raid and subjecting their victims to severe beatings at the end of which they were dispossessed of cash and other valuables.

The suspects in an interview C M Y K

with Crime Guard disclosed that their victims’ financial status were usually judged by the interior décor of their apartments, adding that any of them who out of sheer stubbornness refused to release cash befitting of the gang’s estimation of them, risked being killed.

Mild drama A mild drama, however, played out when this reporter wanted to interview the leader of their gang.

The trio resorted to theatrics as they pointed fingers at one another.

This degenerated into a verbal confrontation which was immediately brought to an abrupt halt by a more menacing member of the gang identified as Taiwo Amosu (19). Responding to the question, Taiwo said: “The fact is that we are all robbers. Nobody wants to own up as the leader because we have been arrested.

Then keep quite if you are not the leader. Well, if you address me as leader of the gang , I accept. I am your leader.”

Background Turning to this reporter, the Abeokuta, Ogun State-born youth continued in a low tone: “

I am an orphan and I have a younger brother to take care of. I learnt aluminum work in order to fend for myself and my younger brother but due to power failure, I do not have work to do. My workshop is at Sango-Otta. It was in my search for greener pasture that I joined this robbery. I had gone to Agege that fateful day to play game with my friends – Owolabi, Akeem, Yaro, Damilola, Sanjo and Sunday – unknown to me, they were planning a robbery operation that night.

Reluctant operator I reluctantly followed them to a building at Agege where they carried out a room-to-room operation. At the end, we went back to Sango-Otta to share the loot.

I was made the leader of the gang when our leader, Damilola, left the gang, but he was still controlling us from where he was and we sent him returns. We usually tortured victims who claim not to have money in their houses.

Such comments provoked us.

We knew the financial status of our victims because we usually carried out an assessment of them before striking. So, we did not

condone lie or pretense from them because robbery is a serious business. In one of the operations at New Garage, we disarmed security men of their arms. When we accost any security man during operation, we normally use him as a bait to gain entry into the apartments and at the end, we would lock our victims from outside.

Our target “We only covered our faces in areas where we feel we could be recognized. But we hardly operate around our places of abode.

Our targets during operation are phones, laptops and cash. We do not shoot our victims; we only beat them and threatened to shoot if they misbehaved. We usually share our loot at Agege Motor Park. I get between N10,000 to N30,000 at the end of each operation depending on how much was realized,” stated Taiwo who was also said to have been detained last year at the dreaded SARS over a case of cultism. He was reportedly the first to be apprehended by SARS operatives. His confessional statement led to the arrest of two other suspected members of the gang: Jamic Amsat (28) and Owolabi Aremu (22).

Our targets during operation are phones, laptops and cash. We do not shoot our victims; we only beat them and threatened to shoot if they misbehaved

Gang’s armourer speaks The suspect who was identified as the amourer for the gang, and who is simply called Amsat, claimed he had never gone to any operation with the gang. He only admitted to being the gang’s armourer.

According to him, “I have never gone to rob with them. I only keep their weapons at the end of which I got between N15,000 and N20,000. Several times, they tried to convince me to join them but I could not because I do not have the emotional stability to stand it and I do not want to kill anyone till I die.”

Roaring like lion However, the third suspect, Owolabi Aremu, boldly described himself as the gang’s ‘bad man’, disclosing that during operation, he usually intimidated their victims with his deep voice that sounds like a roaring lion. Aremu who resides at Atubaje Street in Agege opened up: “Whenever we approached our victims and they refused to part with money befitting our assessment of them, I would shout in my baritone voice which usually put fear into them.

If, for instance, we assessed a victim for N500,00 and they brought N100,000, I would hit them hard in the face and shout, thereby forcing them to bring out the required amount.

We usually take Indian hemp and alcholic drink before going for operation. That way, we would be able to do and undo.”

52—SATURDAY Vanguard,

JUNE 20, 2015

BY LAJU IREN 07017860213 ELLEJAYMEDIA@YAHOO.CO.UK

Surprising ways to get an A in that course STORIES BY LAJU IREN

Y

ou know the drill, if you want to do well in school, study hard. But it isn’t always as simple as it looks. Sometimes, even after giving your best the results on the score sheets hits you way below the belt. This week, Saturday School Life, SSL, shows you that it is not just hard work, but smart work that counts. Here are some surprising, yet legitimate ways you can better, one course at a time: Get noticed for good Engaging in eye service just so you can get in your lecturer ’s good graces will most definitely backfire, but getting noticed for good is a totally different ball game altogether. It means asking relevant questions and giving relevant answers in class. It means being on time and on your best behaviour.

Ethically, being the lecturer’s friend should not give you any marks, but by being a good student, you’re less likely to lose marks.

At least don’t get noticed for bad Perhaps you’re on the quiet side and would much rather stay in your shell. That is fine, people like you get As all the time. It’s better to remain undercover than to get noticed for bad traits. Ethically, lecturers are not supposed to give you scores based on behaviour unrelated to your performance, but education around the world is a subjective thing. If there’s some mistake in your results, it would be more difficult to approach your lecturer if you’re notorious for being late, unserious or rude.

C M Y K

Go the extra mile with assignments Apart from hoping your prior preparations would be enough to see you through, there’s almost nothing else you can do in an examination hall. Not so with assignments. If you can get past the fire brigade approach to getting assignments done, you are more likely to do excellently in a course. This is because you have more than enough resources at your disposal. If the situation demands, don’t just settle for normal assignment formats. Research more materials, reference properly, find out what make the lecturer’s intellect tick, and do it!

Have a good relationship with classmates and lecturers Relationships run the world.

Not the familiarity concept that gets many people in trouble, but the mutual respect that

should thrive in academic environment. Having relationships with lecturers might mean that you’re more likely to be privy to information that others might not be. This does not include illegitimate stuff like being exposed to test questions, but it helps you understand the lecturer more. You could find out if he likes lengthy responses or short answers; his take on a controversial subject in your field of study etc. The important thing is not just to study the course, but the lecturer as well.

Tutorials or no tutorials?

The issue of whether or not to attend tutorials is almost always a sore spot for students. Some tutorials organised by off campus merchants tend to go away from the scheme of work. Sometimes other times, tutors can clearer than lecturers.

Even if you must attend tutorials, make sure you are at par with what the lecturer taught in class. If the tutorial is

organised by the lecturer, don’t miss it for anything. If it is organised by someone who has done the course before, find out if he/she was taught by the same lecturer. If not, be sure he/she is also at par with your lecturers style as well as any changes the lecturer must have made.

Back to the Basics You know those ‘cliches’ about studying hard, doing assignments on time, attending class and refusing to cheat? They still apply to academic success. Maybe that’s why they have been around for so long.

Go beyond the scope Whether or not you get an A, the true essence of education is what it can do in the real world. So be sure you don’t just limit yourself to what is taught in class.

Find out more. Be more practical in the knowledge you gain. Even if it doesn’t help you in that course, it sure will in the examinations of life.

Six students to benefit from SWI scholarship fund S

ix secondary school students will benefit from a new scholarship fund pioneered by Success Within International, SWI, to provide school fees and text books throughout their secondary school careers.

President of SWI, Mr. Adebayo Ajayi speaking on the rationale behind the scholarship said: “Education is the bedrock of any nation. A child well educated is proportional to the development of a nation. Education plays a critical role in long-term productivity and growth at both micro and macro levels. This explains why more attention needs to be given to the position of education in our own dear country. The scholarship scheme’s aim is to enhance the quality of efficiency of students in schools.

This is the first of its kind for usas an organization and we are starting with two schools, the scholarship would be awarded to 3 SS1 students and 3 JSS1 students in each school.”

An examination which comprises of Mathematics, English, Current Affairs, Leadership prowess and Abstract would be conducted for all the students in Jss1 and ss1 student in each of the school by the end of June 2015. And the 3 best students in each of the segment would be awarded the scheme towards next session 2015/2016.

