Rescue Nigeria, save us from another civil war

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— SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

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Jonathan begins last minute siege on Northern leaders ...woos Ciroma, Northern Elders, visits Kano today

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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PPARENTLY buoyed up by his political manoeuvrings which had led to a major division between some Yoruba leaders and other stakeholders, President Goodluck Jonathan who is also the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has now moved to the north with the aim of whittling down opposition from some core northerners to his re-election on March 28.

The South West geopolitical zone which had earlier appeared impregnable was split weekend over whether to vote for Jonathan or the presidential candidate of the main opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, in the March 28 presidential polls after the seeming siege the President laid in the South West. .

Divided into two groups, the leaders held parallel summits in Ibadan and Lagos Thursday and took divergent positions on what the Yoruba should do in forthcoming elections.

While those at the Ibadan gathering were mostly for Buhari, the Lagos group rooted for Jonathan.

In the same vein, Jonathan has begun to woo some of his die-hard critics and other stakeholders from the north in the last couple of days.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that as part of moves to get the support of the leaders ahead the election, Jonathan decided to undertake private visits to plead with some of the aggrieved founding fathers, leaders, stakeholders and members of the PDP, just as he was said to be placating them to put behind them some of the problems of the past.

A source told Saturday Vanguard that Jonathan, in company of the Director- General, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, PDPPCO and former National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali visited one of the four founding members of PDP and former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Adamu Ciroma at his Abuja residence.

Although Ciroma had not been politically visible for some time now, he had in the past criticized Jonathan publicly over what he regarded as his political sins.

The last time he was in public glare, was prior to the 2011 Presidential primary election of the PDP where he headed the Northern Political Elders Forum, NPEF to get a consensus candidate for the north who would eventually emerge as the party’s candidate.

From the pool of the group with the likes of General Aliyu Gusau, General Ibrahim

Babangida, Senator Bukola Saraki, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Atiku finally emerged as the northern candidate who contested with President Jonathan but lost.

However, Saturday Vanguard gathered that during Jonathan’s visit to Ciroma at his Abuja residence, the former Minister of Finance was said to have told him that it was really bad and unfortunate that he as President and as leader of the party allowed things to go bad, culminating in five Governors dumping the PDP for the APC. He was also said to have told Jonathan that those who came later to PDP refused to respect the founding fathers and members which explained why he decided to adopt the Sidon look approach.

President Jonathan who was said to have pleaded with him to support his re- election bid, promised him that there would be total reform of the party if re- elected, just as he also promised to address his kitchen cabinet, his aides and ministers on the issues raised.

Jonathan who had earlier, visited the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar in Yola, would visit Kano State today as part of his campaign tour.

We gathered that he would use the opportunity to resolve some lingering problems with former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and now the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, just as he would meet with former Nigeria’s Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, Dr. Maitama Sule, among other northern elders and stakeholders.

President Jonathan’s wooing of Northern leaders and elders would be a follow up to series of meetings he held with South West leaders and elders.

It was gathered that Jonathan had been pleading with the northern leaders to support him for a second term in office to enable him hand over power to the area instead of allowing Buhari, who would govern the country by proxy through some selfish Yoruba leaders.

*L-R : CEO MTN Nigeria, Mike Ikpoki, CEO,Salt & Einstein Mr Lai Labode , CEO, United Healthcare Int. Ltd. Kola Owoka and Executive Secretary/CEO National Health Insurance Scheme Femi Thomas during the Flagg off of National Health Insurance Programmes Nationwide at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

I’m not desperate to continue in office —Jonathan

By Ben Agande, Abuja

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RESIDENT Good-luck Jonathan has said that his readiness to continue to serve the nation for another four years in office was borne out of a genuine desire and not an act desperation. He spoke at the public launch of a book, “The People’s Choice: The story of President Goodluck Jonathan”, written by Rev. Fr. Charles Imokhai.

According to the President, politicians who are interested in occupying any elective position either at state or federal level should not be desperate.

“My second message is to all of us who want to serve, we should be ready to serve but not desperate to serve our people. Sometimes, people ask me that Mr. President, from what we read and what we see, we see you still smiling

and unruffled.

“Yes, nothing will really ruffle me because I am willing and ready to serve but I am not desperate to serve. That is what keeps me going.

The president noted that while the book being presented provided an account that is close to being accurate, most of the things written about him were inaccurate.

He however promised that he would write the most accurate one after leaving office.

“My dream is that one day, a product of Almajiri school will stand here as a President of this country.”

“That is why I have been very passionate about education and I use to tell people that I grew up from a very poor background. But luckily Nigeria is not a cast society, if I was to be an Indian, I probably wouldn’t even dream of being

a commissioner in my state.

He said the organisers planned to set up a foundation and use the proceeds to embark on projects that will impact positively on the country and its citizens.

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), who acted as the chairman of the book launch said he stood in for Ambassador Yusuff Maitama Sule, who he said had to travel back to Kano to attend to his ailing wife.

He used the opportunity to clear the air on the agreement he reached with the former Biafran leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, that was later known as the Aburi Accord.

He explained that Odumegwu-Ojukwu made a statement that was contrary to what they discussed at the venue of the accord.

Fashola names housing estate after Enahoro

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday inaugurated the Sogunro Housing Estate, Ogba, naming it after late nationalist, Chief Anthony Enahoro.

Fashola, in his address to the congregation at the premises of the 240 housing units, lamented that the housing deficit in the country forced the state government to embark on the Lagos Home Ownership

Mortgage Scheme, Lagos HOMS, aimed at addressing the shortfall. The governor said “aside this, we are constructing houses in 26 different places across the state.

Some of the places are Ilubirin, Ilupeju, Ajara, Sangotedo, Igando, Magodo, Omole, Ketu and others.”

He opined that project delivery has served as utmost difference between the PDPled Federal Government and the states govern by the All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to him, “The difference between the central government and the Lagos State government was that everyone could see our housing projects but no one has been able to access their mortgage scheme. Ours was delivered on a 10-year mortgage on 9.5 percent interest.”

Fashola added that the state could account for money spent on projects. “But the central government cannot account for $20 billion.” On why the government named it after Ena-

horo, he said “The democracy we all enjoyed today was fought by some people. Some lost their life. Many were unable to spend time with their family because they were concerned about the freedom and rights of the public.

Responding on behalf of the Enahoro’s, Prince Micheal Enahoro, the immediate brother to late nationalist commended the state government gesture, adding “it is out of this world bestow this on my late brother.”

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

Why North opposes passage of PIB — Sen Adeyemi

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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ENATOR Smart Adeyemi representing Kogi West Senatorial District has said that until steps are taken to ensure the exploration of oil in the 19 Northern States, Senators from the North will not support the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Saturday Vanguard in Abuja, Senator Adeyemi said that what would facilitate the passage of the PIB would be the establishment of an agency to regulate the activities of oil exploration in the country and not the department as recommended by by committee.

Adeyemi, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, however, acknowledged that oil exploration in the Niger Delta region, to a large extent, had affected the environment in the area and that the quality of lives in the region should be improved by government.

He said, “All of us as senators of Nigeria do appreciate the enormous contributions of the Niger Delta region towards the economic development of our nation, talking about the God-given resources they have, the oil, which of course is the main stay of our economy and the proceeds from the oil we know that has helped to improving the standard of living of

our people.

“Equally, it has helped in the development of infrastructural facilities and social amenities across the length and breadth of this nation.

We thank God for that and we equally appreciate the need to put in policies and measures that will help to improve the lives of people of the Niger Delta region, the oil exploration to large extent has affected the environment, a lot of environmental pollution in the Niger Delta, a lot of problems emanating from oil exploration .

“I could say this because we need to emphasize that we are of the opinion there is the need to improve the environ-

ment of the Niger Delta people, there is the need to improve the standard of living of the people of Niger Delta by way of providing them. Every part of Niger Delta deserves the best of social amenities of life and we are all committed to that.

“But having said this let me equally emphasis that before the discovery of oil, Nigeria was equally blessed with other mineral resources which equally helped the nation in the task for oil exploration. In essence, we need ourselves as a people and we have been one people, one nation.

We believe that there is the need for us to sustain that. It is with these considerations that the PIB

has a problem.

“Those of us from the Northern region hold the view that there is a need for concrete steps to be taken for oil exploration in other parts of this country especially the North that we represent.

We hold the view that if there is an agency in place, there is every likelihood that within the 19 Northern states, we should be able to get about two or three states with oil deposits.

“Don’t forget that of recent in Kogi state in Ibaji, there is a discovery of oil within that belt.

We equally believe that if you move upward, from Jebba to Baro in Niger state up to the Benue axis, Lokoja axis, there could be oil deposits and if you look towards Bauchi Basin up to Alkeleri and move again even towards Yola, there is that possibility that there could be oil.

APC plans to announce results with Radio Chanji, PDP alleges

By Henry Umoru

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HEAD of the Presidential and general elections slated for March 28 and April 11

NDIDI OSAKA We inadvertently stated in our last week edition of Up & Rising, pages 24 and 25 that Ndidi Osaka was detailed to oversee the affairs of Radio Nigeria Training School. We have since realised that she is an instructor in the programme unit. The error is regretted.

respectively, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, PDPPCO yesterday alleged that the All Progressives Congress, APC set up its own radio station called Radio APC or Radio Chanji to use it as a vehicle to announce false results after the Presidential polls.

The PDP also challenged the APC Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, retd to apologise to the people of the South West rather than go to them for votes because of

how he humiliated the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo by raiding and ransacking his home.

Addressing Journalists in Abuja yesterday, Director, Media and Publicity of PDPPCO, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode reiterated the call for the arrest of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, retd and the National leader of the opposition party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over the existence of what he described as an illegal radio station called “APC Radio or“ Radio Chanji”.

2015 Polls: NUJ decries delay in journalists accreditation

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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HE Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has decried the delay in the accreditation of journalists who are to cover the elections and called for speeding up of the process.

President of the Union, Mr. MohammedGarba stated this Friday, while addressing the media on the forthcoming elections in Abuja.

Garba, who expressed optimism that the country ’s general election due to commence on March 28 will take place as scheduled also urged the electoral body to intensify its voter education and to correct all the lapses noticed in the card readers during the mock trial to ensure smooth voting.

He said that the success of the election was not only the responsibility of INEC but the duty of all Nigerians to ensure that the election is successful and peaceful.

The NUJ boss, who also canvassed for rancor-free general election: “At this material time we have heard and we have seen a number people who are still expressing doubts about the elections despite the fact that we have had assurances from President Goodluck Jonathan that the election is on course.”

“Recently, we heard from the security agencies who have liberated all the communities in Adamawa and Yobe States and they are now

working on the three local governments that are remaining in Borno State and we have all the assurances from the Chief of Defence of Staff and the spokesman for the military that they are really determined to liberate all the communities and eventually there will be election in these three north eastern states of the country affected by insurgency.”

“We also have seen quite a number of interactive forums where the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, has reiterated his determination and readiness to ensure the conduct of the election as rescheduled.

It is worrisome to us that a number of Nigerians are still expressing doubts about the elections, at this point in time that INEC has worked so hard and has reached this level. What the electoral body requires now is support and encouragement by all Nigerians to advance the country ’s democracy,” he added.

On the responsibility of the media, Mr. Garba said the media must make sure it enlightens Nigerians on how they carry out their civic duties to ensure hitch free polls.

The President of the journalists’ union further urged media owners in the country to ensure that all reporters scheduled to cover the polls are properly insured.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015 — 7

BRIEFS No plan to sack workers in Osun •It’s a silly, wicked lie — APC

Ignore IGP on order to leave polling units T after voting, APC tells voters T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has told Nigerian voters to ignore the unlawful order by the Inspector-General of Police urging them to go home after casting their votes during the forthcoming elections.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the electorate should rather listen to the INEC Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, who said the electoral law does not state anywhere that voters cannot or should not wait to watch and ensure that their votes are counted.

It therefore urged the electorate to make sure they stayed behind to protect their votes after casting their ballots, as was the case in 2011.

APC said contrary to the suspicious directive by the IGP, INEC encourages voters to stay behind and watch their votes counted, saying the law expects such voters to stay behind but to conduct themselves in an orderly manner. ‘’According to Jega, who appeared on Channels TV on yesterday morning, the electoral law says anyone that has no business with the electoral process at the polling booths but desires to monitor events should stay at least some meters

away from the polling agents and completely away from the ballot box after casting their votes. ‘’The INEC Chairman further clarified that all registered voters have businesses with the process and can therefore not be classified as people that don’t have businesses at polling units. ‘’Therefore, the IGP has no constitutional right or powers under the constitution or Police Act to rewrite the electoral law.

The role of the police is to maintain law and order or such other assistance as may be sought from the police by INEC,’’ the party said.

It also called on Nigerians to ignore the socalled public service announcement concerning the show of force by government security agencies, saying it is part of efforts to intimidate the electorate and pave the way for the PDP to rig the elections.

APC also asked Nigerians to ignore the SMS being sent around by the agents of the PDP, asking them to send their names and the last five digits of their VIN (Voter Identification Number) to certain numbers. ‘’These and other messages are being sent out by the PDP to steal people’s PVCs, intimidate voters and manipulate the elections. Nigerians should never allow that to happen,’’ the party said.

Governorship aspirant, two others fight over PDP ticket in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji, Abeokuta

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R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Mr. Michael Enahoro; Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tunji Bello; Mr. Gregory Enahoro, and the grand daughter of Late Chief Anthony Enahoro, Daniela; during the handing over of reconstructed old Shogunro Estate Ogba in honour of Late Chief Enahoro housing Estate in Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez

Tinubu Vs AIT: Court fixes April 1 for ruling

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

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N Ikeja High Court has reserved ruling till April 1, 2015 on the interlocutory application filed by the National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu against Africa Independent Television, AIT, over a libel case.

Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe, who sat over the case, fixed the date after she took over three-hour arguments from counsel representing Tinubu and the AIT, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN and Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN respectively.

Tinubu had dragged the television station, owned by Chief Raymond Dokpesi, before the court alleging that a documentary broadcast by the station, titled ‘Lion of Bourdillion,’ was libelous

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has debunked the rumour that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is planning a massive retrenchment of senior civil servants on grade level 12 and above, including other workers above the age of 50 from the state’s employment after the general elections.

In a statement issued from the party’s Directorate of Publicity Research and Strategy, the APC described the rumour as, “the usual silly spin of PDP’s falsehood in the State of Osun.”

According to the APC, “at no time did Aregbesola contemplate to retrench any staff of any grade or age, and no such thing will be allowed to happen any time soon or in the future.

“From day one, the policy of “gainful employment” of the APC governor, Rauf Aregbesola has continued to remain and will be the intensified mantra of the party in the months and years ahead. ‘The only monstrous obstacle to this policy,” the APC contended, “is the evil construct of the PDP-led Federal Government in starving Osun State of its legitimate statutory funding.

and aimed at tarnishing his image.

In his ex-parte motion, Tinubu prayed for an order of interim injunction restraining AIT, whether by itself, agents, privies and or other persons from producing or continuing to broadcast, airing, or continuing to reproduce the said documentary.

The motion also sought to restrain the TV station from continuing the broadcast of the documentary, which it started airing on March 1

and had been repeating daily, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated March 5, 2015.

According to Tinubu in his motion, the damages would not adequately compensate him if the ex-parte order was not granted and prayed that the rest of the suit may be extinguished if the exparte order was not granted.

He further averred that there was “real, imminent and urgent threat and

danger” of continuing to decimate his person and integrity by AIT by continuing to air the “offensive” broadcast if the ex-parte motion was not granted.

Moving the application, Olanipekun argued that by granting the motion, the television station stands to lose nothing by temporary stopping the broadcast of the contentious documentary, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Synagogue building collapse: Six bodies yet to be identified South Africans were iden-

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS State Chief Medical Examiner (CME), Professor John Obafunwa yesterday told the Coroner Inquest investigating the cause of

a collapsed guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), that six bodies are yet to be identified and 85 bodies identified have been sent to South African authority with death certificates, as well as embalming certificates.

Obafunwa pointed out that in addition, 25 others (comprising 22 Nigerians, 2 Benenois and 1Togolese) were identified and released, bringing the total number of deceased individuals to 110.

He said: “The identification committee sat on February 4, 2015 following the receipt of other results from South Africa.

During this time, another 11

tified and again released to their authority on February 5, 2015 thus concluding the release of a total of eight five (85) victims of South African origin.

“The respective death certificates as well as embalming certificates were also handed over to the South African authority. In addition to these figures, twenty five (25) others (comprising 22 Nigerians, 2 Benenois and 1 Togolses) were identified and released, bringing the total number of deceased individuals to 110.

“There are six (6) bodies left in the morgues (3 each in Isolo and Yaba mortuaries) that are yet to be identified.

governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party in Ogun State, Kayode Amusan, and two others have begun fight over House of Representatives ticket for Abeokuta North/ Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency.

Apart from Amusan, who had contested for governorship ticket at the party primary, other candidates who were claiming ownership of the ticket are former Chairman, Obafemi-Owode Local Government, Akeem Adeshina, and a lawyer, Ibrahim Olaleye.

All of them have been pasting posters and billboards across the three local governments, announcing their ambition in the coming election.

Saturday Vanguard, however, gathered that the leadership of the party had submitted the name of the governorship aspirant, Kayode Amusan who did not contest for House of Representatives ticket.

Checks by our correspondent on the INEC website confirmed Amusan, as the party candidate for the seat in the coming election.

It was gathered that Olaleye had been declared at the party primary held for some aspirants, but was later reportedly cancelled by the national leadership of party due to alleged failure to comply with the party guidelines.

Addressing newsmen over the development, Amusan explained that the party resolved to compensate him with the ticket despite the fact that he did not contest for that seat, to persuade him over his loss in the governorship race in the party. Amusan disclosed that, though the matter was before the Federal High Court, INEC has recognised him as the legal candidate of the party for the position.

Borno IDPs can vote in IDPs — INEC

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

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LL eligible voters that have collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs); and were however displaced because of Boko Haram insurgency in their respective Local Government Areas of Borno and Yobe states can vote in the various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps of Maiduguri and Biu on March 28, and April 11, 2015, the National Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Borno, Bauchi and Yobe states, Col. Mohammed K. Hammanga (rtd) has said.

The commissioner made these known yesterday in Maiduguri, while briefing newsmen on the preparedness of INEC to conduct the 2015 general elections in the state, despite challenges of insecurity caused by Boko Haram insurgence.

He said the IDPs have no cause of being disenfranchised, as the various inspected camps were already secured conduct elections in the state.

His words: “I have come here to see the state of preparedness of INEC. I came before some weeks back and found the IDPs camps are all secured.

The displaced persons are okay for these general elections in Borno and Yobe states.

“Our electoral officers from various Local Government Areas of Borno are already in the designated IDPs camps, representing these council areas and they have their PVCs with them. The electoral officers are also running their temporary offices, as long as we continue to be ready for the 2015 general elections in this state.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

B-R-I-E-F-S

EPZ: Sheathe your swords, Ijaw leader tells youths

By Emma Amaize

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N Ijaw leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, Chief Godspower Gbenekame, has appealed to youths of OgulaghaIjaw in Burutu Local Government Area of the state, who are dissatisfied with the ceasefire brokered by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan between Ijaw and Itsekiri in respect of the March 26 groundbreaking of the $16 billion

Export Processing Zone, EPZ, Ogidigben, to keep their gunpowder dry.

Gbenekame, who led the Gbaramatu-Ijaw delegation to Thursday’s meeting with Governor Uduaghan at Asaba, told Saturday Vanguard that in the interest of peace, it was important that all sides embrace peace and let the groundbreaking proceed as planned by government.

He said, “Ogualagha leaders were at a meet-

ing, you know that Ogulagha people had made a statement as to their inclusion before now.

However, the governor said he did not invite them to the meeting because they made a threat but because they are within the catchment area of the project.”

The governor told them that they will certainly benefit from the project and if there is still any bone of contention, it should be handled after the groundbreaking on

March 26. “For me, I think that is the right way to go.

“Even we in Gbaramatu are not 100 per cent in support of the way some matters have been handled, but the governor said such issues will be discussed after the groundbreaking. My appeal to the Ogulagha boys who are threatening the peace is that they should give peace a chance, there is enough for everybody in the project,” he added.

Why SEEFOR Project will curb criminalities in Niger Delta —NP Minis Ministter

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INISTER of National Planning, Abubakar Sulaiman, says effective implementation of State Employment and Expenditure for Results activities, SEEFOR project will address the activities of militants and other criminalities in the Niger Delta region.

The Minister stated this in Asaba at stakeholders validation workshop on the Informal Sector of the SEEFOR Project participating States and also to inspect some projects being financed by SEEFOR in the State.

He explained that the SEEFOR project does not only creates jobs, but by extension assist in addressing militancy, criminality, insurgency and other social vices through effective engagement of unemployed youths in the country.

SEEFOR is a World Bank intervention project in the Niger Delta region as part of its contribution to the federal government’s amnesty programme towards reducing poverty and unemployment.

Dr. Sulaiman stated that the project had already created over 8695 jobs in two years in the entire four SEEFOR participating states, in which Delta state alone accounted for 5444 jobs.

Delta Govt warns SUGs against violence in tertiary institutions

By Festus Ahon &Ochuko Akuopha

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L-r: Book author, Rev. Fr. Charles Imohkai; Director PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Ahmodu Ali; Book Reviewer, Prof. Richard King; Chief Launcher, Alhajiu Abdulsamad Rabiu; Former Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya; National Vice Chairman PDP, Chief Uche Sekondus; President Goodluck Jonathan; Chairman of the Event, Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Anambra State Governor, Chief Willy Obianor; FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed; Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammad Uwais; Head of Service, Alhaji Danladi Kifasi; Chairman Federal Civil Service Commission, Deaconess Joan Ayo and the SGF, Senator Pius Anyim during the official launch of a book, "The People's Choice-The Story of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan" at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

ELTA State Government, has vowed to take appropriate actions against Student Union Governments, SUGs in its tertiary institutions in the event of violent protests that could lead to destruction of properties.

The State Commissioner for Higher Education, Mr. Charles Emetulu, who stated this during his familiarization visit to the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro blamed the March 4, 2015 violent protest of students of the polytechnic on the ineptitude of the institution’s SUG. “I summoned them (the SUG leadership) to Asaba and I told them that henceforth this school is in their care and that they cannot afford not to know what students are doing. If they have been elected to represent interest of students, then they must be at least two steps ahead of the students.

Next time we would allow the law to take its due course,” he said.

Polls: PDP drags Ogboru, Emerhor, Ocheito to court over alleged Electoral Act violation this constitutional proviTrend of youths sion, having held their

D

ELTA State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, has instituted a legal action challenging the eligibility of all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Accord Party, (AP), and Labour Party,( LP), in the forthcoming general elections in the state.

In a suit ((FHC/ASB/ CS/28,29,30/2015), which originated from the chambers of Mr. Akinlolu Kehinde ,SAN, and filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, the PDP is asking the court to disqualify the candidates of the three political parties standing for election in the state on the grounds that their parties violated sections 85(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which provides that: ”Every registered political party

shall give the commission at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of electing members of its executive committees, other gov-

erning bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this act.”

According to the plaintiff, APC, Accord and Labour Party breached

primaries less than 21 days after the notices they gave to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the holding of their primaries to choose candidates for the 2015 elections.

Gunmen disrupt APC rally in Rivers again

By Davies Iheamnachor

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NIDENTIFIED gunmen have again disrupted the rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, although no life was lost.

The unidentified gunmen over-ran the venue for the APC ward rally at Elioparanwo in Obio/ Akpor LGA, yesterday, shooting in different directions. Some people

were injured. They invaded the venue of the APC rally in the morning hours after the wards that were to play host to the governorship candidate had concluded arranging the scene.

A source who witnessed the shooting said the boys took their victims unawares and shot directly into the crowd, and four people where found in the pool of their blood on the group after

the shooting.

In a similar development, a man alleged to be an APC member was feared dead at a community in Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area.

A source which communicated the incident to Vanguard alleged that the young man was feard dead after he was attacked by gunmen.

Meanwhile, the police has not confirmed the shooting incidents at the time of this report.

unemployment will be reversed —Minister

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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HE Minister of State, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Kenneth Kobani has assured that the federal government will reverse the persistent trend of youths unemployment as it has repositioned to strengthen the industrial sector of the country.

The Minister of State stated this yesterday during the Industrial Training Fund, ITF 2014 End of Year Merit Award held at the Fund’s headquarters in Jos, the Plateau state capital.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Amb. Abdulkadir Musa, he added that the federal government is disturbed that despite the efforts put in place to address the issue of lack of gainful employment, the trend persists but government is not deterred in actualizing the mandate of curbing unemployment.

His words, “I am pleased that my first function is to join one of the most important parastatals whose strides have contributed in no small measure to the realization of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015 — 9

BRIEFS

Chekwas Okorie disowns inclusion of UPP in APC alliance

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Abuja

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HE Presidential Candidate of the United Progressive Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie has disassociated his party from its recent inclusion of political parties loyal to the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential election.

Chief Okorie described the inclusion of his party in the alleged loyalty to the APC presidential candidate as “inconceivable, malicious and a wicked political blackmail to drag the name of our Party to a gang-up we know nothing about.”

He further added, “We have tried to the best of our ability to avoid hatespeeches, campaign of calumny, denigration of elder statesmen and public office holders and the use of acerbic language likely to heat up the polity in all our campaign up till this time.”

In a statement through the Director-General, Chekwas Okorie Presidential Campaign Orgonisation, COPCO, Dr. Ugorji O. Ugorji, in Abuja, weekend, Chief Okorie said he found the inclusion of UPP in the midst of 12 political parties that had pledged loyalty to the APC’s Presidential candidate insulting.

According to him, “We find the inclusion of our name in the list of these compromising Political Parties in absolute bad test.”

He said that UPP in its inaugural National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of 13th November 2012 zoned its Presidential slot to the South-East geopolitical

zone of Nigeria and that the policy statement was actualized on the 11th of December, 2014 at the Party’s National Convention held at Aba where he emerged as the

presidential flag bearer and Alhaji Bello Umar as vice presidential candidate.

He further said that the UPP had commenced campaign for the coveted office of President thereafter

T

HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, yesterday, issued an on-grid 1,080 MW generation license to Oma Power Generation Company Limited.

The Chairman of NERC, Dr Sam Amadi said at the ceremony that the gas-fired power plant will be located at Orgwu-Ogwe, Ukwa West, in Abia state.

Dr Amadi described the granting of the 1080MW capacity license as an ambitious project” It is an C M Y K

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HE Chinwe Bode-Akinwande Foundation, CBA Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation focused towards the needs of widows and their children will be formally launched tomorrow, Sunday, March 22, in Lagos.

The foundation which is inspired by Mrs. Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, a banker, has its base in Lagos. The foundation commenced skeletal services in 2014 with outreaches to selected widows in Nnewi, Anambra State and Lagos.

The launch, scheduled to hold at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, by 4pm is expected to be graced by a cross section of top flight players in the finance industry.

Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, Global Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, FBN Holdings will give the keynote address at the event.

Noting her motivation ahead of the launch, Mrs. Bode-Akinwande said: “One of my hearty passions in life is to see needy widows filled with hope despite the demise of their partners and the vacuum such departure has created.

Agent tasks DSS, NSC on Boko Haram sponsorship

BY OLAITAN AYOOLA

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L-R Tobin Jonathan, Assistant Director, Central Bank of Nigeria; Ubong Awah, Project Manager; Olatunde Akande, SA to the CBN Governor; Tin Onyenankeya, Senior Manager, CBN and Oloruntimilehin George, Executive Principal/Heads Banks Financial Institutions, Standard Chartered Bank, during a workshop on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund organized by a Sub Committee of the CBN, Lagos, recently.

Vote out corruption, Imo AG tells Nigerians

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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HE Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Imo State , Mr. Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume has expressed his worry over the increasing level of infrastructural decay in Nigeria, a situation he blamed on corruption.

The Attorney General who spoke at a symposium

that was organised to commemorate the 2015 Philosophy week of National Association of Philosophy Students held at the Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Ariam Ikwuano, Umuahia Abia state, urged Nigerians to see the forthcoming general election as an opportunity to vote out corrupt and inept political office holders.

He said: “In the West African sub-region as well as globally, Nigeria has

Power: NERC issues 1,080mw on-grid license to Oma Power licence terms will be

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

with as much commitment and diligence as it could muster, adding, “It is a common knowledge that our Presidential Candidate Chief (Dr) Chekwas Okorie has emerged as one of the three foremost contenders for the office of President of Nigeria.”

CBA Foundation for launch on Sunday

ambitious venture, but doable.

It is on record that Egbin Power station located in Lagos, is the first generation company in history to have been issued a licence of such magnitude. It will also be recalled that the Commission recently issued license to Zuma Energy Nigeria Limited, to operate a combined 1,200MW coal power plant in Itobe, Kogi state.

Oma Power Director, Business Development, Tim Onomiwu assured the Commission that the

adhered to. He said that the company’s development partners, namely GE and Geometrics are at the stage of negotiating project agreement and finances and that the plant will be built in three phases.

Those in attendance at the ceremony include, the Commissioner, Legal Licensing and Enforcement, Dr Steven Andzenge and Mary Awolokun, who is heading the Engineering division as well as the company’s delegation led by the Director, Business Development and Project Finance, Tim Onomiwu.

one of the lowest level of infrastructural provisions.

South Africa with a population of 52.98milion people has 44,000 Megawatts of electricity while Nigeria with a population of 160million people is still battling with the generation of 4000 Megawatts.

“Singapore is not endowed with any oil mineral resources, yet it had over forty refineries, but the 6th largest producer of crude oil, gleefully has no functional refinery, but rather imports fuel from such non-oil producing countries as Singapore.

“The UAE countries formally called Trucial States as at date have $817b as their Sovereign Wealth Fund but the 6th largest producer of crude oil has non in its balance.

“Nigeria is almost on its way to the present day Greek economy not because we do not have the capable hands to manage the economy, not because the resources are not there enough for the populace, but because of self-serving belief that a particular party is destined to rule this country for the next 60 years engenders corruption and ineptitude.’’

HE Association of Licensed Customs Agent, ANCLA, has called on the National Security Adviser, NSC and the Department of States Service; DSS to invite the Chairman of Ijaw Media Council, IMC, Asu Beks, to substantiate his allegation of Boko Haram sponsorship by the Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko.

Making the call in Lagos, former Chairman of the Tin-can Island chapter of ANLCA, Kayode Farinto, said that accusation made by Beks, should not be taken lightly as it is a matter of national security.

According to him, “the issue of Boko Haram is a matter of national security and therefore should not be swept under the carpet. The National Security Adviser and the DSS should invite Asu Beks for questioning over the matter.”

SON, NAFDAC, others deliberate on industrial regulations

By Naomi Uzor

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EGULATORY issues were on the front burner when stakeholders in the industrial sector, yesterday, gathered in Lagos to deliberate on how to move the sector forward.

Speaking at a dialogue organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, between regulators and stakeholders, the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Mrs. Simidele Onabajo, said the agency takes the reports of the industrial sector seriously and that is why for four years now, the agency has not increased tariff.

He noted that the tariff which was increased by 50 per cent on imported goods has been reduced by 35 per cent following the outcry by stakeholders, adding that, the agency needs money to carry out test on goods presented to be sold by the industrial sector.

Okosi charges enter tainers on sustainable biz plans

By Nkiruka Nnorom

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HE Senior Vice President/Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, Alex Okosi, has advised fledgling entrepreneurs in the entertainment sector to develop sound business plans that will articulate how to sustain businesses as a means of taking their careers to the next level.

Okosi, who stated this while speaking at a forum sponsored by Fidelity Bank Plc, noted that it was very difficult for businesses to survive after the first three years, because of poor business plan.

He stressed that being able to create a sound business plan and adapt to the changing environment are essential ingredients for successful business projects.

“I think we are now really passionate about the Nigerian content and Nigerians want to see themselves now more than ever before. Creating content can add value to your work, something that actually underlines the story, because as a country, we love story,” he said.

10 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

BRIEFS Police nab Delta Polytechnic graduate, 3 others for robbery

Polls: We’lll act decisively against trouble makers on election day — IGP A

graduate of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro and three others, who broke into a house at Okuokoko community in the state, stole Highlander Jeep and other valuables, have been apprehended by the police.

