Fayose floors APC again

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Ekiti: Fayose floors Fayemi again *Panel says petitioners failed to prove allegations of rigging *Gov hails judiciary

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Abuja & Gbenga Ariyibi, Ado-Ekiti

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HE Ekiti State Gov ernorship Election Petition Tribunal, yesterday, affirmed Governor Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the winner of the governorship election held in the state on June 21.

The three-man panel which conducted its proceeding in Abuja, dismissed the petition filed against Fayose by the All Progressives Congress, APC. The APC had in its petition, alleged that the election “witnessed an unprecedented level of rigging, manipulation of voters register and wide spread election malpractices,” as well as queried the legal qualification of Fayose to participate in the process.

The party argued that Fayose was found guilty of embezzlement and violation of code of conduct for public officers, in 2006, following which he was impeached from office.

Relying on the provision of Sections 182 (1) (j) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the APC stated that Fayose ought not to have been allowed to participate in the election, adding that the Higher National Diploma certificate he purportedly obtained from the Federal Polytechnic, Ibadan, upon which he was cleared to contest, was forged.

Consequently, the party sought the nullification of the election over alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and asked for the withdrawal of the Certificate of Return issued to Fayose by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Furthermore, it told the tribunal that the provisions of Sections 19 and 20 of the Electoral Act made it mandatory that the voters register must be displayed at least 30 days before the election, adding that this was not complied with, even as armed soldiers and policemen were used to arrest and detain several chieftains of the party, pointing out that the alleged action of the security men led to the disenfranchisement of its members.

It stated that the number of people whose names were ticked in the register used for the election, did not correspond with number of people that actually voted.

Cited as respondents in the matter were the PDP, Fayose, INEC, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police.

The petitioner called 11 witnesses before the Tribunal, as well as tendered the alleged forged HND certificate bearing the name of one Oluwayose Ayodele, through the Registrar of the Federal Polytechnic Ibandan.

However , the Tribunal headed by Justice Siraj Mohammed, dismissed all the grounds raised in the petition, saying the petitioner failed to prove any of the allegations.

The panel held that the issue of non-display of register as stipulated in the Electoral Act, could not be raised after declaration of election results, noting that was a pr-election matter and outside its jurisdiction.

It also, held that section 182 of the constitution did not include impeachment as a ground for disqualification of a candidate for an election, adding that the impeachment panel that was constituted by the then Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Jubril Aladejana, lacked the constitutional powers to declare anyone guilty of contravening the code of conduct for public officers.

It voided the report of the seven-man investigative panel that found Fayose guilty in 2006, “from whom or where did Justice Aladejana derive the fiat to constitute the panel,?” the tribunal queried, stressing that the APC neither pleaded nor tendered the letter through which the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly requested the Chief Judge to constitute the impeachment panel.

“Such letter is the very foundation upon which the validity of the impeachment can be ascertained. The absence of such request robs the Chief Judge of the exercise of such constitutional power to set up a seven-panel.

“The panel was not properly constituted according to law. Does the panel have the powers to have found the Fayose guilty of abuse of code of conduct on allegations of embezzlement of fund? Our answer is emphatic No!, as only a competent court or the Code of Conduct Tribunal have such powers.

“The investigative panel lacked the constitutional vires to return the verdict of guilty as they did in exhibit M & M1. The APC, gave hearsay evidence.”

It also struck out names of the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police, from the petition, stressing that the alleged wrongdoings by some soldiers or police men did not make them a necessary party in an election matter.

The tribunal held that neither the particulars of the accused security offic-

ers, the agents of PDP allegedly used to rig the election nor names of the polling units where the “ wide spread electoral malpractices” took place, were supplied by the petitioner pointing out that the APC could not in one hand, claim that the election was not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act, and still urge the tribunal to declare its own candidate at the poll, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as the winner.

It noted that out of a total of 177 electoral wards, 1,700 polling units in Ekiti State, the petitioner only produced 11 witnesses, with six of them from one local government area, to prove wide spread election malpractice stressing that the party ought to have called at least a witness from all or majority of the polling units, as well as tender voters cards, registers it claimed were improperly ticked or admitted in favour of Fayose.

On alleged certificate forgery, it held that APC ought to have at least called an official of the Polytechnic to testify or produced the original owner of the said certif-

*From left Elder Emmanuel Obuh, Mr Mideno Bayagbon, Editor, Vanguard Newspaper, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), during the 2014, Vanguard Media Christian Fellowship End of the Year, held on Thursday at Vanguard premises, Apapa, Lagos, PHOTO: Joe Akintola Photo Editor. icate. It described the allegation as weighty, saying the fact that it was criminal in nature, meant that the matter ought to have been reported to security agencies for prosecution.

“The burden of proof rests squarely on the petitioner and it has failed to discharge that burden. Accusation of forgery being a criminal offence must be proved beyond reasonable doubt. There is nothing

before the tribunal to show that the HND certificate was forged or was earned or awarded to any other person on the planet earth aside the 2nd Respondent.

“On the whole, all the issues and reliefs sought have been resolved against the petitioner and the petition is hereby dismissed”, the panel added.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose has lauded the judiciary for its sound judgment by

dismissing a suit instituted by All P r o g r e s s i v e Congress(APC) challenging his victory during the June 21 governorship election According to the statement signed in Ado Ekiti yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor ,Mr Idowu Adelusi commended the judiciary and for upholding justice in its deliverance of justice.

States legislators reject financial autonomy for LGAs *Separate office of Attorney General from Ministry of Justice *Approve financial autonomy for legislature

By Emma Ovuakporie, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke, Abuja

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PEAKERS of the 36 states Houses of Assembly yesterday voted against local government financial autonomy in the country.

The speakers, however, braced the odds by approving financial autonomy for states Houses of Assembly which they had initially rejected following pressures from their various state governors.

These were contained in the adopted version of the constitution amendments proposals delivered to the National Assembly by the speakers of the states of the federation yesterday.

The document was handed over to the Chairman of National Assembly and Senate President, Senator David Mark.

However, the vote against local government financial autonomy was seen as a set back as state governors had always disbursed the money at their own whims and caprices.

According to the docu-

ment, the Conference of Nigeria Speakers also approved the separation of the office of Attorney General of the federation from the Office of the Minister of Justice.

Speaking while transmitting the approved version of the amended constitution, Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Houses Assembly and Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Samuel Ikon, said the state legislatures took a holistic view of some of the items before arriving at their various conclusions.

Ikon said, “Let me announce that, we have exceeded the required figure for financial autonomy for

state legislature; we have also met the required figure for separation of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from the Office of the Minister of Justice. I hope that sections not agreed to may find relevance in future.”

His silence on local council autonomy in the approved amendment, however, was an indication that the lawmakers had technically rejected the amendment to the clause.

Speaking while receiving the document, David Mark, commended the state lawmakers for approving financial autonomy for themselves but expressed reservation on their inability to pass the local government autonomy.

“One of the areas which I

think we asked you to approve is the local government autonomy. I don’t know if you had the courage to do that, but if you did not pass it, no problem, it is a continuous exercise.

“I was talking to Senator Ayogu Eze and I said well if that is not passed he should be rest assured that we will pass it before we all leave the National Assembly but I want to congratulate you. “ Mark, also, acknowledged the speed with which the State Assemblies attended to the issue, adding, “I want to assure you and other Nigerians that we in the National Assembly will also act very swiftly and we will do our own work as timely as possible.

Military kills over 75 insurgents in Borno

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

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ILITARY sources said yesterday that the Nigerian Army has killed more than seventy five Boko Haram terrorists.

The sources said that troops of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army at Dogon wire along Maiduguri Damboa road in Borno killed the insurgents Wednesday night.

A military officer who did

not want his name in print first told our correspondent in Maiduguri that they gave security cover to the staff of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to repair destroyed transmission cables at Damboa when they sighted groups of the insurgents coming towards them.

He said “we were on the electric tower on surveillance of any perceived threat, while the staff of the TCN were repairing the destroyed

cables, when we sighted the insurgents coming in groups and we immediately opened fire on them”.

“We kept on firing but they continue moving towards our position, then our commander ordered the armored tanker to start firing.

They still continued coming unabated until the commander ordered the artillery to shell them, that was when we cleared them”, the source said.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

Ondo PDP: Jimoh Ibrahim accused of working for Buhari

Jonathan’s excuses to Nigerians means A failure, he should resign — Tinubu

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ATIONAL leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said President Goodluck Jonathan has admitted his alleged inability to continue to preside over the affairs of the nation through his persistent excuses to Nigerians, therefore insisted that the President should resign.

He described Governor Adams Oshiomhole as a man of honour and one capable of being the President of Nigeria, asserting that Oshiomhole’s developmental strides in Edo state is a pointer that the APC has credible people capable of leading the nation. He declared this yesterday in Benin City, while commissioning the new six lane New Lagos Road and the Ewohimi Hospital in Esan South East of Edo State.

The APC leader who also poured encomium on two-time former governor of old Bendel state, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia who was at the event, asserted that the former Governor is “one leader whose charity is always at home. You believe in Edo state, you believe in your people, not politics of deception and sharing the bounties of corruption. You believe in physical development and morality and that is what we are seeing today in Edo”.

Declaring that the Jonathan’s administration is a failure, Asiwaju stated that “A nation fails because of the leadership failures, if there is a good leader at the top, a na-

tion will not fail. Because the fish start getting rotten from the head. The poverty, insecurity, unemployment which we are witnessing today in this country is because the head has failed.

“Let them stop giving us excuses that Boko Haram is in my government, fish them out. That we have

saboteurs in the military, you are admitting failure.

No excuse of failure, Mr President we chose you to lead this country, resign if you cannot enough of the excuses” he declared.

Commending Oshiomhole for the infrastructural development, he notated that “many people like you would have fell into

HE Central Bank of Nigeria said that the commemorative N100 banknote unveiled recently by the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is going into circulation from yesterday.

This is contained in a statement signed by Ibrahim Mu’azu, Head, Corporate Communications, on Friday in Abuja.

in the opposition party” , Okunomo recalled that the party went to town recently with the threat of Ibrahim who allegedly claimed to have been prepared to reverse whatever progress that may have been recorded in reconciling the various interests in Ondo PDP following the voluntary resignation of the former members of the state executive.

“The threat has been carried out even though he did not succeed in preventing the recognition of the list of names of the party’s flag bearers at the coming state and National Assembly elections”, Okunomo said, warning that the party leadership should hold itself responsible for whatever havoc” Ibrahim may eventually cause as his plan to ensure that he destabilises the party to pave the way for the opposition which has his godfather as a presidential candidate is no longer hidden”.

2015: INEC sets up task force on displaced persons From left;Mrs Felicia Solomon,Head Membership and Admin Advocacy 4 widows Empowerment Foundation[ADWEF]; Dr Bisi Abiola,Managing Director Indulge Nigeria Limited, Mr Willie Workman,Founder Advocacy 4 Widows Empowerment Foundation and Mr Dele Ojo, Head Communications at the Charity 4 Widows Gruv and Award in Lagos recently. PHOTO;AKEEM SALAU.

30 women give birth in Borno refugee camp

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

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O fewer than 30 pregnant women among the Internally Displaced Persons, IDP’s, from Bama Local Government Area of Borno State have so far given birth within the last four months, with another set

of 20 almost due to deliver.

The IDPs are currently taking refuge in one of the camps in Maiduguri, the state capital.

According to the Chairman Committee on the IDP’s at the Government Girls Secondary School Maiduguri camp, Alhaji

N100 denomination goes into circulation

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the temptation of naira and kobo. But you stood for the progress of Edo state. We share in common the determination to make progress, you had the opportunity to be in labour party, you had that option clearly, but you chose to be with the progressives that you know.

N alarm has been raised over alleged anti-party activities of a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, who is accused of working to make President Goodluck Jonathan lose to General Muhamadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.

In a statement by a chieftain of the PDP, Hon. Banji Okunomo, in Akure, on Friday, he said Ibrahim is gradually making true his threat to ensure that a weakened PDP confronts the opposition in the 2015 elections, adding that it is no longer a secret that he is a fanatical supporter of Buhari.

Calling on the leaders of the party at the national level “to tame the rampaging foe in the garb of a party leader before he realises his ambition of rubbishing the chances of President Jonathan at the coming election to the advantage of his godfather

It directed all branches of the bank to commence issuance of the currency in their respective locations.

“The commemorative note will circulate alongside the existing N100 note.

“The note, which is embedded with features to assist the visually impaired recognise genuine notes, also has other se-

curity features easily identifiable through look, feel and tilt of the currency note,’’ it said.

It recalled that the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, at the unveiling of the new banknote, explained that it was designed with enhanced security to offer robust resistance against counterfeiting.

Babagana Mahmoud, who spoke in an interview with newsmen yesterday, those who gave birth were among the women who escaped from Bama when Boko Haram terrorists attacked the area.

Mahmood said that about 4,200 women and children who escaped from the terrorists were in the camp.

He explained that the state government had set up a committee on maternal care delivery in the various camps to assist women in resolving complicated cases.

He said that the government had also procured health kits for all the IDP centres as well as ambulance vehicles ensure prompt transfer of expectant mothers in camps to the nearest health center.

By Joseph Erunke

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N its bid to ensure that persons displaced in some northern parts of the country, following the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, vote in the forth coming general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has raised a special task force.

The task force is to evaluate the standards and recommendations emerging from conferences and

workshops by international and local agencies on IDPs voting, and determine their applicability to Nigeria for the 2015 general elections.

Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who announced this in a statement yesterday, said the special committee was also assigned by the commission to review the experiences of other jurisdictions in dealing with the challenges of IDP voting.

Lagos deputy gov loses father

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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HE Lagos State Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, has lost her father Pa Jimoh Laka Orelope who died at ripe age of 101.

According to a source, Late Pa Orelope died early Friday, December 19th 2014 after a protracted ill-

ness.

The late Pa Orelope has been buried yesterday at his residence in Egbeda, Alimoso Local Government Area according to Islamic rites.

Late Pa Orelope was a foremost political leader in Alimoso Federal Constituency and was a major player in the old Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and then Social Democratic Party (SDP) era.

Assemblies of God read riot act

By Chidi N kwopara, Owerri

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EADERS of Assemblies of God, Nigeria, including the General Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, rose from a meeting yesterday in Owerri, reaffirming their stand that nobody or institution has the right to impose anyone to lead the church.

This was part of a six-point communique signed by over 150 District Superintendents and Presbyters of the church, from the South East and South South geo-political

zones of the country, who attended the meeting.

“We firmly take our stand that nobody or any institution has the right to impose anyone to lead the church, contrary to due process established in the Assemblies of God, Nigeria, for over 80 years now”, the leaders stated. While urging their constituencies to to on in their worship and services to God and humanity throughout Nigeria without fear, the leaders also reaffirmed their acceptance of the result of the General Council.

SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014—7

BRIEFS

Oil price crash: Uduaghan assures on stability of Delta economy

By Festus Ahon, ASABA

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OVERNOR Emman uel Uduaghan of Delta State, yesterday assured that the state economy would remain viable despite the fall in oil price in the international market.

Uduaghan who gave the assurance in Asaba, the State capital while declaring open a one-day export promotion workshop , said the State government has put machineries in place to cushion the effect of oil price on the state.

Represented by the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Chris Ekiyor at the workshop which was organized by the Benin Zonal Office of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the governor held that part of the machineries were anchored on the Delta Beyond Oil programme and said the programme was part of government effort to diversify the state economy through the development of the nonoil sector.

Explaining that the fall of prices of oil in the international oil market was a reminder that the economic salvation of the Nigerian state depends largely on massive development and promotion of the non-oil

export sub-sector, Uduaghan said the state government has since provided economic leeway which among others, included “robust synergy between it, the Bank of Industry and organized

Private Sector in enhancing agricultural production such as cassava, tomatoes, fish, plantain, yam, among others.

“Currently, four fish feed mills, six cassava processing mills for the

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HE Ogun Commis sioner for Woman Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Elizabeth Sonubi has warned that the state government would prosecute anyone involved in female genital mutilation.

The commissioner said this in Abeokuta during a news conference to celebrate the ’16 days activism on the elimination of gender-based violence’ with the theme ‘Let us challenge militarism and end violence against women’ According to Sonubi, offenders are liable to one year imprisonment.She said, “Female genital mutilation and female cir-

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OGI State Government has entered into partner ship with the U.S Agency for International Development USAID, for a Maternal and Child Survival Programme, MSCP. This was disclosed yesterday when Dr. Nancy Lawanthel led the team of MCSP to formerly discus the project with the State ministry of Health.

According to Dr. Lawanthel “MSCP is introduced to support high impact health interventions in 24 priority countries with the ultimate goal of ending preventable maternal and child deaths within a generation. “The MCSP engages Governments, policy-makers, private sector leaders, health care providers, civil society, faith based organization’s and communities in adopting and accelerating proven approaches to address the major causes of maternal, newborn and child mortality such as postpartum hemorrhage, PPH, birth asphyxia and diarrhea, respectively and improve the quality of health services from households to hospitals.”

Rivers PDP sets up committee for aggrieved guber aspirants

By Jimitota Onoyume

P A Traditional Masqurade from Okriki Local Government Area in Rivers State during the 2014 Rivers State Carnival in Port Harcourt yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

How Osinbajo improved judicial system in Lagos — Fashola, Ashafa

By Olasunkanmi Akoni and Monsur Olowoopejo

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O V E R N O R Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East Senatorial District, said

Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the running mate to the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the 2015 election, improved the judicial system left by the military in 1999, especially in Lagos.

The duo made the

You’ll go to jail if you mutilate any female genital — Ogun Govt

By Daud Olatunji, Abeokuta

production of garri, starch, chips and pellets are in advanced stages across the state.” He appealed to stakeholders in the export business to continually improve their knowledge of export business.

Kogi partners USAID for Maternal and Child care

cumcision prohibition law is in force in the state”.

She further stated that the law was aimed at preventing anyone from mutilating the female genital in any manner.

“Ogun is committed to ensuring that its citizens are protected against gen-

der-based violence, thus the proposal of the Domestic Violence Prohibition Bill 2014,” Sonubi said.

The commissioner explained that female genital mutilation was a common and harmful traditional practice on women and girls.

remarks at the swearing in ceremony of the three new High Court Judges in Alausa, Ikeja Friday. In attendance were the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, ExGovernor of Ekiti State, Niyi Adebayo, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Mr. Fola Adeola, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos, Mr. Supo Shasore and others.

They noted that during his tenure as the AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice in the state between 1999 and 2007, the transformation in the judicial system commenced with free legal services in Lagos.

48-year-old business man, Kassim Raheem, who allegedly stabbed a cotenant for trying to outsmart him by dashing into their residence’s only bathroom, on Friday. He appeared in court in Lagos.

Raheem, who resides at Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of

breach of peace and assault before an Oshodi Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused stabbed Mr Sunday Awulu on the head on Dec. 11 at their residence.

According to the prosecutor, the accused

FRSC deploys 3,000 marshals, 43 vehicles for yuletide

By Vincent Ujumadu, Awka

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HE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed about 3,000 marshals, 43 vehicles and 10 motorbikes within the Benin zone comprising Anambra, Delta and Edo states to ensure safety of Nigerians this yuletide.

The zonal commander of FRSC in the zone, Mr. Nsebong Akpabio said yesterday in Onitsha that the Corps has also deployed six advanced life support ambulances, four medium sized towing trucks and two heavy duty towing trucks between the Niger Bridge and Benin for effective coverage.

All Dream Foundation set to launch empowerment programme

Man charged with stabbing co-tenant over bathroom usage

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EOPLES Democratic Party, PDP has set up an Elders Reconciliation committee headed by Brigadier General Woriboye Iruenabere rtd as Chairman to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party in Rivers state.

Chairman of the committee, Brig General Iruenabere rtd who spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt said they had commenced work already, adding that most of the former governorship aspirants of the party had expressed strong willingness to work for the party’s interest at the general polls. According to him, most of the aspirants said they were not planning to dump the party.

It would be recalled that before the guber primaries, 18 party members who also bought form to contest the primary election had called on the former Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike to step down arguing that it would be unfair for him to participate in the race since he was from the same Ikwerre ethnic group with governor Chibuike Amaechi.

claimed that it was his turn to use the bathroom, but the complainant entered.

“The accused claimed that he kept a bucket of water at the entrance of the bathroom before the complainant entered the place, and that when he complained, Awulu ignored him.”

By Chris Onuoha The All Dreams Foundation, a non-Governmental organisation based in America in collaboration with Adoration Prayer Ministry in Ekpoma, Edo State is set to launch a life changing economic empowerment programme for the youths in Africa and citizens of all nations. The coordinator of the programme, Rev. Fr. John Damian Adizie while briefing press on behalf of Sir Andrew Okokhere, President of The All Dream Foundation said, “We are bringing Professors and Students from United States alongside their Nigerian counterparts, to meet and establish factories that will be managed by the Nigerians in Nigeria.”

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

BRIEFS

A/Ibom CP makes case for uniform men over human rights

2015: Governor Amaechi will lead us to victory, says South East APC

By Chris Ochayi

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HE South-East chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, said yesterday it was optimistic that Governor Rotimi Amaechi will lead the party to victory in the February, 2015 presidential election The APC chapter, in a congratulatory message to Governor Amaechi on his appointment as Director General of Gen. Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation, said “the Governor will surely lead our great party to victory, given his sterling qualities as man of courage, focused and fearless fighter.”

According to a statement issued by Osita Okechukwu, a copy of which was made available to Vanguard in Abuja, APC is getting it right in all departments”.

According to the statement; “We cannot forget in a hurry how he defeated

From left: Prince Gbolahan Lawal, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives; Engr. Ganiyu Johnson, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Works and Infrastructure; Mr Adelaja Adeleye, President Ultimate Circle of Nigeria and Mrs Lanre Oniyitan, CEO,W-Holistics Business Solutions Ltd (Awardee) during the Ultimate Night held at Eagle Club , Lagos recently. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors in the historic Nigeria Governors Forum’s election, an election that exposed the perfidy of President Goodluck Jonathan regime.

“We recall that the day

Governor Amaechi joined forces with the progressives, he automatically and patriotically redefined Nigeria’s political landscape, cancelled out North-South divide. While, today,. Governor Ibrahim Shema of

Katsina State is battling his Katsina brother, Mohammadu Buhari, Amaechi is battling his Bayelsa brother Goodluck Jonathan. This is healthy for our fledgling democracy.

Fire burns family of 7 to death

BY PETER DURU, Makurdi

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FAMILY of seven were at the early hours of Friday, burnt to death in a mysterious inferno that engulfed their home at Ayankor, Gboko East, in Gboko local government area of Benue state.

Saturday Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that the inferno which started at about 1am, engulfed the block of three flats, killing a man and his wife, Mr. And Mrs. Lawani Oye and their five children.

Lawani Oye was said to be a popular automobile panel beater in Gboko while his wife was also a known business woman in the neighborhood.

According to the eyewitness who preferred anonymity, the fire which started when everyone had gone asleep razed the entire block of flats, though other occupants of the building managed to escape.

According to her, “the fire started at about 1am in Mr. Oye’s flat when everyone in the neighbourhood, including the victims of the inferno were asleep.

“It was his wife and mother of the dead children

who we popularly call Mama Tunde, who raised the alarm that prompted other neighbours to rush out of their flats and after failing to fight the strange fire however managed to escape.

“Our pain about this tragic and unfortunate

incident is that the same woman who died with her family in the fire was the one who raised the alarm that saved others. They were burnt beyond recognition.

“The whole thing is still a mystery to neighbors and no one can, at this moment,

ascertain the cause of the inferno but the only clue we have is that their generator was on that night and by the time we went round after the fire, we saw that a lantern was positioned very close to the generating set.”

Gunmen kidnap woman after stabbing husband

By Jimitota Onoyume

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NKNOWN gunmen yesterday abducted Mrs Yoummor Oyerede in Ahoada area of Rivers state.

Neighborhood sources who confirmed the development to the Vanguard said the gunmen first stabbed the husband of the hostage before disappearing with her.

At press time, president of Niger Delta For Positive Attitude Change and Progress, Mr Emma Enisuon who condemned the ugly incident appealed for her unconditional release.

Meantime, the Rivers

state Police Command has advised residents to be very vigilant, noting that some commercial vehicles driven by robbers divert their passengers to points where they force them to make withdrawals with their ATM cards.

According to the state Police spokesman, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, sometimes these robbers keep their victims hostage for several days until they exhaust their accounts with the ATM cards.

While urging residents not to move about with their ATM cards at all times the Police spokesman also advised commuters to avoid com-

mercial taxis with two or three males at night, stressing that they could be robbers.

“The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of the new technique employed by criminals to access their victim’s bank account. The unsuspecting victim is usually abducted, be forced to reveal his ATM PIN number and kept hostage while same ATM card is used by criminals to withdraw money from his account. Such victim regains freedom only after his bank account has been exhausted. Public transport commuters mostly fall victim of this new method.

By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo

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HE Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom state Mr. Gabriel Achong has emphasized the need for human rights activists and members of the public to understand why security agencies must do certain things in the course of discharging their duty.

Achong made this known yesterday while declaring open a one-day sensitization training for security agencies in Akwa Ibom on the theme, “The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights’ organized by Community Policing Partners for Justice, Security, and Democratic Reform, COMPPART, held in Uyo. He stressed, “Security as we all know is a collective fundamental need shared by individuals, community, businesses and government. In planning adequate security we must be sure of provision of basic rights and freedom of humans. Akwa Ibom state police command recognises the importance of promotion and protection of human rights in the discharge of its duty.

Constitutional Amendments: A\Ibom Assembly Votes Against LGs Autonomy

By Tom Moses, Uyo

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EMBERS of the Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly yesterday unanimously voted against the call for local government autonomy and the scrapping of states Independent Electoral Commissions by the National Assembly.

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly had been deliberating on the matter following the transmission of the over 70 clauses to the Assembly for inputs.

At the plenary held within the Assembly Chamber yesterday, the lawmakers voted against autonomy for the Local Governments, scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commission and other contentious provisions in the constitution.

The lawmakers, it was learnt, had endorsed over 60 clauses in the document forwarded to them by the National Assembly, but kicked against the independence of the councils insisting that local governments should remain under the purview of states.

Delta 2015: APC chieftain canvasses support for Emerhor

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CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Chief Isaac Emetitiri, has called on the youths to vote for Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, governorship candidate of APC in the forthcoming general election.

Emetitiri, who spoke in Warri, said Emerhor is the most reliable governorship candidate to govern the state in 2015, and should be elected by the people.

He pointed out that it was time the people of Delta State, irrespective of tribes and political affiliations vote for Emerhor who has promised to improve on the fortunes of the state and the people.

NALT donates food items, cash to schools, orphanage homes in Delta

By Festus Ahon, Asaba

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ATIONAL Association of Liberation Tigers, NALT, has donated food items and cash worth thousands of naira to the children of Pro Labore Orphage Homes and selected schools in Asaba as part of its effort to assist the less privileged. Presenting the items, National President, NALT, Chief Felix Nweke said the donation was in demonstration of their assistance to the “distressed, oppressed and poverty stricken people in the society”.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, DECEMBER 20 20, 2014 — 9

BRIEFS

Onitsha market controversy: Trustees reject govt’s directive on caretakers to conduct election

Enugu gets first female running mate T •As PDP speaks on Ugwuanyi

By Francis Igata

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HE People’s Democrat ic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has settled for Cecilia Ezeillo as running mate ahead of the February 2015 general elections.

Ezeillo is the incumbent state house of assembly member, representing Ezeagu constituency.

Confirming the stance of the party, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr. Okey Ezeh said: “Yes, she is the governorship candidate’s running mate. We are taking cognizance of women participation in politics in the state.”

It would be recalled that since the creation of Enugu state in 1991, no woman has been saddled with the responsibility of being the second citizen in the state.

Although some analysts say the move was part of the grand plan between Ugwuanyi and Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu

state to handover to a woman as his successor in 2023 if he eventually becomes governor in 2015, a cross section of Enugu residents are excited with the move.

Meanwhile, the Party has said that there was no court order restraining it from submitting the name of Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as its candidate in the 2015 governorship election in the State.

Reacting to media reports that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on Thursday ordered PDP not to submit Hon. Ugwuanyi’s name to the INEC, the party, in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, described the reports as “mischief by inordinate power seekers who would stop at nothing to undo the will of the people as duly and freely expressed during the December 8, 2014 governorship primary election in the State”.

The PDP said: “For the avoidance of doubt, there

is no injunction whatsoever restraining the PDP from submitting the name of its validly elected candidate, Hon. I feanyi Ugwuanyi, to the INEC. “For the avoidance of doubts, there are two cases on the Enugu governorship primary pending before Justice S.E Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja and both cases were heard on Thursday, December 18, 2014. The first is Sen. Ayogu Eze vs. PDP in which Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuany was joined following an application by his counsel, P.I.N Ikwueto (SAN). The second case is Dr. Samuel Onyishi vs. the PDP. “The fact is that Sen. Ayogu Eze’s initial application for an ex-parte order to restrain the PDP from submitting Hon. Ugwuanyi’ name to INEC was refused by the Court as he was asked to put the PDP and INEC on Notice.

“At the resumption of the case on Thursday, December 18, 2014, the PDP,

through its counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), filed a preliminary objection to the effect that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the suit, relying on the case of Senator Lado vs. the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) where the Supreme Court held that where there are parallel primaries, the party, and not the court, is to decide which primary to accept.

“The preliminary objection also raises the issue that Sen. Ayogu Eze had no locus standi to contest the outcome of the primary election since he did not participate in it”.

Noting that “One of the problems, which Senator Eze’s case faces is that the party’s National Governorship Primary Election Panel for Enugu State as well as INEC were not present at Ayogu’s purported primary election, which venue he fixed himself and held at Filbon Hotel, Enugu”, the Enugu State PDP Publicity Secretary explained that the case was fixed for January 14, 2015 for hearing of the Motion on Notice for the application injunction, the Preliminary Objection filed by the PDP, and the main suit itself.

On the suit filed by Dr. Samuel Onyishi against the PDP challenging the outcome of the governorship primary election, the Dr. Okey Eze said that “although Dr. Onyishi’s counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) had asked the court to make an interim order restraining the PDP from submitting Hon. Ugwuanyi’s name to the INEC, at no time did the Court grant any such request” “An application for an injunction does not amount to an order of injunction; and until such an order of injunction is made, there is nothing in law restraining the PDP from performing the act against which the order is being sought”, Dr. Eze emphasised.”

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

HE looming crisis at the Bridge-head market in Onitsha, Anambra State may have continued unabated as trustees of the market vehemently rejected the latest state government’s oral directive given to the incumbent Chief Ambrose Osakweled 15-member caretaker committee members in the market to go ahead and conduct an election that will usher in a democratically elected executive members of the market, as clamoured by the market trustees and other stakeholders.

The state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Chief Ifeatu Onejeme had during a recent meeting with the caretaker committee members of the market, which took place before the arrival of the market trustees and other stakeholders, directed them to go and conduct an election to bring in an elected executive members.

But the trustees insisted that such a directive must be put into writing and besides, it is the responsibility of them as trustees and as a neutral body to conduct such an election, as exemplified at the drugs market which is a mini association under the bridge-head market.