“We strongly believe that by giving students this kind of opportunity, it will foster diligence and eagerness to succeed in all their endeavours,” Ajayi added.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—53

What they misread

in Sexual Offences Bill — Chris Anyanwu

Wants Aisha Buhari to champion its assent

•

up till now. The result is that if somebody commits a crime , the punishment is like a slap in the wrist. If you penalise someone by asking him to pay N5,000 for raping a three-year old child, of course, before you bite your eyes, he has committed a more heinous crime ten times over.

We have laws but they have encouraged crimes more than deterred them.

I think it was a mixture of mischief and ignorance and could be a case of someone who did not know how to read legal documents. Many people, including those that work at the National Assembly may not have been preview to the documents and the way they are set out in the second reading and the third reading which is a general debate.

Third reading is the real law making process where you take it clause by clause and when you read it, if you are not very familiar with it, you can make a serious mistake.

•Senator Chris Anyanwu

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

O

ne of the landmark bills the Seventh Senate passed was the Sexual Offences Bill sponsored by Senator Chris Anyanwu. The bill seeks to protect people of different categories, minors, teenagers, the aged and people with disability from being sexually assaulted. But there has been a misconception in some quarters that the bill tried to encourage defilement of minors. In this interview, Senator Anyanwu says she was misquoted and puts everything in its right perspective while hoping that the President assents for the bill to become law. Excerpts The Sexual Offences Bill has recently generated a lot of controversy, can you throw more light on what it is all about?

The Sexual Offenses Bill is one that has gone on a very long journey. It started in the 6th Senate, where half way, I did not go the whole hug and when I was re-elected in the 7th Senate, it was the first thing that C M Y K

I brought before the Senate. In fact, it was in 2011 that we did the first reading while the second reading was in 2012 and it has been sitting there ever since. But it went through a very thorough process and scrutiny because it went through a public hearing that was well attended by judges, Attorney-Generals from the states of the federation, Attorney-General of the federation office, the judiciary and all interest groups. This law was the result of three weeks of intensive work by about 20 young lawyers. They camped at the Law School in Abuja where they did the research and produced this document. The Senate Judiciary Committee, I believe, had some consultants who scrutinised this Bill. The arguments were made and there was nobody that was against the bill during the public hearing.

Judges told us about their experiences, the kind of nightmarish stories they hear from victims and wanted the laws updated. In the Senate itself, on the two occasions we had debates on the bill, there was 100 per cent approval. There was nobody from the north, south, Christian or Muslim that was

against the law. The only thing that they talked about was jurisdiction, which was the reason the law was passed in Abuja and to be adopted by all the states of the federation, bearing in mind their peculiar differences.

When you now say that this law, which was primarily meant to protect children, adults, old people or those with disabilities, will turn against the people it is meant to protect, then, you should know that there is a problem somewhere. There is a lot happening in this country and I do not need to tell anybody living in Nigeria what is going on because we read them every day in the papers. I cannot recall any day that I picked up a paper in the past three years that I have not seen a horrible crime story relating to sexual offence. The one that threw me off balance was the story of a girl who was raped to death and then, set ablaze recently.

This law became imperative because while we have a lot of laws covering different aspects of sexual offences, many of them were outdated, many were carried over from the colonial government. Imagine laws of 1948 and 1958 still being applied

There is a lot happening in this country and I do not need to tell anybody living in Nigeria what is going on because we read them every day in the papers

WHAT THE LAW SAYS In the third reading document, there is a column for clauses, for the provisions of the bill - what was initially proposed, a column for what the committee recommends and then, the remarks. If you change what was proposed and you say what you want, you will state the reason you change it. My thinking is that someone who was not familiar with the document came to clause six. The opening paragraph reads in Clause Six: Sub-section One: The person who commits an act that causes penetration with a child is guilty of an offense called Defilement. That is the definition of defilement. The punishments are: Sub-section Two: A person who commits an offense of Defilement with a child age 11 years or less shall upon conviction be sentenced to Continues on page 54

54—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

Continues from page 53

‘Wants Aisha Buhari to champion its assent’

imprisonment for life Sub-section Three: A person who commits an offense of Defilement with a child between ages of 12 and 15 is liable upon conviction to imprisonment for life.

Sub-section Four: A person who commits an offense of Defilement with a child between the ages of 16 and 18 years of age is liable upon conviction to imprisonment for life.

What the committee handling the bill said was that the punishment is the same - life imprisonment and as such, there was no need to stagger the ages because whether it is zero to 11 or 18, the punishment is for life. Therefore, you need just one sentence covering all the ages and when they lifted the first one, which deals with 11 years or less, they did it to cover the whole and we found out that if you leave it as “ a person who commits an offence of Defilement with a child of 11 years or less shall upon conviction, be sentenced to imprisonment for life”, it would be as if you are approving going to bed with children, 11 years. That was the reason, if you look at the line across that sentence - that is the law making process, what you do not like, you rule it out and we have ruled it out. Then, they stated clearly that sub-sections three and four were deleted because the punishment is the same irrespective of age difference. So, somebody looked at it, saw that it was ruled out and still went out to say I encourage defilement of minors, is it not a mischief? What was ruled out was “ with a child age 11 years or less. Automatically, what is then approved in the Votes and Proceedings for that day is the definition of Defilement and then, “the person who commits an offence of defilement shall upon conviction be sentenced to imprisonment for life”.

We have to know what we are doing in this country because people have the predisposition to condemn and attack anybody that is doing anything good.

Nobody can do right in this society and if we continue this way, we will be killing the spirit of those who want to do good.

After all, I would have gone through those eight years without proposing a bill. There were people who did that because the law-making process is so slow and the time is so short. About 591 bills were proposed by Senators in the last Senate but only 123 were passed. So, there are so many proposals struggling for space and when some people look at it, they do not even want to try because there is too much hassle. Yet, those of us who pleaded, lobbied, spent money and energy and pushed until the end are rather attacked than appreciated. I said, ‘please, do not leave me empty handed, let us not have this kind of world, where parents cannot leave C M Y K

offer special training to the Police if they want. It is not every Policeman carrying a gone that should be brought into sexual offence case. It is a very sensitive matter and should be handled by people who are trained and are sensitive enough to understand what it is about. And we will not have the case of attorney general coming in and instructing that the case be stopped. The law gives the power to Police and as such, the Police have to put their house in order and I think it will not be too much to hire people with such background to help implement this, otherwise, all of us would be affected including the Police. A crucial part of the bill also is that when people have been established as dangerous sex offenders and they have been convicted, their names will go into a national data bank of dangerous sexual offenders so that when they are looking for jobs, they cannot be allowed to have teaching jobs where they deal with children.

•Senator Chris Anyanwu

home because they are afraid that something might happen to their children; they are afraid the teachers might abuse them, that pastors and Imams may abuse them or that Professors would go after them if they go to the university’. Even in politics; there is no where to hide. The only deterrent is a very strong and stringent law that curtails those conducts and this bill is a revolutionary bill.

There is no aspect of sexual offence that it does not cover. It updates those colonial laws that are still applicable in our society today and brings them up to international practices . It also deals with crimes that are not already in Nigeria but which we know that because Nigeria is well hooked to the international high way, World Wide Webb, those crimes will eventually come here.

Is there any guarantee that President Buhari will sign the bill into law?

President Muhammadu Buhari is a good and very experienced man. He knows about the private cries of men and women in their homes.

Anybody whose child has been abused is ashamed to speak out it because of the social stigma that it attracts. This law aims at covering people so that if one

is a victim, the identity can be covered and investigation done privately. Even the trial can be done in the office of the judge and the people standing as witnesses are protected so that people can speak out and crimes punished without the dignity and names of people being tarnished.