They were arrested by policemen attached to the AntiCrime Patrol, Ebrumede Police Division, who intercepted them at Petroleum Training Institute, PTI Junction, Effurun, during a stop and search duty.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Delta State Command, DSP Celestina Kalu, said, “On questioning the occupants identified as Onoriode ‘m’ , aged 26yrs, Anthony ‘m’, aged 21yrs, Moses ‘m’, aged 25yrs and Christopher ‘m’, aged 25yrs , a graduate of Delta State Polytechnic , Ozoro, they confessed that they broke into a house located at Okuokoko and stole the Jeep and other properties. Consequently, the suspects were promptly arrested.”

By Kingsley Omonobi, Abuja

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HEAD of the March 28 presidential elections, Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba has reaffirmed the commitment of Nigeria Police Force to prepare a safe and secured ground for hitch-free polls in March 28th and April 11th 2015 general elections.

He stressed that the Force is determined to strictly enforce all relevant laws towards guaranteeing peace and security in the nation.

The IGP therefore warned those who have concluded or are making plans to foment trouble or cause confusion on Election Day or after the general elections to desist from such in their own interest or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.

Abba said Police intervention teams would be on hand to contain any untoward situation, and bring trouble makers to justice.

A statement from Force headquarters signed by CP Emmanuel Ojukwu added that, “The Police High Command also reemphasized that the Nigeria Police Force would remain ever nonpartisan and impartial.

“It advises the political stake holders not to embark on any act that may impact negatively on the public peace.

“Members of the public were also enjoined not to relent in their efforts at collaborating with the Nigeria Police by fishing out criminals in their midst and further report any suspicious movement in their area to the nearest Police station.”

Anyim, Egwu, Ogbuewu to raise fund for PDP

By Peter Okutu

•L-R: Mr. Abayomi Adesanya, Ondo State APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, Chairman Conference of APC State Publicity Secretaries (CAPS), Mr. Lateef Raji, Special Adviser to Gov Babatunde Fashola on Information during the second annual conference of CAPS in Lagos, recently.

Navy officers for Boko Haram operations

By Jimitota Onoyume

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INISTER of D e f e n c e , Lieutenant General Aliyu Gusau (rtd) yesterday hinted that some of the newly commissioned officers of the Nigerian Navy could be deployed to the North East to be part of the war against Boko Haram.

The Minister who spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt as the Reviewing Officer for the Passing out Parade of Direct Short Service Commission course, 22 Cadets at the Nigerian Naval college at Onne, Rivers State advised the

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110 commissioned officers to be focused and committed to their duties as Naval officers.

The Minister who was represented by the Chief of Defence Staff , CDS, Alex Badeh enjoined the newly commissioned officers to ensure they internalized all the internal security training they were given during the programme, stressing that they would need it during internal security operations.

“Let me also warn you that as a result of a few ongoing internal security challenges in some parts of the country, some of

you may find yourselves being deployed for such duties or operations in no distant future.

I enjoin you to keep afresh in your memory the internal security training you have been given as a lot of it would come handy when you are deployed for internal duties or operations.

I implore you to focus on the Nigerian Navy’s role of supporting the government in maintaining political stability and not allow yourselves be used as an instrument for destabilizing our great nation”, he said.

Ghana’s Francis Allotey on African Voices

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HANA’S renowned physicist, Prof. Francis Kofi Ampenyin Allotey, will be the special guest on this weekend’s edition of CNN African Voices sponsored by N i g e r i a ’ s telecommunications

Jonathan congratulates Netanyahu violent extremism and RESIDENT Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has congratulated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his victory in Tuesday’s general elections in Israel.

President Jonathan looks forward to continuing to work with Prime Minister Netanyahu to further strengthen the existing cordial and mutuallybeneficial relations between Nigeria and Israel.

The President and the Federal Government will also continue to count on the cooperation and support of the Israeli government under Mr. Netanyahu’s leadership as Nigeria strives to overcome the challenges of terrorism,

By Emma Amaize

sustainable development.

Recognizing that strife and crisis in the Middle East remain matters of great concern to the international community, President Jonathan called on Prime Minister Netanyahu, his incoming Administration in Israel and other countries in the Middle-East to rededicate themselves to achieving lasting peace in the region through peaceful negotiations.

The President wished Mr. Netanyahu a very successful new term in office and prayed that God Almighty will continue to grant him the wisdom, courage and strength he requires to lead the people of Israel into greater peace, security and prosperity.

solutions provider, Globacom.

This is a shift from comedy which was the focus of last week’s edition with the godfather of Nigerian comedy, Ali Baba, as celebrity guest.

African Voices will be aired on CNN International at 9.30 a.m. on Friday, 3.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. on Saturday and at 11.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on Sunday.

Viewers can also watch the show during the repeat broadcasts on Monday at 10:30 a.m. and on Tuesday at 4.30 a.m.

Prof. Allotey was born in 1932, in Saltpond, Ghana.

He has for decades been a phenomenal inspirer and influence in the study of Physics and Mathematics in Ghanaian schools. He was the first to introduce computer education into Ghana and is the Founder and First Director of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Computer Centre.

The “Allotey Formalism” theory which he developed catapulted him to the status of legend and world

authority. He also received the Prince Philip Gold Medal Award in 1973. The theory arose from his work on soft X-ray spectroscopy and attempts to explain what happens when an atom is bombarded by external particles and is most relevant for space research.

He is a founding fellow of the African Academy of Sciences, and in 1974, the scientist became the first Ghanaian full professor of mathematics and head of the Department of Mathematics at the KNUST. Allotey is the President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of a number of international scientific organizations including the International Institute of Theoretical and Applied Physics (ICTP) Scientific Council since 1996. He is the Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Accra Institute of Technology (AIT), the President of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana (AIMS-Ghana) and the President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS).

A

S part of measures to ensure a successful campaign for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the 2015 general elections in Ebonyi state, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Governor Sam Egwu among other stakeholders would today meet in Abakaliki, 21st March, 2015 to raise funds for the Party’s governorship candidate, Engr. Dave Umahi.

The SGF is expected to be the chairman of the occasion while Dr. Sam Egwu would be the father of the day.

According to a Press Release made available to Saturday Vanguard by the Divine Mandate Campaign Organization, DMCO, in charge of Umahi’s campaigns, the dinner would hold at Osborne La Palm Hotel, in Abakaliki.

ICT experts importation: Prove your allegation, Maku tells Al-Makura

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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HE Maku Campaign Organisation in Nasarawa State, has challenged the APC and Governor Al-Makura to come out clean on the report that they imported some American ICT experts to manipulate the outcome of the forthcoming presidential and governorship elections in Nasarawa State.

This followed some media reports sponsored by the ruling party in the state in which it accused Maku’s group of importing Americans to collect personal data of voters in Nasarawa State preparatory to the elections.

“The Americans were also reported to have collected data from INEC in Nasarawa State, yet neither the APC or Al-Makura has not come out to offer explanation over the grave allegation,” said the Maku Campaign organisation.

It would be recalled that recently security agents in the country had raised the alarm that APC was planning to hack into INEC data base with a view to compiling its own voter register in order to rig the general elections.

PDP will win Kano, Adamawa, Rivers, Kwara, Sokoto, Muazu •Says their governors have since abandoned governance

By Henry Umoru

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HEAD of the Presidential and general elections slated for March 28 and April 11 respectively, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu yesterday expressed optimism that his party and its Presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan will win in the five states where their Governors defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC. According to Muazu, it was now clear that PDP would win in these states of Rivers, Kwara, Sokoto, Adamawa and Kano against the backdrop that the governors have abandoned governance.

In a statement signed yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tony Amadi, Muazu alleged that the states were no longer functioning because the governors have used the state’s money to prop up the presidential ambition of General Muhammadu Buhari, (retd).

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Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—11

Anybody talking about Interim National Govt is out of his mind —Tanko Yakassai

• Those fomenting trouble are in minority • North East is very safe for elections

Would you say the NorthEast is safe for elections now?

If you remember, there was an election in Yobe even when there was war by the insurgents then and it was successful. And now, more than 90% of the territory that was taken over by the insurgents have been recovered through the joint efforts of troops from Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad. So, I think that you will agree with me that election can hold in those places and in every part of the country. Nothing will prevent election from holding in the North-East. Things are almost normal in the Northeast now and so, there is no good reason why elections should not hold there. Nothing will stop the elections in North East.

•Alhaji Tanko Yakasai

BY CHIOMA GABRIEL & ANOZIE EGOLE

A

lhaji Tanko Yakasai was a member of the Northern Elements Progressive Union during the first republic.

His first foray into politics started in 1949 when as a member of the Kano Youth Association which had joined Jam’Iyyar Mutanen Arewa, then a cultural association.

In 1952, he was elected treasurer of the Kano branch of NEPU. In 1953, he was a witness to a rally organized by the NPC against the visit of Action Group leader Samuel Akintola.

He became the Political Adviser to ex-President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic.

In this interview, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai talked about the coming elections, saying elections must hold in the North-East and interim government is illegal and therefore, not an option. He also spoke on other issues.

The way INEC and the parties are going, many still believe we are not ready for the election .

There were quite a lot of things that were not ready before the postponement. Many people agreed that it was necessary that the election be postponed. But things are different now. Even the political parties had their own issues

then but with the postponement, some of the issues were resolved.

The postponement then was necessary but not anymore. We are good to go.

We still have issues with the card-reader, some of the parties are agitating that it should not be used because of the problems they are anticipating will come up on the election day, but INEC is insisting that the cardreader is okay. What is your take on that?

There is no way we expect 150million people to feel the same way about the same thing.

People have their idiosyncrasies, people will not agree on everything. There must be divergent issues. There are so many religious and ethnic groups with different views and orientation. So you don’t expect everybody to agree to that. We have so many parties and so many people. You cannot expect all of them to agree one every issue. But if INEC says it’s okay, then it’s okay. INEC is the umpire.

There is fear that this election may break up Nigeria because of the current tension and we keep hearing of interim government?

Anyone who talks about interim government is out of his mind.

The interim national government is unconstitutional. Till today, there is no provision in our

constitution which provides for the installment of interim government. So, for anybody to say something like that, such a person should not be taken seriously. It will be an exercise in futility. It cannot work. And nothing will make Nigeria to break up.

The way PDP and the opposition APC are going about their campaigns is contradictory to the peace accord they signed, going by the kind of hate speeches that they make and other things. I don’t know where that will lead us to?

I believe that people of this country will come out to vote and we will have a peaceful election.

Those who are causing trouble are in minority. It is those who who don’t want to vote that are causing troubles. Among us, we live in peace with each other and in our communities. The people who are causing problem are too minor to put us in trouble. On the other hand, I blame the people who organized the peace meetings because, peace meeting at national level is not enough without the state and local governments being involved. If you want to do something that will go all over the country, you have to involve the grassroots. So, I think this is the reason why it is happening. The tension is subsiding now and I hope we continue like this. Things are no longer as hot as they were.

There is no way we expect 150million people to feel the same way about the same thing.

People have their idiosyncrasies, people will not agree on everything

What do you think about the hate speeches being made by the PDP and APC against each other?

All these are build -up to the elections and I know that after the elections, all these will die down. Political parties think it is normal to trade accusations against each other. It’s all politics. We are at peace in this country and we will continue to enjoy this peaceful co-existence inspite of the elections. If you go to Tejuosho market and other markets across Nigeria, there is peace amongst Nigerians. Go to Kano , there are no hate words being exchanged. We live peacefully with each other. We don’t exchange hate speeches . But whatever is being said because of politics will cease after the elections and things will become normal again.

Former president Obasanjo has been speaking and he even publicly tore his PDP member ship card. Should an elder statesman speak the way he does?

The way Obasanjo speaks is peculiar to him. He has been Continues on page 17

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Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

gin to flex muscles. We came in to face a very powerful and stupendously rich opposition and using their wealth to attack UPN. We don’t practice politics of hostilities, rather we are practicing civilized politics and we will not heat up the polity. They will soon realise that money is one thing but reason is another.

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN AND CHARLES AGIDINPU

The Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Dr Frederick Fasehun, in this interview says his party has been facing a very powerful and stupendously rich opposition, which according to him is using its wealth to attack UPN. Fasehun who christened himself ‘an addicted democrat’ promises to carry placards if INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega was not allowed to conduct the forthcoming election. Excerpts.

The Yoruba again, appear to be divided on who gets the baton at the center, where is the place of Yoruba in this democratic dispensation?

It is a media creation. The Yoruba have been in the forefront of the struggle for democracy and they have not receded. But suffice to say that it will not be democratic if every Yoruba person faces one side. Then, that is no democracy, rather, a totalitarian system. By so doing, the Yoruba have culturally taken their normal position. Even during the days of Awolowo, they had different views. It is not different from what you have now and in my view, that is democracy. Chairman Mao Zedong says: “Let a thousand flowers blossom”. The more ideas, the merrier. Mother could be APC while sons and daughters could be PPA or APGA.

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•Frederick Fasehun

Jonathan is not a magician, but a politician — Fasehun

But the younger generation seems to be worried about these discordant tunes on political decision especially coming from the elders?

I don’t think so. By and large, the younger generation is educated and that allows them to regulate their minds on what they feel is right. They want to make their own decision and decide where to belong politically. The youths are progressive and dynamic. We have been agitating over the years that we want a change. I must say it is not a change in personality; I rather want a change in the constitution and in the structure.

the mistakes made by government and operate in advisory capacity. But the opposition in this country is to set the polity ablaze.

Could that be the reason you are opposed to APC? Absolutely. Politics should not bring hostility. The opposition is a shadow government and does not necessarily have to criticise the government in power. You may identify the shortcomings of the government but you should not castigate them or set the country ablaze. You could offer your advice where you think they have got it wrong explaining what you would have done to make the situation better. They are supposed to be improving on

Don’t you think your stance is contrary to the philosophy of the old UPN of Awolowo?

No, I was one of those who drove the military back to their barracks and that is why I maintain that Buhari is a soldier and should not have anything to do with democracy. He is not qualified to guide democracy. Since it is not possible for Leopard to change its spots, it is not possible for Buhari to become a democrat. I am an addicted democract and we have maintained and sustained the position of

ds if Jega is remo ved •I’ll carryy placar placards removed I’ll carr Says Nigeria is not easy to govern •Says the UPN over the years.

We have not heard of any UPN candidates contesting for election especially at the gubernatorial level and again you have adopted Jonathan as your presidential candidate, is it that you just want to enjoy the razzmatazz of the election?

I don’t think so. It is not about razzmatazz. We mean well for this country. We will also do our best to make sure there are political changes in the system. Don’t forget that we came in only about eighteen months ago. Others have been on the field for fifteen years or more. There is no way we will come in fifteen months and be-

Politics should not bring hostility. The opposition is a shadow government and does not necessarily have to criticise the government in power

Do you think the Yoruba Agenda relating to the structural change you are advocating will be implemented under President Jonathan?

Buhari has never supported the confab. Do you think he would implement what came up from the confab? Jonathan allowed the confab, he financed it, and made sure the confab was a success.

Do you think he will throw out the decision of the confab when he gets a second term? No. He will uphold the recommendations of the confab. We know Buhari will throw it out completely.

There are about 643 recommendations, four years may not be enough to implement the recommendations but I am sure the major ones will be implemented. Among the major ones are true federalism, regional autonomy, control of resources among others. So, no other person will be able to do it other than Jonathan. That was why we in our party adopted him. I have seen Jonathan with all his mistakes but importantly we know what is capable of doing. The media have been very unfriendly with Jonathan. I am sorry, but you didn’t tell us that he has created 12 more universities; you did not tell us about the Almajiri Schools, about the East-West road, the on-going refurbishing of the rail system among others.

In the past, we know where we were in the economy but recently, we got the status of the biggest economy in Africa. You also did not recognise the fact that since he came to power he has not jailed anybody.

Maybe the impunity ignited the call for change in the polity?

We recently celebrated our centenary, and for 100 years back, Nigeria had remained at one point, going round and round without development. It had been religious and ethnic sentiments. If Nigeria had failed to develop in 100 years post amalgamation, should we not sit down to find out why we have failed to grow? We remained a country but we have failed to build a nation. Look at the countries in the South-East Asia, whereas many of them became politically independent as Nigeria, but now, they are economic giants. But this young man came and in just four years, he started turning things around. About

Continues on pg 17

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16—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

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ion Amada is one of the three prosecution wit nesses who testified at the South African court against Henry Okah, the man jailed for masterminding the October 1 Independence Day bombing that claimed no fewer than 12 lives in Abuja. Last week, Okah granted a national newspaper an extensive interview and described Amada as his driver who allowed himself to be used to frame him up in South Africa and denounced him for treachery.

But in this interview, Amada insists Okah actually detonated the bomb directly from his base in Johannesburg and was never framed by anyone.

Amada also says only the timely leakage of the wicked plot by Okah and his ilks by some patriotic Nigerians including himself saved President Jonathan and other top Nigerians from being killed at the Eagle Square on that fateful morning.

Tell us about how you came to know Henry Okah and what you knew about him My name is Zion Amada. I was once the Secretary of Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. It was my childhood friend, Boyloaf who introduced me to Henry Okah during one of his visits to Nigeria in 2006. I had never met him before then. After that meeting in 2006, Boyloaf called me and said that Henry said he liked my company and would be happy to be associated with me as I could be taking him around in my car any time he was in Nigeria.

Then, I did not know that he was a gun runner. I just met him on the face value of meeting someone. Boyloaf further told me that Henry would be calling me and indeed, he used to call me. Once, when he called me, he asked me what I was doing for a living and I told him I was doing private business. At that time, I had not been given the appointment as the Secretary of my LGA. So, we got talking and he said he liked me since I was from Bayelsa I was like his kid brother and that I could be assisting him whenever he was around. Sometime, he would ask me to take him around and go to the bank for him. I never knew that one day he would call me his servant. After a while, I started noticing this gun running tendency by Henry Okah. He was always talking about buying and selling guns and talking about killing. He showed signs that he was bloody and ready to kill at any time. Of course, that is not my back ground and I had to begin to withdraw from him.

Despite being tried and convicted by the South African court, Henry insists that he was merely framed by the Nigerian and South African governments. You want to respond to that?

He was not framed by anybody because the evidence C M Y K

Henry Okah is like Egypt’s Pharaoh •Zion Amada, the man who testified in S/Africa reveals more about the life of the gun runner ly to the Eagle Square. When the information got to me, I called one of the boys to tell Sele, Boyloaf ’s brother and ask whether he was aware that Henry Okah was planning to bomb the venue of the October 1 event. That was how Sele took the informant to Boyloaf. It was when Boylaof heard directly from one of the guys who was originally involved in the plot that he alerted the security agencies, who immediately swung into action and restricted movement to and from the Eagle Square. Without that timely information that made the security agents to cordon off the venue, the casualty figure from the October 1 bombing would have been overwhelming. That prevented Henry’s boys from driving directly into the venue. The information had been leaked two days before the event. That was why when the president said recently in Lagos that Henry had planned to assassinate him, he was very correct because if his boys had succeeded in taking the bomb-rigged vehicles to Eagle Square, the damage would have been very devastating. It could have killed the president and other top government functionaries present.

But the President appears to have contradicted himself by claiming that the bombing was not done by Niger Delta militants.

What do you make of that?

He said it was not done by MEND.

•Henry Okah before the court that sentenced him stated clearly that he was the mastermind of the October 1 bombing. When he was arrested for gun running in Angola, was he also framed by the Nigerian and South African governments?

Tell us more about that. Do you think that Henry was directly involved or merely brought into the picture because of his past deeds?

To the best of my knowledge, Henry Okah is the mastermind of the October 1 bombing at the Eagle Square.

Why do you say so?

I am saying so because before then, I had overheard him say more dangerous things than the bombing of the Eagle Square.

What did he say?

I overheard him say something like trying to overthrow the Government of Equatorial Guinea and others. In fact, one day he gave me money to go and give to somebody and when I returned, he asked whether I knew the person I

had just met and I said no. He told me then that “if what we are planning succeeds the man you just met would be the next president of Equatorial Guinea”. I was surprised.

But in this particular instance, what evidence do you have to support the fact that Henry was directly involved in the planning and execution of the bombing of the Eagle Square?

Look, it would be an understatement to say that Henry Okah was involved in the October bombing. The truth is that he personally planned and implemented the terror act with some other elements. He did it. I know the kind of things Henry used to say about bombing Abuja before what happened. He had said it over and over before bombing Abuja. I was close to him and I know his disposition.

But one person cannot successfully plan and executive such an action?

That is why he had these people whose names had been given to the court. We cannot mention their names.

It is one of the original persons who planned the attack with Henry Okah that leaked the plot to me. He had confirmed to me that Henry told him to drive one of the primed cars direct-

But is Henry Okah not a member of MEND? Well, I am not a member of MEND and would not know. However, the Nation described him as the MEND leader and there are facts showing that Henry is the leader of MEND.

Henry is a man who sells guns and he makes money whenever there is crisis

From your closeness to Okah, what do you think is Henry Okah’s grouse with President Jonathan?

Henry is a man who sells guns and he makes money whenever there is crisis. There are people who manufacture guns and if there is no crisis to propel sales, they go to certain places to instigate one in order to sell their arms. They cannot just produce arms and stockpile for the sake of producing. Henry is of that school of thought. He was not actually agitating for the Niger Delta cause as he claimed but was in business and merely exploited the prevailing situation in the region to sell his arms for the purpose of making profit unknown to the genuine freedom fighters like Boyloaf. People like Boyloaf were genuinely

Continues on page 18

SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—17

Jonathan is not a magician, but a politician — Fasehun Continues from pg 12 three to four decades, successive leaders had come and gone, but each of them left Nigeria worse than they met her. Jonathan has come to say there must be a positive change. He is not a magician, but a politician. You should also realise that it is not easy to govern a country of about 170 million people as Nigeria. He has presided over a war ridden part of the country. Boko Haram was foisted on him.

How do you mean?

They told him they were going to make the country ungovernable for him if he won; and what they said now is that if he wins this forthcoming election, they will form a parallel government. That is a treasonable statement. I wonder why those who said that have not been in Kirikiri now. You will form a parallel government? My goodness, that’s a coup! Thank God, they have not repeated it.

They should know that there are people in this country who will take them on that. We will not allow anybody to send us back to those dark days.

We have not seen much of is-

Continues from page 11 president for three terms and after that, one should not expect him to speak the way he is doing about issues of Nigeria but we must also understand that that he is peculiar in his ways. Some of these people who talk anyhow are very indisciplined in character. Some of them should just be ignored.

Obasanjo’s ill-conceived comment against Jonathan is not an honourable way to say things. You can help someone to get a job but you can’t help that person do the job. Obasanjo shouldn’t use such “unpalatable utterances” against President Jonathan.

General Obasanjo being a former President and a highranking leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is the party in power at the Federal level in the country has every opportunity to seek audience with President Goodluck Jonathan and either offer him whatever advice he has to offer or criticize any policy of his administration that he has cause to disagree with. I think that is what is expected of any statesman, particularly people of the caliber of General Obasanjo.

People close to him say when ever General Obasanjo disagrees with a person, he will carry the fight to his place of worship, to his dining table and sometimes, he will even be fighting the person in his dream. He is reported to be unforgiving and C M Y K

sue based campaign; instead, it has been mudslinging and attack on personalities, why has it degenerated to this level?

That is exactly my point. If you want to contest for an election, you don’t have to be hostile. In Great Britain where I was educated, when the Labour Party was in power, of course the Conservative will be in opposition.

I remember an incident, when both parties were campaigning on Union Street in Scotland, the two parties were the both end of the street. The Labor Party had its public address system damaged and when the Conservatives finished its campaign which was close by, it gave its public address systems to the Labour party for campaign. Can you imagine the civilisation in politics? If it was here, there will be jubilation by the opposing side. That sets me thinking about the level of civility in my country. During politics, the environment will be so tensed that you don’t want to go to certain places or go out at nights because of violence. That is not politics.

The speculation about removal of Jega is rife; don’t you

think the ouster of the INEC boss will affect the credibility of the election?

There is no truth in the story.

It is media speculation. Virtually every forth night, all parties chairmen meet with Jega in Abuja and we discuss various issues. My take is that why are we in a hurry, instead of having a shabby election and ending up in a brink, let us be patient a bit and do something more credible. Hitherto, there are reports of PVCs and disenfranchisement. I am not saying we should shift the election indefinitely, but let us have a credible election and if you disenfranchise the people, how do you have a credible election?

The PVC should be super abundant. The election is barely some weeks, now, do you think anybody will want Jega out?

Jega has performed very well but unfortunately his subordinates are not doing enough. I am a chairman of a party and I know what I go through. I am not one of those who are thinking of Jega’s ouster and I will carry placards if Jega is removed and I will tell the authorities that: “Let Jega remain.”

I founded OPC; it was a sociocultural group.

Sociocultural of course involved politics, even Music, dancing and eating including the ways of life of the people.

“Those fomenting trouble are in minority”

•Alhaji Tanko Yakasai his method of disagreement with people is sometimes regarded as a matter of life and death.

To me as a patriotic Nigerian, whatever differences exist between them should have been

solved amicably. General Obasanjo and I enjoy tremendous goodwill and mutual respect. I respect him as the former President of my country, and he accords me some measure of respect as his elder. It is in this spirit that I would like to appeal to the former President to pursue political differences with some decency and decorum. That is what normally is expected of a man of General Obasanjo’s caliber.

As a veteran politician, former President Obasanjo should adopt decorum, tolerance and statesmanship standard in the pursuit of his political differences with others. This is the most honourable path for a man of his stature.

Some of the critics of President GEJ said has not performed and does not deserve another term.

Do you think so?

With the level of transformation that we have recorded in this country both in the transportation system, electricity and so on, anybody who is saying that President Jonathan has not performed is being economical with the truth. Even if a prophet

Obasanjo’s illconceived comment against Jonathan is not an honourable way to say things. You can help someone to get a job but you can’t help that person do the job

OPC was a cultural group when it was formed, don’t you think it has changed from its original ideas?

No! I founded OPC; it was a socio-cultural group. Socio-cultural of course involved politics, even Music, dancing and eating including the ways of life of the people.

The group is seen to have derailed from its socio-cultural activities having involved in militancy of sort We are not actually into serious militancy. But we are into providing security of lives and property. The OPC was meant to protect the Yoruba interest and to ensure justice is done in relation to other ethnic nationalities. The country belongs to all of us. I must also say that when you want to carry out security, it will involve some measure of force. Security is not a tea-party What is the future of OPC? It is very bright. OPC will go on to support democracy and nationalism. Some of the youths were at the Confab and they contributed their ideas to the forum.

We have grown from about six people that started it to about six million members.

comes down, considering the number of ethnic groups that we have and different religious backgrounds, he cannot be tolerated by Nigerian because we are different people. I don’t think there is any country in the world that has the same number of ethnic groups that Nigeria has. Different culture and tradition and so on and naturally,people perceive things differently.

How would you assess President Jonathan’s performance all these years?

I think there are areas where he has succeeded and there are also areas were he has not succeeded just like the other leaders before him. There is no president in Nigeria that performed absolutely well in all fronts. But Jonathan has been there for over four years, he knows his areas of weakness and these are the areas he will concentrate on during his next tenure. He couldn’t have finished everything in four years.

That is why he deserves a second term.

Do you think INEC is ready for the elections?

Before the postponement, INEC was not ready. Even the political parties were not ready. But that has since changed. The period of postponement has afforded INEC the opportunity to put many things right. Even the parties. Now, we are ready and nothing will stop this election now.

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

‘Shedding of blood cannot solve any problem in the Niger Delta’ Continues from page 16

that he is timid and coward?

Could this be true based on your knowledge of the president?

The President is an educated man, a former lecturer with a PhD in one of the best universities in Nigeria. How do you describe such a man as unintelligent and timid? Henry was not framed because when he was arrested in Angola in 2007 Jonathan was the governor of Bayelsa State. So, was it the president who framed him in Angola? Before this time, the former president of Angola Dos Santos had said that he reported in African Union meeting that Henry was a potential terrorist threat to the African sub-region. Was Jonathan in that meeting? So, you can see that Henry is just looking for some lies to tell in order to get undeserved sympathy from those who do not know him and his antecedents.

concerned about the plight of the Niger Delta people. It might be that Henry had the initial interest to work for the people but lost that altruistic focus along the line and went all out for profit-making in the name of the struggle. Look there is one point I want you to note about Henry Okah. He is smart but he is not clever. I am saying so because for him to say that he was framed up and that we were all paid by the government to bear false witness against shows that he is lying. He knows that all that we said was nothing but the truth.

Why were you invited to testify against him in South Africa and at what point did you withdraw from Henry Okah?

The truth is that I started withdrawing from Okah when somebody who was working with him had a nasty encounter with him. I went to see him that morning in a hotel in Port Harcourt and he started accusing me of something I never contemplated doing. From that point he started plotting how to eliminate me. He never trusted me. There was another incident in Port Harcourt when he was almost killed on the Port HarcourtAba Expressway and the man who carried him in a motorcycle died on the spot. But I managed to carry him in that unconscious state to a nearby clinic and he was revived. But less than two weeks after his recovery, he began to check my phones and plotted how to kill me. That day he seized my phone and checked all the dialed numbers and said that if any of the suspected numbers had appeared on my phone that day it would have been my last on earth. That was what Henry told me and that was the man I had just saved his life two weeks earlier. Because of his attempt on my life, I had to severe my relationship with him.

There is an oil company mentioned by Henry that it got an oil block in return for the Government framing and jailing him. Is there any truth in that?

That is a pure lie. When he wrote in the paper that Jonathan was a coward and a timid person, he would have mentioned my name and other witnesses that had the original plot with him. Don’t forget that he was jailed based on the evidence before the court.

Let me tell you, when I gave my testimony in court, Henry’s lawyer could not ask me even one question. He requested for 30 minutes break and the judge obliged and when he returned he could still not cross examine me because he had nothing to challenge what I said.

What was the crux of your testimony against Henry?

C M Y K

•Henry Okah

I know that the blood of those innocent persons who died will not be in vain. I am surprised that they did not jail him for life because of the enormity of the offence he committed Well the crux of my testimony was that one of those involved in the plot told me that Henry was planning to bomb the venue of the independence celebration in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The State Security Service agents, who carried out the investigation, were by all standards very thorough and I thank God that they saw my patriotism in the whole thing and believed me.

If it were some other agencies

that are not thorough in their work, they might have roped me into the plot and that would have been it. I did that based on my pledge to be faithful and loyal to Nigeria.

The security agents asked me why I told the governor of my state, and I told them I had to do so since he was the chief security officer of the state. I went to testify because of the anger in me. I did not want Nigeria to be destroyed by a band of people. Let me tell you that Henry personally detonated the bomb that rocked Eagle Square on that day from his base in South Africa. He was in control of the whole deadly exercise and no other person did it. So, based on the information given by one of the masterminds to the security agents that he mentioned the plot to some persons including myself, I was invited to testify in South Africa and I did purely out of my patriotism for my country. They asked me what I did when I got the information and I told them I sent a text to my governor and the evidence was found on my phone to be intact. When the boy also called me and told me that Henry said one of the wired cars had exploded I asked him to give me the number he used to call him from South Africa. I also forwarded it to the governor. I did not delete the numbers and the records from the service providers confirmed my testimony. They realised that throughout that year, nobody else called me from South Africa.

What about the things he said about President Jonathan

What if he is found to be innocent and freed by the South African Supreme Court that he had appealed to?

I don’t think he can be freed just like that. The evidence against him was so solid. As the judge was passing the verdict he made it clear that the testimonies by the various witnesses did not contradict themselves and as such they were overwhelming and that from Count One to 13, Henry was found guilty. This is part of the judgment that I quoted.

Henry could not even mount the witness box; he could not defend himself in court even though he had a lawyer. But don’t forget that the first lawyer had to withdraw from his case because he knew that he had a bad case. He is a reputable lawyer in South Africa and he had to go and bring one young boy to defend him instead. I described Henry as the father of modern day kidnapping in Nigeria. But the lawyer could not ask me any question and Henry was telling him what to do.

I know that the blood of those innocent persons who died will not be in vain. I am surprised that they did not jail him for life because of the enormity of the offence he committed.

What do you think of the Niger Delta struggle?

There is time for everything.

Time has changed and there is no need to be killing people like animal. Shedding of blood cannot solve any problem in the Niger Delta. We still need to approach the negotiation table for solution at the end of the day. Of course, after all these years of killings and destruction, is it not the programme of the Amnesty that has brought about the peace we are enjoying today in the region? Is it not the programme that has brought about the peace?