Save APGA from extinction — ex-Anambra Commissioner appeals to Obiano

By Bashir Adefaka

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HIEFTAIN of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Vincent Ezenwajiaku, has raised the alarm over what he described as possible extinction of the party due to the current style of leadership.

He said it had become imperative for the new Chairman, Board of Trustees, BOT, of the party and Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano to intervene with a view to saving the party from collapse.

Speaking at a press conference held in Lagos yesterday, Ezenwajiaku, a pharmacist and lawyer, said it was stupefying that a lot of rots were going on within APGA under the present leadership of Chief Victor Umeh adding that nobody dared to complain for fear of being sanctioned by the chairman.

He noted that Governor Obiano might have dissociated himself from party administration in order to concentrate on the business of governance but emphasised that, “Since Governor Obiano is the only one that checks this man, if he does not do it in time, there may not be anything like APGA in Nigerian political system in 2018.”

Irate mob set 2 ablaze for stealing in Enugu

BY FRANCIS IGATA, ENUGU

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WO middle aged youths were at the early o u r s of yesterday, set ablaze by an irate mob over an alleged theft along the rail line,behind Ogbete main market,Enugu.

According to Police Public Relations Officer,PPRO,Mr. Ebere Amaraizu,DSP, “operatives of the Central Police station arrived the scene of the incident following a distress call.

“Before they got there, the angry mob had set the two boys ablaze. The injuries they sustained as a result were very severe. They had to rush them to a nearby hospital were they where confirmed dead by doctors on duty.

“A full scale investigation into the incident has commenced. We are appealing to members of the public not to engage in jungle justice. The security agencies are there to protect lives and property. h

Ugwuanyi remains candidate to beat in Enugu guber election — Support Groups

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O less than 100 support groups with more than five hundred thousand members took to the streets of Enugu at the weekend to demonstrate their support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

The supporters expressed the hope that despite “minor” opposition to Ugwuanyi’s candidature he remains the candidate to beat and would triumph in the end.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

THE FADING FUNFARE OF

Christmas

Nigerians recall great moments of the past

BY CHARLES ADINGUPU, EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO & EBUN EBUN SESSOU

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or reasonable minutes, Pa Gabriel Igboanugo reclines on his easy chair, lost in wondering contemplation over which direction the world is gradually drifting.

Suddenly, like a man who has returned from spiritual voyage, the old man enthused, ‘’my son, Christmas has lost it’s meaning.

Today, Nigerians are more concerned on how to survive than basking in the euphoria that heralds the season. The nation’s economy has denied her people the true meaning to

Christmas’’.

Again, the old man resumes his silent posture, perhaps, trying to recollect with nostalgia his hey days at Christmas as a teenager, traversing the different footpaths leading to various family homes at his Onicha-Ugbo village in today’s Dalta state. This time, he waves his locally hand-made fan to chase away the early morning fly that was angling to have a share from his palm-wine gourd. The old man who relishes his glorious days at Christmas, said the harmattan haze reminds them that Christmas has really begun. ‘’Every child in

Continues on page 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014—11

Masqurades at Christmas

‘Masquerades add colour on Christmas day’ Continues from page 10 my days always looks forward, with joy, to the Christmas. For us then, the expectation was high and the anxiety accompanying it was something to behold. I remember vividly that we ate rice few times in a year and Christmas was one of those times. Christmas rice was different and we looked forward to it. And we must all wear new clothes. At that time, our festive costumes were merely jumper, a long flowing shirt stretching to the kneel region. It was made of simple ankara fabrics. ‘’I remember one Christmas season when my father as a punishment ordered our mothers not to cook rice for us because we had a fight in the house. It was a polygamous home. That year will never fade away easily in my memory. But no love was lost as family members in our kindred who became aware of my father ’s stance following our recalcitrant behaviour flooded our home with different sizes of plates of rice. ‘’From the first day of December, children of different age grades, go for dance and music rehearsals every evening.

On Christmas day, there would be masquerades, local dance and music competitions among the different quarters that make up the Onicha-Ugbo community. Ironically, the competition always climaxed in

a fight. The Christmas excitement always turned to some kind of frenzy. The feeling was indescribable.

Those were parts of the fun we enjoy then’’, Pa Igboanugo said.

But for Pa Folusho Adebayo, a retired secondary school principal who was brought up in Yaba, Lagos, about 50years ago, Christmas was more colourful, exotic and a mass participatory festival involving children, youths, adults, old men and women gaily dressed for the celebration. Funny as it were, Christmas in Nigeria was celebrated by virtually everybody in respective of their religious inclinations.

His words: ‘’While growing up as a child in the 70s, we were looking up to the Christmas Day with great expectations. On Christmas day, we must wear new clothes, visit family friends, dance round the neighbourhood with masquerades, the festive special delicacy, rice and chicken accompanied with assorted beverages were always in abundance for all to feast on. Besides, we also went on visitation in groups to different family homes and friends, eating rice and chicken as well as collecting sweets, biscuits and cash gifts.

All these would be shared evenly at the end of the

visitation exercise.”.

The retired head teacher recalled with nostalgia that Christmas was just one celebration they never wished would come to an end because it was celebration galore, a season to show off new clothes bought by their parents and elder relations. At that time, he said, children were taken to different amusement parks and other recreational centres by either their parents or uncles in the spirit of Christmas. For them, Christmas provided a meeting point for both Christians and Muslims alike because Jesus Christ is reverend by all despite the divergent religious inclinations. ‘’Exchange of gift items particularly specially prepared traditional delicacies were common then. Also, inspiring messages of hope were sent across to loved ones via Christmas cards in the spirit of the season.

Besides, feuding families were reconciled and relationships harmonised. Equally significant was the Christmas Eve-the night before the day the Messiah was born’’, Adebayo said.

Tony Nwaokeoma grew up in Enugu and would never forget the festival period in the 1970s running into the 1980s before the decline in Christmass celebration commenced.

“The churches had Christmas carols but what excited us most were the different masquerade groups that start performing about seven days to Christmas day,”

Christmas is no longer the way we knew it while growing up

Tony says with unbelievable excitement. “The groups especially the Okwomma group played the Gongs and moved around at night, causing traffic and attracting followership. Sometimes different groups clashed and scenes were created. The masquerades came out on Christmas days to added colour to these groups. Aside the traditional dance groups there were always parties everywhere for those who liked such social life. The clubs were busy. It was fun, fun and fun. It is a pity Christmas is no longer the way we knew it while growing up. I don’t know what happened to us. I feel for the youth of today. They did not experience the good days of Nigeria.”

For Francis Ayo, an IT Lagos based expert, his Christmas childhood reminiscence in Auchi, Edo state would forever remain indelible in his memory. For them, Christmas in his native home, began with the emergence of the harmattan haze. But preparations for the season began in earnest with the closure of schools for the term.

It was a period to reward outstanding children in their academics with gifts particularly new clothes, shoes, fanciful rubber wrist Continues on page 12

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

‘All the razzmatazz which seems to herald the Christmas has gone with the wind’ Continues from page 11 watches and sun glasses. In the same way, indolent and recalcitrant one among us were denied some gifts in order to encourage them to do better in the coming year. It was more of stock-taking and reckoning for the children as well. ‘’It was a season we looked up to with great joy. I remember our parents and elder uncles took us to Benin-city, the state capital for shopping. At that time, the then Leventis and Kingsway stores were beehive of activities as children with their parents and elder brothers besieged those place in search of the good things of life. The Christmas day proper was the day to flaunt these flambuoyant attires with some sense of pride and dignity. ‘’But the most interesting aspect of it all, was that all the children ate from one big bowl of rice placed in front of them.

Nobody ate separately. The method of feeding engendered love and indivisible oneness. In the same way, we went visiting to family homes and friends in groups. Though, the elderly ones in our midst, preferred to watch masquerades and the different cultural dances in the village. However, at the end of the visitation, either our mother or elder brothers would share what was realised among us in order of seniority,”’ Ayo said.

The child Yuletide experience of a Benin-city based social crusader, Mr. Anthony Okotie was not in anyway different. He said that Christmas in Warri, his birth place, was great fun.

There were series of events to engage our little minds at that time. Preparation for the Christmas began immediately

the school closed for the term.

However, the preparations climaxed on Christmas Eve. He said,’’I remember we danced from one major street to another beginning on Christ Eve to Christmas day in Warri, throwing knock-out otherwise known as banga at one another chorusing war-like songs and chanting common rhymes with repetition obviously to remind on-lookers that ‘’tomorrow is Christmas, tomorrow is Christmas’’. We kept vigil while the elders would spend their time in beer parlour dancing and chatting over some bottles of beer and hot drinks. However, those who could not go to clubs still had fun at the open space in the compound with music provided by anyone from a JVC musical set with the loudspeakers mounted at the middle of the compound. The people exchanged drinks with one another with love’’.

According to him, this celebration would dovetail into the Christmas day when the real Christians would attend church service and thereafter continue the celebration but this time with a lot of feasting on the traditional cuisine delicacies of owo, pepper soup, cooked yam and starch accompanied with good quantity of both local and foreign gin, bottles of beer and soft drinks for the children In the same way, Kalu Onwuka who hails from Ohufia in Abia state, recalls that Christmas is usually a season to reunite the family members particularly city dwellers. For them, it was more of an unwritten law that every son and daughter of Ohufia must celebrate the Christmas in the

village. ‘’There is usually an aura that tells the story of Christmas better.

About a week to the Christmas, cars of different shapes and sizes are driven into the village at every passing minute dropping off our brothers coming home to celebrate the Christmas with us. What announces the arrival of a city dweller was a shout of excitement that rents the air. Though, the season also marks a new calendar year for the indigenes as we hold the annual general meeting at this period. There’s usually enough to eat and drink’’, Onwuka enthused.

Leventis and Kingsway stores once cherished cultural norms that are gradually drifting to oblivion”.

But for a petty trader, Mrs. Agnes who sells toiletries at the popular Ajah market the economic down turn has impacted greatly on her daily sales. According to her, she manages to record meagre sales of N5000 a week as against her usual daily sales of N4,500 about two years ago.

The Missing Links

Today all the razzmatazz which seems to herald the Christmas has gone with the wind. The dwindling fortune of the nation’s economy, the sweeping rave of modernity which has largely replaced local traditional dance with foreign music and gradual disappearance of our rich cultural values all combined to making Christmas celebration what it is now – just the celebration of the birth of Christ without the traditional fanfare.

Adebayo stated this much in an interview with the Saturday Vanguard. ‘’Most of these attractions often related to the Christmas have fizzled out over the years due to the unfavourable economic climate. People still mark the Christmas ostensibly for religious purposes”.

Jude Ogwu averred that modernity has changed the face of Christmas. ‘’Where are the youths who will dance to the traditional rhythm or beat the talking drums to the admiration of on-lookers or better still that would appreciate the language of the flute? The urban rural migration has impacted adversely on the our

All the children ate from one big bowl of rice placed in front of them.

Nobody ate separately

Bleak Christmas celebration

Already, indications are rife that most Nigerians will mark the Christmas in low key while others may likely have nothing to cheer about. For Engineer Ogbueshi Chris Oleah, the nation’s economic woes cannot compel Nigerians to do otherwise but despondency cannot reign supreme in their daily affairs.

His words: ‘’I believe Nigerians are happy that they are alive to tell the story of this year Christmas than bothering over new clothes and shoes to wear. God is in control and He will take care of His people accordingly.’’

A Lagos based banker, Mr. Continues on page 13

SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2013—13

‘Bend down boutique to the rescue’ Balogun market

Continues from page 12 Deniel Anyanwu told Saturday Vanguard that he had, since two years ago, jettisoned the annual ritual of travelling with his family members to his village in the East.

It’s a common knowledge that there was pay cut in banks following the changes introduced by the immediate past central bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido. “Those of us who are still lucky to be in the sector trend with caution. Things are no longer at ease with bankers any more. So, where will the money come from to ferry my family to the village? Besides, after the Christmas there will be school fees to be paid’’.

Mrs. Christy Osukoya said the celebration of Christmas seems to have gone with the wind as the no money syndrome has hit virtually every family in Nigeria. ‘’Fortunately, as it seems, children seem to appreciate the predicament of their parents as they seem not to bother them about new clothes and shoes to wear for the Christmas. The joy of Christmas for me is to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and to recognise that He died for our sins. Today, that is the consolation for most Nigerians who, hitherto, would have preferred to mark the Christmas with pomp and pageantry’’, she said.

Also for Mrs. Kingsley, a casual factory worker in Lagos her beggarly twenty thousand naira monthly salary would barely be sufficient to entertain her four children for the Christmas. However, she takes consolation in understanding demonstrated by the her children.

Carmelus Orji, a transporter in one of the popular parks in Lagos lamented the low turn- out of travellers for the Yuletide. ‘’Though there is still hope that the rush by travellers may be high next week it’s obvious that it cannot be like the past”.

Up! Up go prices of items

From the popular Mile 12 market to the ever busy Balogun market the human traffic is a sharp contrast to what it used to be. Investigations revealed that the vehicular traffic of trailers carrying food items has reduced, no thanks to the upsurge of the Boko Harem insurgency in the north. The trailers that brought fish from Borno to Mile 12 and Iddo markets have reduced.

Tanko Saai’du, a truck driver, said that farmers in the north have abandoned their farms to seek refuge elsewhere outside their ancestral homes following the consistent attacks of the Boko Harem insurgents.

Bend down boutique to the rescue

Some parents who insist in buying new clothes for the children and wards opt for fairly used clothes and shoes. The popular Yaba railway fairly used clothes section of the market is currently under siege as prospective buyers throng the market in search of things to buy.

Mrs. Kingsley, a casual worker who initially promised to buy new clothes for her children this Christmas was left without an option of patronising the popular Yaba market for cheap clothes for her children.

Hamper

Where are the hampers please!

The usual Christmas gift, hampers which adorn most stalls in major markets in Lagos are now scanty.

Feelers from most cities in Nigeria, showed that traders on hampers recorded poor sales, hence most of them are reluctant to engage in the business. One of the traders who gave his name merely as Juliet, said nobody seems to be interested in the business of making hampers any more.

Mr. Edward Ted, a corporate affairs manager of a firm based in Lagos, disclosed to Saturday Vanguard that most firms no longer distribute hampers to their clients as a token of appreciation for their patronage.

Rather they offer simple items like pens and pins.

A senior journalist who would not want his names in print, noted, with dismay, that the usual flow of hampers to the newsrooms has been poor this year, a reflection of bad times.

From entertainment to the exchange of gifts and the celebration proper, the festive times of Christmas are no longer as pleasant as they were many years ago. Will the good times return?

Time will tell.

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

OKOWA’S RUNNING MATE:

Clark, Manager, Tompolo in a fierce battle …As Isoko nation grumbles

emerges as Okowa’s deputy, while Senator James Manager, the highest ranking Delta – Ijaw politician thinks he should influence such a decision, but it was rumored that ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, had since sealed a deal with Okowa on the subject matter.

Clark

Tompolo

Okowa Manager

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South –South, Egufe Yafugborhi & Akpokona Omafuaire

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HE issue of which ethnic group will produce the running mate to People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has triggered a fresh political war in the state.

It was learned that the battle is essentially among the tribes in Delta South senatorial district,

comprising Isoko, Ijaw and Itsekiri, who hope to produce the running mate to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship standardbearer, who hails from the Delta North senatorial district (Anioma).

Ijaw and Isoko nationalities are two major contenders in the district, as the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, whose tenure

expires May, next year, is an Itsekiri. However, inside the Ijaw tribal constellation, where the deputy governorship slot seems to be tilting, if not already zoned by Okowa, there is an intense power play among three power blocs.

Former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark appears to be interested in who

Isoko nation kicks However, the Isoko ethnic nationality is not prepared to accept an Ijaw running mate to Okowa. Elders and leaders of PDP in the area, led by High Chief D.E.A Etaluku, in a statement, said they had been hearing the rumours, which sounded unbelievable, but some credence had been laid to it with Ijaw people openly canvassing for the position.

The Isoko elders said: “Since 2003, the Isoko ethnic nationality has continuously conceded the Senate seat to our Ijaw brothers. In 2007, we generously conceded the governorship to our Itsekiri brothers. Having been conceding top positions, we expect that any top position , elective or appointive, coming to the Delta South senatorial zone, the Isoko nation should be considered first. Consequently, this time around, the position of Deputy Governor should be reciprocally ceded to the Isoko nation.”

“We do not expect our Itsekiri and Ijaw brothers to object to this fair and justifiable demand of the Isoko people,” they stated.

The Isoko Development Union, IDU, which is the apex sociocultural organization, in what appears to be a follow-up to the Isoko PDP elders’ stand, Thursday, said it was flabbergasted that neither leadership of PDP nor APC were looking towards the direction of Isoko for deputy governorship candidate.

Stating that equity demands that the deputy governor should come from the Isoko nation, the president general of IDU, Major General Paul Omu (retd.), sounded it clearly, “Anything short of this is not acceptable to the ethnic group.”

His words, “IDU hereby states that only the political party that appoints an Isoko son or daughter as deputy governor will have the vote of our people. The consequence of this should not be lost to any discerning mind.”

Dep gov slot a settled issue- Tompolo advisor Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, chairman of Okowa Mandate 2015 and ad-visor to ex-militant leader, Tompolo, however, told Saturday Vanguard, “My Oga (Tompolo) is not aware that there is any struggle for who produces the deputy governor.”

“He is not disposed as to who becomes deputy governor as long as it follows the arrangement

Continues on page 20

SATURDAY Vanguard , DECEMBER 20, 2014—15

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am not ashamed, not even shy, to proclaim Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. Rather, I am proud to be Christian. Even beyond that, I consider myself fortunate to be one. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He came to this world to redeem sinners, being unmarked by sin himself, by shedding his sacred blood for the propitiation, that is the relief, of the guilt of our misdemeanour. Furthermore, He is for ever ready to extend His ineffable work of salvation to those who believe in His saving grace and put their trust in His abiding love. As one of the hymns of C.F.Alexander (Mrs.) aptly describes Him, He is:

*a patent blaspheme

“The joy of all who dwell above; The joy of all below To whom He manifests His love And grants His name to know.”

The Holy Writ directs that, at the name of Jesus—at the mere mention of the “name that is above all other names, “every knee should bow.” This is the name that even the demons know, and tremble. Of course there are some people who have not been granted the blessing of knowing His name. They deserve our prayers.

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ames are important. They stamp our identity on what we are. In many cultural groups, they depict the attributes of the people and give rise to additional cognomens.

Such supplementary names are given for various reasons; sometimes to describe the exploits of a man of valour, the comeliness of a child at birth, or merely

blighted when it lends itself to toadyism and sycophancy. It never should.

When he starts to compare President Goodluck Jonathan, a mere mortal‘, to Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world, he has gone overboard. It would have been bearable if he is a declared pagan, or atheist, or an adherent of a religion other than Christianity

,

as a nickname. In any case it is not be trifled with. In Yorubaland, for instance, there are cognomens like “ibadi aran”, or “ibadi ileke” which relates to the comeliness of the hips of a little girl. Then there are others like “agb’ogun gb’oro”, which bespeaks the valour of a bold warrior, or “agbon magbe” which acclaims the infinite source of wealth of a personality. It is a cognomen also associated with generosity and independence; it is

C M Y K

•Dr Doyin Okupe

,

But politics seems able to turn characters around by the witless way in which some people choose to dabble in it. Surprisingly, that happens to people who obviously really do not seem to have a place in it. The exertion to make themselves relevant drives them to extreme measures, far beyond what is sensible or acceptable, so that they make regrettable statements, just to make a point.

Dr.Doyin Okupe, scion of a royal house, has found a niche for himself on the

fringes of politics as the attack dog, and the chief praise-singer of President Goodluck Jonathan these days, a role in which he finds himself very comfortable.

However, his pronouncements have left his well-wishers squirming on their seats on a number of occasions. It is his privilege to dump a prosperous medical practice for the position of a hanger-on in the corridors of Aso Rock, and he is entitled to laud his principal to the skies.

B

ut when he starts to compare President Goodluck Jonathan, a mere mortal‘, to Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world, he has gone overboard. It would have been bearable if he is a declared pagan, or atheist, or an adherent of a religion other than Christianity, but several of his relatives known to me are of the Christian faith. That makes me believe that he too is of the same faith, and that hurts. His point of comparison also attests to the fact that he was

making his comparison as a Christian—of sorts. It was to the effect that Jonathan was bearing the burden of Nigerians, even as Jesus had borne our burden.

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ne would concede that the ruler of a country like Nigeria does bear a burden. He occupies the table at which the buck– laden with poor power supply, bad roads, mismanaged resources, and so on—finds a resting place.

All of that is of “this world”, and Jesus Christ has declared that the territory of his reign— his kingdom—is of a different plane. He is not on the same “level” with Jonathan and all the other worldly leaders, bless them.

With a disparate basis, there is no call for comparison.

And while the tasks of a political leader group themselves into responsibilities, the burden of the Christ is self-imposed and discharged through the agency of love. While the populace pay tax and the civilian officials derive sundry benefits from their services, Christ willingly bears the burden of our sins freely and fully.

Doyin Okupe made a mistake. He has

subsequently attempted to explain it away like every politician caught in the web of a faux pax.

It will not be the first time that a fly politician would be swept away in the swirl of his own rhetoric. But he avoided the main point which is the comparison of his political champion to the King of Kings. He has thereby offended the sensibilities of reverential Christians everywhere. But while other religions would slap a vengeful sentence on him for what is no less than patent blasphemy, the way of love is to forgive— that is, if one admits his guilty and confesses to the sin.

That is the kind of burden that our Lord bears, and it is not given to a mortal to duplicate such mercy and grace, even if he is accounted to be the most accomplished political leader ever created.

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he campaign for the next general elections is warming up. A busy time lays ahead of campaigners, especially for those whose eyes are set on the richest prize, like earnest (and honest?)

Doyin Okupe. Maybe he need not try so hard, anyway, since he expresses such belligerent confidence in the sure success of his “paladin”. Not to dampen his enthusiasm, but just to share a thought with him: if Jonathan wins, as it looks likely from this distance that he may, the success may not be entirely due to the noise of his raucous campaigners.

Just take a dispassionate look at the field in front of him, and you may find yourself muttering his first name. The man is indeed lucky.

Merry Christmas!

16 — SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

C M Y K

Vanguard , DECEMBER 20, 2014

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, DECEMBER 20, 2014—17

I

t will be Christmas in a few days. Many buildings are already well decorated with Xmas lights as are quite a few streets especially around the Lagos Island. They look quite nice at night and bring the spirit of the season home. The activities of the yuletide season are also here. The shops are fuller, the traffic around the high streets is heavier. The Pentecostal churches are holding one revival after the other, one convention after the other while the orthodox ones are holding one carol service after the other.

The children are also home, increasing the chatter and the spirit of looked forward to the Xmas dress the season in our homes. that made going to church on Xmas The airlines are flying at special. I looked forward to the a premium; so are the Xmas lunch—usually rice with commercial buses which turkey. It was probably the only time do their best business in the year that turkey would grace around this time. Nature my plate. I looked forward to the fire also marks the season in crackers, the masquerades and the its own special way. The street games. In school, I looked air starts getting forward to being promoted to a distinctly cooler in the newer, higher class and a likely evenings and can get reward for doing well in class. But I quite chilly in the never could handle the harmattan mornings. The Western onset. It meant not wanting to get world looks forward to a up in the morning but you had the white Christmas when snow fills everywhere; the air, the trees, and of course every exposed surface. We in Africa have a greyish version of it as the harmattan haze fills everywhere; the air, morning family prayers to attend. It the trees and of course meant not wanting to touch cold every exposed surface. water but you had plates to wash. It The sky can, come to meant dust everywhere which think of it, be quite white translated to extra cleaning. But in the villages and some then, it meant Xmas was in the air.

I have since grown older and more rural towns.

I love Xmas. Always cynical of many of the things that have and I guess always symbolise Xmas. The mercantile will. It’s a season of love; spirit that has taken over—more it’s a season of joy; it’s a business is done in the world at season for Christ. It’s Xmas than at any other time of the also a season for get- year. The hypocrisy—in my last year togethers, parties and as Editor of a national newspaper gifts; the latter being the for example, I received enough more memorable as a hampers from the who’s who in the child. Growing up, I society to start a mini supermarket.

on the run from visible and invisible enemies; from demons within and without.

For them, it is not about Xmas but making it to the next day. It is about survival not revelry. They are victims of forces they don’t even begin to understand; they are victims of terrorism and their government’s inability to confront it headlong.

I wonder how President Jonathan sleeps at night. He may not have pulled any trigger or slit any throat but the buck stops at his desk.

He must know about vicarious liability and wonder whether any of his decisions or indecisions has led to more loss of lives. I wonder how the politicians who fanned the embers of hate and those who neglected the development of their areas sleep at night.

I wonder how the military chiefs, serving or retired who diverted funds meant for equipping the military into private pockets sleep at night. Or the commanders who push their poorly equipped soldiers into certain deaths at the battle fronts. Or the fifth columnists, the moles in government or all those who

benefit from this blood letting. In fact, I wonder how the rest of us manage to behave as if nothing is happening. I wish I could.

There is a song which comes up around this time of the year in the Catholic Church because it is a song of advent; a song of Xmas.

It is unfortunately, more apt today—probably in a way not intended by the writer— than before. It is titled: ‘Come Lord Jesus’. I will quote the refrain and the first two verses.

Refrain; Come, Lord Jesus the light is dying, the night keeps crying: Come Lord Jesus.

Christ, come quickly/ There is danger at the door/ Poverty a-plenty/ Hearts gone wild with war/ There is hunger in the city and famine in the plain.

Want demands a hearing/ in far too many lands/ The sick go unattended/ Death deals a heavy hand/ The dreams of men are empty/ The cup of sorrow full.

Is there any part of this song that is not sickeningly familiar in our country today? A country that needs a saviour, that needs leaders who are willing to put themselves out to promote equity, justice and the kind of economic policy that will provide all round security for its people.

Merry Christmas in advance. As you wine and dine in celebration of Xmas, don’t forget our brothers and sisters in the North East who don’t know the difference.

Remember them in your prayers and if possible send something to them. It’s the least you can do.

Give it to Him now and you will not be ashamed.

God will do beyond your imagination.

When you put situation in God’s hands, it cannot be hopeless. It does not matter whether your husband is an alcoholic, an adulterer or whatever.

His present condition is not permanent. It is subject to change. There is hope in sight; it is just around the corner.

Or have your children become drug addicts, prostitutes or criminals? Hear me; your case is not impossible with God. Nothing is too big for God to handle. He is bigger than every case. His judgment is final. If God could change a notable harlot Rahab, and she later became the great great… grandmother of Jesus, then your case is not hopeless. God’s judgments will favor you, your husband, your wife, your children, your ministry and all

in there. If you don’t give up, you will see His glory and surely testify of His goodness. God is not through blessing you yet. You are still at the center of His plan and if that, you are coming out of your hopeless condition victoriously.

How bad are your marriage, your finances, your ministry, your business, and your education? Just as Jesus said to Jairus, He is saying the same thing to you today: Do not be afraid, only believe. For to him that believeth nothing shall be impossible1. Do you desire to get married? I prophesy to you that few months from now, you will not only be married, but also have evidence of a child of your own.

Do you desire a good job? Believe that you are going to attend an interview and the job is yours in Jesus name. Beyond that, I see you having your own organization employing people few years from now. Receive it in Jesus name because this is your season of miracles.

For those who don’t kno w the dif know diffference The following year’s gift was next to zero. It was as if I was dead.

The meanness—it can also be a season to reward and punish using Xmas gifts as your weapon.

The loneliness—it can be an uncaring world if you have lost a loved one to divorce or death. The sheer cruelty—more and more churches are getting bombed at Xmas in recent years.

It is to the victims of the latter and other terrorist atrocities during the year, that my mind goes to this Xmas. This week

As you wine and dine in celebration of Xmas, don’t forget our brothers and sisters in the North East who don’t know the difference

,

alone, gallons of alcoholic beverages will be consumed; tons of different kinds of food will be consumed; millions of miles will be traversed as people connect with loved ones; ship loads of gifts will exchange hands; romantic and joyful messages and images will fill the electronic media. There will be parties and clubbing. There will be revelries and indulgences. But there are people, and they are not far from us, who will not feel anything. Even if they knew it was Xmas, it would not mean a thing.

They have no one to care for and no one to care for them. Many are

,

on’t despair. It’s not D over. It may look as though there is no way out.

Everyone and experts on the matter may have concluded that it is hopeless yet I say to you there is the God that can do exceeding and abundantly above all that you can think or imagine (Eph. 3:20). No case is hopeless with Him. He thrives always in situations that the devil and the world says it is impossible. Hear me; God will do beyond your imagination.

Don’t listen to the lies of the devil and men. God does not hate you. He has not forgotten nor forsaken you. It is impossible for God to forget or forsake you. You are in the palm of His hands always. He neither sleeps nor slumbers because of you. His plans for you are so awesome that the enemy is so afraid of it and he has made up his mind to do all he can to stop you but he will fail. God will not disappoint you. He is too faithful to fail. He is trustworthy and ever dependable.

There is nothing that is too hard for God to handle. Believe me your case is too small. He already has a miracle for you. Get ready.

In Luke chapter 5:1-11, the bible says that Peter went out as usual to his business but returned back empty handed. He must have been feeling terrible, disappointed and wondering what would happen to his family. Today so many are in this condition. The works of their hands are not making any progress and yet they have commitments all over the place and they wonder how they can get out of the mess. I have good news for you, God will not disappoint you. While Peter was wondering then came Jesus and made use of the boat of peter and thereafter asked peter to launch out into the sea and cast his net for a catch.

God is more than able

C M Y K

Peter said to Jesus, I have toiled all night and caught nothing but nevertheless at thy word I will let down my net. What was peter saying? He was saying that your word has power enough to change his situation. Peter with all of his expertise caught nothing but with God’s intervention there was a turnaround. The blessings that peter encountered were so great that he was afraid. He had never seen so many miracles in his life.

This was beyond peter ’s imagination.

Beloved, this same God has not changed. The truth of the matter is that what He did for peter is nothing to Him and He can also do for you. He is not a respecter of persons. No man on earth has truly enjoyed the fullness of the kind of

blessings that God has for them. The bible refers to His blessings as unsearchable riches. Receive this truth, no matter your imagination, God is far beyond it. Look up to God, your change is at hand. He desires to do great things for you.

He changed everything about peter.

His mindset was changed. What peter never thought was possible became possible. I prophesy to your life God who created the heavens and the earth will show you mercy and turn your case around to the amazement of your enemies. Everyone mocking you will be disgraced by this great God in the name of Jesus.

One thing that made peter to experience the mightiness of God was because he made his boat available for Jesus to use. What are you prepared to give to the Lord for Him to use?

that concerns you. God never gives up on anyone or any situation. He follows it till the very end. Do not give up on yourself. Hang

For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 08023062635 08168955932; 08033378769. E-mail: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org.

Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C 1011711622.

Worship with us on Sundays, 1st Service: 745am-9:15am; 2nd Service 9:1511:30am. Wednesdays Word Revelation 6pm. Counseling days Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 11am-5pm daily or by appointment. Showers of blessing every 2nd - 4th Sat. of each month, 6 a.m - 7.15 am.

