EFCC, ICPC to be merged

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BUHARI MOVES

EFCC, ICPC to be merged!

Continues from page 1

Shedding light on some of the ministries that had been merged, the official pointed out that the Ministry of Aviation and relevant agencies had been subsumed with Inland Waterways and associated agencies.

Similarly, the Ministry of Agriculture has been merged with that of Water Resources under what the Presidency source described as the consolidation of larger ministries.

It was learnt that under the administration of Buhari, only 19 ministers and 17 ministers of state would operate as opposed to the previous arrangement where there were at least 42.

It was further gathered that some ministries would

into reality. To start with, the President is said to have accepted the recommendation of the transition committee he raised a few weeks ago to slash the number of ministries from the present 42 to 19 with a view to saving cost and making them more effective and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.

In the same vein, many of the ministries have been merged to ensure proper coordination of duties and ensure greater efficiency and service delivery.

A source close to the Presidency told Sunday Vanguard that the number of Federal Government departments and agencies had also been trimmed in line with the policy of the administration.

Effectively, it means that no fewer than 50 of the MDAs that were not backed by relevant laws might be scrapped and their staff moved into relevant departments to save cost.

The Presidency source hinted,”But the point being made is that relevant MDAs that will exist under the present administration must be those backed by laws.

“What that means is that the era of doing things the wrong way to please certain persons in positions of power is over.”

be run by senior ministers while others would be manned by junior ministers to save cost.

On the fight against corruption, the source disclosed t o Sunday

Vanguard that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is to be merged with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, to tackle graft in a new way that would be prompt, fearless and decisive.

Buhari, who travelled out of Abuja since returning from the African Union meeting in South Africa, late last week, is expected to join his wife, Aisha, at the Presidential Villa, for the first time after being

sworn-in on May 29.

The wife had moved into the Vi l l a on Thursday ahead of the President to prepare the ground for his formal assumption of work at the seat of power. He has been operating from the Defence House in the last three weeks.

A top source also said Buhari was expected to make some key appointments this week so as to get the machinery of his administration running.

The delay in naming the critical staff of his office had forced some of his key loyalists to demand that he acts fast to deliver the change he promised Nigerians during the campaigns.

Building collapses amid downpour in Lagos

BY EVELYN USMAN

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building, located at

14, Ijaye Street, Agege, Lagos, collapsed yesterday.

Though no life was lost, some of the residents reportedly sustained injuries during, the resultant stampede. The cause was attributed to the down pour “ which weakened the foundation of the building”.

Residents said rain started at about 10am but turned into downpour at about

11am.

South West spokesman for the National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said: “The rainwater penetrated into the foundation of the mud constructed house that was built over 50 years ago. No casualty was recorded as emergency rescuers and neighbours responded quickly. The Lagos Building Control Agency arrived to evacuate all occupants immediately”.

Ganduje orders 50 percent pay cut for Kano govt officials

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

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overnor Abdullahi

Umar Ganduje of Kano State has ordered 50 percent cut in the salaries of all appointees of his administration.

Ganduje, who dropped the hint during the swearing-in of 13 commissioners at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium,

Kano, said the decision became imperative in the light of the economic crisis in the country.

The order affects himself, his deputy, commissioners, Special Advisers and Special Assistants, and the Chairmen of the 44 local governments in the state. Former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso had left over N300 billion debt for Ganduje.

Demons frustrating Ajaokuba Steel Complex —Dogara BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Abuja

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MEETING: Speaker of the House of Reps, Hon. Yakub Dogara (r); Deputy Speaker, Hon Yusuf Suleiman Lasun (m); and Hon. Joseph Iranola Akinlaja, member representing Ondo East/West Federal Constituency, after a meeting at the Speaker’s office, last week.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

THE GIFT OF GIVING —4

By Richard Eromonsele Some other reasons why we are not blessed when we give is that we give with motive.It is immaterial that our motive is noble.Giving should not be a bait.We should give because we want to give and not because we want favour from our beneficiary.Furthermore, we should know what we are giving.For instance,some people give a token of their possession and claim to have given their widow,s mite.The widow,s mite is your all.Check your bible.Though in absolute term,the widow gave a little compared with the rich,she actually gave her all.

SOLUTION

Funding required to defeat Boko Haram – Army chief

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, ABUJA

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hief of the Army Staff, Lt. General KTJ Minimah, has emphasized the need for proper funding of the military operations against Boko Haram in the North-East.

Speaking at the Nigerian Army Finance Corps Warrant Officers/ Senior NCOs training week in Lagos, the army chief said, “Our efforts to contain the North East insurgency, in addition to dealing with other challenges such as kidnapping and armed robbery is achieving the desired objective. These efforts can only be sustained by funding to enable its desired conclusion”.

Minimah spoke even as the Acting Chief of

Accounts and Budget, Brig-General Adeyemi Adetayo, noted that the training is in tandem with his determination to continually build the capa city of Nigerian

Army Finance Corps officers and soldiers with requisite skills and knowledge for good performance.

The COAS, represented by the General Officer Commanding, 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General T. I. Dibi, however, commended the support of the Federal Government in the operation ‘ which has been tremendous’ noting, “We are however conscious of the enormous burden of government in view of

competing demands within dwindling revenue inflow”.

peaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has expressed dismay over the bad state of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, wondering if demons were frustrating the project.

The Speaker, who spoke when the Kogi State House of Representatives caucus paid him a solidarity visit in Abuja, called for prayers for the restoration of the project.

Dogara noted that the project was a platform for

industrialisation which would employ many Nigerians if put to utmost use and promised that the leadership of the House would liaise with the Federal Government on the immediate restoration of the steel complex.

While calling on the Federal Government to show more commitment in revamping it so as to help reduce the problem of unemployment in the country, he said that the House would give the project the priority it deserves to ensure that the vision for its establishment was realised.

Mimiko lauds work pace at Akure Shoprite site

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overnor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has expressed satisfaction at the progress made on the construction of the Akure Shopping Mall proposed to take off on September 24. Mimiko spoke, yesterday, after he was conducted round the premises with other members of the State Executive Council by the developer of the project and Chief Executive Officer of Top Services Limited, Arc. Tokunbo Omisore, who said the mall is being

constructed for the operational base of the popular Shoprite.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the mall, which occupies about 34,000 sqm out of 98,000 sqm on the old Owena Motel, Akure, was performed by Mimiko on August 18, last year.

The governor, who expressed satisfaction with the quality and level of the project, said the shopping mall would raise the commercial and economic activities of Ondo as well as the social lives of the people.

Delta Deputy Speaker speaks on virtues of Ramadan

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s Muslim faithful begin their Ramadan fast, the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi ,in his felicitation urged them to offer special prayers during the period for greater peace, security, unity and rapid socio-economic development in the country. Osanebi also urged all persons of the faith who may have been misled by

extremists and agents of international terrorism into taking up arms against their fellow countrymen, women and children to re-open their minds, during this Ramadan season, to Islam’s true lessons of love and peaceful coexistence with others, adding that he wished the Muslim community a successful and spiritual gratifying Ramadan fast.

PAGE 6 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015

The late Alhaji Azeez Arisekola’s remembrance

From left: Alhaja Funso Alao, Alhaja Basirat Alao and Alhaji Abu Alao during a book presentation in remembrance of Alhaji Azeez Arisekola at his Oluwo Kekere residence, Ibadan, yesterday. Photo

by Dare Fasube.

From left: Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, Oloye Lekan Alabi and King Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, at the Alhaji Arisekola remembrance.

Soldier in police net over alleged robbery

2015 POLLS

Jega laments barrage of challenges faced by INEC

By ANOZIE EGOLE

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he outgoing chair man of the Indepen dent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, has said that the commission’s staff were not adequately compensated for their diligent performance in the just concluded general elections. Prof Jega said this in Lagos at an event tagged, “Afternoon Tea with Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega” organised by EbonylifeTV. The chairman who praised the staff for their commitment and dedication to duty during the election period said he is very privileged to be called to serve the country though he did that under strict circumstances.

Jega said, “ I am so thankful to the organisers of this event for this platform. I am very privileged to be called to serve the nation and I did that under strict circumstances. The challenges to keep doing good and living up to the expectations of Nigerians gave me sleepless nights. I believed that INEC should contribute to the reform process that has started.

We have to do our best for the country. I am urging the young me to be very

optimistic to survive. They should try to engage themselves in positive development. I am also advising them to do the best they can no matter the circumstances” “I will also like to commend INEC staff; they worked as a team; during the period of the election everybody was very accountable for his\her responsibility. We had a a lot of meeting during that election period and that actually helped us. But I do not think that the staff were enough for what they did during the election period. Many people have complained about Zero pulling units. They were those units who because of one technical fault or the other their details were wiped off from the system and as result, they were asked to re-register, we do not intend to disqualify them. We had serious challenge in the production of the PVCs because we do not have companies who can produce that. So we had to partner with some foreign companies. Electricity was also one of the major challenges we had during the election. Adequate time was not also for the registration and educating the staff.”

According to Jega, as against the rumour that his security aids were withdrawn, he said, “All those stories were mere rumour, non of my security aids was withdrawn and nobody asked me to go on leave. It is inconsiderable for anybody to think of going on leave at that point in time when there was a lot of work to do.

We were very prepared for everything during the election. The PU results are already online now for more transparency and it will also help the tribunals to do their job well

when the need comes.

“We have done a lot to reform and strengthen INEC. Coming to the Local Government elections, I think adequate funds should be given to them to enable them run their affairs even in conducting their elections.

Their autonomy should be strengthened.

“I also want to use this opportunity to tell Nigerians that the report for the 2015 elections is in the making and should be out by next week. We have the draft already just to validate that.”.

Don’t cut civil servants’ salary, Labour tells FG

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ssociation of Se nior Civil Ser vants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has cautioned the Buhari- led Federal Government against pay cut for civil servants as part of the moves to reduce the cost of governance.

In a statement in Lagos by the National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and the Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, the ASCSN stated that it is criminal to contemplate cutting the salaries of civil servants.

“Any attempt by the

new government to reduce the salaries of workers will be viewed as an invitation for war by the labour movement.

As we speak, many states owed civil servants bulk of monthly salaries and other rightful entitlements and yet, these workers are expected to come to work by magic, feed their families, stay healthy, pay children school fees and rent”, the statement said.

BYUGOCHUKWU ALARIBE, ABA

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soldier attached to the 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia State, identified as Itugbu Augustine Omorodion has been arrested by police in Aba for allegedly robbing a 21year old boy.

Omorodion,was alleged to have attacked his victim, one Ebuka, with a dagger and robbed him of N250,000 which he was going to deposit for his boss in one of the commercial banks along Faulks Road area of the city.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the victim after being robbed, raised the alarm which attracted

passers-by who alerted men of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) on patrol in the area.

A senior Police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity told our correspondent that the money has been recovered from the soldier.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abia State Command, Onyeke Udeviotu Ezekiel, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, who confirmed the incident,said the matter has been transferred to the Aba Police Area Command for further investigation, adding that the authorities of the 14 Brigade have also been notified about the incident.

Two suspected cultists die, 10 injured as rival groups clash in Anambra

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO wo suspected cult ists were yesterday feared dead, while 10 others sustained various degrees of injuries when two rival cult groups engaged themselves in a bloody clash at Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The bloody clash, according to a dependable source from the Department of State Services, DSS, occurred between the Aiye confraternity and their Akpa rival, even as the cause of their clash could not be ascertained as at the time of going to press.

The source hinted that it was only a timely intervention of Anti-Cult squad who rushed to the scene of the clash along the Nkpor/Obosi Road, that

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saved the situation from further degeneration as both rivals fled for fear of arrest and possible identification.

It was not also possible to ascertain whether the two deceased members and the injured ones were from only one cult group or from both sides, but sources disclosed that those whose members were killed or injured ensured that they took their corpses away before the arrival of the Anticult squad and the police.

Divisional Police Officer at Ogidi, Hassan Musa who confirmed the incident on phone, said by the time a joint team of policemen and Anticult squad could rush to the scene, members of the particular cult group that lost two of their members had taken away their corpses, to avoid identification and possible traces.

Glo Adhan service to assist Muslims in prayers

BY BILESANMI LEKAN

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new product from Ni geria’s total informa tion and communications technology solutions provider, Globacom, will assist Muslims in their prayers especially during this month of Ramadan.

Called Glo Adhan, the new offer is a specially designed Caller Ring Back Tune which alerts Muslims about prayer times and is meant to enable the Muslim faithful to get maximum spiritual value

from the holy month.

In a statement released in Lagos on Friday, Globacom explained that Glo Adhan alerts anybody who calls the telephone number of a subscriber ten minutes before and ten minutes after the five mandatory prayer times in a day.

“It is compulsory for muslims to pray at 5.00 a.m., 2.00 p.m.,4.00 p.m.,7.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. every day in line with the Five Pillars of Islam.

Fasting and regular prayers

would increase the grace of Allah upon the faithful,” Globacom observed in a statement.

Glo urged subscribers who are interested in the product to send ‘AZN’ to 7728 or dial *7728*243# to subscribe at the one-off rate of N50 for Adhan service and the standard N100 caller tune monthly subscription charge. It added that the package would automatically change the ring back tune to call to prayer otherwise called “adhan” at the appropriate time.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015 — PAGE 7

JUMAT THANKSGIVING

•Lagos state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), addressing Muslim faithfuls during a special thanksgiving jumat at the Lagos Central Mosque, Lagos, on Friday.

•Governor Ambode (middle); his deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (2nd left); Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello; the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu II; and the Chief Imam of Lagos, Alhaji Akinola Garuba (2nd right); during the jumat.

Nigeria LNG exports reach N16.9trn in 15 years — Official N

IGERIA Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (NLNG), a joint venture between the government and foreign oil majors, has generated some 85 billion dollars (N16.9 trillion) from exports since its inception 15 years ago, the company announced at the weekend.

“For us, it has been a success story. Between 1999 when we came on stream and now, we have realised some 85 billion dollars from exports of liquefied natural gas to buyers in Europe, America and Asia,” chief executive Babs Omotowa told reporters

in Lagos.

He said the company, which was set up to harness Nigeria’s vast natural gas resources and produce liquefied

natural gas for export, has also paid billions of dollars to the state in tax.

“Just a few days ago, we paid 1.6 billion

dollars to the government as tax and this will go a long way to assist the new government in solving some of its problems,”

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OKO Haram ranks first among the world’s terror groups in terms of the number of fatalities in 2014, according to the US Department of State annual terrorism report for last year.

“Although ISIS was responsible for the greatest amount of attacks last year, it was a close second to Boko Haram in number of fatalities”, the report said.

The report also singled out the Islamist group, led by Abubakar Shekau, as sharing ISIS penchant for the use of brutal tactics”.

Boko Haram drew world attention in April last year when it kidnapped more than 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno State.

The group was also behind sustained attacks in the three North-East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

President Muhammadu Buhari just relocated the military command to Maiduguri, Borno State capital, to contain the Islamist group.

Meanwhile, the US Department of State report said ISIS was beating al Qaeda at being the world’s leading terrorist group.

The “unprecedented” spread and brutality of ISIS, its strength in recruiting foreign fighters, messaging

years, including the government, which owns a 49-per-cent stake through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Nigeria’s maritime sector set for N300bn investment

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

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I G E R I A’ S maritime sector appears set to compete with South Africa’s as the Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) moves to attract foreign investment for a USD1.5 billion (about N300 billion) shipyard begin to pay off.

NLNG, owned by

Nigeria’s state-oil company Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), UK’s Royal Dutch Shell, French oil company Total and Italy ’s Eni, has been holding discussions with strategic investors for the project.

Spokesman for the nation’s gas company, Mr Tony Okonedo, told Reuters that Samsung Heavy

Industries and Hyundai Heavy Industries have both agreed to invest funds towards the construction of the facility, which would be located in Badagry, Lagos.

NLNG had organised a roadshow earlier this year to market the dry dock project to investors, which included multinational oil companies in Nigeria, with large exploration and upstream activities.

Boko Haram is world leader in fatalities — US report

By Wale Akinola, with agency reports

he said.

Omotowa said the company had paid 30 billion dollars in dividends to its shareholders over the

and its ability inspire lone wolf attacks have helped the group supplant al Qaeda as the leading global terrorist group, said the report. The report said both were adapting their tactics in ways which are more brutal and harder to trace.

“The prominence of the threat one posed by core al Qaeda diminished in 2014,” the report found. In addition to significant losses of its core leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it noted that “AQ leadership also appeared to lose momentum as the self-styled leader of a global movement in the face of ISIL’s rapid expansion and proclamation of a Caliphate.”

The number of terrorist attacks in 2014 increased 35% over the previous year, but were more heavily concentrated in a handful of countries. More than 60% of all attacks took place in five countries — Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria — according to the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland, which compiles statistics on worldwide terrorism.

The U.S. is “deeply concerned” about the growth of ISIS beyond Syria and Iraq and the birth of self-proclaimed affiliates, the report found, particularly in Libya, Egypt and Nigeria.

It

acknowledged questions remain about the meaning of such affiliates - whether they represent a command relationship or the groups simply share “merely opportunistic relationships” with ISIS. Although al-Qaida’s leadership has been weakened, the report said the group “continued to serve as a focal point of inspiration” for its worldwide network of affiliates, such as AQAP in Yemen, al-Nusra Front in Syria and al-Shabaab in Somalia.

Even as it negotiates with the U.S. and other world powers on a nuclear deal, the report found Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism worldwide last year remained “undiminished.”

“These attacks may presage a new era in which centralized leadership of a terrorist organization matters less, group identity is more fluid and violent extremist narratives focus on a wider range of alleged grievances and enemies with which lone actors may identify and seek to carry out self-directed attacks,” the report found.

The U.S. has been working to “shift” it’s counterterrorism strategy to more effectively partner with countries where terrorist networks have a foothold, the report said.

The US has assembled a sixty-plus nation global

coalition to stop ISIS advances on the ground, counter its messaging and stem the flow of foreign fighters and financing.

The U.S. is also working with allies in North Africa and the Middle East to strengthen their counterterrorism capabilities and help them develop new laws to address the foreign fighter issue.

When completed, the shipyard ‘’could potentially be used to transport a 2.5 million barrels a day crude business in Nigeria,” Okonedo said.

Nigeria is the world’s eighth biggest crude producer and Africa’s top oil exporter but it does not have a drydock for maintaining and repairing large crude vessels, a major drawback for carriers sailing to the country, Okonedo told Reuters, adding that only South Africa had such a facility on the continent.

Currently about 12 companies operate shipyards in Nigeria with Nigerdock, another federal government owned shipping concern, playing a leading role in the area of ship building and repairs in Nigeria.

West Atlantic Shipyard, one of the few private

organisations in the shipyard business, set up on Bonny River, in the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Port Harcourt – River state, came on stream in 2005 to build and support ships for the offshore oil and gas industry in accordance with the Nigerian Coastal and Inland Shipping Act and in keeping with the spirit of promoting “local content”.

The NLNG project would position Nigeria as a dominant shipping hub in the Gulf of Guinea, competing effectively with South Africa where big vessels presently go to in Africa for all major services. ‘’The construction of the dry dock, with a size that can accommodate 185 football fields, will take up to 48 months to complete and would commence once all the funding was in place’’, Okonedo said.

Danmaraya Jos dies at 69

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NE of the most respected Nigerian musicians from the North of the country, Adamu Wayya, best known as Danmaraya Jos, is dead, his friend and close associate, Ladan Salihu, has announced. He was 69.

“Inaa Lillaahi Wa Innaa ilaiHir raaji’un. One of Nigeria’s foremost Hausa musicians, poet, philosopher and philanthropist, Dr Adamu Danmaraya Jos has answered Allah’s call about an hour ago,” Mr. Salihu, the Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), said, yesterday, on his Facebook page.

Mr. Salihu continued, “He died in Jos after a protracted illness. When I visited him two weeks ago, he spoke passionately

•The late Danmaraya Jos about the unity of the North and of one Nigeria.

I remember when he insisted that my late father gave out his (Danmaraya’s) adopted daughter ’s hand in marriage some 15 years ago.

“We shared many moments. He was to me a brother and a friend. I am

devastated. But I am proud he lived a very useful life, transforming society through music and silently through Islamic endeavours. May Allah grant him Aljannatul Firdaws. Amin. For the record he was a recipient of the National Honours of MON, OON and United Nations Peace Medal.”

PAGE 8—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

Nigerian polity: From disaster to chaos?

“Chaos is another form of servitude”, Albert Camus, 1903-1960 he Seventh National Assembly, NASS, ended on a disgraceful note when it passed forty six(46) bills, on which they have been seating, in ten minutes.

Some of the jesters, called Senators even tried to add insult upon injury by defending the absolutely indefensible. The former Senators probably never heard that “it is better to keep quiet and be considered a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” If the 7th Assembly ended in disaster, the 8th had started in chaos which might have doomed it from the start.

Yet, these possibilities were pointed out in 2013 – when the APC first got started. In August 2013, the following columns were published on these pages.

IS APC THE ANSWER? -1 “Alliances are held together by fear not by love”, Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 9).

Until the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, registered the alliance of political associations

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which had come together under the banner of All Progressives Congress, APC, to me, there was nothing to discuss about the matter. APC is now a reality, so there are loads of issues to consider. The first, and most important, has already been addressed by Harold Macmillan. The former British Prime Minister, on February 3, 1960, in a speech to the South African Parliament, had pronounced as follows: “The most striking of all impressions I have formed since I left London a month ago is of the strength of African national consciousness….The wind of change is blowing through the continent [underlining mine].

Whether we like it or not, the growth of national consciousness is a political fact”. That was eight months before Nigeria became independent. Most commentators remember the part about “ wind of change” but few know the venue and the context in which it was made. His views of political coalitions, or alliances, were just as unique and sensible as his views about politicians in general. He was also once reported to have said that: “If people want a sense of purpose

Change the mindset(2) "Look at the orators in our republics; as long as they are poor, both state and people can only praise their uprightness; but once they are fattened on the public funds, they conceive a hatred for justice, plan intrigues against the people and attack the democracy."

— Aristophanes am sure there are many Owolabis up and down the country and many may have succeeded in ending their lives. It is not realistic to expect people to work for nothing and expect an increase in productivity.

This is wholly inhumane and insane. Eighteen out of the thirty-six states owing salaries and their coffers are empty.

The states owing workers, according to the Nigeria Labour Congress are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers and Zamfara A decent society is one that treats its most vulnerable well. We are

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nowhere near decent in fact; we are very far away from decent. A friend of mine, Naheem Kujenya said of Nigerians: "Nigerians love every distraction and blather of its pathetic polity but good governance; hence the frivolity of idle chatter is a national culture or pastime.

And, to participate in mediocrity of the nation's democracy, the governed dramatically exhibit their share of sentimental intelligence with useless gossips and innuendos than to demand for accountability and worthy performances from the handlers of our national affairs. Invariably, attention is lost as the miscreants' loot the treasury and nothing tangible is achieved but status quo. The desire and hope for a better country must include attitudinal changes of the entire citizenry to divorce triviality of thoughts and deeds together with the riddance of wealth-pursuit mentality with every government dealings". I

they should get it from their Archbishop [or Chief Imam]. They should certainly not get it from their politicians”, I cannot agree more. The last person to trust absolutely is a politician; a bunch of them, in my view make up the devil’s workshop – irrespective of political party or alliance; mainly because groups are generally more immoral

with us; same with high unemployment and the decline of industries. Today, unlike any time in the past, we live under a Mrs President who intrudes into operations of government, at home and abroad, at will, bringing with each intrusion discord and sometimes ridicule. We know the problems; even if some ethnic jingoists would want the rest of us to join them in pretending that all is well. But, from now until 2015 and, perhaps beyond, the most urgent question is: Is APC, as presently constituted, the answer? My answer for now is: perhaps not. We may need another political party.

That answer will probably shock a lot of people who had assumed that as a long-term critic of the PDP, I would naturally embrace any political association, especially one

The last person to trust absolutely is a politician; a bunch of them, in my view make up the devil’s workshop than individuals. Even the devil knows that after fourteen years in government, at the Federal level, and in most states, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has failed. There is hardly any problem we had as a nation, in 1999, that has not got worse or remained unsolved. The singular exception has been communications and the GSM revolution.

Education, infrastructure, power supply, corruption and official greed remain

that has arrogated to itself the word “PROGRESSIVE”. The reason my enthusiasm for APC is less than expected lies in the fact that my readings in semantics had taught me to disregard the words people use to describe themselves and to focus on what they have done, or causes they have been known to support and their utterances on important matters. Lastly, I am more interested in character, or its synonym,

fully agree with Naheem.

Any elected politician his/her salt should work tirelessly to address this impasse. Deal with the issue at hand. As of now, Nigerians are struggling to deal with very basic needs; air (polluted), food (expensive),drink(water does not come free in some part of the country),

both chambers of the National Assembly, 109 members of the Senate receiving 21.5 million naira ($108,000) each and 360 members of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, to receive 17.5 million naira. The National Assembly will also get furniture and car loan allowances. About

While majority of Nigerians go hungry, the lawmakers cannot justify their salaries. The president should act to put this to right.

There are no words to describe this ostentatious abuse by few to the majority of the people shelter(extortionate and if you fall behind in payment, you are evicted). Security (lacking and crime, free for all) Last week, I purposely did not talk about the goings on in the House of Assembly; I find it trivial and a distraction.

Emperor's new clothes

The newly inaugurated National Assembly seems to rub salt into the wounds of many impoverised Nigerians as they are set to receive a staggering 8.64 billion naira ($43 million) to spend on clothes.

Wardrobe allowance for

time that Nigerian lawmakers rethink the pay structures. Fattening their guts while majority of Nigerians starve is putting cart before the horse. This irresponsible behaviour, flies in the face of any conscientious thinking. I presume from the Nigerian lawmaker, if the masses are crying for bread, they tell them to eat Cake!

Unless, these lawmakers are gold standard individuals and they are each very good at what they do: representing the needs of their people and pressing for changes in the National Assembly then, they are not worth the amount they are about to receive. In a report

by THE ECONOMIST, it

integrity. Looking closely at the leaders of the APC, it is doubtful if all of them will pass the test of integrity.

Few, if deeply probed, will fail to change their designer suits for prison attire. But, my biggest worry lies in the fact that APC, even so early in the day, is like a structure resting on two major pillars Bola Tinubu and Buhari – with a lot of political appendages or even jesters attached. Character flaws in some of the leaders are so deep as to frighten me at the prospect that power might shift to them. The question that bothers my mind can be summarized this way: will I be [totally] happy [with the change]?

The answer is: I doubt it….

IS APC THE ANSWER? – 2 “The more you read and observe about politics, you’ve got to admit that each party is worse than the other..The one that’s out always looks best”. Will Rogers, 1879-1935.

SUNDAY PUNCH of August 11, 2013, on pages 70 and 71 provided the names and pictures of people it called “Opposition Power brokers: The Strongmen of APC’ I have always been free of the deliberate selfdeception of commentators who write for print media owned by politicians. My colleagues who write for such papers pretend to objectivity which their papers would not allow to be published. So our freedom as columnists on this paper is total in that regard. Because the All Progressive Congress aspires to rule Nigeria, it will be subjected to the most stringent test of its suitability for that role. I regard myself as a progressive, but that does

not mean I am prepared to swallow all the falsehoods which political parties dish out routinely. I read, more for amusement than for anything else, all the daily exchanges between Lai Mohammed and his counterparts in the Presidency. Lai, Reuben and Doyin, could form a comedy team. Their utterances on serious matters of state, though not informative, will be hilarious.