Henry is not more Niger Delta than others. He is not

even from an oil producing community. I am from Oloibiri where oil was first discovered in Nigeria and his community has no oil. He merely exploited the people for his personal gains and nothing more. He should surrender to God and be saved.

From all you have seen in the Niger Delta, what would you advise the youths to do?

My advice is that the people should not listen to characters like Henry Okah because he is like Pharaoh that has refused to hear the warning of God. God has saved him twice but he has refused to heed His warning. Henry was first arrested in Angola and deported to Nigeria. He would have gone in Angola but God brought him back to Nigeria but refused to learn. He is acting like Pharaoh who refused to allow the children of Israel to go as God instructed. The only thing that Henry needs to do is to genuinely repent and accept Christ. I don’t think that he has done worse than Saint Paul in the Bible and there is still room for him to make amends with God so that his sins can be forgiven by the Almighty.

Have you had any interface with the people he described in the interview among them, Sele, Boyloaf ’s brother, Asari Dokubo and Edwin Clark?

Let me start with Sele. He is a prince and with royal blood from Bayelsa State and was never Henry’s driver and can never be in this life. He has been a genuine struggling man. He cannot be Henry Okah’s driver. If he had assisted Henry one day that does not make him his driver.

Henry is the same person who claims he is protecting the Niger Delta and insulting an elder like Edwin Clark. Do you think that God Almighty would allow such a person to go free?

I am not close to Asari so I would not be able to say anything about him. I cannot confirm if indeed what he said about Asari is true. But let me tell you that whatever he said in the interview was not necessary. Let me tell you that I am not a militants but a full Niger Delta son and I believe in the genuine struggle for emancipation of our people.

Do you think that Amnesty was necessary in the first place and that it has changed anything so far?

Of course, it was imperative and it has solved a lot of problems. Many of our people who were educated but not privileged to go to school have been able to go to elite schools at home and abroad. There are people who have been able to fly planes today courtesy of the Amnesty Pro gramme. Amnesty has done very well but those criticising it can continue to do so. But what the Amnesty programme has done to the Niger Delta is revolutionary and with time the results will reflect on the way of life of the people. For me, it has done so well for our people and the region.

The President is a gentleman. Of course, I was not compromised to testify against him. I cannot bear false testimony against any fellow man.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—19

•Barr Nyesom Wike

•Governor Chibuike Amaechi

Rivers boils,

killings everywhere •As politicians hire cultists

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT: There is tension in Rivers state as the two major political parties, the All Progressive Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP continue to claim brutal murder of their members by the other.

While governor Chibuike Amaechi alleged recently that over thirty members of his APC have been gunned down in Rivers state in political related circumstances the PDP governorship candidate, Barr Nyesom Wike on his part said over 45 PDP members have also been killed on account of their political affiliation. He said this

when he addressed a team from the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC led by the Chairman, Prof Chidi Odinakalu in Port Harcourt.

The two parties have continued to evidence some of their claims with names of alleged members killed.

Governor Amaechi at a press briefing in Government House, Port Harcourt, reeled out about eight names of members of his party he said were killed at different locations in the state recently, adding that about thirty members of his party had been arrested by the Police on what he termed frivolous reasons.

The APC and the PDP have also lashed at the police for allegedly being biased. The

PDP governorship candidate, Barr Wike alleged that the governor and his APC maintain a killer squad in the police , code named C4I and urged the Inspector General of Police to immediately disband the body “Amaechi and APC brewed the crisis in Rivers State through their illegal actions and acts of violence against the PDP. Since this year, we have lost over 40 PDP members murdered by armed agents of the APC and members of the See for Eye, C4I, Police team directly answerable to Governor Amaechi.

Amaechi and APC brewed the crisis in Rivers State through their illegal actions and acts of violence against the PDP

“We call on Inspector General of Police to, as a matter of urgency, disband Amaechi’s hit squad called C4I used to kill our members before the general elections. We will, otherwise, be compelled to defend ourselves against the killings”, he said.

The APC on its part accused the Police of conspiring with the PDP to harass, intimidate and arrest its members, saying the move were part of plots to rig the elections for the PDP. “Unfortunately the Nigeria Police force in Rivers state has led to a great escalation of these acts of killings, unlawful arrests and detention on frivolous and unsubstantiated reasons as well as constant and un-abating harassment using the very same police meant to protect all sides.

“The most ridiculous is that the Police whom we are supposed to run to for protection have commenced the withdrawal of Police security for top APC members including that of gubernatorial candidate, Dr Dakuku Peterside”, Amaechi said.

Amaechi further said the reported withdrawal of Policemen from his party’s governorship candidate was a likely step towards executing an alleged scheme to assassinate Peterside.

Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG zone 6, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin who responded to the allegations by the various parties on the Police said they were not

Continues on page 20

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

•Violence in Port Harcourt

Continues from page 19 true.

According to him, the Police would continue to discharge their responsibility professionally in all states under his zone.

To reassure the political parties of the neutrality of the police he said he had to order that men of the C4I should no longer be deplored to protect politicians, adding that they should also not be posted to campaign rallies of any of the political parties any longer. “ The C4I unit should henceforth stop featuring in political campaigns. The C4I Unit of the Department of Operations should on no account post their officers to any political appointee or VIP;”, he said.

Also the state Police Public relations officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad who declined comment on the allegation of arrest of APC members indiscriminately by the Police said most of them were being tried at a federal High court in Port Harcourt for criminal offences. “The matter is in court so I will not want to comment on an issue before the court”, he told the Vanguard.

Residents of the state have also expressed worries over political and cult related killings in the state.

According to Sopriye David it had been difficult to draw a line between cult and political killings in the state because of the elections around the corner.

According to him, most of the cult groups have been recruited by the political

’Politicians hire cultists’ class to prosecute their interest in the coming elections. “So the killings you see are both political and cult- related.

Vanguard gathered that in Omoku, Degema, Port Harcourt and Abonnema there had been rivalry among various cult groups recruited by the political class.

Last Saturday two persons were shot dead in Abonnema, a development the Police said was cult related. Similar killings have been recorded in Omoku area of the state where over thirty persons have been killed at separate times In Port Harcourt, about nine persons were shot dead pen ultimate Saturday at different locations.

The state Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the incidents had become very disturbing.

He said between January this year to March the state owned Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, BMH and the Kesley Harisson hospital have admitted 41 patients for gunshot injuries and 26 for assault which included machete cuts, adding that they were all traced to political violence.

The Commissioner, Dr Parker who described the situation as an epidemic of political violence said his

statistics did not include those that died.

He said doctors and other health workers were toiling to meet health demands of the patients.

“We toil daily to ensure that we provide services, given available resources in health care delivery in the state because of an increase in the number of victims of politically motivated violence.

We have built some of the best health centres, hospitals and other medical institutions. However, daily, our people are confronted with danger as they go about their normal and lawful businesses”.

Fellow citizens, an orgy of political violence have been unleashed on the people of Rivers State and we are seeing an abnormal increase in deaths and injuries as elections approach.

Be mindful of the fact that we have not stated figures for deaths arising from this new epidemic.

The reason is that the dead were not brought to the hospitals.

However, as reported in the news recently, there have been killings at Oroworukwo, Okrika, Omoku and other areas in the state.

There is no doubt in my mind that there are cases which were neither reported to the police nor to government health facilities.

Therefore, the figures given to you here do not reflect the true index of political violence in our state.

Indeed, they may just be the tip of the iceberg”, he said.

“Let us note here that the Ebola scourge for which the country and our state rose up as one to combat only accounted for 10 deaths in Nigeria, out of which two were in

We are also using this opportunity to warn our people and make them aware of the danger to our way of life

Rivers State. Today, we go about our lives as if we have accepted this ominous situation.

“We are also using this opportunity to warn our people and make them aware of the danger to our way of life.

“Election period should be a time for debates, exchange of ideas, mobilisation of the people, exhibition of ambitions and greater gainful activities for our teeming youths. There is no great future for our country when the generation after us are led by people with blood on their hands who, instead of dialogue, resort to violence.

“The youths are supposed to be leaders of tomorrow. It is for their tomorrow that we toil today. Sadly, there is neither tomorrow nor leadership for the youth buried today. There is neither tomorrow nor leadership for that youth who becomes completely dependent on others even for basic needs, because of injuries”, he added.

He further advised against the senseless killings “Why are we being killed and maimed? Why are our hardearned properties being destroyed? Why are our youths being trained and turned into murderers? Who, truly benefits from the destruction of lives and properties?”

“Know who your child or ward is associating with. Do not encourage them to collect money or work for people who want to use them to perpetrate violence on others. These men and women do not mean well for your children. They have hidden their own children in safe places in Nigeria and foreign lands. Why should your child be sacrificed for their political ambitions?”

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—21

N

B

ut if next week goes on cruise control electorally which is unlikely given the country we live in, the past month has witnessed many distractions; chief of which is the clamour for the removal of the INEC Chairman. It is probably the first time one is seeing a ruling party discredit an umpire it chose and foisted on the people’s consciousness. The same umpire that presided over the same two main contestants in the 2011 election that chose the candidate of the ruling party. The reason Jega can no longer be trusted is known only to the ruling party because it is not telling. I believe INEC is better prepared today than it was in 2011 when it conducted a similar poll. Then it was the opposition that cried foul that INEC was not ready. It seems to me that whichever party cries foul in Nigeria is sending a coded message out concerning its low chances of winning. I personally don’t see how the likely disenfranchisement

C M Y K

Final appeal tto o ffello ello w Nigerians ellow of voters due to insufficient PVCs can favour one party over the other; or how a malfunctioning card reader can favour one party over the other. Yet PDP has been very strident over these issues in the past month. It makes one wonder why. And if it has any evidence of Jega’s partiality, it should say it. My conclusion is that the party knows something the rest of us don’t know and it is not sharing. Another distraction is the debate on whether the military should be drafted to supervise the election. The Ekitigate episode makes a strong case for those

,

igerians go to the polls Saturday to choose their next President. If all goes well, it would be a fresh mandate for the lucky winner and a new lease of life for Nigeria. The two main contestants, Buhari and Jonathan, by now have a pretty good idea what the problems of the country are simply by going round the country and listening to the people.

I am sure Jonathan knows more about the needs and yearnings of Nigerians in the past six weeks than he was allowed to know in the past four or six years. In a way, one can say Obasanjo did not do him or Nigerians a favour when he anointed him without preparing him. Buhari also knows how people feel about his past and how to better govern the country should he get the chance again. Neither, I hope would be the same man again. As for the voters, many already know who they are voting for and the next week should offer very little surprise in the voters’ perception. But we should never discountenance the power of money or other lucrative inducements.

outside this one. Even those who have dual nationalities will quickly realise they are not exactly wanted in those countries.

Specifically, I want to appeal to the voters coming out on Saturday to think beyond religion and ethnicity in casting their lots.Like an online statement credited to Lagbaja said: ‘ The issue is not Buhari vs Jonathan. It is ‘ you today’ vs ‘you tomorrow.’ ‘And if you think the falling value of naira does not concern you, wait until you want to buy a car then you know what 220 naira to a dollar means. Or until

The concern of all of us at this stage should be how to curtail post-election violence

who don’t want the military while the likely eruption of pockets of violence makes its case for those who want the military. I suppose the military will be involved at some stage; but the military hierarchy itself has to think about its image and reputation in deciding the extent of its involvement.

The concern of all of us at this stage should be how to curtail post-election violence. It is on this note that I want to make a final appeal to all the stakeholders in the electoral process to think of Nigeria. We should all think deeply before we embark on actions that are capable of destroying the country as we have no other country

,

you want to pay school fees.’ Poverty does not know religion; hunger does not know tribe. Besides, these two ills can cause a violent upheaval that can engulf us all. We must realise that every choice has its consequence. Our choice, and the consequence, can affect our destiny for good or ill. And having cast our votes, we should make sure they count. It would be a major victory if our will, represented by our votes, could decide who became our next President.

My next appeal goes to the security agencies whose primary job is to ensure that our votes count. Their presence should have a calming

influence on the whole process and not the other way round. Their employers are not the State Governments or the Federal Government but the people.

The extent of their impartiality will help to determine the extent to which people will accept the outcome of the election which in turn can prevent post-election violence. It will also have a major bearing on how people regard the agencies in future.

My next appeal is to INEC. It had been much vilified in the last couple of months. But it can still have the last laugh if it can conduct a relatively free, fair and transparent election. The key is not to favour any side nor be perceived as favouring any side. All imperfections can be forgiven if they are neither deliberate nor manipulated.

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he next appeal goes to the two main political parties. There are have been too many hate campaigns.

Fani-Kayode and Fayose have been most uncouth and have been unnecessarily personal. This is not to exonerate the other side which has also given back in good, if not equal measure. Hate campaigns bring hatred and animosity which can translate into pre and post- election violence. It is now time to sheave the sword and calm their supporters down. It is now decision time and the decision of the electorates must be respected.

My final appeal goes to the Federal Government in whose hands the enormous coercive powers of the country lies. We have seen the uses and abuses of some of these powers in recent past. We have seen how the security agencies were made to postpone the elections. The country is bigger than the PDP and a repeat of what happened in Ekiti can and will cause trouble.

The race is nigh well run. This last week should be about Nigeria and its survival. One sure way of making sure there is a Nigeria after the elections is to begin to douse tensions now. There is no other alternative to having INEC as our umpire. It is in our interest to empower and not discredit it.

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

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hen two elephants fight, the grass , they say , suffers. And many ordinary Nigerians , downtrodden and dispossessed, may thus be rightly apprehensive of not just the menace posed by the attitude of the elephants we have in the PDP and the APC but by the enormity of the storm that the contest between them would generate. However, a deeper look at the unfolding political events in Nigeria may call for celebration.

Political rivalries, if well regulated, are as beneficial as controlled competition in the market place .

Monopoly whether in economics or politics breeds indolence, oppression and tyranny . In all cases , the consumers are invariably exploited.

The fiercer and more evenly matched the competition, the better the interests of the consumers or the citizenry are served. And it doesn’t matter that the companies or parties are similar or have similar products and ideas. And it doesn’t even matter that they are propelled solely by selfish interests. The effect of regulated competition is decidedly better performance and efficiency, better research and development and better appreciation of patronage. The consumers , just like the electorate, become truly kings or valued king makers.

PDP and APC may be essentially identical. Nigeria will benefit from the death of the monopoly that PDP’s dominance constituted.

Politics , they say, is dirty and it’s a whole lot messier in a polity that has suffered moral degeneration , where ends alone justify means. Since political rivalry may entail unwholesome brinksmanship and sharp practices., intense political rivalry in a poor regulated chaotic environment could be a recipe for unmitigated disaster. Many observers therefore view the vigorous competition between APC and PDP as unhealthy and potentially debilitating for a troubled nation. Little wonder some have suggested an interim government of national unity .

However, a comparison between the multiparty democratic environment and the adversarial nature of trials prevalent in the common law jurisdictions may offer a profitable elucidation . The Judge and the society, in those court trials, seek the truth indirectly through the mediation of proofs and evidences tendered by opposing counsels. So the often attritional legal skirmishes between counsels serve a moral societal function in justice administration. The stronger and more evenly matched the counsels, the more vigorous their engagement and the better the interest of justice in the society is served.

When the opposition party is as well founded and as well oiled as the ruling party the resultant robust competition is beneficial to the people. It is true that a few one party states and even military dictatorships have managed to improve their people economically but dictatorships always breed tyranny and oppression and what is prosperity without freedom. Without freedom there is no true development. An effective opposition almost always constitutes a better check against tyranny than any other institution . And the role of the other arms of government in checking the executive lawlessness and in enhancing public accountability is positively and tremendously impacted by the existence of a virile and vigilant opposition Consider that Obasanjo toyed with the idea of tenure elongation and C M Y K

Nigeria needs an entrenched APC

Buhari self perpetuation. He was only stopped by the internal dissent within his party. We needn’t run such risks. With a firm opposition , like the APC, such a design would have been inconceivable and such a thought would never have sprouted in him or in anyone else.

And the nation would have been saved the troubles of the manipulations and perfidies that were employed to push through the devious plan.

The bane of African nations has never really been just poor economic management . No. Africans have always managed to find outstanding experts to manage their economies . But many African nations have always lacked effective political opposition offered by an alternative electable party to check excesses, establish processes and enhance political and financial accountability. Some observers have failed to take this into consideration and questioned the utility of democracy in Africa.

‘Democracy ‘ has failed many African nations not because Africans have a peculiar political temperament that demands rule by ‘strongmen’ as some have hypothesized. Democracy may have failed because African states ,except a few, have never really practiced democracy. The concept was mistaken for any sort of civilian rule . Democracy means more than just civilian rule .

Because of our long history of military dictatorships , any social contraption headed by civilians brought in by rituals that could hardly be described as elections were accepted as democracies .

And democracy in many African nations was reduced to one party rule where the presidents had life terms and opposition was squelched and suffocated into extinction . And charges of sedition and treason became tools of

oppression and patriots became dissidents and lived in exile. And these presidents owned the parties and the parties owned the people. The president became father or god and the people became subjects and slaves.

Eyadema and Houphet Boigny were all democrats.

African democrats of the one party variety , political wolves in democratic sheep clothing, appropriate the mandate of people, mangle the constitution and turn laws into cudgels and make their private interests national interests. They turn their nations into communal prisons.

One party rule is worse than military dictatorship and Nigeria must run away from both. The opposition before now was largely constituted by the AD/AC and the internal dissenters in the PDP. Such an opposition always lacked the size and shape to be effective and never constituted the watchman or electoral alternative that a democratic opposition should be. And the nation suffered.

The sort of opposition that APC is posing now would help the building of political institutions and capacities .

Because under a political monopoly many democratic institutions become so subservient to the only existing party that they literally become comatose. The concept of neutrality is lost and the interest of the ruling party becomes synonymous with national interest and tyranny is fostered.

Effective political opposition engenders and fosters an equilibrium that allows institutions like the DSS, Police , Military, civil service to gradually mature into apolitical, efficient and enduring supportive democratic structures. And in being unshackled and in knowing that political masters will come and go, they will develop their capacities and align their loyalties with the people and the constitution.

Many have suggested that the APC is not an alternative because for them an alternative must in a sense be different

I will submit that the nation stands to benefit more at this stage of her political development from the victory of the APC than the continuation of PDP in power

from what exists, the ruling party.

A formidable and viable alternative that is refreshingly different , that represents a clean break from the status quo, would have to be the product of a major revolution. Such a revolution would alter the political milieu , dismantle existing structures and allow a distinctively different set of actors to sprout and thrive. But under the prevailing structures only such actors who have acquired the dexterity and astuteness and flexibility for success in these murky settings can thrive. A group of saints cannot win national elections in the present day Nigeria under the existing political culture. The complexity of our political situation makes an expectation of a formidable opposition peopled by saints utterly simplistic. The APC is a definitive alternative , the only kind of viable alternative we can realistically expect now.

The APC and PDP have often been described as assemblages of political contractors whose primary interest is to grab power, dispossess the masses and attend to the greed and egos of party men and their cronies. And I would argue that the coming of APC is nonetheless a blessing. It serves the nation better that these characters are in two opposing groups than that they were ganged up in one. APC will remain a choice even if choosing is between miserable options. And any new moral choice enhances freedom , both negative and positive freedoms.

It reduces , in the aggregate, the likelihood of a tyrannical emergence and retards any existing tyrannical progression. And in being an outlet for aggrieved persons to seek their ambitions elsewhere , it enhances personal autonomy and therefore furthers positive freedom. Imagine what Rotimi Amaechi’s political career would have come to without the APC. The option of viable alternatives would ultimately help to improve internal democratic practices and consensus building within both parties.

More importantly, the existence of competition , even if the groups are bereft of ideology at the outset, would lead to further internal cultural differentiation as the parties evolve to improve their electability . So the parties may stand for nothing now but would have to think up programmes and synthesize ideologies soon if they are to survive competition.

It is imperative at this stage that the opposition becomes entrenched. If they fail disastrously at the polls we may relapse into a one party scenario. Many who hope for an APC victory understand that the safest guarantee of longevity of the new party is victory at the presidential polls. I will submit that the nation stands to benefit more at this stage of her political development from the victory of the APC than the continuation of PDP in power. This argument does not rest on the APC being better than the PDP or on Jonathans poor performance. The only assumption I make is that both parties are in nearly all respects alike An APC victory guarantees that we will have two strong national parties after May 2015. And that in a sense will mark the true beginning of our democracy or perhaps a watershed. It would be epochal not just because we would have succeeded in transferring power from an incumbent to an opposition but because we would have an effective , entrenched opposition formed by the versatile PDP. PDP in being firmly rooted will certainly survive any further decampment and mount formidable opposition. The PDP in opposition will experience a rebirth and will serve national interests better. The chords that bind the APC may be too tenuous to survive a major electoral defeat.

APC may have other desirable attributes . I prefer to avoid controversies.

Nigeria cannot afford one party dictatorship , it needs a second national party and needs it entrenched. An APC victory will serve these ends

SATURDAY

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unmi Toriola doesn’t belong in the league of women who have to be padded to be curvy and beautiful.

The fast rising actress and movie producer ,who is a graduate of linguistics from the University of Ilorin is one of the new faces in the movie industry whose passion for her craft, will see go places. What more?Her sex appeals are capable of opening doors wherever she finds herself.

What led you to produce your own movie?

The desire to be better led me to movie production. Sometimes, you have a story and you are thinking if I you had your own movie production you could put your own story in your own way. You can influence things if you produce your own movie and you can make the director know what you want and blend it with his own expertise too.

What was the experience of your first audition like?

I saw the advert of an audition on TV and I picked up the form and attended .We had the likes of Funke Akindele there. I just prayed to God to give me the opportunity to do what I have passion for. I was picked amongst many people. Then, I proceeded to the second round and that was how I clinched a role in Ishese lagba and that was how I started.

Can you quit acting for a relationship?

I cannot quit acting for a relationship. Anyone that wants to be with me should love my career and be supportive. People will say you can compromise, but not something that makes you happy.

Acting makes me happy, I am enjoying it, I love it. There is joy in getting paid for doing what you love. I would rather quit a relationship than quit acting.

Seriously, what I will rather do is to create a balance. I will not allow acting affect my relationship. All I will do is to strive to create a balance. Quitting is a no- no for me.

What do you think makes you unique?

I don’t strive to be like anybody, I just want to be myself. I watch other individuals that are good and I learn from them. Even when I admire someone’s acting abilities I still don’t want to be like them. I just want to be better at what I do. I don’t want to be like any particular actress.

Has been a curvy lady influenced your getting roles?

In project management there is this saying that whatever you do, if you infuse an element of sex, it sells faster. Being a curvy lady has actually helped me. I have gotten roles, coupled with the fact that I am also good in what I do, it’s a big plus. At times, producers look out for curvy ladies and you hear them say: “Let us work with Wunmi Toriola”.

Being curvy has actually helped me.

What impression do you think most people have of actresses?

There is this impression people C M Y K

Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—23

have about actresses that we are nothing but sex objects. The moment some people come across you all they have in their minds is to undress you and have sex with you. It is usually worse for some of us that are sexy and curvy. Sometimes, I don’t blame them though because some of the bad eggs in the industry have destroyed our image. Not all actresses are promiscuous, those that are, never last in the industry.

Why did you play the lead role in your movie?

I played the lead role because as an upcoming actress, I still need to do more roles to be more relevant. The only way I can do that is by taking the lead roles in my own movies and getting other roles in other movies. It will help me become more visible.

What is your definition of a sexy woman?

My definition of a sexy woman is

I cannot quit acting for a relationship, anyone that wants to be with me should love my career and be supportive

an independent woman. A woman who won’t trade her body for sex .A sexy woman is a brainy independent woman

Yes, being curvy has helped my acting career — Wunmi Toriola

What is your opinion on sex before marriage?

I’ll neither condemn it nor encourage it. As long as you are prepared for what will happen after engaging in the sex, it is your choice.

What is your opinion on the injection of soft porn in our movies?

I don’t believe you have to go to that length to pass your message. You can do it without getting dirty pornographic and you still pass your message across.

Have you ever dude with a bad on set?

I have not done that can’t .I can even quit because of that or just guy to get cleaned

By Kehinde Ajose

or will

kissed a breath and I the set tell the up.

What makes you cry?

I am kind of emotional; everything that is not good makes me cry. When I also remember my late mum, I cry.

If you were to come in another body, whose body will you love to have?

I will love to come in my body, just the way I am. I love everything about my body- no regrets. My body is perfect for me. To come in another body? No way!

What is that one thing people hardly know

about you?

What people don’t know about me is that I am highly emotional. I look tough on the outside, and I sound very tough but people don’t know that I am highly emotional.

Have you ever been heartbroken?

No, I read between the lines. I take my leave before it turns into heartbreak.

What new thing are you working on?

I am working on a film titled Abameta. It focuses on love, religion, race and lot’s more. It’s all encompassing. You have to look forward to it

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— SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015 — 25

C M Y K

26 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

APC Presidential Candidate Celebrates Nigerian Women

By Anino Aganbi

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residential candidate of the All Progressive Party, APC, General Mohammadu Buhari , rtd, has promised to involve as many women as possible in his Administration if voted into power. He made this pledge as the Director General for the Buhari /Osibanjo Campaign organization and Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Chibuike

Amaechi hosted Nigerian women to a town hall meeting in Lagos. Decrying the present situation whereby women appointees in government are neither fully representative nor have made an impact in the administration, there will be no limit to the number of female appointees as long as they are capable.

L-R: Senator Oluremi Tinubu; wife of APC Governorship Candidate in Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; and wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola.

Pic: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (3rd right), his Rivers State counterpart and Director-General, General Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi (2nd left), All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (4th left), Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode (4th right), APC Women Leader, Chief Kemi Nelson (2nd right), member House of representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa (right), wife of former Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi (left) and an 8-Year Old Eniola Benson (middle) who donated her pocket money to General Buhari’s Campaign Fund during the APC Presidential Town Hall Meeting with Women in Lagos, on Thursday, March 19, 2015.

Pix from left Otunba Titi Laoye, Deputy Governor of Osun state; Erelu Bisi Fayemi; wife of former Governor of Ekiti State; Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC Leader; Gen Muhammad Buhari, APC presidential Candidate; Mrs Osinbajo; Mrs Kemi Nelson, Lagos Women Leader; Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Mrs Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, Deputy Governor of Lagos State

JAZZ YOUR SPACE

Mistakes you make

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE 1. Not measuring correctly The first thing you should do is measure your windows and make adjustments depending on how you want to hang the curtain. It will save you another trip to the store if your curtains and rods are the right size.

2. Hanging curtains too low Hang curtain rods and draperies at the ceiling to make the room feel taller — this is especially important in small spaces.

3. Buying curtains that are too short Your curtains really have to all the way to the floor. If you’re looking at ready-made curtains, make sure that they touch the floor, even if you have to buy the next size up and have them hemmed.

4. Not thinking about fullness Traditionally, you should be looking at 2 to 2½ times the width of the window for the fullness of the curtains. So, if your window is 4 feet wide, the ungathered panels should be at least 8 feet wide, or even better, 10 feet.

5. Avoiding the iron Wrinkled curtains look messy.

Don’t be lazy and think they somehow will become unwrinkled after a few days. Steam or iron them

L-R: Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Laoye Tomori; her counterpart in Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Oorelope-Adefulire; and APC Women Leader, Lagos State, Mrs. Kemi Nelson

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015 —27

By KEHINDE AJOSE By 08024212530 AYO ONIKOYI, 08052201215

No politician is worth dying for, Banky W charges

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nB star and E.M.E boss, Banky W has called on Nigerians to shun violence during the forthcoming general elections. The pop star who is also known for his advocacy activities mentioned that no politician is worth dying for and advises Nigerians to vote for the right candidate.

“Just as important as voting is, keeping it peaceful is key. No politician is worth dying for or killing for. We are all Nigerians in this Nigerian struggle. Don’t let any corrupt manipulative person in power try to use you for their own selfish evil gains. We deserve a better Nigeria than the one that we have. So let’s just vote with our conscience for whom we think is the right person to lead and let’s keep it peaceful.”

The self styled king of the Lagos party also revealed his aversion for electoral violence. According to him,: “It breaks my heart when I hear about electoral violence. That is not what we are about as a people. We need peace at this time. We need the right leaders that are going to encourage peace and unity .We need leaders that are going to encourage unity and peace,leaders that will encourage change and take us to where we need to go.”

Iyanya defends macho body show off t is no news that Iyanya has become

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a style crush for fashion enthusiasts. The dude doesn’t just have a melodious voice, he is also armed with a body groupies go crazy over. Though he wears his clothes with unshakeable confidence, he doesn’t hesitate to flaunt it whenever he feels like it.

In a recent chat the debonair hit maker explains why he flaunts his body on social media. “I know one thing for sure; I am all about fitness and I don’t see anything wrong with showing how fit you are. Ninety percent of the people who write those comments are not fit. We are humans beings and people can be jealous saying things like “Why does this lady have this amazing body and I don’t? Why does this guy have this fit body and I don’t?” But once they get in shape, you see them on their Instagram saying: “Oh my God! see my new shape” .He further stated that his third album will be dropping first week in June .

Yemi Alade opens up on alleged Instagram erotic chats with Phyno

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ave of the moment,Yemi Alade has disclosed that the relationship she has with rapper Phyno is a fantastic one, following the rapper’s defence of the singer after a hacker got her Instagram account to send erotic messages to the rapper. Phyno was said to have told the hackers that he did not believe it was Yemi that was having an erotic chat with him. He reportedly told the hackers that Yemi is too clean and mature for the erotic chat they were having with him.

In a recent chat with Hiptv, the Johnny crooner said it was actually Phyno that alert her over the account hack, saying the act has made the rapper a friend of high value.

“My relationship C M Y K

with Phyno is a fantastic one. He is even more of a friend right now knowing that he could stand up for me at some point when someone was trying to make me look bad. We are not really close, so I was surprised that he would think so well about me and replied the so called hackers in a way I didn’t expect. I respect Phyno more now. So let’s just say we are in a respectful relationship” she said.

Recall that Phyno was featured on Yemi Alade’s album in the track Taking over me.Commenting on her

appearances in certain political campaigns, she has this to say: “I have been seen in certain campaigns and I have gotten a lot of questions if I am affiliated to any party or if I have any political ambition. At the moment, I don’t have any political ambition but I stand for what I believe in. I am not affiliated to any political party in terms of being an advocate for the party.I don’t really believe in parties ,I believe more in the candidates who belong to the parties.”

I rehearse a lot to stay relevant—Tobi Sax

major challenges have been power supply and the fact that some people feel that they supposed to give you peanuts for services rendered, the

By Anozie Egole on the secret of cost of keeping it real is success. First, for Having started her high,buying instruments, career in Saxophone at you to be successful paying for studio you have to be a very young age, rehearsal and many other determined, focused, bills.

Oluwatobi Arowojolu, strong and aka, Tobi sax, has proven that she has all dedicated. I rehearse a lot to stay relevant. in takes to compete I rehearse minimum with the likes of Yemi sax in the industry. The of four hours a day Ondo state born young during holidays, and it has helped me to Saxophonist, who started her journey into grace so many big the world of saxophone stages and platforms.

So many challenges I at the age of 10, has opened up to Showtime have had in the the secret to her staying course of this my relevant in the industry. career have helped “ Growing up was fun, me to be who I am today and the better I thank God for person I’m going to everything. I have learnt so much lessons be tomorrow. My

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

Ibinabo’s sack:

Wh ting Whyy I’m suppor supporting Ibinabo — Emeka Rising

Two past AGN presidents open up Two past presidents of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ejike Asiegbu and Segun Arinze have joined other Nollywood practitioners to react following the court ruling on Monday, which nullified the election that brought actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima into office for the second time as the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN. While Ejike Asiegbu who was succeeded by Segun Arinze as the president of the guild, and whose tenure gave birth the endless crisis rocking the industry, declined to comment on the matter, the latter described the court order, as “Shady and a Kangaroo arrangement.”

•Ejike Asiegbu

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peaking on the matter, Emeka Rising Ibe, who was one time chairman of the AGN Lagos chapter and Emeka Ike’s former henchman, declares his support for Ibinabo. He said, he decided to decamp from Emeka Ike’s fraction just for the good of the AGN and movie industry in Nigeria. Hear him, “I was with Emeka Ike before I joined the Ibinabo led AGN because, I have seen that the betterment of the body lies with her.

My advice to him to reconcile with Ibinabo failed.

I told him that there is always a time for fight and a time for peace. Ibinabo is the right person and we are going to do everything possible to support her government.”