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

PVC DISTRIBUTIONS:

There’s no sinister plot against any state

– Igini

•Mike Igini

BY DAPO AKINREFON

B

arrister Mike Igini is the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Cross River State. In this interview, he bares his mind on the operational challenges in the distributions of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), INEC’s preparedness for the 2015 general elections, and subsisting cases of defections, among other issues. Excerpts: The PVC distribution exercise was greeted with mixed feelings.

What do you think are the challenges facing INEC in executing this?

We acknowledged some operational challenges in terms of the number of LGAs for the take-off of the exercise of the PVC distribution as there was a re-scheduling for the remaining 9 LGAs that were conducted subsequently. I can tell for a fact that nothing sinister was done to any state, and certainly, Lagos, in terms of the issue of zero polling units that was recorded in all states without exception. There are those who registered in 2011 with temporary voters card. During the exercise of preparing their individual biometric data for use, some did not have their full biometrics, and even when the threshold for acceptance of incomplete biometric data was reduced to two fingers in each hand, that is a minimum of four fingers, some still could not meet up. Hence

these were the category of people that have been asked to participate in the continuous registration exercise. So nothing like de-listing of names occurred because they are still there with the observed shortcomings. There was also an unfortunate and regrettable situation that occurred when some of the youth corpers engaged in 2011 as registration officers in the process of back-up of the daily registration data then. Some data of registered voters were lost in trying to secure them, resulting in what is now called zero registrants in some of the polling units that will require fresh registration at the level of the polling units as we did in Cross River, while others will be done at the ward registration centres.

But how prepared is INEC towards ensuring a credible 2015 general elections?

We are preparing and it is work in progress. Between 2011 and now we have organized one general election and several governorship and legislative elections and byelections with better outcomes than in many other instances in the electoral history of Nigeria as acknowledged by the people of this country and international observers. This is not just my claim; it is based on the assessment of the decline in the number of petitions and litigations following such elections - 1,291

cases in 2007 and 729 in 2011. This is not accidental. It is mainly because the electoral process has improved tremendously and people know that frivolous claims require more rigour, while genuine concerns can be addressed by examining the evidence which will be available.

I say this to bring to the fore what I mean when I say that we are preparing, because preparing for elections have specific generic approaches, namely pre-election, election day and post-election preparations. But because of our electoral history we need to put in more to ensure that pre-election and election day processes have high fidelity which will reduce any untoward outcomes that may emanate at the postelection phase.

Pre-election preparations involve developing a credible voters’ register which should be available for stakeholder’s scrutiny prior to election, things like voter education, a balance of media coverage for all parties and candidates as much as is feasible within the law, the possibility of

debates to enhance voter information, the procurement and distribution of materials and personnel for elections and the planning-cum organization of election day and post-election activities.

Unregulated defections and a combination of other actions led to the fall of the first Republic... frustrations bordering on defections also led to collaborations by politicians who initiated military interventions

Political parties as institutions will play fundamental roles before, during and after the election. What are your expectations from both the ruling party and the opposition parties?

Political parties are a very important part of a democracy. In Nigeria, the current parties are still evolving. In developed democracies, some parties have been around for years like the Democratic Party in the USA, formed in 1828 and now 186 years old; the Republican Party formed in 1854 now 160 years.

There are parties like the SDP in Germany that is 150 years old. Still with that long historical evolution, they have their problems. How old are the parties here and what are the values template of those who promote and manage these parties?

We should, therefore, not always regard some of our formative errors as grave. This is not to say that the parties should be re-inventing the wheel for things that are normal conventions, such as how party candidates emerge. These are fairly well established democratic practices and the only reason the parties have

Continues on pg 19

SATURDAY

Continues from pg 18 much challenges from that practice is because they have failed or refused to be regulated by their own regulatory processes and continued to disappoint their members.

Do you think the recurring cases of politicians’ defections from one party to another in recent times is a drawback on the polity?

Hold the judiciary responsible for its inability to deal with this situation having regards to the early defection cases since last year that appeared warehoused and lying-in-state in the courts. How does one explain a situation where matters that commenced by way of originating summons, just for the interpretation of section 68 of the constitution, which does not require the calling of any witness since last year and subsequent cases cannot be determined because lawyers are allowed to filibuster by filing all manner of frivolous applications upon applications just to ensure that these matters are not determined?

Have we all forgotten how the intervention of the court, particularly the Supreme Court brought about sanity to the gale of unconstitutional impeachments of either Deputy Governors or Governors as well as arbitrary substitution of candidates that emerged from duly conducted primaries without giving cogent and verifiable reasons? Regrettably, some of our seniors in the legal profession are the ones doing all these. If these matters have been allowed to go on, by now the interpretation of this troubling section 68 would have been pronounced upon by the apex court and there would have been sanity by now. Until the Supreme Court pronounces on this there is no end in uncertainty. This is very unfortunate.

Defections have been a bane of our democratic learning and the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.

Unregulated defections and a combination of other actions led to the fall of the first Republic. And I am willing to hazard a guess that frustrations bordering on defections also led to collaborations by politicians who initiated military interventions. When defection to civilian alliances fails, they cross over to military alliances. Hence we must be very meticulous in enacting strict regulatory laws on defections.

When people defect the provisos controlling self-dealing and prebendary motivations should be effective deterrents for unguarded defections because of the impact it has on democratic practices. Externally, there are sections within the Electoral Act which prescribes what it takes to belong to a party and how to represent its mandates. The constitutional legislation on defection has not been authoritatively tested in terms of legal hermeneutics. This is why the judiciary must act as the bastion of justice by making the law clear and unequivocal.

Internally, the parties have rules which guide against such defections. I am aware, for instance, that some parties have a clause barring any new entrant

'We must enact strict regulatory laws on defections' from contesting under the party banner for a period. But how well they allow such laws to regulate behaviour is another matter.

At any rate, once again, the defection issue remind us of the need for a constitutional court to separate the usual legal adjudications from the regular courts. Most of the problems we have near elections have to do with inadequate regulation of political behaviour as politicians seek to retain their access to political power through elections. Elections are inherently designed to make such retention of access to power uncertain, to make politicians more responsive to the public they serve.

But politicians want, and are in fact. zealous to reduce that uncertainty.

Our regulatory laws should be strengthened to ensure that politicians do not dilute that check of uncertainty.

There are litigations

everywhere even before the general election. Do you think the judiciary has lived up to expectations in adjudicating on these cases?

The judiciary, in my view, has not met the public expectations adequately in this regard. Although the judiciary also has its limitations.

The outgoing CJN, Mrs. Aloma Mukhtar, did quite well to create a new vision for the judiciary but as you know, reforms are often not very easy to execute when the reward for deviation is huge. But we hope her successor will remain on the path of reform to ensure that our justice system is not a system that only protects the rich and influential.

There is this allegation making the rounds in Cross River that you and Senator Ita-Giwa connived to adopt Day Spring Island as electoral venue for the Bakassi people. How true is

Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014—19

this?

INEC’s decision is not my personal decision based on the existing electoral data. Just because a people have a challenge should not give anyone the right to marginalize them. Day Spring 1, II and the Qua Islands are for the Bakassi people, and is even recognized by the United Nations as a final resettlement area for the Displaced Bakassi people. The Nigerian government, the United Nations and several international stakeholders failed them in this regard and they remain displaced in many places for these failures.

The other is the resettlement centre within the Akpabuyo Local government. INEC gave all the contending parties on this issue ample room to ventilate their views, as the chief field officer of the Commission in the state, I went to these areas to see for myself, and also took national officers of the Commission along with security agents to see for ourselves at the risk of all their safeties at sea during a very challenging time with militancy in the Niger-Delta.

The Commission from the national headquarters, after several meetings, one of which was conducted at the national headquarters, wrote formally to acknowledge these three areas. We will not do anything outside the law to undermine the integrity and expectations of our office. Cross River is for all Cross River people.

They should all learn to live as brothers and sisters each gaining from the other, and not to thrive by exploiting the weak.

As the REC in Cross River, what are you doing to ensure that the riverine Bakassi people are not disenfranchised in the forthcoming election?

Precisely what I have just explained above. If for instance the people of Chibok were forced out of their LGA and resettled as IDPs in another LGA in Borno state, when elections take place, should the people in the LGA where the Chibok people are located now be called Chibok because some elections are done for Chibok in the new place where the IDPs are located? That is what is happening in Bakassi, some people want all elections for Bakassi to hold in specific areas, yet the Atlas of electoral wards that l met have not been changed and could not have been changed by a state law given the nature of the subject matter. Let me tell you, I swore to uphold the constitution.

I am a trained lawyer, sociologist, and of civil society background. I know the implications of the wrong action some people want me to take on Bakassi in terms of the United Nations Charter on social, political and economic rights, and I can tell you as a civil society person that I will not do what is outside the law.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

Continues from page 14 that the political leaders have had with whoever emerges as deputy governor. Except some are trying to make something out it, it was collective efforts to see that Okowa won the PDP primary election.

“As far as Tompolo is concerned, the deputy governorship slot is a settled issue. We accepted the gentleman arrangement that the governorship rotates round the three senatorial districts as recommended by the National Conference, which was also forwarded to Mr. President,” he said.

His words, “It was based on that line that people from Delta South supported a Delta Northerner. Governor Uduaghan also supported a Delta Northerner, Tony Obuh. People from Delta South also contested the governorship, Andrew Warri and Elder Godsday Orubebe, both Ijaw sons, also contested. Delta North would have voted for an Ijaw man. Itsekiri have taken their turn, we have said Ijaw man should take his turn but we supported a Delta North man.”

Clark, Manager, Tompolo slug it out Investigations by Saturday Vanguard, however, showed that there was tension among Ijaw leaders over who produces Okowa’s deputy.

The trio of Clark, Manager and Tompolo supported Okowa in the primary. But Tompolo was learned to have overwhelming influence over Clark and Manager on Okowa. He was alleged to have made huge monetary contribution to sway some strong Urhobo delegates and political leaders to dump the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, anointed candidate, Chief David Edevbie.

Senator Manger is relying on his status in the Ibori political family and relationship with Okowa to get the nod to appoint Okowa’s deputy, while Chief Clark, the indisputable national leader of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, was relying on his antecedents.

Clark’s probable candidate A reliable source hinted that Clark might be interested in an ex-chair of Burutu local government, former Commissioner for Agriculture and ex-chair of Burutu local government

Clark, Manager, Tompolo slug it out

President Goodluck Jonathan and gubernatorial aspirant, Dr. Braduce Amakazi Angozi. Angozi was said to have performed well as a commissioner.

Manager’s choice Senator Manager is reportedly looking the way of J.T. Government, a former chairman of SUBEB in the state under the administration of Chief James Ibori, J.T Government as Okowa’s deputy. His candidate, who was rated high in the Ibori government, hails from Torogbene community in Burutu local government area.

Tompolo’s nominee Our source said Tompolo is eyeing the present Commissioner representing Ijaw on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Hon. Kingsley Otuaro, his relative, who is from Okerenkoko, Gbaramatu kingdom. Otuaro has also been a close assistant of Governor Uduaghan, who appointed him DESOPADEC Commissioner, over the years. He is a development activist and quiet performer.

Contacted on Thursday, Hon Otuaro, who did not comment on the prevailing power play, said, “Yeah, it is the prerogative of the candidate to choose his running mate, of course in consultation with party leaders. Whilst the said consultation is ongoing, it is bad for equity to say XYZ should be or not be. We should address the issues.”

The intrigues It was gathered on good authority that Senator Manager’s controlled Ijaw forces based in Bomadi and Burutu areas are opposed to the Tompolo-led Gbaramatu power bloc and both are ready to cede power to the other as far as Okowa’s deputy is concerned.

The Bomadi/Burutu group derisively contends that Gbaramatu kingdom was not politically mature yet to produce deputy governor of the state and should wait for another chance, as they were allegedly “babies in Ijaw politics,” but a Gbaramatu politician said, “It is wrong for them to make such comment, I have even heard them say that Tompolo gives position to his Gbaramatu kinsmen alone, this is not true.”

Fear Our source said the secret war among Ijaw leaders on who produces Okowa’s deputy may negatively affect the unity of the Ijaw nation if it was allowed to develop bad blood among the kingdoms.

It’s a PDP affair— Ekpoko Speaking to Saturday Vanguard on the hoopla over Okowa’s running mate, secretary of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, said it was needless heating up the polity over the matter, saying, it was entirely an internal affair of the PDP. His words, “It is not out place to see interest groups struggling for a position. The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought are not concerned about that. It is up to the party to decide who

becomes the running mate.

“But I assure you that we are watching the political situation in the state holistically. At the right moment, we will make our position known on what we feel and where we want to align. I hear they are zoning running mate to Ijaws. That is politics for you. That is their decision and it is inconsequential to the larger picture ILT considers.”

Nobody should hijack power- Ozobo President of the Ijaw People Development Initiatives, IPDI, Comrade Austin Ozobo, who said he was aware of the intrigues among Tompolo, Manager and Clark over who produces Okowa’s deputy, told Saturday Vanguard, “Sincerely, I am not worried about who, between Tompolo, Manager, and E. K. Clark and what part of Ijaw produces the deputy governor, which has been zoned to Ijaw in the state, my concern is about credibility and quality of who they are presenting.”

“We want somebody with good record, acceptable character and development oriented to be considered for selection. Mediocre and self-centered leaders should not be allowed to milk from this rare privilege to the Ijaw,” he added.

His words, “Nobody should be selected based on God-father-ism but based on general acceptability and previous performance. It will be wrong for a single leader to solely decide or handpick a deputy governor on behalf of other Ijaw ethnic nationality and other million Deltans, as if the person is monopolizing power.”

We want a nonpartisan person- Itsekiri leader An Itsekiri leader, who craved for anonymity, said, “It is almost a foregone issue that Okowa will pick his running mate from DeltaIjaw, but we seriously care about the character to be picked for that position.

“Itsekiri is disturbed going by what the names gaining prominence on the matter.

We will not accept just about anybody. As Itsekiris, we have been through some rough roads with our Ijaw neighbors over the years by sheer grandstanding of a few while we live in mutual respect with a number of Ijaws. We want a neutral person, a fellow detached from the politics of Ijaw violence and threat on our waterways,” he added.

SATURDAY

Vanguard , DECEMBER 20, 2014—21

I can't wait to get married — Awele Odita

By ADERONKE ADEYERI

How did you join the Yoruba movie industry?

I joined the Yoruba movie industry in 2008, when a friend introduced me to Muyiwa Ademola. He was the one who trained and taught me the rudiments of acting. Though I am from Asaba in Delta State, I loved watching Yoruba movies from my tender age and that has helped me a lot.

A

wele Odita, a Higher National Diploma (HND) mass communication graduate of Moshood Abiola Polythenic, Ojere Abeokuta, is an upcoming actress. Though, a native of Delta state, Awele speaks Yoruba like her mother tongue and has featured in many Yoruba films. She talks about her acting career and fashion preferences. Excerpts:

Has coming from Delta State affected your acting career in any way?

I was born in Asaba, but I grew up in Ifo, Ogun State. So I understand Yoruba Language very well. I appreciate the Yoruba film industry; they are very accommodating. My state of origin has not been an obstacle.

Your soon-to-be-released movie, Ibudo, what is it about?

Ibudo is a story that educates the public against discrimination. It is a movie meant for both the old and young. I thank God for the success of its making.

Your first appearance?

My first appearance was Abegbe in 2008, written and produced by Tayo Tijani. I thank God that I am still in the industry. I have featured in movies like: Ajangbila, Aja, Koboko, Se ko Wale, Emenado, Omo Toja, Sisi Caro, Adebimpe, Kokoro Aye etc.

Who are the cast?

Ibudo, directed by Muyiwa Ademola, has Yinka Quadri, Peju Ogunmola, Bidemi Mustapha, Mercy Aigbe and a host of others.

Many actresses dress provocatively; is it part of showbiz?

I don’t see anything wrong in people flaunting what they have. Personally, I love putting on short gowns but I don’t like to wear clothes that expose my boobs.

Since you joined the make-believe industry, have you had any cause to reject a script?

No, I have not.

Why? I have not rejected scripts because I have the privilege of getting well written scripts so far.

What’s your opinion on toning?

I believe one needs to maintain one’s skin and that can only be achieved by using beauty products that best suit your skin tone.

Which movie association do you belong?

I am a member of Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association (TAMPAN).

You are a charming, young, and single upcoming actress. How do you cope with advances from men?

They like me and I like them too. I know when to be blunt and when to put up an act.

What will Awele never do in the name of acting?

I can never be found acting nude, no matter the price or fame it will bring to me.

What turns you off in a man?

Dishonesty; I like a guy who is God-fearing and caring. I can’t wait to be married!

Are you into any relationship?

I am single but not desperately searching.

Which actor fits into your future husband?

I have never dated an actor and I do not intend dating one.

Who is your role model?

Peju Ogunmola. I love the way she interprets scripts and acts, especially when she takes the role of a mother. She makes it so real that you tend to see her like your own mother.

I have never dated an actor and I do not intend dating one

What do you want to be known for?

I want to be remembered as a mother not only to my children but a mother to the nation.

What are your favourite colours?

Blue, black and white.

Which female accessory can you not do without?

My wristwatch.

What is the most expensive item in your wardrobe?

My dresses; they are quite expensive.

22 — SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

With FLORENCE AMAGIYA 08061644307 email: daise4000@yahoo.com

Y

oung Rita Emerhor was born on November 24, 1964 into a polygamous family where there were so many children. As a young girl and almost the last child of her parents, the value of hard work, tolerance and integrity was drummed into her by her mother. At a very young age, her mother had taught her and her siblings to respect their father even though he didn’t take care of them. Although Rita’s mother never had a good marriage because she married a polygamist, yet she remembered her praying daily that her own children should find love and peace in their own marriages that she couldn’t find in her's. Her father, on the other hand, was never there for them because of his other commitments, but one thing stayed constant while growing up and that is her mother ’s teachings on respect for the man of the home.

As it was the custom in the olden days that the mother of the children takes care of her own children. So it was not a surprise that Rita’s mother had to work extra hard to send her and her siblings to

Evangelism isn’t just about preaching the word of God, but allowing God to use you to help someone who is hungry or someone in need, that way the love of God would be spread abroad

school even when it wasn’t easy for her. Demonstrations of love and appreciation were missing in her own father ’s house.

When she met her husband Rita saw the other side of life. Love was the order of the day between her husband’s father and mother as they had a nuclear family and had a Jehovah Witness upbringing. It was the best she had seen in her young life and she fell for it and emulated it.

It was pure demonstration of love with all the big dreams they both shared which led to marriage after her husband’s graduation. Rita Emerhor started life as a young married woman without any money as her husband, O’tega had just graduated from the University of Nsukka as an Accountant.

Rita picked a job as a teacher.

While the children were coming and growing up, they moved into a bare apartment in Ketu, Lagos. As things improved for them, they moved to Palmgrove, also in Lagos. Later, Rita and her family moved to Anthony Village, then to Dolphin Estate on the Island as God’s blessings increased. They finally moved into their Parkview Estate house where they still reside till date.

•Rita and O'tega

SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014 — 23

Establishments

T

hrough the grace of God in her life and the strong support of her husband, she had single-handedly built Heroes Furniture Limited from the scratch.

Today, Heroes Furniture Limited is a very strong furniture company with over a 100 workers. Heroes has its own ultra-modern factory where 5-stars furniture are manufactured for the very rich. Chief Rita Emerhor is also into real estates. She is a director at Lagoons Savings and Loans Company, a mortgage bank. They own Standard Alliance Group. Standard Alliance Group is one of the leading Insurance Companies in Nigeria.

NGO, she is investing in lives on daily basis. In her opinion, “evangelism isn’t just about preaching the word of God, but allowing God to use you to help someone who is hungry or someone in need, that way the love of God would be spread

abroad.” Her scholarship scheme in Evwreni, her home town, has produced exceptional graduates who owe their successes to the platform she provided. Chief Rita is not sidelining those outside her home town or state as she has a Foundation

Foundations

A

lthough Chief Rita has had her own share of sorrows, she still considers herself very blessed. This she has demonstrated in her everyday life by •Rita appreciating the laws an, husband, chi goodness of God ld d grand c h i l d r e ren, son-inand by being a n blessing to others.

According to her, “you are blessed to be a blessing”.

Even though she didn’t register any

Rita and her daughters

that travels to different state in the Western Region to feed and nurse the hungry and the sick.

Her style

S

he

considers

herself a tom boy and she has not been able to change that nature even though she dresses up once in a while for public sake. According to her, there is more to life than carrying a mirror in your hand bag as a lady. Rita enjoys driving cars. She is a good driver.

She enjoys cooking her legendary banga soup and ukodo and pepper soup; it doesn’t give her stress to cook for any guest as she is ever willing to share.

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

By KEHINDE AJOSE 08024212530

By Kehinde Ajose

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s usual, it was a night of glitz, glamour and dashed hopes at the Headies Award held at Eko Hotel last Sunday in Lagos. From the red carpet to the great moments of the award, there was no dull moment as stars shone, impressed and even goofed. Perhaps the happiest person was Davido who smiled home with Song of the Year and Artiste of the Year awards. Same cannot be said of Wizkid who went home empty-handed.

Olamide, Oristsefemi, Phyno, 2Face, Patoraking, Jesse Jagz and few others had cause to smile. Of all the divas, only Niyola had a laugh, with Tiwa Savage sharing hers with her MAVIN crew who clinched something for their ‘Dorobucci’. Beyond the awards were the thrilling moments of hits and misses. Here are some:

Olu Maintain’s red carpet show

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ust when many of his fans were asking where Olu Maintain has been, the flamboyant Afropop artiste showed up at Headies 2014 after making a similar appearance at the Henessey Artistry grand finale a week back. The suave singer invoked the naira rain on his fans when he was being cheered on the red carpet .This was probably Olu’s way of winning their hearts and showing his appreciation for their support and maybe to drive it home that he is not broke!

•Olu Maintain

Wave-making Tiwa Savage doesn’t spare her audience anytime she comes on stage to display her Godgiven talent. Her dance routine during her collaborative performance with Patoraking at Headies 2014, got the media abuzz with anxiety and definitely some people on the edge of their seats. This time,Tiwa didn’t go showing off what lies underneath her panties, what she did was gave to give Patoraking a twerking display even Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke would have been proud of .A lot of her fans are wondering if this stunt won’t have an immense effect on her infantile marriage .

All e eyyes on Saeon L

ike the star that she is, Saeon got everyone talking over her outfit. The Boogie down sensation stepped out in a lacy see -through sheer dress that has been condemned endlessly on the social media for its inappropriateness.

Seyi shay wore a similar outfit to the recently held Channel O awards.

Wizkid left the Headies in anger?

O

Cynthia Morgan’s boobs almost popped out

E

veryone will agree that Cynthia Morgan is always on top of her game when it comes to her energetic performances. At the Headies, she took it a step further when she performed her hit dancehall song I’m taken.

In the heat of driving home her act the sexy singer’s boobs threatened to spill out of her one piece suit. If they had, it would have been a different tale entirely.

It was perhaps one of the high points of that night, with everyone gushing about her sex appeal.

The Patoraking and Tiwa Savage powerhouse performance

ne of the top moments of this year’s Headies came courtesy of Wizkid. The star boy who left the event rather early was said by some to have left because a table wasn’t reserved for him. Word at the event had it that the organisers were pissed off with him when he didn’t show up early enough to claim table reserved for him.

The star boy however took to twitter to deny the allegation.

“Reports making rounds is I walked out of the Headies angry. I respect the Headies and its organizers and no I didn’t. It’s not easy doing shows like that in Nigeria with little or no sponsorship so let’s give that credit to the Headies for always doing it” •Cynthia Morgan

SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014 — 25

By AYO ONIKOYI, 08052201215

The other side of Psquare revealed

That Patoranking speech!

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HE thrilling duo of Psquare were presented the Special Recognition award at this year’s Headies by Nigeria’s ex-football skipper, Austin Jay Jay Okocha . Just before their award presentation and performance, the twins revealed the other side of them that is yet to be known by their numerous fans.

According to them:”We came to Lagos and after selling our stuffs, we were able to rent a one-room apartment and you know we had no chairs but we did not care. All we were after was how to market our music.

The first time we had one million naira we celebrated it. For a long while, all we could save was N850,000. One day, we went for a concert and right there we were paid N150, 000, then it was big money.

We immediately added it to the N850,000 and voila, we had N1million.

We bought drinks to celebrate; we were glad that we were now millionaires.”

Psquare

I

f there is one thing Patoraking knows how to do, it’s to get people talking, and he did just that when he clinched the award in the Next Rated category. While receiving the award, he took the audience back memory lane when he narrated the story of his humble beginnings.

He puts it this way: “If I tell you I was once a rat killer seller, would you believe me? If I tell you I was once a bricklayer would you believe me? But God brought me out of the gutter. My story should inspire you.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot make it in life or you can’t achieve anything, I am a living proof of how God can turn around your story in seconds”.

•Patoraking

And Toke Makinwa goofed I

T is no news that Toke Makinwa doesn’t joke with her looks .The On -air personality co-hosted the event with ace comedian, Basketmouth .After making multiple outfit changes, Toke came on stage asking the audience if they were having a great time forgetting that the show started hours late. The visibly angry audience answered her with a ‘No!’ In trying to brighten up the atmosphere, she tried out some popular dance moves like Shoki, Azonto and Skelewu. Our dear Toke failed to dance according to the beat, making her dance moves disastrous. Feeling uncomfortable,Toke saved her face by inviting Julius Agwu to the stage to do the Shoki dance.

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OME have said red carpet is all about attitude, swag and statements. This Headies which is about the last big music award event of the year was not missing in any substance of what a A-list red carpet affair should be all about.

The divas came calling with different statements, showcasing style that can only make your eyes boggle. Here are the divas that made heads turn at the event.

NIYOLA

YEMI ALADE

CYNTHIA MORGAN

EVA ALORDIAH

EMMA NYRA

TOKE

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

Tonto Dikeh in LOVE? ...as she touches lives in Ghana

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*Tonto Dikeh

Judith Audu ecs ecsttatic over AMVCA nomination

F

Audu, is ast rising actress, Judithod. Her movie, mo y pp ha a in y ntl curre films Not Right, was one of the m category for Fil ort Sh st Be the nominated in Choice Awards the Africa Magic Viewers' s took to her res act e (AMVCA) 2015. Th week to celebrate the facebook page during the in a state of shock!!!, en nomination. "I have be , shouted like a mad laughed, screamed, cried with so much joy ed person!!! Am overwhelm Oh my God!!! Oh !!! rds wo in t pu be 't can t tha you keep blessing ds od all st ain my God!!! Ag son to want to rea a me! You keep giving me what! You always r tte ma no e dance! To celebrat ! uth My God, I just put a new song in my mo g praises unto you sin d want to lift my voice an k you! Thank you to till my voice cracks. Than way or the other e everybody that has in on d given me a an encouraged, motivated to do and to do even e platform to do what I lov friends who trusted my all to u yo k an Th more.

I told them about and believed in me when cess it has recorded this film project all the suc r come to be," she eve so far would have never ge. pa k oo eb wrote on her fac es of Omowunmi lik the ng rri sta ht, Not Rig stus, and Judith Fe ilip Dada,Ani Iyoho,Ph d towards fighting Audu,is a short film geare ce. len the rise in domestic Vio

C M Y K

O NTO Dikeh's name is often associated with controversy. But this time around, it's not about controversy, rather it is about the good work she's doing through her foundation, Tonto Dikeh Foundation.

Tonto was in Ghana recently for some charity work. Dubbed the Ghana Charity Tour, the initiative was powered by her Tonto Dikeh Foundation to give back to society.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the charity work,the outspoken actress said, “I’m trying to make it cut across all the African countries and what better way to start the Christmas celebration than trying to give back to society, visit motherless babies, hospitals to see the sick, and ascertain how hospital bills are settled, scholarships and everything. Basically we are trying to give love back to people who deserve love and who don’t have people to love them back.”

According to her, she has been doing the charity work for about five years now, “but this is the first time I decided to do it publicly.”

The actress said she has spent well over N10 million running the foundation for the past five years. The charity tour in Ghana took her to several orphanages in the country including, Kibi in the Eastern region and Jay Nii Orphanage Home in Jamestown, Accra.

Known for her persistent controversies, Tonto Dikeh also has a heart of gold.

She regrets that she has been wrongly misrepresented in the media. According to her, “I don’t think I am controversial but the thing is I’m not a very quiet person. When you try to throw

•Judith AudJu

things in my face, sometimes I react in a way that can actually be controversial. But majorly, the whole controversial image was created by the media."

Speaking further with an online publication, Tonto put to rest conflicting reports of her relationship status. In 2012, the actress was forced to publicly refute reports that she was dating Nigerian musician, Iyanya. She admitted that she has finally found her ideal man but stopped short of revealing his identity. “I have a lovely man in my life and that’s about what I can say.I want to respect him and not talk about him but he is a very lovely man,” she said.

Chris Obi-Rapu returns to Nollywood

Chris ObiRapu?

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EMEMBER Chris Obi-Rapu? He was one of the founding figures of Nollywood who directed that pioneering movie, Living in Bondage, produced by Kenneth Nnebue and Okechukwu Ogunjiofor.

Obi-Rapu disappeared into thin air immediately after the production of that chart-buster movie in 1992. But today, he has reappeared to continue doing what he knows how to do best.

He was one of the guests at Calabar last month for this year's Africa International Film Festival(AFRIFF). Looking agile and ageless,ObiRapu who is fondly called Skupo said he's back to continue from where he stopped. Before travelling to the United States in 1995, Obi-Rapu directed other classics such as Circle of Doom, Evil Passion, and Taboo. Currently, he shuttles between the United States and Nigeria.

“I have been in the United States since 1995. I used to work in NTA before I travelled out of the country in search of knowledge and also to see the outside world. America is the home television and movies. So, I went there to see the world. At the moment, I am trying to catch up with the industry again. As the father of Nollywood, I'm back," he said, in chat with HVP in Calabar. The former staff of the NTA says, he's planning to be on location soon to shoot his 'comeback movie', which he intends to direct with his daughter, Nkem.

SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014 —27

Why I refuse to have a management team —Femi Kuti

*Femi Kuti

*Seals deal with Chocolate City

L

eading entertainment outfit, Chocolate City, has officially sealed a management deal with Femi Kuti, the first son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, during the week in Lagos.

Femi, who was phyiscally present at the event, expressed satisfaction with the terms of the contract. He said, “I am looking forward to a great future with the company.

We are both happy about the deal. So, we are hoping and projecting that we shall have a great future together.”

According to Femi, he's inspired to sign the deal because of the qualities he saw in the management of Chocolate City. They are very young, honest and vibrant people.

They approached me. If I can start projecting my brand from Nigeria, instead of doing so from the outside world, it would be better for me.” Explaining why he refused to have a management team over the years, the Grammy Award nominee said he was discouraged with his past experience where he had to work with dishonest people. “It has been difficult managing myself because the things I would have wanted the management to do for me, I had to do them myself or through my elder sister. And that was because I have worked with a lot of dishonest people in the past. So, it wasn't like I didn't want a management. When management of Chocolate City approached me, I thought it was the right time to do so.”