Mr. President knows that insanity has gone beyond belief and that there is need to have a firm hold on our society, otherwise, this place will be too hostile to live in.

So, I have the belief that if the President understands the full import of this bill, he will be very happy and welcome it.

How effective can the enforcement be if signed into law?

Implementation has always been a problem but part of this law is suggesting that the Police should set up a special Corps that is specially trained to investigate these matters. Part of the problems is that when people know and report these cases, the kind of outrage and treatment they get from the Police make them want to commit suicide and it does not help. Therefore, if we are going to have people actually come clean and report cases such as this, the Police must have trained Corps set up to handle sexual offences and there are lots of agencies willing and ready to

Even the trial can be done in the office of the judge and the people standing as witnesses are protected so that people can speak out and crimes punished without the dignity and names of people being tarnished

It appears that the bill gives the Nigerian Police the whole powers to implement, how will they be checkmated to avoid abuse of office?

They will not have the full right to deal with sexual offences. It is just that they are the central agency involved in it. I am sure that eventually, the Minister will work out a mechanism involving social welfare officers or another body for it. Those are administrative things that the Minister in this area will have to work out.

Did you also make provision on its domestication in the 36 States of the Federation?

I will want to say that if nobody wants to do the advocacy, I would be ready to carry on. I will visit the state assemblies, state governors and first ladies. I will even start with the current national first lady and encourage her to adopt it as one of the plans for the change they want to bring about because it is change that touches everybody in this society.

If we have such high profile people adopting and pushing it, I have no fear that other states will domesticate it. Lagos State has something similar but it is not as comprehensive as this. This is the first time we are having all sexual offences related law aggregated in one place.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—55

Edo ALGON defends Oshiomhole over misappropriation allegation

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

U

nlike many other states, workers in Edo state civil service receive their wages as at when due despite the prevailing dwindling allocation to states from the Federation Account.

Luckily for the state, the Internally Generated Revenue under the supervision of Chief Useni Elamah, has helped immensely in the payment of workers’ salary in Edo state.

Initially, the tax drive embarked upon by the Governor Adams Oshiomhole led administration was biting, but it has paid off today with the constant salaries and visible infrastructural development embarked upon by the state government. However, all has not been too well with workers at the Local Government level as some of them have been owed salaries for close to five months. But their situation has nothing to do with the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who has sacrificed his security votes, drastically cut down government expenses so as to ensure that Edo workers get paid every month. The governor had vowed that as a labour leader, he would ensure that workers under the state civil service get their pay as at when due. It was learnt that the councils since last year October, have not been getting their full allocation from the Federation account. After the payment of teachers in the 18 Local Government Areas, Saturday Vanguard learnt that the funds are no longer enough to pay other staff under the employ of the Local Governments. It was learnt that the state government has on several occasions made attempts to bail out the councils in Edo state but the situation became difficult following the dwindling allocation accrued to the state from the federation account.

It was not surprising therefore, when the state government and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) took a swipe at the Edo state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, who last Monday, alleged that Governor Oshiomhole had deducted about N200billion from the Councils since he assumed office as governor in 2008. Orbih traced the paucity of funds and the inability of the councils to pay salaries to alleged deductions from the state government. But in a swift reaction, the chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas in the state, held a press conference describing Orbih’s allegation as not only senseless and untrue, but an attempt to destroy the name of the Governor. The state chairman of ALGON and chairman of Ikpoba C M Y K

•Gov. Adams Oshiomhole

Governor Adams Oshiomhole should be appreciated because he is the only governor who does not interfere with the Local Government allocations and he has been paying salaries

LGA, Mrs Itoha Osahon-Ogbeide said that integrity should not be sacrificed in the name of opposition politics. She said: “ We want make it clear that the Comrade Governor is not in the habit of deducting Local Government statutory allocation. He has never done it, even in my first tenure as chairman of Ikpoba Okhai Local Government, he did not do it so he cannot start it today. Up till date we have paid teachers salary, we have not owed teachers one kobo. The problem of the none payment of salaries at the Local Government has to so with the deductions from the Federal Government in allocations sent to Local Governments. It started from the issue of the of crude oil, later it was crash in the price of crude oil. It has nothing to do with the Comrade Governor. Yes, some workers protested recently, they did not protest against Oshiomhole.

Rather, what they were protesting for was that we should also consider them in the payment of salaries not only teachers. What happens is that at the time teachers salaries are deducted from the allocation, we are left with little or nothing to pay workers salaries.

That is why they are saying that attention should be drawn to them by at least owing teachers for one or two months to enable others get salaries.

“For instance, in my Local Government Ikpoba Okhai, if we don’t pay teachers for one month we can cover the salaries of workers for two months. So that is the problem, it has nothing to do with the state government, though we are used to hearing misguided

comments. Orbih is displaying lack of information and it is disappointing. He should look for a means to help his party which is dead in Edo state to resurrect rather than feeding people with wrong information. Allocations are public documents so it is shameful that chairman of a political party will be so misinformed in this manner”.

Also reacting at the press conference, the Legal Adviser to ALGON and chairman of Ovia North East LGA, Mrs Lucy Omagbon, asserted that “ Orbih’s cry is that of a drowning man, seeking to pull others down like him. He does not know what to do and how to manage his party. To start with, allocation to chairmen of Councils is a public document.

If you go to Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs the figures are there for everybody to see. The problem is that we get half of what we used to get before now. Starting from October 2014, the allocations have been dwindling. We expected Orbih to be a statesman that will look for solution to the problems of the country rather than laying blames on people like Oshiomhole who are sincerely doing their best to move the country forward. We as ALGON members are disappointed with his utterances.

“Since we came on board, we have not received any excess crude except the one that came in April last year and that was a far cry from what we used to get.

Some people call it augmentation, some call it excess crude and I don’t think any council got up to N30million or even N25million. As for the 10 per cent IGR, the councils have been collaborating with the state government in so many ways to utilize the money.

We have red roof schools in the entire 18 LGAs, bore holes due to the efforts of the state government and we are happy to collaborate with the state government to achieve this success” she said.

On his part, the public Relations Officer of ALGON, Morrison Ogurobo-Ovia (Ovia South West), pointed out that “It is so sad that Orbih is not abreast of events happening in the country. For example in Ovia South West, we got N43million last month and our total wage bill is N56million, if you add imprest and overhead, it is about N62.3million. So how do you intend to pay with such amount of money? What comes from the Federal allocation is so disappointing and there is nothing we can do about it. Are you aware that two months ago, some Local Governments had to go and borrow money to pay teacher’s salary? In this situation what do you expect Councils to do? In fact, Governor Adams Oshiomhole should be appreciated because he

is the only governor who does not interfere with the Local Government allocations and he has been paying salaries.

I want to say it emphatically that Oshiomhole does not touch our allocation, he gives us free hand to run the Councils. We are aware that in other states, when allocations come the governors will call the chairmen and ask them what is their wage bill, he gives them workers salaries and use the rest the way he wants. But here that is the last thing Oshiomhole will do and we appreciate him for that”.

Also contributing, Jimoh Ijegbai Owan East chairman, said “We are shocked with the figures being brandished by Orbih that Oshiomhole took from Councils. In fact, if you add the entire allocation that comes to the Councils in two years, it is not up to N200billion so why will somebody say that just to rubbish the Comrade Governor?

The condition we are facing today is as a result of the mismanagement of the economy of the country by the PDP, his party. We are all students of the past in this state, between 19992008 in Edo state, that was the tradition of Orbih’s party the PDP, deducting allocations from the councils. Now we have a governor who does not interfere with our allocation, he started opening his mouth”.