If ever there was a marriage of strange bedfellows, APC is it. Unlike the PDP which started with the G-34, a group of courageous and largely principled men, Dr Alex Ekwueme; Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Chief Bola Ige, Professor Ango Abdulahi, Obong Victor B. Attah and others (see the list in my book, PDP:CORRUPTION INCORPORATED pp 6566), and grew into a broadbased national party anchored on a constitution, the APC started with political parties each virtually owned by one individual and which might disintegrate if anything happens to the “owners” of the franchise. That is not a solid foundation in my opinion.

Granted, the PDP had since abandoned its original principles and embraced opportunism, it still has a blue-print for organization and governance to which it can return if only men of goodwill prevail. By contrast, the APC, as presently constituted, consists of elements which should not ordinarily be seen dining at the same table – unless everybody comes to the dinner with ten feet long spoons!!!..

seems that Nigerian federal legislators with a basic salary of $189,500 per annum (N30.6m) makes them the highest paid lawmakers in the world. In a country where majority of the population survive on $2.00 a day, the lawmakers cannot justify their bulging pay packet. Below is pay of some countries lawmakers' salaries.

American lawmaker earns $15,080.00 (N2.3m) per month.

Ghana, $46,500.00;Indonesia, $65,800.00;Thailand, $43,800.00;India, $11, 200.00;Italy, $182,000; in the United Kingdom, a lawmaker earns $8,686.00(N1.3m) monthly, in France, a legislator earns $6,754.00 (N1.03m) monthly. So with the average Nigerian earning $2,249.00 a year as against $46,350.00 of the US Average, this makes the Nigeria federal lawmakers the highest paid in the world, and each earn more than the President of America!

So if the lawmakers are really concerned that majority of the country's workers are upaid, and then they should put their money where their mouth is. The money allocated would pay 500,000 civil servants and some left over!

So from one lone voice, a Senator, Sola Akinyede, Ekiti, confesses it's outrageousness, and states that "Honestly, l think it's unfair. I'm also guilty of it because l benefitted from it

as a senator. It's unfair for us elite to arrogate so much of the country's resources to ourselves and still expect economic development."

True, so what is been done to address this? Let us start.

This gravy train has got to stop or Nigeria will grind to a halt. There is a big elephant in the room. In fact, there is a big elephant that is being overfed to the detriment of the majority of the populace. We need to address the looting of the coffers by our legislators.

While majority of Nigerians go hungry, the lawmakers cannot justify their salaries. The president should act to put this to right. There are no words to describe this ostentatious abuse by few to the majority of the people.

Let's be clear, this can no longer be the way of life for of Nigerian legislators.

Nigeria deserves better, these honourable men and women should be accountable to the people.

The priority for Nigeria now is to pay overdue salaries to workers, better security, diversify our economies, less reliance on the federal coffers, reduce corruption and crime, and reduce mismanagement.

We need good roads, regular power supply, better education, investment and health care.

Our young should be in education, training or employment. Time to change the mind-set and no better time than the present.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 9

C M Y K

PAGE 10—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015

Nigeria’s naked Lawmakers

I

n July 2010, renowned law Professor, Itse Sagay, raised an alarm that Nigerian lawmakers were the highest paid in the globe. Sagay found that a Nigerian Senator earns N240 million ($1.7 million) in salaries and allowances while his counterpart in the House of Representatives earns about N204 million ($1.45 million) per annum.

Realizing that an American senator earns $174, 000 while a UK parliamentarian earns about $64, 000 per annum, Sagay condemned the Nigerian situation as “a breach of public trust”. No one in authority took on the legal guru to reveal his source or defend his allegation. At about the same time, an organization-the Global Coordinators Champions for Nigerian Organizations-published all the allowances of a Nigerian legislator inclusive of ‘ recess allowance’ which explains why our legislators are always on recess. Public outcry over the subject

lingered for another three months until the then celebrated Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido, now Emir of Kano publicly ignited the fire the more with his assertion that 25%

If the commission fails in its duty to do the needful this time around, the change agents of the All Progressive Congress (APC) should swing into action and let Nigerians see the immediate dividends of “change” of our budget was being consumed by the National Assembly. Lamido who spoke on the topic ‘Growth Prospects for the Nigerian Economy ’ at the convocation of the Igbinedion University Okada frowned at the exploitation of the wealth of the nation by a few people and called on Nigerians “to stop complaining about these people and do something about them”.

But nothing was done.

Rather than deal with the issue in the interest of the nation, Lamido was angrily PhD,Depar tment of Philosophy, University of Lagos 08116759758 opuruiche2000@yahoo.com

Ndigbo and the burdens of history (2)

A

s a result, they casually downplay the significance of the civil war for national integration or mischievously misinterpret any reference to its impact on Igboland and the need for restitution as an attempt to create division among Nigerians. But how many Nigerians have thought about the implications of the fact, noted by Prof.

Achebe, that there were more small arms used on Biafran soil than during the entire five-year period of the Second World War or that there were one hundred thousand casualties on the much larger Nigerian side compared with more than two million - mainly children - Biafrans killed? If Gowon was serious about his "no victor, no vanquished" slogan and genuinely wanted reconciliation with the defeated Biafrans, why did his government implement extremely harsh measures against Ndigbo after the conflict? For Ndigbo who suffered the greatest from the civil war, whose land was strafed, bombed and devastated, the terrible experiences of 1966 to 1970 remain a recurrent source of sadness and inspiration simultaneously: sadness, because they were the ones that lost almost everything; inspiration, given the inherent capacity of humans to turn adversity into opportunity.

No matter how

summoned by the Senate to explain his audacity. The Senators who had expected an apology from the former CBN boss backed down when he reiterated his point and dared them to remove

Igbophobic Nigerians feel about it, Ndigbo will never allowtheir collective memory of the civil war vanish into historical oblivion because it is the single most traumatic event in their over six thousand years history. Keep in mind that despite the Nuremberg trials which bought some former Nazi officials to justice, continuing efforts by the West led by the United States to protect Israel, and the relatively cordial relationship between Germany and the Jewish nation presently, no Israeli would dream of forgetting the Nazi holocaust that took place over seventy years ago, or belittle its significance in shaping the future of Israel. Ndigbo must take a cue from the Jews: they must never stop talking about their horrifying experiences during the pogroms and the civil war until justice, though belated, is done or, at the very least, some restitution is made by the Nigerian state.

They must continue to remind fellow Nigerians of the genocide against Biafrans and the need to correct historical injustices meted out to them so that the process of national healing and reconciliation can truly begin.

But how can justice be done to the Igbo, considering the corrosive effect of time and the fact that some of the key players on both sides of the conflict are dead? Ideally, the starting point is to prosecute

him from office. Not much was done thereafter until one year later, when the federal government invited Mr. Richard Dowden- an expert on African development issues and Executive Director of the Royal African Society in London to deliver the 2011 Independence Lecture. In his speech titled “Nigeria in Transformation”, Dowden pointedly identified our political leaders, as the highest paid salary earners in the world and begged them to among other things reduce the wide gap those who took part in the was - both military and civilian at the International Court of Justice for war crimes, especially against Biafrans.

However, I know that will never happen:Nigeria is yet to evolve the appropriate ethnically neutral political consciousness and moral stamina required to carry through such a noble task. In addition, leading world powers that supported the federal forces during the war, especially Britain and the United States, will definitely subvert such a move; it is in their interest that Nigeria remains politically unstable and economically dependent on the West. A strong, politically mature and industrialised black African country would deflate the myth of white supremacy and realign existing power relations in the international plane. I submit that the single most important lesson from Walter Rodney's provocative book, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, is that the Western world will not voluntarily allow any black nation to emerge as a world power. The current lopsided international system in which Nigeria and other African countries are economically and industrially tied to the apron strings of the West, euphemistically called globalisation, is consonant with its covert white supremacist ideology.

Therefore, the high-level representation of Britain and America during the inauguration ceremonies of President Muhammadu Buhari recently is largely a public relations display intended to hoodwink the unwary. From experience, the two countries facetiously make gestures of goodwill towards every new administration in Nigeria, with the exception of late Gen. Sani Abacha'sgovernment. Yet,

between the rich and the poor in Nigeria.

Interestingly, what he said was in no way different from what Sagay and Lamido had articulated.

Again nothing was done.

The infamous subject soon died down and our legislators were left in peace to enjoy their fortune.

It was perhaps the idea that public opinion on the subject had been vanquished that made the management of the National Assembly to forget to properly guard the subject thereby leading to fresh condemnation of the legislators. This time the annoyance is specifically directed at one of the items in the pay packet of lawmakers-”wardrobe allowance”.

Only last week, the media reported that the newly inaugurated members of the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives are expected upon resumption to receive their allowances including wardrobe, housing, furniture and vehicle to enable them settle down for legislative business. The report stated that to ensure that our legislators are always wee dressed, each Senator will receive N21.5 million as wardrobe allowance while each member of the House of Representatives will get N17.5 million to clothe them for the next 4 years.

Although the story is no doubt provocative, it seems wiser to evolve strategies for resolving the situation in this era of ‘change’.

Luckily, the first step has been taken by the new Senate President, Senator Saraki who has been kind enough to give the exact figures involved. According to Saraki, the wardrobe allowance is N506, 600 only and not the huge sum previously published. The Second positive step taken so far is that of Senator Ben Murray Bruce who is set to donate 50% of his allowances to meet part of the unpaid salaries of Osun State workers.

The argument of the state Government that Bruce was only being spiteful of its workers is neither here nor there, more so as Governor Rauf Aregbesola hitherto known by all as a strategic leader had surprisingly confessed earlier that he was helpless on the matter.

For whatever it is worth, the offer by Murray Bruce is useful in several respects.

First, the few Osun workers that will benefit from his donation will prefer Bruce to their governor who is busy delivering lectures on the subject. Second, it could encourage other Senators to do same to the benefit of the dying workers. Third, Bruce has shown that senators do not really need the huge wardrobe allowance being provided for them. We only hope that all legislators will in earnest recognize that what a nation should give to its citizens is what such citizens lack and desire. In this regard, it is wrong to give legislators wardrobe allowance because they do not belong to the category

of naked Nigerians.

Considering that no legislator was shabbily dressed during the electioneering period when they were canvassing for votes, it would be immoral for them to use our votes as a license for re-equipping their gorgeous wardrobes.

All eyes should now be on the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission which has the constitutional duty to fix the salaries and allowances of all political office holders.

If the body was timid in the past and scared of the legislators, the public outcry against their remuneration and the propeople posture of Bruce and other legislators of like minds should help the commission to have a rethink. It should also note that many of the legislators are big boys especially in the senate which now has several former governors. If the commission fails in its duty to do the needful this time around, the change agents of the All Progressive Congress (APC) should swing into action and let Nigerians see the immediate dividends of “change”. If however the chorus of change was just a vote catching device for the recently concluded elections, then the Peoples Democratic Party have another chance to pull the carpet off the feet of the ruling party if its legislators formally reject the wardrobe allowance which makes it look like if not for the legislature, they would have been naked.

when it comes to concrete steps to offer real assistancethat would really transform the fundamentals of Nigeria's economy, theyuse subterfuges to avoid such responsibility. I predict that if Buhari's government for whatever reason draws closer to China and Russia, America and Britain would orchestrate one crisis or another to frustrate it.

Going back to the question of justice for the Igbo and her neighbours, since prosecuting perpetrators of

South-East geopolitical zone has the least federal presence, in terms of developmental projects and heavy industries, in the country. That said, it is still possible to invoke the three R's as a principle for something like a Marshall Plan for Igboland. Now, my concept of Igboland is more extensive geographically than the current South-East, the latter being a p r e m e d i t a t e d emasculation and falsification of the true size of the Igbo inNigeria.

Authentically, Igboland extends from the five SouthEastern statesto all the Igbospeaking areas in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Cross River states, never mind the misguided attempts by Northern dominated military regimes to marginalise Ndigbo territorially. Considering that, I must express profound disappointment with prominent and influential Igbo leaders for not embarking on consciousness-raising activism to use Biafra as a rallying symbol for Igbo renaissance. What I advocate is different from organisations such as Mass Mobilisation for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ohaneze Ndigbo and Aka Ikenga which have become tools used by some Igbo for selfish survivalist political and economic negotiations in the existing lopsided federation. In my humble opinion, the spirit of Biafra can be creatively adapted by Ndigbo to ignite positive psychological and ideological revolution in all Igbo-speaking areas of the former Eastern region, which would also be extended to their close neighbours. For the Igbo to occupy their rightful place in Nigeria, all Igbo speaking communities must set aside

artificial animosities and cleavages deliberately orchestrated by Igbo haters to divide them and forge a collective vision for Igbo renaissance preferably within Nigeria. My call for unification of Ndigbo wherever they might be may seem far-fetched and unrealistic considering the ugly divisive experiences of Biafran war and sustained efforts beginning from Gowon's administration to put a wedge between Igbo communities in the present South-South states and their brothers and sisters in the South-East geopolitical zone.

Still, with creative imagination, clear vision, and selfless service by prominent Igbo sons and daughters, the vision of a resurgent Igbo nation living in peace and harmony with fellow Nigerians is realisable.

Unfortunately, progressively since the civil war ended, Igbo leaders have failed to fashion a realistic and workable blueprint for collective Igbo unity. The unflattering condition of Ndigbo in the present scheme of things is partly due to the selfishness and narrow-mindedness of socalled Igbo leaders of thought.

But the voting pattern in the last presidential election has proved that, despite their inherent individualism and republicanism encapsulated in the expression, Igbo enwe eze, Ndigbo can come together and reach a consensus on any issue when their collective interest is at stake. It has also blown to smithereens the false claim that the Igbo intend to dominate their close neighbours. Considering the way different ethnic groups voted and the outcome of the March 28 election, Nigeria is back to the pre-civil war political situation.

Therefore, the real question is - have we learnt from our past mistakes? Concluded.

. For the Igbo to occupy their rightful place in Nigeria, all Igbo speaking communities must set aside artificial animosities and cleavages deliberately orchestrated by Igbo haters to divide them and forge a collective vision for Igbo renaissance preferably within Nigeria genocide against Biafrans is out of the question, the more realistic option is for the federal government to formulate a master plan for massive infrastructural and industrial development of the Biafran enclave. After all, Gen. Gowon's post-war policy of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction was never really implemented. As a result, even forty-five years after the civil war ended, the

P AGE 11— SUND AY PA SUNDA

Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

*Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno (holding the microphone) during a visit to the blast victims

ABANDONED BOMB

How the ‘foolishness’ of Civilian JTF operative killed dozens

BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI

T

he establishment of the group, popularly addressed as Yan Gora in Hausa or Civilian Joint Task Force, Civilian JTF, by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State was to complement the efforts of security operatives in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

Since 2013, when the Civilian JTF was inaugurated, the vigilance group has contributed tremendously to the counter insurgency, by killing or arresting terrorists in their hideouts. Unfortunately, not all members of the Civilian JTF are trusted, as many have been found guilty of having links with Boko Haram.

Just last week in Monguno, Borno State, one member of the Civilian JTF, who many suspected had links with Boko Haram, killed over 23 people and left 55 seriously injured when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) he was carrying in his bag exploded at a crowded area.

A security source familiar with the story told Sunday Vanguard that about 50 insurgents had been killed when military operatives, accompanied by some members of the Civilian JTF, raided one hideout of Boko Haram in Monguno before recovering arms and ammunitions abandoned by the insurgents.

The source explained that one of the Civilian JTF members took one of the abandoned IEDs and hid it in his bag without the knowledge of the military operatives to Monguno township for people to see. Many of the residents were said to have gathered to see the IED when it accidentally detonated, killing 10 on the spot while 13 of the several injured ones died before reaching Maiduguri for treatment.

Monguno is north and about 155kilometers drive from Maiduguri, the state capital, and was under Boko Haram control before it was liberated by the military early this year.

The explosion, which occurred at about 5pm on Tuesday, came barely 48 hours after a blast triggered by objects suspected to be landmines planted by insurgents along Maiduguri - Damboa Road, on Monday, killed two soldiers and a policeman.

The Maiduguri - Damboa Road explosion occurred when a convoy of security vehicles climbed the landmines as they headed to a village near Bulabulin Ngarwa with the staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria to repair transmission lines believed to have been vandalised by insurgents.

Maiduguri and environs, including some parts of Diffa Province in Niger

The source explained that one of the Civilian JTF members took one of the abandoned IEDs and hid it in his bag without the knowledge of the military operatives to Monguno township for people to see

Republic, had experienced lack of power supply for the past six months when insurgents vandalized the same transmission lines along the routes, only to be re- connected before the 2015 general elections.

An eyewitness and operative of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Haruna Bukar, said on phone that a group of Civilian-JTF members on patrol along Monguno-Marte route stumbled upon a bag containing metallic substances at an area where Boko Haram terrorists had once camped before they were dislodged by soldiers, leaving scores of insurgents dead recently.

“When they found the bag containing what later turned out to be IEDs, one of the Civilian JTF members brought it to Monguno town where people gathered to take a look at it. As they were busy fiddling with the content of the bag, the IED went off with a massive blast that killed many persons and injured dozen others”, Bukar said.

“It was really a very sad incident that affected many families. Most of those affected are young men and a few number of females”.

An officer of the VGN in Maiduguri, Abbas Gava, also confirmed the incident to journalists, even though he did not give the actual number of those who died. “Initially we thought it was a Boko Haram attack as it was being rumored in the town of Maiduguri”, he said. “But when we later checked, we discovered that it was somehow an accidental explosion caused by the foolishness of the Civilian-JTF operative who discovered such a dangerous device and refusing to call on the police or military that has the expertise to handle such things”, Gava stated.

Sources at hospitals in Maiduguri, including the State Specialist Hospital who confirmed the incident, said dozens of dismembered dead bodies were brought into the mortuaries on Wednesday morning by security operatives of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army.

A source working at the State Specialist Hospital Morgue said, “29 dead bodies were brought in from Monguno, but most of those who were scattered into pieces (mangled bodies) were still littering the scene of the explosion”.

Briefing Governor Shettima, who visited the State Specialist Hospital to sympathize with the victims, the Chief Medical Director of Borno State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Salisu Kwayabura, said the hospital received the sad news at about 3am on Wednesday, and that 13 out of the 55 injured ones died while being conveyed to Maiduguri, saying 13 people were treated and discharged while 28 were still on admission recuperating.

A text message to Sunday Vanguard by Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aderemi Opadokun, confirming the incident, said, “ Yes it happened on 16/6/15 at about 1730hrs.

“There was IED explosion in Bulabulin ward of Monguno local government area of Borno State. As a result, several people lost their lives with over 50 injured”.

PAGE 12 – SUNDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

SENATE PRESIDENT ELECTION

APC could not match Saraki’s political sagacity – Senator Ben Obi

BY VINCENT UJUMADU SENATOR Ben Ndii Obi is the immediate past Presidential Adviser on Inter Party Affairs. Before then, he had held many political positions, including being the National Secretary of the defunct All Peoples Party, APP, vice presidential candidate and the senator for Anambra Central.

In this interview, Obi speaks on Senate President Bukola Saraki and why there is need for the executive and the legislative arms of government to work together. ou were close to the Saraki fami ly. What can you say about the new Senate President?

In 1999, I was the Adviser in the office of the National Security Adviser and, soon after, President Obasanjo appointed Bukola Saraki a Special Assistant. Bukola didn’t want to accept it. It took almost three months for him to make up his mind. One day I called him and he came to my office and I said, ‘if you don’t accept this appointment, you may run into trouble with the president and your bank may also suffer serious consequences’. So he had to take leave of the bank.

The father had said to me to talk to him because he knew that his son would listen to me and I am happy that I convinced him. I told him he could still oversee the affairs of the bank without playing the day to day role. That was how he assumed office as Special Assistant to the President.

An interesting thing was that while Bukola assumed office in early 2000 as SA Budget, the budget of 2000 didn’t come out early because of the problem between the executive and the legislature.

And when he took charge of budget, the budget of 2001 and 2002 came out in record time. It was singularly due to the efforts of Bukola Saraki because he was able to liaise effectively with the National Assembly.

Having played that role, now as the Chairman of the National Assembly, it is obvious that he will do things that will make the working relationship between the executive and the legislature very cordial.

Again, in 1998/1999, I was the foundation National Secretary of APP. In fact, I gave the name of that party on August 28, 1998 at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

Bukola’s late father, Dr Olusola Saraki, was one of the major financiers and leaders of the party. He came on board with the likes of Admiral Lawal and Shaaba Lafiagi, who was a governor of Kwara State, and we had this problem of who would be the next governor of Kwara.

Because Lafiagi had been governor of the state before, Bukola was sympathetic to him and I said to the leader, his father, that because Lafiagi was governor and he made mistakes, let him go back to remedy the situation as governor. Eventually, Bukola’s suggestion carried the day.

In one discussion I had with the late Bukola’s father, he said he had spent his time and resources putting people in as governor of Kwara and that it was time he put his son. I agreed. He then told Bukola his decision and surprisingly the young man turned it down. Then the father called me and said, ‘Can you imagine that Bukola said he did not want to be governor?’. He asked me again to talk to him and, again, I went to the young man. I asked him what the problem was and he said the problem was relocating to Ilorin. And I said he could turn Ilorin to one of the finest cities. I said even if he insist-

Y

Senator Ben Obi

The ACN teamed up with Tambuwal and Ihedioha and they became the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. It was a lesson in democracy for the PDP. In 2015, PDP paid them back in their own coin. So, it is a question of pointing one’s finger at somebody and four other fingers are pointing at you ed on living in Lagos, he could work from Monday to Friday and then spend his weekends in Lagos. He agreed and I went to his father and told him that Bukola had agreed and he thanked me. That was how he went to be the governor of Kwara State.

I remember that I was having lunch with

General Ibrahim Babangida and General Gusau in General Gusau’s house in Abuja and Babangida said the battle between Oloye (Saraki’s father) and Lawal would end in Lawal’s favour and I said Oloye would win. Not only that his son, Bukola, won the governorship election, he became the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum and changed the dynamics of the body. He gave the forum respect.

That is the man, Bukola, for you.

It’s important here to understand the depth of the political sagacity of the new Senate President. I think his party, APC, underrated his political skills. The young man is truly a chip of the old bloc. He understands the game very well. I have very good reason to say what I am saying because I can count myself as one of those who took him through political tutelage.

I was at one time in charge of his father ’s campaign when the strong man of Kwara politics ran for the president and Bukola was then running the Societe Generale Bank. His father had very great foresight and analytic political mind. So, whenever we sat down as the kitchen cabinet, he (Bukola) would always sit in and his contributions were very incisive. He made contributions in all issues. His identification of sharp political mind cut across all the zones of the country and most times we ended up agreeing with his suggestions.

So, when the APC said they had a candidate and that they had taken a decision, I sat back in the comfort of my home and laughed it off. I said this is one political game they could not win because the senators would take control when they get into the chamber. And as long as that was

the case, there was no way any other person would defeat Bukola on that ground.

I was too sure of that, and I said so to everybody who cared to listen. And I said so more than six weeks ago that the National Assembly election will be the first litmus test for the APC and it is in their interest to give the new Senate President, Bukola Saraki, all the support he needs.

That PDP gave him 100% support was also expected because he saw the sharp division in his party and he knew what to do and did it.

The APC threatened to sanction those who disobeyed the party in the National Assembly election, but later changed its mind and said the party would support those elected. Do you think the support is genuine?

They have seen the reason and the wisdom to support Senator Bukola Saraki because they are the ones that will ultimately lose out because the red chamber is a setting where Nigeria comes first. That is why senators are referred to as Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Yes, in the course of wanting to run an election, the party gives one the platform.

I am a very strong promoter of party discipline. But I am also cautious on when to draw the line between party interest and national interest. And I think here, national interest has come to play.

I am not even yet talking about the competence of the young. I know that he is very competent and I know that he will make a mark and I know that he will make a difference. And I can assure Nigerians that in six months, everybody will see the competence of the young man. So, in all respect, the APC had its candidates for Senate and House of Representatives, but Nigerians chose their own candidates.

Do you see the tenure of the Senate President lasting?

Well, recall that in 2011, PDP had its candidate for the House of Representatives. The ACN teamed up with Tambuwal and Ihedioha and they became the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. It was a lesson in democracy for the PDP. In 2015, PDP paid them back in their own coin.

So, it is a question of pointing one’s finger at somebody and four other fingers are pointing at you.

Now, this issue of banana peel, quite honestly, ended in our era in the Senate with Ken Nnamani. We talked of banana peel when we had more senators outsmarting the Senate President. You elect the Senate President by simple majority.

If you look at the scenario that brought Senator Bukola Saraki to office, assuming the Senate was in full session; he could also easily have won the election. With Saraki having a deputy that had been there for eight years, you can be sure that their experience will play a very big role in stabilizing the 8th Senate.

What is your advice to the executive and legislative arms of government?

The country is in a great need of selfless service and it is in the interest of both the executive and the legislature to work hand in gloves to make things improve very fast.

The people of this country are suffering.

The hardship is so much. You can feel it; you can see it; you can touch it. The only way the suffering of Nigerians can be alleviated is by ensuring a good working relationship between the executive and the legislature to do things that will improve quickly the welfare of the people. I know that things will be pretty hard in the next few months. However, a good relationship between the two arms of government will facilitate a better Nigeria.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 13

APC:

The crisis within

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

T

heir collective effort massively won them the general elections, but now they are in disarray. This is the story of a ruling political party in search of peace after the elections of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives of the 8th National Assembly respectively.

It is a baptism of fire. It is happening early. No one anticipated it. They tried to cover it but it leaked out. They also tried to manage it, but it is escalating. And now, there is palpable aggression and deep seated animosity within.

The development has divided APC leaders. And the blame game continues. Was it really a marriage of convenience that bought the APC leaders together in the first place?

These are questions popping up now amid the crisis rocking the APC. Make no mistakes about it, all is not well for the APC. Not at the moment. The reason is simple. The party lost the National Assembly leadership elections. Did I say the party? It is not really the party but some powerful persons in the party?

How did this happen?

Soon after the party emerged victorious at the last general elections, the clamour on who become the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives began. Names started dropping and horse trading became intense. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, from Bauchi State, who is now the Speaker of the House of Representatives; his closest rival in the election, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, from Lagos; Hon. Mohammed Monguno, from Borno State; Abudulmuni Jubril; Pally Iraise, from Edo State and Yusuf Lasun, from Osun, were among the early seekers of the office of the House Speaker.

Similarly, at the Senate, the names of Senator Bukola Saraki, from Kwara State, who later got lucky and was voted the Senate President; George Akume, from Benue; Ahmed Lawan, from Yobe, among others, came up for the presidency of the Senate.

With the various interests, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the APC met twice to streamline the interests, but the meetings were stalemated. This led to the party’s leadership meeting at the Rivers State Governorship Lodge in Abuja, held on April 22.