However, refusing to disclose the terms of the contract, Femi hinted that he's

planning to release his 10th studio album, which he hopes to produce in collaboration with Chocolate City next year.

Speaking further, the Afrobeat legend advised young artistes to focus more on producing good music than becoming too business minded. “when an artiste is too business minded, it kills the creative instinct in him. But many artistes, including myself, have been forced to manage themselves for awhile. But hopefully, with Chocolate City, I have struck the right deal.”

Also, speaking on the contract, CEO of Chocolate City, Audu Maikori said, his company is entering into management deal with Femi, which has to do with business development, representation, and getting him to perform at local shows and concerts. According to him, “Femi has been so international that his connection with the local music scene has been discouraging in recent times. We want to bridge that gap between his presence at the international scene and the local scene, ensuring that he is also participating, touring and developing within Nigeria as well.

Chocolate City, which was established in 2005 by lawyer-turned-entrepreneur, Maikori along with Paul Okeugo and Yahaya Maikori, is home to recording artistes such as M.I, Femi Kuti, Ice Prince, DJ Caise, Pryse, Nosa, Victoria Kimani, Dice Ailes and Koker.

Oma Nnadi back from US with love

S

Oma

tar actress, Oma Nnadi, who has been shuttling between the United States and Nigeria in recent times, has finally returned home with love. The actress flew into the country last week, looking hot, daring and irresitible. She jetted out of the country two weeks ago after she returned from America where she observed her vacation. Oma said she "loves travelling a lot," adding that "America is like a second home to me." Could it be that the Nkwere, Imo State-born actress, has found love in America, or that she's hoping to do so ? The Tinsel star who confessed recently that she hardly finds time to attend to personal needs anylonger, following her tight schedules, is planning to return to the trenches early next year. Already, Oma said she has a couple of jobs waiting for her at the moment. She's one of the most-sought-after actresses in Nollywood.

G-Media releases Phone Swap, Tango with Me on DVD

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fter showing at the cinemas across the country for more than one year, two of Nigeria’s blockbusters:Tango with Me and Phone Swap, have been released on DVD. The award-winning movies, produced by Mahmood AliBalogun and Kunle Afolayan, and which are being distributed by Gabosky’s GMedia, hit the market yesterday, in 21 physical outlets, across 21 states, including online platforms such as Konga, G-Media and Afolayan’s Golden Effects Production company.

While Afolayan is also joining works such as Figurine and Irapada in an attractive package called Kunle Afolayan’s collection, AliBalogun’s Tango with Me is an eye-catching stand-alone, bearing photo of the beautiful Genevieve Nnaji and the handsome Joseph Benjamin.

Afolayan’s three works which precede his current movie, October 1, have won several awards and enjoyed rave reviews in the media.

Irapada, one of CNN’s listed ‘must watch African movies, made some of the earliest hits at the AMAAs, as Best Indigenous Nigerian Movie in 2007. The supernatural suspense thriller, The Figurine, won four awards in AMMA 2010, while the romantic comedy Phone Swap also held sway in 2012 as one of the top Nigerian movies in the cinema, clinching Best Achievement in Production Design. Tango with Me, shot on film 35mm format, on the other hand, is a romantic drama written by Femi Kayode, starring Genevieve Nnaji, Joseph Benjamin, Joke Silva, Bimbo Manuel, Ahmed Yerima, Kate Henshaw, and

Bimbo Akintola. The film swept six awards at the maiden edition of Nollywood Movies Awards in 2012 and had six nominations at AMAA 2011.

Tango with Me has also received positive reviews from critics, and according to NollywoodForever, which rated the movie 80 percent; "Tango with Me is beautifully shot with a soundtrack to compliment.

Joseph and Genny look good together and have an easy chemistry... the performances were passionate and heartfelt."

According to Gabosky, fans stand the chance of getting the collection of Afolayan’s works at discounted rate on the online platforms from December 15.

* Igwe Gabosky,

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

By Iyabo Aina

Nicki Minaj addresses relationship with Meek Mill

F

ollowing speculations going viral about Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill since her split with boyfriend Safaree Samuels, Nicki finally spoke out for the first time about their rumored relationship in order to clear the airwave.

During her appearance on Power 1062 s “Big Boy ’s Neighborhood” on Monday,15th December 2014, the “Bed of Lies” rapper acted surprised when Big Boy asked her about the gossip. “You heard that? Is that the new news out?” she asked.

But she shut down reports of a romance. “We’re friends.

He’s dope. Shout out to him,” said Nicki.

Meek was in prison for five months, but Nicki did not write him.

“The kid is very busy. I wished him well,” she said. “I hated that he was in jail because I thought he was in jail for something ridiculous, but no, I didn’t write him.”

Beyonce, Jay Z, in trouble over Drunk In Love song

Kourtney Kardashian welcomes third child with Scott Disick

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eality star, Kourtney Kardashian has given birth to her third child with boyfriend Scott Disick. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star gave birth to the child, a boy, on Sunday, Dec. 14, the same day their son Mason Dash turned 5.

Recall that the diva,35, once revealed she was having a boy on last week’s episode of Kourtney and Khloé Take the Hamptons on E!

Young Jeezy cleared of illegal weapons charges T he Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy, has at last been cleared of all charges in relation to his wrongful arrest over the summer.

Recall that in August, Jeezy and five members of his crew were taken into custody after police raided his tour bus and found an AK-47 and a Glock. The weapons turned up during an investigation into a shooting at Wiz Khalifa’s concert in Mountain View,

Calif., where a man was killed.

According to TMZ, the Orange County D.A. made the motion to dismiss the charges and the judge agreed.

Authorities were aware early on that the case didn’t hold any merit.

The two guns, which were purchased legally, were owned by Jeezy ’s security chief, who was not on the bus.

Authorities held all six people on $1 million bail,

even though the recommended bail for that offense is $20,000. All defendants sat in jail for four days until bail was reduced. Their personal items were seized, even though it had nothing to do with the alleged offense.

Following the dismissal of charges, Jeezy released a statement. “I pray this had nothing to do with race but it definitely had nothing to do with evidence,” he said.

Beyoncé and Jay Z made what became one of the biggest songs of the year with “Drunk in Love,” but now a Hungarian singer is saying they don’t deserve all the credit.

This comes in a new lawsuit where Hungarian folk singer Mitsou, born Mónika Juhász Miczura, is alleging that Bey and Hov, as well as Timbaland, who coproduced the song, used vocals from her 1995 song “Bajba, Bajba Pelem.” The suit claims that the very voice we hear singing at the opening of the song, which was included on Bey ’s 2013 self-titled album, was borrowed and distorted from her.

“Following Mitsou’s stirring featured solo vocal introduction, Mitsou’s voice continues to sing as Beyoncé begins to sing, to evoke foreign eroticism alongside the sexually deep lyrics performed by Beyoncé and Jay Z in ‘Drunk in Love’,” the suit says.

The song in question seems to be unavailable anywhere online, as TMZ is reporting that in addition to “damages,” Mitsou wants a judge to forbid anyone from playing the song.

SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014—29

that again, a s e c n o m re Christ s is he hristma f y e a r w h e n ut and what o t i m e o festive nights you’re looking , If s is . ie d t r n a u p g lo w th abo emmas e th a t fe s ti v e e of year, il d r a e tim ie v to w and r. At this s to a c h fo r w a y s, look no furthe n d s in fa s h io n reen, u a g o , , red Christm d s p a r k le a b as colors rates n g li tt e r a es. Think Christmld. Dressy sepa es as o s ri s g accesso ite, silver and the shorter dre h black, w here, but bring in rk of your o w ll sti take careneed do u o y t a u t th well. tfit; all yo importan skin It is also pliment your oumoisturize your the m t d o a n c skin to cleanse, tone a remember to e lo o k , is; scrub erfect glow. Andw il l m a k e y o u p t a th r d s th a t fo ice o d , fo o your off ith r r ig h t fo fo g in w . t go fabulous ether you are s day or night ou utfits So wh arty, Christma hristmas Day o sp eC Christma s, we’ve got thes ristmas e h n C o y d rr e e v lo … M u o y e ir to insp

C

•Plain white shirt black pants or jeans gold jewellery and red lips or red heels is simply chic

•Toolz •Verycool Christmas outfit

Holiday shoppers beware fake goods can cost greatly — John Obayuwana warns

A

s the annual holiday gift shopping has begun, John Obayuwana, Chief Executive of Nigeria’s pioneer luxury goods company, Polo Limited warns consumers to beware of purchasing counterfeit precious timepieces from unscrupulous middlemen as they may part with a tidy sum for the fake products.

Speaking at the unveiling of the company’s “Authenticity” campaign, John Obayuwana stated, “Unsuspecting customers, thinking they can acquire precious timepieces, are offered products on

retail for far less than they are gotten at the point of manufacture.” Obayuwana informed that he is bringing this information to their notice out of concern and desire to protect these buyers, from falling victim to the wiles of these unscrupulous middlemen, losing their hard-earned money in the mistaken belief that they are getting value. “It is not about Polo, but about consumers losing a tidy sum to these devious people”. he said.

The campaign breaks and runs

through the holiday season in various print media publications as well as online media platforms.

Recognized as the one-stop leading luxury destination in Nigeria, Polo Limited, founded by Nigeria’s pioneer luxury goods entrepreneur John Obayuwana, who has built a company devoted to bringing luxury products from the world’s most prestigious brands to enrich the lives of Nigerian consumers and which adds value to the society by promoting a lifestyle of refined culture, beauty and elegance.

•Go from day to night

30—SATURDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

Cancer lifeline deadline

Everyone wants to read about cancer because cancer is about people and people love to read about other people. A cancer story always is news (often bad news) and cancer sells more because of the human interest particularly if a big personality is involved, and the bigger the personality, the bigger the story.

My experience about reporting cancer has been one of enabling people to understand and appreciate the experiences (not necessarily the plight) of cancer patients in order to raise awareness about some of their challenges (and successes).

But in the real world getting a compelling cancer story is a challenge in the first place because no one wants to be involved with cancer either as a patient or as a relative of a patient. In this environment, cancer is still reported more as a death sentence.

There are more reports of cancer deaths and challenges than survivors and breakthroughs. The fear factor still prevails even within the media. Cancer has an associated stigma and finality of death that dissuades those infected and affected from talking about it. This is the issue.

The concerns of cancer patients are similar to concerns of patients with life-long disorders such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, sickle cell disease and End State Kidney Disease. So you need to break those barriers first. How you go about that depends on you as an individual.

The typical person diagnosed with cancer is anxious, fearful, desperate, and often overwhelmed with hopelessness and helplessness. The cancer patient tends to be suspicious and distrustful of your intentions as a journalist, and is not usually willing to divulge details •The concerns of cancer about the illness except there is a compelling reason. patients are similar to In my experience it is a struggle to get the inside story concerns of HIV/AIDS or details from the patient who doesn’t want to be “used” patients. to sell your paper. It is even more difficult to extract details from the physician who is ethically bound not to talk about the patient, except, of course, the patient permits.

I recall when prominent personalities such as Beko Ransome-Kuti, Dora Akunyili, Ado Bayero, Olusola Saraki, among others died of cancer, it was a herculean task getting the details. No one wanted to talk because of the associated stigma.

Cancer is in public interest but it is also the private affair of the physician, the patients and their families. Who needs the story? In whose interest is the story? Is it just to sell your newspaper, or to project the patient’s plight in public interest? Much of the time you need to balance the bottom line.

To write the compelling cancer story, you need to go •A typical person out of your way, beyond the diagnosed with tenets of textbook journalism. cancer is anxious You need to understand the science and economics of the disease. You need to develop a relationship primarily with that cancer patients do not & Support; Pink Ribbon the patient, and then the need sympathy. Sympathy is cancer expert. You need to get Alliance; Breast Cancer not a bad thing, but it doesn’t Association of Nigeria, their trust and confidence. elicit involvement or Over the years, I’ve become BRECAN; etc, and cancer engagement. As a experts such as Dr. Lola acquainted with cancer sympathiser, you are sorry Salako, Prof Aderemi support groups, experts and about the situation, but your Ajekigbe, Prof Clement patients. Groups such as the sympathy arouses little or no Adebamowo amongst a host of feeling of responsibility or National Cancer Prevention others, have been useful in Programme, NCPP; the action on your part. On the demystifying cancer through contrary, sympathy distances Committee Encouraging the media.

Corporate Philanthropy, you from the situation and One thing I got to CECP; Sebbecly Cancer Care perpetuates the patient’s appreciate from the onset is feeling of helplessness.

not

What helps is empathy.

What would be your attitude if you or a member of your family was struck by cancer? If you were asked to tell your cancer story, or that of your relative, would you oblige? Why would you or why would you not? Put yourself in the position of the patient.

Without question, effective reporting of cancer involves empathy.

You are bound to protect your paper but your story should not damage the patient, physically, emotionally or psychologically. A badly written cancer story could easily backfire. This is where your work is cut out as a reporter.

It helps to get to know about the disease, and not to ignore the cancer patient’s world. A number of cancer survivors have helped tremendously.

There are instances when a cancer story is positive e.g., a cancer survivor tells his/her story, or the discovery of a new drug or prevention strategy.

Some patients do go public, but more about self-preservation than to save others. Getting their trust and confidence is

Lifeline

essential to getting a good story.

Essentially, financial constraint is the most compelling reason a typical cancer patient would want to open up about his/her condition. It is understandable. Cancer treatment is expensive. Even for the wealthy, cancer treatment is quite expensive, especially at the advanced stages, usually; such treatment is often palliative, according to the experts.

Much of the time, patients are short of money and go public when it is almost too late. I have encountered dozens of patients compelled to go public in a last hope to raise money for treatment.

They seek help to raise millions to procure surgical treatment and drugs, usually in an Indian hospital. Such patients will talk about anything and everything at this stage because they have nothing left to lose. No fear, no dignity, no shame, nothing to lose but their lives.

No doubt cancer is a deadly disease, but it is also preventable. The propagation of the message of hope through early detection needs is primal. The delivery of the key message of “living with cancer ”, rather than “dying with cancer”, could be stronger.

SATURDAY you can enjoy a small piece of pumpkin pie, eating slowly

Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014—31

Diet Doctor

Eat less, enjoy the holidays more S

eason’s greetings.

Staying healthy and well over the yuletide is all about taking care of you.

Most holiday traditions are centred on food, of course, but from a holistic standpoint, staying healthy means adhering to a healthy diet, exercising, managing stress and sleeping adequately. Here are tactics for soaring over stumbling blocks during the holidays.

INDULGE, BUT WATCH PORTIONS Appreciate the “happy medium” during holiday season. Have fun without focusing too much on your diet — but without going overboard either. You can still have whatever you want, but have it in much smaller portions. Keep a mental track of everything you eat and drink. However you can enjoy a small piece of pumpkin pie, eating slowly.

Fully appreciate the taste and texture. Save your sweet tooth for the treats you love — not just for anything with sugar on it.

HOLIDAY WEIGHT GAIN This is probably the No.1 worry. All the Christmas goodies and holiday joy add up to some unwanted kilos later on. Tip: Do not eat everything you want over the holidays. Instead of going straight to dessert after the hefty Christmas lunch or dinner, take a walk around the neighbourhood. Distract yourself. Get some exercise.

It’s good for you.

DON’T TRY TO LOSE WEIGHT Even as much as you indulge, this is not the best time to diet. If you’ve successfully lost weight, make maintaining weight your goal.

Don’t try to lose kilos over the holidays. It can be frustrating and lead to overindulgence.

Focus instead on weight maintenance. Weighing yourself every other day during the holidays helps. Do it first thing in the morning, either without clothes or always wearing the same clothes.

C M Y K

•You can enjoy a small piece of pumpkin pie, eating slowly...

CHOKING Hundreds of thousands of people are at risk of choking each year, and since you’re eating more during the holidays, it is advisable that you chew your fried rice, jollof rice or pounded yam and fried beef or chicken very well before swallowing. To avoid choking, relax, don’t rush. Eating isn’t a competition. Take small bites, chew slowly and carefully. Enjoy your meal and avoid talking or being distracted while eating.

FOOD POISONING With all the food made around the holidays, it’s a prime time to get sick.

More people visit the hospital because of food borne diseases during the holiday season. Be mindful of preparing meat, poultry, seafood,

and eggs especially. Use separate cutting boards and dishes so bacteria can’t spread from one food to the next. Cook beef, chicken and turkey properly and don’t leave dishes sitting out for long periods before consuming.

ENERGY DRINKS As much as possible, avoid consuming energy drinks C during the holiday season.

M Y Besides making you jittery, the extra calories and lossKof sleep from these drinks can increase weight gain. If you need an energy boost, have a quick snack or take naturally caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea.

SOFT DRINK The term “soft” applies to sugar. While diet drinks aren’t much better than regular, the full sugar variety should be taken with caution because of problems such as obesity,

diabetes, dementia, depression, and erectile dysfunction.

MARGARINE You might think it’s better than butter, but margarine contains trans fats, which increases blood cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease. It also lowers the good cholesterol levels.

So if you must use margarine, look for a brand with the lowest calories, contains no trans fats and has the least amount of saturated fat.

SLEEP PROBLEMS A good night’s rest is often the first thing sacrificed in the midst of late-night parties, earlymorning shopping, and year-end deadlines. For people travelling on

vacations or to relatives’ houses, obstacles such as red-eye flights, jet lag, and unfamiliar bedrooms can disrupt sleep. Skipping sleep can lower immunity, increase stress levels, and lead to weight gain. It also raises risk for depression and automobile accidents.

Make sleep a priority to ensure a happy and healthy holiday.

STRESS Stress around the holidays can be worse than other times because of overcommitment. Women especially find the holidays hard to manage with all the cooking, shopping and other arrangements. So it’s no surprise that women are more stressed out compared to men. If you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask for some help. Happy holiday!

32— SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

By DAMILOLA SHOLOLA

D

idi Ekanem is one of the fast rising actresses in Nollywood. Her bum marks her out, but Didi wants to be recognised for her talent on screen rather than for her bum. In this exclusive interview, she talks about her career, life and more: How has it been so far?

It’s been awesome, interesting and crazy at the same time. Let’s just say I am having fun all the way.

What do you mean crazy?

Crazy in the sense of challenges you have to face What challenges are you facing?

Challenges in the true sense of the word, like not really having producers believing in you and of course, you know yourself, you know you have the talent but the producer doesn’t see it your way. As an actress I have had to go the extra mile, not in the negative sense, to make people see beyond the looks and see deep into the beautiful talent within. I thank God I have gone beyond that now.

How many movies have you done this year?

This year I’ve done over seven movies. First of all, there was Jump and Pass which came out two months ago or last month. I also did Dining with the Devil and Akan. I just finished Journey to the Dreamland with IK Ogbonna and True to Love with Kalu Ikeagwu . I can’t remember the rest off hand right now.

What’s the first thing you look out for in a script?

Before, what I used to look out for was how many scenes I was going to do but right now when I get a script, the first thing I look out for is the story. I just quickly go through the story and then after the story, I go to my character to know whether my character is challenging or not What can you or cannot do in interpreting a role?

First of all, my job is to act. So, I am supposed to be able to play every character. I can do a sex scene but of course, you know that it’s not like you’re going to have sex for real, probably just take off some part of your clothing and just act it. As an actor, I have to play every role; I can do a sex scene. I can play as a lesbian, in fact I have a movie that I played as a lesbian and I played it so well What movie was that?

Crazy Girls and I played it very well.

Did you kiss somebody in it?

Yes of course, I did everything a lesbian would do.

That’s me being an actor.

Can you let a guy grab your bum in a movie?

Of course, in Jump and Pass, a guy tapped my ass. If it has to be real, there’s nothing there, it’s just grabbing my bum.

How do you feel having one of the biggest bums in Nollywood?

It’s a good feeling and a wonderful one. But I won’t lie to you, as much as I love it so much, I just wish people would focus more on my talent than my bum. All the concentration out there is on my bum not my talent. I would honestly wish people to see me as a talented actress not a sexy one.

But my bum is not allowing people to see me deep down, to see the person and the talent.

Seriously, is your bum natural?

People always say this whenever they see my bum. Last time I was on Linda Ikeji, I read comments people made and there were more questions whether

my bum was real or worked on. Some said it is made of plastic but you are here now and can see there is no artificial embellishment or augmentation. My bum is real, it’s like 101% real, I was born this way, I was born like this. I’ve had it since I was in JS1, in fact that was when I started noticing it.

That’s when you started noticing how big it is?

Exactly, and It’s been like this. Then I never loved it, if I have to tell you the things that I’ve gone through because of my mum, you won’t believe me What’s the craziest thing somebody has done to you on its account?

Craziest thing? A mad man actually grabbed my bum in public, while walking on the road. That’s like the craziest thing, what else can possibly be crazier than that? I was just passing, I wanted to get something and next thing, he just walked up to me and grabbed my bum from behind. When I turned, he was still holding it like a mad man and I screamed, I ran, left my shoes and everything. People just stood there and they were just laughing It seems

you like showing it off on Instagram, can you do a twerking video or ‘shaking your thing video?

I haven’t actually thought of that, although I have my twerking videos but I just feel that they are for me alone, they are personal, and I don’t have to put them on Instagram. Of course, when I take a good picture that shows my bum, I’ll put it on Instagram; they can see all of that, me posing in pictures and all that There’s a belief that girls with big bums are usually more sexually active than girls with big boobs, is it true?

I will speak for myself, because I feel girls with big bums are usually very lazy in bed, but for me I’m very active, so, I’ll just speak for myself. I’m very flexible with my bum.

You are very flexible with your bum?

Of course, I use it very well How often do you feel people should be having sex?

As many times as you want; if you want to have it 100 times a day, good for you You encourage it, you love it?

Who doesn’t love sex? I’m not going to sit here and tell you I

I just w would fo on my ta my bum concent there i bum not I would wish p see m talented not a s

SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014 — 33 point of your career so far?

The highest point for me is just having you interview me right now. Seriously, I never saw this day coming; just being noticed by Vanguard for me is a high point. I haven’t gotten to the highest point yet, I’m still getting there but this right now is awesome, it just makes me feel like I’m getting somewhere In your estimation what has been your most successful movie?

Jump and Pass produced by Uduak Oguamanam Isong and directed by Desmond Elliot

don’t like sex. Everybody loves sex; it is just natural so I’m not going to pretend I don’t like it. For me, I’m a very busy person so I don’t have that time to even enjoy it as much as I should or have it as much as I should.

ish people ocus more alent than m. All the tration out is on my t my talent. honestly people to me as a d actress sexy one.

But you still enjoy it when you have it?

Of course, anytime I have the time for it, of course, I do What’s your favorite sexual position?

Every position goes, as long as I can feel what I want to feel at that point in time. Every position is fine.

What makes you horny or turns you on?

Basically, that would only depend on how sexually attractive the guy looks. I guess that’s the only thing that can turn me on Can you wear something very skimpy in a movie?

I love it. Anything skimpy, I would rock it perfectly Can you strip in a movie?

Of course, I told you as an actor I would do anything but that doesn’t mean that I’m desperate for stardom or anything, it’s just me being an actor. I am meant to do everything, I’m not meant to be stereotyped What has been the highest

If you could change one thing in Nollywood, what would it be?

Mediocrity, nepotism and tribalism; if there’s anything I could change on my own, it’s mediocrity. If you’re an actor and you don’t have the talent, you don’t have to act Do you believe Nigerian culture limits actors and actresses on how they express themselves on camera?

Of course it does, like 101%. Seriously, it’s crazy; if we didn’t have this kind of culture, trust me, a lot of Nigerian actresses would go all out and when I say all out, I mean all out What does it really take to be a good actress?

To be a good actress, it takes hard work; you have to work on yourself very well and consistency. For me, I’m getting better every day and that’s because I work on myself all the time, exercise all the time and I work often How was growing up like for you?

I had a wonderful experience growing up, I had an awesome time, I can’t complain. I had a very supportive dad, very encouraging siblings, I had everything I wanted and went to the best schools Where did you school?

My Secondary School was FGC Ikot Ekpene, and then I went to Macdonald Memorial School before gaining admission into University of Port Harcourt to study Linguistics and Communications Who do you look forward to working with in Nollywood?

I haven’t worked with Mercy Johnson and I can’t wait to work with her because I love her so much. She inspires me a lot, and I’m looking forward to working with her.

How do you handle your male admirers?

I’m a very nice person but they can really get out of hand. I’ll just give a smile, wave and walk away Has anyone ever spanked your bum and run away, something like that?

Of course in a club; He grabbed it and I turned and slapped him. It was just really crazy because I was dancing and at some point I noticed that he was actually staring at me but I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. As I was dancing, next thing I felt was a hand on my butt, so I just turned and hit him, it was a reflex action. I was really pissed like how dare you do that? That was really embarrassing. It was as if he wanted to even fight me because when I slapped him, he still wanted to come at me until people intervened. I almost cried that day, it was really embarrassing

•Didi Ekanem s

What do you want to tell your fans?

I just want them to watch out for me because by next year, I am taking it. I don’t know how it’s going to happen but God is going to do it for me just the same way He has always been doing.

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

08 116759 759 081 6759759

Now for some more fruity photos of Kim! T he rise and rise of reality star Kim Kardashian appears to have gone pearshaped – although not in the way you might have expected.

After her Break The Internet photoshoot, jokers have been posting images online of fruit and vegetables that look like the celebrity’s bottom.

Examples of ‘Kardashian Fruit’ include pears, tomatoes and melons and they follow her shoot with Jean-Paul Goude for Paper magazine.

Mother-of-one Kardashian, 34, posed for the risqué snap and others, including one showing her bare

breasts, for the issue last month.

MailOnline’s US Editor At Large Piers Morgan described the photograph of her bottom as one that will be ‘forever etched in the memory’. And after its publication, social media users created

mock-ups of the image, from centaurs to peaches and doughnuts to docking stations.

French photographer Mr Goude was said to have told a friend after the shoot that the photos ‘ were by no means a caricature of Kim, but art’.

Dogs do go tto o hea heavven… cats, and hor ses horses

Is this the rudest necklace ever?

T

he leader of the Catholic Church has assured pet lovers across the world that dogs do go to heaven.

Speaking at his weekly address in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis confirmed that

C

ontroversial designer Tom Ford has sparked fury by launching a range of penis necklaces - just in time for Christmas.

The phallic pendants— which resemble the shape of a cross —come in gold or silver and are available with small, medium and large charms.

Intended as the perfect holiday gifts for kinky fashionistas, size apparently doesn’t matter as they are all priced $790.

But the latest offering from the designer provoked outrage on

Twitter from users who said the necklaces were ‘unbelievably offensive’ to Christians and branded Ford ‘sick’ for combining a phallic image with a religious symbol. Susan Swift C M Y K

wrote: ‘Just in time for Christmas, a way to say “screw Christ,” the savior of the world. This is sick.

Just sick.’

Kevlyn Hall added: ‘How dare you use a phallic symbol in the Christian cross! You insulting piece of trash!

HOW DARE YOU!’ One user said on Twitter: ‘This is unbelievably offensive to me. Is he insane?’

And another user said the designer could ‘rot in hell’, adding: ‘What is wrong with people these days?’

The designer has had fashion ads banned in the past for appearing too raunchy, including an advert in 2007 for a men’s fragrance that featured a bottle of perfume between a model’s open thighs.

there is a place in heaven for our furry friends, along with ‘all of God’s creatures.’

The head of the Catholic Church had been attempting to console a distraught young boy who was mourning the

death of his dog, according to Time magazine.

The statement is at odds with conservative Roman Catholic theology which states that animals cannot go to heaven because they have no souls.

Francis was quoted by Italian news media as saying: ‘One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ.

Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures.’

The remarks have been warmly welcomed by animal rights groups such as PETA and the Humane Society.

The issue of whether animals have the chance of an afterlife has been debated for centuries.

British eexpat xpat reunited with missing w allet 18 yyear ear ter wallet earss af after centre in Chur —more than four hours by train British expat has been reunited from Geneva and 90 minutes from Zurich — A with his leather wallet and and handed it in to local police. After a quick passport – nearly two decades after they were lost during a train ride across Switzerland.

It appears no one stole anything during the 18 years that Colin Mendoza’s wallet was missing as it still contains the passport and his longexpired credit cards, driving licence, receipts and an identification card from an old job.

But where it was all this time and how it was discovered remain a mystery that may never be solved.

Colin still isn’t certain how he lost the wallet while travelling by train from Zurich Airport to Geneva in 1996.

He fell asleep on the train and didn’t realise it was missing until he was getting into a car in Geneva. He reported it missing to police and then went through the hassle of getting a new passport and cancelling and ordering new credit cards.

Years passed and Colin, who now lives in the US state of Connecticut, forgot about the incident until he received a surprise email from a police officer in the tiny Swiss mountain town of Chur.

It turns out someone found the wallet on the floor of a shopping

search online an officer found his LinkedIn profile and tracked down his email address.

Colin, 50, told MailOnline Travel: ‘There was a little bit of shock and surprise when I received the email. It was an “Oh my God” kind of thing.

‘I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it. The fact that everything was intact and it was found in a supermarket, that’s weird.’

Colin said the wallet itself—a gift from his wife—is in good condition and showing few signs of additional wear and tear. ‘I’m amazed at its good condition and that it had all my old ID—my passport, driving licence, old company ID and all my credit cards. I’m not sure if at the time there was money inside or not, but I think not. ‘My wife even remembered the wallet as she gave it to me.’ Colin, a married father of two who runs his own media business, said the police haven’t figured out how the wallet ended up in Chur.

A police spokesman told Switzerland’s SDA news agency: ‘We have no idea how it found its way from the train to a shopping centre.

SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014—35

Jerr Jerryy Grange hosts friends @ 79

D

L-R: Dr Jerry J.Grange; celebrant;Prof. Adenike Grange and Mrs Beryl Ediale.

octor Jerry G r a n g e , husband of Professor Adenike Grange, former Minister of Health hosted friends at Victoria Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos to celebrate his 79 th birthday. In attendance were his wife, Adenike Grange, his children and a host of friends who shared a dinner with him to celebrate the landmark.

List of guests include Dr Demola Fari, Dr Yinka Balogun, Mr Akintunde Marinho, Mr Niyi Oyediran and many others. Photos by Akeem Salau

Ndoni Community holds end-of the-y ear par the-year party ty NDONI Community Nigeria Lagos chapter held its end of year party at Chief Victor Oyolu’s compound in Lagos.The event brought together members, friends and well wishers including Chief Enebeli Onyi, President General of the body and Chief Barrister Sunday Obi, former President General of the body amongst other dignitaries

L-R Mrs Onowu, Chief Victor Oyolu (President of Ndoni Comunity Lagos) Mrs Oyolu and Lady Odaiche Anobili.

L-R; Mrs Marion Akpata;Director of Muson School of Music with Dr Sunny Akpata and Engr John Ediale.

L-R;Prof. Adenike Grange and Mrs Muriel Oyediran.

L-R;Mrs Yinka Adegboye and Engr Akin Adegboye.

L-R; Mr Adewale Doherty and Engr E.I Awizu.