The state government in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Prince Kaseem Afegbua, said rather than criticize the Local Government administrations, “Orbih ought to cover his face in shame at the outright plundering of the economy by the last PDP-led Government at the Federal level to the extent that even the Federal Government could not pay salaries of workers. The Government’s statement reads: “For some time now, we have resolved to ignore Dan Orbih and his PDP cotravellers not because of his obstinacy but for his deliberate attempt to distract government in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities to the people. By now, we thought Dan Orbih would have grown up to understand the nuances and dynamics of governance particularly in a state like Edo that was completely crippled by the shenanigans of the PDP demagogues, but his persistent ignorance makes a refresher course a compelling need. While we are of the opinion that constructive criticism is an integral part of the democratic order and governance process, doing so with so much ignorance and feeble knowledge creates more problem of misinformation for the larger society.

“Let it be placed on record that Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, the Governor of Edo State does not tamper with Local Government Funds in whatsoever manner. He has continued to encourage the Local Government to apply due diligence in the accounting process of their administration. As a result of financial impropriety, he had cause to suspend a Chairman of Owan West Local Government Area and was later removed from office when the allegations of financial recklessness were established by the Panel of Enquiry against the said Chairman.

56—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

Emehor, Ogboru should withdraw their suits against Okowa — Onuesoke

BY EPHRAIM OSEJI

C

hief Sunny Onuesoke is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former Special Project Director to the immediate past governor of Delta State. In this interview, he spoke on what Deltans should expect from the government of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

What are your expectations from Governor Ifeanyi Okowa?

I am appealing to Deltans to work with Senator Okowa. I want to assure you that as this government has been inaugurated, we will begin to see real development in the state. It will be pronounced like the rainbow.

Okowa is one man I give kudos to when it comes to leadership and administration.

He is somebody that has shown his worth in all the offices he has handled. So what I am saying is that Deltans should expect developmental strides.

But some are of the opinion that he is not going to do anything different?

Okowa is going to be different because though we belong to the same party, our personal views on issues are different. Ibori remains a political iroko in the state right now. He actually started PDP in the state, and so we cannot give the history of PDP in this state without mentioning the name of Ibori. I believe Okowa has the same carriage too. The Okowa I know will not disappoint Deltans. I served under Okowa for four years when he was SSG because he was my direct boss. Then I was the Special Project Director, and I

BYJULIETEBIRIM

The governor should concentrate more on the creation of wealth because when you create wealth, the wealth will in turn employ people reported to him directly. So I know his reactions towards issues. He is a very calm and calculative person.

What areas do you think should be given more attention?

The first thing I see is wealth creation. I am not talking about the civil service because it is over bloated. Nothing seems to happen in these government offices. I am not saying that government should not employ, but are they going to employ people to be idle?

The governor should concentrate more on the creation of wealth because when you create wealth, the wealth will in turn employ people. We have to develop the resources we have within. We have to be vigorous in terms of internally generated revenue. We need to look backward to source funds beyond oil. We are going to pursue things that will create jobs for the people apart from the civil service. I am very sure that he already has a master plan for that.

If there is creation of wealth, there is going to be peace and security.

When a man is well fed, he thinks

C M Y K

Three governorship candidates are in court challenging the victory of Okowa in the just concluded elections, what do you make of this?

I don’t know these personalities, and I would not like to accuse anybody of being a serial loser because I may be quoted wrongly.

They are entitled to their views. If I were them, I would not have contested the results considering the landslide victory of the PDP. Great Ogboru should realise that this is the first time he had the lowest votes in Delta Central. So what is he contesting for?

Then, Olorogun O’tega Emehror is a neophyte. He would not have just come here because he knew that APC has no footing in the state. So what is he contesting?

Did Emerhor win his unit? So what is he contesting? Did Emerhor win his ward or his local government?

What is he contesting? Is he a politician who cannot win his unit and ward? He has credibility problem. He has ward and local government credibility problem. I do not want to sound prejudiced, but let us look at it this way; you

Onuesoke ...The Okowa I know will not disappoint Deltans

could not win your unit, ward and local government, why do you think you can win Oshimili, Isoko, Ijaw or Itsekiri?

Some Deltans are of the view that those who have gone to the tribunal should withdraw their cases in the interest of peace, what is your reaction to this?

That is a very good suggestion

by Deltans. It is a welcome development. Nothing is wrong if Emerhor and Ogboru withdrew their case, especially Ogboru because I am not particular about Emerhor. APC is an insignificant factor in the political diagram of Delta State, and the name Emerhor is even strange. He is from my local government, and he is my brother, but his name is strange in Delta politics. Ogboru could be a colossus and a big serial loser, agreed. But he is a man of factor. I will gladly appeal to Ogboru to withdraw his case in the spirit of statesmanship like what Goodluck did for Buhari, and join in the development of the state. Ogboru has a lot of things upstairs which he can use to draw development to the state in conjunction with PDP. You are still in PDP despite the

Toba FFalode alode immor talised immortalised

n May 19th 2015, family members, friends and sympathisers converged to launch a book to immortalize Toba - the murdered son of ace female sports presenter, Aisha Falode. The book, ‘Gift of Grace – A sibling bond’which was written by Toba’s sister, Tolu Falode was launched at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi on the day Toba Falode who was murdered in Dubai about a year ago would have turned 21.

While speaking at the event, Aisha said she believes her son is at peace, “I have a testimony that God turns every situation around for good. Although Toba is not here with us, he’s at peace, he’s with God. I thank God for the strength and anointing he has given to Tolu and for the grace that has sustained us for the past one year. At first, when it happened, we began to question God. But his word says that for everything that happens there is a reason and a purpose, I’m beginning to see that purpose. We are here today to celebrate the life of Toba, to give a

O

positively. You cannot create peace when the people are hungry.

For you to have total peace, you have to create industries, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

When there is peace you do not need security. That is the way I look at it. One thing I keep telling Deltans is that Okowa is not going to exhibit arrogance in power. All his lieutenants are going to be servant-leaders. Gone are the days when people showcase arrogance while in power. That will not be tolerated any longer because these are things Okowa does not like.

Toba

voice to a silent voice, to show that even though he’s not here, we still have a complete family, because his presence is with us.”

Continuing she said, “‘Gift of grace – A sibling bond’ is a testimony to the fact that God Almighty is indeed a gracious and loving God whose faithfulness is steadfast. Though Toba lived a short life, it was impactful. He was a very cheerful boy and had a vision of what he wanted in life. He was loving and caring and never wanted any sadness around him. I know he’s here with us today. I thank God for this vision he has given to Tolu. What we see in this book is beyond her years, which could only be by God’s grace. I think about my son now without any tears because of what his death has brought me, even though I would have wished that the same be given to me without taking him. I am grateful that in his death, we have found a new life and that God is

massive defection from the party, do you intend defecting?

I do not know how to dance two brands of music at the same time. I am a man of principle and too civilized to cross from PDP to APC. Let me instruct you a little. Have you ever heard that a Democrat defected to the Republican in the US? It is absolute crap. The defeat of PDP is a sign of maturity because it happens everywhere. Why should I leave the party that I contributing in building?

If you are looking at the next generation that is going to lead the party in the future with bigger appointment, where are you going to get them if everybody abandons the party? I have been the most consistent follower of PDP since its creation in Delta State. I am a foremost builder of PDP in Delta State, who has continued to stand firm for the party. It will be foolish and suicidal for me to leave the party I helped built.

What is your advice to President Buhari?

He should be focused. He should be progressive. Instead of taking little steps he should take giant steps. The first thing I expect him to do is to be focused, and stop talking about probe here and there.

holding us by the hand and leading us through. I will remember Toba for his kindness, love and generosity. Maybe God knew that he wouldn’t be here for too long, he made him so impactful, he touched so many lives. I’m confident that surely justice will prevail some day.”