C M Y K

Everyone that mattered in the APC, including President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, were at the meeting.

There, the party subtly ceded the Senate presidency to the North Central zone and Speakership to North East. Members had no qualms with the North Central having the presidency of the Senate.

But tempers flared when South-West suddenly showed interest in the Speakership of the House after North East had been penciled down for the office.

Consequent upon the shouting match, a two-man committee was set up. The two men were Buhari and the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun. Their mandate was to think out the best way to accommodate the interests.

But there were doubts that the committee ever met to harmonize the interests. To lend credence to this, Buhari repeatedly sounded a caution when his name was dropped that he was backing a candidate for the top National Assembly position.

He washed his hands off the allegation and later advocated free hand in the elections of the parliament leaders.

Now, when it became obvious that Akume’s candidacy would not fly for

•President Buhari

•Tinubu the Senate presidency in the emerging force of Saraki, a powerful man in the party opted for Lawan from the North East in a calculated attempt to dislodge Dogara who was waxing stronger from the zone.

In Dogara’s stead, Gbajabimila was prepared for the House speakership. Contenders tried to woo lawmakers from the APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Election day upstage

To many of the leaders, the mock election, which cost the party the Deputy Senate President, is chiefly Oyegun’s sin. He was also accused of not being man enough to resist overtures by powerful forces to conduct the mock election against the wish of the majority

On June 9, day of the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly, APC, having tried unsuccessfully to stop the participation of Saraki and Dogara in the contest after producing Lawan and Gbajabiamila as their consensus candidates in a straw poll on June 6 in Abuja, scheduled a meeting with all their National Assembly members-elect.

But that was their greatest undoing.

While the party leaders and other incoming lawmakers were at the International Conference Centre, ICC, venue of the meeting, the Senate conducted its election and voted Saraki as president. That was not all. The red chamber went ahead and elected opposition senator PDP Ike Ekwerenmadu as the Deputy Senate President.

Also, at the House, with the participation of APC’s favorite candidates, Dogara was voted as the Speaker. Then the party began to boil. First, it declared the outcome

•Oyegun

•Atiku of the elections unacceptable and disowned Saraki and Lawan as Senator and House Speaker.

Second, it threatened to impose sanctions on them. But then, Saraki and Dogara had already acquired new designation, apparently irreversible now.

Anger The duos elections later dovetailed into controversy. Of course, the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who largely supported Lawan and Gbajabimila, became sad, extremely sad. His sadness was further fueled by Saraki’s visit to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, another chieftain of the party, immediately after his election.

Those in Tinubu’s camp felt that there was a “coup” against their principal’s interest in the APC. To make matters worse, Buhari and Atiku issued separate statements congratulating the new National Assembly leaders and pledged their readiness to work with them. But then, Tinubu’s anger continued to grow.

Oyegun, Mohammed torn between camps Obviously, the crisis has sprawled to offices of the APC National Chairman, Oyegun, and the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. At the moment, both men are battling to save their Continues on page 14

PAGE 14 —SUNDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

APC: The crisis within

Continued from page 13

jobs. Why? The bottled anger of many APC national leaders had exploded against them.

To many of the leaders, the mock election, which cost the party the Deputy Senate President, is chiefly Oyegun’s sin. He was also accused of not being man enough to resist overtures by powerful forces to conduct the mock election against the wish of the majority.

Mohammed is also not left out in the the bashing. He is accused of belittling Buhari and his office by saying that the President is not the leader of the party.

To everyone’s surprise, this claim emanated from no other person than Mohammad’s deputy, Comrade Timi Frank, who also called for Oyegun’s resignation.

Frank’s words: “If my party could not keep to the promise of change, then we must correct them to keep to that. I have no fear or favour than to say that the current leadership of the party has practically failed.

“With this incident alone, the Chairman should resign from his position after taking a position against the people and the people’s position has finally come to stay. In the Western world, by today, the party’s National Chairman would have resigned honourably.

“Not just the National Chairman but also the entire leadership that took this decision of conducting mock election against the outcry of the larger members of the party.

Against the bigger picture of Nigerians, a handful of the party leadership came to take a decision, and, by today, the people have shown that the voice of the people is the voice of God. “You could see the way the party, including the National Chairman, was speaking before the NASS leadership elections. It showed clearly that the Chairman had totally taken sides which wasn’t meant to be. I understand, he took some of those decisions based on pressure.

In this century, APC, as a party, does not need a Chairman that will be under pressure. “ And the party’s National Chairman caused it because times without number, some of leaders told him to come up with a zoning formula from the beginning. He was as ked to take a decision and let people follow, but he didn’t do that.”

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary went on: “They were playing hide and seek with the issue until the last minute when they saw the danger, and they wanted to play hanky-panky, which led us to lose one position at the Senate.

“Let’s go back and ask Lai Mohammed who the leader of the party is if he does not recognize the President as the leader. In my own view, If Lai Mohammed that is my direct boss could come up to tell Nigerians that the President is only a product of the party and not the national leader of the party, then he should have been able to tell us who the leader of the party is.

“We have seen that even in, the then PDP. Former President Goodluck Jonathan was the leader of the party. If in our own case the President cannot be the leader of the party, he should tell us who the leader is then.

“Those that are calling for the Deputy Senate President to resign are anti-people, and I will campaign C M Y K

•VP Osibanjo

Tinubu’s banners were conspicuously displayed but, surprisingly, the banners had all gone as at Thursday. Who removed them and why? These are questions only the authorities could answer against it. I will continue to support Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu and every progressive Nigerian should support this mission as it will take Nigeria to the next phase because failure to do this will disrupt democracy”.

Scapegoats But speaking to Sunday Vanguard on Frank’s call for his resignation, Oyegun said: “It is neither here nor there. That’s his opinion. And I suppose he’s entitled to it. But I read the statement. He’s not a member of the National Working Committee (NWC). He’s a member of NEC alright. But not of the National Working Committee.

So, it is neither here not there.

“When things happen, people look for scapegoats and it is a pity that he

•Lai Mohammed told the press instead of coming to say, `look, Chairman, what happened? How did things go the way they did?’ He might have just benefited from the education.

“I was not under any pressure in the sense that he’s taking it, but a party Chairman is constantly under pressure, especially when the time comes for dividing the spoils of office between people of different interests. It is for the National Chairman to moderate all these interests. And usually not everybody will be pleased. One way or the other, whatever decision you take, somebody is bound to be unhappy.

That’s the way things run.”

Lai Mohammed also reacted this way: “Just ignore him. I said it in the context that Buhari is the leader of the whole of Nigeria, not just of my party. That is why I said I don’t want to react to Timi Frank. I don’t even want to answer him at all”.

Disappearance of Tinubu’s banners Anyone who had visited the national secretariat of the APC since the party’s polls victory would attest to the fact that Tinubu’s banners, alongside those of Buhari and Vice President Osibanjo, littered the place. Tinubu’s were conspicuously displayed but, surprisingly, the banners had all gone as at Thursday. Who removed them and why? These are questions only the authorities could answer.

The escape route At the moment, Oyegun and Mohammed are in a fix. They are torn between the camps of the majority party members controlled apparently by Atiku and the President Buhari, unsure of which camp to join.

For instance, Sunday Vanguard learnt that Oyegun, last weekend, had a meeting with Atiku where he pleaded that Gbajabimila should be made the Majority Leader of the House. But that request was a bitter

pill to swallow by many northern elements in the APC who argued that the South West has got the Vice President and the Deputy Speaker.

Also, Oyegun presided over the meeting of the NWC on Thursday and Friday. The meeting had semblance of peaceful resolution of the crisis in the party.

A statement issued by the party Chairman after the meeting on Friday said that peace was underway in the APC, even as he defended Mohammed’s actions in the crisis.

He said: “The party has reached out to all interested parties, and when the National Assembly resumes next week, Nigerians will see one harmonious, happy APC family.

“We owe it to our party, our teeming members and supporters and indeed all Nigerians who reposed so much confidence in us by voting us into office to quickly put the unfortunate incidents of the recent past behind us and forge ahead.

“The party is aware that its National Publicity Secretary has been grossly misunderstood by virtually everyone, especially in his state, just because he carried out his duty by signing the said statement by the party.

“At a personal risk and putting the party’s interest above his own, he issued that statement which reflected the position of the party at that particular time. The party is solidly behind him, and it will be wrong for anyone to interpret the statement as representing his personal opinion”.

Last line From all indications, it is obvious that personal aggrandizements were responsible for the crisis in APC. But now that the party leaders have realized their mistakes, it is only necessary to allow peace reign for the party to deliver on its campaign promises to Nigerians. But would they? The answer lies in the passage of time.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 15

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SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 17

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I never had more than N100,000 in my account – K-Peace T

he man of the moment and winner of the first prize, Olunrombi Olakunle Koya, known as K-Peace, is gradually coming to terms with the reality of being N7.5m richer with an SUV and record contract with Universal Music Company. He just couldn’t wipe the smiles off his face and

was still breathless from the prospect of a new life that comes with winning the show.

The ecstatic new kid on the block, revealed that winning the prize money of N7.5m is something that is yet to settle in as reality, as he had never thought of having such huge amount so soon in his life.

“I am still short of words to describe the feeling” he says of being N7.5m richer. “Before now, the highest amount of money I have ever had in my account was N100,000”.

He admitted a lot is going to change about him and posited that the show exposed him to other areas in his musical pursuit.

“I have learnt so much. Before Nigerian Idol I used to feel that I know everything, that I have arrived. When I got to the show, I realised that there are so many things I need to learn. Like being able to work under pressure.

Before now, I did not know how to work under pressure” he said.

For everyone who followed the show, it was obvious K-Peace brought to the table what other contestants never dared. K-Peace infused Fuji music into RnB to create what he has

called his own new genre of music.

“The only thing I had that others didn’t have during the competition was the Fuji that I do. My fellow contestants later caught on to it and even copied me at some point. Even when we sang together they try as much as possible to imitate me.

So, I told myself that since everybody likes this there is something special about that.

“Yes, like Dede said during the competition, I have a new song and a new genre of music which is Fuji-RnB. So right now, we will put the two together and that is a new genre of music. I think that is the difference I will be making from every other singer in the industry” he added But even though he knew he was onto something special with his

touch of Fuji, K-Peace was never totally at peace with himself as he entertained some measure of fear from Dolu, the first runner-up of the show.

Nigerian Idol season five winners visit Vanguard

L- R:Mr Olurombi Olakunle Koya, K-Peace, winner, Nigerian Idol TV Reality Show, Mrs Laju Iren, Vanguard’s correspondent, Mr Ayo Onikoyi Entertainment Editor, Vanguard, Miss Ogunmoyero Modoluwamu, Dolu, 1st Runner-up, Nigerian Idol, Mr Ese-Amadasun Imuetiyan, Nex2, 2nd Runner-up Nigerian Idol.

I

n what has become a culture, the winners and crew of Nigerian Idol Season 5 visited the corporate office of Vanguard Media, on Tuesday, as usual, after the three-month old reality TV show to say ‘thank you’ for the company’s support throughout the duration of the show. The crew was led by Uche Peter of Payporte,

I came for the fun – Dolu I

f Ogunmoyero Modoluwamu, the first runner-up, Nigerian Idol Season 5, simply known as Dolu had many quacking in their boots during the show with her vocal power, she was a totally different person when she visited Vanguard.

She is soft-spoken, shy and too vulnerable-looking to be of any threat in any way to anyone. At least, according

We are set to do what previous winners never did – Nex2

E

se- Amadasun Imuetiyan known as Nex2, is the second runnerup at the just concluded Nigerian Idol 5. The easy-going and jovial handsome dude wasn’t exactly a

rookie on the show as he came for the Season 4 edition. He didn’t make it this far then but he ran as far as the top twelve.

So, his coming this time around was to show he had more to give and it worked for him. “ In Season 4, I came in with a lot of acts and freshness and I sang every song like it was my last. I think the

some media executives and the winners.

In his open address, Uche Peter, said they had selected top five media houses to visit for their relevance and huge support. He said the choice of Vanguard as one of the top five to visit was informed by the company’s pedigree in entertainment as a leading brand.

difference with the season was that I was shocked, I think I was not as ready as I thought I was with the genres. I was so glued to a lot of music. The first music was high-life, it hit me so hard that I was like,`this is not like last season you did RnB where the judges told you you were not going home and I went home’, so I was scared. This season I was more conscious, I was like battle prepared, I might be losing the battle but I was set.

My mind came well prepared for this season. When people were worried I was calm because I have been there before.

At a time I was super worried because I was breaking boundaries and going to places I did not go to last season” he explained.

to her, she didn’t come for the show for the money, all she wanted was to come and learn something in music.

“Before I went for the competition, I was not really very concerned about the money. I wanted to learn because of my musical career.

I wanted to learn as much as I could because I do not have the opportunity to go to music school. So I wanted to get everything I could gain from the competition.

It was basically a b o u t learning. I want to do music. So I said I needed

to go out there and see what people are doing. I have always been a singer as long as I can remember ” she quipped, when explaining what pushed her to go for the show.

Since fate and her vocal ability had taken her this far, Dolu is ready to do music full time. To her, it wouldn’t be the ‘bang bang’, all noise, no message kind of songs littering the airwaves right now. She is ready to carve her own image and discover her own unique voice by singing messageladen songs that would give people something to hang on to.

“Yes, I believe that music will always pass a message whether it makes you feel good or bad.

It is a message all the same.

So whatever I am feeling like at a point in time, whatever I want to put out as a song will definitely pass a message and it will be a message that will benefit people. I will be going fully into music, trying to produce my songs. I love different types of music, I love African high-life, RnB, hiphop, so, I will infuse all into my music” she said.

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

PAGE 18— SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Close friends, now arch enemies:

Tales of love gone sour

By TOFARATI IGE

I

t is a common saying in the political terrain that there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.

With recent happenings in the entertainment industry, it seems the above phrase has also found truism in the world of art.

It is not unusual to find alliances and cliques formed between entertainers in various sectors of the industry such as in Nollywood, music, and comedy. What is however puzzling to observers is how quickly these friendships sometimes fall

apart. It makes one question: was there ever any substance to the associations in the first place?

Some of these crumbled relationships start out as fairytale romances which the parties involved shout about from the high heavens, and in the end, they also hate themselves as passionately as they once loved. They do not hesitate to wash their dirty linens in public, and no detail, no matter how dirty or gory, is spared.

We hereby present to you some of the most celebrated relationships in the Nigerian entertainment industry which have crumbled like packs of badly arranged cards. Enjoy…

HOUGH they both deny it, it was an open secret that these two actresses, Ebube Nwagbo and Anita Joseph were once involved in an epic fight over ‘Limpopo’ crooner, Kcee’s heart. In the heat of the crisis, the two actresses were said not to see eye-to-eye, especially whenever they met on set. This is despite the fact that they both hail from Anambra State and were once close friends.

However, another twist was added to their love-hate story when it was reported that the

T

O

•Kate

Linda Ikeji And Stella Dimoko Korkus C

•Stella

•Linda

Ebube Nwag And Anita Jo bo seph

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Genevieve Nnaji And Kate Henshaw HESE two actresses are some of the brightest stars in the Nigerian movie industry, but unfortunately, that’s where the similarity ends. The two pretty role-interpreters can best be described as sworn enemies.

Though not much is known about the cause of the bad blood between them, industry sources whisper that it has to do with comparison between the two as to who’s better in their chosen profession. When they meet at events, the two do not greet nor acknowledge each other; even when they sit on the same table; they act like the other doesn’t exist.

Kate played her first lead role in Nollywood in 1993, well before Genevieve who came into the industry in 1998. They are both also single mothers.

Genevieve

•Ebube

all them the queens of blogging in Nigeria, and you wouldn’t be wrong. In the early days, they were never shy to advertise their closeness to the world, but over the years, their relationship has deteriorated badly.

Initially, Linda used to source stories from Stella’s blog, and gave appropriate credit, but reports say that the enmity between them started when Stella reported a fight between Linda and her former best friend, Egor Efiok. Since that episode, Stella has called out Linda on her blogs many times, even going to the extent of accusing the latter of spewing trash on her blog under anonymous mode. The fans of the two bloggers have also been drawn into the battle as the comment sections of both blogs are filled with various abuses and insults hurled at the duo by both camps.

•Anita Joseph

busty Anita had apologised to Ebube severally on BBM and through text messages. When Punch Newspaper got in touch with Anita, she expectedly denied the gist, saying, ‘I couldn’t have gone to ‘beg’ Ebube for any form of forgiveness. How? Where? The truth is that we don’t have any issue. She may not have been my close friend but she is not my enemy either. It was just people that brought up the issue of us having a fight; it never happened.

Forget all those things you hear, Ebube is a very nice person. We come from the same state and we speak the same dialect. She is a lovely person and there is no way we can quarrel.’

Tonto Dikeh And Toyin Lawani

NE-time Best Friends Forever (BFF), Tonto Dikeh and Toyin Lawani seem to have forgotten the days that their relationship used to be rosy, as all they are bent on doing these days is to drag each other’s name in the mud.

Toyin, who used to be Tonto’s former stylist, recently accused the actress of giving the credit for her stylings to her new best friend, Jeremiah Ogbodo, and threatened to sue whoever took credit for her work. To which Tonto replied that she couldn’t care less. This was months after Tonto had taken to her Twitter page to publicly denounce Lawani’s Tiannah’s Styling. She tweeted, ‘I, Tonto Dikeh, do not shop from, endorse, or recommend nor identify with Tiannah Styling as a tailoring outfit…’ Lawani had also replied then with the words, ‘I’m a work mom who’s got respect for people. I work hard for a living to build my brand. I won’t let a riff-raff get away with rubbishing it with lies.’

•Toyin Lawani

•Tonto Dikeh

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Close friends, now arch enemies: Tales of love gone sour Ubi Franklin And Emma Nyra Co-Founder of MMMG Record Label, Ubi Franklin, once claimed that his relationship with one of his artistes, Emma Nyra was purely business-like in nature, but not many believed him. Those in the know have repeatedly stated that the duo were in a love relationship from the start, and that this was what prompted Ubi signing Emma to his label in the first place.

However, things came to a head recently when Ubi Franklin announced his engagement to

actress, Lilian Esoro, and Emma Nyra left the label shortly after. Then, the veils came off and both had to come clean.

Even though Emma still denied that she was ever in love with Ubi, she claimed in an interview with Vanguard Newspapers that Ubi had terrorised her for years. In her words, ‘Ubi and I never dated. Rather he terrorised me for years.

He abused me and other members of the label with physical and verbal force.

9ICE AND ID CABASA

I

f you lived in Nigeria in 2008, surely you must have heard the song; “Gongo Aso” composed by singer, 9ice, and produced

by ID Cabasa. It was unarguably one of the most popular songs of that year that fetched both the singer

and producer enough money and awards. They were like two peas in a pod as they went everywhere together. However, the vessel of their love ran into some turbulence when it was reported that the once close friends no longer see

D’BANJ AND DON JAZZY In the history of the Nigerian music industry, the union between singer, D’banj and music producer, Don Jazzy of the defunct Mo’hits Records will be remembered as one of the most enduring and fruitful.

For the eight years that their relationship blossomed, the music duo churned out countless hit tracks that

were enjoyed around the world. However, their affair came to a bitter end in 2012 when they went their separate ways. According to reports, D’banj was interested in taking his career to the global level which he believed the time was ripe for considering his relationship with Kanye West and his G.O.O.D Music

eye-to-eye. This was confirmed when ID Cabasa, who had produced almost all of 9ice’s hit tracks stopped being the lanky singer’s beat-maker of choice, and they were rarely seen together again. Even though they both repeatedly deny that they fell out, ID Cabasa in a recent interview with Vanguard admitted that there was a time that their relationship was strained. He said, ‘I can’t point to one thing as the cause of our quarrel because there wasn’t any.

It was just some members of the press that were cooking up stories and ascribing statements to both of us. label, while Don Jazzy believed that it was better to be a big fish in a small pond, than to be a small fish in an ocean where they could easily be swallowed up. In leaked e-mails that circulated shortly after the break-up, D’banj and Don Jazzy traded words freely.

At a point, Don Jazzy even stated that D’banj should be responsible for clearing the company’s debt profile. In one of the e-mails, the talented beat-maker wrote, ‘That me (I am) giving him (D’banj) my share of the catalogue does not and will never include him having the right to stop them (the artistes) from performing the songs or give him the right to claim any money for live performances of these songs. And any loans or debt owed by Mo’Hits records as at today will be cleared by Mr D’banj as I am clearly not aware of any…’

Bisi Ibidapo Obe And Lola Alao

I

n late 2012, the Nigerian entertainment industry was rocked by the news that sensational Yoruba actress, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe had been impregnated by former House of Representatives member-turned-Senator, Dino Melaye. In an interview with E24-7 Magazine, Bisi confessed that she was introduced to Sen. Melaye by her close friend, Lola Alao. In her words, ‘I actually met Dino through Lola Alao sometime ago and honestly speaking, I was in need of help and Lola promised she would introduce me to someone who could help.

The person turned out to be Dino. He was actually

forthcoming and helpful. I was not the only one involved then but he took particular interest in me.

We got to know each other and at a point I was scared because he was all over me.

Overtime, he showed me he meant well and we became good friends.’

According to Bisi, Dino later asked her to abort the pregnancy but she refused.

She stated that she thereafter implored her friend, Lola to help her talk to Dino. Her exact words, ‘I spoke with Lola; I pleaded with her to talk to Dino. I was shocked when she told me that Dino said he was not responsible for the pregnancy’.

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

PAGE 20 , SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

I can go nude if it enhances the story – Edwin Princess

By Damilola Sholola

F

air-skinned actress, Edwin Princess, is a fast-rising actress in Nollywood. She was born in Anambra State but lived in Austria until she relocated to Nigeria to pursue her acting career. Edwin Princess has starred in movies like ‘The Birds’, ‘Ibu’s Wedding’ amongst others. She was recently on a movie location in Festac Town, where she starred alongside Eze Nwora George, Ginika Maureen and others in her latest movie. In this exclusive interview, she talks about her life, career and more.

When did you start acting?

I ventured into Nollywood in 2013.

What role did you play in the movie you’re currently working on?

I played the role of a wife, a woman who is good but is having a bad experience from her in-laws and other people. I was able to have babies for my husband but sadly they kept dying one way or the other. It was a very challenging role for me.

How many movies have you featured in so far?

I’ve done ‘Sacrifice for Marriage’, ‘Ibu’s Wedding’ with Mr Ibu, Global Updates ’89 Days In Bondage’, Sparco which is on air and Ulo Mbasa, a soap on DSTV. So far, we’ve been working,

we can’t relent on our efforts and I expect more to follow.

What has been your most challenging role in a movie?

My most challenging role was actually in a movie I did with Global Update. It was really challenging because they had to take me somewhere in Badagry and I had to jump from one hill to the other. It was challenging because I’m not an athletic person. I saw myself jumping up and down from one tree to another, running in the bush even on a wet day. It was challenging for me. My second challenging role is Ulo Mbasa, the Igbo soap on air now, where I cheated on my husband.

Have you ever played a sexy role in a movie?

I have, I did it with Ezenwora George in a movie called ‘The Birds’.

I think

that was my first sexy role in a movie, because I wasn’t expecting him to kiss me and then he just grabbed me and kissed me.

Can you go nude in a movie?

I can actually do anything as long as it adds meaning to the story. When you talk about nude, there has to be a connection. You don’t just go nude because you want to pull off your clothes. It means you have to be interpreting a role, a serious minded role that can wow viewers. I can go extra miles to perfect my job and my career but not just go nude because I need to go nude. It has to really go along with the story and be meaningful.

What more should people expect from Edwin Princess?

They should expect good works and appreciate what I’m offering, because I’ve just started to learn and I hope to give them my best in the nearest future.

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 21

Bring Him Back

I

BY ONOZURE DANIA

f your man is pulling away or he’s just stalling and keeping things as they have always been without moving the relationship forward into a real, lifelong commitment, you can turn that around. Ladies are looking for a deep, heartfelt connection even your man.

He just may not know how to do it. If you want your man to feel that connection with

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you so strongly that he will feel compelled to sew you up in a commitment fast, you will find exactly the help you need to inspire him to want to get you to commit to If you feel like you have been trying so hard to get your man to commit to you.

Even if you have tried everything and maybe you felt him move closer to you once, but then everything went back to the stalemate way it was before it’s not too

late! Men are easy. If he wants you, he wants you and you don’t have to work hard at all to make that happen.

But then, he will often do the absolute minimum he has to do to keep you around.

He’ll try to keep you at “girlfriend” level as long as he can without making a commitment He’ll try to hang onto his “freedom” as long as he can without making a commitment He’ll say he needs “time” He’ll say

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08104037067 •John, 30, tall, employed and resides in Lagos, needs a matured lady, for a relationship. 08136976882, 0 9 0 9 6 5 8 4 8 8 0 •Ikechukwu, 36, tall, dark in complexion and from Anambra state, needs a caring and lovely lady, who can assist in his business.

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DISCLAIMER! Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.

Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For enquiries, text or call 08026651636

he’s not “ready “If you “play hard to get,” he’ll suddenly “snap-to” and work amazingly hard to get back in your “good graces” just until he can “slack off again” and still keep you around for awhile longer.

Men are champs at drawing things out.

I have seen cases where a man stayed in a relationship from two to eight years without commitment. It’s always just “not a good time” in his life.

So what’s really happening with him? Why is he being so “squirrely” and immoveable?

Why’s he so “not ready” especially if he’s in his 40’s?

08081988587,07035886581 •Frank, 30, educated and resides in Lagos, needs a beautiful, educated lady, who is employed, for a serious relationship, aged 28-35.

0 7 0 8 8 5 5 1 4 1 6 •Nicholas, 37, employed and resides in Abuja, needs a medical doctor, tall, caring and trustworthy lady, for serious relationship, that can lead to marriage.08035767772 •Alex, 26, with athletic body, needs a busty lady, who resides in Abuja for a sexual relationship, aged 20-35, 07010383344,09097070955 •Chuks, from Onitshai, needs a lady, who is igbo, for a serious relationship, aged 22.

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There’s a simple answer, and it’s about two things, attraction and connection and the tough part for us about it is it’s not something you can figure out.

It’s just not something that works in the mind actually, it works for a man totally on a feeling level just the way it does for ladies.

But there’s a huge difference in how a man’s romantic response gets triggered and the way ladies romantic response gets triggered.

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but resides in Owerri, needs a lady, who is a graduate, for a relationship.08064443240 •Mike, 36, needs a beautiful, educated, very busty and financially ok lady that love things of the lord for marriage.

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0 8 1 2 3 9 6 4 2 8 8 , 08036672240 Sugar Cares Searching Female •Chinenye, 24,, needs a rich sugar daddy.07088866953 Searching Male •Patrick, 35, resides in Benin, needs a sugar mummy . 0 8 1 6 9 6 3 9 7 9 3 •Nelson, 23, average height, fair in complexion and resides in Calabar, needs a sugar mummy, aged 25-35. 08071702173

Page 22—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

All letters bearing writers' names and full addresses should be typed and forwarded to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, Kirikiri Canal, P. M. B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E-mail: sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com

Has RMAFC suddenly woken up from its deep slumber?