Cadbur w ards longCadburyy re rew ser ving staf serving stafff CADBURY Nigeria Limited recently honoured its long-serving staff who have been with the company for specified number of years.

Cadbury Nigeria Plc 2014 Long Service Awardees in group photograph with Top management.

L-R: Mrs Austine Odili and friends.

Visit to orphanage MANAGEMENT and staff of Nelson Mandela Gardens Limited, Asaba visit St. Barnabas Orphanage home Cable Point, Asaba to donate some gift items to the orphanage.

Ndoni Women having fun

Awoh and Richard AWON Salome Kwnne and heart-throb, Richard Osayi Aigbedo are setthto formalise their union on Friday December 26 and Saturday December 27th at Bitaks Event Centre, Okota, Lagos.

Mr.Emiko Sagay presenting gift Items to Oluchi Mbadiwe of St. Barnabas Orphanage Home, Cable Awoh Salome Kwnne and heart-throb,Richard Osayi Aigbedo Point, Asaba

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

H

e accesses your social networking accounts, phone calls and text messages on a regular basis. He curbs your freedom and everything becomes subjective to his approval.

He double checks everything you say to be sure you’re telling the truth. He feels extremely jealous about your relationship with other members of the opposite sex and even your male boss. He is in touch throughout the day to be constantly informed about your entire activities.

Now, would you call that true love or possessiveness and jealousy? But what if this ‘true love’ or ‘possessiveness’ goes too far and hinders a woman from living her own life, as it has for most women?

Admitted, every woman wants to feel loved and special, and as such find the aforementioned traits in their partner really exciting- but only at the beginning, as history has shown that it soon cascades into frustration for many.

According to relationship experts who say there is a thin line between love and possessiveness, the latter could be extremely unhealthy for any relationship and often has close to nothing to do with true love.

“Those traits are sheer jealousy and possessiveness, and as such, are part of abuse.

They’re indicative that a person feels they own and can control another person. It’s perfectly fine to expect commitment,

C M Y K

,

boundaries, etc., but these feelings are different. Being uneasy about your partner’s relationship with the opposite sex for example shows a lack of trust, and trust is a vital part of any relationship,” says a relationship counselor.

“Love has very little to do with most people’s possessive nature.

More often than not, it’s a man’s insecurity that makes him jealous and possessive. And each time he displays his possessiveness and gets to control his partner’s behavior, it makes him feel more powerful in the relationship,” Peterson, a young man in his mid forties who advised that women should confront every form of possessiveness from the onset added.

In spite of popular belief that partners save themselves a lot of grief and squabbles when they trust concurrently without excessively monitoring one another, some lovers still claim it is very normal to feel jealous and possessive for those they truly love.

“Every partner has all the right to be possessive. If you are in a relationship then you have some responsibilities towards the person you love. And then there are expectations. If you are committed to someone then you are like a part of their soul and a little space in their heart is meant just for you,

Love has very little to do with most people’s possessive nature. More often than not, it’s a man’s insecurity that makes him jealous and possessive

,

Is he loving or possessive? and it is perfectly justifiable if you do not want to share that space with anyone else. People say that possessiveness can never be a part of true love but I say if you are not possessive of the person you truly love then you actually

not love that person truly,” declared a young, married man in his late thirties.

It is however not in the tradition of Woman to Woman, WW, to judge. But whatever your verdict on true love and

possessiveness is, we simply advise that a partner be made to understand the need to not suffocate another, right from the onset, as this could enhance stability in any relationship.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014—37

TOWN takes soap to women in slums •Launches ‘Bathe a Child Campaign’

BY JULIET EBIRIM

S

tephen Samuel, Administrative Manager of Thomas O. Women Network (TOWN) recounted how he paid a visit to a slum in Lagos, only to discover that most children do not bathe thereby exposing themselves to diseases and germs, “As I walked across the street, I saw a little boy playing on the sand while his mother washed clothes and poured the used water on the same sand the little boy played on. On my way back, I met the boy fully dressed but still looking dirty and ready to go out with his mother. I asked the mother, ‘Didn’t you bathe your son?” She replied me saying, ‘If pikin go under sun, sun go dry everything and the sun go kill everything(germs and diseases)”.

Sad, but this is what obtains in most slums in Nigeria and th that is why on December 6 , 2014, working class women from all across Lagos converged at Ikate Rural Community, Lekki, Lagos, for the launch of the ‘Bathe a Child, Preserve a Life’ community soap project for less privileged women.

In order to boost the efforts of the state governments at improving hygiene through proper hand washing and soap usage, TOWN, a nongovernmental organisation focused on promoting and empowering Nigerian women, aims to constantly educate less privileged women in the society on the importance and benefit of ensuring they and their children maintain good hygiene.

According to Olayinka Thomas-Ogboja, Founder TOWN, “We intend to partner with communities and slums worldwide on a continuous basis, by donating free soaps and engaging in health talks with these women. We will also partner with local and state governments, because not only

are they able to mobilize the marginalized women in their communities, it will also show their support and concern for the well being of their people, while raising emotional appeal as a socially responsible government”.

In Nigeria, practicing personal hygiene is difficult due to lack of resources such as clean water and soap. Many diseases (including respiratory and diarrheal diseases) can be spread when hands, face and body are not washed appropriately. Health is wealth and we believe that anytime a child is not in the hospital, that is money in the parents pocket, hence, mortality rate will reduce”.

Apart from soaps manufactured by TOWN, the NGO is in partnership with hotels and guest houses to collect used soaps left over by their guests. “Based on our research, used soaps or bath gels are immediately trashed by

•A child being washed at the event.

•From Left: Mrs. Morenike Taire (Vanguard Woman Editor), Mrs. Olayinka Thomas-Ogboja (Founder TOWN), Mrs. Modupe Okougha (Member, Board of Trustees) and Mr. Stephen Samuel (Administrative Manager TOWN).

the room service team of most hotels. As a result of this, we decided to take a pro-active approach to these wastes by channeling them to places they will be needed and appreciated.

Even though soaps usually contain antibacterial ingredients

that kill germs, we will also recycle them so they do not pose health hazards to our beneficiaries. We also solicit support from soap manufacturers and a few of them have agreed to make donations from time to time”.

Olayinka added.

Partners of the project include Hilton Hotel, Eko Hotel and Suites, Radisson Blu, Eko Hotel and Suites, Oriental Hotel, Best Western, Unilever amongst others.

Ten contestants emerge for ‘A STAR RISING’ competition

BY REMI DIAGBARE

1

0 lucky contestants have been selected for the ‘Star Rising” competition, which will hold today December 20th at the Civic Center, Victoria Island Lagos. The 10 emerged after an audition which held recently, at same venue.

120 children and youths, between the ages of 1 and 17, drawn from different primary and secondary schools in the state attended the audition.

The successful acts who will vie for a place with the stars are: Oyinkoyinsola Ebony and Chukwu Nonso Ifionu of Western College Gbagada -Moturayo Olajubu of Attwool School Awoyaya ,ChisomSamuel-Johnson and Timothy Attah of Christ the Redeemer School Gbagada Others are- Gbaja Dance troupe from Gbaja Girls Junior

School;The Boy Band from Grace High School, Ejumene Achor from Holy Child College-Udo precious from Queens College-Lillie Stars Group Lillie’s International School and -Alex Louis.

At the audition, the youths showcased different talents in singing. A number of them mimed different musical lyrics: pop, rap and gospel. Some sang while others sang and played the keyboard.

Some showed dexterity in playing the saxophone, trumpet, violin, keyboard, drum set and talking drum and several of them took to dancing. They danced salsa. Most of the kids, especially within the age bracket of 7 and13, requested to dance to: Shoki, Doro Bucci, P. Square and Baby Pull Over.

Talking about the audition, Mrs. Ovia said: “We have seen a lot of talents and I’m very impressed. We

are going to have so many winners.

It’s going to be very hard to choose but I know the judges will come up with talented children who will perform on the 20th. That is their day.”

Talking to journalists after the event, Mr. Bardia Olomu (ILLRYHMES) who was a judge at the audition, said the criteria for choosing the winners were: stage presence, personality, originality and performance.

Ikechukwu Ekwuyasiala, ICON, a music producer,who was also a judge, said: “It’s amazing how much talent we have seen so far. I don’t think I have seen two kids riding a cycle and dancing at the same time.

I didn’t think I will see a lot of saxophone and trumpet players.

Someone came to mime here. It’s been amazing. The turn out has been great trying to judge these kids and inspire them to do better.”

C M Y K

38—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

T

wo women have given birth using wombs donated by their own mothers.

The pair become the first ever to have children using the very womb that brought them into the world a generation earlier. The breakthrough brings hope to women who want children but were born without a womb or have had it removed. The two mothers are among nine women to have been given womb transplants – seven of which have succeeded. Allan Pacey of the British Fertility Society said: ‘That’s a very good success rate for a new surgical procedure. If it carries on like this, it may have a massive impact on things like surrogacy. ‘Women would much prefer to have their own baby and be pregnant than watch another woman be pregnant.’The babies both boys were born a month ago in Sweden and are doing well with their mothers at home.

Henrik Hagberg, a professor in foetal medicine at King’s College London, who was at the first birth, praised the grandmothers who had hysterectomies to donate wombs to their daughters.

‘It is an absolutely extraordinary gift. It is probably the best thing you can do for your daughter,’ he said.

‘The mothers were still very much doubting whether things would really go well. You don’t take anything for granted when you have experienced all of the problems they have been through.’The first child, who weighed 5lb 8oz, was born to a 29year-old Swede who lacked a womb at birth. The mother of the second boy, who weighed in at 5lb 15oz, is 34 and had her womb removed when she was treated for cancer in her 20s. Both babies were delivered

by Caesarean section around a month early. They join another history-making boy, named Vincent.

Born in September as part of the Gothenburg University project, he was the first in the world to be born from a womb transplant. He was carried in a womb from an unrelated donor. Four of the seven women with successful transplants have become pregnant and three have had babies. Richard Smith, head of the charity Womb Transplant UK, is gearing up to start similar operations here, using wombs from dead donors.

He says the first could be carried out as soon as next summer.

Professor Hagberg believes the operation in which the donor’s womb is removed can be reduced from the current ten hours – making the procedure more attractive.

‘I’m an optimist. I’m sure this is something for the future,’ he said.

‘It looks rather promising. It will be very exciting to see what happens in Britain and what they will be able to do using wombs from brain-dead donors.’

Professor Mats Brännström, who led the Swedish team, has spent 15 years perfecting the complex surgical techniques needed for transplant. He believes Mr Smith’s project will be successful and predicts the first British womb transplant baby will be born three years from now. Dagan Wells, an Oxford University fertility doctor, said: ‘The numbers are still small and we probably don’t have a good

C M Y K

Medical breakthr ough: breakthrough:

Wombs can now be transplanted for barren woman to bear children handle on the true safety or how often it will be successful. ‘But from the data available, we can say that it is looking pretty good. That could raise the possibility of wider application – there are significant numbers of women in the population who would have perfect fertility if it was not for a problem with their womb.’

Dr Wells added: ‘It is a pretty radical thing to undergo but the fact that some women have done it, even when it is in this experimental phase, really does emphasise how important it is for some women to carry their own child. ‘I am not saying that this is the way that everyone should go but for some people, it clearly is very important.’

Professor Geeta Nargund, medical director of the Create Fertility in central London, said: ‘There is no doubt that the birth of two more babies is encouraging and is further evidence that the project is successful. ‘It’s exciting, complex surgery being done by very skilled

surgeons. It is promising for women who need womb transplants but quite clearly it is something that would happen in specialist centres. It is not something that is going to be widespread like IVF.’ Vincent – derived from the Latin for ‘to conquer’ – was given his name to mark the extraordinary lengths his mother undertook to give him life. A fourth woman with a transplanted womb is pregnant and said to be doing well. Although womb transplants have been done before, in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, no babies had been born until Vincent.

The fact that Vincent has been joined by two more healthy boys offers hope to women who have been born without a womb, as well as those who have had a hysterectomy due to womb cancer or as a last-ditch attempt to stop a threatening bleed while in labour. Eventually, some women who have suffered the heartache of repeated miscarriages could also benefit. The extraordinary procedure, which doctors have likened in

importance to the first successful heart transplant, allows women to experience the joy of pregnancy, as well as have babies that are genetically their own.

The Swedish transplant team favour organs from living donors, such as mothers who have completed their families. An organ from a living donor should be in better condition and the woman can take care of her health before removal. But the British team believe the best option is an organ from a dead donor.

This would allow them to take extra tissue and the major blood vessels needed to ease the strain of pregnancy. Either way, ideally, the woman should have had children of her own – meaning her womb has been ‘road-tested’.

The surgery is quite straightforward for a skilled team. The biggest worry is how well the organ copes with pregnancy. The mother is likely to be at risk of extra complications on top of miscarriage or premature labour.

Culled from Daily Mail

SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014—39

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wo students fell 60ft to their deaths while ‘making out’ on the balcony of a luxury apartment, an inquest heard yesterday.

Anastasia Tutik, 19, and Miguel Ramos, 18, were kissing and cuddling when they lost their balance and plunged from the sixth-floor ledge.

The pair, who had both been drinking, had met earlier that evening at a friend’s party in the flat in Deptford, south-east London, which has spectacular views of the Thames and Canary Wharf. Miss Tutik was seen sitting on the railing with her legs wrapped around Mr Ramos in the moments before they fell.

Coroner Dr Andrew Harris described their deaths as a ‘tragic accident’ during the inquest at Southwark Coroner ’s Court. ‘There is nothing from any witness statement that indicates they intended to take their lives,’ he said.

‘They were happy students celebrating the end of term.’

Dr Harris said his thoughts were with the families of both teenagers, who ‘have to celebrate Christmas without their young people’.

The pair died from multiple injuries. Dr Harris recorded a verdict of accidental death in which alcohol was a contributing factor. Miss Tutik came to the UK from Russia in September last year and was studying for her A-levels at Bellerbys College. Mr Ramos, from Monterrey in Mexico, was taking a summer course at nearby English language school Embassy and had been in the UK for only a few weeks. His father is the former mayor of the Mexican town of Pesqueria.

Fellow student Alfonso Garza, who is also from Mexico and lived at the flat, said: ‘They met at the party. He liked her and she liked him so they went on to the balcony to make out – to kiss and cuddle.’

In a statement read to the inquest, he said: ‘We went out

Two Teenagers plunge to death while making love

Miguel Ramos and Anastasia Tutik and a friend shouted “they’re not here”.

‘I couldn’t believe it. I walked over and saw them over the edge and he shouted “they’ve jumped”. I looked and could see them lying there.

‘Neither was moving and there was a lot of blood coming from Miguel’s head. Anastasia was lying either on top of him or to the side.’

Blessing Adedoyin, who saw the pair from her home in neighbouring Cornmill House,

said: ‘She was sat and the man was in between her legs, which were open.

‘She had her arms around his head and he was feeling her legs.

The guy especially looked drunk because he was moving around and touching her.

‘I just saw the guy’s legs tipping over and they both went down at the same time. He didn’t look very balanced or coordinated and they were locked together when they fell. I saw them go over and just gasped.’ Her partner, events

manager Samson Oguntayo, 32, ran down and found the couple in a pool of blood. Emergency services were called just after midnight on June 11. The couple were pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Ramos had 393 micrograms of alcohol in his blood and Miss Tutik had 85, just over the legal driving limit.

No family or friends of the two students were present at the inquest.

Culled from the Daily Maily

Nur se killed himself af truggling with sstress tress and pressures of wor k’ urse aftter ‘s ‘struggling work’

A

dedicated nurse killed himself just weeks after he voiced concerns over the pressure created by staff shortages at the hospital where he worked.

Stuart Beddows hanged himself at his home in Walsall, West Midlands, in September, after suffering from stress, an inquest held last month heard.

It was told that the 43-year-old had felt burdened by the death of a former patient, and was worried about the introduction of a new computer system at the hospital.

Today, Mr Beddows’ family has spoken of his death, saying that he ‘loved’ nursing but that ‘pressure built up’.

Mr Beddows, who was lead nurse in the endoscopy unit at Walsall Manor Hospital, was found dead in his home after friends C M Y K

and family could not contact him. At the inquest, Black County coroner Zafar Siddique ruled Mr Beddows intended to take his own life.

Director of nursing for the hospital Kathryn Halford told the hearing that colleagues were aware Mr Beddows was suffering from stress and tried to offer him support, according to the Express & Star.

She said problems with the new computer system added to his pressures, and said his colleagues were concerned about the hours he was working without breaks. He was also worried about the work needed for an upcoming hospital assessment, she claimed.

But she said the most important concern appeared to be the death of a

young woman, who died on readmission to hospital three days after he had performed an endoscopic procedure on her.

She told the inquest: ‘Her death was nothing to do with the endoscopy, it was entirely different, and staff spent a lot of time talking to him about it.’

Mrs Halford added that Mr Beddows had been offered help to deal with his problems, but had declined the offer.

The inquest was also told that on July 14 he had talked to his GP about the pressures of work, but did not take his advice to take time off work.

Culled from the Daily Maily

Stuart Beddows ...hanged himself

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014 his year has almost flown by. So soon Christmas is here again. Christmas has always meant different things to different people and will continue to be so.

But two perceptions of the true meaning of Christmas form the basis of today’s column. The first is “Christmas time is family time”, while the second is “Christmas season is a time for healing and reconciliation.”

If Christmas time is family time, how are family members, who do not see eye to eye, going to have family get—together?

Siblings who grew up together lovingly are tearing one another apart. The issues are diverse, but a few are: gulf in accomplishments as the years roll by, entrance of spouses into their lives, envy, seeds of discord sown by the parents and pride. accomplished members of the family First, I firmly believe that should realize that one tree cannot make God created every person for a forest; they should therefore be humble a purpose. Finding and living and magnanimous in success. They should your purpose naturally comes be patient with, and support, less with accomplishments. The accomplished siblings and other family first challenge people have is members. Whether we like it not, there is finding their purpose which is strength in numbers and family bond. Life located somewhere in their is not always about money, talents, other natural accomplishments and positions. endowments and interests.

The Bible says he who finds a wife The other challenge is our (spouse) finds a good thing. True, but the value orientation. In this part of the world, any entrance of spouses into accomplishment that cannot families (in Africa your be measured or denominated spouse is primarily yours and in naira and kobo is not secondarily a member of the treasured.

Our value larger family) has created orientation has taken a tumble rifts in usually united and consumed our psyche. families. This is so because People now abandon their these spouses grew up in different under different purpose to do just anything environments circumstances and they bring in alien that will give them quick traits and ideas while some deliberately money. Are they getting fulfillment? Maybe, maybe drive a wedge between their spouses and not. Many a time such their spouses’ siblings. I often tell people dissatisfied and disoriented that your spouse is like an attack dog; only minds visit their frustration on that in this case it should attack only the all around them including owner. Do not let him/her bite other family family members. Many of members. Also, if you are marrying into a them cannot cope with their family, you should add value. If you siblings’ accomplishments cannot, at least help maintain the status and become envious. This is quo; it is evil to destroy existing values one of the sources of discord and bonds.

In some cases the seeds of discord were in families. sown by parents, who are either now aged On the other hand,

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Heal the family or dead, through their action or inaction?

Must you continue to eat the fruits from the tree of discord and put your teeth on edge? It is time you let go and moved on?

I have written so much about conflicts among spouses, I will not dwell on it here.

Spouses should go and heal their families, it is family time.

Whatever the issues are, Christmas time is family time and a time for healing and reconciliation, so let us get rolling. You

Christmas time is family time and a time for healing and reconciliation

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do not have to be the guilty party or older person to initiate reconciliation. Just do it in the spirit of the season. Who knows?

This might just be the only opportunity for you to do so. Many people do not like to be reminded that we are mortals, but that is what we all are, and there is no particular order in which we shall all take a bow and exit the stage called earth. What will it be like to stare at death and remember your estranged family member with no time for reconciliation? Or to behold the body of a family member you bear a grudge against with reconciliation now impossible? That should be very

agonizing, unless you have a heart cast from stone.

Sometimes a family member embraces new tendencies which are contrary to family values and beliefs? This is also agonizing to many families, but what about loving our own and hating the act? Surely throwing the baby away with the bath water does not seem right either. A friend described some family members as snakes? Snakes, venomous or non venomous, are dangerous. That is why they can scarcely be domesticated. There is too much of nature in them and very little of nurture. So if your family member is a snake, treat as you would a snake: handle with care, but remember he/she is still family. I concede some family members are dangerous. Their stories and actions leave you speechless and temporarily paralysed. But hey, that is why we have One up there called the Omnipotent. May God protect us from such family members!

Beyond family time, healing and reconciliation, Christmas is a time for sharing, moving around and relaxing because it is a holiday. It is also a time for merry making; that is why we say merry Christmas. Just do your eating and drinking in moderation. Do not pile on the weight you have lost over the last year in one week. It is unbelievable how difficult it is to shed weight and how easy it is to gain it as you grow older. Your metabolism simply changes to “go slow” mood.

So older guys, leave the heavy eating of this season for the youngsters and unbridled drinking for fools. One more thing, in all these, we should spare some thoughts for the eternal.

Happy Christmas and a purposedriven New Year in advance.

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(Text Only)

Exercise:

Aim for regularity The Wheel

Technique: raw in the knees and place the feet wide apart on the ground.Place the hands backwards on the ground below the shoulders.

Inhaling,raise the whole body up to form wheel.While in this position breathe normally.After a few seconds lower the body back unto the floor.Relax completely after repeating once or twice more.

D

•The Wheel

Benefits: Blocked nostrils get relief from the practice of the Wheel among other health benefits.

knees then extend the left leg backwards while turning the hands in and placing the foot on the floor behind the left hand, keep the left hands straight and spread out the shoulders throwing the head backwards; hold for 15 seconds and change.

Benefit: This posture renders the knee supple, strengthens the arms and back muscles. It also helps to tone the abdominal wall.

Head-to-Knee echnique: Sit with feet stretched in front of you.The forehead must touch

T

2. Backward Bend Technique: Get on your hands and

Yoga Classes STARTED Backward Bend

@ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

•Head-to-Knee

the knees with the bent elbows touching the mat.

Remain in the posture for a few ten seconds.Try again for same duration or about a period of 15 to 20 seconds and repeat thereafter for two or three times.

Benefits:This exercise is a veritable tonic for the spine wonderful for the hamstrings.It is of great help to females who suffer from periodic pains.It's also helpful to back muscles, and enables you move freely at all times.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 20, 2014—41

juliecoker100@yahoo.com

My past haunts me Aunty Julie, As a student in the University, I used hard drugs. I graduated several years ago and have served in NYSC. I used to have an attitude when I was taking drugs but I no longer have them. I dated many ladies and dumped them and I was extremely extroverted.

My lifestyle has changed. Now that I do not go out to clubs or party, I am finding difficulty in relationships.

Women do not understand why I do not drink. When they ask, I tell them where drugs and alcohol have gotten me in the past. This always seems to scare them off. I feel guilty not telling them that I used to be an intravenous drug user, but when they ask about the tattoo on my arm that symbolizes a promise to myself never to inject again, I am honest about what it stands for. I have been tested for AIDS/Hep-C and all of the tests have returned negative.

I am having difficulty finding someone that understands. Please help me.

Sunday, Lagos Dear Sunday, You have made an incredible

change in your life and stuck to it . And yet, some romantic interests decided to put the book back on the shelf without understanding what it’s really about.

Unfortunately, a history of drug use is often accompanied by stigma, sometimes resulting in assumptions about a person

that may not be accurate. When you mention you’ve been tested for HIV and hepatitis C, it’s clear that you are aware of both the health risks involved in intravenous drug use and the stigma placed on drug users both past and present. The good news is that not every person you’re interested in will rely on assumptions when you disclose your past drug use.

It may be that a few negative reactions early on in your recovery have made it seem like more women will be “scared off ” than really will be. When it comes to finding that connection, the places you go to meet people and disclose your past, and describe your present may ultimately help or hinder your romantic success.

To take some of the pressure off, first dates may be devised to be casual and easy to leave if things aren’t going well, such as meeting for a lunch. Meeting over lunch is a natural way for people to chat and get to know each other with food and people around. If you’re looking for opportunities to meet potential partners, consider pursuing

I’m tired of rejection

Dear Julie, From my experience, one of the most aggravating things that can happen to a woman is to be noticeably rejected by a man she is attracted to. This has happened to me more times that I’d like to admit. I have actually experienced the embarrassment of a guy shaking my hand ‘hello,’ while at the same time eyeballing my best friend who’s standing next to me, and telling her what beautiful eyes she has, not looking at me once!

How can I get over tangible rejection when it’s hitting me in the

face? What does one do at that embarrassing moment of rejection? Do you crack a joke or do you stomp his foot by accident? Please offer me an insight, or a fresh thought on how to handle situations like this, because, truly, I have run out of ideas.

Mirabel, Ughelli Dear Mirabel, Being ignored or overlooked when you really want to make a connection with someone can really hurt. You’re not the only one who has had this experience; it’s probably happened to most people at one time or another.

He thinks I’m cheating on him Aunty Julie, I’m in a steady relationship with a guy who tends to love me as much as I love him. It is true that every relationship has its ups and downs and in my own case, my guy suffers from occasional distrust. I have never cheated on him but he feels that I am doing so. He gets upset that sometimes my vagina is looser than other times. He thinks I’m cheating, but I’m not. I don’t know about my vagina being looser at certain times but I’m sure I have never cheated on him. What’s going on?

Erica, Lagos Dear Erica,

I’m really worried about your boyfriend’s attitude which stems from ignorance. But he needs to understand women much more than he does especially their physiological make-up.

You must let your guy understand that women’s vaginas are less elastic when they are not sexually aroused. They become more elastic (looser) when they are sexually excited . A woman may feel “tighter” to a man when she is less aroused, less comfortable, and having less pleasure than her partner.

Hormonal shifts during a woman’s menstrual cycle affect vaginal secretions and may affect

Sleeping partners A man and a woman who have never met before find themselves in the same sleeping carriage of a train.

After the initial embarrassment they both go to sleep, the woman on the top bunk, the man on the lower.

In the middle of the night the woman leans over, wakes the man and says, “I”m sorry to bother you, but I”m awfully cold and I was wondering if you could possibly get me another blanket.”

The man leans out and, with a glint in his eye, says, “I”ve got a better idea… just for tonight, let”s pretend we”re married.”

The woman thinks for a moment. “Why not,” she giggles.

“Great,” he replies, “Get your own damn blanket!”

Bribe and groom During the wedding rehearsal, the groom approached the pastor with an unusual offer:

vaginal elasticity. She may feel “looser” on certain days of her cycle than on others. Certain drugs, such as antihistamines or marijuana, may make the walls of the vagina feel dry so they seem “tighter.”

Also, a woman’s vagina may feel tighter or looser in different positions for intercourse. Some men tend to be anxious about their sexual performance. Some have an exaggerated sense of jealousy. It’s always best to discuss such problems with a partner or with a professional.

But some men may put the blame on their partners because they are unable to recognize their own insecurities. Get talking with your guy and educate him.

C O C K - T A L E S “Look, I’ll give you $100 if you’ll change the wedding vows. When you get to the part where I’m supposed to promise to ‘love, honor and obey’ and ‘be faithful to her forever,’ I’d appreciate it if you’d just leave that out.”

He passed the minister a $100 bill and walked away satisfied. On the day of the wedding, when it came time for the groom’s vows, the pastor looked the young man in the eye and said: “Will you promise to prostrate yourself before her, obey her every command and wish, serve her breakfast in bed every morning of your life, and swear eternally before God and your lovely wife that you will not ever even look at another woman, as long as you both shall live?”

The groom gulped and looked around, and said in a tiny voice, “Yes,” then leaned toward the pastor and hissed: “I thought we had a deal.”

The pastor put a $100 bill into the groom’s hand and whispered: “She made me a better offer.”

Rewarded Because Dave works hard at the plant and spends

interests you have where substances aren’t involved.

While your story may have been previously met by with negative reaction, a few strategies might get the ball rolling in the right direction with a potential date. It may be helpful to acknowledge some of the negative associations with drug use and explain specifically how you do not fit the mold.

Sharing the positive steps you’ve made in your life may also help to correct any misbeliefs held by those you’re interested in dating.

Don’t share your story immediately with a romantic interest. Get acquainted first before deciding to what extent you can open up. By preparing an approach that is both honest about the past and confident about the future, you may find that there are people out there who are able to look beyond the book’s cover and want to read every page.

However, when it seems to happen over and over again, it can really make you wonder why.

When next you are faced with a scenario similar to what you’ve described in your question, it may be helpful to keep in mind that not every response you get is a reflection of you as a person. It’s possible that the people you’re meeting aren’t ignoring you out of meanness. Their response to you may not be about you at all. At times, people might seem uninterested when they are actually distracted, stressed, or tired. It may sound trite, but if people are rude to you on purpose, they’re probably not relationship material for you anyway.

On the flip side, some people might feel like you’re coming on too strong. Do you think people might perceive you as overwhelming? If you’re really working to gain approval from every person you interact with, people might sense that and feel uncomfortable or pressured. It might help to try to relax and not feel so emotionally invested in every interaction.

You’re right; it’s hard to not care what people think, but maybe you could try to worry less about it.

If it’s clear that you’re interested and they’re not feeling it, some of your other ideas make sense too. Humour can help diffuse tension, so you could try drumming up a laugh or two in the moment. And even if it feels hypocritical to try to be upbeat when you feel down, dwelling on negatives isn’t likely to accomplish anything.

Feeling rejected can really sting.

Starting with a good base of support, i.e. your friends and family, may help remind you that you are a fantastic person, making those moments you feel rejected sting a bit less. And remember, while you might feel crumby in the moment, this too shall pass.

most evenings bowling or playing basketball at the gym, his wife thinks he is pushing himself too hard, so for his birthday she takes him to a local strip club. The doorman at the club greets them and says, “Hey, Dave! How ya doin?” His wife is puzzled and asks if he’s been to this club before. “Oh no,” says Dave. “He’s on my bowling team.”

When they are seated, a waitress asks Dave if he’d like his usual Budweiser. His wife is becoming uncomfortable and says, “You must come here a lot for that woman to know you drink Budweiser.” “No, honey, she’s in the Ladies Bowling League. We share lanes with them.” A stripper comes over to their table and throws her arms around Dave. “Hi, Davey,” she says, “Want your usual table dance?”

Dave’s wife, now furious, grabs her purse and storms out of the club. Dave follows and spots her getting into a cab. Before she can slam the door, he jumps in beside her and she starts screaming at him.

The cabby turns his head and says, “Looks like you picked up a real doozie this time, Dave!”

42—SATURDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 20 20,, 2014

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

S

Will this be your first Christmas as a divorcee?

uddenly finding yourself alone after many years of marriage shatters the foundation of your existence. As well as the pain of a broken heart, you have to deal with the practicalities of separation while trying to remain strong for your children. With Christmas bounding down the door, the good cheers of revellers could leave you reaching for your box of Kleenex. Will the pain ever go away? A few month ago, Mercy ’s marriage came crashing down around her ears.