Ibinabo remains A GN AGN president —NEC

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•Ibinabo Fiberesima

They have the capacity to resolve the matter — Ejike Asiegbu

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lso, reacting in the same vein, Ejike Asiegbu declined to comment on the matter. He said, “I cannot comment on this matter. All I can say is that the people involved knows how to resolve the problem. I will never stick my neck for the guild again. I have done that in the past. They have the capacity to resolve the issue among themselves.”

I found the judgement shady and a kangaroo arrangement — Segun Arinze, former AGN president

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CCORDING to Arinze, “It’s all a sick joke! I find the judgement shady and a kangaroo arrangement.” He inherited the crisis from Ejike Asiegbu after Kanya O.Kanayo led-interim government produced Emeka Ike as a fractional President of the Guild. Writing on his facebook page, Arinze said, Emeka Ike is non issue as far as AGN members are

•Segun Arinze

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concerned. He, however, called on all members including our A - list actors and Nollywood as an industry to resist the evil plans of Emeka Ike and his cohorts. “ We have gone past all that. We shouldn’t condone one man trying to embarrass the industry. Emeka Ike needs help to save himself from ‘Himself .’ We need to declare him persona non grata from the industry. We are moving forward. Cest fini!!

Ibinabo Fiberesima is our bonafide President.

Enough is enough. This Shenanigan has to stop,” he fumed.

eanwhile, immediately after the court order went viral online, the National Executive Council of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, released a statement, insisting that Ibinabo still remains the president of the Guild.

The statement reads thus: “While we shall abide by the judgement of the High Court, we shall be guided by the Constitution of the Guild which stipulates that there shall be no vacuum in the leadership of the Guild.

In view of this, Ibinabo Fiberesima remains the National leader of the AGN as the court did not declare Emeka Ike President of the guild.

However, the Registered Board of Trustees has gone to the Appeal Court to challenge the judgement. Ibinabo, however, urged her members, supporters and teaming fans to remain calm and peaceful as AGN remains one family.

This judgement has not in any ways affected the resolve of Chief Ibinabo to take the Guild to the next level.

Juliet Ibrahim’s most loved possession B

EAUTIFUL actress, Juliet Ibrahim has said that lipstick remains her most loved possession. She revealed this while speaking on #PriceCheckRadioShow hosted by comedienne, Chigul.

According to her, she feels incomplete without a touch of lipstick to her make up, “I’m a make up person and I can’t do without my make up especially my lipstick” she says.

The show also features George Wright, winner of the ‘Find And Win’ competition organized to mark her birthday. The competition had participants log on to Price Check website to choose the most suitable gift for the actress.

The radio show, which began a few weeks ago, is designed to help listeners across Nigeria make amazing purchase decisions while still entertaining them with jokes from the three hosts, Chigul, Andre Blaze and Patrick •Juliet Ibrahim Onyeke. The 29-year-old Juliet Ibrahim began her acting career in 2005 and has since starred in over 50 movies, in the process amassing several awards including Best Actress at 2014 Ghana Movie Awards. #PriceCheckRadioShow airs on Radio one 103.5 FM, Brila FM 88.9, and Metro FM 97.7and has previously hosted Skales, Samklef, popular rapper, Falz, and Dotun of Cool FM.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015 — 29

Grace Edwin-Okon:

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UBILATION greeted the long-awaited launch of an Igbo channel on Africa Magic during the week which is designed to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo M i k e Ezuruonye nation. in Igbo The 24-hour general entertainment channel traditional follows the success of the Africa Magic Hausa attire and Yoruba channels and will go on air from April 2.

The launch of AfricaMagic Igbo which will be available on DStv channel 159 could not have come at a better time. M-Net, owners of the AfricaMagic channels that avail Africans with platforms to tell their stories from their perspective, is following a tradition of excellence that has long trailed its operations. The launch of AfricaMagic Yoruba was hailed as a highly strategic move which helped to display the rich Yoruba culture in all its glory to a global audience.

Thereafter followed the launch of AfricaMagic Hausa, a development which surprised quite a few people who were hitherto unaware that a vibrant movie industry existed in the northern part of the country.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Nollywood coordinated by Chief Harris Chuma has congratulated Africa Magic for the establishment of Igbo Channel on its platform.

Chief Chuma said, the launch of the Igbo Channel will help to boost the Igbo language film industry as well as encourage many into producing Igbo contents which have been on the decline. “We solicit film makers of Igbo extraction to see this medium as a veritable platform to showcase our rich channels in 2014 and the recent cultural heritage, promote and project refreshing of the Africa Magic Urban our cultural values. We have over the channel. years clamoured for the establishment Speaking on the launch, the of an Igbo channel on Africa Magic, now Managing Director, M-Net (West that is a reality, we are hopeful that it Africa), Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said: will serve as a catalyst towards “We are thrilled to announce the launch revitalising the dwindling fortunes of of Africa Magic Igbo. Igbo language Igbo language films,” he said. entertainment content has always With the launch of Africa Magic Igbo, played a prominent role in the Nigerian which brings to eight the total number film and television industry and we are of Africa Magic channels, follows the glad to offer a platform where this rich redefinition of the Africa Magic content can be showcased to the rest of

‘Why I dumped modelling for acting’

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Kudos as AfricaMagic Igbo Channel debuts Africa and the world. Popular Igbo language content like Living in Bondage, Nneka the Pretty Serpent and many others set the trend for the modern Nigerian film and television industry, or Nollywood as it’s called; it is thus only fitting that such content should be given a platform where it is easily accessible by audiences around the continent. With the launch of Africa Magic Igbo, we have once again proven our commitment to providing content made for Africa by Africans.”

Colgate Palmolive launches MCP+SAN amidst entertainment

By Anozie Egole

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and scores of celebrities from the music and movie industry who gathered to witness the unveiling of the toothpaste described by Colgate “as a breakthrough in the treatment and

prevention of cavities.”

The evening commenced with cocktails as guests arrived the Eko Hotels & Suites venue of the event with everyone primly dressed for the

MIDST pomp, glamour and entertainment, Colgate Palmolive Nigeria last week launched its newest product, Maximum Cavity Protection + Sugar Acid Neutraliser toothpaste otherwise known as MCP+SAN into the dynamic oral care market in the country.

The latest addition is specially formulated to offers a new standard of care in preventing cavities and is intended for consumers who are primarily or exclusively interested in deriving the best protection against cavities from their toothpaste.

The evening which was spiced up with music, dance and good food in a very relaxed ambiance attracted large turnout of oral care Ojodee dance group performing at the event professionals, business elites C M Y K

night and this was followed by a welcome remarks by Scott Gieldert, Vice President, Colgate Palmolive East West Africa, and presentation

by Chris Hill and Cheslin Twigg on the technology behind MCP+SAN The climax of the product unveiling which had Patty Band on standby was the display of the product details through a dance drama by the Ijodee dance group led by Dayo Liadi of the Olorioko fame. It was indeed a night of pleasurable experience for the guests.

x-beauty queen, Grace Edwin Okon, who started her journey into the world of entertainment, after she won the Miss Face of DELSU pageant, as an undergraduate, and going ahead to emerge the second runnerup in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) in 1999, has been explaining why she dumped her first love – modeling for acting.

The multi-talented actress, in a recent chat with HVP, said her decision to dump modeling was informed by the realization that it was not as mentally challenging as what it’s presently.

“If I have to be honest, film making is very intellectual. While I was into modeling, I realized it was not as mentally challenging as what it’s today. The terrain has changed with issues like Project Runway,” she explained.

The ex-beauty queen who has starred in such films as “Tears in Heaven, Extreme Measures, My Dream among others appears to be more of a scriptwriter and a producer, though she still loves acting. In this regard, she said, “I see script writing as something that requires a lot of work. I put myself into it and today, I have written close to ten scripts out of which six have been produced. As a producer, I was challenged when I see the likes of Emem Isong put in a lot of work into their production.”

Edwin-Okon, whose film won the Best Short film at AMVCAs disclosed that apart from producing documentary, short and feature length films, she’s currently into animation. I want to do something different. I want to do animated series for children and full length feature animations. I already have my own character, Funsie, from my niece’s name. Her name is Funsinoluwa. I learned how to produce animation for two years from a PR and animation studio in Lagos. That’s one of the reasons I disappeared from the scene.”

•Grace Edwin

30 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21 21, 2015

otos h p e d u n s e r a h s t s e W Kanye of Kim Kardashian 3

7-year-old rapper, Kanye West, recently took to his twitter account to praise his reality TV star wife, Kim Kardashian, on her recent accomplishment getting 30 million followers on Twitter.

He wrote on his Twitter account ‘I’m so lucky’ along with a topless picture of his 34-year-old wife.

He also added ‘Congrats baby on 30 million Twitter followers’ and ‘Congrats baby on the show premiere last night.’

After posting his congrats messages, Kanye updated his account with the word “SWISH!” several times with more topless photos of Kim Kardashian.

‘Fashion Police’ going on hiatus after a rocky patch

By IYABO AINA

A

fter weeks of controversy and the sudden departures of two cohosts, popular American television series, “Fashion Police”, is going on an extended break. According to a statement on the fashion commentary show on E! Channel on Tuesday, the show will be on hiatus until September.

Recall that last week, co-host, Kathy Griffin, left the show after seven episodes, saying her style did not blend in with her co-hosts.

“There is plenty to make fun of in pop culture without bringing people’s bodies into it,” she said in a statement.

“I do not want to use my comedy to

contribute to a culture of unattainable perfectionism and intolerance towards difference.”

Shortly before her departure, co-host, Giuliana Rancic, faced reaction last month for suggesting that Disney star, Zendaya Coleman’s dreadlocks smells of marijuana.

Rancic later issued an on-air apology to the 18-year-old after social media jumped to the teen’s defense.

But her apology was not enough for co-host Kelly Osbourne, who criticized her remarks and quit a few days later.

Rancic and fellow co-host Brad Goreski will return in September, along with executive producer Melissa Rivers.

*Kanye

Nick Cannon and Jessica White in hot romance

N

ick Cannon has sparked dating rumors with model Jessica White, as sources disclosed that Nick and Jessica’s relationship is “serious enough” that she has met his twin children Monroe and Moroccan.

Also, Nick and Jessica allegedly have been trying to keep silent about their romance because his divorce from

*Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr

Starr go in R ct du in to ey tn ar cC M ul Pa into rock Hall of Fame show

P

aul McCartney is set to induct his former Beatles band mate, Ringo Starr, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in Cleveland.

Recall that Ringo was inducted as a member of the Beatles in 1988, but this year marks his entry as the last member of the group to enter as a solo artist. John Lennon was inducted in 1994, followed by McCartney in 1999 and George Harrison in 2004.

The late rocker Lou Reed, whose work C M Y K

with the Velvet Underground made them one of the most influential groups in rock, along with punk group Green Day, “Ain’t No Sunshine” singer Bill Withers and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band will also be inducted. Also, performers at the show who will debut on the premium TV cable network HBO on May 30, include singer Beck, rock musician Dave Grohl and Oscar-winning songwriter/singer John Legend.

*Nick Cannon and Jessica White

Mariah Carey has not been finalized yet.

The two were spotted on Saturday shopping at A&P supermarket in Montvale, New Jersey, as Nick wore a black leather jacket and pants while Jessica sported a black fur jacket over a white mini dress.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015 — 31

By BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

Coke Studio concert:

'We are creating a synergy between new artistes and their managers'

T

he popular Coke Studio concert which debuted in Africa in 2013, has gone on to replicate the huge success that the concept recorded in other parts of the world including the Middle East and Asia. Its success and acceptance rate has been particularly impressive in Nigeria where it has continued to connect with Nigeria’s teeming youth population and its army of wave-making entertainers in the music industry.

Indeed, the Coke Studio Campus Concert was conceived as an extension of the televised Coke Studio Africa show which brings together artistes from all over the continent to create a new and authentic African sound from different genres and styles of music. Last year, the concert train berthed at eight major campuses in Nigeria including, Lagos State Polytechnic, University of Benin, Abia State University, University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ilorin, the University of Port Harcourt and CRUTECH, parading Nigeria’s top artistes.

Ahead of commencement of this year’s edition, the Brand Manager, Colas, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Femi Ashipa said, the company is looking forward to having more Nigerian artistes collaborating with their counterparts from other African countries.

According to him, more concerts will spring up this year, in many locations across the continent to give more youths the opportunity to actualize their dreams. “More importantly, we are looking for output which includes handholding the individuals who come into limelight through the Coke studio. We want to create a synergy between the new artistes and their management,” he added.

While reviewing last year’s outing, Ashipa said the concert has been successful, adding that “two years ago, we embarked on Coke Studio season 1 in which we brought the old and new generation of musicians together. We had the likes of King Sunny Ade, DJ Jimmy Jatt, MI, Waje, Bez and a few prominent others on the bill. The rationale was to find a common ground between what was once termed ‘Great music’ back then and the wonderful type we listen to now. It was a fusion between the old sound and the new sound. Judging from what happened last year, it was a great success.

The youths and young adults happened to be our core targets. So, during last year's edition, we decided to bring up a new course where young and young musicians came together to present the best of the best to Nigeria and the rest of Africa. Therefore, in terms of localization, we have brought the best together, directing the course of Nigerian and African music through fusion in terms of content, concerts and other activations around it.”

Speaking further, Ashipa said, “Last year’s edition was all about creating new collaborations across African artistes.

“Interestingly, over the next few weeks

C M Y K

and months (last year), I put it to you that new songs would emerge because the thrust would be to create new, good and quality music by bringing the best Africa has to offer together for fusion music. This year, the concert was tagged ‘’Collabos of Life.”

On the mobile studio, Ashipa explained that the studio is only meant for campus activations. The students will enter the studio and do the recording. It is the first of its kind in Africa with state-of-the-arts equipment. A fully fitted-in sound studio, everything you can find in a radio station and audio studio is on this moving bus.

This year, it would go beyond just recording alone, but granting some of the songs airtime. It would be a good platform for any artiste to start a career.”

Describing the concert as “a roadshow,” Ashipa stated that they intend to continue what they have started this year.

“Ultimately, we are going to storm all tertiary institutions in Nigeria in the next few years. You can imagine how many schools there are and how it would cost to put up a very good show. We are pacing ourselves, by the end of this year, 12 locations would be covered.”

•Y Femi Ashipa

•Yemi Alade & Diamond

In terms of what the brand has benefited from organizing the concert, Ashipa said, “We are basically renewing the connection between our brand and young adults. At the end of the day, the aim is to provide good quality refreshment from the best product on the planet and provide a platform that tallies with the kind of lifestyle they want. I am personally tapping into it and trying to engage in their happiness and give them happiness at any turn.”

D’Banj joins NAFDAC to wage war against drugs

•D’banj

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

N

igeria’s pop star, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo popularly known as D’banj during the week stormed the new ultra modern regional administrative headquarters and laboratories of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, in Lagos, to show support for the organization’s campaign against

counterfeit drugs and other substandard products in the country.

The Oliver Twist singer visited the organization’s laboratories at Oshodi and Yaba, and commended them for their hard work.

He explained that his tour of NAFDAC laboratories and the illuminating explanations offered by the regulatory officers on duty should be widely disseminated to millions of vibrant Nigerian youths who are ignorant about public health issues and regulatory activities.

“I am very impressed and inspired with what I have seen at NAFDAC laboratories and other offices. Before now, I find it difficult to distinguish a genuine drug from the counterfeit. We hear a lot of news about fake drugs. From what i have seen today, I am well informed.

On behalf of the Nigerian youths, I just have to commend NAFDAC for their good works,” he said.

His visit was happily received by the NAFDAC Direct-General, Dr Paul Orhii, who thanked him for encouraging the staff and for supporting the organization.

Great David expresses his love for KSA in new CD King Sunny Ade’s sing-alike and leader of vibrant Juju Sound Mil- lionaires Band, David Awokoya a.k.a Great David, has documented his undying love for the master guitarist in his latest CD entitled, My Vision.

Great David reminds die-hard follow- ers of King Sunny Ade of the juju icon’s vocal ability and showmanship. Interest- ingly, the guitar wizkid, who confessed his great admiration for KSA as a forerunner in show business, has never hidden his love and respect for him. That perhaps explains why he has be- come KSA’s alter ego when it concerns music and stagecraft.

In a song he dedicated to KSA, Great David showed glaring admira- tion for the juju legend and his place in the pantheon of juju music, praying God to make him as great and influen- tial as KSA. On why he has decided to wax a record in praise of Sunny Ade, Great David explained that there is nothing bad for somebody to embrace publicly his mentor whom he is very proud of.

“I am exhibiting my natural love and admiration for King Sunny Ade as my mentor. In such a case, there is no iota of monetary expectation, but if he decides to acknowledge my love and great respect for him in terms of finan- cial reward, I won’t mind,” he said.

23 yrs boy start

32— SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015 After featuring in Living in Bondage in 1992, you disappeared from the screen. Have you staged a comeback to the industry?

Yes, I have. I returned to the industry since September, last year. In fact, since that time till now, I have featured in over five movies. One of the movies is already making waves in the market. It is called “My Father’s Crime.” I also featured in “Mary Magdalene,” and another one I’m yet to know the title.

Are they all Igbo films?

No, since I returned to the industry, this is the first Igbo film I am featuring in.

But where have you been all these years?

I have been around. I was in Lagos for a while, before I moved to the United States with my family. I am married to a man from Delta State. So, we relocated to Delta State a few years ago.

That is where I am based for now.

Did you miss acting while you were away?

Yes, I did miss acting seriously, and that’s why I am staging a comeback.

What would you say you missed most about acting?

I missed the freedom and the opportunity it affords me to meet people and interact with my colleagues. There is this closeness and oneness in the industry, and it’s like one big family.

People make you laugh all the time. I also missed travelling to different places, and experiencing different cultures. I missed taking on different characters and interpreting them. I equally missed my fans and basically, everything about the world of makebelieve.

How has it been since you returned to the industry?

It has been fine; everybody has been supportive. The marketers, producers, directors, executive producers among others have all been very supportive.

Everybody wants to work with me, and I am surprised because I actually thought I was going to be begging them for roles, and re-introducing myself to them. But once they heard that I was back, they called me to ascertain if I was free to work with them.

Of course.

What’s the biggest challenge you have faced since you returned?

There have been challenges as there have been improvements in the industry. People see themselves as stars and try to separate themselves from others. You will be surprised when you get on set and people will be in their cars for hours with their airconditioners on. You will beg the same people for rides, and they will turn you down. They will be telling you that nobody comes into their car. I find it very appalling. For me, people think too much of themselves. You should be humble, no matter who you are. I don’t see why people should not associate with others because they think they have arrived. That’s the part I don’t enjoy at all. But there are lots of new ones who are still nice when they see old actors like us; they still respect us, and that’s okay.

Do you still come in contact with most of your old colleagues?

Yes I do, and they are wonderful people. I was with Chioma Chukwuka on set, and when she saw me, she greeted me. Muma G was anxious to know my whereabouts. I told her that I took a break. But now, I am back. I still talk to Kenneth Okonkwo who acted Andy in “Living in Bondage” and a lot of my colleagues. I went to UNIPORT with Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Ejike Asiegbu among others.

C M Y K

By

BENJAMIN

NJOKU

Why are you relaunching your career starring in another Igbo film, several years after Living in Bondage brought you to limelight?

It is the love I have for my language and culture that drives me because there is nobody without culture. Besides, I read sometime ago where UNESCO said that Igbo language may soon go into extinction and I find it very scary.

How can my language disappear from the face of the earth? So, I have to contribute my own quota even if it means I have to shoot Igbo films.

Somebody actually called me and asked why I was shooting another Igbo movie; that people are saying that I left the movie industry because I could not speak English, and that I was not educated enough. I said, well, if that is what people are saying, I don’t care.

But I know that I have a Masters Degree. After I left UNIPORT, I studied Environmental Education; I did my masters in Administration and Planning. So, I don’t know why they are saying that I act Igbo films because, I cannot speak English. That is not true anyway; It is just because I love anything Igbo, and anytime they call me for something like that, I am willing to go and do it. The film that I am using to relaunch my career, Primitive, is so wonderful. The producer, Emmanuel Odife, gave me the script and I read it.

He later asked me what I thought about it; and I told him that the script was wonderful and that I would like to work with him. I am playing the role of a Priestess, who is the custodian of culture and tradition.

Living in Bondage stood against certain traditions in Igboland such as the outcast system. Is your current movie, Primitive, towing the same line?

I think there is a sharp contrast. The former was exposing the ills in the society: the get-rich-quick syndrome of our people at that time. While the latter is a film set in 1914, and it’s about the white men who invaded the Igboland to introduce Christianity. It also talks about how the white men were perceived by the natives, and how, through enlightenment and bearing all sorts of things that they were able to win them over. I think they are two different stories.

What actually made you to abandon acting?

Let me tell you an interesting thing

'

•I q •My

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s

r

mu

about my private life. I met my husband for the first time on February 28, 1994.

On March 12th,, we had our big introduction party, and on the 26th of the same month, we were married traditionally in my village. There was no courtship. We just saw each other, and he told me, ‘You are my wife.’ By the time we got married, we faced a lot of challenges: cultural,emotional and

personality differences. But we were determined to make the marriage work. I know the kind of personality I have, and I also knew that if I continued acting, I was going to end up as a divorced woman. Meanwhile, that was something I did not want. So, I stopped acting and went back to school while still married to my husband. When we were 20 years in marriage, he called me and said, ‘I know you have this acting bug in you and despite ev-

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015 — 33 problems but we loved each other. We were determined to make the marriage work, and it worked.

Would you say Living in Bondage opened the way for you both in marriage and other aspects of your life?

If I had not acted in the movie, I would still have gotten married. So, I don’t think it opened the way for me in marriage.

What is the most nasty thing you have experienced in marriage?

I will not say it’s nasty, rather I will say it is funny. A lady called me and said that the kind of charm I used on my husband is very active. No matter what happens, he still comes back to me. She said, I should keep it up.

Those are the kind of funny things I have seen in marriage.

'My life after Living in Bondage' Bondage'

After featuring in Living in Bondage, it appeared all the men wanted to marry you because of the qualities they saw in you.

Funny enough, the people I met before starring in the movie were more genuine than the people I met after the movie. The people I met after acting in the movie wanted to marry the character in the movie, (Merit). But the other people I met before the movie wanted to marry the real me, (Nnenna).

I was not crazy about all those big guys who were coming for me after starring in the movie.

quit acting to save my marriage y biggest challenge since I returned to Nollywood

The character, Merit, seems to have overshadowed your real name?

Yes, it is a real name and I like it.

People don’t call me Nnenna anymore, and I don’t mind. My parents, and my husband call me Merit.

So, I am comfortable with that.

A

fter starring in that best selling premier movie, "Living in Bondage" , in 1992, Nnenna Nwabueze-Okonta who acted Merit in the movie disappeared into thin air. She happened to be one of the matriarchs of contemporary video culture in Nigeria. Showtime Celebrity caught up with her, last week in Asaba, where she was featuring in another Igbo film titled, " Ndi Gbo Ochie"(Primitive) to relaunch her career. In this engaging interview, Merit takes us on a trip into the story of her sudden disappearance from the screen, and why she has decided to stage a comeback to acting, among other interesting revelations...

My parents are not divorced; they are still together, and I don’t think I want to see my children living separately either with their dad or um because they are divorced. So, I would say I abandoned acting to solidify my marriage erything I have done for you, you still want to go back to acting. Will it make you happy?’ I said yes, and he said, ‘You have my blessing...you can go back to acting. Now, if someone tells him that they saw his wife in a hotel with someone, he will just ignore the person. He will later ask me politely, ‘They said they saw you somewhere, what is happening?’ And I will simply tell him what happened. He trusts me. That is the kind of relationship I have established with my husband over the years. Sometimes, people would ask me, ‘Why did you leave the industry? I always tell them that I appreciate what I have now. My six children would wake up, and see their parents around them. That is very important to me. My parents are not C M Y K

divorced; they are still together, and I don’t think I want to see my children living separately either with their dad or mum because they are divorced. So, I would say I abandoned acting to solidify my marriage.

There was this rumour that you were divorced?

Well, I am not. My husband brought me to the location this morning. We

couldn’t locate this place (location) for hours but he was with me until I finally found the place.

Do you think you took a big risk by not dating your husband before getting married to him?

It was a risk that worked out fine. And that is the reason I tell people that you don’t have to date for 7 to 10 years before you find true love. If you are determined, it will work out. We had

Looking back to when you started and now, what do you think has gone wrong with the industry?

I see a lot of indiscipline in the industry these days.

Those of us from a theatre background know that there is hierarchy in the industry; you do not argue with the director. You have to do whatever he tells you to do.

If you have a problem with that, you quietly talk to him.

What kind of roles can you reject now?

I asked my husband if they say I should smoke on set, what will you say? He said, it does not matter. But as a matured woman, I don’t think I would do nude scenes. I don’t even think I can simulate sex on screen. Those are the kind of scripts I cannot take.

34

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— SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015 —

M

ore and more women especially celebrities are beginning to enjoy wearing their hair chemical-free.

The natural look is catching on and more than ever before, women are ignoring the stereotype about natural hair and embracing the comfort that natural hair provides. It takes a lot of courage though to start growing your hair from the beginning.

Actresses Nse Ikpe Etim and Kate Henshaw have mastered the art and what they bring to the red carpet is simply breath taking.

Caring for natural hair is a different kettle of fish from caring for relaxed hair. Here are a few tips to help you.

C M Y K

Care tips for natural hair 1. Since black hair is kinky, use a wide tooth comb to comb through your hair. Thin comb or brushes will get caught in your hair and cause breakage. Avoid such.

2. Try your hands more on organic products and avoid products with mineral oils.

3. Do not shampoo your hair every day. If your hair is dry, rather than shampoo, wash with a conditioner.

4. Keep your hair well moisturised to prevent split ends. Seal moisture in with coconut oil or castor oil.

5. Avoid heat on your hair and that includes excessive use of flat iron or hair dryer.

35

36—SATURDAY

H

Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

ABC of Sexually Transmitted Infections

OW much do you know about Sexually Transmitted Infections, STIs? Some STIs such as Herpes, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis are curable, and treatable, but others—like HIV/AIDS—can stay for life and can have serious health consequences if they aren’t treated. An STI is an embarrassing, painful and sometimes deadly casualty of sexual intercourse. Armed with the right information, they’re often preventable.

But, you need to mind your ABCs. Several people who get STIs don’t know their ABCs it because the symptoms aren’t obvious. That’s why it’s so important to •Application of condoms get all the information you can about the STIs, from A-Z. A AIDS: Also known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, AIDS, messes with the immune system. The virus that causes AIDS is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, that can be transmitted through unprotected sex, needles, blood transfusion and breastfeeding. There is no cure, but there are medications that enable people with HIV to live long and healthy lives.

B Birth control: There are lots of different forms of birth control, from the pill to the shot to the patch, but they don’t all protect against STDs. Just condoms and female condoms do that. When you’re going to be sexually active, keep in mind •Having birth control to confidence prevent pregnancy in the use but not STIs. of condoms C Condom: This is available almost everywhere and comes to protecting your body. infected. Herpes is viral, which protects against STIs Abstinence is best, but if you means you can’t treat it with as well as pregnancy. cannot abstain, use a suitable antibiotics. It can cause sores Used properly, protection such as condom. The and blisters, and treatments for condoms work most right education is necessary to it are all about giving you fewer of the time, but they enable utilisation of the right outbreaks and keeping you from have to be used protection less than students passing it on to other people. correctly, every who were taught different I It’s your sex life. So get time you have sex to options when it came to sex. informed on how to prevent prevent pregnancy.

FFemale Condom: Condoms STIs and unwanted D Diagnosis: don’t just exist for men. Female pregnancies. condoms are also out there.

Getting a diagnosis K Know Your Status. Get They protect against both STIs means getting tested tested for STIs It’s important for and pregnancy and like by a qualified doctor your health and future, and condoms for men, and can be or clinic at a important to your partner. purchased without a reputable clinic.

L Latex. It’s that stuff prescription.

E Education: Be condoms are made of to keep G Gonorrhoea is a informed. Know the you protected. common STI that causes pain facts. There’s so M Mercury: STIs have been much misinformation while urinating and creates around a long time, and do you abnormal discharge. Not good l, out there, and it’s know what people used prior to but the good news is that it can important to know our modern medicine to “treat” be cured with antibiotics. what’s a myth and them? Mercury! Back then, the what’s a fact when it H Herpes is so common at medicine was worse than the least one in six people are C M Y K

yourself and learn how to prevent infection.

Q Questions for your doctor. It can feel embarrassing to start a conversation about STDs but it shouldn’t be!

R Risky business. Some STIs increase your risk of becoming infected with other STIs and even HIV, so make sure to get tested and treated to protect yourself.

S Syphilis: If you get a painless sore on your genitals, anus or mouth and suspect you might have syphilis, have it looked at right away. If you detect it early enough, it can be treated with antibiotics, but doctors can’t turn back the clock. Untreated, syphilis can cause all kinds of nasty stuff, from rashes to paralysis to even death.

T Treatment: All STIs are treatable. Some go away with bed rest and antibiotics while others may need ongoing treatment. Talk to your doctor or clinic.

U Urine sample: This is one way of testing to see if you have an STI. Other tests include swabbing for cells, physical exams and blood samples.

V Vaccines: The Human Papilloma Virus, HPV, vaccines for men and women can protect against some of the most common forms of HPV. W Warts: There are different kinds of HPV, and some types of it can cause genital warts. Just like it sounds, these warts grow around the genitals, and it might be weeks to months after you’ve caught the disease before the warts appear. disease…especially X XXX films typically because mercury didn’t don’t show people using even work. condoms, so you kind of N Nine times out of wonder how the stars don’t 10, having unprotected catch diseases. Well, some of sex with more than one them do. However they test person increases the for STIs regularly. So you are risk of contracting an encouraged to be on the safe STI. side and get tested.

O Oral sex: Some Y Young people: STIs people believe STIs can affect young people. One in only be transmitted through vaginal sex. But two sexually active people that is not true. STIs can will have caught an STI by the age of 25? Yet most be transmitted from any people with STIs don’t kind of sex — oral, anal realise they have them. or vaginal.

Z Zithromax is one of the P Prevention: If you antibiotics used to treat already have an STI, bacterial STIs, like talk to your doctor about gonorrhoea. But it cannot what you can do next to stop all the STIs out there so reduce the risk of see your doctor to get tested, passing it to your or if you have an STI, get partner. If you don’t treated! have an STI, educate

SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—37

Lifestyle

Watch out for these diabetes Type2 danger signs

A

t least 1 in 3 people has Type 2 diabetes and don’t even know it. Could that be you? In many cases, type 2 diabetes is not discovered until it takes a noticeable toll on health.

Learn to spot the subtle early symptoms. You should learn the early subtle symptoms.

The disease strikes people of all ages. It is a chronic condition that thwarts the body’s ability to use the carbohydrates in food for energy. The result is elevated blood sugar. Over time, this excess sugar raises the risk for heart disease, loss of vision, nerve and organ damage, and other serious conditions.

Metabolism mishaps In type 2 diabetes, the cells cannot absorb glucose properly.

That means glucose levels in the blood become elevated. If you’ve developed a condition called insulin resistance, the body makes excess insulin, but the muscle, liver, and fat cells do not use or respond properly to the insulin.

Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes causes the pancreas to reduce the amount of insulin it produces.

Thirst One of the first symptoms may be an increase in thirst, often accompanied by additional problems, including dry mouth, increased appetite, frequent urination —sometimes as often as every hour—and unusual weight loss or gain.

abnormal cholesterol and blood fats, such as HDL “good” cholesterol lower than 35 mg/dL and /or a triglyceride level over 250 mg/dL, all contribute.

Among uncontrollable risk factors include race or ethnicity, family history of diabetes and age. Being 45 and older increases risk. The more risk factors you have, the greater the odds of developing type 2diabetes.

Risk for women Having gestational diabetes in pregnancy increases risk for developing type 2 diabetes later on. Women who give birth to a “heavy” baby are also at risk.

Having a history of polycystic ovary syndrome can also cause insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes.

Management Controlling blood sugar levels by changing diet and losing excess weight can cut risk of complications. Routine exercise, such as strength training or walking, improves the body’s use of

•Diabetes can subject you to grave thinking

Headaches As blood sugar levels become more abnormal, additional symptoms may include headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue.

Infections One red flag is troubling infections, such as cuts or sores that are slow to heal.

Frequent yeast infections or urinary tract infections and

itchy skin, especially in the groin area are also common.