Dear Sir,

I

am very happy that at long last, Reve nue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC), has woken up from its deep slumber to review drastically, if it is bold and courageous enough, the outrageous salaries and allowances of our over-bloated elected and appointed politicians, that are the highest in the world, due to the dwindling oil revenues.

This review is long overdue to save our country from going bankrupt.

According to Dele Sobowale, RMAFC has bankrupted our country, by mapping out these unprecedented salaries and allowances in our nation’s history to our elected and appointed politicians since May 29, 1999 till date.

I am against RMAFC reducing the salaries and allowances of judges, because they are more serious with their duties than our legislators at all levels who are absent most of the time in their chambers and might not even speak during debates in their chambers, without being

sanctioned while their salaries and allowances are paid unfailingly to them, every month.

It is very shameful and wicked that while many states owe their civil servants and pensioners their entitlements and many are dying, our callous and insensitive politicians still enjoy their outrageous salaries and allowances without batting an eyelid and without qualms! That is why they have not gone on strike since May 29, 1999 till date for non payment of their entitlements. What an irony!

It is very regrettable and sad that while the president, legislators and cabinet members of Venezuela and Russia, have patriotically cut their salaries and allowances to cushion the adverse effects of the fall in crude oil prices on their economy and the welfare of their people, our socalled politicians are still feeding fat on our dwindling oil revenues, without cutting their unmerited salaries and allowances willingly to save our country from turning into a failed state, due to the their insatiable greed

and primitive acquisition of wealth far above their legitimate earnings!

Shame on them!

Tony Iredia’s article: Nigeria’s Poor Economy: Shame on our politicians, on page 11 of Sunday Vanguard of May 17,

2015, hits the nail on the head of how our politicians impoverished our country during the 2nd Republic and the present political dispensation, through their greed, lack of vision and profligacy!

This is a country where

a great chunk of its budget, is expended to whet the gluttonous appetite of its ruling class, while the little left for capital development is still voraciously eaten up and cornered by them!

On a final note, our

legislators should be paid sitting allowance and nothing more, period!

Ifeka Okonkwo Plot 44, Ahocol Housing Estate, Phase II G.R.A, Awka.

Gov Okowa and 3,000 sacked workers: Acute poverty awaits Deltans Dear Sir,

T

he campaign slo gan of Senator If eanyi Okowa during the 2015 gubernatorial elections is “PROSPERITY FOR DELTANS” and it stole the hearts of many. I told a friend at that time that the slogan is merely to attract votes from Deltans. The sack of 3,000 workers in Delta State Civil Service has proven skeptics like me right.

The worst is yet to come. With a stroke of the pen via a circular letter dated June 1, 2015 the government has suspended the 2015 recruitment exercise and also revoked the employment of over 3,000 workers employed between 2013 and 2014 by the former Governor of the state, Dr

Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan on the grounds that the recruitment exercise was not fair to all concerned and that money was extorted from some job applicants before they were employed.

Political analysts says the Governor is pained by the roles Uduaghan played in trying to frustrating his ambition to become the Governor of the state by sponsoring another candidate to contest the PDP ticket with him. He tried to establish a new political empire through his choice candidate’s project so as to untimely retire all the political loyalists of his predecessor from active partisan politics in the state.

The above analysis is crucial for us to properly

understand reasons behind governor’s actions.

Sacking 3,000 workers duly employed is certainly not the best strategy to hit back at the former governor. The innocent 3,000 newly employed civil servants should not be made to suffer for the sins they knew nothing about. The political power game between the governor and predecessor camp should be addressed through probe of the past administration .

PROSPERITY FOR DELTANS as a campaign slogan is great, but the sack of 3,000 civil servants within 48 hours of getting to office is a pointer to the fact that something is wrong some where.

In a small family unit, you have the man, wife

and at least three children. At the background are mother-in-law, aged parents and siblings both maternal and paternal axis, this action is the opposite of prosperity.

The labour market in Delta State is congested to an embarrassing proportion.

The Governor cannot be insensitive to the plight of the sacked workers in particular and Deltans in general.

My stand and that of majority of Deltans is that the governor should reverse his decision in line with his campaign slogan of PROSPERITY FOR DELTANS initiative. Deltans will not accept anything less.

Prince Fred Nuvie, writes in from Delta State.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 23

An ambitious woman knows what she wants and how to get it!

F

aith represents the crop of highly ambitious young women the society is

suddenly grappling with.

Pretty with a degree under her belt, she was very lucky to be employed by one of the mobile phone network companies. Her boyfriend of almost six years, with whom she went to the university, wasn’t so lucky with employment. He now teaches at a private secondary school. “We’re so close I couldn’t imagine my life without him”, Faith told me smugly as she celebrated yet another promotion in her job. As the get-together progressed, a casually dressed gentleman made a brief appearance. Faith and Justus, her boyfriend, made a fuss of him but he was out of the venue in minutes – he said he only called to be part of the celebration, albeit briefly. Poor Justus couldn’t read the body language between Faith and her boss.

He was too busy entertaining the august guest and gushing over his every word.

“Are you sleeping with your boss?”, I asked Faith outright the next time we were alone together. She’s one of my adopted `sisters” who believe I’m so worldlywise I would have answers to any thorny problems they could come up with. She smiled an `I know-mysecrets-are-safe-with-you’

smile before starting with a lecture: |”As you well know aunty, sex for most women is more than a lust-fuelled mechanical act. In other words, making love is simply about love and it’s supposed to strengthen the deep emotional connection between two people. And I sort of go with that flow. As a result, whenever I’m with Justus, it is that way too. Sex with him is lovely but we’ve sort of settled into a rut and it’s sad. We’re still so young, but sadly, for us, it now feels like sex is middle aged and I miss the wild sex we used to have in the early days when we’d virtually tear the clothes off each other. I’ve made more than enough efforts to get our romance back without much luck.

“Then I got this fantastic job and my restlessness must have been one of the reasons I fell for my boss.

But if I were to be honest the main attraction is that the affair is a practical, profitable arrangement for me. Apart from being my boss, Emeka is also the area manager of the company, so he wields a lot of power.

He’s happily married with four children and reasonably sexy for his age.

When he started flirting with me, what I saw was the power I would have over someone who could potentially be so influential in my life and my career.

And there was no longer of either partner ending their current relationship - he was a married man and I was engaged to be married.

“This might sound scheming to most dogooders but Emeka was hardly being moral himself – making it clear he’d be prepared to cheat on his wife.

Heaven only knows how often he’d done that before I became his `matter-of-themoment’! He came at the right time too – I was pissed off with struggling to pay the rent of the flat I shared with Justus along with the utility bills – his teacher’s salary didn’t stretch that far and I hadn’t realised responsibilities and sacrifices would play such a

part in my life. I bitterly resented not spending my money on myself. That was when I reckoned that anything that would get me a raise was a good thing.

When I left the university, it was with high hopes of working my way to being glamorous, exciting and a jet setter. How naïve can you be? The harsh reality of my lot fell far short of my expectations. Then in stepped Emeka and an affair with him sounded thrilling – and it could also help me move up the career ladder.

He was a master of the game too – he would complement me on how ambitious and talented I was, and how I was destined for a much more successful and lucrative life,

wrinkling up his nose at how a teacher husband could drag me down. I quickly let him realise I loved Justus but was open to being propositioned.

“We both knew what was in stock for me – it would be a straightforward trade. He’d get his lust for extra-marital sex and I’d get a leg up the ladder of success. The fact that our affair would be almost like a business transaction was a turn on for me. It made me sound like a femme fatal! The first time it happened, we were in the company car, on the way to a different branch. The traffic was horrible and the longer we were stuck together, the more charged the atmosphere,. Then he turned and looked at me, smiling slowly as he caressed the thigh next to him. I was so turned on I could hardly breathe. At the first opportunity, he turned into a motel and the sex was amazing. A few weeks later, he gave me a lift home after working late and quietly turned off the road into a very deserted, half built-up area.

There, he unfastened my blouse while I did my own undressing. In minutes we were both panting as he reclined the passenger seat before pulling out a condom as usual. Then the sky exploded. It might be an uncomfortable and undignified position for sex

but it was also the most thrilling I’ve had in years.

When I finally got home I was still on too much high to feel guilty as Justus kissed me, wanting sex … I wondered if Emeka would also have sex with his wife that night as Justus and I retired to the bedroom.

That would mean the two of us sleeping with two different partners in one day!

“I haven’t regretted my decision to bonk Emeka.

Wherever he had to book hotel rooms for official purposes, we would be the first to test such rooms!

Other times, we’d snatch quickies in his car but our fun-place is his office after everyone must have gone home. And as I envisaged, pay back time soon arrived.

Emeka then recommended me for promotion and I was delighted. It meant I could afford nicer clothes and clear some of our debts.

Justus and I even bought a tokunbo car!

“I’ve recently just had another promotion which means another pay rise, I never push Emeka for anything unreasonable – I’m too cautious for that. As long as I’m progressing, I’m happy. Do I feel like a scheming mistress? Never!

I’m just an ambitious woman who knows exactly what she wants and how to get it.”

The Abdominal Lift Technique: Standing with the feet about a foot apart, breathe in deeply and exhale forcefully. Now, with the breath out, draw in the muscles of the abdomen until you have a hollow forming beneath the ribs. The hands should be placed on the thighs and the knees bent a little. Keep the trunk a bit tipped forward but don’t lower it.

Maintain the retraction of the diaphragm by keeping both hands firmly pressed against the thighs as you lean on them.

Keep the position for as long as can be without breathing.

Then, ease up, stand erect and begin to breathe normally. Repeat only once more if you’re just stating this exercise. As regards this very exercise, Indra Devi advises gradually bringing it up to seven

*The Abdominal Lift

Deal with that bulged belly

F

or most people over thirty the abdom inal region gets to be the least toned set of muscles of the body. We work with our hands and walk with our feet, therefore, somehow, those parts are almost always in better shape than the abdominal wall.

A trim waistline doesn’t only look impressive aesthetically, it also speaks volumes of the state of health of the individual.

Reduce the girth and presto! You instantly look youthful. You will begin to digest your food and absorb it more efficiently.

Once the belly is shrunk appreciably, we can then learn to perform certain exercises which can help the system achieve better bowel action - a veritable way of eliminating toxins.

As regards exercise, there are countless ways to deal with the bulge of the belly.

Some get results from practising dit-ups, others from leg-raises and so on.

But there are some less familiar practices that deal with flabby stomach a lot more thoroughly.

Besides strengthening the muscles of the abdomen, some of these practices can be used for purificaC M Y K

tion purposes along with drinking large quantities of salt water. The following exercise will help trim the waist and keep it so, forever. I have had the same waistline since the past thirty years and I am fifty two now. If yours truly can do it, so can you! All it takes is diligence. Let's consider the Rocking.

Technique: Sit with the knees drawn and the hands placed at the back of the knees. Now, lunge both legs forwards and quickly draw them back and thrust them forth again. Keep this to and fro movement of the feet going continually. If you break the rhythm by hesitating you rill immediately fail to

*The Rocking

keep going. You may do as few as 5 thrusts and withdrawals of the feet initially and then increase the number of times as you improve.

Benefits: The Rocking toughens the upper thigh and abdominal muscles.

The exercise is reputed to also improve the soundness of sleep.

times adding one time each week.

Warning: People with a weak heart or serious abdominal or circulatory problems should refrain from this exercise.

Yoga Classes STARTED Physical Therapy Centre @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

P AGE 24 — SUND AY Vanguard , JUNE 21 , 2015 SUNDA

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 08056180152, SMS only

When did you realise you were approaching your sell-by-date?!

D

id you just suddenly wake up one day, look at yourself in the mirror and say: “My God! I’m getting old!” Or did the realisation creep in on you until you just can’t ignore it? Roli, now in her late 50s used to be a model and now runs her own modelling agency. She told me: “I’ll never forget that incident as long as I live.

I was crossing the road to enter a trendy spa a close friend had just opened in a high-brow shopping mall, when I caught a glimpse of a tubby woman reflected in the spa’s huge windows.

When her strides started to mirror mine, it hit me: she was me!

“I was completely taken aback, and as people walked past me, I stood stock-still in the middle of the road staring at my reflection. I didn’t look tall and thin as I’d always been in my modelling days. On that day, aged 44, I looked dumpy and middleaged. I was only 18 when I first hit the modelling scene, and I soon realised that although I didn’t have perfect features I believed a model should have , with the right poses and with a good photographer drawing attention to my best bits, I could stop traffic! With my long legs and svelte figure, I was very successful. I also had a stint as an air hostess before I set up the agency.

“Marriage and three children followed and the agency thrived. Still, it was a massive shock when I realised I was no longer lean, lithe and youthful – at least in comparison to the way

I’d been. I convinced myself that it must be a bad angle, but in reality, it was the start of a difficult process of coming to terms with ageing throughout my 40s and 50s. I was battling all the time, trying to turn back the clock with all sorts of magical cosmetic potions.

“The turning point was a few years ago, when I was one of the panellists at a modelling contest when another panellist gushed: “You’re Roli, the model, right?’ ‘Why, yes, I said, pleased, I could still be recognised for who I was. `My mum used to be a big fan of yours’, he said, bursting my bubble. It was a stark reminded that I bore only a passing resemblance to the glamourous woman I had been all those decades ago. Thankfully, I’d already learned to have a sense of humour about ageing by that

point. Now, I don’t bother with expensive beauty brands and treatments – I just try to throw my shoulders back, suck everything in and walk with confidence!”

My aha! Moment came a few years ago when I was to launch a collection of my Yours sincerely Column in the Vanguard to mark my 60th birthday. For years, James who ran a fairly successful advertising agency had always joked of what a relationship we could have if given half a chance. It was harmless ribbing of course – but how many of that have often led to torrid relationships?

Anyway, as the day of the launch drew near, I was lucky to run into him. I briefed him about the impending book-launch and the fact it was to mark my 60th. ‘Sixty?’, he howled, his eyes rounding with disbelief.

‘You’re going to be

sixty?’ “Why yes,’ I told him, a bit irritated by now.

‘Anything wrong with that?’

‘Sixty!’ he muttered again. I had to laugh. The poor bloke just had his 50th birthday and to suddenly realise he’d been lusting after a woman almost a decade older must be quite daunting!

Needless to say, he didn’t attend the book launch – but he sent a modest cheque! Would the cheque had been fatter if I’d been his age!?

Kunbi, a journalist said she got her own shocker some ten years ago. “I was 42 and driving to help pick up a friend’s mum when I caught myself in my rear view mirror. There was a crisscross of wrinkles across my forehead and around my eyes. In between my eyebrows there was a great big dip, which made me look permanently angry. My hair was streaked with

GOD'S GIFT OF LOVE...

Y

OUR column to express your loving thoughts in words to your sweetheart. Don’t be shy. Let it flow and let him or her know how dearly you feel.

Write now in not more than 75 words to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: sunlovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark your envelope: “LOVE NOTES"

Sometimes we're in despair, much sorrow we own.

We forget that God is with us, and we're never alone.

We only need to seek Him,and He'll help us through,sending us some sunshine and mending hearts of blue. Just a prayer spoken from the heart can make our woes take a flight until our burdens suddenly feel small and light. So remember, in the morning that He'll be with you through the day. And when the stars light up the sky tonight,close your eyes and pray. On the wings of prayer you can rise above the sadness. With God's gift of love your heart will know gladness.

Chris Onunaku 08032988826/08184844015.

grey. I felt that sort of pit-of-the-stomach horror you have when something hideous happens, like when you suddenly realise your handbag with all your phones, money and house-keys inside it, has been stolen. But what had been stolen were my looks.

“It hadn’t happened overnight of course, but I had been so busy raising four children (one step-child and three of my own) that I hadn’t focused on myself for sometime. At the time it happened, my smallest was seven and I had to take him to school in the mornings.

I finally had time to look in the mirror. I tried to reason that the light was harsh, but the face is that for the first time in my life, I looked old!

“Just the other day, a friend and I were discussing a man she knows who, at the age of 48, has just married a 25-year-old woman.

Rather depressingly, it dawned on me, that given the choice, men of my generation probably don’t want anything to do with women my age.

But, at the same time, I’m a little optimistic about the process. My two daughters are growing up into beautiful young women and my son is thriving.

My own mother is 75 and still having fun.

“I’m also beginning to realise that ageing is all about attitude. Of course you have to look after yourself, but my hope is that if I don’t behave like an old person, I won’t look like one. Because, like it or not, however, much I try to halt the ageing process with creams and potions, diet

and exercise regimes, it will defy me and happen anyway. It is happening now. And there is nothing I can do about it. But being happily married and having children has taken away a lot of the insecurities women have when they ’re young, when we endlessly analyse our looks, worrying about every grey in our hair, because we want the people we fancy to fancy us back. If it means being settled and content, getting older can be a relief ”.

Money well spent?

(Humour) Two women were having lunch at a restaurant and catching up on family news. “I was so sorry to hear that your Johnson had died”, remarked the firs women.

“I hope you’ve been able to carry on with life without him”. “Yes, thank you”, came the reply. “He was such a king and thoughtful man. Do you know that hours before he died, he gave me three envelopes which he told me would ease the burden once he’d gone”.

“How thoughtful!” remarked the first woman. “What was in them?”

“Well, the first had N750,000 to buy a coffin.

The second had N2.5 million in it with a note saying `use this to give me a good send-off ’. And let me tell you, they’ll be talking about his funeral for years to come!” “And what about the third envelope?” “Oh that said `use this cheque for N5 million to buy a nice stone’. So I did”, she said, holding out her finger to show a huge diamond ring, `what do you think of it?”

(BBM Pin-23C0E917)

CONSTRUCTION OF LOVE

Love is just like a construction work, which takes millions of days and period of months to construct a standard love. When you take time to construct a standard relationship, it will be stronger than a relationship created and accepted for just one week. A standard love is a love of strong bond which can never be separated easily,but a weak love and a soft bond can easily be destroyed.

CHARLES CHIDUBEM OGBONNA, 08169186581 charlesprince850@yahoo.com

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 25

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•ALL SUSPECTS: From left: Mukaila Dauda (herbalist), Ahmed Adebanjo, Tunde Akilo,(motorcyclist), Sunkanmi Dacosta and Lateef Agboola.

HERBALIST:

I sent kidnappers after rich clients *Says he collected N300,000 on each abduction victim kept in his custody

By Evelyn Usman

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he visit of stern looking policemen in three vans to Odubotucompound, located in Okesopen area of IjebuIgbo,Ogun state, sent fear down the spine of members of the sleepy community.

The armed men reportedly jumped out of the vehicles and positionedthemselvesstrategically around the building.

Someofthemreportedly stormed into one of the rooms, where they dragged out a herbalist identifiedasMukailaDauda..

Not done, the policemen, discovered to be operatives from the SpecialAntiRobberySquad,SARS, of the Ogun State Police Command, again, dashed inside the herbalist’s apartment, taking him along and conducted a search, in the process C M Y K

of which they reportedly came out with two AK 47 rifles, a pump action rifle, a barretta pistol, a cut-to-size locally made short gun and assorted charms.

The46-year-oldherbalistwas subsequentlywhiskedawayin one of the police vans.

Thefearstrickenneigbours later came out of their hiding, with expression of confusion and whichneededclarificationon their faces. The explanation was provided, following the allegation that the herbalist was a member of a kidnaps gang that had been terrorizing Ogun and neigbouring states.

Arrested alongside Dauda were four other suspected membersofthesyndicate identified as Ahmed Adebanjo, Tunde Akilo, a popular commercialmotorcyclist, SunkanmiDacostaandLateef

Agboola.

Preliminaryinvestigation, according to the police, revealed that the suspects may have been responsible for several cases of kidnapping in Ijebu axis. One of their victims, the herbalist allegedly told the police, was one Chief Alakoso,aprominentbusinessman, who was kidnapped three months ago around Emu Eleni area of the state and released after a ransom of N2 million was paid.

In this interview with Sunday Vanguard, Dauda, a father of six, disclosed that his role in the kidnapping saga was to keep abducted persons until ransom was paid, adding that he usually got N300,000 at the end of each operation.

He disclosed that some of the victims were rich clients who had come to him for spiritual assistance,

He disclosed that some of the victims were rich clients who had come to him for spiritual assistance

while others were abducted in connivancewiththeirrelatives.

According to him, most of the victimswerenotabductedwith charms,whichhypnotizedthem.

The herbalist explained that rituals were performed on the kidnappers beforeembarkingonanyabduction trip, to enable them succeed.

Joiningsyndicate Dauda explained why he joined the syndicate. “I am a herbalist. I have been into the profession for 25 years. I specialise in curing strokes and other ailments which are beyondmedicaltreatment.Ata point, business was no longer moving and feeding my two wives andsixchildrenbecame burdensome. It was at this point that I met TundeAkilo,acommercial motorcyclist,andSunkanmi Dacosta,whointroducedmeto kidnapping.

My role is to keep victims in my house, pending when their families would pay ransom. I never went out with them but I gave them names of prominent persons in Ijebu Igbo.

Some of these people have patronized me.

“The first person that was brought to my house was one Chief Alakoso.

He was brought in March, blindfolded. I got N300,000 after ransom was paid four days later, for keeping him in my place. This amount was aside my regular share from the loot because that was the bargain. Also, two Onipomo in Ijebu Igbo were kept in my place. I also gave their contacts to my members.

“I usually prepared charms to fortifymembersbeforetheygofor Continue on page 26

PAGE 26—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015

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‘Stop these crash-waitingto-happen vehicles’ M

r Ayodeji Peter Oyedokun was the General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and a pioneer member of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). The incumbent Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Drivers Institute, in this piece, addresses ‘At Work Road Crashes’.

Occupational Road Traffic Crashes or At Work Road Crashes are crashes that occur while driving / traveling in an organization’s vehicle on duty.

Road traffic crashes in Nigeria are not limited to official duty vehicles and travels. More occur with private individual drivers and public commuters, where more lives are usually involved. Nigeria is reputed to rank second, 191 out of 192 countries in the world with un-safe roads with 162 death rate per 100,000 population from road traffic accident.

An average of 11 people were killed daily in road accidents across Nigeria in 2012 (FRSC).

Few organizations including governments know what road crashes cost them. The true costs to organizations and governments are always higher than the resulting insurance claims where they exist, lost time in wages and salaries; output; administrative costs, legal fees; and costs due to other kinds of interruptions may not be recoverable.

Road crashes can also have a negative impact on staff morale and can damage the organization’s brand. These costs will not be recovered from insurance claims, and therefore, will directly reduce the organization’s profit or financial surplus.

Organizations can rarely, if ever, solve their safety problems by simply introducing ‘one off’ measures following crashes such as sacking of driver or other punishments and or penalties. This reactive approach fails to investigate why crashes were not prevented in the first place and does not address underlying weaknesses such as vehicle condition, drivers’ competence, drivers’ schedules, drivers’ physical and mental conditions which, if not remedied, will sooner or later give rise to further crashes.

Monitoring Compliance Adopting a proactive approach to controlling road traffic crashes will only be possible if all organizations have robust road safety management systems in place based on acknowledged good practice.

These include but not limited to having a clear policy statement,

which would be communicated to all drivers, setting safety direction and general objectives. Organizations also need to have a planned approach to road safety, with performance standards for eliminating or controlling risks, based on risk assessment and with clearly prioritized and time based targets for implementation In solving or reducing losses due to road crashes there is the need to, within the organization’s level provide adequate means to measure road safety performance, both actively by monitoring compliance with standards and reactively by investigating the causes of crashes, incidents and near incidents. This will go side by side with the development of appropriate procedures for reviewing performance against targets, auditing road safety management processes and feeding back information and experience to

further develop policies and improve performance.

Many organizations that had hitherto operated transport services for the distribution of their products or services had abandoned this and have outsourced such responsibilities to contractors or service providers due to losses from road crashes and manhours. In as much as this could be the right way to go, the organizations have not followed up with monitoring and evaluation processes, to ensure compliance with standards and this has resulted in increased fatalities and severe injuries in our Highway Transportation System. Majority of these providers whom this responsibilities have been outsourced to, cut corners or set their own safety (unsafe) standards to reduce costs of transportation business, to make more profit at the expense of the driver and other road users in Nigeria.

Towards crash site The haulage sector in the Nigerian highway transportation environment happens to be guiltier in the area of failure to monitor and ensure compliance with road worthiness requirements and other safety standards of their vehicles. Even when enforcement is lacking it will be beneficial to all stakeholders to ensure safety through voluntary compliance to the expected minimum safety standards of vehicle road worthiness conditions. On the part of government it is very sad that in a country that transports most (above 90%) of her cargo by road, road worthiness of vehicles is tied to the ability to show revenue receipts to law enforcement officers as a proof of being certified fit, even though a novice in engineering will notice worn-out tires and defective structures in the vehicle. These vehicles pass through all law enforcement agencies on our highways towards their crash destinations. At worst, when such vehicles are apprehended, they are

38-year-old Dascosta confessed to be a member of a robbery gang, claiming he was introduced into kidnapping by the herbalist, Dauda, when he went to him for spiritual protection. Like his colleague ,Akilo, he expressed regret for joining the kidnap syndicate, saying he had only earned N310,000 since he joined.

Herbalist: I sentkidnappers after rich clients Continued from page 25

any job. This is to enable them get their catch without trouble. I also prepared charms that will make victims lose their senses. A day before they would leave, I would lit fire and say some incantations into it. The fire will be on until they arrived. But if it goes off in the process, that means they have entered into trouble”, said the herbalist.

Charmdisappoints Members of the kidnap syndicate, some of who were alleged to be members of separate robbery gangs and cult groups, reportedly set out last month for their usual ‘job’.

DestinationwasIjebu-Ode/Ikorodu Road, Lagos State and their victim a herb seller otherwise called Iyaalagbo . Time was 7pm.

The herb seller was reportedly trailed from her Odogbolu residence in Ogun State to Itoikin by the abductors,numberingfour. The unsuspectingtraderwasabout closing for the day when they arrived, pretending to have come to buy herbs. Sensing all was not well; the woman reportedly told the strangers that she did not have what they requested for. But as she made to leave the shop, she was reportedly bundled into the kidnappers car and driven away, amidst sporadic gun shots, apparently aimed at scaring away

intruders.

Midway into the journey to the herbalist's house, the first incident that signaled doom for the kidnappersoccurred,afterthetwo back tyres of the vehicle punctured.

Explaining how they were arrested, Ahmed Adesanya, a commercialmotorcyclist,fromOmu Eleni town, claimed he only got a telephone call from one of his colleagues to bring his motorbike to the spot where the tyres punctured.

The 21-year-old suspect stated: “When I got to the place, I met one Mama Alagbo, our Okada unit chairman,Ahmed(Soldier),Yemi Agboola and Tunde Akilo inside the car. But four of them, including Mama Alagbo, took off on my motorcycle,whileYemiAgboola, Tunde Akilo and I drove in the car.

But on reaching Imodi town, we metsomepolicemenata checkpoint, who insisted on checking the vehicle. Agboola and myself escaped into the bush but we did not see TundeAkilo. A week later, he (Akilo ) led policemen to my house and I was arrested”.

Asked what role he played, said, “I used my Okada to take some passengers to the herbalist’s house.