On her part, Tolu said she’s grateful to God for the inspiration. “I’m very grateful to God. I remember that at this time last year, I was very depressed and it’s only by God’s grace that I’m here to launch this book dedicated to the memory of my late brother, Toba. Today was supposed to be Toba’s 21st birthday, there are other ways we could have spent this day, but I thank God that though he’s not here, we have honoured him. I hope that the book touches the lives of those who think that they are in a hopeless situation and that it heals those that are grieving. There’s indeed hope and strength in God.” Dignitaries in attendance include Mrs Abike Dabiri, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Festus Keyamo, Dolapo Awosika, Dr. Joe Okie-Odumakin amongst others.

SATURDAY

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Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—57

58—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

Abuja Female Painter who fears no height

BY TONIA EBIAI

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he saying that ‘what a man can do a woman can do better,’ is sure not fiction. The maxim is actually holding sway for a woman, who has plunged herself deeply into a man’s profession and she is not looking back and not doing badly at all. That can be said to be the driving force behind the story of Anih Blessing John, a female painter based in Abuja, striving to make a name for herself in a profession dominated by men.

Anih John, a 26-year old single lady, says she has nothing to fear engaging in a man’s job, especially one as tedious and daring as house painting.

Indeed, her dexterity in handling the brush and climbing heights bring to the fore her determination to excel in the art of polishing homes and offices.

And she comes across with an air of authority in doing her job in the past two years.

Although she could not further her education on account of poor funding, Anih, has decided to make ends meet using the instrumentality of the brush without qualms. She had tried other menial jobs before finally settling down to do the job of beautifying homes and offices as a painter. She can be described as one of a kind. In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, where she plies her trade, she becomes a cynosure of some sort when she adorns herself with a coverall and carries her brush and is set for action.

Her story is that of someone who does not want to give up just like that.

After leaving secondary school, Anih could no longer further her education due to the fact that there was no one to help. She decided to do menial jobs.

She went from selling plumbing materials to selling recharge cards. It was during the period of selling the cards that she came across a friend who was into painting and decided to join him.

Two years into the male-dominated trade, Anih admits she is very proud to have made the decision to be a painter. She loves the job to the extent that she does not think she could easily trade it for another.

Recounting how she got into painting, John said she needed money and the only way to get it was to get up and do something useful since her dad who is a Disc Jockey and her mum who sells Okpa, a sort of bean cake, in Enugu State could no longer further her education.

“After my secondary School education in Enugu State, I came to Abuja to live with my elder sister since there was nobody to help further my education,” she opened up to Saturday Vanguard.

“The only way to survive was to get something that brings me money. I ventured into jobs like selling plumbing materials and phone booth business, and then I met a friend called Zaccheus. We call him “The Lion”, who was into painting and I decided to join him and he taught me the job. I’ve been doing this for the past two years and I love my job

Anih Blessing John

Everyone doing this job is at the risk of falling; not just me, even the men. It takes the mind to do a job like this. I believe if these men can climb and not fall, I can also do it

because it brings me satisfaction.”

Beyond the circumstances that pushed her into painting, Anih says she prefers doing things different from what other women are doing.

“I need money to enable me to meet my needs and the way I know I can get it is through hard work,” she says.

Anih, who hails from Enugu State, says she prefers painting to any other job because it not only pays her well but also affords her time to do other things.

“I would encourage my female siblings to go into painting because apart from the fact that you do not have to go to work every day, it also affords you time to do other things since you are not working for anyone and you also make a lot of money from painting. For instance, I could make what some people make in a month in just a week.”

Sitting in one place like some housewives do must not be part of Anih. Action is more like it especially when one controls her time.

When asked if she had any fear about falling from the top of buildings while painting, Anih explains that it takes the mind and believing in yourself to do a job such as this and everyonewhether male or female- is at a high risk of falling.

“Everyone doing this job is at the risk of falling; not just me, even the men. It takes the mind to do a job like this. I believe if these men can climb and not fall, I can also do it,” she says.

Anih also recalled her most challenging experience on the job.

She said “My most challenging day as a painter was in Port Harcourt. It was more like slavery to me. There was no money at the site and most of the time we went to bed hungry. Being that it was a contract, we had to find a way to survive and complete the job. We usually picked up corns from farms in order to feed. It wasn’t as challenging for me as it was for the men.”

Anih said she prays and hopes that in the next five years as a painter, God will give her big projects to work on as a major contractor. By so doing, she hopes to realize enough money to take a break to further her education.

In spite the rigours of the job, Anih does not entertain any fear that the work can expose her to any health issue. For that reason, she has never contacted any doctor to seek their opinion on the kind of work she does.

But to convince herself that she is on the right track, she has a little research on possible health implications and she found no health risk associated with her job.

She, however, knows that she must always be decked in her coverall and protective gloves and also cover her nose properly to prevent inhaling anything while painting.

She quips: “I haven’t consulted any doctor as to how this job can affect my health but I have done some research online and found out that there is no risk associated with the job as long as I cover my body, my face and hands with protective materials.”

She says she would have been a writer if she had her way to further her education.

“Apart from painting, I also love to write. When I have no job to do, that is, during my off days, I sit and write. I’m working on completing my first novel about an uneducated girl who was forced into marrying an already, her travails and how she surmounted the challenges.

One thing upsets Anih: she does not feel happy seeing other women sitting at home complaining and waiting for a man to assist them financially.

Her words: “I don’t feel comfortable seeing some women sitting at home, waiting for a man to open a shop for them or to provide for their basic needs. I would therefore, advise and encourage women to go into painting because what a man can do as long as he can do it with his hands, we women too are capable; it only takes hard work and determination.”

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JUNE 20, 2015—59

NNPC: SO REFINERIES CAN WORK?

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all it facing the realities of change that seemed impossible before now and you may not be wrong.

Let us again remind the NNPC that refineries are national assets that should be guarded jealously. With potentials for up to 6000 investment opportunities when we refine a barrel of crude, our refineries are strategic for energy, technology, employment, skills, increased GDP and government revenue.

Alas! For over three months Nigerians in bewilderment groped and constituted themselves into search parties for fuel from any benevolent marketer, to purchase available drops of premium motor spirit (PMS), dual purpose kerosene (DPK) or automotive gas oil (AGO). It became a national emergency when banks, airlines and telecommunication operators threatened withdrawal of services.

We were over a barrel as our petroleum managers tried to justify scarcity artificialisation, as unique selling point to orchestrate deregulation of the downstream sector. They reduced activities of the National Oil Company downstream sector to import of refined products and spurious ‘subsidy’ claims, which the immediate past Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala engaged marketers in arm’s - length transactions.

The Group Managing Director

(GMD)of NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dawha last week inspected retail outlets in Abuja, saying that Port Harcourt Refinery would commence production in July 2015 and would process about five million litres per day would. And this week Warri Refinery was given a production nod in a fortnight.

One had wished he told Nigerians what had become of the empire he superintended that refineries could not function for years.

He failed to address how fairly new process plants became aged infrastructure, which subsequent disruptions hamstring operations and impede 6000 investment opportunities for vertical economic diversification. This issue is not about Dawha and his former co-travellers on NNPC saddle, but about Nigeria and the system that perpetuates degeneracy and inefficiency.

The second Port Harcourt Refinery which Dawha said would come on stream in July 2015 is 150,000 barrels per day capacity was constructed in 1989. At optimum level it can process over 11million litres of PMS, over 2.3 million litres of household kerosene (HHK), over 5.4million litres of automotive gas oil (AGO) and other byproducts per stream day. These three give 80 percent of 105 percent when we refine a barrel of crude oil. The GMD did not tell us that.

Also, 450,000 barrels per day of crude are allocated to the four refineries (when actual capacity of the four refineries is 445,000 barrels per day) that were dead. Did we hear

they swap 450,000 barrels of crude per day with foreign traders in what they call Offshore Processing Agreements (OPAs)?

A swap contract is an agreement to reciprocal exchange.