Diabetic foot Diabetic nerve damage can make it difficult to feel your feet and detect injury.

At the same time, hardening of the arteries results in poor blood flow to the feet. Foot sores and gangrene can occur, even from small injury. In severe cases, infections can go unchecked and result in an amputation.

Risk factors Health habits and medical conditions related to lifestyle can increase the odds of developing type 2 diabetes. Being overweight, especially at the waist, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, diet high in red meat, high-fat dairy products,

SEXUAL ISSUES & SOLUTIONS SEXUAL ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS AMAZING FACTS ABOUT PENIS SIZE (I) A man's penis can provide great pleasure but sometimes significant anxiety as well. Anxiety normally arises from feelings of inadequacy with size, strength of erection and sexual performance. Do you know that Smoking can shorten your penis by as much as a centimeter. Erections are all about good bloodflow, and lighting up calcifies blood vessels, stifling erectile circulation. So even if you don't care all that much about your lungs or dying young, spare the li'l guy. The average erect penis is a little more than 6 inches long and 1.5 inches in diameter.

Hi, im 40 years old having weak erection and I only get good erection when im drunk and this is really affecting me . Can Vimax, xzen 1200, Powerzen gold, Libigrow, or Rhino 7 solve the problem?pls advice me on which one to go for and also their prices too. I saw your info on a column in the Nationsnews – Nuel Hello Nuel, firstly, I would like to advice that you cut down seriously on your drinking habit, cos excessive alcohol hampers your erectile system and this also goes for people that smoke too. All these habits aside the fact that they affect your erectile system, they also affect your health. Just as you have rightly suggested , any one of, Vimax, Xzen 1200, Powerzen Gold, Libigrow, Stiff nite can give you instant erection whenever you need it. All these products are herbal and are very safe for use by all and sundry and at any age, you can call for their prices.

I am presently using Vigrx plus and im in the 4th week of usage. I m not noticing any increase in my penis as you have said, but im feeling some stretching sensation in my penis, what does this mean and can I combine with Maximus cream for a faster result- Nnamdi Hello Nnamdi, you are still in the first pack of Vigrx plus,and in the first month, what the first pack does is that it prepares the tissues in the penis for enlargement by allowing more blood to flow into them and the stretching sensation you are having is very normal and it shows enlargement is starting.

Keep using the Vigrx plus till the third month as recommended and if you want a faster result, you can combine it with Maximus cream. Some people prefer cream to pills for enlargement, so Maximus cream can also be used alone for penis enlargement.

C M Y K

Im a 65 year old man and I have very weak erection , though im diabetic but im still sexually active cos I recently married a new wife who is expecting a lot from me; what can you recommend I take? Im a a regular reader of your column – Chief Basita Hello Chief, there are so many factors that contributed to your weak erection; aside the fact that you are diabetic, age also is another factor, cos as you advance in age, your erection becomes weaker unless supplemented by enhancers. I will suggest you take Vimax with the Noto tea if you want strong erection on demand, Vimax has proven tobe effective even in worst case scenarios of very weak erection and the Noto tea will help reduces the level of diabetes or hypertension, thereby allowing the Vimax to take effect.

Thank you very much Viewden, I m a rfegular reader of your column. I Hve tried several sexual enhancers but they didn’t work for me and my doctor recommned I go for penile extensions or sleeves. What are they and what do they do? Ilori Penile extensions are artificial penis what are worn on the penis both for size and for erection. Some have straps that are worn and strapped across the waist, while some are strapless and are close to the human skin called Cyberskin extensions. Penile extensions ranges from 6”, 8” to 10” for the ones with strap, while the Cyberskin has 8’, 9’ and 9’5;.

You could also get the smaller ones like futurotic extender, or brown latex extension, which are about 5 inches each.

I need some sextoys for my wife.we just discussed that we want to try new things in our sexual lives and not stick with the routine – Bello Experimenting new forms of sexual play is very healthy within couples cos it spices up the relationship when you try out new things. Frisky finger and tongue teasers are very small in size that can be used either by the man or woman to stimulate each other for more orgasm and for more range of sextoys visit our website.

These are all we can take for this week. Adults who needs any of these aphrodisiacs can cal 08034666358, 07059294782 or place your order at www.viewden.com For further enquiries,send an email to us at: vieweden@yahoo.com, viewden@ymail.com.

Kemi Fawole (MD )

insulin and can lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Testing your blood glucose level will let you know how controlled your blood sugars are and if you need to take actions to change your treatment plan. For best results, use a glucose meter to check your blood sugar when waking up, before and after meals and exercise, and at bedtime.

38 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 21, 2015

•Uduaghan playing Tennis

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

W

hat would make a sitting governor in Nigeria finish playing a tennis match and immediately mount the umpire seat to officiate the

•Uduaghan as Umpire in a match

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next match?

Only passion can drive that. And it’s what Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, the governor of Delta State showed on Monday in Asaba during the opening ceremony of the First Clergymen Tennis Tournament.

Uduaghan has always been a sports man with bias for tennis, a game that he plays. Wherever he goes he arms himself with his racket. He plays squash, kicks football but his favourite is tennis. It is a game he started playing from youth and his passion for it knows no bounds. He has done a lot for football and track and field, helping Warri Wolves to the stage where they are playing in the continent and helping Nigeria nurture the likes of Blessing Okagbare and Esse Brume among many others. But he leaves office on May 29 sad that Warri Wolves did not live up to expectation. There is no silverware to tell his story in football.

Under his reign, Delta remained the foremost state in sports development. Although, the state became a force in tennis in Nigeria, failing to produce a promising tennis star with international acclaim is a loss to the game and what sports administrators should be held responsible for. They did not approach the man with a programme that could propel the game to lofty heights although about three players are in the United States today studying in universities on state scholarship.

Two years ago, a young man and a girl won cars in a state tennis tourney meant to ginger state players into action. Albert Bikom and Sera

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 21, 2015—39

Gbadamosi were the winners. And shortly after that came the sports festival in Lagos. Delta cleared almost all the medals in tennis although Albert lost the boys singles to Benue State. Delta had hired former tennis sensation, US- based Rolake Olagbegi to train their players and it paid off.

On Monday, Catholic priests gathered at Government House in Asaba for a four-day tennis tourney, the first of its kind on our shores. It was such a success that the event will be expanded to accommodate other men of God in the next edition.

Why Catholics priests only? Reverend Father John Konyeke sometimes plays with Uduaghan at the Asaba Squash Club. There are times they are partners in doubles. It happened that when Uduaghan met another Reverend Father on tennis court in Warri, he was so excited that he planned to get two of them lock horns in a match. That plan culminated in the birth of a tournament that kicked off this week in Asaba. Interestingly, Father Konyeke was the coordinator of the tournament.

He told the story of the tournament in his welcome address, saying: “About two years ago during one of our tennis sessions, His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan said to me ‘Fr John, I met a Rev. Father who plays good tennis in Warri and they call him the flying father ’. I said Oga, I don’t think I have met him but when we meet we shall know who will fly higher and the governor said, ‘ we shall organize a tennis tournament for Rev. Fathers’.

“It is with great delight, therefore, that I stand before you on this auspicious occasion of the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of Clergymen Lawn Tennis tournament in Delta State to address this noble assembly. The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has blazed the trail in so many areas of human endeavour but gathering.’ ‘’Catholic Priests and other clergymen to be involved in a tennis tournament to say the least, is novel. I wish on behalf of Christian community all over the world, sportsmen and women including lovers of sports to commend Governor Uduaghan for initiating this programme which has brought the religious to a convivial environment not mainly because of laurels to be won but also the need to unwind in a sporting environment.

“Tennis as a sporting event is a brilliant workout for the entire body; it burns around 300 calories in 30 minutes of play and helps in eye coordination.

As such, the heath benefit of this tournament will not be overemphasized.

“Governor Uduaghan has won many awards in

different fields, especially, in sports development but his regard for men of God and his actions towards encouraging the growth of Christianity and freedom of worship in the state only show his humble beginning where there is respect for humanity.

“Today is not for accolades, we are here to show our skills in playing Tennis which our Governor is very passionate about. We are confident that champions would emerge from this tournament and they will be capable of competing well elsewhere. Our dear Governor, we have here the Priests from the Warri diocese, Issele- Uku and Bomadi vocariates participating in the tournament.

“As religious people who are in the season of Lent, we believe that while we enjoy this gathering of religious men that our hope in our Lord Jesus Christ would be heightened, our commitment to making Heaven while making sacrifices as we remember the passion of Christ will not waver. ‘’On behalf of my brother Priests, I congratulate you our dear Governor and all Deltans on this bold step of sincerely bringing together Rev. Fathers to play a tennis championship. We ask God to bless the work of your hands and bless Delta State. We look forward to more years of this type of gathering where religious men would not only win souls for Christ from the pulpit but also from Tennis Court as we expect a lot of spectators. ‘’May God guide us all as we believe in God’s guidance and protection as the tournament lasts.

Thank you once again and thank you all for your patience”.

Uduaghan said that he was happy that by the next edition of the tourney it would be expanded to accommodate clergymen from other denominations, adding that “aside the serious business of winning souls clergymen show example that we need to develop our physical strength too.”

He was to play an exhibition match and went on to umpire another during which he entertained with his warnings on noise and racket abuse. He made jokes on the protruding tummy of Ben Anazie, the compere of the day and wondered how he could play good tennis. Ben, the elder brother of late ace broadcaster Nnamdi Anazie fired back that the match the governor was umpiring was producing better shots than when “His Excellency was playing and that the only good thing was that His Excellency won his match although nobody could have beaten you and I will not be part of any setting that will see you lose on court.”

The atmosphere was really convivial. Sports brings out the best from Uduaghan. And if it’s tennis it’s always special. The cocktail that followed and the way he interacted with all around in the new Government House Lawn

•Uduaghan (right) with winner of Clergymen duTennis tournament

Uduaghan has always been a sports man with bias for tennis, a game that he plays.

Wherever he goes he arms himself with his racket

just by the tennis courts told the story.

He used the occasion of the final on Wednesday to enjoin Nigerians to be conscious of fitness.

Interestingly, Rev. Fr. John Konyeke emerged as overall winner.

In a keenly contested match, Fr. Konyeke, who is the Parish Priest of Catholic Church of the Ascension, Asaba, defeated Rev. FR. Patrick Anyanwu, Parish Priest, Stella Maris Catholic Church, Yenagoa, Bomadi Vicariate in two straight sets of 6-4, 61.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Uduaghan charged all Nigerians to engage in one form of exercise or the other in order to keep fit and be healthy.

He said that participation in physical exercises would help both the young and the aged to be fit and reduce health risks, stressing “no matter how busy you are, please find time to exercise yourself, you can either swim, play tennis or other games or even walking, we have provided sporting facilities in different parts of the state for you to go and exercise yourself ”.

“I enjoin you all to pick the racket and take part in an exercise, you are not too old to start, there are exercises for different ages and levels”, he added.

The governor commended the clergymen for ministering to both the spiritual and physical aspects of their parishioners and urged them to continue in their good work.

•Uduaghan with others during the tournament C M Y K

40 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 21, 2015

JOE ERICO TO STEPHEN KESHI:

re Pre What happens to you if P ? k c o R o s A s ve a le n a th a n Jo thrice in a week. I also go to the gym.

•Amokachi, President Jonathan and Keshi

F

ormer Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Joe Erico, in this wide-ranging interview with JOHN EGBOKHAN,tells Stephen Keshi not to use President Goodluck Jonathan as the reason behind his bid to hang on to the plum job.

I saw you riding a bicycle and I was thrilled. . What informed the choice of cycling?

It takes a strong heart to C M Y K

ride a bicycle at this age, especially on a regular basis. It takes a strong heart to be disciplined. Looking at where I am now, I have done everything I wanted to do as a young man and now that I am getting older, I need to remain fit. I have touched a lot of lives coaching football and I have to keep my own life going now. I also swim.

I have been biking for a very long time and it has been very beneficial. It is good for the heart. If I stay without riding a bicycle for a week. I will almost die. So I must do it, at least,

Our league is a great brand just as the EPL but the work to be done to make it very attractive must involve all stakeholders

So most Nigerians are at risk of helath problems because of lack of exercise” Yes but I am happy with what I see today because most Nigerians are aware of the dangers of not exercising the body. Some people even do it religiously . If you come to the National Stadium on Saturday, you will see Nigerians in their numbers exercising.

Talking about the health of our football, how healthy is our national game?

Football is still a healthy game but it’s just a question of telling people that things are happening where you are. It is about our perception.

Our league is a great brand just as the EPL but the work to be done to make it very attractive must involve all stakeholders.

But our league is not attracting fans at the stadium?

Of course, it is not because I recall that in our time, we used to have a sell-out crowd even with three hours left to kick-off live, when Julius Berger played against Enyimba or Spartans, here in Lagos.

But there is no football in Lagos again, in terms of a Premier League team playing their home

matches here?

Yes, that is the case but I feel that things will soon change. Butt from what I see of the Governor, his idea is that he doesn’t want to get into ownership of team because football is not government’s business.

So what is government’s business?

Like the EPL, which Nigerians are always watching, how many government teams are in it?

Think of it, the only thing that government does its to provide the enabling ground for the game to grow.

But the clubs in Nigeria are mostly owned by State governments?

It should not be so. Times have changed. It is very political now. Then, it was a recreational thing but now it is about politics. That recreational aspect was what made it thick then because everybody was aware of recreation, every department had a recreational department in government then, so money was devoted for that recreation and that money was what we utilised

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 21 , 2015 — 41 Are you not a member of the union?

I am not because the house is not solid. I know what is happening. I am trying to negotiate and bring the two bodies together.

Turning your attention to the progress of the Golden Eaglets to the next World Cup in Chile, do you feel convinced that Emmanuel Amuneke can defend the trophy?

I feel that Nigerian coaches are the best around the world, if well supported.

But the unfortunate thing is that when we lose, they condemn the coaches. They even abuse their families. That is the kind of country that we are living in. But people should be happy with the progression that we are currently experiencing from the Golden Eaglets to the Flying Eagles to the Olympic Team and Super Eagles.

But the progression is not showing in the Eagles Yes, it might not be there now, but I believe that it will soon trickle to the top sooner than later

•Keshi, Erico and Toure

esident ? then to make teams like Railways, Police, ECN, Ports Authority thick. It was on that recreational level but now football is business and unfortunately we have not been able to transform. Now we go cap in hand to government to collect money. And once you go for this money, the people in government will create an avenue to get their share of the cake. So, things are

Do you think a change is inevitable in the Super Eagles coaching crew?

Change is the normal thing. It was change that brought Keshi in the first place, but let me state that our local coaches have done very well. How many expatriate coaches have done more than Keshi has done for the Super Eagles? Even Clemence Westerhof, who was here for five years, was only able to win Nations Cup trophy and lead the Eagles to the second round of the World Cup, the same stage that Keshi took the team to in Brazil last year. So what is the big deal with foreign coaches? Is our country prepared to go further down that? If we don’t prepare to win. We don’t have plans to succeed, rather, we are just chasing shadows.

And the present NFF board, are they on course to take our football out of the woods?

I hope Pinnick and co will do a good job in progressing our football and carrying the coaches and ex-footballers along. In my country, people don’t like when you tell the truth and at my age, I can only say the truth. You can’t give what you don’t have. If I can’t do something, I will tell you to take it to somebody else. I won’t hold on to something that I know I can’t deliver.

I am a truthful person and I believe that only the truth is what I will continue preaching till I meet my Creator.

What is the truth that will set Nigerian football free?

running after me and I am not running after people, begging for one favour or the other. When you call me and offer me something that you feel I merit, I will weigh the options and accept if I am okay with the conditions. But at my age, I won’t beg, like other guys. That is the style of those people. I started well, worked hard to get where I am now.

What do you want to be remembered for when you are 70?

I want to be seen as a straight-forward person, who didn’t compromise on standards but touched the lives of people who came across him.

I want people to remember Erico

as a straight-forward attended a programme it was scheduled to 2:30pm but 3:30pm, they start.

The person invited me me that I relax that Jonathan but I told was on attend

person. I recently, start at by were yet to

who came to tell should President was on air him that I my way to to other businesses because I was equally as important as Jonathan because I also have an important job to perform for this country. I told him that like Jonathan, I was also doing a job.

That was what I told Stephen Keshi recently, when the furore over his Eagles future was raging. Keshi told me that he wants to coach Eagles because Jonathan intervened and asked him to coach the team. But I told him that Jonathan will leave there soon. Even if he stays there for another 10 years, Jonathan will still leave Aso Rock for Otuoke someday.

So I told him that when Jonathan leaves, will he die there? Jonathan can’t even stay in Abuja forever to guarantee Keshi’s job. I told Keshi to tell Jonathan that “Oga thank you, I am not comfortable with this job again and should let me go. That is the truth that we need.

So why should I lie or rely on somebody to remain somewhere. I won’t see a white object and call it black. You can’t build a good society by telling lies. We have children and we want them to be good citizens of this country.

Have you been paid your 2002 World Cup qualifying money?

No, as I am talking now. I don’t know if Keshi and Amodu have been paid, but I hope and pray that someday, someone will remember me and say come and take your entitlements for serving your fatherland. I spoke with Amanze Uchegbulam when we met in Qatar and he said I should bring our contractual agreements and I told him that when I was playing for Nigeria, there was nothing like contractual agreement. Why should I come and coach my country with a contact?

We are supposed to have passed that level today but that is what they are using against us. They should stipulate that a coach is coming and this is what he is going to get.

Is it directly related to what happened to Dolphins in Tunisia?

Of Course, people don’t know what went down that made those boys to refuse to travel on time. It was down to money but people are already blaming the boys, which is wrong, because I knew what transpired. I don’t blame those players because they had to sacrifice that moment to protect the future of those coming behind. There are times that you have to embarrass yourself if you don’t want to be embarrassed continuously. Players need to take their destinies in their hands. The problem is that we don’t have real players union body here to fight for players’ welfare.

I believe that if we all think of the progression of the game and not what will enter into our pockets our football will be great again. That is the simple truth that will save our football. It is very simple but yet very difficult for many Nigerians to practice. You and I, club administrators should think of how to move their clubs forward, not what they will get from the players’ money. Like Tony Blair, when he was making a speech sometime ago, he said he made his money outside politics. He said he made his money before becoming the Prime Minister of Britain. We should stop thinking about making money from the team. When I was coaching, I invited players based on merit. I never soiled my hands in any dirty deal.

But since they are using it against coaches, is it not high time that contracts were signed?

We don’t need to, it is a simple thing that can be worked out by progressive administrators... When I was at Julius Berger, there was no contractual agreement but coaches were paid as and when due.

But we have a players union body here, the one of Austin Popo?

Ah, ah, and how effective is that body? It is very effective indeed.

Are you a fulfilled man at 68 years old?

I’m fulfilled. I can say so with all sense of humility and modesty. I’m happy and free. People are not

Why did Julius Berger go down?

It was when it’s administration got into the hands of a Nigerian man that Julius Berger went down.

not proper.

C M Y K

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

08 116759 759 081 6759759

‘My boobies need a man!’

A

woman with astonishingly large breasts is on the prowl for a partner, and she’s turned to TLC’s hit reality show Strange Love to find it.

Kristy Love, a 36-yearold ‘adult’ massage therapist based in Atlanta, Georgia, made her grand debut on last night’s episode, where she announced it was time for her, and her size 48NN ‘girls’, to find love.

‘I’m looking for true love,’ she stated passionately. ‘Someone

who I love, and who loves me. My boobies do not need to be alone, it’s time for them to find a man.’

Kristy’s breasts weigh a vast 15.8lbs each, and combined, tip the scales at 31.6lbs - the weight of an average toddler. On one hand, they present a hazard, particularly in the kitchen. ‘Sometimes they get in the pot, sometimes they get in the pan, sometimes they get caught on the burner,’ she admits.

On the other hand,

they are mighty useful.

Kristy ’s cleavage is so deep that she uses it in

absence of a handbag, wedging her perfume, cell phone, car keys and driving licence between her breasts. Kristy used to be ‘embarrassed’ and ‘ashamed’ of her breasts, which developed when she was only eight years old, and would habitually wear multiple bras to keep them under wraps. But since she developed a career as a massage therapist, and

Two bedr ooms, two bathr ooms, a ffish ish pond and a wif bedrooms, bathrooms, wifee

M

ost property listings feature the usual, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, the size of the garden.

But this one is a little different.

A woman in Indonesia whose husband has passed away has decided to offer an extra little incentive for buyers interested in her house... her hand in marriage.

Single mother Wina Lia, 40, is selling her house for around £51,000 but she stipulates in her advert that, ‘Buyers who don’t negotiate the price can ask the owner to marry (terms and conditions apply).’

And although it started as a small ad, the offer has now gone viral.

Indeed, Wina’s estate agent says that they have been inundated with calls.

Dian Purna Dirgantara C M Y K

told Time that the advert had been, ‘quite successful.’ He said: ‘Since yesterday morning there are continuous calls, I don’t count how

many, there must be dozens or even hundreds.’

And he clarified that should they choose, the new owner could buy the

introduced her bosoms i nto her very saucy repertoire, she’s embraced them wholeheartedly.

According to an interview with The Mirror in 2013, Kristy makes an much as $1,300 daily, treating clients to the ‘Happy Man Works’, which involves ‘squishing’ and ‘smothering’ them with her breasts. Some clients even enjoy ‘being hit over the head’ with them, or have her glide over their bodies covered in oil.

‘I have to keep an eye property without having to take Wina along with it. ‘If someone just wants the house, they can have that,’ he told TIME. Wina told her local news site Kompass that she had been hoping to find a new partner anyway.

She said: ‘Dian suggested I put up the tagline ‘Buy the house and marry the owner at the same time.’ And I said O.K. to it. I’m looking for a husband anyway.’

As well as a potential wife the house has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a parking space and a fish pond, and is located near the Javanese city of Yogyakarta.

Ma ybe buy her some fflower lower Maybe lowerss next time!

As romantic birthday presents go, it probably wasn’t the brightest idea.

And this Chinese man paid a heavy price for surprising his girlfriend with a boob job when he was beaten up by her - and then unceremoniously dumped.

Wang Chen, 26, had booked girlfriend Wen Ting, 24, into a local cosmetic surgery clinic in the city of Zhengzhou, in central China, thinking she would be delighted.

So convinced was he that the gift would be gratefully received that he even asked friend Li Wu to capture the ‘big reveal’ outside the clinic on camera to preserve the moment.

Unfortunately, reports People’s Daily Online, he didn’t quite get the reaction he was hoping for, with Wen Ting flying into a rage at the suggestion that

he was unhappy with her breasts and repeatedly punching and kicking him.

Li Wu, 25, said: ‘Wang had asked me to capture his girlfriend’s reaction when he showed her what he had bought her. ‘I don’t think he was expecting this though. ‘She went ballistic.

She started shouting that she had never been so insulted in her life and that if he didn’t like her breasts then he could f**k off.

‘He apologised and said he thought they were lovely but that he thought she would like bigger ones. ‘At that point she started hitting and kicking him. She was clearly furious and stormed off. ‘I decided to stop taking photos as I realised this probably wasn’t a moment he wanted captured.’

Stunned Wang later said: ‘I really thought she would like the present.

‘Now she says she doesn’t want to be with me anymore. But I will come up with something to win her back.’

out when I’m squashing

someone,’ she ex plained. ‘I look at

their feet and their fingers to make sure there is still movement there and they’re still breathing.’

While big breasts do run in the family - her

eldest sister had hers reduced from a 52NN to an H-cup - Kristy has the largest. She says her relatives are ‘totally against’ her massage vocation and consider it ‘immoral’. Let’s hope her Prince-Charming-to-be has other ideas.

‘She shouldn’t go without a chaperone’ A

desperate boyfriend has launched a crowd-funding campaign to raise money to join his partner on her spring break trip to Miami.

Azel Prather Jr, from Maryland, USA, became worried after finding out his girlfriend had booked the holiday with friends and took to website GoFundMe because he believed she needed a ‘chaperone’. The 25-year-old was worried that his girlfriend would cheat on him while away, Prather made a desperate call out on the Internet to help him track her down.

‘If you know anything about Miami, you know that she shouldn’t go without a chaperone,’ he wrote on his GoFundMe page. ‘I need to get there to be with her and share this joyous time but my funds have been exhausted. ‘We have a great thing going and I would hate to see it go down the drain for a little sand and sun. ‘If you can find it in your heart to donate anything to help save my relationship, I would

greatly appreciate it.

‘I just need a round trip flight. I will be staying wherever she lays her head, eating whatever she eats, and overseeing all parties and fun activity for the duration of the trip.’

Prather continued to update the page, including an image of his 22-year-old girlfriend in a bikini that she had uploaded to Instagram.

‘Her bathing suit pic got 326 likes,’ he added.

‘Fellas, that right there is called the danger zone.’

Surprisingly, Prather ’s pleas worked.

The Glendarden, Maryland native raised the $300 needed for his flight in less than six days.

And as evidenced by his recent Instagram post, Prather quickly tracked down his girlfriend, keeping his nearly 2,000 Twitter followers updated on every step of his journey.

‘Love is in the air!’ he wrote, alongside a picture of the pair in Florida. ‘To all the hateful comments, I’ll pray for all of you. ‘God Bless, we’re good over here!’

SA TURD AY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—43 SATURD TURDA

Dayy Solomon Ogbonna Gambari’s son weds Oyegoke’s daughter in Osogbo Da ed Jimi A gbaje hosted Agbaje he quiet town of host Osogbo, Osun

T

State turned a hub of glitz, glamour last Saturday as powerful high-networth individuals descended on the town for the wedding of Omotoke Ojuolape Oyegoke, daughter of Engineer Tunde Oyegoke, former CEO of Samta Nigeria limited and Omar Mobolaji Gambari, son of Prof.

Ibrahim Gambari, former Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister.

The introduction/ traditional marriage took place on Saturday Newly wedded couple, Omotoke Ojuolape Oyegoke and Omar Mobolaji while the Nikai rites Gambari (middle); bride’s parents, Mr. Tunde Oyegoke (second left) his wife, held on Sunday.

Mrs. Gbemisola Oyegoke (second right); groom’s parents, Mr. Ibraheem Photos by Dare Gambari (right) and his wife, Hajia Fatimah Gambari. T Fasube

T

he atmosphere was that of conviviality laced with spirit of camaraderie when the chairman, Board of Trustee, Aguene Art Foundation, Chief Solomon Ogbonna hosted Lagos PDP gubernatorial candiate, Jimi Agbaje at his Ajah residence in Lagos. The visit brought about many eye-opening engagements which includes a cancer awareness campaign.

L-R: Lagos state PDP gubernatorial candidate, Jimi Agbaje; Mrs Solomon and husband.

The couple, Mr and Mrs Omar Mobolaji Gambari flanked by former Gov of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and wife, Mrs. Omolola Oyinlola

he couple, Omar and Omotoke Gambari (m); Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (2nd left); his wife, Mrs. Omolola Oyinlola (2nd right); Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Chief Tunde Badmus (3rd right) and Senator Bayo Salami

R-L: Bride’s parents, Mr. Tunde Oyegoke; his wife, Mrs. Gbemisola Oyegoke; the Laroka of WanikinIfe, HRM Oba Kole Ojutalayo and his wife, Olori Abiodun Ojutalayo.

From right: Bride’s mother, Mrs. Gbemisola Oyegoke; Mr. Taofeek Ojugbele and Mr. Kazeem Ojugbele .

L-R: Jimi Agbaje and guests holding cancer sensitiser presented to his campaign team by Chief Solomon Ogbonna

L-R: Lagos state PDP gubernatorial candidate, Jimi Agbaje; prolific art collector, Chief Solomon Ogbonna, at his resident, Ajah.

Sunn ther buried in style Sunnyy Areh’s grand-mo grand-mother THE burial of a great woman, Mama Elizabeth Omotekovie Ogeh, grand-mother of Sir Sunny Areh, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Uduaghan, held at at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.-

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Uduaghan , Sir Sunny Areh and his wife, Grace.

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Sir Sunny Areh's parents, Prince Alfred Idama Areh and his wife, Kehinde.

Former Vice Chancellor of DELSU, Prof Abednego Ekoko (right) and' Sir Sunny's elder brother, Mr. Nicholas Areh.

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015 recting a building starts with planning, design, construction, financing and continues until the structure is ready for occupation.

Thereafter, the building should be occupied and maintained. If not, it becomes dilapidated and may collapse over time. Normally, a marriage starts with courtship, agreement to get married, planning and the marriage ceremony. Thereafter, the couple comes together and continue work on their marriage. If not it deteriorates and may collapse.

But if marriage is a building, what kind of building; a bungalow? A bungalow is relatively easy to build.

An inexperienced architect can design and successfully supervise the building of a bungalow.

Even quacks get away with building of bungalows.

In spite of these, of all the marriages in this bracket. professionals, takes longer buildings that have been Would-be couples should have time to build and expensive to collapsing over time, very few acquired some level of maintain (numerous domestic are bungalows and such experience and understood staff). So if you want to have a collapse results from torrential each other reasonably well multi-storey marriage, are you rains, erosions and storms. during courtship before rich enough to lay the So, it is unlikely that jumping into marriage. If your foundation strong enough to marriages are bungalows, at fiancé(e) is “swampy ”( support the superstructure? least majority of them. Many slippery, unstable, difficult or Do you have the money to marriages do not live to see volatile) you should know you build the superstructure? Do their first anniversary; many need a raft foundation (deeper you have the money to install more collapse before fifth understanding, patience and befitting finishing and anniversary, some before 10th anniversary and others sometime thereafter. A Beyond this admonition, do not develop bungalow is too simple for a marriage; bungalowhabits you cannot sustain marriages must be few.

Can we then say a marriage is a one or two-storey more grace). Just like furnishing (good things of building? Perhaps many buildings, some marriages sink life)? Will you have the marriages are. They are more and ultimately collapse when resources to maintain this structure? difficult to build than you do an ordinary foundation elaborate bungalows. They carry more instead of a raft foundation. A Remember Jesus’ admonition comes when the that before you commence weight and therefore require time stronger foundations than a foundation (your knowledge construction (marriage): sit bungalow. If the area is and patience) can no longer down and do your projections swampy, you do a raft cope with the weight of the to be sure you have enough (burden of resources from start to finish, foundation. More iron rods building lest you would be stuck are needed for support and matrimony).

Next are multi-storey midway and become a reinforcement. Here the building professionals and marriages. Just like buildings, laughing stock ( Luke 14: 28workmen need to be a multi-storey marriage is even 30). Beyond this admonition, experienced, lest you would more difficult to build. It is do not develop habits you be penny-wise and pound- expensive, requires more cannot sustain. That is the foolish. I will put many experience, more building bane of many marriages.

E

Is marriage a building?

,

Husbands expose their wives and children to unsustainable lifestyles—first class air tickets, five star hotels, very expensive schools, designer clothes, expensive holidays, etc. All of a sudden, money dries up and the family is forced to commit class suicide. Not all spouses have the capacity or want to adjust. Resentment, infidelity, constant bickering, divorce, among other divisive tendencies are the byproducts.

Apart from the financial capacity, you also need the emotional capacity to sustain a multi-storey marriage.

F

inally, you have the skyscraper-marriage. A skyscraper-marriage is the same as a multi-storey marriage, although just as in buildings, skyscrapers are taller buildings that go on and on into the sky. Skyscraperweddings are extensive, expensive and need careful coordination. Nothing comes cheap: wedding dress, shoes, suits, food, drinks, venue, décor, etc. The marriage ceremony involves an assemblage of various professionals to handle all

aspects of the wedding. You can handle the assemblage or contract it out to an event planner, just as in building skyscrapers where you either get a project manager to assemble a team of professionals or you assemble these professionals yourself.

The foundation of a skyscraper is serious business.

Skyscrapers typically employ foundations, such as driven piles and caissons, which are not usually used in bungalows and one-storey buildings, to enable them carry the enormous weight and height of the superstructure. The superstructure is constructed of reinforced concrete and steel framing to enable it withstand extremely strong winds and other elements.

Skyscraper-marriages require not only deep pockets but steel character. A person going into a skyscraper-marriage must be of very strong character to withstand whatever that tricky institution called matrimony throws at him/her. A deep pocket without a strong character is not good enough.

You should also have in mind emergency situations. For instance, if a fire breaks out(crisis) do you have water sprinklers and other firefighting equipment( conflict resolution mechanisms) to put out the fire before it causes irreparable damage?