My targets are usually passengers who do not know where they are going”.

booked and left to continue their journey towards their crash site. A vehicle that is not roadworthy should be impounded till repairs are effected to prevent loss of lives and properties.

If there is any law or operational procedure limiting law enforcement officers from removing or stopping these ‘crash-waiting-to-happenvehicles’, such should be amended in the interest of Nigerian road users, who bear the brunt on a daily basis.

The attitude of employers of drivers towards capacity building of this category of workforce is nothing to write home about. To most employers, drivers are not responsible, drivers are difficult to handle, drivers are recalcitrant and so on. They fail to recognize the potency of capacity building in achieving a disciplined, competent, well-motivated and responsible set of drivers. It has been proven that organizing ordinary driver training exercises regularly will reduce road traffic crashes attributable to human errors to between 30 to 70%. Investing in driver training and retraining is a very good step towards protection of lives and properties. Employers of drivers need to pay more attention to the drivers’ physical and mental condition. From the records available at the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute 12% of drivers have issues with their vision and as such need to use visual aids while driving. Driving is all about seeing and being seen, no matter how competent, a driver with bad eyesight is a crash waiting to happen.

In conclusion, drivers in organizations need to be well treated like other employees, improved welfare conditions, boost morale and productivity. These with other factors such as responsible number of driving hours, good condition of service, regular training and retraining, rewards and recognitions will improve safety performance and better productivity of drivers within an organization.

•Weapons allegedly recovered from the suspected kidnappers

The herb seller was reportedly trailed from her Odogbolu residence in Ogun State to Itoikin by the abductors, numbering four

I also belong to a robbery gang - Akilo On his part, Akilo, who confessed to be a member of the Eiye Confraternity,alsoadmittedtobe involved in armed robbery operations within the Ijebu axis, apartfromkidnapping.“He however, stated that he had only taken part in two abductions.

“I have only taken part in two kidnap operations. One was the abduction of Chief Alakoso, after which I was given N250, 000. The second operation was that of Mama Alagbo which unfortunately was unsuccessful.

One Yemi Agboola, a relative to the woman, brought the deal to us . He said her relatives could provide N1 million if kidnapped. If I had known, I would have remained in the robbery gang instead of joining this syndicate”, he said remorsefully.

I am a victim of circumstanceDascosta When approached, Agboola (48) absolved himself of involvement in the kidnap saga, stating that his youngerbrother,YemiAgboola, drove the Chevrolet car that was used in the kidnap of Mama Alagbo.. The brother was said to be on the run.

“Yemi came to me during the celebration of Kilajosu festival and said he wanted to use my car. I gave him the keys without suspecting any foul play and told him to return it the next day. He told me he wanted to drive it to Omu-Eleni”, he narrated.

“But to my shock, some policemen stormed my house and asked me to follow them to the station, only to be shown a vehicle which turned out to be mine. That was how I became a guest here. I have never robbed all my life, neither have I been involved in kidnap. I am only a victim of circumstance. My prayer is for the police to arrest my brother so that I will be vindicated”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 27 08116759757

'ABIJA' CULTISTS'CONFESSIONS ON POLITICAL KILLINGS

'We shot dead four APC guys in Lagos reprisal attack'

By Evelyn Usman & Esther Onyegbula

L

agos State Police Command has arrested three alleged cultists suspected to be terrorising Lagos Island and ienvirons.

Sunday Vanguard learned that the State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, ordered a comprehensive raid of all dark spots following incessant skirmishes around Lagos Island and environs.

The raid led to the arrest of the suspects identified as: Adebayo Dipo, 30; Alade Ogbulu, 30; and

Kofi Olumide.

The police also recovered from the suspects a pump action rifle with serial number P. 960667, one single barrel rifle, four rounds of cartridges, two cutlasses and one battle axe.

Parading the suspects, Aderanti said the suspects confessed to be members of Abija group specialised in terrorising residents on the Island.

Suspect's account “I belong to the Abija group. If we count those who have been killed, they are about six. On that day when the PDP held their rally at the TBS, we shot dead one person. That was also the day former President Jonathan came to Lagos. After the rally, some of our boys shot dead Otun who

brought his boys to engage us in a fight. It was one Layi, our gang member, who shot him. The following day, the APC faction came to Enuwa area to engage us in a reprisal attack; we also killed four of their members”, Olumede stated.

“We worked for the PDP. We are loyal to Abija. It was Abija who brought all these guns. Abija had so many boys- too plenty to count.

I was a meat pie seller before I joined the group in Lagos Island.”

But Dipo, who hails from Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, denied that the gang killed five persons after the rally. He said, “It was only Ashake that we killed. The others died during a fight with our gang. Nobody shot at them. We also lost some of our members during the clashes.”

Tell Okowa the truth, don't praise sing, Onuesoke advises Deltans

D

elta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has enjoined the people of the state to imbibe the habit of telling Governor Ifeanyi Okowa the truth about the situation of things in the state instead of praise singing his administration.

Onuesoke, who gave the advice in Abuja, argued that if the governor is in the know on the true situation of things in the state, he would be in the situation to put things in the right perspective.

“But if we keep hiding the ills of the society from him and singing praises of things that are not done, he will be kept in the dark and will not know what to do. He will take it for granted that things are going well. Such sycophantic behavious will not augur well for the development of the state hence the people will suffer, ” he added.

Onuesoke described Okowa as an able leader, a man of his words prepared to make amends

provided things are brought to his knowledge.

He argued that Okowa whose agenda is pan Deltan believed in constructive engagement than praise singing, saying Okowa is a governor for Deltans and not for Aniomas.

The PDP strongman dismissed the claim that Okowa is clannish. “ Okowa has never been sectional. He believes in the generality of Delta State. His appointment of an Urhobo man as Secretary to the State Government is an evidence that he is a governor for the whole of Delta State and not Anioma,” Onuesoke stressed.

2015. Nest Oil management and community leaders shall visit the site for a head count of her work force at site because of her cruelty to host communities. Nest Oil will stop her flow line jobs on completion at the present location until community flow line contractors are equally and fully mobilized to site”, the statement said.

Mimik der batt oir’ R oad ttarred arred ahead of launc Mimikoo or order derss new AAbatt battoir’ Road launchh

P

reparations have commenced by Ondo State government to launch its semimechanised abattoir in Akure, the state capital, even as

Governor Olusegun Mimiko ordered work should begin on the facility’s roads immediately.

The Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kayode

•From left: Remo Diocesan Bishop, Methodist Church Nigeria, Rt. Revd Michael Olusegun Akinwale; Lay President, Engr. Adelana Odutola, and former Conference Lay President, Sir David Soremekun, at the Diocesan 2015 Annual Synod at Ojumele Circuit, Sagamu, Remo Methodist Church Cathedral, Sagamu, Remo.

Akinmade, said government embarked on the project to ensure meat sold to public is processed in hygienic environment.

According to him butchers will spend less on their operation as government is determined to ensure patrons enjoy the facility at little cost. Revealing that the provision will be of good economic benefit also to meat buyers in and around the state the Commissioner explained that butchers must relocate to the facility.

He said the facility has the capacity to take care of 2,000 live cows in four hours, adding that operators would be able to access 11,000 litres of water per day, far in excess of the required 3,500 litres.

He added that the facility is coming at a time when the concerns that deal in edibles and use raw meat for their products would be operating from the almost completed Shoprite complex in Alagbaka, Akure.

•Two of the suspects

Eko Foundation salutes APC, chides opposition

N

igerians have been enjoined to assist people in government with fervent prayers, constructive suggestions and ideas to positively position the nation.

This advice was given by the founding Chairman and a member of the Board of Trustees, Eko Foundation, Alhaji Hakeem Danmola, alongside the president, Professor Wale Smith, and Secretary, Mr Tayo Shasanya, at the extraordinary meeting of the Foundation. They seized the event to salute APC, President Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubuin for arresting the tension arising from the National Assembly leadership elections, thus putting the opposition to shame.

They commended Tinubu, Buhari and other APC chieftains for their mature handling of the outcome of the polls which eventually doused the tension that could have torn the APC, and the nation apart.

The Foundation appealed to all the political gladiators to embrace peace. ''In as much as we do honestly appreciate the electorate's determination for the much amplified 'Change' nationwide via the 2015 polls, it behoves us all to genuinely justify such determination with a common front as compatriots to return to God's glory especially among the comity of the most highly respected blessed nations globally where no man is oppressed'',, it added.

Gbaramatu youths back Johnny for Amnesty chair

T

he youths of Gbaramatu kingdom, in Warri SouthWest local government, Delta State, have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to grant the recommendation by youths and ex-militant leaders in Niger Delta region, to appoint Chief Michael Johnny as Chairman of the Federal Government Amnesty Programme.

Comrade Timi Oluba, a youth leader in Gbaramatu, who spoke yesterday in Ondo State, said “ we support the recommendation to President Buhari to appoint our brother and son as Chairman of Amnesty programme, especially when several youths

and ex-militant leaders in the region, had endorsed Chief Johnny for the appointment”.

Oluba noted that Johnny, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, and Chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation EGCDF, would manage the Amnesty programme effectively and diligently. “ We are appealing to President Buhari that since Bayelsa and Ondo states had occupied the office, it is fair and proper to appoint Johnny, from Okerenkoko in Delta State as the new Chairman of the Amnesty programme”.

RCCG Magodo convention on CSR

By Providence Obuh

T

he Redeemed Christian Church of God, Victory Chapel, Magodo, Lagos Province 21, “Women of Honour ” Convention will focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The convention, scheduled to hold on June 28, 2015 at Victory Chapel, Magodo, GRA, Phase II Lagos, is holding under the theme: “The Divine Sheperdess.”

In a statement, the organising committee said, “Impartation of business knowledge and series of CSR activities are the hallmark of this year’s women of honour convention. Some of the

convention activities lined up for the four days programme include: a visit to Ijamodu Children Home, Sango Ota; cervical screening and health talk by guest speaker, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo; business seminar with sales exhibition as well as life issue with Pastor Ruth Essien and Impartation Night.

The programme would be wrapped up with Tehilla Praise Dinner featuring Tope Alabi, Aduke Gold, Yetunde Are, Laolu Gbenjo and Tosin Bee with a Thanksgiving service (Presentation of 500 Women of Honour Choir) on Sunday by Pastor Folu Adeboye, Pastor Diana Egho and Pastor Aderonke Olowoyo.

PAGE 28— SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

The labourers deserve wages

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he issue of non-pay ment of salaries to workers in some states of Nigeria has been kept on the news front pages for two weeks running now. This is a good development that has brought more publicity to the sufferings of Nigerian workers. Not that there was not adequate awareness of this fact before, but we all pretended it was not an issue of concern except to those affected.

Those of us who get our wages as and when due, or, maybe late by a few days or weeks were not really bothered by the plight of these workers. We barely noticed that mass of workers in some states are suffering and smiling as they joined their counterparts worldwide to celebrate Workers Day last month.

Dutifully they had turned up at the various venues, but with heavy hearts at the oppression they are witnessing in the hands of "modern day colonialists" called Nigerian politicians.

They looked for succour in the direction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the umbrella union for all workers unions, they could not find any. The union officials looked away sharply as the workers "labour" for survival under heavy financial yoke.

They ask themselves when will a messiah, like of old Labour leaders, rise up for them.

What a wish by workers who had been left in the cold by the union that is supposed to champion their causes. They feel anger towards the officials of NLC who have abandoned them to their fates. The union officials care less as they dine and wine with the "masters" that have enslaved the workers. Many are not surprised though, as these officials have been accused in the past of sell out to the government that now treats the NLC as an appendage of the government.

The Nigerian labour union has lost its voice. It can no longer cry out on the injustices the masses "enjoy" everyday. Gone are the days of the firebrand labour leaders, when activism is propelled by the passion to represent a cause and not for selfish reasons.

In the absence of a rallying voice from the NLC, "public spirited" individuals stepped in to fill the void. Roll the drums please, and welcome the hero of our time, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, representing Bayelsa Central District in the Nigeria upper legislative house. Senator Bruce had last week introduced drama as "palliative" for the workers when he announced his intention of donating half of his wardrobe allowance as a senator to the workers of the state of Osun.

Like some states, it was

reported that as at last week, the state government owed its workers eight months salaries. Senator Bruce must have been very moved by the plight of the workers to turn himself to a Santa Claus, popular known as "Father Christmas". His announcement received mixed reactions from Nigerians with many querying his intentions and particularly the yardstick for chosen the workers of the state of Osun as recipients of this largesse when there are other states that owe workers more months.

Aside Muray-Bruce's grandstanding, there is need for concern on the plight of these workers. The Federal Government should commission a probe into the financial dealings of the states in question.

The probe should seek to find answers to how these states got to this point? I know some of the bgovernors have been blaming the drop in the Fiscal Allocation for the non-payment, but this is not tenable an excuse.

It is rather saddening that many of the explanations given for the non-payment are rather too flimsy to accept as reasonable. While the states concerned are

The Nigerian labour union has lost its voice. It can no longer cry out on the injustices the masses "enjoy" everyday. Gone are the days of the firebrand labour leaders, when activism is propelled by the passion to represent a cause and not for selfish reasons

engaging in exercise in futility by their officials releasing press statements justifying their reasons for the non-payments, the workers continue to languish in debt, hardship and hunger. These workers are struggling to take care of themselves or put food and drink on the family tables, nor even take care of dependants. It is really pathetic.

Their frustration is fur-

ther heightened by comments of some members of the public, who rather than "scold" the erring governors, are celebrating them.

These individuals for one reason or the other, but not unlikely to be selfish, have been trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the workers by citing "developmental projects" implemented by these governors as reasons for non BT, the guy is ageless, that's why he was a soccer prodigy..

It is common knowledge that pensioners rarely get their dues, as at when due.

However, that is a different story for another day. It is rather unfortunate that this is happening in the 21st century, especially in a country blessed with abundant human and natural resources. In this country, workers are treated as "properties" of governments. Is it not a wicked practice when a worker had dutifully reported to work, did his own bit of duties, push files, taught students etc and for eight months, he had not received any bank deposit alert for his wages.

Yet our leaders visit countries where workers are treated as kings and queens. Some of them had worked in societies where workers' wages are treated as priority. But in their minds they conclude nothing will happen if workers are not paid their wages.

Meanwhile while the workers are suffering and praying for God to touch the hearts of their employers, the governors are frolicking about in expensive window tinted cars and hired helicopters. They have little thought for the workers as they fly first class to London, New York, Dubai, South Africa etc anytime they desire. They lodge in choice expensive hotels with a retinue of aides and family members and spending money like no man's business.

In the UK, the Mayfair is their choice place of accommodation. They arrange the costliest apartments in this area, and for a past time, they visit the best bars in the evenings for the most expensive champagne and cognac.

These governors not only visit, they come with a "few" of their states' fiscal allocations to put away in foreign accounts. They have their contacts in the city who works behind the scenes for them. These contacts give advice on how and where to "bury" the funds and also what properties to buy for investments.

But the masses are angry with them. They have to make amends before the public can learn to trust them again. In saner climes, these governors would have resigned honourably, after admitting the issue was beyond them but our leaders would sit tight and hope situation will go away.

Coping with social pressure

F

or couples trust ing God for chil dren, they must be hopefully. With hope, faith and belief that “ With God all things are possible”, joy unspeakable will arrive at last.

We need to thank God for the breakthrough in medical science commonly referred to as IVF. This has helped many couples to have their biological children yet it has failed for others.

We’ll return to this issue in subsequent editions.

Whichever option, the couple choose, they must be in agreement .

As stated in Genesis 1 vs 28 “ And God blessed them and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that movement upon the earth”.

The commandment of God is that all that he created, animals and human beings must pro create.

It is also through that even from the Bibical accounts some women, Sarah, Rebecca and Hannah did not have it so easy having children.

Learned Pastors attribute the challenge to a “ Spirit of Delay” but thank God the yoke can be broken.

May I say that the reader is free to refer to relevant sections in his or her faith to achieve a breakthrough.

When couples have a delay, the responsibility of warding off social pressure is for both.

Let’s not assume that men don’t feel the pressure too. Oh! They do.

Though they react differ-

ently. A man once shared his pain with me saying , “ When colleagues at work invite me to their naming ceremonies or kids birthday parties, I feel so lonely”.

Pressure for men is not only from colleagues at work but also from their parents who are desirous to see their grandchildren.

Mothers who wish to see “ their grandchil-

dren” tend to put more pressure on their sons but it takes the real man in the Man to withstand such pressure.

A man who had been married for about 15 years had an encounter with his mother who advised him to marry another wife, keep her in his hometown and have children . This she advised will enable her see

was her husband. So far, she seemed to have gotten away with it or so it seems.

Another woman who

Blaming each other isn’t the solution to the challenge.

Taking ungodly steps will further delay the breakthrough her grandchildren and it would be kept a “ family secret”.

Somehow, the man rejected her advising opting to keep his marriage vows.

He then told his mother ( it’s a true life story) “ Mum, I will continue to be your son meeting your needs and caring for you but if you don’t stop writing off my wife and giving such pieces of advice, then I will keep away from you”. That did it. Mama had no option than to shut up. Today this couple have four children including a set of twins.

Now, let’s get one thing clear, those who give negative advice will not be with you to bear the consequences of their ill advice.

It not just men that are badly advised women too are.

An elderly woman once advised her daughter’s friend who had been waiting to have children “ Why don’t you go and sleep with another man.

The baby will look like the man you share your bed with regularly ( your husband)”. That to me is simply evil.

It is the height of de-

ceit but then I have seen it happen.

A frustrated woman who gave in to pressure, went sleeping with her boss who is fair complexioned like the husband.

In this case, they were not waiting for children, they had daughters but wanted sons.

The boss’s wife had been giving birth to boys, so she took the plunge and got a son. Everyone in the office knew that the precious boys was fathered by her boss. The one who did not know

took a similar step did not have funny. In her own case, she lured the man who was waiting to have children from his wife into a relationship and had a child for him.

Everything went well for her, though the were not married, she child became her access to the man’s money. She made sure all the child’s needs were inflated .

The child became her gold mine.

However, Providence took the man and his wife to America, indeed they won a visa lottery and after a while the man wanted his daughter to live with him.

Then the secret was exposed.

A DNA test conducted on the girl showed that the man was not the biological father of the 13 year old girl.

Of course, the mother was confronted and she had no answer.

The man was so shocked, he almost passed out but resolved to continue to be the foster father of the teenager because it was “ too late to disown her”. Besides, he told me, “ I cannot blame the girl for the circumstances of her birth”.

Today this same man and his wife have a biological son who is about 10 years old.

The reality is that at one time or the other , a spouse could be emotionally low due to this challenge. He or she may not verbalize it .

The duty of the other partner is to encourage the one that is low. Avoid a situation where both of you are low at the same time. When this happens, one of the parties

should engage himself or herself in another activity and within a short time, he or she will bounce back.

Blaming each other isn’t the solution to the challenge. Taking ungodly steps will further delay the breakthrough.

More importantly, couples need to show each other more love and commitment while waiting.Remain steadfast have faith .

The good news is that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Readers share your experience and thoughts with us on joyfulhomes 2015@gmail.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 29

onji bags P apalant o Okonji Papalant apalanto Vanguard’s CSO buries in-la w in grand style Ok in-law

M

r Miller Amorighoye, the Chief Security Officer of Vanguard Media Limited, publisher of Vanguard newspapers gave the people of Sapele a delightful spectacle of style and class when he stormed the city, with his wife (the bereaved), his family members and friends for he final burial ceremony of his father in-law. Many organizations and leaders of several communities in the town graced the occasion. .

Mr.& Mrs. Miller Amorighoye (middle), Mr. Patrick Oke, National President of Omu-Ige Iwere (left) and Mr. Goodluck Ikpotor,National Vice President,Omu-Ige Iwere (right).

Mr. Miller Amorighoye, Vanguard Chief Security Officer (3rd from left), the Oritseboluwo of Warri Kingdom, Chief Richmond Macgrey (3rd from right), Mr. Sagboje Godwin,Miss Prisca Efejuku (2nd&1st from right), Dr. Omatsola Kpiasi and Mrs. Gbubemi Eyimofe (2nd & 1st from left).

R-L: Mr. Samule Iluwa, Leader of Ajoki Community, Mr. John-bull Ebiareneyen, President , Mr. Mene Godwin, Mr. Kenneth Nikoro, and Mr. Augustine Ogbemi.

L-R:Chairman of Ugbarajo Omu-ge Iwere, Warri, Mr. Samuel Oke, Mrs. Georgina Odeli, Asst.

Secretary, Mrs. Gladys Bodore, Vice Chairlady, and Mrs. Patience Eyangho, Financial Secretary.

title

TOP businessman, Chief Elvis Chukwudi Okonji and his wife, Faith have bagged the titles of Babalaje and Iyalaje of Papalanto land, in ancestral ‘Owu kingdom’ in Ogun State. They were both conferred with the titles by the Onipapa of Papalanto, Oba Jimoh Famuyiwa recently.

Oba Rasaq Jimoh Famuyiwa installs Chief Elvis Chukwudi Okonji, as the Babalaje of Papalanto in ancestral ‘’Owu Kingdom”, in Ogun State.

Chief Okonji and wife receive certificate of title from HRM Oba Jimoh Famuyiwa, Onipapa 1 of Papalanto land

14th W alimatul Qur’an of Ik otun Islamic centre Walimatul Iko holds 4th Walimatul

1

Qur’an of Ikotun Arabic and Islamic Centre, Ikotun, Lagos held recently at the school premises.

Leading dignitaries that graced the occasion is the founder of the Islamic school,Oba Abdul Azeez Asiwaju, Onikotun of Ikotun Land. Also in attendance were Alhaji Munir Bankole, MD, Medview Airline,Imam Abu-Bakry Obalanlege, Chief Imam of Ikotun Central mosque and a host of others. Photos by Bamidele Lamidi

Lion Christine Olufunke becomes District-Go District-Govv ernor ernor,, Lions Club International (District 404B-2)

Alhaji Munir Bankole (m) Founder of the centre with some Islamic scholars that started the centre

District Governor-Elect, District 404B-2, Lions Interantioanl, Lioness Dr. Christine Olufunke Adebajo, with her husband, Lion Dr. Adedeji Adebajo,

L-R: Alhaji Munir Bankole, MD, Medview Airline and Founder Ikotun Arabic and Islamic Center; Oba Abdul Azeez Asiwaju, Onikotun of Ikotun Land; Imam Abu-Bakry Obalanlege, Chief Imam of Ikotun Central mosque and Engr. Lookman Animashaun.

Cross section of graduands during the 14th Walimatul Qur'an of ikotun Arabic and Islamic Centre, Ikotun, Lagos C M Y K

Chief (Mrs) Faith Okonji,the newly installed Iyalaje 1 of Papalanto Land, displays her certificate of title, with the Oba and hubby

PAGE 30—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015

BY DELE SOBOWALE

W

e the governors of the progressive party met today to review the state of the economy...it has become so serious and urgent actions must be taken for a bail out for our states. We have some challenges because of the drop in oil price and issues of oil theft….

Governor Okorocha Rochas, June 16, Abuja, at a meeting of governors of All Progressive Congress.

“A precedent embalms a principle”, William Scott, 1745-1836.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 198).

INTODUCTION The request by seven All Progressive Congress, APC, Governors, namely, Okorochas (Imo), Ambode (Lagos), Al-Makura (Nassarawa), Aregbesola (Osun), Masari (Katsina), Ganduje (Kano) and Ajimobi (Oyo) raise several questions before consideration of the content of the request itself, as well as the reasons adduced for it.

First, the seven governors don’t even form a majority of the APC governors in Nigeria. They certainly amount to just twenty per cent of the thirty-six governors in Nigeria. So, the issue of locus arises. Are they speaking for themselves, all the governors of APC or all the governors of Nigeria? A corollary question is: were they mandated by those absent to make the request on behalf of those absent? If not, do they expect the President of Nigeria to seriously consider their strange, to say the least, request?

Second, even the seven in attendance can be grouped into two – those on their first term (Ambode, Masari, Ganduje) and those on second term (Rochas, Aregbesoal, Ajimobi).

The first-timers can convincingly argue that they were not in office four years ago when crude oil was selling for $118 per barrel, when the budget benchmark was $78 per barrel; and so they could not have saved for the rainy day. The second-timers can offer no such excuse. When a budget benchmark is set at $78 per barrel, all recipients of funds from that source are expected to save for the day when the price would go below $78. Failure to do so cannot be blamed on the Federal Government. The blame belongs to those who spent every kobo in the last four years.

C M Y K

States’ request for bail out and its consequences Third, the monthly revenue allocation exercise, expected to be attended by all Commissioners of Finance, also assumed that the Commissioners would not leave their brains behind when coming. The slide in revenue allocated started from 2013.

All the Finance Commissioners, if they were not incompetent, should have drawn the attention of their principals, the state governors, to the continuous slide, after three months. They should also have conducted medium and long term studies to determine the drift of revenue to be expected from Abuja.

That is what planning is about. That leads to two questions: which state government received such a study from the highly-paid commissioners of finance and immediately drew up an action plan to deal with what had turned out to be continuous decline in federally-allocated revenue? Again, why blame the Federal Government for their poor governance?

Third, different states got into the problem in which they find themselves and the arrears of salaries owed to public servants range from three to nine months. Are the governors asking the Federal Government to pay all the arrears of all the states or part of it?

Also, is the bail-out supposed to be in the form of grant (gift) or loan? If grant, should it be based on the equality of states (i.e the same amount for every state) or on other criteria? If other basis will determine the amount advanced, have they worked out and agreed on these modalities? Otherwise, the meeting at Abuja was a mere jamboree.

But, like most unrepentant people, they cannot even admit that the government of the state was responsible for the debts, not OkonjoIweala. They also fail to acknowledge that virtually all the projects for which huge loans were taken would fail to generate any income to the state.

That is the classical definition of “reckless spending

Fourth, not once since 1960 had the Federal Government been asked to bail out each of the federating units.

And, there is no provision in the constitution for such a bail out.

Obviously, this strange request, if granted at all, would establish a precedent which might be applied again in the future – if states recklessly misapply their funds. The question is: is this what we want; especially, when the governors are not also prepared to open their states for probe to determine if funds which could have been used to pay workers have not been mis-appropriated. We will return to this matter later.

Fifth, the presence of the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, in the midst of “beggar” governors, must be embarrassing – not only to Lagosians, but to the entire country.

Next to the Federal Government, Lagos State is the most viable state. In fact, the state might as well have its own mint to print all the money it needs for its operations – as long as the income is well managed. Was Ambode in attendance to share “solidarity” with his colleagues to avoid being regarded as snobbish or was the mistake inadvertent? Just as Abuja represents our status as a nation, Lagos is the financial and economic capital of the country. The entire world is interested in Lagos. The governor of Lagos state cannot, deliberately or inadvertently create the impression that the state cannot manage its affairs as to default on salaries.

Finally, there is overwhelming

evidence that states are in their various predicaments because fours groups of officials failed to perform their constitutional functions as required. These are, in order of culpability: the governor, the State House of Assembly, the Finance Commissioner and the AuditorGeneral. Recklessness in government, which is pervasive, insufficient oversight functions, collusion in mismanagement of resources and poor quality of individuals holding these offices account for the bulk of the problem. Generally, the Commissioner for Finance in most states is no more than the Governor’s Bag Man – he holds the state’s funds in a bag into which the governor dips his hands at will; no questions asked.