With the crude oil swap of 13,950,000 barrels monthly (450,000 barrels daily), we should get in return about 1,040,909,940litres of PMS, 221,470,200 litres of DPK and 509,381,460 litres of AGO in one month. These three make up 80 percent of byproducts. There are other byproducts. Our four refineries (if allowed to function at optimal capacity) can process PMS of 209,150 barrels (about 33.2 million litres) per day.

Nigeria imports about one million tonnes (1111320000litres)) of PMS monthly (31 days); and that translates to (about 35.8million litres) per day consumption.

The difference between what we consume and what the four refineries can process is about 2.3 million litres (is less than 15,000 barrels that we may import) daily.

What does the NNPC mean when in another breathe they employ local marketers who import and claim subsidy on products like PMS, DPK and the AGO? The government pays a subsidy on the imports, which is the difference between the landing cost of the fuel and the officially regulated pump price.

According to Dawha, the NNPC is carrying out a phased implementation of the rehabilitation of the refineries (which was almost going for a rummage sale but for the labour unions). He said they took a conscious decision that if the refineries are not in good state, to process crude for maximum gains, then there was no point in sending crude to the refineries. What we do is to try and fix it, so that by the time it starts processing the crude, then we get real value for the crude we have sent to the refineries.

Winston Churchill said ‘’I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else’’ That quote had encouraged one to constantly challenge our petroleum resources managers on why refining is the best option; a call they consistently ignored. That the NNPC would be talking of processing crude for a maximum gain is what one has been advocating. One is surprised at this turnaround from the NNPC which had

initially prepared for the sale of the refineries.

Dawha did not tell us the real state of the refineries and why for about two decades now could not process crude. Nigerians demand explanation on why they go through these harrowing experiences. The refineries have been idle with the full complement of staff members. Wages and salaries with accompanying overheads are paid monthly. In economics, they have been operating at shutdown points for about two decades.

Could we equally assume some quantities of crude meant for the refineries (swapped 450,000 barrels of crude per day) and other barrels from export terminal pipelines might have been stolen, sold in the Togo triangle and ending in western refineries? Our refined products are mostly from Northwest Europe. One hopes that President Muhammadu Buhari presented the matter of oil theft by the west to the G7 Summit of industrialised nations on June 8, 2015 in Bavaria, Germany.

Was President Buhari in this honeymoon period able to convince the leaders of the G7 to assist in repatriating Nigeria’s stolen crude oil money stashed away in their banks and elsewhere? The G7 needed to be told that fund recovered could be the fulcrum for Nigeria’s social-economic development.

The President can provide good governance without recourse to G7 assistance if he recovers these funds.

Foreign Direct Investment that the President requested for could have been in the area of partnerships in constructing refineries, petrochemical plants and power plants.

We are now facing the reality of a new government that may change what was ordinarily perceived to be impossible. Let the NNPC be reminded that our oil refineries are national assets that should be guarded jealously. That is what it is with other OPEC members and else where. With potentials for up to 6000 investment opportunities when we refine a barrel of crude, our refineries are strategic for energy, technology, skills, investment, employment, increased GDP and government revenue which we earnestly desire.

I

am bold to say that this is a season of hope for Nigeria. There are high expectations at the Federal, State and even Local Government levels following the just concluded general elections.

While the APC led federal administration has made it clear to the citizens of this country that it is “baking” sweeping changes which are expected to pop out of the oven soon, some states are quite skeptical about the new wave. Their skepticism is based on antecedents. Although many state governors have also harped on their avowed intention to actualize election promises, their citizens do not seem to be sure they believe them. One clear case is Abia State.

Abia had a very turbulent governorship election. The campaigns were unpleasant and at certain points, repugnant to the sense of aesthetics of the average realign the citizen to the new democratic human being. There were consciousness. So it should have been for threats and counter threats, all other officials of that era. Whether or verbal and physical violence not they carried out this simple task, will and abuses of all kinds. At soon be determined by history, but I will the end, the Okezie Ikpeazu say that a number of people either led PDP emerged victorious. deliberately or inadvertently distracted Okezie Ikpeazu is a typical them so they never really focused on the Aba boy, but has always main issue. One thing that people need remained quiet and to understand is that whether it is 4 or 8 unassuming. His posture as years that an elected politician has to lead a man of little words and his people, that it is a very short time in somehow “more of action,” the life of a people (of a local government, leaves room for suspicion as state or country) so it will be extremely to whether or not he will be unusual to expect a leader to pull a magic able to pull through the wand and conjure developmental desires hopes of his people. But that of everybody into being. We have made is not the major issue; the this mistake for a long time and it is time point is that it appears that now to rethink. precedence has been set in the state. For the past 16 What do people of Abia expect Dr. years, the PDP has Okezie Ikpeazu to do? This question dominated the affairs of the should be broached against the state and again, it’s PDP, so background of what he expects to do for the fear of whether or not his people. Again, the second question is there will be meaningful tied to yet another, what his party is changes is rife. At the turn of expected to do for the state. Ultimately, the present democratic however, the three questions will be dispensation, after the long brought under the glaring logic of what military experience, can be done … given the available time Governor Orji Uzor kalu and resources … by the government for got the mandate of the the people. Finally on the myriad of people. I suppose, his major questions, one is outstanding: who sets task should have been to the agenda for the work plan? This is

ANTECEDENT S AND PRECEDENT S: ANTECEDENTS PRECEDENTS: OKEZIE IKPEAZU AND HOPE FOR ABIA SSTTATE democracy; the government of the people for the people and by the people.

Dr. Ikpeazu has just become a governor, for the first time, a position that does not require, in the strict sense of it, previous experience. In fact, previous experience disqualifies. He no doubt, has his own agenda. He is a product of party politics, and his party must also have its agenda. He is from a certain community and that community has its own agenda, he is supposedly elected by all eligible voter of the state (by popular votes ratio), so now all other communities equally will set their own agenda since he now belongs to all; all these point back to the underlying factor of “what can be done” within the orbit of possibilities (time and resources). I believe one can argue that only the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth has been able to feed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and three pieces of fish.

Let me get back to what I am talking about. Not too long ago, I was in Abia.

Umuahia was good. The roads are in view, that is either they are receiving attention or about to. Then on my way to Uzoakoli, I lost it all. I could not believe that people lived there in a modern democracy because even the cyclist is unable to navigate properly.

Now what can Dr. Ikpeazu do? You may

reply, a lot. Dr. Ikpeazu is faced with the repairs of dilapidated infrastructures and more so provision of more amenities for the people of the state. After I returned from that trip, I started ruminating on Abia state. Quite frankly, was Abia not the Taiwan of Africa? What has happened to the “Aba made” syndrome? Long before both India and even China emerged at the global level, Aba had penetrated the manufacturing endeavours of humanity. I agree that the products, then, were crude and sub-standard, but the important point is that there was production. One wonders today what actually has happened to the clothing industry, the shoes, bags and even cosmetics of Aba. The way Aba was going soon after the civil war and into the later 1970s and 1980s; she should have been at par with India and China today. Now I ask, what can be done? Dr. Ikpeazu started by acknowledging the presence of thousands of local shoe makers, dress makers and bag makers. He has promised

to give them both national and global visibility. How does he do this? I am not in the business of “agenda setting,” however, one will expect that Governor Ikpeazu will start immediately with a correct statistical record of the artisans and further that with provision of support, in terms of infrastructure and funding.

While the governor is building up the manufacturing sector in Abia, let him also remember to carry along the commercial and other support areas. There is much to talk about as the beat goes on. Let me conclude this time by calling attention of the authorities to the greatness of Abia state and her potential as the catalyst to Nigerian industrialization. What has happened to the great Golden Guinea Breweries? What about the Modern Ceramics Industry … in this era of ceramic and other forms of tiles for construction …? What about the Aba Textile mills? If my memory serves me right, there used to be the “Uzu” culture, especially blacksmithing, which Onwuka Kalu popularized. What about that.