“My husband and I’d been married for 18 years. I still love him, but he says there’s no chance we’ll ever get together again. He currently lives with his pregnant girlfriend and our two children are old enough to understand what is going on. I’m absolutely devastated and don’t know how to move on,” she said as the tears threatened to well up. She continued: “I’m dreading Christmas, which will be my first without him. I’m also worried about our children who’d always had Christmas outings with their dad—they miss him so much.”

The sad fact is that, like Mercy, many betrayed wives and partners are floundering in the wake of a sudden and unexpected betrayal.

The bleakness gets worse around the festive period when most families are agog with the festivities. pride, so I left him, hoping that would “I was in hospital when I first noticed a bring him back to his senses. But, he difference in my husband’s behaviour,” revealed in his freedom. continued Mercy. “And, in no time at all, he “As I said, it happened some few months started displaying all the usual signs of ago, I go out with good friends—who are having an affair, like changing his invaluable when you’re traumatised. I go underwear from Y-fronts to boxers, wearing to clubs too and although I initially found new and expensive after-shave, chewing it hard, I go out with other men I find gum—the list is endless. It got to a point attractive. Still, there’s no easy way of where I had to cling to some shred of self- coming to terms with the break-up of my

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few weeks to her delivery date, Louisa’s husband, Jerry, went with her to the clinic at the insistence of her gynecologist. “she always talks to the father-to-be to prepare him for parenthood,” Louisa said. “What the poor woman didn’t know was that the pregnancy might by my first—but the child would be my husband’s ninth child!

He’d been married twice before, and had lost his last wife to breast cancer. He was in his early 50s, I was 22! As she ushered me to the private room for my normal check-up, she told me cheerfully that; “ you can bring your dad along with you too:” nodding towards Jerry as he perched nervously on a chair.

“He’s not my dad,” I hissed, “he’s my husband.” The patronising smile on the doctor ’s face vanished and she looked embarrassed. She quickly told me she’d meant the father of the child—not my

C M Y K

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Having his baby when he’s decades older than you! father. But we all knew she was trying to right her gaffe!

Poor thing.

“And her reaction was nothing new. With a husband some 30 years older, we’re used to stares and clumsy comments. I’d met him a few years after he lost his wife. It was at a charity show there Jerry helped sell tickets. He was very flirty for his age

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marriage. I love my exhusband but he’s now happy with someone else. Life goes on. And, you have to move on.

Doctors can give you pills to help with depression. But in the end, it’s up to you to claw back your life and it’s always useful to talk to people who’ve been in the same boat.”

When Ruth’s husband got promoted to head a branch office in his firm, she wasn’t very happy as his new station was in another state.

“But the new salary was mouthwatering,” she said, “so I agreed

Doctors can give you pills to help with depression. But in the end, it’s up to you to claw back your life

that he should give it a go. He settled in easily, found himself a good one-bedroom flat and visited most weekends.

He’d been in his new post 18 months when I discovered my husband had been having a fling —that the woman was actually living in. I was a nervous wreck, begging him to end the relationship. Instead of him to do that, he stopped his weekend visit.

“Towards Christmas of last year, however, he returned home, telling me the affair was over and begging for forgiveness. Things were tense between us and it didn’t take me long to find out he was still seeing her as she’d relocated to Lagos. By this time I’d realized I wasn’t any happier with him back at home than I had been when he was gone. I simply packed my bags, took our only child and left. Having made this decision, I knew I had to move on with my life. I found a good apartment, and as luck would have it, landed a much better job. I began to make friends with colleagues in my new office and managed to combine bringing up my child with working, having a social life and dating. I’m now in a wonderful relationship. I don’t know if it’ll have a happy ending—I’ve been through too much to take anything for granted. But I’m sure my life is now happier than it would have been had I stayed married to someone who constantly walked all over my emotions...”

could do to stop us—a child was already involved. Even after I had the child, my mum was still hinting I could dump Jerry as soon as I found someone younger. But he’s a nice man, though lately, I’ve noticed how breathless he gets at times.

He’s lost a bit of weight too and I realized with shock that he might even die

If a man has a child at 70, he might not be there when the child’s an adult

and when he offered me dinner there and then on the premises the charity show took place, I gladly accepted.

“He was a nice aging handsome man and within a few months, we were lovers.

When I got pregnant, he was ecstatic—as if he’d never been a father. My mum was shocked and angry— he was eight years older than my dad! There was nothing they

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before he could see our son through the university. A catty friend of mine asked recently whether I worried about kids commenting on my soon having an old dad when he starts going to school. I told her I’d cross that bridge when I got to it...”

But is it selfish to become an older parent? “You can’t say a mum is too old at a

specific age,” Louisa said, “it’s the same with older dad. Some men are fitter at 50 than others at 40.

If a man has a child at 70, he might not be there when the child’s an adult. But he may be a better dad than a man of 25. It is a fact that men father babies in their 70s, while for women, it seems it’s downhill from 35.

Why is it so different for women?” According to an obstetrician/gynecologist, Peter Simpkins: “There is a small decline in women’s fertility from 30 to 35 years.

Then the drop accelerates.

If you take 100 women aged 25 having regular intercourse (two to three times a week), you’d expect 90 to 95 to become pregnant in a year. At 40, you’d expect this figure to fall to 50. The risk of miscarriage increases with age. At age 25 to 30, around 15 per cent

of pregnancies end in miscarriage. By 40, 25 per cent. By 50, the risks are far higher. A third of miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities. The contents of a woman’s egg deteriorate as she ages.

“For men, the sperm count remains reasonably the same as he ages if he stays sexually active, if not, his testosterone levels drop significantly. Older women are more likely to be overweight or have higher blood pressure, which can lead to problems in pregnancy, Ligaments in the pelvis are less elastic as they age which could cause labour problems.

Problems arise if a woman waits until 30 to fall pregnant but doesn’t. By the time she’s had fertility tests, she may already be 35 before considering avenues such as IVF.”

SATURDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014 — 43

YETUNDE AREBI

Aphrodisiacs and us (2)

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ided by the rapid growing use of the internet and social media platforms, sex is now in our faces everywhere we turn. In fact, sex is no longer what it used to be as many things once considered taboo and socially deviant are now been done openly as long as they have excuses for doing same. A man accused of committing incest with his daughter claimed she was at fault for enticing him with her young body while the mother turned a blind eye because she wanted to keep her marriage!

Markets and shop shelves are flooded with various varieties of drinks and drugs meant to boost energy and sexual performance. From Alumo Bitters, to Action Bitters, Babyokwu, Kerewa, Koboko, Apari, Sabina, Ogidija, Origin herbal, to the great Bullet and a list of several imported energy drinks. These are drinks alleged to contain aphrodisiac components used by guys to supposedly boost their energy levels and ultimately improve sexual performance. Drugs such as Manpower, Ever ready, Energiser are also popular among guys. However, nobody seems to be looking at the effect of these drugs on those who use them and the society. What happens to a man who takes them and does not have a wife or partner to release the tension on? Mr Taju, a man well in his 50s had a ready answer which really got me worried. "Madam, what do you think is causing all these sex crimes we are hearing about now? An old man of 70 who drinks jedi and has no wife or enough resources to keep a girlfriend will surely lure a 12 year old girl to his bed! Same for all these young boys here. Some of them have no partners and they drink these stuff regularly. If their calculations go wrong and the girls they plan to take to bed don't show up, some of them may resort to rape. For me, I think government should look into the influx of these drinks if they are serious about curbing sex crimes. They are all over the place".

I was caught off guard by his answer, as it was not one I expected from a Mechanic. But it did make a lot of sense and got me thinking about it. Could there be a connection? Almost all of these drinks are alcohol based and we know the effect of alcohol on the mind. It lets down your inhibition, giving you the ability to do things you may find difficult to do without the influence of alcohol. Ditto for drugs.

Remember the confessions of the notorious armed robbers, Anini and Sunday Osunbor when they told us that once they consume drugs and alcohol, they have no inhibitions committing any atrocity and human beings appear like chicken to them! Now, C M Y K

imagine this same drink further laced with sexual enhancing properties. There is no doubt that the combination may have hazardous effect when taken by a man with little self control and discipline. Dayo, one of the single guys at the shop admitted that he'd recently had a similar experience when his intended date failed to show up. According to him, he drank Bullet earlier in the day with the believe that his girlfriend would be spending the night at his place. However, the lady later called off their date. On realising his inability to control his erection, he had to make a trip to Maryland, Ikeja, late in the night, "to avoid raping the landlord's daughter", he said and everyone bursted into laughter. "Why Maryland", I asked? "That is where you can get decent prostitutes", he answered. (ah to! as my friend would say) But the adverse effect of these concoctions and drinks is not exhausted yet. A couple of years ago, the Lagos State government banned the sale of Paraga and other alcoholic drinks at its motor parks. It attributed the high level of recklessness of commercial drivers and their conductors on Lagos roads on the alcohol content of these concoctions readily available at motor parks. Today, these hawkers are not only back in business at the motor parks but brazenly display their wares too and everyone has forgotten about the edict. If the safety of lives on our roads is not much of concern, what about the health condition of our people and the economic effect of managing serious illnesses relating to kidney, liver or the big C? (Cancer) Excessive alcohol consumption has been identified by experts to play a role in the development of diseases affecting these organs. And no one needs to be told that these cases are now at an all time high, same with high blood pressure and the silent killer, heart attack, for aphrodisiacs causes increase in rate of heart beat and flow of blood to the sex organ, its main function anyways.

As if to buttress this, the guys informed me that one of their friends recently died as a result of prolonged painful erection. Apparently, he had drugged himself with the intention of having a field day with his lover. But after several hours of an unrelenting stiffness, it became obvious that something had gone wrong and he eventually died in the hospital. Priapism is a medical condition in which the erect penis fails to return

to a flaccid state after six hours, despite physical and psychological stimulation. If proper medical treatment by a qualified medical practitioner is not accessible, it can result into severe and life threatening conditions such as damage to the penile tissues, erectile dysfunction, disfigurement of the penis (shortened penis), severe vascular disease of the penis and penile gangrene. In a bid to avoid shame and stigmatisation, guys affected by this condition often do not report on time, which might perhaps lead to death as in the story told by these young men. I also recall an incidence that occurred way back in the late 80s involving an acquaintance (my friend's friend) fondly called Danike (not his real name I guess). Suddenly, Danike began walking around dressed in traditional Agbada to everyone's chagrin until he confessed to his close pals that he was suffering from the pains of an erection that refused to go down. But the gist back then was that Danike was entangled in a sexual affair with another man's wife and the man was responsible for his condition. Soon, Danike's condition deteriorated so badly that he could no longer wear the trousers to his Agbada and he finally died. On second thoughts now, I suspect that Danike must have suffered from priapism and had been mismanaged or not treated at all. After all, no one ever identified his supposed married lover not to mention arresting her and her husband if the gist was true. yet, for all these troubles, scientists insist that that aphrodisiacs are myths created by the mind and body and have very little or no scientific basis. Though this position is still classified as inconclusive with further studies still going on, scientist insists that for anything to qualify as an aphrodisiac it must be capable of creating sexual desire and not improving on ability and performance like they mostly do. But experts on aphrodisiacs insist that they work in two ways; there are those that create sexual desire by working on the body and those that create desire by working on the mind.

For instance, a substance that increases blood flow to the sex organs will stimulate the feelings of sexual intercourse and create desire just as there are things that can make our bodies produce more of the chemicals associated with sexual desire and these include certain foods, herbs and minerals as mentioned earlier. In order to determine if a thing works, you must understand what it is supposed to do when administered. Basically, our level of sexual desire is determined by our hormones and in this case, testosterones.

If the balance of testosterone in the body is right, things will function as expected and if not, will be affected. If you don't have enough of this hormone, then your interest in sex will decline.

Other factors that may affect sexual desire and performance include medical conditions such as diabetes, stress, fatigue, depression, lack of exercise and sedentary life style, to mention a few. Old age, especially in men, affects the libido especially when there is decline in testosterone and increase in estrogen which slows them down. So, it is not unlikely to find men who have been very sexually active in their middle age, begin too slow down once they hit on 50 years plus.

For those who swear by aphrodisiacs and their efficacy, it is instructive to note that they are also addictive and may eventually be detrimental to natural sexual desire and ability. A more healthy approach to sex, especially psychologically, might just be all you need to get your peckers up and going at optimal performance level. It takes two to tango, they say (or more these days, depending on preference) and sex is meant for the mutual pleasure and benefit of those involved. It is not a game to be lost and won, especially where life and wellbeing matter.

Love, care and understanding also has a role to play in sexual experiences.

Finally, everyday is not Christmas, except that sometimes Mr. John may not perform as well as he normally does, or may desire to. Just as body no be wood, body no be machine also. After all, even a flag must fly at half mast sometimes.

Please, share your views/experience or that of someone you know concerning this issue with me via email address: yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk, especially if you wish that your contribution be published on this column. Do have a wonderful weekend!

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

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Federal High court in Abuja presided over by Justice Ahmed Mohammed on Wednesday set aside the summons by the House of Representatives on the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to appear before it to answer to allegations that some ten billion naira was spent on a private aircraft charter.

Justice Mohammed in his ruling voided the invitation by the House on the ground that the conditions precedent in line with Section 88 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, were breached by the lower chamber of the National Assembly in summoning the Minister.

The Court held that the conditions were that the House was to publish in the National Assembly journal and the gazette of the Federal Government, the resolution directing the probe of the Minister; noting that the procedure was not followed accordingly.

Justice Mohammed in the judgment also held that until the conditions precedent are followed, the National Assembly could not issue summons on any public officer for the purpose of investigation.

Cour ASS frfrom om Courtt ssttops N NASS summoning PPeetr oleum Minis troleum Ministter

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Qatar Minister of Energy, Alhaji Mohammed Ben-Saleh Alsada (M) flanked by Nigerian Ambassador to Qatar, Alhaji Shuaibu A. Ahmed (R) and Secretary General Mr. Seyed Mohammed Hussien Adeli (Left) and Ministers of Gas Exporting Countries Forum at the 16th Ministerial Meeting held in DHA QATAR DEC 16 2014.

The court also ruled that in the instant case, the permission of the President was not needed before the Minister could appear before the National Assembly, because the allegation against the Minister was on unofficial use of public funds to

hire a private aircraft. The court however advised any public officer to always honour invitations once the conditions precedent are followed because the National Assembly has powers to summon any public officer.

Alison-Madueke records another first as she’s appointed president of GECF

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arely three weeks after her election as the first female President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been appointed as the President of the Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), the first woman to be so appointed by the body.

The appointment was announced earlier today in Doha, Qatar, at the th ongoing 16 Ministerial Conference of the GECF. Mrs. Alison-Madueke who could not attend the meeting because of her involvement in the ongoing negotiations to end the oil workers’ strike was represented at the meeting by the Nigerian Ambassador to Qatar, His Excellency Shuaibu A. Ahmed.

The GECF is an intergovernmental organization established in Tehran, Iran, in 2001, to serve as a platform to promote the exchange of experience, views, information and coordination in global gas exploration and production trends; current and anticipated supplydemand balance for gas; worldwide gas exploration, production and transportation technologies; the structure and development of gas markets (regional and global), amongst other common issues that pertain to the exploration, production and trade in natural gas.

LNG Vessel: NLNG allocates $10m contract to Nigerian firms

Nigerian Ambassador to Qatar, Alhaji Shuaibu A. Ahmed (M) Alternate Chairman of Executive Board GECF, Mr. Gabbidon Meheux and Group Executive Director Gas and Power, Mr David Ige briefing Nigerian Press at the 16th Ministerial Meeting held in DHA QATAR DEC 16 2014.

The Forum is made up of 12 of the world’s leading producers of natural gas. It controls over 70% of global natural gas reserves, 85% of global liquefied natural gas production, and 38% of global pipeline trade of the product.

Members include Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya and Nigeria. Others are: Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. Other countries that enjoy observer-member status of

the forum include Kazakhstan, Iraq, the Netherlands, Norway and Oman.

The GECF session where Mrs Alison-Madueke was appointed as President was attended by ministers from Algeria, Iran, Libya, Qatar, Russia, UAE, as well as heads of delegations from Bolivia, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Trinidad and Tobago Venezuela, Netherlands, Norway and Oman.

everal Nigerian companies taking part in the supply of products for building Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited’s six new ships,stand to reap about $10million in revenues.

NLNG, in a statement by Kudo Eresia-Eke, General Manager, External Relations Division, said that its subsidiary company, Bonny Gas Transport (BGT) Limited, in 2013 contracted the building of the new vessels to South Korean shipbuilders, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), and successfully leveraged to include a unique local content clause which enables the concerned Nigerian companies to benefit from substantial vessel construction material export contracts.

According to him, Paints and Coatings Manufacturers Nigeria (PCMN) Limited is among the key local companybeneficiaries, and on its part has already shipped 66,000 out of an agreed 388,000 litres of paint to Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea.

Other companies which have also already exported products to South Korea, he said, include Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, which has exported 33,000 of its 83,000-litre quota, worth over $1 million and Metec West Africa, which has exported two hundred and ten tonnes (210) of anodes, valued at USD 2.5million.

He further stated that Nexans Kabelmetal Limited, another notable beneficiary, recently shipped 180,000 metres of cables costing over $1 million to the South Korean shipyards.

Also speaking, Captain Temi Okesanjo, NLNG’s General Manager, Shipping, said, “The achievements recorded

by Nexans Kabelmetal, Berger Paint Nigeria Plc, Metec West Africa and other Nigerian manufacturers, add to the success of our vessel acquisition project.

He explained that the benefits from this project do not stop at exports, adding that Berger Paints and Kumkang Korea Chemicals Limited (KCC), a South Korean company, and technical partner to HHI, for example, will exchange staff in a special technology transfer programme.”

“By the end of this project, NLNG would have helped the concerned local companies acquire the necessary capacity and know how, to successfully compete with peers from all around the developed world.

This is consistent with NLNG’s vision to help build a better Nigeria.” Okesanjo added.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , DECEMBER 20, 2014—45

BY EZEKIEL GREG OMAFUME

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HREE years ago, Nigeria was in the frenzied grip of another sort of campaign. There were intense arguments for, and against the planned removal of fuel subsidy. By January 2012, organised Labour paralysed the country with a nationwide strike that had echoes of similar work stoppages in the preceding decade when fuel prices were increased rather peremptorily. In the heat of the debate, anyone could have been forgiven for being cynically dismissive of the Federal Government’s insistent pledge of what it would do with its own share of the savings from the partial withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

Now, three years later, it is fair to ask whether the cynics have seen their worst fears materialise. On the contrary, there is growing evidence that the Federal Government is keeping faith with its pledge of judicious use of its accruals arising from the fuel subsidy removal.

In 2006, the Federal Government awarded the dualisation of the Abuja-AbajiLokoja highway. But the project languished in the doldrums owing to inadequate geological surveys occasioning poor design, and majorly the abject lack of funding, as the annual budget of the Federal Ministry of Works could hardly make any impact. Contractors abandoned their various sites on the Lots. Since 2012, following the launch of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) by the Federal Government, the story of the project has changed dramatically: the Abuja-AbajiLokoja Expressway is now a reality.

Similarly, for more than two decades, the Benin-OreSagamu Expressway had collapsed, and the remedial patchwork that often was carried out on that critical arterial road was as laughable as it was dangerous. SURE-P funding is now making a huge difference that is clearly measurable in the reduced travel times on that route. The Benin-Ore part of the Expressway has been totally reconstructed, while work is proceeding determinedly on the Ore-Sagamu axis. Indeed, the story is the same with the on-going total reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which has a basket of funding to which SURE-P is contributory.

Move over to the Loko-Oweto bridge that connects Nasarawa and Benue states, and SURE-P funding is the reason the project is already more than 65 per cent complete, not to reference the hundreds of direct and indirect jobs being created in the process.

Furthermore, the SURE-P wallet is one of the assured sources for financing the much-delayed Second Niger Bridge, the authentic groundbreaking ceremony of which was performed this year by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Evaluating SURE-P three years on After many sorrowful years for commuters, the East-West Road in the South-South was at about 22 per cent completion in early 2012 when SURE-P was created. Within two years of injecting funds, the East-West Road has notched more than 70 per cent completion with a new lot added, not to mention overcoming the havoc wreaked by the floods of 2012.

The Lagos-Kano rail line that represents the Western line of Nigerian Railways is active today with regular commuter and cargo traffic, because of massive supplementary funding by SURE-P. The Eastern corridor, which runs from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, has also witnessed tremendous rehabilitation, on account of SURE-P financing. But one must also add that the brand new standard gauge rail line from Kaduna-Abuja is a dream come true because SURE-P weighed in with funds.

It is also deploying resources of up to N10 billion in support of the Abuja light rail project that is expected to ease intracity transportation upon completion.

The 21-member Committee that manages SURE-P as a unique interventionist agency was established on February 13, 2012, after the smoke cleared from the protests against the partial withdrawal of subsidy. The mandate is the judicious and transparent application of the Federal Government’s 41 per cent share of the subsidy savings.

The funds accruing to the Federal Government are domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). All the 36 states of the federation and the 774 local governments are entitled jointly to 54 per cent of the subsidy savings, while the remaining five per cent goes to Ecological Fund, as well as cost of collection.

SURE-P started receiving funds in July 2012. From then until now, it has received a total of N441 billion, according to Dr Bright Okogu, DirectorGeneral of the Federal Budget Office.

The Programme has an annual allocation of N180 billion, but its receipts so far have been N126 billion (2012), N180 billion (2013), and N135

Since 2012, following the launch of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) by the Federal Government, the story of the project has changed dramatically: the AbujaAbajiLokoja Expressway is now a reality

billion (2014). SURE-P operates through specialised sub-committees and project implementation units that are embedded in, but insulated as much as practicable from the stifling bureaucracy in relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

SURE-P does not choose or award contracts on behalf of the MDAs. However, projects and programmes that are targeted for funding are evaluated by SURE-P in-house technical staff and outside consultants where necessary, to certify work done, before payment certificates are approved. The payment certificates are then forwarded to the Federal Budget Office, which scrutinizes the certificates, before advising the CBN, which credits the contractor’s account.

So, you are not likely to find contractors milling around the SURE-P offices, begging for payment. This approach, no doubt, has boosted the confidence of contractors handling the infrastructure projects, hence the rapid milestones they have achieved in so short a time.

SURE-P is focused primarily on critical infrastructure projects and social safety net programmes, which directly and positively impact on the people. The infrastructure projects include roads, bridges, and railway, the progress report of which is highlighted in the preceding paragraphs of this piece. On the other hand, the social safety net programmes cover mass transit; maternal and child health; community service, women and youth empowerment (incorporating the Graduate Internship Scheme); public works (under the aegis of the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency—FERMA); vocational training, as well as culture and tourism.

If SURE-P can crow about its achievements in infrastructure intervention, it can crow even louder about the impact of aspects of its social safety net programme, which are not as visible as roads and bridges. Let us take it for granted that the major works in railways and on roads and bridges are

generating jobs. Yet many more jobs are being created in the course of executing the social safety net programmes. No fewer than 12,400 youths have been engaged in maintaining 40 priority federal highways nationwide under the FERMA Public Works project. In the same vein, more than 120,000 jobs have been created for the youth, women, and physically challenged across the federation, under the Community, Social, Women and Youth Empowerment programme. This is just as thousands of graduates have taken advantage of the Graduate Internship Scheme that prepares them for employment, even as they receive monthly stipends.

By far the most remarkable is the landmark success in the Maternal and Child Healthcare programme. The programme is designed to increase the supply of skilled health workers to offer maternal and child health services at the primary health care (PHC) level, undertake infrastructural renovations to PHC centres, raise supply of essential commodities at PHC facilities with a view to upscaling service delivery, and above all to increase demand for maternal and child health care services in underserved and rural communities by deploying conditional cash transfers. As at August 2014, SURE-P had recruited nationwide 11,912 health care workers made up of 2,811 midwives, 3,133 community health extension workers (CHEWs), and 5,966 female village health workers.

Between October 2012 and March 2014, an estimated 766,308 pregnant women received antenatal care services; 106,537 babies were also delivered alive by skilled birth attendants, while 67,363 women accepted modern contraception, according to data supplied by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency. Indeed, Mama Kits and the conditional cash transfer are popular among those who patronise the PHC facilities where SURE-P services are on offer.

Cumulatively, the measures, and results from the maternal and child Health programme of SURE-P are helping Nigeria meet Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, by drastically reducing maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity in the country.

Three years ago, who could have believed that the successes recorded thus far by SURE-P were possible? No one can assert that SURE-P is perfect; but it has shown what 41 per cent has achieved, and what lies ahead. If only we could also tally the aggregate positive showing of states and local governments with their combined 54 per cent receipts, we would have a much happier picture that the firm promises of partial subsidy withdrawal are being kept.

Ezekiel Greg Omafume, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja.

46—SA TURD AY 46—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , DECEMBER 20, 2014

Lagos 2015: How PDP got it wrong

BY DEMOLA OLAREWAJU hat the PDP has one or two things to learn from the APC, especially in the conduct of intra-party primaries and elections, is becoming clearer by the day. In fact, one thing the APC has proven adept at doing is listening to the voice of the public and adapting to it.

The APC in my opinion has demonstrated high political strategy by picking a presidential candidate from the north who is also a Muslim. It is a clever move. In politics, one picks a candidate who is clearly different from the candidate of the opposition.

Therefore, since the incumbent President is a Christian from the South, APC would have been foolish to pick an Amaechi or an Oshiomhole , both Christians from the South.

In picking a candidate that is very different from the incumbent, APC is forcing the electorate to make a clear choice. It is a smart political move that the PDP in Lagos must learn from.

In Lagos State, APC picked its gubernatorial candidate in the person of Akinwunmi Ambode and here are four features of the man: Christian, from the Ikorodu/Epe divisions, never held political office, and backed by godfather Tinubu. High political strategy would suggest PDP seizing such an opportunity to present a candidate with entirely different antecedents such as Obanikoro: Muslim, from Lagos Island, held several political offices, has no godfather. But some PDP elders prefer Agbaje: Christian, from the Ikorodu/Epe divisions, never held political office, backed by godfathers Bode George and Seye Ogunlewe.

Voters think in a particular way: all politicians are the same – this is the case of an Agbaje and an Ambode. More importantly, voters must be made aware of the opportunity cost of the electoral vote: if I vote this person, what am I losing in the other person? With an Obanikoro, the opportunity cost of voting an Ambode may be experience and a leader who is not teleguided but with an Agbaje – what really is the opportunity cost of voting Ambode? See why APC’s choice of Buhari to confront President Goodluck Jonathan should be a lessopn?

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Ambode

Agbaje

But someone may ask, but why not Atiku who is also a northerner and a Muslim, a clear difference from the incumbent President?

This is where the APC political thinking blew my mind: a politician with an image problem but a loyal group of supporters and a political machinery must always be chosen above one with a good image who lacks loyal supporters and a political machinery. That is because a bad image can be fixed in a short time but a loyal group of supporters and effective political machinery cannot be built in the same period.

Read the above paragraph again, slowly this time to get the point and then let’s do the following comparative analysis: The only area where Atiku trumps Buhari is that more people love Atiku in the South than they like Buhari. The only area where it may be argued that Agbaje can come close to Obanikoro is that people loved Agbaje’s 2007 mien more than they loved Obanikoro whose image was consistently bashed by the ACN media of the time. But men like

Obanikoro

Buhari and Obanikoro have something that men like Atiku and Agbaje do not have: they have loyal troops and they have political machineries that can deliver steady numbers consistently.

The drawback with men like Buhari and Obanikoro is that their image has in the past suffered some media bashing: Buhari is accused of being a religious fundamentalist and Obanikoro accused of some rascality. What does one do about it? Fly a kite, test the waters. Those snazzy pictures of Buhari high-fiving his kid, of his beautiful wife and so on – those were kites being flown, an image being changed. Seeing that Buhari’s image could be worked on, APC stuck with him as candidate. Have you also seen the snazzy Obanikoro pictures and the excellent packaging of his declaration event? Those were kites and in the past months a lot has been done to shore up his image.

But Buhari and a man like Obanikoro have something that

stands them out in any political strategic thinking: a group of loyalists willing to stand by their principal through thick and thin and political machinery that delivers the voting numbers. APC knew it could work on Buhari’s image but could not rely on Atiku’s loyalists.

PDP choosing an Agbaje who has never won any election from councillor to state house of assembly will be a disaster in Lagos and the facts are obvious: Senator Obanikoro’s camp successfully produced as much as 70% of the PDP House of Assembly candidates in Lagos, 60% of the House of Representatives candidates and 100% of the senatorial candidates. So to reject him will be to leave this support base without a leader, without passion for the party and without direction: one does not need to be a Sun Tzu to see that the result will be a rout for the ruling APC. Most important as elections boil down to one crucial factor on Election Day: the ability of your polling agents to resist the other parties and also to canvass voters on the line or get them out of their houses to vote.

Obanikoro has Election Day political machinery that can do this; Agbaje’s political machinery is owned by Bode George who has never won his own polling unit since 1999. Even with the gang-up of Ogunlewe and Bode George, Agbaje struggled to get 432 delegates votes while in the face of all sorts of tactics from Bode George telling the delegates not to vote a Muslim as the party candidate to Ogunlewe saying that the party leadership had resolved to go with Agbaje to the violence unleashed on delegates which reduced the numbers from 874 to 806 accredited voting delegates and finally the magical appearance of votes from 806 to a final tally of 865, Obanikoro pulled a whopping 343 delegate votes.

Fortunately, Section 19, subsections (d) and (m) of the Election Guideline of PDP was breached in the area of time of accreditation of the delegates and in the instance of overvoting. The party guidelines are clear: a rerun must be held. If the only thing against Obanikoro is his image but he comes with the asset of loyalists and well-oiled political machinery, the PDP must borrow a leaf from the APC and choose him as its Lagos gubernatorial candidate because a false image can be corrected but loyalists cannot be replaced in two months.

Demola writes from Lagos

Stomac as tructure’ as political cchicaner hicaner omachh infr infras astructure’ hicaneryy — Lagos state government and Okada riders

DR UGOJI EGBUJO ommercial motorcyclists popularly known as ‘Okada riders’ are back on Lagos roads and I know why.

They are back without number plates, without headlamps, without helmets, without scruples, without regard for rules.

Their glances are furtive, their ways menacing, they dart carelessly freely and stop abruptly. There is something clandestine about their re-emergence and they betray a suspicion that they will be around on the prohibited routes only for a short while. The regulatory agencies that a couple of months ago harassed, hounded and hunted Okada riders now conveniently ignore their ubiquitous presence. The Lagos state government had, while insisting that Okada riders could not ply certain roads, reminded us that they were only enforcing provisions of the traffic codes. Governor Fashola, reputed for strict enforcement of laws, who had personally led the fight against okada riders, is strangely uninterested. It’s so strange that it’s nearly comical. Lagos State Government’s Okada volte-face should be inexplicable, but coming after Ekiti, one can fathom the indifference. The return of Okadas to Lagos highways is a tragedy and many Lagosians are not amused. A government that has led the way in restoration of order has capitulated so shamefacedly and now

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Okada riders (Inset) Gov Fashola blames the police for the return of Okada riders. But we know better.

Thousands had their Okadas destroyed some months ago and many of them watch in disbelief as okada riders ply freely the prohibited routes.