Skyscrapers are built to last “forever ”; collapse is a rarity in skyscrapers, because it is meticulously put together, with attention to the minutest details; so should your marriage if it is a skyscraper.

,

(Text Only) The Plough Technique: Lie on your back with the legs stretched out and hands placed along the sides. Take in a deep breath and drawing up the knees swing back the legs while breathing out and let the toes come to rest on the floor behind your head.

Keep the knees straight and stiffen up the muscles of legs.

Keep the breathing normal as you retain the posture for about 10 seconds. To come out of the posture simply bend the knees and just roll down the back and straight out the legs flat on the floor again.

You may rest a little and repeat.

Ex ercise ffor or sstress-relief tress-relief Exercise front. Lean forward and support the back of the head with the interlaced fingers.With the help of the feet,raise the hips up in the air. Now, lift knee until stillness is obtained standing on the head. Strengthen legs rather slowly until the whole body is in a straight line from head down to feet up.

The Plough

Benefits: The plough improves the elasticity of the spine. It tones the leg muscles and helps to rid constipation.

Stimulates the activity of the thyroid glands; of great help to those with sluggish digestion as it stimulates the peristaltic movement of the bowels.

The Headstand Technique:

Get on your knees and interlacing the fingers,place the hands on the floor in

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straightening it at the elbow.

Breathe normally and retain the position for about 10 or I5 seconds.

Headstand

Benefits: The Headstand affect the thyroid gland which normalizes metabolism and the production of heat and controls the heart rate; also at the same time regulates the activities of all others.There are as many as 12 various hormones reputed to be manufactured inside the pituitary gland.

There is one hormone of the pituitary that raises blood preasure,another that makes some muscles contract,one that inhibits the kidneys from producing urine,one that stimulates the kidneys to make more urine.Then there is a whole group of hormones

that regulate the endocrine gland of the bodye.g.,the Adrenal or sex glands.The foregoing has to do with body metabolism which the Headstand and other exercises affect positively.

Benefits:The Triangle stretches the leg, spine, and trunk muscles.

It promotes flexibility of the hip spine and legs. It tones the nerves of the spine and the abdominal organs. It reduces pain in the lower back and invigorates the circulation.

Triangle Pose Technique: Standing with the feet rather wide apart, turn the trunk to the left and lowering it, place the palm of the left hand flat down on the outside of the left leg while raising up the right hand and

Tr i a n g l e Pose

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—45

BY LAJU IREN 07017860213 ELLEJAYMEDIA@YAHOO.CO.UK

EDUC ATION BRIEF EDUCA STORIES BY LAJU IREN

Colleges of Education to begin awarding degrees

JAMB exams

Pains, gains of JAMB’S CBT

BY LAJU IREN & MAXMILLAN ANOSIKE

I

nformation and Communication Technologies, ICTs have without a doubt, made life easier and smarter. One amazing thing about ICTs is that they permeate all spheres of life and an unlimited range of sectors. Education is not left out of ICTs’ grip as new technologies have not only revolutionized teaching and learning, but examinations as well.

It is no wonder then, that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, chose three years ago to adopt the Computer Based Test, CBT into the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, UTME. Prior to 2015, candidates had the option of choosing the Paper-Pencil Test, PPT, the CBT or the Dual Based Test, CBT. The 2015 UTME, however, is the first time candidates are being given the CBT option alone. Despite the assurance given by JAMB before the commencement of the examinations that the board was ready for such a move, the examinations have not been without challenges.

On one hand, there are reports of network failure, long delays, and computers going off. But on the other, there are

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more reports of efficient examinations and less reports of examination malpractice. Mr. Omolewa Victory, whose two children wrote the examination last week, testified of the former. ‘Both my children were billed to write the examinations at Command Secondary School in Ikeja,’ he said, ‘but the server was not working. From what I got to understand later on, no one has written examinations there since the examinations began. When the students got there, they were delayed for such a long time before the officials finally told them that the server was not working and they would need to be redeployed.’

JAMB had already scheduled 330 students to write their examinations in that centre everyday of the examinations. The other centres where the students were redeployed too already had their own large crowds and would attend to them before the redeployed students. Omolewa said: ‘On the day one of my children wrote his exam, we left the centre at nearly 1:00 a.m in the morning. All the students originally apportioned to write in that centre had to finish at about 5:00p.m before the leftover students wrote in two batches that night.”

Chioma Anozie (no real name) who wrote her examinations in Ogun state

faced some challenges because she was not very familiar with the computer. But she said that the examination turned out well for her in the end because “the invigilator as well as my other colleagues helped me out with the computer.” She also pointed out that it was quite difficult for candidates to cheat during the exams. “My colleague who came with some bullets thought that it would be easy for him but he couldn’t because of the way the examinations were conducted.

The way it is being done, anyone who is planning to cheat is planning to fail.”

Another candidate told SSL that it was “difficult for anyone to engage in exam malpractice because the hall was filled with security men.”

Yet another issue with the CBT is the delivery of results.

Although the results are supposed to be received the same day the exams are written, some candidates complained that they hadn’t received results nearly a week after. One such candidate, Mildred Akpan (not real name) told our reporters: “I think the issue might be with my centre.

All my friends who did their examinations after mine have received their results, but I haven’t.” The CBT it seems, may not have reached perfection yet. But one thing is certain, it is here to stay.

The Colleges of Education in Nigeria are set to commence the process of awarding degrees to students.

This was made known by the Chairman, Committee of Governing Councils of Federal Colleges of Education, Senator Emmanuel Anosike, who stated that the colleges have been well positioned and equipped to award degrees.

Recall that one of the demands made by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, during last year’s protracted strike was the need to accord the Colleges of Education, degree awarding status. The Vice Chairman of COEASU, Mr. Smart Olugbeko in an interview told Saturday School Life, SSL, that it is an ongoing process which he hopes will be concluded in the next few months. ‘The situation now is such that although students are trained in the Colleges of Education, they can only get their Bachelor of Education degrees in the name of the University affiliated with the college. And this is not fair, because the resources and the staff which are used to train the students are from the colleges. The universities charge the colleges money for using their name, and our lecturers cannot rise to become professors because it is assumed that they have not trained degree students. But with this development.

Things will be better across board.

CAMPUS LIFE-STYLE

Five ways your shoes can live longer on campus If you live in a campus environment, walking is most likely your favourite mode of transportation.

Not necessarily because you like it, but it seems like there is an unspoken rule in campuses all over the world that makes life quite difficult for student drivers. Apart from the fact that cars themselves are expensive, many campuses don’t allow students drive at all, and for the ones that do, the issue of parking space is sometimes an insurmountable one. When it all comes down to it, you’re left with your leg-ed-ez-benz, and your shoes don’t always leave to tell the story. Here are some ways to protect your shoes.

The more the merrier Of course it makes sense to have one or two expensive shoes. But for walking around school, mix it up with the cheap stuff. The more shoes you have, the less likely they are to wear out no matter the price tag.

Dress for the occasion Heels are made for fashion…and short distances.

If you’re having a long day, stick to flats. Be sure to check your time table before your wardrobe.

That way, you can pick the right shoes for the right occasion.

Substitute mechanism There’s a reason women carry big bags; the idea is that everything that needs to enter the bag, should enter. This usually includes a pair of shoes or slippers. You don’t always have to wear your shoes while leaving for your destination.

You can take them along while wearing a comfortable pair of leather slippers and substitute later.

46—SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 21, 2015

juliecoker100@yahoo.com

We don’t talk about the future Aunty Julie, I have a boyfriend and we have been in a monogamous and committed relationship for almost

a year. We never talk about our future together. It is a one-day-at-a-time kind of relationship. We are very compatible spiritually which was the key reason for the development of the relationship. We did not have sex for

the first five months of the relationship which has turned out to be one of the best things that has ever happened in a relationship for me. We built intimacy based on who we are together and getting to know who we are.

But I’m very worried and the question is, I want to talk about future stuff.

How do I do that or should I even do that? I have subtly let him know what I want but there has never been a discussion about it. So, I am wondering if you can help me through this dilemma? Do I bring up the subject or not? I want to live together with him eventually.

Philomena, Enugu Dear Philomena, It appears that all of the sudden

How do you get this relationship right?

Dear Julie, I have been in a relationship for many years with a guy and we love each other very much. He is the only guy I’ve had a relationship with who has felt so deeply about it and I would do anything to avoid hurting him or straining this relationship. I love too deeply too and would want the relationship to survive.

Can you offer any insight into achieving intimacy, openness and honesty in a relationship without hurting the other person? I see

anger as the root of most intimacy problems.

Francesca, Abuja Dear Francesca, You are right. Unresolved anger turned into resentment is the root of most intimacy problems.

Resolving anger and resentments when they arise, as they will occasionally in any relationship, is the surest path to intimacy, openness and honesty. However, it’s almost impossible not to hurt the other person, in any

He’s not interested in sex anymore Aunty Julie, I have been married for five years and have two boys. I am still the way I was before child-bearing.

My shape and slim looks are still intact and many people who don’t know still see me as a hot spinster and I always tell the guys that I’m happily married and they should stay off. But an important issue is shaking the foundations of my marriage.My husband has had little or no interest in sex for about a year. I have tried to find out why he suddenly lost interest in sex but he is not forthcoming. We have a good relationship apart from this problem but I cannot remain like this for long. I have

done all kinds of things to seduce him. I’ve tried lingerie, backrubs, and romantic dinners, but nothing works. I don’t know what else to do. Please help me.

Blessing, Benin Dear Blessing, Every couple goes through periods when one or both partners are too busy or not in the mood. But the sustained lack of interest you mention signals that something is wrong. Some physical conditions can lower libido in men, as can some medications. If you think illness may be a factor, urge your husband to have a complete physical.

relationship. The truth is, you will hurt your partner sometimes unintentionally and sometimes even intentionally.

Hurting each other occasionally does not have to mean the end of the relationship. It is what the two of you do with the hurt that matters. In an open, intimate relationship the two people will talk about their anger and hurt, and learn to listen to each other in such a way that the negative emotions will get worked through.

Stress can also diminish sexual desire, as can a deepseated fear of intimacy. An affair can take a spouse’s attention away from his partner, too. However, the most common reason men and women avoid lovemaking is unexpressed anger at their partner. Could your husband be upset about something in your marriage? Does he expect things from you that he doesn’t feel he’s getting?

Any hostile or negative feelings he has must be recognized and dealt with before you can find pleasure in lovemaking again. Have a serious talk about the issue, but if you can’t communicate, I strongly suggest you see a therapist together.

C O C K Why we split up

She told me we couldn’t afford beer anymore and I’d have to quit. Then I caught her spending $65 on make-up. So I asked, how come I had to give up stuff and not her.

She said she needed the make-up to look pretty for me.

I told her that was what the beer was for.

I don’t think she’s coming back.

Good women are hard to find

Nigel and Stephen, are keen fishermen and wine drinkers. There is a photo taken while they are enjoying some night fishing while on holiday, with their wives, in Poitou-Charente, France, last year.

Slurping a large Bordeaux Supérieur, Nigel announces, ‘I think I’m going to divorce my wife, she hasn’t spoken to me in eighteen months.’

Stephen downs his glass of the red wine thoughtfully and after a while responds, ‘Think it over a bit more, Nigel; women like that are hard to find.’

Benefits of a long marriage

On their 50th wedding anniversary and during the dinner celebrating it, Byron was asked to give his friends a brief account of the benefits of a marriage of such long duration.

‘Tell us Byron, just what is it you have learned from all those wonderful years with your wife?’

Byron responds, ‘Well, I’ve learned that marriage is the best teacher of all. It teaches you loyalty, forbearance, meekness, self-restraint, forgiveness and a great many other qualities you wouldn’t have needed if you’d stayed single.’

you are ahead of your partner and ready for something he is not. You have two choices - do nothing, and wait for him to catch up to you or initiate a conversation. There is no way to know which choice is the better one. Listen to your gut on this one. Subtly letting him know what you want is not one of the choices if you want to continue to have a great relationship - it’s really nothing more than manipulation.

If you do decide to initiate a conversation, there is some language that should make it pretty palatable to your guy.

Don’t make him feel as if you are desperate or trying to force him into something he is not ready for. Good luck to you.

He doesn’t make the first move Hello Julie, Good morning Aunty Julie. I’m really impressed with some of the answers you gave to the questions posed to you.

Perhaps you can help me. I need an objective third party opinion.

I’m a female and 24 years old. I’m working for a professor, and I noticed a male student around 26 yrs old always looking at me. On several occasions, there have been intense eye contact between us and he has stared at me many times. I wonder if I should have given him a smile or said ‘hello’ to him first? I didn’t feel comfortable initiating it and so, I didn’t. Is it generally true that if a guy could have enough nerve to stare at a woman like that over a period of several months, that he would have the guts to approach her?

Otherwise, he didn’t hold a sincere interest for her in the first place? In which case I should forget even having any interest in him whatsoever? What do you think?

Doyin A. Ade, Ibadan

Dear Doyin, Well, I try not to play mind reader, especially when it comes to opposite (or same sex) attraction. It’s possible, like you, he doesn’t feel comfortable taking the first step. Is he also working for the professor? Some folks become more reserved socially in work settings.

Also, I believe a female has as much right and responsibility to initiate or engage in social feedback and even a little flirtation. Clearly, a smile or hello is just fine.

At the same time, I don’t want to overlook his behaviour. Maybe he isn’t sufficiently self-confident; perhaps he feels a bit intimidated. Maybe, you both are sensitive to rejection. And, yes, it’s possible staring may have some hostile implications. He might be angry with you because he doesn’t feel worthy of you.

But I think the moral here is act more assertively on your curiosity. In addition to that invitational smile, try a touch of coquettish humour, “Have our eyes been crossing paths for a while?”

If he sheepishly acknowledges your question, you likely have a ball game.

If he denies or gets defensive, he’s not worth more time or eyeball energy.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—47

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Why did she wait long to tell him he wasn’t her son’s dad?

I

“ demanded answers from my exwife and in a heartfelt e-mail she sent to me, she wrote: ‘Remember I was only 18 when I got pregnant and as a terrified, immatured, confused girl whose own father turned his back on me, I tried to do what was the best at the time. You and I were together and that’s how I wanted it to be. I’m not a bad person and wouldn’t want to hurt anyone. Really? To add salt to my wound, she’s now in a relationship with Andy, Laanu’s biological father— her former childhood sweetheart!

“When I first met Antoinette, it was at an Easter picnic organised by friends. I was an undergraduate and she was a 19-year old receptionist at a bank. We’d both gone to the same comprehensive school but barely remembered each other from our school days. She approached me. She was very pretty and chatty. We started going out together and I was smitten.

I was really loyal to her right from the start. Unfortunately, I wasn’t her only admirer. Several months after we became lovers, she cheated on me with Andy, her first boy-friend and an ex-student of our former school. At the time, I wasn’t aware of her infidelity. She later claimed, that her fling with Andy was a one-night stand. She said that while she

condoms. I was so blinded by love I just assumed my contraceptive had failed and never questioned the possibility that the baby wasn’t mine. My parents were a bit disappointed but took full responsibility for mother and child until I finished at the university and we got married as soon as I got a decent job.

As the years went by, people told me how much he looked like me and had my mannerisms. There was nothing ever to make me suspicious. But I always thought it odd that my wife was seldom interested in having more children, telling me it was too soon and I should allow her to finish catering school.

“As soon as she finished, she changed. She set up a small catering outfit and she became too independent for my liking.

She went out a lot under the guise of building her business. As I protested, we had really bad rows and in the end she just left. She said she was a child-bride and had fallen out of love with me. She took Laanu with her and through him was able to milk me for child maintenance. I paid for everything including his school fees up to the university. Looking back, it’s cruel she put me through all that knowing Laanu might not be mine.

All those years of deceit are hard to forgive.

“In her e-mail she tried to explain why she kept the lie going for so long.

‘As time went on,’ she wrote, ‘I started to get serious feelings that we needed to find out for sure if Laanu was ours. I felt he had a right to know but there never seemed to be a

right time. More than anything, I was terrified of hurting him. The irony here is that Laanu’s biological father also admitted that it crossed his

,

A

ny time Gbenga thinks back on the past, his memories of Laanu, his son are as painful as they once were precious. There was the magical day in May of 1992 that Laanu was born and placed in his arms. “I looked at the wonder I’d helped create and I felt really proud,” Gbenga said. “In my mind’s eye, I could see him as a toddler, taking his first steps. I remember buying him toys, especially the nitendo he was always glued to. But overriding all of these happy memories is the terrible day, two years ago, when Laanu’s doctor told me gently there was no way I could be his dad!

“That devastating moment marked the beginning of two hellish years for me, during which I struggled to understand why I was so terribly deceived by Antoinette, Laanu’s mother. Forced to continue being financially and emotionally responsible for him even after we got divorced ten years later. And I’d had this suspicion that Antoinette had suspected for years that Laanu was not really my son.

“The nightmare began when Laanu, at the university in the UK got ill and needed blood transfusion. I’d gone to visit him at his insistence and readily agreed to donate blood as his blood group was rare. When a doctor told me kindly I couldn’t possibly be the father as our blood didn’t match, I felt as if someone had viciously kicked me in the groin. Sadly, Laanu had to be told and he was so embarrassed he couldn’t look me in the eye. Poor thing at 20 to learn, the man you’d called ‘dad’ all your life was no blood relation of yours. As soon as he was well enough, I let him know I still loved him and would always be his dad. He obviously couldn’t handle the trauma as he’d now completely cut me off his life after a few disastrous visits.

‘suspected’ Andy might be the father, there was always the chance that Laanu could be yours.

“That came as a surprise to me and I always used

mind right from the start that he might be Laanu’s dad. He begged Antoinette for tests but she refused until that fateful day when I donated blood to save my supposed son.

“I broke down in tears and Laanu looked really embarrassed. After he left hospital, he told me it wouldn’t affect our relationship and that he still saw me as his father and that wouldn’t change. I was still in shock but I said the same thing— that I loved him and he’d always be my son.

But he withdrew from me and, after a few visits, stopped replying to my calls and texts.

In the end, I phoned Laanu’s granddad to ask him if he was alright. He told me he was just trying to deal with it all.”

“I only have myself to blame,” said Antoinette, “and I wish at that young age, I didn’t have to deal with such a huge problem— alone. I couldn’t go to anyone, I had no support and nowhere to live. I needed my mum and dad, but they were not there for me—I had to sort things out myself. You and I were together, and that’s how I wanted it to be. At the time, I didn’t think long term and naively thought we could be

A decision I made at 20 has undoubtedly ruined my life

,

one happy family.”

In the two years since he learned the truth, and estranged from Laanu, Gbenga’s hurt has turned to anger and, not surprisingly, bitterness towards Antoinette. “It started to eat me up,” he said. “I felt as if I couldn’t breathe at night. I couldn’t sleep. It’s a horrible nightmare. I still thought of Laanu as my son and I’d still have a relationship with him if I could, but he has turned against me.

And Antoinette’s relationship with his true father is a final twist of the knife. After so many years of secrets and deceit, it’s hard to see how the wounds can easily heal.”

“I am honestly, truly sorry,” wrote Antoinettee. “A decision I made at 20 has undoubtedly ruined my life. Given the time over, I would do it differently.

That’s easy to say now I’m over 40, but as a young girl, I didn’t have a clue. The main thing I would change is the hurt I have caused everyone...”

“First impression counts

W

“

hen we meet someone for the first time, our brains pick up a range of essential visual information such as their age, what they are wearing and their expression,” says psychologist, Dr. Ann Demearais. “This all happens very quickly, particularly with facial expressions. We are hot-wired to pick up anything that might be a threat to us. So, we immediately notice if someone is scowling and back off.

She says that what you do and say next is vital—it could colour someone’s impression of you permanently. Accordingly to her, “We all like to think that we are good judges of character. If we see someone for the first time when they are upset or angry, we want their behaviours to support what we think about them. If they’re happy when we meet them the next time, we don’t pay them much attention because it doesn’t fit in with what we first thought.”

So, what are the most important things to remember when you’re walking into a party where you don’t know anyone, or stepping in front of an interview panel for that all-important job? “Reassemble yourself before you walk into the room,” she says. “Take five minutes to compose yourself. If you’re stressed from a difficult journey, your face will reflect that. Take a moment to pull yourself up to your full height. Be happy in your own skin. Raise your head. But don’t put your head up too much or people will get the impression of arrogance. Relax your facial muscles— many of us frown without realizing it. Look pleasant and put some energy into your walk and you’re halfway there.

“It’s very important to be ‘other-oriented’.

This means you can make the person you’re speaking to feel better about themselves. Make them feel fun and interesting to be with. Make them laugh a little and put them in a good mood.

They’re more likely to remember that than what you’re wearing!”

The power of laughter: It not only feels great but laughter is good for your health too, A few hearty guffaws can boost your immune system and help you fight off coughs and colds. Laughter can also help lower blood pressure. People with a good sense of humour also seem to weather life’s challenges far more robustly than those who only see the worst in things.

There are many reasons to make sure we have some laughter in our lives. One of the best is that it can help us make friends. When we laugh with others, we share our happiness with them and an understanding that we think the same way. Search out people with a similar sense of humour to you and you can look forward to hours of fun. Even if you feel you were born without a funny bone in your body, you can develop humour.

Instead of being gloomy, aim to see the funny side of things. Watch others who have a great sense of humour. What makes them so amusing? Chances are, it’s their take on life rather than a memory full of good jokes. Try to look at life the way they do for a day. If you haven’t laughed in a while, borrow a funny video, spend more time with people who are willing to laugh, learn a few good oneliners and delight in other people’s laughter.

48—SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

YETUNDE AREBI

The bloody lovers!

A

s I listened to Gloria's story, my mind raced back several years, over 20 plus years ago, in fact.

The location was Aguda, Surulere, at a cell church of one of the giant Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. The building next door to mine, housed a cell church and it belonged to my aunt who had given a portion of the compound to the organisation for use.

So, members of this unit met regularly here to listen to tape recordings from their mother church and offer prayers to God almost on a daily basis. Among the members was an Igbo couple who also lived in the neighbourhood. They were almost like Siamese twins, always together and appeared sweet and lovely too.

But rumours soon had it that they were living in sin as they were not married and had never even performed any marriage rites, both in their village in Eastern Nigeria and Lagos. Naturally, their church leaders would have no nonsense of such and so they were mandated to correct their sin. In their church, you need no lavish spending to conduct a wedding. The church could even perform one at next to zero cost to a couple who desired to be together but could not afford the cost of the ceremonies. The most important factor of any marriage contract was the decision of the intending couple and the consent of their parents and the presence of the Holy Bible as witness to the ceremony. All other things were irrelevant.

So, the couple were mandated to formalise their relationship if they wanted to remain members of the church. Besides, they did not appear to lack the funds, so, whatever could be holding them back? The couple disclosed to their leaders that living in sin was not by choice but because of the man's busy schedule, they had never been able to make proper arrangements for going to the village since they met. Besides, the lady's mother was dead and the father never cared for her and had disowned her a long time ago. So they were convinced that they could take their time. But the church did not consider this as a big problem and suggested that some elders would accompany the couple to their village to broker peace and allow for the necessary ceremonies to be performed. It was at the village that the truth of the matter was revealed.

The couple were indeed close relatives, close enough for a sexual relationship between them to be considered a taboo and a sacrilege to the land. In fact, as soon as they stepped feet into the village, they were C M Y K

said to have defiled the land and a ritual must be conducted to cleanse it of the evil outcome. The church on hearing this, refused to partake in the taboo and agreed that a cleansing was not only required, the relationship must be brought to an end. The rites were immediately performed and everyone returned to church where the story immediately spread like wild fire.

But to everyone's surprise, the couple reunited after a few weeks and continued living together as if nothing had happened. The excuse was that the lady was already pregnant and therefore had nowhere to go. Terminating the pregnancy was also not an option and that if God had not approved of the relationship, He would not have blessed them with a child. If the church would not allow them be, then they would stop coming and look for another church. Several months after, the couple hit the neighbourhood top news headlines once more. They had given birth to a stillbirth baby, dead on arrival. But the main news was that the baby had been a monster, badly developed and looked more like a big reptile. Everyone quickly concluded that it was the gods that were at work because of the sacrilege they were committing against their land, family and people. The couple eventually moved out of the area, most likely to carry on their sin in a new environment.

Looking back, my take is that the lady had taken several steps to terminate the pregnancy unsuccessfully which led to the deformation of the foetus. But then, who is to say that the gods cannot also do it? There were many theories at the time being postulated by people about what really went down with the couple. Some said they met in Lagos and had already fallen in love and living together before they discovered that they were blood relations. Another had it that they had always known and that it was not their first attempt to perform the cleansing rituals in their village. Additional information filtered around that the lady had in fact run away from home to Lagos to be with her cousin and that the shame of it killed her mother. It was also not their first attempt at formalising their relationship as another church had turned them down in the past before they relocated to Aguda.

Hmm! A weird world, or weird love? Can it be that they were simply helpless about their situation? I can't tell, because that seems to be the case in Gloria's story. After 10 years in a childless marriage to a questionable character,

Gloria decided to take a walk. And she already got my blessings in addition to several other people's.

Believing she was in a decent, God fearing relationship with a man who had decided to dedicate himself to the teaching of God's words, Gloria got married Tom, 10 years ago. It was a relationship that received the blessings of both families, so she had envisaged very little problems from members of her husband's family especially. More so, they would be living in the world but not of the world, which meant that their vows would last their lifetime. And though she did sense some tension and hostility in the body language and sometimes utterances of one of her sisters-in-law and stepmother-in-law, never could she have guessed in her wildest imagination that there was something more than the ordinary beneath the hostilities. To her, it was simply the normal step sibling rivalry being aided by a selfish and jealous step mother. All she had to do was avoid them as much as possible once they were married. Gloria was eventually proved wrong.

A few weeks after the wedding, she received an August visitor, her stepmother-in-law. She wasted no time, in revealing her mission. To discuss with Gloria on the true situation of things in the family. Her husband and his teenage stepsister were lovers! They had been that way for a couple of years and as a mother, she would not sit back and fold her arms while her daughter is abused and short changed by anyone. She had come to inform Gloria that her daughter also has a right to stay in the house and would be moving in with them any time soon. Gloria was free to tell anyone she felt like telling, it would not stop them. She said she was lost for words even after the woman's departure, more so, that her husband had no explanation for all that the woman had said, except to beg for forgiveness and to cover his shame.

He promised that everything was in the past and that he had no reason to sleep with the girl again being married to her, a godly and beautiful woman. Gloria said she had no choice but to agree that the girl move in after much deliberations between them. According to him, the stepmother's insinuation that it was an ongoing affair was not true. He had since stopped after giving his life to Christ and dedicating himself to His works. He said it was after he stopped that he discovered that his step mother was aware all along that he was sleeping with the girl. Her position at the time was that since he had been doing it, there was not much difference if they stopped. He could carry on and be assured that it would be kept a secret between all three of them for as long as he continued taking care of the girl. No one, especially their father who believe so much in him, would ever find out. However, things changed as soon as he brought Gloria home and the idea of a marriage was disclosed. His stepmother, convinced he has ruined her daughter, insisted there would be no wedding for him, until her daughter was old enough and settled in her own marriage. After much horse trading, they agreed that the young girl would move in with them and he would continue to be responsible for her until she gets married. His shame was also her shame, Gloria convinced herself. Besides, under her authority, the girl could be whipped to size she erroneously concluded. So, the girl moved in with them.

However, not only was she uncontrollable, after catching her husband in bed twice with the girl, she was forced to accept her situation. And though she only caught them on these two occasion in 10 years, she is convinced that the incestuous relationship was still very strong.

It is not this however that has broken the camel's back. Gloria, a few weeks ago caught her husband yet again in the arms of a female member of their church. She says she is now convinced that it is not a matter of the devil urging him into such lustful crimes, but he is the devil. She said that despite their many years of praying for the fruit of the womb, she has never given birth to a termed pregnancy as she'd had four miscarriages to date. She is convinced that her stepmother-in-law and the daughter were responsible for the miscarriages based on the threats of both of them. At 36, she is no longer willing to continue in a fruitless marriage, especially as her sister-in-law has also refused to find herself a husband, years after completing her secondary school and fashion designing training.

I have always considered myself as very vast in human experiences and psychology, especially with relationships because of several years of interaction with people in the course of my writing. Often, on hearing one story, I would have several similar ones to relate it with. But I must confess that this one "fall my hand" as they say. The irony of all these is that this man's ministry seems to be waxing strong despite all these atrocities. Hmm, na wah! Lets meet here again next Saturday. Do have a wonderful weekend!

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015 —

C M Y K

49

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

I was offered N30,000 to convey a kidnapped woman into the bush — suspected kidnapper

BY EVELYN USMAN

A

24-year-old commercial motorcyclist who confessed to being a member of a kidnap syndicate that specialised in abducting their victims from Ogun and Lagos states, has been arrested by men of the Ogun State Special Anti Robbery Squad.

The suspect, Taiwo Akilo, was arrested at the weekend while on the verge of taking the syndicate’s female victim to their hide out inside a bush around Imodi- Ijasi, along Ijebu-ode/Ikorodu road.

The captive, one Mrs Abosede Adenuga, was reportedly abducted at about 10.50pm, around Ikorodu area of Lagos, last Sunday.

POLICE BOSS SPEAKS Explaining how the suspect met his Waterloo, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Val Ntomchukwu, said: “The Ogun State Police Command has intensified efforts to tackle challenges of kidnapping in the State, particularly, in Ijebu axis as the Special Anti Robbery Squad of the command ambushed and arrested a member of a kidnap gang that abducted one Mrs Abosede Adenuga, from Lagos State on 16th March 2015 at 1050pm. ‘’The SARS operatives of the command deployed to police the Ibefun/Ikorodu road where some suspected kidnappers operate and hide their captors, were informed of the kidnap

•CP VAL Ntomchukwu C M Y K

case by some informants. They said the gang was heading to Ijebu axis to hide their captor.

The kidnappers met their Waterloo when they were ambushed by the police at Imodi -Ijasi along Ijebu Ode/ Ikorodu road ‘’On noticing the presence of policemen, the kidnappers jumped on a motorcycle to escape. They were given a hot chase by the operatives who used another motorcycle to pursue them. During the process, one of them, Tunde Akilo, was arrested while the woman was rescued. The following items were recovered from the gang: one locallymade, cut-to-size double barrell gun loaded with one live cartridge, four live cartridges, a Volkswagen car with Reg No MUS 471 AU used by the kidnappers and assorted charms.”

I WAS OFFERED N30,000 Speaking with Crime Guard, the suspect disclosed that he was offered N30,000 for the botched kidnap by one Ahmed whom he said was the leader of the gang. The father of two who blamed his indulgence on poverty, stated that he was into aluminium business before he diversified to commercial motorcycle (okada) in order to eke out a living.

HOW WE CARRIED OUT THE OPERATION According to Akilo who had a scorpion tattoo on his left arm:

•Suspect

“ Yes, I was arrested by the police inside the bush. I was hired by Ahmed who is the head of the gang. He called me on Sunday around 9.30pm, to convey a woman to the bush. On reaching the meeting point , I met four other persons.

While they went to kidnap the woman around Ikorodu, I was asked to watch out for any intruder. After they succeeded in kidnapping her, we drove to Imodi- Ijasi . On the way, Ahmed stopped the car and shot at the tyre. He instructed me to drive the woman on the motorbike to a designated point inside the bush. We blindfolded our victim and ordered her to mount the bike.

I drove the motorbike while the woman sat between me and another member of the gang.

END OF THE ROAD As I was about leaving, Ahmed sighted a motorcyclist coming. He hijacked the

This is my first time of joining them. I was tempted by the payment of N30,000.

Ahmed owns the motorbike.

All I was instructed to do was to drive the woman inside the bush

motorcycle and also drove inside the bush. But all of a sudden, we sighted some policemen who ordered us to stop but we did not. In the process of trying to run away from the policemen, I missed my way inside the bush. Unfortunately, I was arrested while others who were conversant with the terrain escaped, leaving me at the mercy of the policemen.

“This is my first time of joining them. I was tempted by the payment of N30,000. Ahmed owns the motorbike. All I was instructed to do was to drive the woman inside the bush . He said he would pay me after ransom was paid by the woman’s family.”