WHEN RECKLESSNESS IS CONSIDERED A VIRTUE “Nor should we listen to those who say ‘The voice of the people is the voice of God’; for the turbulence of the mob is always close to insanity”, Alcuin, 735-804.

Elected officials, and those appointed to offices covered by law are supposed to provide leadership – not pander to the whims and caprices of the “masses”. True leaders are a breed apart; they don’t, or should not think like the masses. That was why Lao-tsy, 6th Century AD, said that they are “not so good when people obey and acclaim [them]”.

(VANGUARD BOOK p 124). Below are examples from the past and the present, of expenditures made in various states, which were acclaimed at the time, and which have now become drains on resources without yielding any, or very little income to the states. Readers should bear in mind that in economics reckless spending, with public funds refers to expenditure made which confers no economic benefit to the people. This is important because defenders of the state governments will soon flood the airspace with gibberish as “explanations”. a.

Two states, one in the Northeast and the other in the South West embarked on airport projects.

The NE state’s airport was completed and is now in use, the SW airport was started but contractors have abandoned the site. Only one flight a day lands in the NE airport, whereas it requires at least six flights for it to be viable. In each case monthly deductions are made at source for the

Continues on page 31

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 31

States’ request for bail out and its consequences Continued from page 30 resources without yielding any, or very little income to the states.

Readers should bear in mind that in economics reckless spending, with public funds refers to expenditure made which confers no economic benefit to the people.

This is important because defenders of the state governments will soon flood the airspace with gibberish as “explanations”. a.

Two states, one in the Northeast and the other in the South West embarked on airport projects. The NE state’s airport was completed and is now in use, the SW airport was started but contractors have abandoned the site. Only one flight a day lands in the NE airport, whereas it requires at least six flights for it to be viable. In each case monthly deductions are made at source for the Governors follies. b.

Again, in the NE, a governor had four “first ladies”, and in addition appointed 1,000 Special Advisers, all paid the going rate for such offices. Again, in the SW a former governor declared by “Executive Order” that people over 70 years in the state would receive N5,000 monthly. Over 250,000 people were qualified to receive the windfall. c.

We race to the South South, where a former Governor embarked on the nation’s Tourist Attraction; he borrowed recklessly, received rave reviews for his foresight and, on the basis of it, was even persuaded to run for the Presidency in 2007. Today, the place is not only sorry sight, it is draining millions in loan repayment by the state. Next door, a former governor also embarked on the construction of an 18-storey hotel and entertainment centre which would employ thousands.

He left office after eight years and the hotel is not, and might never be, completed. d.

The last two governors of a state in the South East apparently have been competing on who can acquire more expensive cars at state expense.

According to informers, the former governor had 48; the present has 52 in their fleets. e.

The governor of the poorest state in the Southwest, and the fourth poorest nationwide, spent more on advertisements to support the presidential candidate of his party than governors of states collecting three times his own. That is not governance; it is worse than recklessness; it is gambling. And no governor is elected to gamble with public funds. Is Buhari supposed to bail out the perpetrator of this fiscal lunacy also? And why? f.

Meanwhile, an immediate past governor of a North West State claimed to have run the state without borrowing a kobo. He was faced with the same economic challenges as his overglamorized compatriots in other states. Therein lies the difference between real leadership and pretension backed by media hype until it backfires.

There is no need to list seriatim all the examples demonstrating that state governors are the chief culprits with respect to wasteful spending in their states.

States’ Houses of Assembly come next. There is probably no former, or current, Speaker of the State’s Assembly, or member, who had not compromised his office C M Y K

For reasons too numerous to list, the state governors have not justified the request for a bail out

•Governor Okorocha Rochas

and allowed the Governor to get away with reckless spending.

When a state governor acquires an aircraft, probably not included in the budget, and state legislators keep quiet, they invariably have opened the flood gates to other financial indiscretions.

Most Commissioners of Finance, might as well be called “Cashiers”. Their equivalents in the United States, whose constitution we copied and bastardized, are not just engaged in revenue collection and sharing.

They undertake short, medium and long term perspective studies aimed at ensuring the viability and sustainability of their states.

They are responsible to the people.

Nigerian Commissioners of Finance “don’t give a damn” about the people. Ask for a longterm study regarding the state’s finance and you draw a blank.

The defenders of one of the “beggar” governors attending the meeting admit that the state services debt with N700 million a month, against Federallyallocated revenue which dwindled to about N1.2bn last year and wage bill of N3.4bn. But, like most unrepentant people, they cannot even admit that the government of the state was responsible for the debts, not Okonjo-Iweala. They also fail to acknowledge that virtually all the projects for which huge loans were taken would fail to generate any income to the state. That is the classical definition of “reckless spending”.

And, even a bail-out, if at all provided, will not solve the state’s financial problems. That particular state will be back again requesting for bail-out within two

months. And then what?

What most of the states have in common is the tendency of state governors to seek cheap popularity by embarking on projects which benefit a few thousand people – while everybody in the state pays the price – including the project price inflation. The two airports will never be viable, the tourist attraction will increasingly attract only weeds and as more people reach 70, the state will need more funds to sustain the ill-conceived idea. Yet, their spokesmen and other defenders will point to the acclaim and the international awards that were received when the projects started. The problem with the “Award Factories” in Nigeria and abroad is that they never return to visit the projects when they run down!!!

IS THE REQUEST CONSTITUTIONAL? “The [President] himself ought not to be subject to [men] but subject to God and to the law; because the law makes him [President]. Bractor, 13th Century, philosopher. (VAGUARD BOOK p 120).

For President Buhari, and the rest of us, the first thing to consider is the question: is this request constitutional? And, even if it is, has the request followed the proper procedure or are we dealing with a bunch of desperate individuals grasping at straws?

Incidentally, “the rest of us” do not include the governors spokesmen and camp followers, as well as their Halleluya Chorus groups.

Some of them have already sent scripts to the media emanating

from the same propaganda machines – especially in a SW state. For those unthinking people their governor can do no wrong.

The reference is to those who have not packed their brains in poly bags.

To begin with, Governors’ Forum, either of APC or PDP or National, is not one of the bodies recognized by the 1999 Constitution. At best, it is a mere “Association of Friends”; at worst, it is irrelevant. That is being polite.

As such, on what grounds are these people appealing to the President for relief? Second, as occupants of positions of great responsibility, one would have expected them to answer the question by pointing to the part of the constitution that empowers them to make the request. But, so far, they have not demonstrated the degree of sense of responsibility expected.

Furthermore, they have not stated where in our constitution Buhari, or any President, can invade the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and authorize the payment of billions of naira as bail-out to states without a bill presented to, and passed, by the National Assembly. Some of the governors are lawyers, or should have lawyers. So, one would expect them to avoid any public action which can be characterised as a “bloody waste of time”. But, so far this is what has happened.

Given space constraints, it will not be possible to go into all the constitutional impediments standing in the way of this bizarre request by the APC Governors’ Forum.

WHY BUHARI MAY (OR SHOULD) NOT ENTERTAIN THE REQUEST. “For the sins ye do two by two, ye must pay for one by one.” Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936. (VANGUARD BOOK p 228).

For reasons too numerous to list, the state governors have not justified the request for a bail out.

But, two, inextricably linked, reasons will be sufficient. That is where the States’ Assemblies come in again; and the Auditor Generals

of the states. For public servants perception is vital. Once the impression gains ground that the people are governed by crooks, a situation in which civil servants are owed several months salary induces no sympathy among the citizens. In my travels, which had taken me to 28 states in the last one year, three statements are made everywhere.

First, nobody knows how much the government generates every month. Two they don’t want us to know the truth. Three, the top people steal most of it leaving very little to develop the state. State governors are their own worst enemies. They have fostered nationwide cynicism about government everywhere. None is exempted. The request for bail-out is often interpreted by the people as a demand for more funds to embezzle since there is often no control by the legislature and no audit of any kind. The only crooks punished in states are those not part of the syndicate.

Furthermore, the states are also defaulting on debts to contractors; most of the projects have been abandoned. Once granted a bail-out, the request for hand-out to pay contractors might follow. Where will the begging end?

To the general feeling, one more reason must be given for opposing bail-out. States are very careless about collecting what is due to them. They don’t levy and collect taxes, they play Father Christmas (Stomach infrastructure) all over the place and they don’t execute budgets.

The current Chairman of the National Governors’ Forum, Abdullazeez Yari of Zamfara, recently disclosed that the Federal Government of Nigeria owes all the states from N10bn to over N50bn for projects carried out on behalf of Abuja. So, what is the point of crawling in front of a debtor to ask for a loan? That amounts to borrowing your own money.

CONCLUSION That last point takes us back to where we started. Most Nigerian Governors and their Commissioners of Finance don’t know the basic principles of financial management. They just collect and spend. With that attitude, this bail-out will not be the last. Instead, it will become the precedent for bail-outs in the future.

The state ranked 20th on revenue collection had accumulated the fifth largest debt stock to finance projects which are now grounded. That summarises the absurdity of the situation in which beggar states find themselves. If bail-out is granted to prodigals, what will be the reward for prudence? It can’t be nothing.

Buhari should send the governors back to their people. Let them explain to their people how they got into the mess, agree to forensic audits, appoint real finance managers as advisers, stop elephant projects, like unviable airports in poor states and set good examples with their life styles. No poor state’s governor should operate any aircraft.

Then, may be, bail-out can be considered. It is doubtful if many of them will survive the audit and ordeal of fulldisclosure.

PAGE 32—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015

N9.2 BILLION SALARIES

Lawmakers should be ready for pay cut — Hon. Okafor

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

H

onourable John Chike Okafor represents Okigwe South Fed eral Constituency in the House of Representatives. He was a Commissioner for Finance in Imo State and seconded the nomination of Speaker Yakubu Dogara. In this interview, the former banker explains why emoluments and overhead of government officials should be reduced. He also speaks on other national issues. Excerpts: Recently, it was alleged that members of the National Assembly collect N9.2 billion as wardrobe allowance. What struck your mind when you heard about it?

I don’t know whether you call it allegation. I woke up just like every other Nigerian and I read in the papers that lawmakers are taking home almost nine point something billion naira.

As I speak to you now, there hasn’t been any correspondence between the National Assembly Commission or the National Assembly Management to us to say this is what our remuneration is.

If you ask me, I don’t even know what I am supposed to earn.

And I can’t be bothered. What is important is that one has found himself in a position of service to the nation and that is what is important.

But I have also made inquiry, I am a concerned Nigerian. I went to the National Assembly and the information I got is that if you break down that billion, what a member of House of Reps should be taking on the average is about 18 or 19million. And that amount is not wardrobe allowance. My rent is built in there; even my car loan is there.

And if you take it from the point that we are 360 plus 109 senators, the figure that is being branded about, the N9 billion, in fact, people have already started calling me from home, our constituents are calling, “oga ha, 9billion”, it is alarming, it is embarrassing.

But to put it squarely, it is not my responsibility as a lawmaker, there is a body, a statutory body, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission that determines what every public officer earns.

I think the legislative arm of government has been so much vilified. It appears that the Nigerian media doesn’t seem to have a good relationship or is not favourably disposed to the legislature.

This is because any information from National Assembly especially when it has to do or concerns the welfare of the members, it is taken out of context and exaggerated by the media.

President Muhammadu Buhari had promised to cut cost in the running of government. Do you subscribe to the reduction of the salaries of public office holders?

I will look at it from the point of an economist, than from a lawmaker who has found himself in public service. The country is experiencing an economic situation that needs revolutionary remedial measures to be put in place and what is it? Of course our economy is monolithic, it is dependent on oil and we are not in control of the fact that plays out in that market.

So the law of demand and supply and pricing of excess crude has affected what Nigeria received in the last two years.

I sat in Imo for the last three and a half years as the Commissioner for Finance till late last year; I know what I am talking about. I sat in Federal Allocation Account Committee interfacing with all key players, departments and agencies and I know that our economy is experiencing a serious downturn.

C M Y K

John Chike Okafor And having said that, since we are not in control of receipt, there is another index that we can control; that is our expenditure. And in trying to control our expenditures, the very first and the very critical part that we should look at is our overhead and that is where the question comes in; it is not just the salary of lawmakers, it is not just the salary of those of us at the federal level, down across the three tiers of government; from federal, state and local government areas, there is a need for downward review so that we can free a lot more funds to be able to fund infrastructure, provide security, provide jobs, fund education, fund health care; it is a simple economic balance.

Cost here includes overhead, salaries, emoluments of everybody. The president is looking at his own, the vice president is looking at his own, if and when the ministers come, they should also be looked at. I am an advocate for a cut in overhead, a cut in salaries and wages of every political office holder.

And if we can deal with the labour, then we should also look at the civil servants. We are all drawing money from the same coffers, but I know that one is a bit sensitive and it could cost a lot more controversy.

But for those of us who have been elected and accepted to serve our fatherland and who have taken oath of office and oath of allegiance, the onus is on us to be patriotic enough to ask that the government and, if I have a way as a member of the National Assembly, I would want to pass a motion to compel us as a government to do something about that because that is the only way we can free a lot more funds, save a lot money to make available to a responsible government like we have in place now. So I agree that there is a need to do that.

But you can only bargain, you can argue with what you know. I don’t know what the salaries, what the emoluments and take home of lawmakers are as I speak to you now because it has not been communicated to us.

Nigerian workers are said to earn about the least in the world. Don’t you think such motion could cause uproar within the labour circle?

No, it would be insensitive to come up with a bill that would look at civil servants.

I am going to go all out to see how we can look at our laws and come up with necessary legislation that would compel us, everybody to look at that, starting with political office holders, whether elected or appointed. It would be a little bit insensitive to look at that of public and civil servants.

Some persons are saying that the processes that brought about the presiding officers of the two chambers in the National Assembly were faulty. What is your

In trying to control our expenditures, the very first and the very critical part that we should look at is our overhead and that is where the question comes in; it is not just the salary of lawmakers, it is not just the salary of those of us at the federal level, down across the three tiers of government

take on that?

I disagree that the process was faulty. What does the law say, what does the rule say?

It is the prerogative of the members of the legislature to determine their leadership, especially the presiding officers. There are other positions that are party-based; those positions are to be determined at party levels; in this case now, majority and minority parties and you cannot do that without recourse to the leadership of the parties.

But when it comes to the election of the presiding officers, in the case of the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President and in the case of the House of Reps, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, what the laws says is that it is the responsibility of the members of the National Assembly to determine who leads them.

So if anybody says that the process that produced these four people is faulty, then the person should come and show us where and how the laws of the land have been contravened.

There is a call for the Deputy Senate President and the Deputy Speaker, House of Reps to resign. Do you subscribe to that call?

I have not heard about that.

Some people want the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to resign because he is of the PDP, and some persons are calling for the resignation of the Deputy Speaker because some APC chieftains say the emergence hurt party interests.

Well, I am hearing that for the first time. I don’t know what happened in the red chamber. But I can tell you what happened in the green chamber where I sit.

The Deputy Speaker was duly nominated and voted for and he won with a very wide margin and I am sure his votes cut across party lines and I am not sure anybody is calling for his resignation.

And in the case of the Deputy Senate President, I don’t know what you are talking about also. Was it only PDP members that voted for him? He ran against somebody and it was an APC candidate that he ran against and won. Was it only PDP that voted for him? APC also voted for him.

I think we should go beyond party lines and begin to look at individuals. I think those of them in the red chamber voted for an individual and he won. And I am not aware that anybody is asking for his resignation.

Political parties imposing candidates on the leadership of the National Assembly It is not abnormal, it is not a crime. It is part of lobbying, it is part of adoption, and it is part of coalition. Prior to the elections that we had, you would agree with me that there were adoptions here and there.

But some APC chieftains are opposing the choice of Dogara as Speaker and Saraki as Senate President.

This is ego play, the ego war, it will disappear. These people have emerged and, before their emergence, some at the level of the leadership of the party took positions for and against. So when it didn’t go your way, you do not expect the person to jump out immediately and begin to hug and clap hands, it is a process, it will play out.

You played an important role in the emergence of Dogara as Speaker. What motivated your interest?

When we came in during our induction, a couple of aspirants for the position of Speaker spoke to us. I attended meetings where one or two or three aspirants spoke to us. And I can tell you, listening to the three of them that attended the meetings, Dogara stood shoulder high and above every other aspirant.

And to me it was a personal decision, not influenced by any group, leader or anything.

Listening to him, this man has vision, idea, and the background to lead me. It is about me now, not about anybody else. It is about Chike Okafor coming to the House of Reps and having a Speaker that he can look up to considering where I am coming from.

I was trained in the organized private sector, worked in the bank and rose to a very senior management position. I have been under different leadership, management position, I have looked up to different mentors in that field of life, banking.

Then I also found myself in public service, becoming a Commissioner for Finance and a member of executive council where I had a governor and a deputy governor, I had a Chief of Staff, I had an SSG, I had a Speaker and Deputy Speaker; these are people that are high up there and I was relating with them. And I also became a member of Federal Allocation Account Committee, where the Minister of State for Finance was the Chairman. I found myself holding committee positions, serving either as a chairman or in various ad hoc committees for over three and a half years.

So I have seen leadership play out, politically, in business, socially. In the university I was a students union leader, I was an activist. So I stand out to say that Chike Okafor has come to understand what and what he would want to see in a man that is going to lead him at any point in time.

So when I came in here for my induction, spent a couple of days and weeks and listened to these aspirants, I became convinced that Yakubu Dogara is a better man to lead and I went all out for him.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015 PAGE 33

BOKO HARAM’S WINNING STRATEGY (1)

Inside Nigeria’s dirty war on terror How military officers are led to their death Amnesty International’s damning report

BY JIDE AJANI

A

fter two weeks of investigation, Sunday Vanguard presents exclusive details of the dirty war going on between the military, members of the Jama’atu Ahliss-Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad (Western education is evil), otherwise known as Boko Haram, some influential Nigerians who appear to have lent support to the terrorists on the one hand, and some officers and men of the military who are aiding the operations of the terrorists in this war, as well as the sometimes naïve yet complicit contradictory disposition of Europe and America, that have both wittingly and unwittingly allowed the terrorists to gain ground and have become somewhat difficult to defeat. This report will show that whereas the military is engaged in a battle on the warfront, the political and psychological component of the engagement appears to be currying sympathy for these mindless killers because of those who seem to share their ideological slant and who once (and have again) found their way to the corridors of power in a polity of clashing socio-political and religious interests. This is the story of how experienced and war-tested officers are led to their death because of the contradictory, compromising and deadly activities of fifth columnists in the military and in government.

And beyond AI’s indictment of some top military commanders in Nigeria, former Commander-in-Chief, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, may be dragged before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. The details are as revealing as they are shocking.

SAD KILLING OF MAJOR TIMOTHY FAMBIYA, SHOT FROM BEHIND Major Timothy Fambiya’s story is known to military commanders because the operation in which he took part was both strategic and very sensitive.

Fambiya was a native of Gwoza in Yobe State. He was a Christian.

Intel extracted from and some made available by detained members of Boko Haram suggested that their leader, Abubakar Shekau, was hiding somewhere around the hills in Gwoza. Top military commanders brainstormed and, after hours of thinking out how to approach the battle, an action plan was hatched. But because of the hilly nature of some parts of Gwoza and the need to be dexterous in prosecuting the operation, someone with a good knowledge of the area of operation needed to be part of or lead the operation.

Enter Major Fambiya.

Now, here was a young man who was on a course at Nigeria’s Command and Staff College, Jaji, in far away Kaduna. Words got to him that Shekau may be hiding around the hills of Gwoza but the top

Continues on page 34

C M Y K

BOKO HARAM ORPHANS:

RETIRED BUT NOT TIRED

We ate grass, drank urine 35-37

I cannot rest when the world is being terrorised — Prof. Ibrahim Gambari

38-39

Boko Haram, AI and the war crime question

40

PAGE 34—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015

Continued from page 33 commanders were hamstrung in proceeding. This was in July, 2014.

“That was how Fambiya came into the picture. Because he was very familiar with the topography of this town, he volunteered to be part of the operation. The idea was to capture Shekau alive.

Unfortunately, as in some of our operations, we believe some people from within, even among the officer corps, may have leaked the information to the terrorists”, a source said.

Mind you, it was from this battle that the story of Shekau’s killing filtered out.

There were conflicting reports that he was injured during the gun battle and that he died but was quickly buried.

Other reports claimed he fled with gunshot injuries to neighbouring Cameroun.

Worse still, Sunday Vanguard gathered that it was after this battle that Fambiya was shot in the head from behind.

A top military source lamented: “In Fambiya’s death, Nigeria lost one of her best Special Forces officer”.

The source went on: “We suspect that Major Fambiya may have been killed by one of his men because he was shot in the head from behind.

Though we have no concrete proof of that, the incident raises the question as to how the terrorists have been able to infiltrate the military because of some people who seem to share their ideological slant”.

A COLONEL IS AMBUSHED AND BURNT ALIVE IN HIS MILITARY TANK If you are still trying to come to terms with the gruesomeness of the death of Fambiya, the story of this Colonel will shock you even more.

Due to the sensitivity involved, Sunday Vanguard would not reveal his identity.

But the military authorities know him too well.

Also, for fear of giving away sources, the location of the battle would not be mentioned; but it happened in Borno State.

There was an operation to engage members of the Jama’atu AhlissSunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, (Western education is evil), otherwise known as Boko Haram. The said Colonel volunteered to lead his men into battle.

According to one of his friends who disclosed what happened, the operation was a top secret operation. “As they advanced in a convoy of trucks and tanks, barely 10kilometres from base, they were ambushed. You would not believe that the terrorists directed their Rocket Propelled Grenades, RPGs, at the tank in which the Colonel was riding. Our officers and men attempted to repel the terrorists but these terrorists came prepared.

Now, to demonstrate that they had fore-knowledge of the operation and they knew where their target was, there were dozens of them. While the battle raged, they just concentrated on the Colonel’s tank. They burnt him alive before fleeing into the forest and hillside”.

The Colonel’s death caused real anguish for the military leadership.

The source then asked somewhat rhetorically: “Do you know what it means to be burnt alive in a tank”?

You may never know.

And apart from the irreplaceable human life, it does not come cheap to train an individual to the level of a Colonel.

THE ATTEMPTED KILLING OF OBASANJO’S SON And on Monday, September 8, 2014, former President Matthew

'How military officers are led to their death' Okikiolakan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo almost lost one of his sons, Adeboye, a Lt-Col, to the insurgents.

The attack on his platoon in Baza, near Michika, Adamawa State, followed the same pattern of an insider-assisted information flow to the terrorists.

The officers and men of the Nigerian Army were not even in Michika yet – that was the town they wanted to go and liberate before they were ambushed by the terrorists.

Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that the operation to liberate Michika was top secret.

But the manner in which the terrorists ambushed and opened fire on the troops had all the signposts of advance intelligence, that the troops were coming. At the time of the incident, which took place at Baza, Major Gen J.S. Zaruwa, Colonel Victor Ebhaleme, who served as the Brigade Commander of the 23rd Army Brigade in Yola, and Lieutenant Agwu were all together advancing towards Michika when Boko Haram fighters ambushed them and unleashed the deadly attack on the soldiers.

Adeboye Obasanjo was shot in the leg. Many other officers were shot. Some officers and men died during that battle while others gave up the ghost in hospital.

TRAITORS WITHIN Sunday Vanguard learnt that sometime in December 2013, top military commanders were getting worried that officers and men were being lost to the terrorists not on account of face-to-face combat but due to acts of sabotage occasioned by serial ambush of military convoys.

However, matters began to get to a head with the targeting and killing of the Colonel in his tank in a convoy of many tanks and trucks. Also, the killing of Major Fambiya marked another very sour point.

A very senior military commander, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard anonymously, gave an insight into the workings of the military today, especially when strategy sessions are held preparatory to combat.

“It has become so bad that we now have some conscientious objectors – these are officers and men who latch on one excuse or the other in order not to be active - in this battle

The officers and men of the Nigerian Army were not even in Michika yet – that was the town they wanted to go and liberate before they were ambushed by the terrorists against terrorists. While some claim religion as a basis, others, who just refuse to play by the rules of engagement, would just refuse to be active. They will just sit there at sessions and will not talk. They will not make meaningful contributions”.

Worse still for the military, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that sometimes, within minutes or hours after such strategy meetings, whatever had been discussed would find its way to some quarters.

In fact, the source said most of the ambush that had led to the deaths of many officers and men were as a result of insider activities in collaboration with the terrorists.

That is one leg of the activities of the fifth columnists.

Whereas there can be no excuse for acts of barbarism on the part of Nigeria’s military, there have been occasions when the terrorists have tended to use human shields during combat. This leads to needless loss of innocent lives.

There have also been many instances where the terrorists have been dressed like civilians while attacking the military.

For such scenarios, Sunday Vanguard was told that some officers and men of the military sometimes record such duels with telephone.

“It is the killing of some terrorists dressed in civilian clothing that some fifth columnists, who share the ideology of these killers, post on YouTube and send abroad to propagandise that the war against terror in the North East is a genocide against the people of the area.

Yes, the military is expected to

operate within a code of ethics that shares the values of respect for human lives but when terrorists dressed as civilians are killed and these footages are made to look as though the military simply opened fire on innocent civilians, it sends the wrong message”, an Army General said.

“We are not going to behave like the terrorists who are not accountable to no one; but to paint a picture that appears as if the Nigerians military is just spineless does not help the cause of this war”.

SOUL SERACHING AND AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S REPORT And whereas Amnesty International, AI, the global human rights watchdog, released its report on Nigeria’s war on terror, penultimate week, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, a report which it claimed was as a result of its research and investigation, there are fresh grounds to pooh-pooh the report which Netsanet Belay, its African Director, Research and Advocacy, and Anna Neistat, Senior Director of Research, promoted by ballyhoo.

Two retired senior military officers, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, said the report, which AI presented as a research work, is not different in content from the findings of a report compiled after an investigation ordered by the Nigerian military itself. However, the same report was allegedly dangerously manipulated and presented in another context for the intendment of scandalizing the Nigerian military.

Indeed, there had been instances of rascality and recklessness on the part of some officer corps of the military in the prosecution of the war against terror. Even Nigeria’s human rights body, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, had challenged the fidelity of the activities of Nigeria’s military in prosecuting the war.

“But there was no structured and tailored systemic modus operandi which tolerated any of such acts of dehumanization or brutality”, one of the retired officers stated.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that a former Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, sometime in July, 2013, set up an 18-man Joint Investigation Team.

The team comprised members of the various arms of the military as well as the para-military units, including representatives from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice – while not leaving out legal officers from security agencies in the affected states of Yobe, Adamawa and Borno States.

A statement from the military at that time noted: “The measure is geared towards the need to further ensure that the legal rights of persons involved are observed”.

The mandate of the team was the classification of the detainees as well as an appraisal of any forms of infringement on the rights of the detainees.

The report of the team was submitted within one month.

One of the retired officers who spoke to Sunday Vanguard asked: “Why then would Service Chiefs, working with their Chief of Defence Staff, having launched an investigation into a matter with a view to having a good sense of what had happened or what was happening, be labeled as people who should be tried for war crimes”?