This absurdity is a child of the strange thing that happened in Ekiti a couple of months ago.

Stomach infrastructure or stomach politics as it as come to be known has always been part of the political strategy of all our politicians and political parties past and present. In the face of crippling poverty and shackling ignorance it is understandable why many Nigerians

seek instant gratifications from politicians in exchange for their votes.

In a land where government policies are ephemeral and promises by politicians are loose and cheap.

Governor Fayose’s victory in Ekiti elevated the discourse of stomach politics to a new high ground.

Ekiti was a lesson to all politicians. Ekiti presented many lessons. Good and bad lessons. That the wishes of the people count and that the ordinary people cannot be taken for granted. That the people may have prioritized stomach infrastructure above physical infrastructure, pecuniary benefit over

tangible enduring benefits, is a political tragedy of grave implications. Yet this tragedy was in a sense inevitable.

In Lagos, a different but very deceitful tactic was employed. The government has chosen to continue to insist that Okadas are banned on the highways.

Cheap sophistry. They blame the police.

Laughable. They cannot explain why Okadas they had taken off the highways for many months have now besieged Lagos highways and why they have refused to act. At least in Edo, Oshiomole was candid enough to announce a reversal of the decision on teachers.

Candour of the impotent. The APC in Lagos, in an effort to exonerate the government and the party, insinuated that the PDP promised the okada riders a reprieve if the PDP won elections in the state. But because it is the party of progressives, the party of change, the APC spokesman did not go far enough, did not tell truth, did not say that APC has then decided to give the Okada riders instant reprieve in exchange for their votes. Shameless and shortsighted opportunism. It is painful that arguably the best governors in Nigeria cannot stand up for what is right even if that would cost them many votes. Hints of demagoguery. some say you need to win elections before you can bring real change.

Dr Ugoji Egbujo. MBBS, LLB, LLm ( Medical Doctor and Criminologist)

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

PRINCE OBARO UNUAFE,

D

r. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Governor of Delta State is an achiever who would prefer his works to speak for him rather than flaunt them on the pages of Newspapers. True to his nature, Dr. Uduaghan devoted the most part of his first term (2007 – 2011) to creating a peaceful environment for genuine enterprise to thrive. His three point agenda of Peace and Security, Human Capital Development and Infrastructure Development became the centre point of his developmental programmes.

His Delta beyond oil mantra signaled the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.

Every developmental imperative must be anchored on a future Delta that is less dependent on oil resource. It is therefore not surprising that he first tackled the challenges of insecurity that beset his administration such as kidnapping, armed robbery and communal unrests. Having secured a safe state for investors to come in, he began to improve on critical infrastructure especially in the areas of education and health.

In education, Dr. Uduaghan commenced an ambitious upgrading of some primary and secondary schools as well as building new ones. Some of the Primary and Secondary Schools he upgraded are GRA Model Primary School, Asaba, St. Patricks College, Asaba, AbuAtor Primary School, Agbeje

Vanguard , DECEMBER 20, 2014—47

Delta State Governor’s silent revolution in Education, Health

The Delta State Unversity Teaching Hospital, Oghara

GRA Model Primary School, Asaba, Primary School, Ugbuwangue, A.G.G.S Ozoro, Asagba Primary School, Asaba, Atuwase II Model School, Warri, Cavegina Primary School, Warri and Emede Grammar School, Emede. Others are Etako Primary School, Oghara, Government College, Ughelli, Igbudu Primary School, Warri and a host of others too numerous to mention here. In order to assist students of Delta State origin in secondary and tertiary institutions to excel Dr. Uduaghan’s government pays WAEC and NECO exam fees for them to take the burden of such fees from parents and guardians.

Uduaghan also offers bursary and scholarship to deserving

Delta State students in higher institutions. Most outstanding, however, is the grant he gives to st 1 class university graduates to pursue degrees in any university of their choice in the world.

In Health, Dr. Uduaghan has built a first class primary health care system that is second to none. Apart from massive renovations and upgrading of medical facilities all over the state, Uduaghan has also build a 100 bed integrated mother and child care complex in the precincts of the Central Hospital, Warri as well as the General Hospital, Ekpan to complement his free maternal and under-five free health care programme. The Eku

Government Baptist Hospital, a 200 bed facility has been taken over from its former owners by the Delta State Government and re-equipped with state of the art medical facilities. Also a 23 bed mobile field hospital with 10 fully equipped ambulances has been commissioned to boost the state’s health care delivery. To Uduaghan’s credit is the medical feat achieved by the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara which recently recorded a successful kidney transplant.

As Dr. Uduaghan prepares to vacate office by May 29, 2015 , it is expected that his successor will not only maintain the level of health care delivery in Delta

2015: You may take

money of politicians but vote according to your conscience, Clergy tells Nigerians

BY AYO ONIKOYI

In this interview, the President of the Nigerian Women in Clergy, Nonnie

Robertson has expresses serious fear over the 2015 general election, saying that the election may turn violent if current security issues are not addressed and the election is not suspended.

Excerpts: What has your group, Women in Clergy been up to lately?

The period has been very busy for us locally and globally. When you look at the things that have been happening in the country, especially the killings and spilling of blood by the Boko Haram insurgents and the non-release of the Chibok girls, you will agree that the country is going through a herculean time.

We are in crisis as a nation; whether you like it or not and as a Christian

Nonnie Robertson organization, we have come to recognize that this is not just about prayers as we have earnestly done, so we decided to travel up north to access the situation ourselves. With what we saw and heard, we discovered that those of us in Abuja and those in the southern part of the country don’t even know what is really going on.

Are you saying that government has not been handling the Boko Haram insurgency right?

They may think they are handling it right, but the result they are getting should tell them if they are handling it right or not. In everything, the result tells. And in certain things, you need to keep changing strategy.

You said earlier that we should for once leave politics aside; does that mean that the problem is politically motivated?

My candid opinion is that it is both politically and religiously motivated. But whatever it is, it is a wicked motivation; fight whoever you want to fight and leave the innocent masses out of it. Why kill the innocent? Why kill these little ones? What have they done? What is going on? It really does not make any sense.

State but also strive to improve upon it. Dr. Uduaghan’s legacies in the areas of education and health should not be allowed to deteriorate, for to do so is to render a disservice to a visionary leader who restored hope in some critical areas of our social and economic life.

PRINCE OBARO UNUAFE, NATIONAL COORDINATOR, CAMPAIGN FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE 07030551551.

Email: obarology2@yahoo.com

The 2015 general elections are around the corner and one constant slogan we have been hearing lately is change, especially coming from the All Progressives Congress, APC; is it change from PDP to APC the country needs at this point?

Almost all these people talking about change were once in the PDP, almost all of them; so for me, it is no longer a party thing. My prayer is that the right candidates who will do the will of God should emerge.

What are your fears for the 2015 general elections?

My fears? I know the president is going to win the presidential election because I prayed and a lot others have prayed too.

The sceptre has not been taken away from him, but it is going to be very close and intense.

I don’t want to use the word fears but concerns; most of the top politicians have moved their children abroad. Their children are no longer here. I wish parents can talk to their children so that they are not used as political thugs.

There are people who think the elections should be cancelled for now because of the current wave of insecurity in the country; do you subscribe to this?

I wish they can heed that call and cancel the elections because there could be violence and there will be victims.

What role is your organisation playing in all these?

We have been praying and fasting but as you know, faith without work is dead. We are getting involved. We are working with a lot of female aspirants, trying to encourage and push them. The next thing is to embark on a mass sensitisation project to tell Nigerians what is expected of them. Votes will count this time around; so we will encourage people to vote based on their individual conviction. We will tell them to collect their money and rice if they bring them, but vote your conscience.

48 —SATURDAY SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

Harnessing Our Diaspora Citizens

N

igeria and many other African and third world countries have been contributing to the development of Western economy since the time of slavery and colonialism mainly through human capital.

Granted that the conditions for self development as well as self involvement in both community and national developments are well laid out and quiet conducive in the developed western countries of Europe and America, but what is happening now, whereby very many professionals as well as unskilled and unclassified able bodied workers migrate in drones from Africa to Europe and America need very serious attention.

It is complicated. I do not know how it is going to be possible to restrain an intelligent person from being where he is most comfortable. Most African and Nigerian intellectuals, professionals and technocrats are more comfortable in Europe and America and that is why they are there.

I do not know whether anybody has carefully calculated the number (even an approximate) of Nigerian professionals who work in Europe and America.

Sometime in February

this year, during the Black History Month, I was in Baton Rouge Louisiana, to attend the annual conference of National Association of African American Studies (& Affiliates).

A professor from Jackson State University, whose country of origin is Cameroun, made a presentation in which he revealed the statistics of Africans from different African countries that have so far benefitted from the US Diversity Visa programme, popularly known as Visa Lottery. His main argument is towards ascertaining the profitability of the Diversity Visa Programme to African countries. Well, his conclusion is easy to guess at: while there are measured benefits to African countries, there are immeasurable benefits to the host America.

I am particularly interested in the ways that Nigeria can derive maximum benefits from her citizens in diapora.

While I agree with the point that diaspora is of immense help, to both host countries and countries of origin, I want to seek ways of making our country retrieve our talents that are contributing exponentially to the development of other countries. I do realize that we live in an era, according to Tanure

Ojaide, “When it no longer matters where you live,” but I think it should matter where you train and where you make investments (by investment here, I do not mean just monetary economics, but beyond: I mean more of human capital). In essence, I am particular about Nigerians, who trained in Nigeria and who have not invested in

While I agree with the point that diaspora is of immense help, to both host countries and countries of origin, I want to seek ways of making our country retrieve our talents that are contributing exponentially to the development of other countries Nigeria. I mean those who benefitted from Nigerian government funding, whether in Nigerian institutions or foreign institutions (on scholarship); also those who are trained by the

Traditional wedding Traditional wedding between former Miss Toritseju Oyowe, daughter of Mr and Mrs Augustine Oyowe and Mr Oluyori Olutimayin held at the residence of Oyowes at Magodo, Lagos. Pixs Lamidi BamideleMr Oluyori Olutimayin, groom, his wife Toritseju and bride's parents Mr Augustine Oyowe and Mrs Florence Oyowe during the traditional marriage.

Mrs Oluremi Olutimayin (3rd right) and other members of the Olutimayin family

hard sweet of Nigerian parents who were supported by government employment and other structures to raise funds; who are now scattered all over Europe and America, and have not been able to give back to the society that has given them so much.

For instance, one should know that Nigerians, who attend federal universities do not pay tuition fees and a lot of other requirements are also heavily subsidized by government.

Government thus put in a lot of resources in training professionals, in the universities and other institutions of higher learning.

For instance, one can only imagine how much resources are expended in the training of a medical doctor, a pharmacist, a nurse, etc.

If much is spent, will it not be heartbreaking to see the products of the efforts of government and individual Nigerians render the services they acquired, primarily for the benefit of their society to societies other than theirs.

I want to suggest that such Nigerians as these, who are living and working in the developed countries of Europe and America should be engaged in very meaningful ways by Nigeria.

There is, interestingly, a committee of the Federal House of Representatives on Diaspora.

I have heard the chairperson of the committee make comments on the Nigerian diaspora but most times, she addresses problems.

Like any other issue in our country it is the usual waiting for problems to

arise and then responding with possible and available solutions.

I think we should start preempting problems and strategically moving ahead with solutions so that the pains of problems will be minimized. Back to my suggestions! Charity, they say, begins at home.

Therefore, I will start from my constituency, the academia. While I was in the diaspora, I was a faculty at a liberal Arts college in Texas and in the same school were six other Nigerians.

When I indicated that I was relocating to Nigeria, virtually all others felt the same way.

I had an advantage over them; I already had an employment at the University of Lagos while they believed that if they returned, they would be thrown into the uncertain labour market. It would be excruciating for such well established academics to face uncertainties, so they would rather not return.

This is certainly not all, because quiet a handful of my friends in other institutions as well as the professionals in corporate America, also would love to return.

However, there is still the problem of what to face, in terms of employment.

These Nigerians may not be shinning so bright that the dark clouds disappear at their appearance, but in little ways, they are capable to making a mark in our near virgin society.

For instance, my colleague in Texas, a Bini born scientist, Dr. Sam Igue runs a Genetics laboratory and has made great discoveries in DNA projects. Dr. Ejike Eze has mid-wifed a language acquisition

center in Boston, where as we read this now, more about 50 Igbo Americans are learning Igbo Language and more than 20 are on the waiting list for admission into the courses. Dr. Clement Adegoke, another colleague of mine was burning with a scientific desire to contribute to renewable energy through the harnessing of solar in our country. Tom Biko od Dell Systems in Texas once expressed that he was willing to work for Nigeria, without remuneration on Computer Information Technology. Where does one start and where does one end? The list is endless. What can we do with or about these great minds?

I came up with the suggestion that Nigeria should engage them and my constituency; the academia should take the lead. In simple terms, the Academic Institutions should establish a project that could be called R E E T U R N I N G F E L L O W S PROGRAMME. This programme should advertise for Nigerians in diaspora, capable of contributing to our national development and willing to do so to respond.

The returnees should be given conditions similar to the existing conditions in their countries of residence and be encouraged to do what they do in their countries of residence in their countries of origin.

Then other sectors, both private and public, can draw upon this initiative and I believe, much of the statements and criticisms from the diaspora and about the diaspora will naturally be taken care of.

Fuel scarcity: NUPENG, PENGASSAN suspend strike

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

T

HE two unions in the oil and gas sector, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, have suspended the three day warning strike which led to a nation-wide fuel scarcity.

In a prolonged meeting that started about 5pm Thursday and ended about 6am of Friday on the instance of the Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki both the government and the two unions were able to reach an agreement including the reinstatement of the

sacked oil workers.

Some of the resolutions reached after the 13 hour meeting as contained in the communiqué made available to Saturday Vanguard include, the

reinstate of Mrs. Elo Victor-Ogbondah, the Port Harcourt Zonal Secretary of PENGASSAN who was transferred and sacked

by Total E & P Nigeria Limited.

APC raises alarm over purchase of PVC

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over the antics of a certain political party that has engaged in buying Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) with a view to disenfranchising the owners of such cards, especially in opposition strongholds.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said while such purchased

PVCs may not be transferable, those who are buying them are doing so to reduce the votes in the opposition strongholds and improve the chances of their own party at the polls. ‘’We appeal to our supporters in particular and all Nigerians in general not to sell their PVCs, because this will amount to mortgaging the future of their children just because of a paltry 1,000 Naira,’’ it said. ‘’Your voter ’s card is your power to help forge the much-needed positive change in our country.

Protect it!’’

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

C M Y K

Vanguard , DECEMBER 20, 2014 — 49

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

IMPEACHMENT PLOTS:

adjourned to the 16th, so, by that date the impeachment notice will be presented on the floor of the senate.

“Before the end of today, I can assure you that the list will swell up to 70. It is on the impeachment day that we need two-third of the members to carry out the exercise but we need only one-third, which we already have, to initiate the process. It is just a matter of one day sitting. We will just push it before the two chambers.”

Then, came another twist even before the Dec. 16 resumption as there was another allegation from some Senators who also hid on the condition of anonymity to claim that some of the Senators have agreed that the Senate President, David Mark should be impeached because he was unable to negotiate the 2015 return ticket for members with the Presidency and the NWC of the PDP. A senator who claimed to be privy to the ‘phantom’ impeachment plot alleged that, “the plan has changed. We never expected the party to treat us this way. We stood by the party when there was turbulence occasioned by the emergence of the new PDP. “There was a plot then to impeach the same leadership but we stepped in and stopped it with our sheer number. In fact, we used our personal contacts to talk to the organisers and they backed down. We prevailed on them not to rock the boat more so as the Seventh Senate had just a few months to go.

“We thought the party would take note of what we did and reward our loyalty. Rather, we were not even protected in these primaries. Can you imagine the party leaving us at the mercy of state governors?” However, the Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in a statement titled, “Senators Are United Behind Mark” described the report as “false” the media reports purporting a plot by some aggrieved senators to remove the President of the Senate, Senator David A.B. Mar. Abaribe said that the report was unfounded and only existed in the imagination of its authors, adding that “senators operating as a body of one united family, have never at any time found any ground to move against its leadership or even thwart the long-standing camaraderie the upper chamber is known for, irrespective of political party affiliation.

“The senate has a tested internal mechanism, which has severally been ably deployed by the President of the senate and members of his leadership to tackle any difficult issues that arise within and outside the chamber. “Such mechanisms and channels are inexhaustible and shall always be deployed by the leadership of the senate, as it always does when the need arises.

“Senators have implicit confidence in the leadership of the Senate ably led by Senator Mark and there is nothing now to suggest or confer any iota of truth on the media insinuation of any form of schism that could warrant the removal of the President of the Senate.” He advised journalists to exercise restraint on the reportage of issues that are not factual. With this and other pending matters in the senate, it was expected that the Dec 16 sitting was going to be turbulent, but behold, both Senator Jajere and his aggrieved PDP colleagues were nowhere to be found. Efforts made to talk to Senator Jajere yielded no fruit. While he was in his office, his staff told journalists that he was not on seat, but when reminded that the Senator was right inside the office, the staff claimed that he was busy and will not see anybody.

The fake ‘Amalgedom’ prophesy

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

P

oliticians, especially, the Nigeria- made brand, are funny. When things are going their way, they can sing Alleluia, but immediately things begin to go contrary to their expectations, they will start parading fake information that only exists in their imagination about the looming war of Amalgedom.

This has become the order of the day in the senate in the just past few months starting from the build-up to the party primaries within the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Immediately it was clear to senators elected on the platform of the PDP, that the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, including the presidency, had surrendered the whole party structures especially at the state levels to the governors, hell was let loose.

Some of the Senators that were known not to have good relationship with the press, suddenly, started courting the media. Certainly, it must be for selfish reasons.

The greatest surprise was when a Senator that heads a very sensitive Committee briefed journalists on how they would shutdown the economy and team-up with the opposition to frustrate the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for his failure to protect those protecting his government.

But the Senator in a spineless manner, pleaded that his name should not be mentioned. He said, “We are going to show solidarity with the Speaker of House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal. We will not sit again.

There will be no consideration of the MTEF (Medium Term Expenditure Framework) and there will be no budget. “ We decided to adjourn and do no business and the APC Senators are in solidarity with us. President Goodluck Jonathan has lost the senate, he has left the PDP structures in the hands of the governors, let the governors also do our job. We are going to shut the government. “ You can see that before sitting we had a meeting. Either they give us back what they gave to the governors or PDP will lose the senate. All the things we have been doing to protect this government, we are not going to do them again.

“When we don’t approve the MTEF and the budget, then, the International Community will know that nothing is working in this country. PDP is finished. ”Under this arrangement, if left unchallenged, none of the senators would come back in 2015. We are planning to boycott legislative businesses until further notice.”

Incidentally, since the senator picked his re-election ticket after the intrigues and maneuver that characterized the primary, he has gone back to the old song where everything done by the Presidency is good. Governance, to them, is all about them. No one else.

After the party primaries which produced many casualties, there appears to be collaboration between C M Y K

President Goodluck Jonathan

the aggrieved PDP Senators and their opposition colleagues. Senator Alkali Jajere representing Yobe South became a fortune teller who came up with the information of compilation of impeachable offences committed

by President Jonathan and at the last count about 70 out of the 109 Senators have put down their signatures for the commencement of impeachment exercise in the senate.

Senator Jajere who had once said that he was once an Almajiri, while addressing journalists, enthused that when senate resumed from the break they embarked upon to allow members participate in their various party primaries, that the impeachment move would be tabled on the floor of the senate when it resumes on Dec. 16.

Senator Jajere said, “I have signed the impeachment notice because there are impeachable offences against President Goodluck Jonathan.

“In 2011, this senate approved N240 billion as subsidy fund but the same government spent N1.7 trillion which is a clear breach of the constitution, clear breach of the appropriation act.

“The business of government is to curtail excesses but this government has shown that it is incurably deficient in handling the situations in this country. This government cannot say it wants to continue.

“The president should have even resigned without waiting for him to be impeached. The duty of the legislature is to act as a check and balance because it is the most

Aminu Tambuwal

important symbol of democracy. If you don’t have the legislature, you don’t have democracy because every other arm of government exists even when there is no democracy, it is only the legislature that makes a democracy, a government.

“As at last week, 63 of us have signed up for the impeachment, my signature was the fourth but I can confirm to you that we have 63 signatures but after the session today, two people had called me and told me that they want to sign”.

On why the impeachment plan was coming when the first tenure of President Jonathan’s administration was coming to an end, he said, “The impeachment issue is not just coming now. It’s also a process that started early in the year.

“But there was a hiccup. But today, there are issues that have triggered the National Assembly to do what it should do. No matter what the time, it is a three legged issue; the National Assembly will now have to initiate the process and then, submit that process to the judiciary.

“The judiciary will form a committee through the CJN (Chief Justice of the Federation), the National Assembly will carry out the verification of the committee and conclude the remaining process.

The National Assembly will soon conclude our own side and submit the notice to the judiciary.

“As at today, the required signatures to initiate the impeachment notice had been obtained. The senate has

SATURDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014—51

Amosun's projects are elitist

am told that the place is now also occupied by banks and everybody is there. It is good!

If you now want to beat OGD, instead of building 60 storeys, I think what we did is 12-storey building, you should have made yours 15 storeys and say, “Okay I have beaten OGD.” That is alright. It is good competition. Somebody else will come and improve on that. The one that was there was Diya because he did the one that was there. OGD came and improved on Diya; you came and improve on OGD and somebody will come and improve on you. But don’t fall crazy and say you want to build a 60-storey building

— Gbenga Daniel Today we conclude the Gbenga Daniel interview we started last week.

On industrialization you enticed Nestle with N200 million worth of land for them to put down their company at the Shagamu Interchange area of Ogun State. Your successor does not show interest in some of these things The pain that I have is not so much of somebody trying to re-write history or saying something that had been achieved had not been achieved. That is really not my pain because the people who should know the truth know the truth. But my pain is because the government today, either out of ignorance or out of naivety does not appear to see the larger picture of long term benefits. In order civilized economy, what they do is social security; pay unemployed people money so that they would reduce crime because they appreciate that when there is crime, society cannot grow. So when they are paying social security you think they are stupid but they are not stupid.

After the construction period then people can now be employed and we did something while I was the governor.

We gave those companies conditions that 60 percent of their staff, must be employed from the catchments area. What does that mean? It begins to remove the burden of the unemployment and you can imagine the number of families when you have a company that employs 200 people, the average is that at least one person will be touching minimum of six persons: father, mother, sister, brother and all that. For a company that employs 200 people, over one thousand people are already touched. After tax holiday, you now begin to run after their tax.

What was the position of Internally Generated Revenue,IGR, that you inherited?

When I became governor in 2003, the IGR that I met was between N100 million or N120 million. If they hit N200 million they would be lucky. By the time I became governor, with every energy that we put, we shot to about one billion mark. The day we made N1.5 billion a month we took glasses and said, “Money has come.” But that is like times ten of what I inherited and I didn’t say anything about that. I am now told that the IGR is going towards five billion naira.

Oh, fantastic! We thank God but the government should stop saying this is because they have done it. No. They are just reaping the foundation of their predecessors and they should be magnanimous enough to say so.

My submission is that everything they have done is elitist. The bridges are elitist.

There is this thing about lack of C M Y K

They are just reaping the foundation of their predecessors and they should be magnanimous enough to say so.

My submission is that everything they have done is elitist. The bridges are elitist

•Gbenga Daniel

continuity in government. When a governor comes, he wants to discontinue all that his predecessor did. When will this culture end among the ruling class?

It is common sense we should all see something good about continuity. It is just logical. I am not sure you can make laws on this. A new administration should have the right to review things but in doing so you must not do it in a way that is injurious to the state.

And I want to make myself clear.

If, for instance, the government is pursuing what you would call the white elephant project, it has been awarded and the contract has been signed, it is incumbent on you to look at the contract very carefully, “Can this thing be scaled down so that the government does not lose the money that can be used for so many other things?”

I was hearing, for instance, that the government says that it wants to build the tallest building in Africa and wants to award contract for a 60-storey building. This is building in wonderland. If it is indeed true that he has awarded or is contemplating that kind of project, definitely, it is building in wonderland. First thing first, with the kind of leaders Nigerians have, under the current building technique, a 60-storey building cannot be finished in eight years.

It will take at least eight years to finish with the system that we have. So what do you want to do with a 60-storey building? Not until recently, even Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory legislated that they do not want any building that is more than 12 storeys because a 60-storey building is at least about four metres per floor, that is 240 metres high; that is a quarter of a kilometers high! If you look at a quarter of a kilometer in the sky, now you say you want to building from ground one to 60 and there is no power, in this Nigeria? When I heard it, I asked: Is this fiction or is it service in wonderland?

Simply because OGD had built OPIC Plaza. OPIC Plaza was one that we built and we said, well we thank God that we had been able to build the tallest building in Ogun State, second tallest in the Western Region because, apart from Cocoa House in Ibadan, OPIC Plaza is the one that is equally tall. But by the time we were finishing that place we already had tenants. We had telephone companies that wanted to take the place as their regional offices and I

Finally, most of your peers and colleagues in the governorship forum are now in the Senate or are seeking to be in the Senate. As an elder statesman, as you put it, are you also eyeing the Senatorial position? And what exactly is the state of your relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo?

To start with, I don’t know why people keep asking this same question all the time.

But first and foremost, Baba and I have no issues. I said it earlier on when I was talking about the current and past administrations in Ogun State that, “Eni to ba ti juni lo, o juni lo nii,” whoever is senior to you is your senior forever and there is nothing you can do about it.

So, Baba Obasanjo is never my age mate. He is more experienced than I am. He has ruled this country but he didn’t rule Ogun State (laughs); that one I have.

The Nigeria he ruled at different times now has 36 states and he had presided over that and so he has great experience. He had been commissioner for works in those days under the Federal Government and more. So, we have related well and it is people who try to imagine other things. That does not mean that we don’t have differences in matters of politics and the rest but there is always a way things are talked over and that is it. Baba is my own teacher.

Any time he wants me to do anything for him, he sends for me and I go there. If I also think that I need him to do something for me, I will go and meet him. .

Then the Senate, for me, is not an ambition. On the contrary, the pressure on me to run sometimes is because some people believe that my name will add value to their own aspirations. They believe that if I run for the Senate, it will rub positively on the tickets of other people.

But I have taken a decision, all things being equal, that I will not run for Senate under this dispensation. Or put it other way, I feel that having achieved the required stability within the party, PDP, I can now successfully say that I am bowing out of the senatorial race. That does not stop me from supporting all the people that I need to support.

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

A

s usual, fun seekers converged at a drinking joint which also served as viewing centre in Umusigide Obollo Etiti community in Udenu Local government area of Enugu state, last Sunday, cheering and throwing banters, without the slightest inkling that danger lurked ahead.

Then, all of sudden an incident that changed the course of day occurred at about 2.30pm, after a truck loaded with construction material veered off its lane and rammed into the relaxation centre, killing ten persons on the spot while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The truck which belongs to Miffe Construction Company was reportedly conveying the materials to an ongoing construction site: Ikem/Obollo Afor to Adani road in UzoUwani local government area, when one front tyre reportedly burst, while descending to Obollo-Etiti .

Some injured could not escape, even though they put up resistance, as they were reportedly trapped by the truck till the next day. Frantic fforts made to pull the truck out in order to save the trapped victims reportedly proved abortive. Not even the efforts of policemen, Federal Road Safety Corps and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps who brought in a crane to pull the truck out of the wreckage could salvage the situation.

Crime Guard gathered that owner of the popular drinking joint, Mr. Ifeanyi Odoh had his leg chopped off while his father , Fidelis Odoh, had his body parts dismembered in the fatal incident that was described as the worst tragedy that has hit the community this year. The remains of Odoh were immediately interred same day.

BLACK SUNDAY! Truck rams into relaxation centre, kills 10, injures others in Enugu

How I narrowly escaped death —survivor

Timothy Odoh...the survivor C M Y K

Narrating how he narrowly escaped death, one of the survivors, Mr. Timothy Odoh, disclosed that he was sitting in the same position with two of his friends when the incident occurred.

But while he is alive to share his ordeal, his two friends are not.

According to him: “ The drinking joint had a bush bar and a large hall that served as the viewing centre. I was sitting in the bush bar with Sunday Ugwueze and Fidelis Odo when the trailer ran into the bar . I can not say how many people were in the bar when the incident occurred. But I know that some people were taken to the hospital . Unfortunately, the two men I sat with died ,while I managed to come out alive after the incident occurred”. An eye witness who gave his name as

Joseph Maryaba , who said he was among those who arrived the scene first said: “I saw the entire joint crashed with people still trapped. The bar attendant Chikama , who is a relation of owner of the bar narrowly escaped death, as the incident occurred barely after he left for the toilet. The only survivor is Timothy. About four others were rushed to the hospital at ObolloAfor. But they are on danger list due to the injuries sustained.

Godwin Okwnna another survivor was partially lucky, as he was hit by a block just as he was leaving the joint”.

SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014—53

BY JACOB AJOM

I

n a season many are talking politics, promising the electorate heaven on earth if voted to power in 2015, one individual, a mother, a professional and an avowed believer in the possibility of changing the world by educating the child remains unyielding in her chosen pastime. Mrs Rali Abdulsalam, a business analyst/ accountant with over 14 years of varied work experience in oil and gas sector has a pet project – Kiddies Talent Hunt TV Reality show, which she started in 2013.

“It all started when a young man, Tobi Adefunke told me he was wanted to organise a beauty pageant for kids. I had my reservations for the project because I felt that would be exploitative. I felt there could be more positive ways of engaging these kids. Then I thought of a talent hunt show which will look at those things the society often ignores, with a view to bringing out the best in every child that comes up for the programme.”

She explained that the programme has five stages – audition, selection, mentorship, the grand finale and tutorship.

Tutorship is enjoyed by the 24 finalists who make it to the boot camp. And this, she said has paid off for some of the gifted kids discovered during the first edition of the programme.

“At the grand finale which took place at Eko Hotel and Suites Mufutau Adeleke got scholarship spontaneously from one of the

Build a child, you build a nation — Abdulsalam Kids exhibiting their talents at the grand finale of the 2013 edition

Mrs Abdulsalam

parents among the spectators. In another case, we have been able to sign a recording deal with Quay Productions to produce a single for one of the girls, while in yet another instance, we have one of the boys who will be training with Lego, a construction company. One of the girls discovered is called Gift. She is just 6 and will be presenting her writings on

Inspiration fm, Lagos.”

Abdulsalam said the programme highlights the innate skills in each child. “As parents, you know my child has this special talent that others don’t have. On our part we have a lot of professionals in various fields who help bring out the best in these kids. Some offer their services for free.” she said.

She disclosed that plans were on for the next edition of the programme. “We are preparing hard towards the next edition which should come up between January and April 2015. The

Oil rich Idama community laments lack of government presence

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT: Idama, in AkukuToru local government area of Rivers state is a major oil producing community in the Niger Delta.

It is a host community to Chevron and an impact community to Shell. Sadly inspite of the huge oil resource generated from the community the area can hardly boast of appreciable government presence.