CP COMMENDS MEMB ERS OF THE PUBLIC The command boss stated that efforts were still on to apprehend other fleeing members,even as he commended members of the public for availing the command with information. He reiterated the command’s commitment to always provide adequate security for lives and property of people in the State.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—51

Family laments mysterious disappearance of female banker •Condemns police, bank

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

W

hen Charity Anyanwu dropped off her niece Munachiso Anyanwu, at the Lagos toll-gate to board a vehicle to the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State, little did she know that it would be the last time they would set eyes on her. Surprisingly, few hours after they waved goodbye, all efforts to ascertain whether Muna, as she was popularly called, reached her destination safely failed as nothing has been heard about her since then.

It has been three months since they parted as she reportedly went missing thereafter with her phones switched off. Since then, members of her family have been making frantic efforts and searching all corners of the country and beyond without any trace of her whereabouts.

Crime Guard learnt that 29-yearold Munachiso Goodluck Anyanwu, an indigene of AbohMbaise, Imo State, went missing on16 December 2014. She studied Agricultural Economics at Abia State University.

Victim...

Munachiso

SUSPICION OVER ACCOUNT ‘’However, because of the money which Kennedy paid into her account, I immediately asked the bank manager to freeze Munachi’s account so that there will be no more withdrawals. The bank manager was becoming very difficult to deal with. She was asking me to get police report and court order. I went straight to the police to get the report and court order. It took me some days to get the documents, which was on December 22.

I went to the bank with a police officer and the documents. They received and stamped them.

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ANXIETY OVER HER CONTINUED STAY IN LAGOS ‘’I became very disturbed on December 15, so I called my aunty to

FRAUDULENT WITHDRAWALS Surprisingly, at that stage, the Manager told me that somebody called Nwokpala Michael had been defrauding my sister for months now. I told her that the name didn’t sound familiar and that none of our family members bore that name. She then revealed that out of the N440, 000 she collected from Mr Kennedy, my sister paid N430, 000 straight to Nwokpala Michael’s account in the same Diamond bank. Ever since then, the bank has not been able to assist the family in any way to locate my missing sister. I then went to officially report the matter at the Central Police Station, Onitsha and one Inspector Chukwu Martins, was assigned as the Investigating Officer of the case. Later, they said we should go to SSID department for call tracking where I paid for everything. The SSID brought the flash, they couldn’t even open it and trace the communication. I was

TRANSFER TO FHQ, ABUJA ‘’At this point, I requested that the case be transferred to Force Headquarters, Abuja. I wrote a petition to the Inspector-General of Police and the case was assigned to the Special Task Force on Terrorism and Heinous Crimes at Guzape, Abuja. I went there and I have been working with them but they have not done much up till date considering the gravity of the case.

ENGAGEMETNT OF A PRIVATE EYE They told me to get a private tracker named Williams, that he will be of help if I can afford his bills. They later called Mr. Williams and after bargaining, I started remitting money to him.

I have paid him about a Hundred thousand naira yet no positive result. The only thing he did was that on February 28, 2015, the police asked me to come to Abuja that there was a soft target at Idah that has been speaking with Nwokpala Michael and that if we apprehend the soft target, he might lead us to him. I quickly prepared for the journey and hired a Sienna bus which took us to Idah Polytechnic in Kogi state.

I went to there with three police officers and two trackers. We arrested a lady called Abigail. We couldn’t come back that day so, I lodged them in a hotel and in the morning, we went back to Abuja.

VISIT TO HER OFFICE ‘’On the December 17th, I felt she might have come back and went straight to the office. So, I went to their office and one of their staff named Cynthia, directed me to their manager. I went to her and identified myself as Munachi’s brother. She told me that Munachi sent her a text message that she has resigned from the bank. I asked her if that was the bank’s procedure for resignation or was was there any fraudulent transaction or bank’s money that was missing? How can somebody resign by sending a text message?

HOW IT HAPPENED Recounting the incident that led to the disappearance of his younger sister, Fabian Anyanwu Ezechukwu, told Crime Guard that before her disappearance, Munachiso Anyanwu worked with Ogbefere Branch of Diamond bank in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state. According to him, she disappeared on December, 16, 2014. ‘’Prior to that day, Munachiso went to one Kennedy Uba’s shop and asked him to open an account with her. Kennedy told her he already had an existing account with Diamond bank. He eventually gave her four hundred and forty thousand naira to pay into her own account to upgrade her target. When she came home she told me about the money Kennedy Uba gave her to update her account.

TRIP TO LAGOS ‘’The next day, she told me she had taken casual leave from her office and that she would be travelling to Lagos for a few days. After expecting her to return, I called her on December 8, she said she was still in Lagos with our Aunty.

That same day, a friend of mine, Onyemachi paid in N180, 000 into her account. My sister called me and asked if I was expecting inflow of cash, I said yes that a friend of mine sent money to her account to enable me purchase goods for him. I told her to withdraw the money and send to me. She said okay she will do that but she did not travel with her ATM card and where she was, she couldn’t do any transaction.

find out what was holding her from coming back from base because that was festive period and owners of the money needed it for their business.

I told my aunty that she should send back the money so that I can return it to those who paid it into her account. She said she will be coming back the next day. On December 16, I called Munachi but her phones were switched off. So, I called my aunty, she said she dropped her at toll gate in Lagos where she boarded a bus but she didn’t specifically know the bus she boarded.

I became apprehensive and went to the Federal Road Safety Corps office for them to track if there was any accident on the road, they called the entire control unit from Lagos to Onitsha but said there was no accident.

very annoyed and frustrated. By then, I had spent so much time and resources without any clue about my sister’s whereabouts.

We have gone to several groups even in my church, some said she is alive and that the hand that is holding her is very strong

RESULT OF TRIP TO IDAH From the investigation carried out later, we found out that the girl is also victim. She said she met Nwokpala Michael through a friend, that he has a brother that is looking for a wife and she barely knew Michael for three weeks and it was during that period that he was calling her about 20 times daily. Later, she was granted bail and we re-scheduled to meet on March 3, 2015.

But, due to the fact that the trackers haven’t made any headway, I stopped funding them. During that period, we also gathered from Abigail that there is one Pastor Sam who is an accomplice with Michael. After this, both the bank and police have not done anything further over the case.

FUTILE EFFORTS ‘’We have gone to several groups even in my church, some said she is alive and that the hand that is holding her is very strong. It is almost like we are going round a cycle without making much success. I want the police to do all they can to rescue my sister. All what I want is my sister, it is very painful that the bank has not done much for a long time. There was a time the bank Manager stopped picking my calls. There was also a time, out of frustration, I went to the bank and created a scene. She called police officers to walk me out. Later, I went back there and apologised.

I want the bank to show concern because if it were to be that my sister defrauded the bank, as the guarantor, I would have been arrested. Now that the reverse is the case, the bank should also show concern,’’’he stated.

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

Miracle: I heard doctor ask my husband whether to switch off life-support and let me die •Woman tells her story after days in coma

A

mother has described how she heard a doctor asking her husband about switching off her lifesupport as she lay in a medicallyinduced coma after collapsing from a rare condition.

Jenny Bone, who was feared to have catastrophic brain damage after going into cardiac arrest, lay listening to the life-or-death conversation but was paralysed and unable to intervene.

She recalls her husband John ruling out ending her life – despite a previous conversation when she said she wanted to die if incapacitated permanently. The 40-year-old later recovered and now says she is relieved he went against her wishes.

‘I was aware of conversations around me,’ she said. ‘The most frequent one was being turned in the bed. A familiar “ready, steady, turn” would come from the nurses.

‘The most alarming was between a doctor and my husband enquiring as to my wishes surrounding being kept alive on a ventilator and that they were unsure whether my mental ability had been impaired due to lack of oxygen while they were attempting to restart my heart.

‘There was an agreement that I should continue to be kept on the ventilator to give a chance for an MRI scan to be done to see if I had any brain function.

‘I was not even responding to a basic reflex test, which is why the doctor thought I was not going to have a chance of recovery. I am very pleased my husband gave me that extra time.’

Mrs Bone, a government building surveyor, felt pins and needles in her legs on March 14 last year but still went to work.

She was alone in a tower block in central London when she collapsed as the pain moved up her legs.

She managed to catch a train home to Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, and went to her GP who immediately sent her to Luton and Dunstable Hospital with a letter saying she might have Guillain-Barre syndrome.

The condition involves the immune system attacking the peripheral nervous system – the network of nerves outside the

•Jenny Bone, 40, pictured, was in a coma in hospital but heard doctors discuss ending her life only for her husband to refuse to switch off her life support machine central nervous system – leaving the brain unable to control muscles.

She and her husband claim the letter was handed over but not acted upon and she was initially told she had a chest complaint.

Hours later she stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest.

She was given a tracheotomy to help her breathe and was placed in a light medically-induced coma. She was on a respirator in an intensive care unit when a doctor raised the subject of ending her life a few days later.

Mr Bone, 58, who is also a surveyor, explained: ‘He said they didn’t know how long she was deprived of oxygen and there could be a range of deficits and it could be time to turn the machine off. I said it was far too early.

‘He said, “We have got to be realistic about what might happen,” but again I said it was too early.’

While in intensive care Mrs Bone was finally diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome. Doctors realised she had a chance of surviving if kept in the coma to allow her body to repair itself.

She was given intravenous immunoglobulin and had a plasma exchange.

Shortly after returning home she began taking her five-year-old son, David, to school with the aid of a walking frame. Now, one year on, she is back at work and has completed a 5km charity run, negotiating the course while leaning on a walking stick.

The couple have made a formal complaint to the hospital about the GP’s letter being ignored.

A hospital spokesman said: ‘We are glad that Mrs Bone is recovering from her illness.

However, we are sorry she did not have a positive patient experience.

We are investigating the concerns raised.’

Renowned neurosurgeon Munchi Choksey said: ‘Sometimes the sedation wears off a bit, so she might have been hearing some of the conversations around her.

‘But some of the drugs like opiates [she may have been prescribed] can in some cases induce hallucinations.

So it could be she was in a dreamlike state and imagined what was happening.’

Culled from the dailymail.co.uk

•A year on from her neardeath experience Mrs Bone is back at work and also took part in a charity run

SATURDAY

C M Y K

Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015 — 53

54—SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 21, 2015

F

or effective balancing of credit management in the Nigerian economic environment, the newly elected governing council, Institute of Credit Administration (ICA) has reinstated the council resolve to push for improved legal and business framework that would encourage credit availability, repayment and timely transaction payments.

The President/Chairman, Adetunji Oyebanji who made this declaration in a media chat in Lagos, assured that the move would help business entities particularly SMEs to grow. He disclosed that the institute has assisted a number of firms to reduce and minimize credit risk in their business dealings and instill a greater awareness for the need of credit availability and management.

Oyebanji averred that in today’s globalised economy, the need to advance credit to businesses and individuals as well as managing credit risk has taken a much bigger dimension. In spite of this, the business community still lacks proper commitment towards the culture of honouring credit obligations.”

The President noted in dismay that, in an L-R:Former Executive Director/Chief risk Officer, Zenith Bank, Andy Ojei; ICA President, environment of heavy and Adetunji Oyebanji; Registrar & Chief Executive Officer, ICA, Prof. Chris Onalo and Akinsola persistent national deficits Akinfeniwa, CIA board member during a media at the Institute’s office in Lagos. and borrowings, inflationary pressures are bound to surface and negatively professionalism, ethical standards and manufacturing sectors etc impact on the available money supply which sustainable credit to reap the associated with a negotiated and otherwise be deployed for productive economic benefits at both the organisational accepted interest rate, all in investment and consumption. He stated that an apparent bid to promote, level and the economy at large. cash shortage has amplified the demand on Similarly, Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, protect credit loans in terms banks to create more money through loans ICA, Prof. Chris Onalo, insisted that if Nigeria of risks. and advances adding that, as this demand Also, Former Executive must grow a robust economy, government for credit has increased, businesses are being should move from oil economy to agric Director/Chief Risk Officer, expected to participate in the credit creation economy so that the country can still develop Zenith Bank, Andy Ojei said mechanism through deferred payments and despite the price of oil fall in the international Nigeria must engage free credit terms granted to their customers. market that has affected our currency because market economy in order to Against this backdrop, he disclosed that ICA achieve remarkable overall we solely depend on oil. is already assisting its members in mitigating resilience in economic He advised the government to set up a their credit difficulties occasioned by the ever guarantee with huge capital base that would activity, employment and increasing cash flow deficiency. According engender competition from interested fiscal performance. tord him, this informed the decision the ICA stakeholders like banking, insurance, 3 governing council calls for more

Credit management: ICA adv ocat es impr oved legal, advocat ocates impro business framework

Upticomm unveils TheRoleModelSeries for teens successful career pticomm Marketing Company, a fast growing fullservice public relations and integrated marketing U communications consulting firm, has introduced

TheRoleModelSeries Conference; an interactive and educative mentor-protégé programme for public secondary schools designed to commemorate Children’s Day on May 27.

It is designed to provide education, mentoring and inspiration using distinguished and reputable personalities in private, business and public life, and will hold at the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos.

The theme: “The Inspired Teenager: Life Changing Lessons from Mentors” will feature over 300 teenagers in public secondary schools in Lagos between 12 – 16 years.

Speaking during a media interactive forum held at the company’s office in Lagos, Chief Reputation Strategist of the firm, Olusegun McMedal, said, “the idea behind TheRoleModelSeries Conference is driven by the need to create access for teenagers to learn directly from role models in the society. “Research has shown that the increasing vices can be traced to people who finished from public schools largely due to lack of support and guidance from authority figures who could guide and inspire them to make the right choice in their formative years. This is a cause that Upticomm wants to champion and we encourage other well-meaning individuals and organisations to support the scheme,” he said.

McMedal however stated the road to successful career require more than the basic education as research has shown that almost all the successful people have mentors who could be parents, teachers, coaches or other authority figures who encourage and guide them to make informed decisions in life.

Lagos widows skill acquisition scheme receive donation he chairman of Ndigbo PDP campaign council in Lagos, T Emilia Ezeude empowered widows in Lagos with gifts items to assist them in their skill acquisition programme being organised by windows in Lagos state. The scheme which comprises ethnic groups in the country trains them on fashion designing, hart making, cake baking among others. The programme is specifically designed to help them take take up their family responsibilities, enhance their economic powers.

According to Ezeude, I’m highly impressed with that kind of skill acquisition programme for windows. “I went there to donate some gift items to encourage them in their programme.

I also encouraged them to vote for President, Jonathan for President and Jimi Agbaje for governorship in Lagos state under PDP.” “I encourage other widows out there not to give in to frustration but try to acquire skills that would help them cater for their children .”

RSSSL: Election violence threat to Nigeria’s economy R

eal Strikers Security Services Limited in conjunction with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) had commenced nationwide security awareness on electoral violence prevention and homeland security measures, saying violence during elections will destroy Nigeria’s economic future.

Managing Director, RSSSL and Project Director, Dr. Joseph E. Ameh, state that electoral violence is s product of a sordid outcome of an organised intimidation or actual molestation of perceived or actual opponents during electioneering process.

He noted that youths are often engaged by some politicians as instruments of violence to unleash terror on their opponent while the product end is often wanton loss of lives and properties in addition to the concomitant economic set-back.

Ameh said, “we don’t want the future of our children, our developing economy and democracy to be destroyed, therefore, there is need to educate citizens on responsible political conducts. This is the whole essence of this seminar as well as the nationwide enlightenment campaign that we have chosen to embark on, he said.

He stated that political tolerance and culture of non-violence appear to be the roadmap that guarantees secured political, economical future in Nigeria.

It is important to have peace because C M Y K

it adds value to national unity and economy. Violent creates a lot of gap, wounds, broken words to persons, groups, society and to us as a people.

President (ALPSPN) Dr. Davidson Akhieme, advised the youths that it’s better to save their live for another election because when you are alive you stand to benefit the dividend of democracy. It’s not a thing to die for.

You will do your best and be patriotic and come out to vote and then you retire and wait for the result. And if you must be at the pulling boot you must not engage in any acrimonious discussion.

Youths should save their future, the economy by not fomenting troubles no matter who will pay them money to do that, he said.”

He also advised the security agents not guard against any form of thuggery at the polling centres. They should not be lenient with offenders during this election process especially the day of election and that is why we advise government to make provision for logistics available for security agents to work well on election day.

In the same vein, Dr. Franca Attoh, Dept. of Sociology, UNILAG, said, “my expectation was that they play their roles according to the dictates of the electoral law. Just like you said, electoral process.

It’s not a one off situation. It starts at the level of sensitisation, creation of awareness, and I’m happy the National Orientation Agency is here because it involves a lot of preparation on the side of security agencies.

L-R: Convener Ndigbo Equity and Justice initiative, Chief Cosmas Okoil; Woman Leader, Lady Ada Ofoegbu; Dr Solomon Ogbonna,and Chairman, Ndigbo in PDP Lagos Campaign, Mrs Ezeude Emilia at a Press Conference by Ndigbo Equity and Justice Initiative aka Ndigbo Emancipation on the Group’s Endorsement of Jimi Agbaje for governorship Lagos State PDP, recently in Lagos.

L-R: Eze Ndigbo, Mushin, Eze John Nwosu, Jimi Agbaje and Chief Solomon Ogbonna at his Ajah resident , Lagos.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—55

T

he Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Dr. Joseph T. Dawha has flagged off the Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, 2015 edition.

Dr. Dawha while flagging off the Conference at the International Conference Centre in Abuja said the NOG

NNPC GMD flags off NOG 2015 is now a flagship event for the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry.

The GMD noted that the NOG provides a veritable Platform where policy makers and Industry leaders meet to discuss policy direction and strategy.

He stated that the exhibition segment of the NOG has also

grown from strength to strength beginning with only a handful of exhibitors to over 200 Local and International exhibitors showcasing the latest technologies as well as developments in the Industry.

High point of the opening ceremony was a tour of some of the booths of the exhibitors

by the NNPC GMD. The NOG began in the year 2000 as an add-on to a West Africa event in London and moved to Abuja in 2004, 2015 marks the 15th edition of the International event.

The theme of this year ‘s “NOG is the Journey Towards Transformation.”

•Dr. Joseph T. Dawha

PPeetr oleum Minis hie vements in Oil and Gas sect or troleum Ministter recounts ac achie hievements sector

T

he Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke has said that the upstream sector has recorded a renewed impetus in cost management, compressed contracting cycles and a reinvigorated pursuit of the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Mrs. Alison-Madueke stated this while delivering her keynote address at the 2015 Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition

with the title “State of Industry: Achievements and future Direction” at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Represented by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Dr. Joseph T. Dawha, Mrs. AlisonMadueke disclosed that in the Midstream, new Gas Pipelines are being constructed in furtherance of the Federal Government‘s Gas Development Initiatives.

•Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

She noted that in the downstream sector, products supply and availability has been sustained adding that NNPC‘s Retail network has continued to expand in order to improve product availability.

The Petroleum Minister however said the accomplishments in the Oil and Gas sector have now been challenged by the current low in Oil price environment which is characterized by dramatic revenue declines.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke stated

that persistent depressed Oil prices may limit the Industry scope to maneuver in growing long term production and reaching the target of 4million barrels of Crude Oil per day by 2020.

In his welcome address, a board member of the Central Working Committee, Dr. Alirio Parra commended the Federal Government for its determination to transform the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry through the draft Petroleum Industry Bill which is currently before the National Assembly.

Nigeria gears up to become biggest, largest fertilizer exporter by 2017

T

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said plans are underway to reposition the Country to become the regional hub of gas and largest fertilizer exporter in Africa by 2017.

The Group Executive Director, Gas and Power of the (NNPC) Dr. David Ige stated this during an interview in Abuja.

Dr. Ige said the NNPC‘s strategy for Gas is for domestic supply, Gas-topower and Gas-to- Industry to stimulate the growth of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in the country.

The NNPC GED said the Corporation is working round the clock to ensure sufficient supply of Gas to power to impact on the lives of Nigerians stressing that so many aggressive reforms have taken place in the sector in the last three years.

Dr. Ige said the NNPC in collaboration with the private sector are working round the clock to boost fertilizer and Petrochemical Industries in the Gas Industrial park in Delta State of Nigeria.

He said natural compressed gas is now been used by vehicles in Edo state and efforts are been made to step up LNG consumption in the C M Y K

Country.

On Pipeline Vandalism, Dr. Ige noted that various technological options are being considered and commended the Joint Task Force for their relentless effort to stem the tide of pipeline vandalism in the country.

•Fertilizer

The gains of NNPC Transformation

W

hen the Nigerian N a t i o n a l Pe t r o l e u m Corporation, NNPC, started its Transformation journey in 2009, the aim was for the Corporation to Realign Its Processes And Procedures To Enable It Remain As A Business Concern In The Ever Dynamic Oil And Gas Sector.

Few Years Down The Line, The Nnpc Has Recorded Tremendous Gains In This Regard.

Today, Nnpc CorporateWide Transformation Is On Course With The Change Of Behavior And Change Of Culture By All Members Of Staff.

T h i s Transformation Journey Of The Corporation Has Led To

Improvement In Financial Position Which Has Resulted To Cost Savings Culture Performance Drive.

Going Forward, The Nnpc Has Laid A Solid Foundation For Its Transformation; Both The Business Models, The Core Business Of Nnpc Had Been Outlined, Production, Refining, Processing Then Of Course Sales And Marketing Of Both Crude And Petroleum Products Reforms.

The Coordinator Corporate Strategy And Planning And Director Transformation Office Of The Nnpc, Dr. Tim Okon Said The Transformation Effort By The Corporation Was As A Result Of The Need To Reposition For Growth, Profitability And

The Changes Witnessed In The Global Oil And Gas Industry.

Speaking On The Impact The Transformation Has Made On The NNPC, Dr. Okon Noted That The Corporation Is Now More Focused And Well Positioned To Measure Up With The Challenges Of The Industry.

He Reiterated The Need To Improve On The Current Efforts At Transformation To Enable The Corporations Efforts Be At Par With Developments Around The Global Oil And Gas Industry.

On The Fiscal Regime In The Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, Dr. Okon Explained That It Is One Of The Best In The World Especially For Small Fields While

Describing The Regime As Profitable.

He Anticipated That Five Years After The Passage Of The PIB The Corporation Will Become More Profitable And Commercially Viable To Compete With Its Counterparts Around The World.

Dr. Okon Called On The National Assembly To Expedite The Passage Of The PIB In Order To End The Uncertainties In The Oil And Gas Industry.

Speaking In A Similar Vein The General Manager Transformation Office NNPC Mr. Yemi Adetunji Said A Lot Of Achievements Have Been Recorded Both At The Upstream And Downstream Sector Of The NNPC.

56—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

What we told President Jonathan in Delta

Emma Amaize,

Regional Editor, South-South

FORMER national chairman of the Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria, ATROMPCON, and the paramount ruler of Siembiri clan, Burutu local government area of Delta State, HRM Charles Ayemi-Botu, aka Lion of the Niger, spoke to Saturday Vanguard on the recent visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state, the tearing of PDP’s membership card by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the renewed war against Boko-Haram insurgency and his impression on Jonathan’s government. Excerpt.

You called for the expulsion of former President Olusegun Obasanjo before he tore the party’s membership card, how do you see the behavior and his person?

Eh, as a monarch, we are apolitical, but since what happened had to do with the interest of the public, that is why I would comment. Ordinarily, I would not have. But taken into cognizance the personality involved, that is a former Head of State and president to have openly torn his membership card of a party, it does not augur well and does not make any sense. One could look at it from several perspectives. Was it out of frustration? Was it to prove to the unsuspecting public that for some time he had been fraternizing with the opposition party and it is time now to come to the open by way of tearing his membership card.

Because whichever way you look at it, it was messy for him and no justification whatever for him to tear the membership card of a party on whose platform that he had served the country for two tenures. He was twice a president and chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, so what instigated him to do such a thing? The only thing I can think of because he had lately been fraternizing with the opposition APC and governors of the party, castigating the incumbent president, is that he has gone out control. He is not the only former president. To me, he has made a mess of himself. It is the height of frustration for him.

President Jonathan said his ‘sin’ against Obasanjo was that he disallowed him from controlling him, do you agree with him?

It is obvious, I totally agree. The signs and signals are there, that when he (Obasanjo) failed in his tenure elongation bid, he quickly went to the party manifesto and changed it to the effect that it is only a former head of state or president that will be the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, that is his kind of person he was.

He wanted to use his position as

—HRM Charles Ayemi-Botu, N-Delta monarch Shagari talking about his grandson of 27 years using train for transportation and even a Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson, spoke of how Jonathan’s train came to her rescue when her car broke down in Lagos. Look at energy, there is tremendous improvement; he is really working despite the big problem of fighting insurgency.

•HRM Charles Ayemi-Botu

BOT chairman to control the government remotely, but that was ditched when Yar’Adua was there and when Jonathan entered, for the first one or two years, President Jonathan was more of an apron string to Obasanjo.

Look at Obasanjo’s reign and Jonathan’s administration so far and give me your assessment I can say and every patriotic Nigerian will agree with me that Obasanjo’s eight years of rule was totally abysmal. He had nothing really to show to Nigerians that after eight years, from 1999 to 2007, these were his achievements. Or we may add more, from 1976 after the assassination of Murtala Mohammed on February 13 and he took over till 1979, approximately 12 years, let him come out to say in which area of development that he has done well for Nigerians.

Jonathan’s four years are far better than his 11 years and eight months rule. Unfortunately, Jonathan sees Obasanjo as his mentor, otherwise, people like Obasanjo should not be allowed to walk free on the streets of Nigeria and you can see him that he does not even take a cue from former leaders like Tony Blair, John Major,

Bill Clinton, George Bush, Jimmy Carter and others. You see when you have ruled a country for years and your tenure is over, you become a real nationalist, you become adviser and a counsellor because you have attained the level of being father of the country. And you go quietly to rest, but this man seems to be carrying Nigeria on his head, Obasanjo sees himself as a god.

So what has Jonathan done?

In spite of the turbulence he has faced, none of Jonathan’s predecessors faced the kind of insurgency he has faced, he has done so well. If you go to education, you can see it, the new universities he set up, schools in the North, he has brought about much more enabling environment for teachers and provided infrastructural development for schools.

He has made education liberal and private universities are everywhere, more have been approved recently. On roads infrastructure, you can see it and even petroleum scarcity we used to have, he has tackled it. Did you not hear former President Shehu

I can say and every patriotic Nigerian will agree with me that Obasanjo’s eight years of rule was totally abysmal

What do you think are the chances of President Jonathan in the 2015 elections?

Indeed, without being strongwilled, he would not have been able to rule this country with all the problems and turbulence, but he has been calm and calculated.

When he visited Delta he told us he came to thank us, not only the Ijaw, the Urhobo, Itsekiri, Anioma, Isoko, others. He said he came for a consultative visit and to thank us for giving him the necessary backing and pray that we should not relent because fighting insurgency is not a one man business. And the forthcoming elections, he needed our support and we told him that he has been doing very well and if somebody is doing well, he should be given the necessary support.

The opportunity I had in talking to him, I told him that the groundswell by parties against him is caused by envy, hatred and jealously because he has done much better than others, but his coming to the presidency is by divine intervention, not his power, and so, if the purpose for which God put him there has not been completed, nobody can remove him from power.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—57

Ugwuanyi will surpass Chime’s performance — Sheddy Ozoene

A

n editor and journalist of renown, Sheddy Ozoene is the Publisher of Abuja-based People& Politics magazine.

In 2007, he aspired to represent Udi/Ezeagu federal constituency of Enugu state in the House of Representatives.

In this interview, the former Media Adviser to the Delta state governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori between 1999-2007, bares his mind on a number of issues in Enugu State with our ENUGU STATE CORRESPONDENT, AUSTIN OGWUDA. Excerpts:

Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has received wide acceptance across the state. What do you attribute his popularity to?

In seeking the ideal candidate to take over from Gov. Chime last year, the state PDP wanted a candidate who would unite the party and sustain the Chime administration’s development strides. They found in Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi a man who can do both. Ugwuanyi is a popular choice with an unblemished record. His candidature has so far, lived up to the billing and he has succeeded in rallying all the political tendencies in the state behind him.

As a member of the PDP Enugu state, how do you assess the party’s chances in the forthcoming general elections.

The chances of the party in Enugu have never been brighter and I have no doubt that it will win resoundingly in both the state and federal elections slated for March 28 and April 11, respectively. The past 8 years of Governor Sullivan Chime have been the most glorious for the party and the state, so the people have every reason to renew their support and confidence in the PDP.

Since his controversial endorsement as PDP candidate for Enugu governorship, Ugwuanyi has acted like a stooge of the outgoing governor, Barrister Sullivan Chime.

People now raise issues whether he will ever be his own man...

I disagree with you that his endorsement was controversial. The party has the right to adopt measures that would minimize friction in selecting candidate for public office. The process that produced Ugwuanyi meets all standards in popular democratic practice. To your question: Ugwuanyi is nobody’s stooge. He is the choice of the people but don’t forget that in that PDP family, Sullivan Chime remains the leader and the father-figure of the party in the state.

What key issues would you say will define the presidential contest, especially between the two major contestants, President Jonathan and General Buhari.

Both men have presided over the affairs of the country, so it’s all about past performance, not empty sloganeering or the mouthed promise of Eldorado. Buhari headed the most brutish administration the nation has ever witnessed, stigmatized and jailed a whole generation of political leaders and ran the economy aground so much so that we had to queue for essential commodities like milk.

Jonathan on the other hand, has expanded the political space so that dictators like GMB still aspires for public office. Nigeria’s economy has grown to be first in Africa and the future looks bright.

Is it true, as many people say, that Enugu is a one-party state? How strong is the opposition in the state?

Enugu is not a one-party state, even if I don’t blame those who think and say so. The issue is that Governor Chime has so raised the bar of performance that even the opposition queue to applaud him. That is why the incoming governor says that he will inherit oversized shoes. Simply said, the opposition does not exist in Enugu; they only resurface during elections because some people just want to carry flags during electoral contests.

C M Y K

Ugwuanyi has ran his campaign without unveiling any programmes and policies. What key policies is he hinging his campaign on?

That’s not true. He is perhaps the only candidate that boasts a wellarticulated programme in virtually all the key development sectors. Yes, he has adopted the four-point agenda of the outgoing governor, there is no doubt that he has broadened the programme outlines which he intends to build on. The key areas are in employment generation, social services and good governance, rural transformation as well as security and justice for all. I dare say that Ugwuanyi will surpass Chime’s record of performance and even the outgoing governor is proud to proclaim so.

What will the outgoing governor be best remembered for?

Governor Chime has redefined governance at the state level. He has domesticated President Jonathan’s idea of transformation in Enugu state and this has impacted all sectors of life of the people. The most significant for me, is the network of standard gauge roads he built across the state. In doing this, he fulfilled

•Sheddy Ozoene won’t be anything new to him.

As a journalist, how would you assess the performance of the media in the covering the ongoing electioneering campaigns?

Many people argue that in this particular contest, some sections of the media have either compromised or overstepped their bounds. I disagree. The campaign has been very intense but media practitioners have held tenaciously to the tenets of their practice. Facts are sacred but comments are free. Once you can distinguish between what comes as news and which others come as comments and advertorials, you’ll see the media has not compromised.

his promise to ensure that every local government headquarters is linked with well paved and asphalted road. It’s remarkable.

The issue of who, between Ayogu Eze and Ugwuanyi, is the authentic PDP candidate is still raging in the Appeal Court. How will this be resolved going into the elections?

As you said, the matter is still subjudice so I won’t comment on it. I will only observe that the Federal High Court has declared that only one primaries was held in Enugu for the purpose of selecting the governorship candidate. How Ayogu intends to convince the appeal court that there were two, and that the one he organized in one back-yard hotel without party officials is the authentic one, is best known to him.

However you look at it, it’s a hard sell.

Enugu is well known for new governors breaking bitterly with their predecessors. Is there any possibility that Ugwuanyi, if elected, will sustain the present level of cooperation with Chime out of government?

Again I disagree that Enugu is worse than others in that regard.

First you must look at the character and temperament of the men involved, then and now. Sullivan Chime doesn’t come across as a meddlesome person and he is not overly ambitious or overbearing. On the other hand, Ugwuanyi has shown he is accommodating and devoid of the usual clannishness of some political leaders. To answer your question, the harmony you see today will surely endure.

In the incoming presidential election, the Igbo appear to have put all their eggs in President Jonathan’s basket. What will their future look like, politically, if Buhari wins?

Tufiakwa, Buhari will not win.