Dr. Ikpeazu has some tasks ahead of him. The interesting thing is that he has the acumen, the energy and the training to accomplish them. He is a scientist, an academic, an administrator (I mean technocrat) and also a politician. He is everything a people may wish to ask for in leadership. I am sure he will not follow precedence. He is intelligent enough to carve his own niche. His antecedent speaks for him. Eyes are on him now, but how about the people.

An advice to them: do give him a chance to do at least something within the time God has given to him.

60—SATURDAY

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Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

ritics

of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) actions in Africa are of the view that ICC may have been set up only to tackle Africa, asserting that the actions of the agency appear unfair to the African continent, adding that the ICC is discriminating in its selection practices.

Saturday Vanguard’s investigations into the issue revealed that the agency may have been acting under bias condition, otherwise, why should a good number of notable critics accuse the ICC of acting immorally by discriminating against Africa and Africans in deciding which situations or not to investigate and prosecute.

Furthermore, this large numbers decisions provide a seemingly sufficient argument why all situations and cases under investigation or prosecution by the ICC are basically in Africa, while many others argue that the ICC’s work has interfered with efforts to realising peace in the African continent.

According to report, since the establishment of ICC in 2002, the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the ICC has investigated about 8 situations involving alleged violations of international criminal law.

It disclosed that each of these investigations relate to situation in Africa and often dissatisfying.

In addition, report stated that the OTP has received information on alleged abuses in other parts of the world, such as Iraq, Venezuela, Palestine, Colombia, and Afghanistan, and has decided not to open investigations into those situations or has kept them under preliminary examination.

Similarly, critics note that the OTP has yet to open an investigation into crimes allegedly committed in a territory or by nationals of States that are wealthy and powerful and argue that the failure to do so has contributed to dampening support for the ICC from African countries, as they give the impression that the agency is partisan.

Many wondered reasons OTP have opened investigations only in Africa, even as many situations of concern simply do not fall within the ICC’s jurisdiction.

In other words, many are of the view that the ICC actions appear inappropriately unfair to Africa, otherwise, it should provide sound reasons and justification for why all of the situations currently under investigation or prosecution happen to be in Africa.

Although the agency ’s investigations into African

•African Heads of State at the AU summit in South Africa

Critics say ICC’s focus on African leaders inappropriate situations were opened at the request or with the support of African states and or selfreferred, critics still maintained the agency is biased in its actions.

Most recently, Mali referred to the ICC the crimes occurring on its own territory and this was supported by ECOWAS. True talk that Africa does not want to uphold atrocities, but the situations involving African countries investigations by ICC’s OTP may have gingered the drama involving Sudanese President Omar al Bashir ’s arrest warrant.

OBSERVATION

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ashir, who came to power in 1989, became the first sitting president to be indicted by the ICC. The court issued an arrest warrant for him on March 4, 2009, for war crimes committed during the civil war in Darfur before the referendum that divided Sudan and South Sudan.

Bashir was attending African Union talks in South Africa when a local court issued an interim order stopping him from leaving the country until it hears

application for his arrest.

He is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes.

He reportedly defied the court order and left South Africa despite two pending warrants from the international criminal court for his arrest, following which a high court in Johannesburg mandated the South African government to file an affidavit explaining how president Bashir left the country.

His action raised ripples, leaving many accusing the South African government of defying a court order and violating its own constitution and others portraying the ICC as an instrument of Western imperialism.

Notably, President Bashir was in South Africa at the invitation of the AU, which does not have sanctions over him and arresting him would amount to weakening and dividing the AU. In other words, arresting him would have simply implied that African Heads of state and governments are unable, and or unwilling to protect the AU when necessary.

And by comparison, the US government does not arrest

foreign Heads of State and Government, even when it has sanctions over them when they attend the UN General Assembly.

For a fact, such action, without doubt, is capable of weakening and eventually destroying the UN where they do so.

Meanwhile many have condemned Botswana government for saying that Bashir should be arrested and handed over to the ICC, asking why the ICC is unfairly targeting black presidents and no one has been arrested for war crimes in Iraq and so on.

Those familiar with the situation on ground posited that Africa’s hatred for the West may be deepening by the day, hence the decision to allow Sudanese president accused of war crimes to ignore the ICC arrest warrant.

Bashir had travelled to South Africa for an African Union summit chaired by Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, who has urged African leaders to pull out of the ICC. African states accuse the court, which is based in The Hague, of only targeting political leaders on their continent and failing to bring those responsible for war crimes in the Middle East and elsewhere to justice.

However, the Sudanese officials reportedly stated that the court order had no value because Bashir was invited by the South African government, saying that claim that the South African government has shamefully flouted ICC and domestic court to free man wanted for mass murder of Africans, is inconsequential.

Pope attributes global warming to human activities

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n passionate language likely to prove highly divisive, the pontiff attributed global warming to human activity, blaming ‘special interests’ for holding back policy responses and said the global North owes the South ‘an ecological debt.’

According to agency report, the 183-page document, which Pope Francis addresses not only to Catholics but to every person living on this planet, includes pointed critiques of globalization and consumerism, which he says lead to environmental degradation.

The Pope says “Economic powers continue to justify the current global system where priority tends to be given to speculation and the pursuit of financial gain. As a result, whatever is fragile, like the environment, is defenseless before the interests of the deified market, which become the only rule.”

The Vatican published document is titled ‘Laudato Si” (Be praised), which according to the Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi, is published in eight languages, and one of the most authoritative forms of papal writing.

SATURDAY

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Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015—61

62— SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 20, 2015

Nigeria League Splash.....

Nigerian League Splash

Enyimba take battle to Shooting Stars A damasingba Stadium will literary boil tomorrow as Shooting Stars of Ibadan clash with Enyimba in a Premier League game.

Enyimba travel to Ibadan on the back of a 2-0 defeat of Heartland in Aba and hopeful of recording backto-back victories against two of their fiercest rivals in the league.

Coach Kadiri Ikhana, still basking in the joy of emerging victors in the Oriental derby has told his wards to take the game to their hosts, warning that sitting back was going to be suicidal.

“This is going to be a very tough and interesting match but we must play it with passion if we are to come out of the pitch with a point.

We won’t be defensive because that would be suicidal”, said Ikhana.

The former Super Falcons coach added that the two-time CAF

Champions League champions will king the battle “We will be taking the battle to our opponents and hopefully get the result that will help our push for the title”, said Ikhana.

•Ikhana

Giw a’s Raji e oo tball Giwa’s eyyes continental ffoo ootball G

iwa FC defender, Nojeem Raji has set his sights on helping the club win a ticket to play either in the Champions League or Confederation Cup next season.

“We have the capabilities to strive and eventually pick a ticket for Africa this time”, said Raji, whose side are in the top three on the table. Sunshine Stars top the table He has also hailed the League Management Company for making the Nigerian league

•Oshoala

Falcons unluc ky unlucky to be in a dif diffficult group —USA coach

T

he coach of the United States of America women soccer team, Jill Ellis has described the Super Falcons as a dangerous side, who were unlucky to be in difficult group at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

USA ended Nigeria’s run at the tournament and speaking yesterday, Ellis whose side face Colombia on June 22 said that she was not surprised with the performance of the Falcons, who they defeated 1-0.

“Nigeria gave us a good fight, as expected.

They’re a dangerous team. I’m happy with the way we played both with and without the ball.

We can attack with confidence if we have a good backline’’, said Ellis, who added that ‘It’s a shame we only scored one goal but we’re very happy to finish top of a difficult group, which was an unlucky draw for the Nigerians” Continuing, Ellis said @Investments in women’s football are constantly increasing worldwide, so I think it’s right to talk of an evolution. In terms of tactics, this is the best tournament I’ve ever seen.”