Chief Bekinabo Benibo who spoke at the annual general meeting of the community organized under the aegis of Idama Empowerment Development Association, IEDA said even the local government which should ordinarily be the closest to communities had not impacted positively on Idama.

Chief Benibo who urged the Niger Delta Ministry to connect the community to the national grid also appealed to the local, state and federal government to make their presence felt in the area. “ We don’t have light in

this community. We don’t have local , state and federal government presence. It is worst at the local government level.

They said local government is the closest to the people, we don’t see this. Niger Delta Ministry give us light. The diesel we burn here is too enormous . We pray you to give us light. Niger delta Ministry will not sleep again until you give us light.

We have the largest number of graduates in Kalabari. Our graduates don’t have jobs”, he lamented. Chairman of the IEDA,

Mr Dagogo Tubonegiyeofori lauded Chevron Nigeria limited for its meaningful contribution to the community, noting that the oil giant funds the Idama Empowerment Development Association, RDC under a global Memorandum of Understanding,GMoU the firm signed with the community.

According to the Chairman, Mr Tubonegiyeofori the GMOU had made it possible for the community to enjoy some comfort of modern

forms are available on our website, www.kts/ngr.com and auditioning will take place in January next year.”

According to her, it has not been all smooth for the programme, The challenges were numerous. “The problem of acceptance associated with any novel idea and that of finance were some of the inhibiting factors.

“Initially, some companies were skeptical. But as we moved round with an aggressive marketing thrust, we were able to get some of them on our side. These include MTN, Diamond Bank, AMNI Petroleum, Lego Funturf among others. We will ever remain grateful to them,” she said.

She also acknowledged the immense contribution of the Lagos State Commissioner for education, “who approved the proposal even without seeing us. We were able to get to schools and sold the idea to them. They schools in turn saw the advantages in the programme as the participation of their pupils would project the name of the school if they do well.”

Has she found this satisfying? Abdulsalam smiled and projecting her voice even higher, she said, “It is fulfilling and I am glorifying God that he is using me to affect children positively and make them useful to themselves, their families and the society at large.”

civilization .” No doubt the RDC has recorded significant progress I. Terms of infrastructural projects. Indeed every development history has it’s challenging sides, and Idama RDC is not without some challenges. At present the only source of funding is the contribution from Chevron Nigeria limited under the GMOU”, he said.

He further appealed to government at all levels, interventionist agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and the Niger Delta Ministry to assist build capacity in the area. The Director Community Affairs in the Rivers state Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr Edward Teneilabe, lauded the community for being a peaceful one, adding that it leaders had really used the opportunity created by the GMoU they went into with Chevron to the benefit of the area. He also urged them to sustain it. “This community has been a very peaceful one as far as the group is concern. They have also utilized the gains of the GMoU very well. I plead with the community to sustain this. The RTC has expended what was given to them very well. “, he said. “They need a round of applause. As a ministry we advise that the RTC should look at human capital development. If you build capacity it will impact positively on the community.

So I plead to the leadership to consider this. They should also assist women with soft lomas to help grow them.”, he said.

Earlier the RDC gave a detailed account of income and expenditure to the community.

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C M Y K

Vanguard , DECEMBER 20, 2014

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56—SA TURD AY 56—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , DECEMBER 20 , 2014 with Vera Samuel Anyagafu veedd41@yahoo.com

US, Cuba reconcile, after 50 years of severed ties The United States and Cuba have agreed to restore diplomatic ties that Washington severed more than 50 years ago,.According to President Obama, who

SATURDAY VANGUARD OBSERVATIONS KEY EVENTS THAT LED TO TRADE EMBARGO 1959: An armed revolt in Cuba led by Fidel Castro established a socialist state.

1960: Cuba nationalised all American businesses, resulting in the US imposing an economic embargo.

1961: The US attempted to overthrow Castro in a failed invasion at the Bay of Pigs.

1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis almost led to a US invasion, after the Soviet Union deployed nuclear missiles in Cuba.

2009: An easing of tensions when Barack Obama came to power and lifted some restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba. But later that year US citizen Alan Gross was detained, which froze relations once again

announced new chapter to the restored diplomatic relationship, declaring an end to the long economic e m b a r g o against its old Cold War enemy, “ Today the US is changing its relationship with the people of

• President Raul Castro, Cuba

• President Obama

Cuba. We’ll begin to normalise relations between our two nations.

Through these changes, we intend to create more opportunities for the American and Cuban people and begin a new chapter.

This came on the heels of 18 months secret talks between President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro.Both Presidents agreed on a breakthrough prisoner exchange, the opening of embassies in each other’s countries, and an easing of some restrictions on commerce.

M e a n w h i l e , Havana released a US citizen, Alan Gross, who had been jailed for five years in Cuba, and an intelligence agent who spied for the US and was held for nearly 20 years.Cuba’s jailing of Gross, who was convicted for importing b a n n e d technology and trying to establish clandestine i n t e r n e t service for Cuban Jews, had been a major obstacle in improving ties.However, the US in return freed three Cuban intelligence a ge n ts who had served 16 years in US jails for spying on Cuban exile groups in Florida. Castro thanked Pope Francis, the Vatican and Canada for helping Havana and Washington reach their historic accord.

US Union calls for Police reform

T

he decision in the Garner case prompted NY Mayor Bill DeBlasio to initiate a $35 million program to retrain 22,000 members of the New York Police Department (NYPD).

The decision came after grand jury opted not to indict NY police officers accused of killing Michael Brown and Eric Garner. According to the Mayor, “We have to have an honest conversation about the problem that has caused parents to feel their children may be in danger in their dynamics with police when the police are there to protect them, “We have to transcend that. And in this city, we’ve tried to begin that process in earnest with a series of policy changes that will really reach people on the streets.”

Civil rights leader Al Sharpton was quoted to have said that “People thought we were being extreme, but now, I think you can see, we have no confidence in the state grand juries, whether in Ferguson or in New York, because there is an intrinsic relationship between state prosecutors and the police; they depend on the police for their evidence, they run for office and depend on the unions for endorsements.”

He further stated that, “We trust that those unhappy with the grand jury decision will make their views known in apeaceful, constructive way.

We all agree that demonstrations and free speech are valuable contributions to debate, and that violence and disorder are not only wrong but hurt the critically important goals we are trying to achieve together.”

Also, State Assemblyman Karim Camara, chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian •Eric Garner Legislative Caucus, ridiculed the nonindictment, stressing that uness the Police D e p a r t m e n t aggressively deals with its culture of impunity and trains officers that they must simultaneously protect both safety and individual rights, officers will continue to believe that they can act without •Michael Dawson consequence.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 20, 2014—57

interest completely in learning, and If not handled well or on time, they develop self esteem problems and they end up very angry adults which is very dangerous for families and society.

Above all, it rewires the brain, builds self esteem and ability to take up responsibilities thus living better lives despite the syndrome or labels.

Needs for Brain Training...

Brain Training helps people of all ages to learn faster and easier. It helps to overcome memory issues and life-long symptoms of learning disabilities. Students who experience ADHD Autism, Dyslexia symptoms benefit from brain training.

The values of brain training do not stop at struggling students. It also helps empower college career adults to excel in workplaces. It can radically reduce rehabilitation time and increase recorded brain functions for those suffering with accident, sport or war related injury (TBIs).

Brain training is not medical and does not treat the syndrome. But, it equips one with skills with which they can live normal lives with little or no support. It builds up skills which help one to get smart and catch up with others in the medium to long-term. Above all, it rewires the brain, builds self esteem and ability to take up responsibilities thus living better lives despite the syndrome How does brain training elicia Arikpo is the Centre Director for or labels. Brain training also helps impact on people?

BrainRX, a franchise of LearningRX in people challenged by autism and other Brain training is not a medical Colorado USA. syndromes, career adults, college and does not treat the syndrome.

In this chart with Saturday Vanguard students reading problems (dyslexia), But, it equips one with skills with Business, she reveals that brain training is a senior adults, struggling student and which they can live normal lives simple but powerful way of enhancing a those who want to gain competitive edge. with little or no support. It builds person’s core ability to learn faster, easier and Above all, it rewires the brain, builds up skills which help one to get better. It improves learning and developmental self esteem and ability to take sub smart and catch up with others abilities of people who have learning / responsibilities thus living better lives in the medium to long-term. developmental challenges that hinder growth despite the syndrome or labels.

Brain training specialises in in various aspects of life resulting in How it works? enhancing the cognitive Arikpo: A child’s cognitive skills can be improved dependency. She enthused that brain training This unique life enhancer begins with abilities of youth and adults in through brain training is also used as a cognitive therapy for people a cognitive skills test, followed by an with traumatic brain injuries, stroke, dementia a manner that those who are average Individualized, one- on- one skills and general memory loss. Excerpts: perform better while those who are training plus digital brain exercises reactions that are traceable to effects of learning How did you come across brain training? struggling are able to take on tasks that which shows results in as little as four to disabilities. For instance, children who are unable It all started when we noticed that our son were almost impossible. Weak cognitive six months of brain training. to perform as well as their peers, sometimes lose who was then four years old was lagging skills when strengthened determine how behind in class, struggled with class and quickly and accurately information is homework and always came home with low processed therefore any type or level of grades. We searched for help through extra learning with weak cognitive skills will and lesson teachers, change of schools and definitely result in a big struggle, causing many more, but all these did not yield results lack of interest in learning, shame, low until we came across Learning RX in self esteem, tantrums and even some Colorado USA. At this time he was 9 years. negative behaviours.

However, our breakthrough came through “As a young man, I was a major rijin, the iconic drink from the stables In other words, brain training the empowering of his weak cognitive skills of Guinness Nigeria Plc. recently distributor of Guinness products and strengthens and enhances life skills and through a combination of a one-on-one and confidence necessary to succeed in received blessings of Royal Fathers as the it was a good experience. This new digital brain training programme. Today, brand was formally presented to traditional product-Orijn from the stables of school, on the job and life generally. learning in both academic and extraOn this brain training, we have come rulers across Nigeria, as part of its marketing Guinness Nigeria is an addition and curricular activities, have become easier and across various issues, behaviours, drive to further promote the drink as a drink an attestation to the fact that we can more interesting to deal with. make use of our local content in a lot of heritage among Nigerians.

Welcomed amidst cheers and fanfare of our productions in Nigeria. For depicted of the royals, the brand received the instance, some of the local contents blessings of the royal fathers as they all used in this product have helped our showed their appreciation for a truly Nigerian forefathers live long and healthy lives, drink rooted in African tradition with the a feat we all aspire to achieve” Oba Adeyemi said. flavours of African herbs and fruits. style.

“Capacity building goal.

You realise that it is not ealthy Living & Linking the accolade surrounding Presenting Orijin to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba among women.

This is so possible for government W o m e n Orijin as a drink of culture and African Empowerment Initiative, because once you are able to alone to achieve the three Lamidi Adeyemi, Mr. Afeez Ajibowu, heritage, Oba Adeyemi said “Culture HELWEI, a non-govern- reach out to women you have health millennium goals – Regional Sales Director, South and South- is a principal magistrate of man’s life mental and profit organisa- reached a generation and that reduction in infant mortality West, Guinness Nigeria Plc explained the tion in collaboration with is why our campaign theme andmaternal dealth, and also innovation behind the production of Orijin and I am always in the defense of the health practitioners had is, ‘save a woman, save a to increase awareness and expressed appreciation for the Monarch’s Yoruba heritage. This defense of our concluded a three day free generation’. So the 3 day towards the control of HIV/ support of Guinness operations within his cultural heritage is what Guinness has achieved with the production and medical exercise on family intervention is focused on AIDs, and other deadly kingdom.

“We have come to present Orijin to our promotion of Orijin. I believe this planning, High Blood prenatal, family planning, diseases. To achieve this, we Pressure, Diabetes, Hepatitis nutrition etc. We found out educate mothers on different Royal Fathers, because we understand the drink has been scientifically tested etc. in Isheri Osun, Alimosho that the ratio of mortality of interventions they can take importance of staying rooted in our traditions. and produced under the best women and children in when pregnant to ensure they Orijin is a drink made with the flavour of conditions using our local herbs. I LGA. Executive Director, Nigeria is the highest in the attain antenatal clinic with African herbs and fruits mixed with alcohol have always craved for a product like HELWEI, Ebere Okey- world and you begin to ask people who are skilled to to produce a great bitter-sweet that speaks to this and I am happy it is already ensure that they recognise our African heritage. Guinness Nigeria happening with Guinness. I bless this Onyema, said, our target is to yourself why?

Medical Director, Davestar those pregnancy that are respects the tradition of the society it operates drink and wish you the best”. improve the livelihood of It would be recalled that in 2013, children and women, access Hospital, Dr. David Olushola highly at risk and then take in and our kings and traditional rulers all Guinness Nigeria invested in a new education and financing Akinola, added that the adequate prevention.

Head, Sales and over the country have been the custodians of plant to manufacture spirits locally. towards wealth creation with purpose of the programme is a major focus to promote to compliment the effort of the Distribution, DKT, Macaulay the cultures and heritage of our people for The local spirits manufacture optimum health through government towards the Gory, said, DKT is an NGO, many centuries. Therefore, it is only proper commenced in December 2013 with of the that is into reproductive for Guinness Nigeria to pay homage to these the production of Orijin Bitters which nutrition and positive live achievement millennium development health, family planing and esteemed personalities and obtain their is only one variant of the popular prevention against blessings for this unique product which is the brand. The brand is also available in HIV\AIDS. This programme fastest selling beverage in the bitters and a Ready to drink format. is to empower, educate Ready-to-Drink categories in Nigeria today,” Guinness Nigeria is also the couples especially women on Ajibowu explained. manufacturer of many well-known preventive measures of child While receiving and blessing Orijin, Oba brands like Guinness Foreign Extra spacing with our 14 FAU Lamidi Adeyemi, went down memory lane Stout, Harp Lager Beer, Malta products. confirming the fact that innovation has always Guinness, Alvaro, Snapp, Dubic and We’ve held conferences in been a major part of Guinness operations Satzenbrau, among others. most cities in the country, since the company was established in 1962.

Asaba, Uyo etc with medical practitioners, to ensure or pass the message that Nigerians should give birth to the number of children they can N500 million revenue annually. The IN a renewed bid to develop the tourism center is expected to complement the carter for.

Mrs. Shafau Abimbola, a potentials of the state, Oyo State Government zoo in Ibadan as a tourist attraction. has completed the first phase of the estimated L-R: Consultant, USAID, Mrs. O.A Adefila; Consultant, consultant with SHOPS, When completed, the resort center N15 billion Agodi Resort and Conference centre would accommodate world class SHOPS, Mrs. A. Shafau; Deputy Director, Federal Ministry further said, we provide long in Ibadan. The first phase of the project which conference center, recreational facilities, of Health, Dr. David Akinola and Founder and Executive and active method of family costs above N3 billion and when fully 5 star hotels near the venue as it is Director, Healthy Living & Women Empowerment Initiative, planning to prevent unwanted completed in three years time, will be first of expected to host international events Mrs. Ebere Okey-Onyema, during women empowerment pregnancy in Lagos and other its kind in Ibadan, and would generate about comparable anywhere in the world. exercise at Isheri Osun, Alimosho LGA, Lagos, recently. states.

Brain training empowers your cognitive skills for greater performance —Arikpo

F

Orijin receives blessing from royal fathers O

HELWEI, Davestar, Usaid, others empower women with skill, health knowledge

H

Oyo completes Phase one of N15 billion Agodi Resort center

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60—SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

Politicians should see Nigeria beyond 2015 Elections —Zakari

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

A

former Gubernatorial Aspirant under the banner of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Niger state, Engineer Inuwa Zakari has charged Politicians across the country to be weary of their utterances especially at this crucial period of elections in the country in order not to set the country ablaze out of their desperation to win election.

Engineer Zakari who is now a member of National Screening Appeal Committee set up by Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) said if truly those jostling for various Political offices are genuinely out to serve, they should approach the elections with utmost maturity and also see Nigeria beyond the 2015

general elections.

“What we, especially the Politicians should know and also understand is that Power belongs to God and can therefore be bestowed only whom he chooses and not out of desperation by any individual or group of people,” he remarked.

Engineer Zakari called on all Nigerians especially the Politicians to be inspired by the behavious of our past Heroes who struggled for our Independence and Democracy and also nutured it to fruition adding that rather than take steps that can lead to the disintegration if the country, they should work towards its survival and growth.

“What we should always think about is that our past leaders who struggled for the Independence and Democracy of the country

Engineer Inuwa Zakari have gone but left Nigeria in peace and therefore, Politicians and indeed Nigerians alike should work for the peace of the country having at the back of our mind that when we are also gone, Nigeria will also remain and we should

therefore contribute to its growth and not its disintegration,”Zakari declared.

Engineer Zakari noted that one thing that is associated with genuine Democracy is that it borders mostly on transparency through

balloting and not through thuggery, violence or rigging and therefore called on those seeking for any political office to seek for the mandate of the electorate legitimately through the ballot and not through violence.

Zakari who was also Chairman of the Congress Appeal Panel in Zamfara which conducted the Local Government Elections of the PDP in the state allayed the fears of any threat to a successful elections in the North especially in the North East due to the Insurgents in the area adding that from his experience during the exercise, the people are ready for the elections and are also ready to guide against any step capable of thwarting the success of the general election.

He therefore called on all Nigerians especially those resident in the North to come out enmass to register and also vote during the elections saying,”this is the only way we can be partaker of Democracy and consequently be beneficiary of a strong, virile and economically vibtant nation.

Enugu Fiesta: Kimono, Uwaifo, Ejeagha extol Chime Davido, Flavour, Patoranking storm Enugu

N

IGERIAN music legends, Tuesday night, extolled Governor Sullivan Chime for transforming Enugu into an alluring city with the awesome facilities, scenery and security comparable to what obtains in other developed cities of the world.

The music icons made the assertion in the heat of their sublime stage performances at the on-going Enugu Culture and Tourism Fiesta during which they captivated the audience with some of their best tracks that held the packed Okpara Square crowd spell-bound.

Code-named Old School night, the event attracted stars of yesteryears including Ras Kimono, Bright Chimezie, Victor Uwaifo, Paulson Kalu, Mike Ejeagha, Apostles, One World and Sir Warrior Jnr. After rendering the popular track Joromi on

Governor Sullivan Chime Governor Chime’s request, the ageless Uwaifo said: “I’ve been coming to Enugu

all my life but it’s never been transformed as it is today and I say kudos to the

governor. I recommend this city to anybody who’s looking for where to have a fun-filled holiday. Thank you again Governor Chime for making Enugu a modern city.

“I did this track (Joromi) in 1965, that’s almost some fifty years ago and it’s a thing of joy that just like the governor did, people still enjoy those old tunes.”

In his own unique way, Kimono chipped on stage: “I salute you (Chime) for bringing us together. Jah bless you for making Enugu a wonderful place.”

According to the legendary Ejeagha and Paulson Kalu, the event is part of the revival of our tradition and culture which other Nigerians, especially Igbos must emulate.

In unison, the musicians and other artistes on parade said they were not surprised that Enugu, as it is today, was the only Nigerian city that made the thirty five

cities of the world selected this year in the Rockefeller Foundation’s search for the World’s 100-Resilient cities.

Popular Nollywood actors received awards on the night with Chiwetalu Agu thumbing up for Chime for being a silent achiever.

“Other governors say so much in the media and have so little to show on ground; Chime says so little and achieves so much like all of you have seen and testified to. We’re happy to have him in Enugu.”

Nigeria’s contemporary artistes took to the centre stage the following at the same Okpara Square venue in the Roadblock5 music package that is sure to shut down the city, as it had done in the last four editions.

The superstars who performed included Davido, Flavour, Patoranking, Runtown, Stormrex and a galaxy of other star musicians.

C M Y K

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Liverpool flop celebrates Christmas with wag S

Ronaldo: My girlfriend steals my underwear

HOCKINGLY, Iago Aspas cost Liverpool £7.2m when he signed from Celta Vigo in June 2013.

The striker flopped badly in his first season with the Reds, playing 14 Premier League games without scoring a single goal.

He was sent out on loan to Sevilla this summer, but his form has not improved – he

C

RISTIANO Ronaldo has revealed that girlfriend Irina Shayk steals his trademark underwear.

The Real Madrid star likes to wear his own brand of CR7 underwear, but, unfortunately, so does Russian WAG Irina.

Cristiano explained: “She steals my boxers all the time. She wasn’t in the house and I opened her wardrobe and there were many CR7 boxers. It is funny.”

We haven’t got any pictures of Irina in Cristiano’s underwear, but we have plenty of her looking fine in her own. Scroll down to see for yourselves…

•Rueda has made just six La Liga appearances, all as a sub and all without a goal.

Although he is not playing well, he seems pretty happy!

He was caught having

Balotelli ex-girl sends tongues wagging in figure hugging outfit

F •Irina

I’m no POSH-over! ...Victoria is queen of the WAGs

V

a Christmas meal with his girlfriend Jennifer Rueda.

The photo was taken at a Sevilla team Christmas event, but none of Aspas’ teammates seem to be sat with him…

ICTORIA Beckham has been crowned the top WAG. Posh, 40, won even though husband David no longer plays.

Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge, 25, wife of former England full-back Wayne, was second in the poll of fans.

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney’s missus Coleen, 28, was third, ahead of Alex Curran, 32, wife of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

But there was bad news for Posh’s other half – as most fans believe that Becks, 39, shouldn’t get a knighthood.

In fact there was more love for controversial former Liverpool ace Luis Suarez, who was voted Premier League player of the year in the Carlsberg Fan Squad survey.

The poll was carried out to celebrate telly host Jeff Stelling’s alternative Boxing Day message.

The Sky Soccer Saturday anchorman will look back over a bumper year of football.

•Ronaldo

ABULOUS Fanny Neguesha, who is Mario Balotelli’s ex girlfriend, has an incredible figure.

She doesn’t have to flash the flesh in order to show off her hot curves – just check out the Instagram post below.

However, if you’d like to see Fanny in some slightly skimpier outfits, we advise you to check online.

•Neguesha

Neymar’s new WAG kisses tattooed woman M

ISS BumBum 2014, Indianara Carvalho, is rumoured to be the new girlfriend of Barcelona and Brazil star Neymar.

Whether her relationship with Neymar is genuine is unclear.

However, one thing’s for certain – she’s not shy.

Here she is kissing a tall tattooed woman.

Carvalho has sparked rumours that she is Neymar ’s new girlfriend.

The curvy model did so by posting the below photo on Instagram.

It shows her in bed with a Barcelona

shirt. The picture was accompanied by the message: “I’m going back to Brazil with a sinking heart, you were the first man who made ??me feel different.

“I hope we can meet again here or anywhere else!”

SATURDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 20, 2014 — 63

Flying Eagles Highlanders 10-0 N

IGERIA Amateur side, Highlanders FC were the latest team to suffer defeat to the Manu Garba led Flying Eagles, losing 10-0 in a friendly game on Friday.

However, Highlanders had the first attempt on goal through the impressive 14-year-old Ahmed Babayaro who left goalkepper Dele Alampasu sprawling on the floor with a piece of sublime skill only to see his effort skim off the bar.

The chance wasted sprung the Flying Eagles to life and Samuel Mathias was first to a well delivered ball across the box from Musa Mohammed to put them

one goal up.

Left-back Mustapha Abdullahi doubled the Flying Eagles lead from what looked like an offside position before Musa Mohammed bent in a spectacular free-kick for the Flying Eagles’ third goal.

Saddam Auta as customary this days scored his side fourth after a through pass from Alfa Abdullahi to keep scores at 4-0 going into the half time break.

Samuel Matthias scored his second and his side’s fifth minutes after the resumption of the second half before substitute Israel Emmanuel added a

Ajayi unsure for Eagles R

EPORTS suggesting that Arsenal central defender Semi Ajayi will link up with the Super Eagles squad in Abu Dhabi next month for exhibition matches against Cote d’Ivoire and Mali might not come to pass.

The Nigeria Football Federation cannot twist the arm of Arsenal to part with Semi Ajayi, as the aforementioned games are outside the international window.

The 21-year-old’s agent, who is a man of few words, confirmed as much after he strongly hinted that his client may be unavailable for the friendly matches.

“I am not sure Semi will feature in the games in January. At the moment, everything is up in the air,” said Semi Ajayi’s agent

crush brace.

Alfa Abdullahi missed a penalty that would have extended the scoreline for his team, but that was after Highlanders missed a penalty as well.

There was no stopping Akinjide Idowu from the spot before Jacob Njoku rounded up scoring for his team to end the game at 10 goals to nothing.

Gonzalo Higuain of Argentina controls the ball against Joseph Yobo of Nigeria and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazi on June 25 in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Tide turns against Keshi T

HE tide appears to have been turned against out-of-contract Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi, who not only has lost the support of his coaches fraternity but now seems to be enmeshed in an endless waiting game for the NFF to offer him a new deal as reportedly directed by the Presidency.

But the NFF only yesterday said that it was still fine tuning certain aspects of the contract.

According to the President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick, “contracts are not signed overnight and there are factors to be sorted out before you sign.

“We are talking with Keshi but I am not under pressure to employ Keshi, we just want to do the right things to work in harmony,” said Pinnick.

Pinnick indicated that the relationship between Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation has not been strained but added that it would be in

nobody’s best interests to make a rushed decision.

“We changed our resolve to re-engage Keshi but there are issues to be tidied up in a contract between the two parties.

“We have to look at so many issues like our budget, whether we can accommodate his demands and whether he can work with our technical study group,” he added.

As if this was not bad news enough for Keshi, his fellow coaches are not letting up in their push for his disengagement by the NFF. After attacking the former Eagles captain during the week, Technical Director of the NFF) Amodu Shuaibu yesterday delivered another cut to the head of Keshi, by insisting that the former Eagles captain has taken Nigerian football to ground zero and says there is no team at the moment.

•Ajayi

Mourinho Continues from B/P at winning the title.

Mourinho has led his Blues side to the top of the Premier League table but has seen his lead fall back to just three points as Man City has had a return to form as to have Man United.

Speaking to reporters,

Mourinho said the title race is far from over: “There’s a long time to go. Everybody that wants to be involved is involved.

“Not even 50% of the league is played so obviously people with less than 10 points difference are very much in the title race.”

•Mourinho (l) and Van Gaal

“I’m not sure we have a current Super Eagles after we failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. I think we are back to ground zero. I’m not even sure I’m in the right position to speak on this issue because it concerns the management of football in Nigeria, which is the board of the Nigeria Football Federation,” Amodu said.

And adding his voice to the trending issue, Adegboye Onigbinde, has revealed that he personally advised Keshi, to walk away about two months back.

“On the very day the presidency asked him to return to his job, I

personally sent him an text message to politely thank Mr. President for the offer and bow out honourably and quietly, too.

“Keshi respectfully replied the text message thanking me and that was it. He went ahead with the two remaining 2015 Nations Cup qualifying matches against Congo and South Africa, I’m sure the rest is history.

“I volunteered the advice to Keshi because I understand that he won’t work with the presidency but a different set of people as well as an entirely different environment,”said Onigbinde.

Siasia Continues from B/P the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, after winning a silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, and Siasia reckons that it is another huge challenge for him and his coaching staff.

“It’s a big challenge and it’s always a challenge for us and hopefully we will surmount the challenge and build a good team,” Siasia said The 47-year-old has enjoyed the support of the Nigerian football fans since his appointment and remains arguably the most loved football coach in the country.

He says he is aware of the support and adds that he hopes to build a very good team for the country.

“I know they support me and I appreciate them and hopefully we will build a very good team for the country,” said Siasia.

But despite the support he has enjoyed, Siasia admits that he will need some more time, and called for patience, adding that he hopes to make Nigeria proud in the end.

“Well I know they expect a lot from me, we’ve just started and gradually we’ll get there. They have to be very patient because we are working very hard to produce a team that will make the country very proud,” he added.

The team will have their last training sessions on Friday, and embark on a break before resuming after the Christmas celebrations.

SATURDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 20, 2014

TODAY’S FIXTURES

Mourinho: Man U still in the title race

C

HELSEA boss Jose Mourinho believes that the title race is still wide open and believes that the likes of Man United still have a shot

EPL Crystal Palace Man Utd Swansea West Brom Everton Burnley Leicester

Man City Aston Villa Hull QPR Southampton Tottenham West Ham

v v v v v v v

Barcelona Levante Eibar Vallecano

LA LIGA v Cordoba v Sociedad v Valencia v Espanyol

Sassuolo Roma

v v

Leverkusen Augsburg Schalke Stuttgart Werder Bremen Wolfsburg

BUNDESLIGA v Frankfurt v M’gladbach v Hamburg v Paderborn v Dortmund v Cologne

1:45pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm

4pm 6pm 8pm 10pm

SERIE A Cesena AC Milan

6pm 8:45pm 3:30pm 3:30pm 3:30pm 3:30pm 3:30pm 6:30pm

Continues on page 63

Tide turns against Keshi •NFF won’t rush contract •Shuaibu says Keshi has taken Eagles to ground zero — P. 63 CROSS WORD PUZZLE

•IN THE COLD — Keshi

Rio 2016 Olympics

Siasia: Don’t expect miracles from me D

REAM Team Coach Samson Siasia has admitted that producing another Olympic team for Nigeria is a big challenge and has pleaded for time to make things happen.

The former Super Eagles coach has been tasked with the responsibility of moulding another team to represent Nigeria at

•Siasia

Continues on page 63

Across 1 Togolese Capital City – (4) 3 Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah – (8) 7 Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Ima – (6) 10 Bangladesh Currency – (4) 11 Former Cross River State Governor, Mr. Clement – (4) 12 F.C.T. Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph – (3) 13 England Football Association President, Greg – (4) 15 Enugu Rangers Defender, Nnaemeka – (8) 18 L.G.A in Kwara State – (4) 20 Hausa Word for “Ten”? – (4) 22 Toto “Hawks” Striker, Emmanuel – (8) 25 3SC Shooting Stars Defender, Chima – (4) 26 North Korean Currency – (3) 27 Former Angola “Palancas Negras Skipper, Fabrice – (4) 29 Ferrous Metal – (4) 30 L.G.A in Edo State – (6) 32 The Obong of Calabar, HRH Edidem Ekp Okon – (5,3) 33 Cameroun Prime Minister, Mr. Philemon – (4) Down

1 L.G.A in Plateau State – (8) 2 State in Nigeria Known as “The Heartbeat of the Nation”? – (3) 3 Button – (4) 4 United States Striker and Sunderland Centre-Forward, Jozy – (8) 5 Niger Republic Capital City – (6) 6 Former Delta State Governor, Mr. Felix – (4) 8 Ivory Coast Striker, Wilfried – (4) 9 Borussia Dortmund Midfielder, Marco – (4) 14 Yoruba Name – (4) 16 L.G.A in Akwa-Ibom State – (4) 17 Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun – (8) 19 German “Bundesliga” Premiership Club-Side – (8) 21 The Philippines Capital City – (6) 23 Male Pig – (4) 24 Adamawa State Capital – (4) 26 Kogi State Governor, Idris – (4) 28 Former Minister of Labour, Mr. Chukwuemeka – (4) 31 Evergreen Shrub – (3)

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