The whole of Nigeria is protected under the umbrella of Jonathan’s good governance. If the umbrella is removed, it is not only the Igbo that will suffer the harsh realities of Buhari’s reformed dictatorship. It is better imagined, but in any case he has lost severally before so this

The issue is that Governor Chime has so raised the bar of performance that even the opposition queue to applaud him

There is a raging controversy over the huge indebtedness of the Chime administration which borrowed billions of naira at the twilight of its tenure. How will the next governor survive the financial quagmire?

Can anyone, in all sincerity, describe the Chime administration as profligate? We must be fair to that man. I believe you are talking of the last loan of about 10 or 11 billion or thereabout. Well, I am not a staff of Enugu state government so I cannot speak authoritatively on that, but it will suffice to say that the House of Assembly in its wisdom, approved the loan for the state after considering the need for it. It’s not a loan for Sullivan Chime, but for the state, and what it will be applied to was also well canvassed. The details are in public documents so lets not be too hypothetical.

Don’t you think that Ohaneze has been heavily politicized with factions singing different tunes. Where lies the collective interest of the Ndigbo that they say they represent?

I have never really supported the idea of socio-cultural associations meddling in political issues, but Ohaneze is not the sole culprit. The Afenifere, the Yoruba Council of Elders and even the Oodua Peoples Congress are all getting involved one way or the other. The Arewa Consultative Forum has since become the Northern wing of opposition against Jonathan, so it’s not peculiar to Ohaneze. My quarrel with Ohaneze is that in most cases, they hardly speak with one voice and their position on issues hardly well articulated.

58—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

A

C M Y K

head of next week's presidential election, Igbo leaders in the 19 northern states yesterday declared support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Mohammadu Buhari, urging him to rescue the country from being run aground by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The leaders who paid a courtesy visit to Buhari at his presidential campaign headquarters in Abuja noted that impunity and indiscipline had become a common phenomenon in today’s Nigeria.

Coming under the umbrella of Igbo Delegates Assembly, IDA, the group which was led by its President-General, Chief Sam Demian Enyama also had the Eze Udo, its traditional arm made up of the traditional rulers of Igbo communities both in the north and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

Speaking at the occasion, the president-General, Chief Eyama described Buhari as a man of impeccable character who is disciplined and resultoriented.

Dispelling religious sentiments against Buhari, Eyama urged Ndi Igbo nationwide to rally round Buhari and vote for him on March 28, saying that he would address most pressing needs of the regions in the country.

Speaking on behalf of Eze Udo, Eze Uche Egenti said that Nigerians especially the Igbo would not want to experience another civil war.

Observing that the country was heading to the brink of collapse under president Goodluck Jonathan, Egenti asked Buhari to come to its rescue.

He said “ We are here to support your aspiration to become the president of this country. We know that it is easier to work with you because of what you stand for. We are not ready to be plunged into another civil war and we are pleading with you to help us organize Nigeria again. We want discipline to reign again.

“We want to plead with you to help galvanize Nigeria once more. Let discipline reign again in Nigeria. Let the polity be sensitized. A lot of people have complained that the issue about you is religion but we know you are not a religious bigot. You are a very firm articulate officer of the Nigerian army. In 1983 when Nigeria was on the verge of collapse, you came in and rescued it.

APC Presidential Campaign Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, (middle) exchanging pleasantries with Eze Ndi Igbo Suleja, Amb (Dr.) Igwe Collins Chibueze Okoli, while APC National Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, APC Chieftain and former Goverinor, Chief Ogbonnaya Ono and other Igbo leaders watch during a meeting with the APC flag-bearer in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE

IGBO LEADERS TO BUHARI :

Rescue Nigeria, save us from another civil war “We are here to affirm our support on the use of the permanent voters card, because it will bring credibility to the election. We are here to tell you that the Igbo’s are behind you.”

A notable Igbo leader and chieftain of APC, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu who also spoke at the event that attracted the presence of the party’s national chairman, Chief John Oyegun and other senior party officials said that the essence of the meeting was to reassure Buhari of the support of Igbo people.

According to him, the train of APC was in motion and could not continue without the input of the Igbo.

Onu also dismissed the insinuations that Buhari was a religious bigot whose interest was to Islamize the country if elected president.

Affirming Buhari’s forthrightness, Onu who was a former governor of Abia State stated that the APC presidential candidate has distinguished himself with his track record and offices so far held.

Meanwhile, in a manner seen by many as unreal, Buhari,

while responding to the plea of the visiting Igbo leaders took time to explain what the meeting meant to him.

He also, perhaps for the first time, revealed why he joined politics and at such the opposition.

The former military Head of State who went on memory lane revealed how the military government saved a fortune for the country only to be squandered by the ruling People’s Democratic Party.

Buhari who also preached peace and unity among the tribes in the country recalled how property and shops of the Igbo communities in the north were secured during the civil war, also dismissed the speculations that he was a religious bigot.

Below were his responses on most of the issues raised at the meeting: How the meeting was brokered “This meeting is an act of God because we had agreed on our programmes since but Chief Ogbonnaya Onu came to me and said that this meeting must take place. I tried to get out of

We want to plead with you to help galvanize Nigeria once more. Let discipline reign again in Nigeria.

Let the polity be sensitized

it by going through the programmes with him and telling him that I have visited 35 states excluding Yobe and because of the additional unsolicited six weeks grace granted, another programme was drawn to conduct some town hall meetings. I told him that, we were scheduled to go to Owerri and Onitisha to meet the Igbo leadership and business community. So, why not let us merge the two events? He said no, these are Igbos from the 19 Northern states and eventually, I gave up and said let it be done at the expense of our break. .I have no regrets holding this meeting because he educated me about this organization in the respective states which I was unaware of.

He told me the details and I appreciate this organization because of your experiences especially when crisis happened in this country.

North/south relationship during the war I could recall the good old days.

When it was Christmas and new year, virtually, all businesses closed up in the north especially

Continues on pg 59

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—59

Igbo leaders to Buhari: Rescue Nigeria, save us from another civil war Continues from pg 58 in Kano. Business would not resume until the Igbos return to their businesses. After the interruption of the civil war, I must admit that the elements of the first republic civil service were good because to the best of my knowledge, wherever Igbos had property in town, there were committees in the respective towns. The properties were repaired, given for rent, an account opened for them. After the war, the Igbos came back and claimed their property and the savings made.. I thank the civil servants of those good old days because the committees were developed with very clear and firm terms of reference and the properties of the Igbos were looked after and they claimed them back. I think they did well. I think that I am the only Army officer to command three of the four Nigerian Army divisions. Again, from 2nd Lieutenant, all the Command and Staff appointments I don’t think I missed any. My colleagues were Col. Ugokwe, GC. Ojukwu and they can bear testimony to that. On the political side, I became governor of the north east which is now six states and spent three and half years in Ministry of Petroleum, twenty months as Head of States and 40 months in detention eventually. I think I have seen quite a lot in Nigeria.

Why I joined politics After going top and sliding down, why did I join politics?

There were two reasons which I have mentioned on several occasions. I have to bore you with this because I don’t want you to slow down on whatever you are doing. Keep on trying, God will repay you one way or the other. I was sitting at home after I got out of detention and thought people would leave me alone. I didn’t even build a filling station, not to talk of owning an oil block and so I thought I had lost their sympathy. But they kept coming to me and there was nothing I could do and then I speculated that maybe when I get into partisan politics, I would get into a position to be heard and then something happened in 1991 and the Soviet Union collapsed. They were the first to go into space and in terms of nuclear war heads and conventional forces, they were superior to NATO . It just collapsed and people just went home and now, there are 18 Republics in the old Soviet Union. That was when I decided that the best form of governance is multi party democratic system with a big proviso that elections must be free and fair. Other wise, the whole thing will be a sham and it is in pursuit of that, that I am on my fourth attempt to get the highest office.

three fundamental things that are relevant. We hope, God willing, if we get into government, having campaigned on those three fundamental issues, we will deliver on those three fundamental issues so that you can physically see. I think that those who are really poor and live in the rural areas hardly have anything to lose, but you who criss-cross the world using your resources, when you are grounded, you feel it harder. It is a fact of life.

What are the three things we identified? First, security, then the death of the economy as a result of which there is mass unemployment and; third one is corruption. Throughout my visit to 35 states, I mentioned these three things and nobody ever challenged me on them.

We cannot continue like this because this is our country. No sentiment and nothing should make us change our mind. We just have to get rid of PDP and start building Nigeria again.

General Muhammadu Buhari addressing the Igbo delegates I am not a religious bigot In the first three attempts, I ended up at the Supreme Court because I believe in the system.

There is no point believing in a system and conducting yourself haphazardly. I am telling you that I am fulfilled because when I decided to join politics in April 2002, I joined APP even though there was PDP and they were in government. But I went into the opposition even though there were governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives in the party, but the following year, they gave me the ticket and what did I do with the ticket? I got the late Chuba Okadigbo to be my running mate and by that, I blew the mind of people about my tribal or religious position. In 2007, I picked Chief Ume Ezeoke and again, he was Igbo. So, I dispelled any question about my being a religious bigot or a tribalist. Later I picked Pastor Bakare and now, I am running with a Pastor, Prof. Osinbajo.

The issue of religion has been taken into account in this country.

Why we insist on free and fair polls I am very grateful to Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu for organizing this meeting. I am even more grateful that the leadership of the Igbo community in the north decided to turn up. It is important that we continue to make sure that we are broadminded. The beauty of this system is what I have mentioned already. Let the government respect Nigerians and individuals and allow them to choose and elect those they want to lead them. If that is done, Nigerians will be surprised about how peaceful this country will be. I think that in every human being there is an element of rebellion. If you try to force a human being to do something he doesn’t like, he will develop a way of resisting it. But if you develop a system and persuade

him to accept the system, then, Justice must be done and you will be surprised how peaceful you will live. But if you try to force it, I am afraid that you will keep on suffering.

How military saved economy

PDP has destroyed Nigeria Look at what we have suffered in the last 16 years. Most of you are business people and always out there. Maybe you don’t even need computers because your head is just like a recorder. You import and know the exchange rate. Where were we 16 years ago when PDP took over this country and where are we now?

How much was the Naira to the Dollar then and how much is it now? Does it mean that you will not sell the things that you have in your shop now because people cannot afford them because the Naira is now about N230 to the dollar? I think that as a community, You are more affected in Nigeria than anyone else. You are the ones that go from Singapore to China and all over the world to make the contacts and order things.

You don’t order them in Naira, but in Dollars or Pounds Sterlings or Yen. Now, you need trailer loads of Naira to maintain your businesses. Remember what we earned from 1999 till now. But then, where is the Nigeria Railways that we have been talking about? Where is the Nigeria Airways? Where is the Nigeria Shipping line? Where are the roads and where is the money we earned? There are States now that haven’t paid salaries for months. Corrupt PDP governors cannot even pay salaries. I don’t think you can support this type of government anymore. It will be impossible because the worse has almost happened. If everybody is impoverished, what do we do?

Do we eat grass?

Three things APC government must do What we identified in APC are

On the political side, I became governor of the north east which is now six states and spent three and half years in Ministry of Petroleum, twenty months as Head of States and 40 months in detention eventually.

I think I have seen quite a lot in Nigeria

In 1983, when we came in, we felt that change had to take place because I was involved in the military government that handed over to the second republic and as Minister of Petroleum, I was holding one of the most important appointments. The military handed over a relatively, materially and physically secured country to the second republic. In four years, three months, if anybody told you that he knew how much debt Nigeria incurred after spending what the military left, he was telling you a lie because when we came, because of the debt Nigeria had incurred, we had to put in place two committees, one local and one foreign to help find out how we incurred the debt and how we were going to pay for it.

Together we will rescue Nigeria So really, the question of patriotism is a very serious issue. The damage has been done. You are in a position under the system to make a difference and I am appealing to you to make sure that this difference is made. We are not doing anybody any favour. We are doing a favour to ourselves because we have no other country than Nigeria.

I am very happy with your kindness in coming to Abuja to see me and to support the APC. I assure you that you will not regret it. We are patriotic. Nigeria is our country. We have no other country, but Nigeria.Together, we will salvage it.”

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— SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015—61

2015 General Elections: Echoes for Change

BY UGO JOHNSON

T

he People’s Democratic Party, PDP had said through its very vocal leaders that it is the biggest political party in Africa and will rule Nigeria for 50 years. Some even boasted that it will be for 100 years. Why not? From the first general election during this democratic dispensation in 1999 to the last one in 2011, PDP won all the Presidential elections, won the most number of gubernatorial seats, has been controlling the two arms of the National Assembly and had held sway in more state houses of assembly than any other political party. As will be clear in this commentary however, the ongoing climate of change has begun to alter the political landscape. So those statistics may be rooted on shaky grounds now.

The ruling party owes its awesome strength to its dominance of the political arena while fragments of the opposition were speaking in discordant notes. The All People's Party, APP that fielded General Mohammadu Buhari in the 2003 presidential election, the All Nigeria People's Party, ANPP that chose him as its presidential candidate in the 2007 election and the Congress for Progressives Change, CPC that made him its presidential flag bearer in 2011 were all parties that did not control enough spread to pose serious challenge to PDP. And so Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and now Goodluck Jonathan just left Buhari in the lurch and won the presidential races in quick succession. Even the Alliance for Democracy, AD, later known as ACN and the rest could only scratch the surface and left PDP in virtual absolute control of machinery of Federal government and many state governments.

So under such circumstances, why should anyone except PDP to be modest when its handlers were engaged in perpetual dance at the seats of political power in Nigeria?

As someone crudely puts it “If na you nko?” meaning if you had found yourself in such a position, what would you have done?

The problem with that kind of overconfidence is that the PDP became complacent. Its slogan, PDP! POWER!! became so resonant that nobody knew if the other parties had a slogan to match that one. It is even worse that while the likes of Obasanjo who was brisk but sometimes brash and Umaru Musa Yar'Adua who appeared to be trustworthy and even declared his assets publicly, created a semblance of governance, Goodluck Jonathan

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fell in love with the paraphernalia of the office of President. He has been evasive while his wife Dame Patience was vocal and quite visible sometimes to the extent of being the alternate president of Nigeria but for the constitution that did not really assign her any role in government. For the duo, power has been ‘sweet’ and they have spent the last six years or so just enjoying it.

Meanwhile, there has been public outrage about pandemic corruption in government with culprits of corruption walking around with so much air of freedom.

Monumental contracts were awarded for infrastructural development all over the country. Only the President can tell the nation how often he visited the sites of those projects and whether or not he is satisfied with the progress of work.

Certainly official briefs prepared for him on the contracts would always belly the facts while his ministers would like to tell him what he wants to hear.

Like Babatunde Fashola, Governor of Lagos State recently asked, “Where are the 25,000 kilometres of roads that President Goodluck Jonathan said

that his government had constructed across the country?” Honestly, if such achievement has been recorded, it is doubtful if the major highways in the country would still have ordinary potholes.

Impunity reigned and the confidence of the people in their government waned. The many atrocities of PDP’s domination of governance in Nigeria will fill volumes of books.

However, there came a time when many of the opposition parties decided to fuse under a single banner. Incidentally Bamanga Tukur was the Chairman of PDP at that time. He dismissed the fusion of ANPP, CPC, APGA, ACN and others as “ordinary gang up that won't affect the electoral fortunes of PDP.” Many political soothsayers, fortune tellers, practising marabouts and analysts of Nigeria's political scene found a common tent to gather and dismiss the All Progressives Alliance, APC as a none starter. It was jocularity predicted that the alliance would crumble as early as it was formed.

For nearly two years a group that called itself Transformation Agent of Nigeria reeled out scripts dressed with audio visuals and told Nigerians that Goodluck Jonathan was transforming Nigeria. While the propaganda went on in a frenzy, APC spent time consolidating itself. As the saying goes, nobody can

delay the sunset. So time was ticking away until the 2015 general election stared everyone in the face.

All the predictions about the disintegration of the opposition have not come to pass. The achievements that Jonathan said he had recorded cannot justify the amount of resources that had been ‘poured’ on them. So many projects have not left the drawing board; yet a good number have been abandoned and what is more, the ones going on are at best work in slow progress. No wonder the glib presentations that the President gives to explain his non-reallyenviable scorecards whenever he engages the media!

The other day, a group of people were watching the nightly news on one of the TV channels and the President came on air to say that the nation was winning the war against terror. The chorus that greeted his remarks was: “We have heard that before.”

All summed up, it is this lacklustre image of the President and his inability to deliver on the promises he made to the electorate in 2011 that have become his nemesis. That is what has also tossed up APC as a viable alternative now and General Muhammadu Buhari, the man with the pedigree that can turn the nation back from the cliff hanger which is where the country is now. In addition, PDP is going into this election as a weakened imperial army. A good number of its ‘generals’ are now in APC and there are others who are still in the party but working against the party.

Add that to a despondent electorate and you will know why the clamour for change is being echoed everywhere now.

It is hoped that PDP that is ill-prepared for defeat will allow the will of the people to determine the outcome of the election and the party should take solace in the fact that 16 years in power is a period long enough for one party to reign supreme and if change becomes inevitable now, so be it. Borrowing from a saying that I presume you know, parties come, parties go, Nigeria should remain intact. That will lend credence to our democracy!

•Ugo Johnson is a political analyst based in Ilorin

62—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

By Ishola Balogun& Ebun Sessou

A

ll Progressives Con gress, APC chairman in Lagos State and former Commissioner for Special Duties, Otunba Henry Ajomale has berated the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC over the rally carried out by the group last Monday in Lagos calling for the removal of INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, adding that it has destroyed its own principles and have become very unimportant in the Yoruba circle just as he disclosed that the construction of fourth mainland bridge will begin soon with the possibility of the road being tolled. Excerpts How would you compare the 2015 elections with other past elections in terms of preparations, campaign activities, and technology?

I can only say that there is more tension this time than the previous elections. We have participated in elections since 1999 and I have played a very prominent role in the both 1998 and 2003. As a matter of fact, I was the Chairman of the Campaign Committee in 2003 before I became the Chairman of the party in 2007. So, this is the first time that I will see more tension which has never been witnessed before in the political firmament of Nigeria. To me, I think, we are getting to the age where people now understand their freedom, their voting rights and they consider them to be very crucial and important. Although there are still some who are still behind in their thoughts and deeds, collecting money from politicians and hoping that, after all, they have taken their own share of the cake. The case is better now.

Why has this development not translated to issue-based campaign from both parties?

For us, everything we have been rolling out is factual. There are statistics of what the government has done in terms of development. If you look at the economy, it is unstable. If we say also that electricity is still epileptic, that is also a fact. If we say agriculture made a little rise in terms of development, you cannot dispute that. . But, where you don’t perform, people would say so. These are issue-based campaigns that we have been running. On their own part, they run television documentary, maligning our candidate and the party.

They talked about certificate, they talked about age; these are not issues at all. Poverty and religion do not mean anything when you don’t have food on your table. The most important thing is who can provide food on my table.

Do you think that kind of leadership exists only in your party?

Not only in my party. Such leadership exists everywhere.

There are thousands of people in this country who can do the same. But, we are now talking of platform. I believe Buhari is one of them who can do it. He is now on the right platform to be able to get there. It is not because he is the cleverest person in Nigeria. It is because he is in the right platform.

What would you say Lagosians would see differently if your party wins the governorship race?

I don’t see what is wrong with what we have right now. What we C M Y K

•Otunba Henry Ajomale

OPC RALLY:

It’s a disgrace! — Ajomale •Says: they have destroyed their own principles •The 4th mainland bridge with toll on the way

If PDP is now enticing people and groups with Dollars and Naira to bring them into partisan politics, it is a disgrace.

Because OPC was supposed to be defending the interest of the Yoruba and not to be partisan

are trying to do is to consolidate on what we have done and complete them. Ensure that the blue and red rails are working from Marina to Badagry. It is our wish to continue the 4th Mainland Bridge that would go from Lekki to Ikorodu. We will continue and ensure that there’s electricity supply by putting in place so many IPP in Lagos. These are part of the consolidation. Asiwaju Tinubu laid the foundation and gave it to Fashola who improved on it tremendously and Ambode is coming to improve on what Fashola has built. We will not choose someone who will not go ahead to beat the next person. The same pattern is what Ambode will be running after, to beat Fashola too. So, it is rather a competition and that is how Lagos will continue to beat any state in Nigeria.

Today, we are opening up the Ikorodu and a lot of people are moving to Ikorodu now.

How do you intend to do the carry out the construction of the 4th Mainland Bridge, do you have the financial muscle?

It is not a question of financial muscle.

There are so many ways of killing a cat. It is not necessarily the financial muscle from the state government. The world has gone far more than that. There can be international consortium that is going to develop that.

Maybe, it is going to be tolled and they will make their money. But, they will make it convenient for you. When you are leaving Lekki, you don’t have to come to Ozumba Mbadiwe before you get home. So, it is not a question of having money before you can do it.

So, what is stopping it all this while?

It is because the money and the arrangement of those who are going to be interested in taking up the challenges were not ready.

Are they ready now?

Yes, some consortium are showing interest.

So, Lagosians should be expecting soon?

Sure.

What is the position of the concessionaire and will there be additional toll in the Lekki-Epe Expressway?

For Lekki, there is only one toll.

After the second toll gate was constructed, we found out that it won’t be convenient for the people living in that area. That was why they didn’t put the second toll.

Recently, your party was quoted to have said that if you lose the election, you will form a parallel government, why did you say that?

I don’t understand that. I don’t know about that. Because if the election is free and fair, why should we form a parallel government? I am not aware of that statement.

There is also an allegation that your party has established a private radio, how true?

People can say all sorts of things. I won’t take it behind PDP. But, I can assure you that there is nothing like that. There is no private radio. It is not part of our culture. Our party is not known for that.

Recently, we saw a protest they staged in Lagos against Jega, does it not worry you that it was carried out by OPC which is supposed to be a Yoruba Cultural Organization?

I am worried because when OPC was established, it was a cultural organization defending the interest of the Yoruba. They were not even supposed to be in politics at all. If PDP is now enticing people and groups with Dollars and Naira to bring them

into partisan politics, it is a disgrace. Because OPC was supposed to be defending the interest of the Yoruba and not to be partisan. They are not supposed to be in politics. Today, they have disgraced themselves because of a pot of porridge. It is unfortunate that their leadership, starting from Dr. Fasehun and the man I respect so much to Otunba Gani Adams who claims to be worshiping the Yoruba deities now got themselves entangled and trapped in this mess. I really do not understand, but money cannot do anything. It shows clearly that all along we have been thinking that this man is a saint, after all he is not. They are not doing it in the interest of the Yoruba; they are doing it in the interest of their pockets. What is their business with the removal of Jega? The same thing with the Igbo cultural group, MASSOB led by Uwazurike. It is unfortunate that they have allowed money to blindfold them from the original concept of the organization, it is a shame and that is what money can do.

What is the implication of this?

The implication is that they have destroyed their won principles and they have become very unimportant in the Yoruba circle. You can’t come and tell me about OPC, I will tell you to go to hell. Because the respect that people paid them before for defending the Yoruba interest is no more. So, nobody will respect them again because they have been bought by a pot of porridge. And they have forgotten that this election will come and go. They have also forgotten that too that money will finish.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 21, 2015 — 63

Madrid derby in Champions League •Barca face PSG

H

OLDERS Real Madrid will meet city rivals Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, in a repeat of last season’s final.

Fanfare as Ifeanyi Uba FC host Rangers in Nnewi

•Uba

•Coach Dobrev of Ifeanyi Uba FC

By John Egbokhan

A

few years ago, Nigerians woke up to see their newspapers adorned with several pages of colour advertisements to celebrate the 40th birthday of Philanthropist and founder of Capital oil and Gas Ind. Ltd, Ifeanyi Uba. Readers were shocked at the depth and spread of the persons felicitating with the Anambra oil tycoon.

The adverts, covering nearly all the newspapers in the country, ran into millions in terms of monetary value.

In life, 40 marks a significant milestone in terms of development and for the celebrant, it was a day not to be missed as he rolled out the red carpet to mark his day at a plush and wellattended party held at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island. The rollcall of those at the A-list event cut across all sectors of the country, with the sports sub-sector not left out in the party of the year.

Top soccer personalities, like Samson Siasia, Austin Eguavoen, Victor Ikpeba, Daniel Amokachi, Peter Rufai, Austin Okocha and C M Y K

other distinguished former Eagles were in attendance to show their support for Uba who is a good friend of sports stars.

But at that time, his contribution to the game was still non-committal, in terms of bankrolling a team or sponsoring a competition. All that has since changed with his acquisition of Gabros FC. He renamed the club Ifeanyi Uba FC. They are campaigning for honours in the 2014-2015 Nigerian Premier League season, which enters the third week today across ten centres of the federation.

They kicked off their campaign in the new season with a 2-0 thumping of Warri Wolves at the Rojenny Stadium, Oba on March 8.

Their next scheduled against Sunshine Stars on March 15 at the Akure Township stadium was a testy and feisty affair as both teams gave it their all with the hosts edging the visitors 2-1.

Two matches, one victory and a loss are the records that Ifeanyi Ubah FC will this Sunday take into their week three match with Rangers

International, in what observers have dubbed an Oriental Classic, given that both teams are from the east of the Niger.

Supporters will chant songs with the attendant fanfare and razzmatazz that the oil magnate has infused into home fixtures involving his team.

In their opening match against Warri Wolves on March 8, fans who thronged the Rojenny Stadium, were entertained. Ifeanyi Uba made the stadium wear a festival look. Entertainers thrilled and many ex internationals graced the occasion.

It is that same carnivallike atmosphere that will greet fans who descend the stadium on Sunday for Ifeanyi Ubah FC’s match against Rangers, one of the most successful and traditional teams in the country.

Although Ifeanyi Uba FC may not boast the feat that Rangers parade, they certainly have some good history of theirs as Gabros were once the breeding club of former Super Eagles defender Taye

Taiwo, current Eagles goalkeeper, Austin Ejide, former Flying Eagles star, Solomon Okoronkwo and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

Parading a crop of wellmotivated players, Ifeanyi Uba FC will be hoping to add Rangers to their casualty list and signal their intentions to contest for the title this season.

Although they are new boys in the big league, they are not strangers to the big league, having competed in the top-flight before they went on relegation some few seasons ago.

With the likes of Michael Ohanu, Onyekachi Nwaiwu and captain Oluchukwu Nwosu expected to feature against Rangers, Coach Mitko Dobrev will be confident that his charges can make it two wins out of two on home turf in Nnewi. But they must battle a side coached by one of the best coaches around, Kelechi Emeatiole.

Now backed by the financial power of oil tycoon, Uba, who has brought vim and vitality into the team and made Nnewi, Anambra’s second most popular city the home of football, fans of the team will be hoping that the fanfare and carnival attached to Ifeanyi Uba FC will continue flowing as football fuses with music to entertain all.

Paris St- Germain’s reward for beating Chelsea in the last 16 is a tie against Barcelona, the conquerors of English champions Manchester City.

Monaco, who edged past Arsenal on away goals, play Juventus, while German champions Bayern

Munich face Porto.

The first legs are on 1415 April, with the return matches on 21-22 April.

Real Madrid won their 10th European Cup as they ultimately overwhelmed Spanish champions Atletico in a compelling 4-1 extratime win in Lisbon last season.

•Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema

Siasia’s hit squad for Zambia

D

REAM Team VI Head Coach, Samson Siasia has named the 18 players he wants to use for the All African Games Qualification match against Zambia.

The first leg encounter of the final round of the qualifiers holds tomorrow at the Abuja National Stadium.

He said he was not contemplating any result other than total defeat of his opponents, adding that his target is to pick both AAG and Rio Olympic Games football

tickets.

Squad Goalkeepers:Daniel Emmanuel, Abiodun Akande Defenders:Sincere Seth, Obanor Erhun, Stanley Amuzie, Segun Oduduwa, Sodiq Atanda, Ebuka Iroha Midfielders:Azubuike Okechukwu, Usman Mohammed, Kingsley Sokari, Godwin Saviour, Tiongoli Tonbara, Freedom Omofoman Forwards:Etebo Oghenekaro, Junior Ajayi, Peter Onyekachi, Lucky Omeruo.

AYC: Awoniyi, Sarr set for final battle

Pique: Winning the ‘Clásico’ can win you la Liga

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ERARD Piqué assures that Barça are all ready to play the ‘Clásico’.tomorrow “The Clásico is a very important step forward.

There are ten games left, we are very close to each other and winning three points with them dropping three can give you enough distance to go on and win the league. We’re all focused on this game, on winning it”, said Piqué talking to his club’s media.

“Up in attack we have three players that are on form and defensively the team are also competing very well. We go into this ‘Clásico’ totally revved-up and excited at the

possibility of winning three points. You are stronger and feel more confident when you come off the good run that we have”, he observed.

“Real Madrid are not going through their best moment of the season, but for a ‘Clásico’, it doesn’t matter in what condition you reach it. It’s 50/50 for each team”, the player reflected on the competitiveness that exists between the two clubs.

For the defender, this is one of the most special matches of the year, due to the rivalry between them and because normally, “you compete with them for the titles”.

•Awoniyi

A

S the Flying Eaglets prepare to battle Senegal in the final of the AYC tomorrow, Senegal’s Sidy Sarr is now Taiwo Awoniyi’s main rival for the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, after he scooped his second MVP award.

Sarr was picked by CAF as the best player in Thursday ’s semifinal against Mali to become only the second player to be so recognised after

Flying Eagles striker Awoniyi was adjudged the best performer in Nigeria’s first two group games against Senegal and Congo.

Interestingly, both Awoniyi and Sarr are also neck-and-neck in the race for the AYC goal king award as they have both scored three goals each.

The Mbour Petite Cote midfielder has been on superb form and will hope to cap it with a win tomorrow.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 21, 2015

Erico to Keshi:

What happens if President Jonathan leaves Aso Rock?

Day Uduaghan, the player, the umpire led clergymen to tennis cour t

>>38--39

>>38--39

•Awoniyi

AYC:

Awoniyi, Sarr set for f inal battle >>63

Real battle Atletico in Champions League >>63 •Uduaghan umpiring a match.

Photo: Henry Unini

Today’s Matches NPL Wikki Tourists v Kwara Utd

4pm

EPL Man City v West Brom 1:45pm Aston Villa v Swansea City 4pm Newcastle v Arsenal 4pm Southampton v Burnley 4pm Stoke v Crystal Palace 4pm Tottenham v Leicester 4pm West Ham v Sunderland 6:30pm LA LIGA Atletico Madrid v Getafe 4pm Vallecano v Malaga 6pm Levante v Celta Vigo 8pm Athletic Bilbao v Almeria 10pm Granada v Eibar 10pm SERIE A Chievo v Palermo 6pm AC Milan v Cagliari 8:45pm BUNDESLIGA Cologne v Werder Bremen 3:30pm Hannover 96 v B Dortmund 3:30pm SC Freiburg v FC Augsburg 3:30pm SC Paderborn 07 v Hoffenheim 3:30pm Stuttgart v Frankfurt 3:30pm Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen 6:30pm

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1)Scotland Striker, Ikechi – (4) 3)Sudan National Coach, Mohammed – (8) 7)L.G.A in Ogun State (6) 9)Warri Wolves Striker, Victor – (4) 10)Cereal (3) 11)Russian President, Vladimir – (4) 14)Enyimba FC Skipper, Chinedu – (5) 15)Former President, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Nojeem – (5) 17)The Emir of Gwoza, HRH Alhaji Mohammed – (5) 18)Nigerian Capital City (5) 20)Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Adamu – (5) 22)Medical Practitioner (5) 25)Colour (3) 26)State in Nigeria known as “The Sunshine State”?(4) 27)England & Aston Villa Midfielder, James – (6) 29)Super Eagles Left Full-Back, Godfrey – (8)

30)Igbo Word for “Lion”?(4) DOWN 1)Ogun State Capital (8) 2)L.G.A in Abia State (3) 3)Super Eagles Coach, Shuaibu – (5) 4)L.G.A in Kebbi State (5) 5)France & Tottenham Hotspurs Goalkeeper, Hugo – (6) 6)He invented the Sewing Machine, Edward– (4) 8)L.G.A in Rivers State (4) 11)Former Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Leke – (5) 12)Brazillian Vice President, Michel – (5) 13)Former Taraba State Governor, Reverend Jolly – (5) 16)Bhutanese Currency (8) 19)Ethnic Group in Nigeria (6) 21)Former Ugandan President, Mr. Idi – (4) 23)Golden Eaglets (U-17) Goalkeeper, Francis – (5) 24)Latin-American Music (5) 25)L.G.A in Gombe State (4) 28)Zodiac Sign (3)

Solution on page 56

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