THE MILITARY AND NIGERIA’S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION The contradictory nature of the activities of the Nigerian military in prosecuting the war on terror needs to be further interrogated.

On a few instances, the NHRC has had to eyeball the military regarding human rights violations. The killings in Baga, Borno State, and the APO killings in the FCT, Abuja, represent just two of the interventions of the NHRC. Indeed, based on the created interface between the Nigerian military and the NHRC, there may have been some improvements on the part of the military Sunday Vanguard discovered from the Commission that it has offices in the troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe where its men are on ground collating information on any noticed or perceived violations.

To be sure, Sunday Vanguard gathered that a series of meetings with and interventions by the NHRC have yielded quite a number of improvements in the human rights profile of the Nigerian military.

It was learnt that upon intervention by NHRC, the military revised the contents of its operational guidelines and rules of engagement which it now uses in the war-torn areas.

The improvements take cognizance of the sanctity of life as well as the need to protect civilians even while in the line of fire against terrorists.

As for the endorsement or rejection of AI’s report, Sunday Vanguard was informed that the position of the Commission is that it would not join the fray.

Instead, it is compiling its own data which would be used in writing a thorough report that would be presented to Nigerians and the world.

Indeed, there have been two Joint Investigation Teams set up by the military part of which were informed by the intervention of the NHRC. NEXT WEEK •Europe and America flooded with edited video footages of war •The campaign against the Nigerian State •Idris Derby of Chad: Enemy at the border •ICC and Goodluck Jonathan as Cin-C •The West encouraged Boko Haram’s spread *How to defeat Boko Haram

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015 PAGE 35

O HARAM ORPHANS: KO BOK

We ate grass, drank urine

•Sur viv or or y!

•Surviv vivor orss sordid st stor ory!

•Our ordeal with the militar hildren — Pastor Folorunsho militaryy while e evvacuating cchildren •’How we keep them alive’

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN-CITY

I

t may be difficult to feel the pains of these over 1,300 victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, until you visit the children where they are camped in Uhogua community, in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The camp is situated on a large expanse of land acquired by the President of the International Christian Center for Missions, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, in 2005, with a view to rendering assistance to less privileged children in the area, but unknown to him, a Herculean task was ahead of him. The camp resembles a monastery where you see missionaries who left their families to dedicate their lives to the service of humanity. A 28year-old German lady, who identified herself as Linda Shoes, works in the camp.

Sunday Vanguard saw her at the kitchen assisting the natives to cook for the children. The C M Y K

German, who disclosed she has been in this camp since 2005, said she left Germany to help humanity in Nigeria. She said, “I am working with the children in need here especially from the North East. So many of them have seen their own parents killed, their families slaughtered. For three weeks they were hiding in the mountains, no food, no water, they ate stones and sand to survive. So many of them, when they came here, the clothes they wore were the same clothes they fled with the day Boko Haram came. No pants, nothing on their feet. Some even came here naked. I am here because this is my calling, that is God’s plans for me. The camp is wonderful. I am happy that we are able to assist these children, about 900 of them from the North East and we have about 1,300 in total. They are orphans, children that have no body to care for them. I am happy God is using people like us toassist them”.

Due to lack of funds to build big and modern halls, you have

wooden houses and many uncompleted buildings, where the displaced children are housed. There is a section where chicken pox victims are quarantined, they only move to where others are housed when they are certified okay by volunteer doctors and nurses who routinely come from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Faith Medical Complex and the Catholic Church in Benin. But notwithstanding the obvious poverty in this camp, Pastor Folorunsho tried to build sports facilities for the children in primary and secondary schools.

The facilities are made of wood.

The teachers and head mistress of the primary school (Chistlike School), Mrs V.I.Uche, have no office. They operate under the trees which is properly swept so as to make the place as conducive as it can. Anytime it rains, Mrs Uche and the teachers run into the classrooms for cover. Sunday Vanguard saw 10-year-old Esther Habila weeping ceaselessly and tried

Majority of the kids are either orphans or have lost contact with their parents as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East

to inquire about the problem with the little girl. One of the missionaries explained, “She spent one month, two weeks with Boko Haram in Gwoza, Borno State. She escaped with some people and they trekked to Cameroun for four days, and then to Yola. Her parents were butchered in her presence, so the trauma has been there. She hardly talks, just cries and screams. We are doing everything possible to help her”.

Over 80 of the children are squeezed into one classroom.

But the irony of it all is that they learn with joy and pray to God to bring helpers to them in the camp. Majority of the kids are either orphans or have lost contact with their parents as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

Pastor Evelyn Omigie, one of the missionaries at the camp, who took Sunday Vanguard round, told of the challenges they face in taking care of the children. She said: “When these children were brought

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PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015

Boko Haram orphans' sordid story!

*Inside the world of displaced children Continued from page 35 here from the North East, they came with different sicknesses; many had been feeding on grass, muddy water, their urine. Because of this, we took them to UBTH when they came. So the UBTH decided to bring their mobile clinic here under their community health department and they actually took care of the children’s health needs. Thank God we were able to tackle those sicknesses including chicken pox. Medical doctors from UBTH came, doctors from Faith Mediplex also came to take care of the children. Many have been quarantined and it helped so much because the chicken pox is no longer spreading.

Paying WSSCE fees and feeding “We also have some of these children writing SSCE and NECO exams. We spent over N400,000 on both exams. The money was raised by our missionaries, particularly our pastor. We have over three hundred churches in our ministry and they raise special funds every Sunday to help.

Some people also come around to help financially. We appeal to the Edo government to accredit the school because if the school is accredited, we C M Y K

don’t need to pay huge amount of money to enrol our students for SSCE “We cook six bags of rice daily to feed the children. If we are making garri, we use four bags of garri. If we are making Tuwo, we use three full bags of grounded corn. The day we cook beans, we cook two full bags with so many tubers of yam. We spend a lot feeding them actually. Right now we need a big kitchen because the kitchen we have is small and delays cooking because we have to cook, remove the food and start cooking a fresh one due to lack of space and cooking utensils.

Accommodation “If you look at our buildings, there are some up to lintel level while some are still at the foundation level. Two years ago, we actually had money to roof the ones at lintel level but that was when the insurgency problem became bad in the North East and they brought the children here. So we said that the children surviving was more important after escaping death in Borno. And then we had to divert the money towards accommodating and feeding them. We are praying that God should touch individuals, governments to come to our aid and help these displaced persons”.

Commenting also, the

headmistress of Christlike Primary School, Mrs Uche, who disclosed she has three children staying with their father somewhere in the community, said the task of teaching the pupils and students had been very challenging due to lack of infrastructures.

“It has been challenging because of the large number of children we have in the camp.

The population of the children increased but we have limited classrooms, so it is very challenging. We really need classrooms and staff room. Our teachers don’t have anywhere to stay except under the trees.

And when it rains, it is hell for us. When it rains, we run to the children’s classrooms to hide and the place is always jam packed due to the number of people there. We need structures, people should help us. Some of us left our families to come and serve humanity and we believe God will help us to succeed”.

Pastor Solomon Folorunsho gave details of how the camp came about in this interview: “We, as a church, started in 1991. We also started a Christian home for the needy like orphans, vulnerable children, the handicapped in1992. When we started, I did not see it as a big deal because I believe that every church

They came with different sicknesses; many had been feeding on grass, muddy water, their urine

should care for the needy. We started by renting a room in the city to keep the children after we observed they were homeless, abused, no education, nothing. So we increased to three- bed room flat, from there to eight flats, until we added an upstairs to it.

We found out that the children increased to 400, then 450, a lot of them have graduated in universities, some of them are lawyers. But when we could not afford the money to put the children in private schools, we decided to see how we could set up a school. So when we got some donation, we used it to pay the staff. That was what gave birth to Christlike School, that they are attending today free or charge. Then our landlord started disturbing us that we did not tell him we were opening the place for children, that the children were disturbing peple. So we prayed and asked God for help and we were able to get this land from this community. In fact, the Enogie of this community is such a kind hearted person.

But after we purchased the land, we realized that we needed houses, we needed school to relocate. We started talking to people. So we went to sawmills and bought planks and started building wooden houses; the children were Continues on page 37

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015 PAGE 37

Continued from page 36 happy that they now have a bigger place to play around.

That was how we relocated to this place.

“About three years ago, there was a Christian brother from Borno State, who we knew through Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association based in Jos. He would tell us what they were passing through in Borno. He told us how Boko Haram started robbing them.

Then they started kidnapping their wives and daughters.

Boko Haram fighters will come, surround their houses, ask women to come out and they will select the beautiful girls and leave with them. We heard how they raped women in the presence of their husbands.

Later, Boko Haram started taking territories, so we had to relocate this brother about three or four times. He told us how they killed a fellow pastor and other people and he had to adopt about ten children to add to his own children to make 13.

So we had to be sending aid from here. One day he called me about 2am crying. I could hear explosions in the background. I asked him where his family was; he said he did not know. I wept through out that night thinking of what to do.

And I was informed about many displaced persons in the North. I had that feeling to help but I said how could I do that? The children I had here could barely feed once a day.

For more than two weeks, it was difficult for me. I could not bath because I was feeling for the people in Borno. This was moreso when my pastor colleague was telling me how some of these people lived in caves. People will run to the mountains, eat grass. Some fled to Cameroun, many started dying of cholera. I felt why couldn’t we stretch our hands and help? Then I called all the children and our pastor in the camp and told them how our people were suffering in Borno.

Some of the children wept as I narrated the story. They told me the children suffering should come, that they could share their food with them. We all agreed that we should help.

So two years ago, they brought 34 persons from Borno. When they came, we tried to embrace them, they did not smile. It looked like the whole world hated them. You could see their eyes deep inside. One of them went straight to the field to eat grass; we had to rush after him to pull him back. We have been treating them and trying to reorient them to eat food instead.

Flying jet over dead bodies “I prefer to help them because if I buy a jet as a pastor and start flying over dead people, God will never forgive me because that is wickedness. We set up a committee which went to Cameroon and Yola to bring those of them who escaped from the Boko Haram fighters.

*Improvised school staff room in the camp

'How we keep Boko Haram orphans alive' We brought in 70 then , but we ran into problem with security people. They asked where we were taking the children. We told them Benin. They said Benin was known for child trafficking. I was summoned by the Director of the SSS. Then the military police came to ransack this place. I was wondering if it is bad to do good in this country. I became sad because they were not looking at our efforts but harassing us. I challenged them, so one of the security men said, ‘Look, we are doing our job, what we are doing is also to protect you’. That was what calmed me down. One of the security men went to interview the children, and when one of them narrated to him how his parents were killed, we saw the SSS man broke down in tears. He brought out money and gave us to go and get food for that child. It was after that that we agreed to collaborate to help these children. Every child we bring in here, we register him.

We have about 900 displaced children here added to the ones we had before.

Our greatest challenge is food. The support we have now is from individuals; some churches have been helping too. Some bring clothes, food, but they are inadequate because of the number of the children. We have about 1,300 of them. I am challenging every pastor, every individual to come and help. You can see the children are in school, they are happy, they need books, they need towels; most of them came without pants, without brazier. One of the ladies told us she was bathing when Boko Haram came and she fled

naked. A lot of them like that.

Our toilet facilities are over stretched, we need roof, books and the health care. We run this place on generators because is no electricity.

Running this place has been hectic. But God has really been wonderful”.

Sunday Vanguard spoke to some of the survivors.

Tani Philemon’s husband was killed by Boko Haram before she trekked to Cameroun with her three children for three days.

“We were in the village that day when Boko Haram fighters came to attack us. They pursued us to the mountains and carried our food stuff, animals. But after some days, they attacked the mountains.

They surrounded the mountains and shot tear gas.

People started coughing and coming out from their hiding places. That was how they started picking people one by one and slaughtering them. It was in that process that they killed my husband. For three days, I was looking for my husband, searching for him in the mountains. I later found his corpse and I used sand to cover his body a bit. Some days later, the Boko Haram fighters came back and told us not to run or they will kill us. I was there with my children. That night we started a night vigil, praying and the way God works, they slept off that night and I quietly escaped with my three children. We trekked to Cameroun for three days; no food, no water. Luckily, government sent a bus to take us alongside other Boko Haram survivors from Cameroun to

We trekked to Cameroun for three days; no food, no water

Adamawa State. That is how we moved to Adamawa and, from there, one pastor brought us to this place.

Butrus is 14-years-old while Bode, his little friend, is eight years. Bode’s parents were killed by insurgents in his presence, but Butrus escaped with him in the heat of the fight. Butrus narrates their ordeal.

“When Boko Haram fighters came to attack our village, everybody started running. But I remembered that this boy (Bode) was inside the house and his parents had been killed. I came back for him. I took a tray and threw it in another direction, so the sound confused the Boko Haram people and they started shooting in the direction where I threw the tray. That was how I took this boy and escaped. I threw him over a fence but while I was trying to jump the fence they caught up with me and injured my leg, but I was lucky to escape. We trekked a long distance and entered one house. I pleaded with the woman we met there to help us so that we could sleep. She agreed but said she could not afford to give us food and water. She helped me to tie where I had cut. We left the house in the morning and started trekking to nowhere.

So we saw somebody in a vehicle who asked us why was I bleeding. I told him that it was Boko Haram that wounded me that we were running. He carried us in his bus. It was in Michika that I was treated in an hospital. I took this boy along because he had no body alive to take care of him”.

PAGE 38—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

RETIRED BUT NOT TIRED

I cannot rest when the world is being terrorised — Prof. Ibrahim Gambari

*’The odds against Boko Haram amnesty’ Professor Ibrahim Gambari was Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs during General Muhammadu Buhari's first coming as Head of State in 1984. He moved on to serve at the United Nations as Nigeria's Permanent Representative and was the Chairman of the National Anti-Apartheid Committee for over 20 years. He served as the first black Political Secretary of the United Nations under Dr. Kofi Annan and was UN envoy to Myammar and Dafur, Sudan before he retired in 2012 to set up the Savannah Centre.

In this interview, Prof.

Gambari speaks on global terrorism, and why the concept of amnesty and Boko Haram may not synch.

Excerpts:

BY HUGO ODIOGOR What has life been like since your retirement?

I thought that it will be relaxed, but it hasn't and I should have anticipated it because no sooner did I retire from the UN than the School of Advanced International Studies in Singapore, the second largest university in Singapore, offered me Distinguished Visiting Scholar for a year. It was supposed to have started on the first of January, but I felt that Singapore was too far from home; my family was still in the U.S. So I did only seven months. I went back and took visiting professoring in a small college where they called me resident scholar, scholar in residence.

That was where?

In Valey University, Liberal Arts College, which was the venue for the third U.S. presidential debate between Mr. Mitt Romney and President Barak Obama in 2014, the year I got a call to become a delegate to the National Conference which took almost five months of discussions.

Meanwhile, I had taken more

practical steps to make operational the Savannah Centre which I had been dreaming about while I was still in service. It combines the functions of an NGO advocacy group with a think tank. We look at the nexus between conflict resolution, peace, democracy and development. I was inspired to establish this centre by the two Secretary Generals of UN that I worked with, both of them Africans.

The first was Boutros Ghali, from Egypt, who was the first post- Cold War Secretary General. He was asked to by the Security Council to produce a blueprint or a major report on what should be the emphasis of the UN after the end of the Cold War. You will remember that at the end of the Cold War, there was a lot of excitement that there was going to be a new World Order. Even former U.S. President George Bush Snr. alluded to this.

Francis Fukuyama, the famous American scholar, even talked about the end of history. He said the contest between totalitarian government, command economy, liberal economic system and democracy was over and that what we may be witnessing was not just the end of the Cold War, or the passing of a particular period of post-war history, but the end of history. That was the end point of mankind's ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.

Of course, seeing that this was far too optimistic, Fukuyama has back tracked from that position anyway.

Ghali produced a report called, An Agenda for Peace, in which he argued that there can be no development without peace as the foundation. Some of us who were ambassadors at the UN and those from the Non Aligned Movement, the Group of 77, said no, “it is not enough to emphasise peace and security but that there should be emphasis on development by itself”.

Then there was pressure to produce another report which we did, and it was called, Agenda for Development, which argued “that there can be no durable peace without sustainable development.” Then Koffi Annan

That was the nexus between peace, development and democracy.

This inspired me to start the Savannah Centre which I am very happy that, within just one year of its existence, we have hit the ground running; we have done three major conferences

came up in his seminal report called, Agenda for Freedom, in which he argued that “there can neither be peace nor development without democratisation and the right of people to choose their own government.”

That was the nexus between peace, development and democracy. This inspired me to start the Savannah Centre which I am very happy that, within just one year of its existence, we have hit the ground running; we have done three major conferences.

The first one was in partnership with the Economic Commission for Africa, which was on the impact of terrorism and violent extremism on social and economic development in the Sahel.

The think- tank is based in Abuja but we focus on Nigeria, West Africa and Africa. The Economic Commission for Africa requested us to organise this workshop which we did successfully. The second major activity was on the 2015 general elections in Nigeria and we did two things.

First, we established a Council of the Wise, made up of very eminent Nigerians, headed by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammed Uwais, who did a lot of work on electoral reform. Our goal was to promote peaceful and credible elections in Nigeria. We had a lot of consultations with different groups in the country. Then we had a major conference on how to promote violence-free election which we conducted in the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

They hardly ever do joint programming, but they did with us.

So, I have been extremely busy since the retirement which I did not foresee.

The impact we are making in Nigeria and the neighbouring countries is rewarding especially on the issues that touch on peace, democracy and development.

How do you describe the world after the Cold War? When the Cold War ended, we thought a new era of peace would be inaugurated, but that did not happen.

During the Cold War, there were interstate conflicts where you had regular armies, you had boundaries, you had ceasefires, but after the Cold War, you have more intra-state conflicts. This are conflicts within countries. You have groups that are armed, proliferation of small arms and light weapons; they

have no respect for rules of engagement or borders; that has dominated the post-Cold War era.

Then after the 9/11 bombings in the US, we entered a third era characterised by violent extremism and terrorism; therefore, our view is that there are three levels at which you have to deal with the situation in which we have found ourselves. It is not limited to Nigeria, but let us use Nigeria and Africa as an example.

You have terrorism spreading from Mali all the way to Mogadishu.

You have these groups that are violent and respect no borders and not easy to locate, so how do you deal with such threat?

The first thing to do is to look at the root cause of their grievances.

What is it that encourages people to lose all values for themselves and others? For example, the suicide bombers, what makes it so easy to recruit people for this type of activity, which is about the way in which the state is governed such that there is alienation, massive youth unemployment, breakdown of social services, breakdown of ethical values; all these things need to be carefully studied.

Nothing justifies terrorism itself, but at the same time, if you want to drain the swamp and narrow the pool from which young people are recruited to do bad things, then you have to address some of these issues; you have to reform the school system, we have to return to those ethical values. They teach things in Madrasas and the mosques. The teachings in our educational systems have to be looked at, but above all, you have to have a government that really respects the social contract. Why do we have government? We put people in charge of our lives in return for which we expect them to do certain things.

Give us security; arbitrate among competing interests in a fair and impartial manner. In other words, it is about fairness, about equity and equal opportunity. It is about zero tolerance for corruption. These are the things we should get from government.

That is why this centre is concerned about the issues of

Continues on page 39

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 39

Prof. Gambari: The odds against Boko Haram amnesty Continued from Page 38 good governance and security and how to isolate the forces that promote terrorism and violent extremism in our society.

At your last conference, some northern elders were advocating for amnesty for Boko Haram.

What is your take on this?

First of all, Savannah Centre is not Northern Elders Forum (NEF), and we really take exception to the report that we were canvassing for amnesty for Boko Haram. The conference we organised had 135 delegates made up of retired ambassadors, retired civil servants, soldiers, active and retired, academicians, development experts; if you like, call it a crème de la crème in Nigeria. We had scholars from some African countries who came to participate. It was not an NEF gathering.

Secondly, at no point was the issue for amnesty for Boko Haram was discussed. The nearest was the idea of what to do about the amnesty programme in the Niger Delta and the consensus of the conference, which was put in both the report of the conference and the communiqué, was the fact that the amnesty programme should not be rudely stopped but that they should be carefully examined and the good elements of it should be continued in the Niger Delta. On Boko Haram, especially from the perspective of someone who has been in the UN system for 23 years, I know that throughout my experience in peace making and conflict resolution, whether in Angola, Sudan or Iraq, the UN has always stressed that there are certain crimes that cannot be amnestied, and there are three of them: War crimes, crimes against humanity and violation of international humanitarian law.

These are just to rule out any kind of amnesty where even these crimes have been committed and we knew what Boko Haram has been doing in respect of all these.

So there is nothing in our communiqué, nothing in our discussion that suggested amnesty for Boko Haram. There was nothing to show that the conference remotely recommended amnesty for Boko Haram. So government can never be persuaded to grant amnesty to Boko Haram.

For these heinous crimes that the International community forbids amnesty, what we discussed was how do you address the issue of the victims of the violence? And you recall that the National Conference, which I was honoured to have been a member, recommended unanimously that special funds be created and a percentage of FG revenue, not the Federation Account revenue, should be set aside for rebuilding, reconstruction, rehabilitation and recovery of the areas affected by Boko Haram and violent extremism, and recognised the North-East in the first instance. It was to be a national fund. What was not agreed was the exact percentage. This was thrown to the government to determine.

The FG was to set up a technical committee to look into the issue

tackle the issue of security is.

The second area is the economy. We have to look beyond our continent in our search for investment partners. We have to look at East Asia, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, for massive investment in social and physical infrastructure.

Within Africa itself, we have to rebuild our institutions like ECOWAS and African Union for co-operation.

ECOWAS and African Union have to be revitalised.

So the agenda is going to b e

of derivation development of solid mineral resources and this intervention in fund to address and rebuild the areas that were badly affected by terrorism, but at no point did this conference talk about amnesty for Boko Haram.

With a new administration which party objected to the National Conference in place, what is likely to be the fate of the report of the conference under the Buhari government?

Well I will advise the government to take a critical look at the report that this is a National Conference, regardless of what the motivation may be. There was the suspicion that there was a particular hidden or not so hidden agenda by the government to elongate its stay in office, but the fact is that public fund was spent in billions of naira to organise the conference There were 492 delegates from different backgrounds; labour, civil society, employers, retired civil servants, the military, emirs and chiefs, students and youth groups, women groups, diplomats, elder statesmen, everybody was there and, at the end, they produced 20 reports on several areas of our national life. I was privileged to chair the Committee on Foreign Policy and the Diaspora, after which we made far-reaching recommendations. We have the reports and a final summary of the recommendations in three categories.

First were those things that the Executive can implement without legislative approval because it is within its own competencies, second were some of the recommendations that require changing of our laws to implement, so they require legislative approval from the National Assembly and a few recommendations that require constitutional amendments, not only by the National Assembly but also the state assemblies.

I think there was nothing preventing the government that left from implementing some of the reports of the National Conference for which they had full authority under the law. But it set up a committee with the former Attorney General as chairman and nothing came out of it. It is curious that it was during the electioneering campaign that the ruling party then tried to resuscitate the National Conference Report. It was only its final act that former President Jonathan gave a copy of the National Conference Report to the National Assembly and to the then president-elect, General Buhari.

This is a report that took five months to produce and all the recommendations were by consensus. It deserves a careful look by President Buhari and the new administration and those aspects that are consistent with their own party manifesto and that of the president, should be very carefully looked at and see what they can do with the recommendations of this National Conference. It will be a terrible waste if the new administration dumps the recommendations of the National Conference.

What do you think should be the foreign policy thrust of this new administration?

*Gambari ... Nigeria should be at the centre of our foreign policy

I will advise the government to take a critical look at the report that this is a National Conference, regardless of what the motivation may be

The last time Buhari was in power in 1984, there was the Cold War; he was also the head of a military government. The Soviet Union was under threat, but it had not collapsed; five years later it did. The Berlin Wall was still there.

The challenge to totalitarianism, and rejection of command economy was on; then the Cold War ended, and we had the challenge of the 9/11 attacks. We are in a new era.

Nigeria itself has changed.

Africans and the world have changed, so it is very important that the new administration recognises these changes in its foreign policy. But there are some things that are still relevant in the old polices of Gen Buhari's government and that is the need to put the well-being of Nigeria and the security of Nigerians at the centre of our foreign policy interest and activities. Nigeria, not Africa, should be at the centre of our foreign policy and government should work very closely with our neighbouring countries.

You will recall that in December 1984, Nigeria signed an unprecedented tripartite security agreement with three African countries, Benin, Togo and Niger.

At that time, the challenges were drugs and psychotropic substances, smuggling in small arms, human trafficking, currency trafficking but with security implications. You can imagine if that idea was sustained with our neighbours to address common interests and adjusted to meet with the new challenges, we would not have been in the situation Boko Haram has put us.

We would have explained this to our neighbours. I am happy that the first foreign trip that our President has made is to Niger, Chad which shows how important working with our neighbours to

vast but the focus is the national interest of Nigeria.

This will be security as well as how to provide welfare for our people, then now to work closely with our neighbours on how to make ECOWAS and AU work for us and also be a major player in the African Union and ultimately to be a major player in the world because we still have aspirations to be a member a reformed and expanded Security Council of the United Nations.

There are many conspiracy theories but I like to deal with realities and I like to take the Western powers on their words because they have a lot of opportunities which they recognise, to deal with Boko Haram, Al Shaaba, Al Qaeda in the Maghreb which do not respect borders and threaten every body's interest and nobody is secured until everybody is secured and this scourge of terrorism is defeated.

So, it is in their interest, just as it is in our interest of everybody, to work together with a common interest. The second dimension is the migration crisis in Europe and the Mediterranean. It is very clear that unless European countries significantly invest and partner with Africa in addressing the issues of poverty, unemployment, they will continue to feel the pinch of migration from people looking for better life outside their troubled regions.

Right now, Italy is unable to handle the influx of migrants coming at a time when Europe is under economic threat. Britain right now is debating whether it will remain in Europe, Greece is in crisis. All these are existential threats to everybody. Therefore let us sit together and work for the common interests, expand the areas of co-operation: terrorism, despair, hopelessness and massive youth unemployment.

PAGE 40 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

Boko Haram, AI and the war crime question

BY YINKA AJAYI

S

ince the global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International (AI), released its latest report on the Nigerian military, calling for the heads of nine military commanders and condemning the rank and file for alleged war crimes, things appear to have fallen apart for it.

Stung by what they called the obvious biases and inconsistencies in the report which reduced the ongoing counter-terrorism war to an attack by the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force on innocent and lawabiding citizens in Nigeria’s North-East, many civil society and human rights organisations across the country have been staging demonstrations calling for the probe of the AI in Nigeria and expressing solidarity with the armed forces over the perceived campaign of calumny by the global watchdog.“They wondered why AI would always play the spoiler whenever the military was recording a major success against Boko Haram, while keeping quiet whenever the terror group slaughtered innocent Nigerians in its infamous bid to impose its own brand of Sharia law on Nigerians.