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•Giwa

competitive and reducing cases of bad officiating.

“The NPFL has really improved under the LMC especially this season that we have seen lots of road victories. We defeated Rangers in Enugu and scored an equalizer against Sharks from the penalty spot away from home.

“It shows great improvement in officiating because such results are rare to achieve in the past. I want

the good work to continue. If we continue this way, the champions that will emerge will go places in the Champions League”, added Raji.

Speaking further, Raji said that the players were determined to make a name for themselves and bolster their chances of getting better deals abroad.

“We are determined to play and that is the key to success. If you assess our team, you will find out that we are ready to make a name for ourselves. Our team is full of young lads with potentials and we have a young vibrant coach with technical know how.”, said Raji.

Giwa tackle Dolphins tomorrow in Port Harcoirt.

Tomorrow’s Fixtures El Kanemi v Wikki v Heartland v Sunshine v Shooting Stars v Dolphins v Nasawa v Kwara Utd v Abia Warriors v Warri Wolves v

Ifeanyi Uba Sharks Taraba Kano Pillars Enyimba Giwa Bayelsa Lobi Akwa Utd Rangers

Results Sunshine Stars Kano Pillars Taraba Sharks Rangers Ifeanyi Uba Lobi Bayelsa Enyimba Akwa

2 4 1 0 1 1 2 0 2 2

4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm

Warri Wolves Giwa Wikki El Kanemi Abia Warriors Dolphins Nasarawa Shooting Heartland Kwara

1 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 20, 2015 — 63

TRANSFER TALK ..... TRANSFER TALK Braga tempts Gervinho to Al-Jazira Al-Jazira Coach Abel Braga expects Roma winger Gervinho to sign - ‘if all goes well he’ll come to us’.

The Ivorian is expected to join the Abu Dhabi side this summer, following former Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic to the Middle East “He’s amazing, if all goes well he’ll come to us,” Braga told Tuttomercatoweb when asked about Gervinho.

“I’m waiting, I’m waiting. With him and Vucinic together we could aim for the top. I was in Portugal and I’ll wait until I see him here before I definitely start celebrating.

“Vucinic? The fact that he was top scorer says it all. He’s a special player, a true champion.”

Why Van Gaal wants Bale, Keane Louis van Gaal is not only in need of a world class striker this summer - he must find one with a proven track record in the Premier League.

That’s the task facing the Manchester United manager as he attempts to produce a team capable of mounting a genuine title challenge next season.

He plans to bring in at least one new forward, but with doubts over Robin van Persie’s future - as well as the departure of Radamel Falcao - he could need more.

But Falcao’s plight at Old Trafford - scoring just four goals during a season-long loan only emphasises the importance of securing a striker who can make an immediate impact for Van Gaal’s team.

United’s worst goal return in the Premier League for a decade was evidence of their struggles in attack last season.

Van Gaal’s side managed just 62 goals - their worst since the 58 recorded in 2004-5.

That Wayne Rooney was their leading scorer with 14 in all competitions only emphasises the lack of fire power at Van Gaal’s disposal.

The Dutchman’s interest in Harry Kane and Gareth Bale is acknowledgement of his desire to recruit a striker with a pedigree in England.

Bale is not an orthodox centre forward - but scored 31 goals in his final season for Tottenham.

Kane managed one better last term.

Unlike Falcao - even taking into consideration the effects of his knee ligament injury - they represent little in the way of a gamble in terms of their suitability to the Premier league.

Van Gaal has already added to his attacking options with the £25m signing of Memphis Depay. The Dutch winger was the leading scorer in Holland last season - but, for all of his considerable potential, there are no guarantees he can replicate his return of 25 goals in his first season in England.

Van Gaal wants his team to play with more flair in his second year in charge - which will be required if United are to seriously push champions Chelsea and Manchester City.

Eto’o to leave Sampdoria, Cassano returns Samuel Eto’o will leave Sampdoria this summer, but Antonio Cassano has agreed to return, according to reports.

The Cameroonian striker only arrived from Everton in January, but looks set to leave this summer, with MLS a possible destination.

However, according to Mediaset, the Blucerchiati have agreed a deal which will see Antonio Cassano return to Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

The Italian international is a free agent after tearing up his Parma contract in January, and

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the news outlet believes that a meeting between Samp President Massimo Ferrero, sporting director Carlo Osti and the player ’s agent Beppe Bozzo has ended with an agreement for his return.

Boca coach unsure of Tevez Boca Juniors Coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena calls Carlos Tevez ‘a complete player ’ but isn’t sure the Juventus man will arrive.

The striker is believed to be close to sealing a return to his boyhood club, with the Bianconeri admitting that he wants to return to Argentina.

“Until we see him in a Boca shirt, I won’t say too much about that,” Arruabarrena told Mediaset.

“If he does come, I’ll be happy. He’s a very complete player, that’s why he’s won what he’s won.”

However, the tactician hinted that Tevez would not be forming a partnership with former Inter flop Dani Osvaldo.

“From a sporting perspective he’s given me the answers I had hoped for, but there are also other considerations, concerning his personal situation and the economic side of things.

“Let’s see if a deal can be done, but we’re talking about a lot of money.”

Atletico back for Motta Thiago Motta could be set to return to Atletico Madrid, seven years after he last turned out for Los Rojiblancos.

Motta spent the 2007-08 season at Vicente Calderon but injuries and competition for places meant he played only a handful of times before quitting La Liga for Genoa.

From Genoa he moved to Inter, spending three years in Milan before settling in Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain.

He has been a PSG player since 2012 but Marca reports Motta is looking for a free transfer exit despite having a year remaining on his current contract.

Motta, who will turn 33 in August, is linked with a short-term move to Atletico, if he can free himself from PSG, and fits in with what Diego Simeone and the Atleti hierarchy are looking for.

Cholo wants reinforcements in midfield but the club can’t spend too much or risk breaching financial regulations.

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 20, 2015

NFF moves to tackle indiscipline in Eagles

>>38,39

REVEALED:

Farah ‘missed doping tests before winning double Olympics gold

Enyimba take battle to Shooting >>62 stars

CROSS WORD PUZZLE

•Mo Farah

Across 1 Tunisian President, Mr. Beji – (7) 4 Former Katsina State Governor, Mr. Sumaila – (5) 7 Venomous Snake – (3) 8 Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Vincent – (7) 9 He invented the Sub-Marine in the Year 1624, Cornelius – (7) 10 Country in Africa – (7) 13 State in Nigeria Known as “The Sunshine State”? – (4) 15 Fabric – (6) 18 member, Executive Committee, Nigerian Football Federation (NFF, Chief Emeka – (6) 21 Former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abubakar – (4) 23 Saint-Etienne Coach, Christopher – (7) 25 Spanish “La Liga”Club-Side – (7) 26 Former Minister of State for Information, Alh. Salisu Dasuki – (7) 27 Farm animal – (3) 28 Super Eagles Striker, Sone – (5) 29 L.G.A in Nasarawa State – (7)

Down 1 Former Niger State Governor, Mr. Cletus – (5) 2 World’s Highest Mountain – (7) 3 Oyo State Capital – (6) 4 British Prime Minister, David – (7) 5 Former Abia State governor, Mr. Frank – (7) 6 Secretary to the Osun State Government, Mr. Aderotimi – (7) 11 State in Nigerian known as “The Eastern Heartland”? – (3) 12 Particles – (4) d14 Singer – (4) 15 Italian “Serie A”Premiership Club-Side – (7) 16 Bhutanese Capital City – (7) 17 L.G.A in Benue State – (7) 19 Guinea “Syli Stars”Goalkeeper, Niaby – (7) 20 Igbo Word for “Tortoise”— (3) 22 Minister of Trade & Investment, Mr. Olusegun – (6) 24 Ecuador National Coach, Reinaldo – (5)

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