Meanwhile, group of analysts fingered the AI report as part of the bid of the Western powers to ensure that Nigeria ceases to exist, saying that negative newspaper reports about the Nigerian military were a continuation of war by other means. They cited a story by NBC news (nbcnews.com), entitled, “Boko Haram is winning, say official”, as part of the campaign of calumny against

Nigeria.“The story, which dismissed the military campaign against Boko Haram as ineffective and hopeless, apparently celebrated what it called the terror group’s initiative.

The story said, “Boko Haram is winning. That’s the assessment of both US counter terrorism officials and many experts who cover Africa. After several months of optimism, and military successes

by Chadian and Nigerian forces, Boko Haram has taken the initiative.”“The story cited John Campbell, the Ralph Buche Centre director at the Council on Foreign Relations and a former US Ambassador to Nigeria, as saying that Western observers had exaggerated the military gains against Boko Haram. It cited an unnamed US counterterrorism official as saying that “There have been successes, but it’s a whack mole. Boko Haram does strategic retreats.” But this left Nigerians wondering why the opinions of the people directly involved in, and affected by the insurgency did not matter to the foreign denigrators.“For instance, Bishop Emeritus Emmanuel Kana Mani of the Anglican Church berated the global watchdog for being more concerned with the human rights of murderers than those of the victims of the carnage in the North-East. He wondered why the group, which claimed to have used Google satellite maps to trace locations of Nigerian soldiers murdering suspects, could not use the same device to trace the missing Chibok girls or the Malaysian Flight MH 370. In particular, he wondered why AI, if it was really concerned about the safety of Nigerians living in the North-East, could not use

Google map to trace and betray Boko Haram movements to the military.“His words: "It is curious that Amnesty International can use Google satellite map to trace where Nigerian soldiers are killing Boko Haram suspects but cannot use that to trace the missing Malaysian Flight MH 370 which has been missing, or the innocent Chibok girls who were abducted by these elements, or better still, use that to track the movement of Boko Haram terrorists that move freely in columns of vehicles of 20 to 30 from Niger Republic, Cameroon and Chad to Nigeria to kill innocent children, women and the elderly. Are the lives of Boko Haram members more sacred than the lives of their innocent

They wondered why AI would always play the spoiler whenever the military was recording a major success against Boko Haram

victims?"“The last poser raised by Mani has indeed agitated the minds of many Nigerians who are asking why a human rights agency would canvass the human rights of terrorists while ignoring those of the thousands of Nigerian men and women slaughtered in cold blood, or of young girls raped to death by the Boko Haram maniacs. Colonel Iliyasu Ahmed (retd) raised similar sentiment. He said: “The lives of the innocent victims of Boko Haram terrorist attack and the previous Nigerian Military men and women are as important if not more important than Boko Haram terrorists who have decided of their own volition to live by and die by the sword . Because the Nigeria Military killed 600 terrorists in a single combat, AI is raising eye brows.

Does it know how many innocent souls and soldiers have been killed in Baga and Bama and other places by Boko Haram? Amnesty International should hold its peace and leave the Nigerian military to do its job. The American and British soldiers have killed similar terrorists in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Iran. Did AI go to investigate those ones? The Nigerian Military must win this war against Boko Haram and their sponsors, the sabotage within notwithstanding."“A university lecturer, Mallam Kachallah Bolori, tasked the AI on the reason it was not busy in the US and Europe, where the weapons and machines used by Boko Haram are manufactured.

He wanted to know why the AI had not called for the trial of President Barack Obama, Prime Minister David Cameron and other western leaders, together with their military commanders,

for their sins in Libya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen and Ukraine. He wondered if the AI could help the Nigerian Army in the front lines by identifying Boko Haram members, to make things easy for the soldiers fighting the terrorists.“> Bolori advised that AI should not limit itself to sneaking around detention facilities, liberated villages, towns, and stop giving dollar bills to poor people to come up with scripted stories drafted in Amnesty office. He said: “AI loves crisis, wars, conflicts and chaos.

Many reports have been made in our newspapers and television; can it claim to know more than our reporters?"“A former Delta State Commissioner for Youths Development, Comrade Omolubi Newuwumi, condemned, in the strongest terms, the AI’s allegation of genocide against Nigeria Army, saying the organisation had lost relevance and credibility with the lopsided and outright blackmail against the army. Omolubi asked the organization to define what genocide is and tell the world when it became an offence for a nation to defend itself against external and internal aggression, and fight a group which has killed, maimed and destroyed thousands of people and properties without any just cause.“Similarly, the Coalition of Civil Society Group (COSG) rubbished the AI report.

Speaking when it paid a solidarity visit to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja, president of COSG, Etuk Bassey Williams, said after their own analysis and assessment, the coalition came out with the verdict that the report was devoid of truth, and aimed at discrediting the Nigerian military war against terrorism.

On its part, a pro-democracy and human right group, Community Agenda for Peace (CAP), berated AI, describing the report as a tacit means to destabilise and demoralise the soldiers battling Boko Haram in the North-East.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 41

Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria: 2013 fatalities January 1 - Nigerian Army raid kills 13 militants.

January 4 - Ogun prison break, 15 inmates are freed in a prison break in Ogun State.

Boko Haram is not suspected to be involved in the attack.

February 8 - Attack on polio vaccinators kills 9 women.

March 18 - 2013 Kano bus bombing, between 22 and 65 people are killed in Kano by a car bombing.

April 16 - 2013 Baga massacre, 187 people are killed in Baga in Borno State. It is unclear whether the Nigerian military or Boko Haram is responsible for the massacre.

June - 9 children are killed in Maiduguri and 13 students and teachers are killed in Damaturu by Boko Haram.

June 30 - Ondo prison break, 2 people are killed and 121 inmates escape following a prison break in Ondo State. Claims that Boko Haram took part in the attack are dispelled.

July 6 - Yobe State school shooting, more than 42 are killed by Boko Haram gunmen in a Yobe State school.

August 12 - 56 people are killed by Boko Haram in a Maiduguri mosque.

September 12 - Ambush by Boko Haram leaves 40 soldiers dead.

September 12–18 - An offensive by Nigerian Army leaves 150 Islamists and 16 soldiers dead.

September 19 - Benisheik attacks, 161 are killed in attacks blamed on Boko Haram.

September 20 - An Abuja shootout leaves 7 killed.

September 29 - Gujba college massacre, more than 50 students are killed in Yobe State

by Boko Haram gunmen.

October 10 - An attack at Damboa leaves at least 20 killed (15 suspected militants and 5 civilians) October - Government forces raid rebel camps, killing around 101 Boko Haram fighters.

October 29 - Boko Haram raids Damaturu. At least 128 people are killed (95 militants, 23 soldiers, 8 policemen, and 2 civilians).

2014 fatalities

January 14–30 people are killed in a bombing by Boko Haram militants in Maiduguri, Borno State.

January 26 - January 2014 Northern Nigeria attacks, 138 killed in total January 31 - 11 Christians killed in Chakawa by Boko Haram militants.

February 14 - Borno Massacre, 121 Christian villagers killed by Boko Haram militants in Konduga, Borno State.

February 15 - Izghe attack, 106 killed the village of Izghe, Borno State by Boko Haram gunmen.

February 15 - 90 Christians and 9 Nigerian soldiers are killed in Gwosa by Boko Haram.

February 24 - Dozens killed as Boko Haram again raids Izghe.

February 25 - Federal Government College attack, 59 students killed in a school massacre in Yobe State.

March 14 - Boko Haram attacks the heavily fortified Giwa military barracks in Maiduguri, freeing comrades from a detention facility. The military then executes about 600 unarmed recaptured detainees, according to Amnesty International.

April 14 - April 2014 Abuja bombing, over 88 people killed in a twin bombing attack in Abuja.

April 15 - Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, 276 female students in Borno State are kidnapped by Boko Haram.

May 1 - May 2014 Abuja bombing, 19 killed in Abuja by a car bomb.

May 5 - 2014 Gamboru Ngala attack, at least 300 people are killed in the twin towns of Gamboru and Ngala in Borno State by Boko Haram militants.

May 20 - 2014 Jos bombings, at least 118 villagers are killed by car bombs in the city of Jos. May 21 – 27 villagers are killed by Boko Haram gunmen in northeastern Nigeria.

May 27 - May 2014 Buni Yadi attack, 49 security personnel and 9 civilians are killed during a Boko Haram attack on a military base in Yobe State.

May 30 - The third emir of Gwoza, Idrissa Timta, is assassinated during a Boko Haram ambush.

June 1 - 2014 Mubi bombing, at least 40 people are killed by a bomb in Mubi, Adamawa State.

June 2 - Gwoza massacre, at least 200, mostly Christians, are killed in several villages in Borno State by Boko Haram.

June 20–23 - June 2014 Borno State attacks, at 70 people are killed and 91 women and children kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in Borno State.

June 23–25 - June 2014 central Nigeria attacks, around 171 people are killed in a series of attacks in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.

June 26 - Over 100 militants are killed by the Nigerian military during a raid on two Boko Haram camps.

June 28 - 11 people are killed by a bomb in Bauchi.

July 18 - At least 18 are killed by a Boko Haram attack in Damboa, leaving the town almost destroyed.

July 22 - 51 people are killed by Boko Haram in Chibok.

September 19 - Around 30 people are killed by Boko Haram militants at a busy market in Mainok, Borno State.

October 10 - Lagos prison break, one inmate is killed following a failed attack to free inmates in a Lagos prison. Boko Haram is not suspected to be involved in the attack.

October 31 - At least 4 people are killed, 32 injured and 13 vehicles destroyed by an explosion at a bus station in Gombe.

November 2 - Kogi prison break, 99 inmates in Kogi State are freed by suspected Boko Haram rebels.

November 3–10 - 2014 Yobe State attacks, a double suicide bombing in Yobe State kills 15 Shiites on the 3rd and 46 students on the 10th.

November 25 - Over 45 people are killed by two suicide bombers in Maiduguri, Borno State.

November 27 - Around 50 people are killed in Damasak by Boko Haram militants.

November 28 - 2014 Kano bombing, at least 120 Muslim followers of the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, are killed during a suicide bombing and gun attack

by Boko Haram. The 4 gunmen are subsequently killed by an angry mob.

November 30 - Ekiti prison break, 274 inmates escape a prison in Ekiti. Claims that Boko Haram perpetrated the attack are refuted.

December 1– 5 people are killed by two female suicide bombers who detonated explosions at a crowded market place in Maiduguri, Borno State.

December 6 - Minna prison break, 270 prisoners are freed from a prison in Minna.

Boko Haram is not suspected to be involved in the attack.

December 10 - At least 4 people are killed and 7 injured by female suicide bombers near a market in Kano.

December 11–30 people are killed and houses are destroyed by Boko Haram militants in Gajiganna, Borno State.

December 13 - 2014 Gumsuri kidnappings, between 32 and 35 are killed and between 172 and 185 are kidnapped

by Boko Haram in Borno State.

December 22 - 2014 Gombe bus station bombing, at least 27 people are killed at a bus station by a bomb in Gombe State.

December 28–29 - December 2014 Cameroon clashes, 85 civilians, 94 militants, and 2 Cameroonian soldiers are

•Fire ignited by Boko Haram attack. killed following a failed Boko Haram offensive into Cameroon’s Far North Region.

2015 fatalities

January 2 - Boko Haram militants attack a bus in Waza, Cameroon, killing eleven people and injuring six.]

January 3–7 - 2015 Baga massacre, Boko Haram militants raze the entire town of Baga in north-east Nigeria. Bodies lay strewn on Baga’s streets with as many as 2,000 people having been killed. Boko Haram now controls 70% of Borno State, which is the worst-affected by the insurgency.

January 3 - Fleeing villagers from a remote part of the Borno State report that Boko Haram had three days prior kidnapped around 40 boys and young men.

January 5 - News emerges that two days prior hundreds of Boko Haram militants had overrun several towns in northeast Nigeria and captured the military base in Baga.

January 9 - Refugees flee Nigeria’s Borno State following the Boko Haram massacre in the town of Baga. 7,300 flee to neighbouring Chad while over 1,000 are trapped on the island of Kangala in Lake Chad. Nigeria’s army vows to recapture the town, while Niger and Chad withdraw their forces from a transnational force tasked with combating militants.

January 10 - A female suicide bomber, believed to be aged around 10-years-old, kills herself and 19 others, possibly against her will, at a market in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

January 11 - More female suicide bombers, this time two, and again each believed to be around 10 years old, kill themselves and three others at a market in the northeastern city of Potiskum, Nigeria.

January 12 - January 2015 Kolofata raid, Boko Haram militants launch a failed raid on Kolofata in Cameroon. The Cameroonian military claims the army lost only one officer while the Islamic group lost between 143-300 rebels.

January 16 - The Military of Chad enters Cameroon to assist in fighting against Boko Haram insurgents.

January 17 - Following the January 16 Chad authorities decision to send troops to Nigeria and Cameroon to fight Boko Haram militants, the Russian ambassador to the country pledges to supply Cameroon with more modern weapons to combat the Islamist insurgents.

January 18 - Boko Haram militants kidnap 80 people and kill three others from villages in north Cameroon.

January 20 - Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau claims responsibility for the attack on the town of Baga, Nigeria in which an unknown number of civilians were killed.

January 24 - 15 people are killed as Boko Haram gunmen attempt to burn down the village of Kambari near Maidaguri.

January 25 - Boko Haram rebels launch a large offensive against Nigerian forces in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, leading to the deaths of at least 8 civilians, up to 53 militants, and an unknown number of soldiers. Although the attack fails, the rebels manage to capture the nearby strategic town of Monguno. The status of the 1,400 soldiers stationed in Monguno is unknown. As a result of these attacks, Boko

Haram now controls four out of five roads leading into the major city, prompting fears that it will be taken as well.

January 28 - Boko Haram fighters killed 40 people while on a rampage in Adamawa State.

January 29 - The Nigerian military, in collaboration with Chadian soldiers, captures the border town of Michika from Boko Haram rebels.

January 31 - The African Union pledges to send up to 7,500 international soldiers to aid Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram.

Chadian forces claim to have killed 120 Boko Haram fighters while losing only 3 soldiers of their own during fighting in the north of Cameroon.

February 1 - Boko Haram again attacks the capital city of Borno State, Maiduguri.

This time, the city is attacked from four out of the five sides. The attack is unsuccessful, but many civilians inside the city panic.

Also, a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber kills himself and eight others at the residence of a politician in Potiskum.

Another suicide bomber kills five people outside a mosque in Gombe.

February 2 - A female suicide bomber attacks minutes after the President of Nigeria leaves an election rally in the city of Gombe resulting in at least one death and eighteen people injured.

February 4 - Boko Haram militants reportedly raid the Cameroonian town of Fotokol in Cameroon’s Far North Region with scores of people killed. Also on February 4th, the Chad Army claims to have killed 200 militants and lost nine soldiers while capturing the border town of Gamboru Ngala.[58][59] February 6 - 2015 Niger raid, Boko Haram forces launch raids on the towns of Bosso and Diffa, both in Niger, marking the first time that the group has attacked the country. The Chadian military assists the Nigerien Armed Forces in repelling the attack. 5 Nigeriens are killed while the government claims 109 Boko Haram militants are killed as well.

February 7 - Nigeria postpones its general election for six weeks to allow its armed forces to control parts of the country currently controlled by Boko Haram.

February 9 - Boko Haram launch a raid on a prison in the town of Diffa in Niger.

Authorities repel the attack.

February 12 - The West African Allied Forces, led by Nigeria and supported by Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, invade the Sambisa Forest in Borno State, a stronghold of Boko Haram, killing scores of the insurgents. Elsewhere, the town of Mbuta, 15 miles northeast of Maiduguri, is raided by Boko Haram, resulting in the deaths of 8 residents. A dozen people are also killed in a suicide blast at Biu, 100 miles southwest of Maiduguri.

February 13 - Boko Haram militants attack Chad for the first time after 30 fighters crossed Lake Chad in four motorboats and attacked the village of Ngouboua. Chad recently joined Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon in a military coalition against Boko Haram.

February 14 - Boko Haram forces assault Gombe, the capital city of Gombe State, for the first time. The Nigerian military repels the attack, although the militants managed to overrun a checkpoint on the edge of the city before retreating. The attack

Continues on pg 42

PAGE 42—SUNDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

Edo PDP, Anenih and Osunbor’s narrative

By Francis Ulinfun

A

former governor of Edo State, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, in a two-page interview published at pages 46 and 47 of Vanguard of Monday, June 8, 2015, deliberately and maliciously revisited a political past that should have been better forgotten when he spoke on the so-called money quarrel between him and fa ormer Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Anthony Anenih.

But since Osunbor had decided to dance naked by his unsavoury narrative, it is only proper to recall and put the event that happened in 2007 in context so that Edo people in particular and Nigerians in general who may be interested in the issue would not be deceived by the onesided story told by a man still in pains over how he allowed power to slip through his fingers as governor.

Contrary to the impression he may have created in some quarters that Anenih was instrumental to his loss of the governorship seat, his misfortune was selfinflicted.

It is, therefore, uncharitable for Osunbor to demonize Anenih as unforgiving. A vast majority of Nigerians who have benefited from Anenih’s largeheartedness and political mentorship would readily describe Osunbor ’s characterisation as inappropriate. The historical fact that Anenih mentored Osunbor in politics is an eloquent testimony to my assertion: while not maintaining that Anenih is not easily offended by the disloyalty of his followers and associates, I must state, without any fear of contradictions, that he has, on so many occasions, welcomed home some of his prodigal followers and associates who have shown penitence and promised to be of good behaviour in their political relationship with him.

I shuddered when I read Osunbor ’s claim that he had gone to Anenih on countless number of times to beg for forgiveness. If that claim is true, then it may be that he (Osunbor) is yet to sincerely beg for forgiveness.

Assuming he was truly desirous of being forgiven, his action of going to press to rake up issues that should have been allowed to reside in the past clearly does not show that he was sincere about his plea for forgiveness from a man that God used to give him (Osunbor) political visibility in Edo and Nigeria.

To be precise, Osunbor was a professor of law at Lagos State University (LASU) from where Anenih (who did not even know him from Adam nor did he know his first name), acting on a recommendation by some associates, got the powers-that-be

to nominate him into the 1994/95 Constitutional Conference.

Strengthened by his belief that Osunbor did well at the conference, Anenih decided to procure the nomination form for him to contest election to represent Edo Central Senatorial District from 19992003.

Anenih funded the entire electioneering. He also ensured that he was returned unopposed for second term in the Senate from 2003 to 2007.

Osunbor was offered the gubernatorial ticket in 2007. It was Anenih, after the most popular aspirant-Odion Ugbesiahad been prevailed upon to withdraw from the race, who directed his delegates to cast their votes during the December 9, 2006 governorship primaries for Osunbor at the expense of Professor Julius Ihonvbere, who was next to Ugbesia and more popular than Osunbor. That was how, with the solid support of Anenih, he emerged as the PDP gubernatorial candidate and went ahead to win the 2007 governorship election.

No sooner did he become governor than he began to challenge Anenih for control of the PDP structure in Edo. He resorted to biting the finger that fed him.

Perhaps, unknown to him, Anenih was not new to political treachery, confrontations, disloyalty and accusation of being high-handed by some of his followers. With God on Anenih’s side, the plot by Osunbor to use his office as governor to humiliate him did not succeed. Osunbor ’s action was indeed shocking to many of us who were watching the development then. That Osunbor could allow some forces within the party to incite him against his mentor-a man who almost single-handed helped him into political prominence- was awfully painful.

This brings to the fore the so-called

Osunbor’s story against Anenih is, to say the least, despicable and reprehensible

•Anenih

•Osunbor

money quarrel which he said existed between him and Anenih. Some leaders privy to the funding of the election campaign that produced Osunbor as governor have clarified that Anenih had already spent over N500 million before he sought for a bank loan when the campaign ran out of funds. According to one of them, Anenih had, in company with Osunbor, met with the bank officials in his Uromi country home where he requested for N300 million-loan; but the bank could only give N200 million in addition to another N10 million which the bank donated to the campaign.

Anenih provided the Certificate of Occupancy of one of his property as collateral, which the bank took possession of before granting the loan.

The campaign, at the end, overdrew the loan by additional N6 million.

Osunbor was said to have paid back the loan while in office.

The claim by Osunbor that funds were sent to state branches of the PDP to finance campaigns in the run-up to the April 14, 2007 governorship election did not indicate that these funds were supplementary or auxiliary and, therefore, not enough to take care of the entire campaign.

Consequently, Osunbor’s assertion that “I didn’t see any N200 million that Anenih contributed to finance my election; but I am aware that he contributed N100 million to the PDP in Edo State and, as governor, I ensured that money was paid to him,” is dubious and self-indicting if, indeed, Anenih facilitated and secured the N200 millionloan with his connection and property as collateral.

Is Osunbor claiming that he does not remember his meeting in Anenih’s Uromi country home with the bank officials where the deal was perfected?

Osunbor’s story against Anenih is, to say the least, despicable and reprehensible.

His people of Iruekpen, Esan West Local Government and, indeed, the entire Esanland, must take a strong exception to the ranting of their son against his benefactor (Anenih). Osunbor should

be advised to be mindful of his public utterances and the falsities he wilfully peddles because such falsities might do him more harm than good. He should be warned that attacking and casting vain aspersions on Anenih is the most unwise and therefore non-productive way of relaunching his hitherto slumbering political career.

Besides, Osunbor should remember that he might one day go back to Esan and Edo people for support for any possible political ambition like the 2016 governorship, which he is, without disguise, nursing. He should then not be surprised that he will find those fingers that once voted for him to have been either blunted or bitten off by his unalloyed disloyalty to some of his leaders and many of his followers while he was governor of Edo State.

In fact, Osunbor turned his back on his friends, followers and leaders while in office. He surrounded himself with a coterie of praise singers who did not have the capacity, influence or the wherewithal to intervene for him when he desperately needed assistance. It was, therefore, not surprising that he lost the legal battle he faced at the election tribunal in spite of the fact that he is a professor of law.

He did not get his acts right and he apparently misplaced his priorities by concentrating on needless plots to bring down Anenih.

He understandably and explicably lost focus, it was not surprising that he was not able to fight with a single-minded purpose for the validation of his governorship election “mandate” both at the election petition tribunal and at the Court of Appeal. I expect that Osunbor should have by now learnt his lesson and try to avoid the mistakes of the past rather than celebrating them and trying to blame Anenih for his gubernatorial misfortune.

• Dr Ulinfun, the Odonebholo of Esanland, is the PDP Leader in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

After the explosions, Boko Haram formally declares allegiance to Islamic State.

March 8 - Forces from Niger and Chad launch a ground and air offensive against Boko Haram Islamist militants in northeastern Nigeria.

March 9 - Chadian and Nigerien forces retake the towns of Malam Fatouri and Damasak in northeastern Nigeria.

March 13 - The Nigerian government admits to using foreign mercenaries in the fight against Boko Haram.

March 16 - Nigeria, Chad, and Niger begin a battle to liberate Damasak from Boko Haram militants.

March 17 - The Nigerian military reclaims the small city of Bama from Boko Haram.

March 18 - Niger and Chad capture the city of Damasak following a successful battle. A mass grave of 90 people is discovered in the city.

March 21 - Chadian forces establish a presence in the border town of Gamboru following recent attacks there by Boko Haram gunmen that killed 11 people.

March 27 - The town of Gwoza is recaptured by the Nigerian military.

March 28 - Voters in Nigeria go to the polls for a general election. Gunmen kill at least 15 voters including an opposition house of assembly candidate for Dukku in Gombe.

March 29 - Voting in the Nigerian general election is delayed for a second day due to delays and malfunctioning equipment. So far, 43 people have died in Boko Haram attacks.

April 24 - Last area controlled in Nigeria

by Boko Haram’s forces is in the Sambisa forest.

June 12 - Several days of nighttime raids on six remote villages that left at least 37 people dead in Northeastern Nigeria.

June 16 - Twin Suicide Bomb attacks in Chad capital - twin suicide bombings blamed on Boko Haram jihadists killed 24 people and wounded more than 100 in the first such attacks in Chad’s capital N’Djamena. Monday ’s attacks, which targeted the police headquarters and a police academy, were the first in the capital.

Boko Haram fatalities Continued from pg 41 coincides with the beginning of a Nigerian offensive to rollback Boko Haram forces around the northeast.

February 15 - A suicide bomber kills 16 and wounds 30 in the Nigerian city of Damaturu.

February 16 - Nigeria regains the key town of Monguno from Boko Haram. The town had previously fallen to the militants on January 25th.

February 18 - The Nigerian Army claims to have killed 300 militants in northeastern Nigeria. A warplane bombs a funeral ceremony in Niger killing 37 civilians. The warplane remains unidentified, with the Nigerian government denying responsibility.

February 20 - Boko Haram militants kill 34 people in attacks across Borno State, 21 from the town of Chibok.

February 21 - Nigerian army retakes Baga, which had fallen to Boko Haram on January 3rd.

February 22 - A suicide bomber kills five and wounds dozens outside a market in Potiskum.

February 24 - Two suicide bombers kill at least 27 people at bus stations in Potiskum and Kano.

February 24 - Chadian soldiers kill over 200 Boko Haram fighters in a clash near the town of Garambu, close to Nigeria’s border with Cameroon. One Chad Army soldier is killed and nine are wounded.

February 26 - At least 35 people are killed in two attacks targeting the cities of Biu and Jos. February 28 - Two female suicide bombers kill up to four civilians near Damaturu.

March 2 - A senior military officer claims that 73 Boko Haram militants disguised as herders were killed near Kondunga town in Borno State. In addition, the Chadian military recaptures the town of Dikwa, also in Borno State.

March 7 - Five suicide bomb blasts leave 54 dead and 143 wounded in Maiduguri.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 43

FIGHT AGAINST TERROR

ETA lessons for Nigeria from Spain — Ambassador de Erice •Says home country imports 12% of its oil from host nation, seeks balanced trade

By Victor Gotevbe and Victoria Ojeme

A

LFONSO Sebastian de Erice is the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria.

In this interview, he speaks on the relationship between Spain and Nigeria.

You have been in Nigeria for quite some time. Can you compare what is happening here with your former post, Namibia, for instance.

In Africa, I have worked in Namibia, Nigeria and Gabon . They are very different countries, with obviously very different histories. In Nigeria, I was most impressed with the immensity of the population, 170million is a lot compared with just the 46million we have in Spain . But also I was impressed by the economic opportunities. Certainly, there are challenges but there are also many opportunities for Nigerians and for foreigners. Nigerians are very dynamic, always trying to do business, thinking about opportunities and I consider this is positive. Nigeria is a country with great potentials.

Can you highlight some of these potentials that your country could likely benefit from?

Well , we are very good at building infrastructures. Let me point to you some sectors in which Spanish companies are leaders: renewable energy, thermo-electric energy, power generation , agriculture, fashion, construction, food and beverages.

Some of the world biggest infrastructure projects in the world are being done by Spanish companies or consortiums. For instance, the Mecca-Medina high speed train, the Panama Channel and the biggest wine farm in Europe; that is the Spain that we want to showcase to the world.

Like I told you, we are very good in building infrastructures, airports, hospitals, expressways; as an example, the second most extensive high velocity network train in the world is Spanish.

If you are to cooperate with Nigeria in these areas, which specific areas would you want to go into partnership with Nigeria?

I think we can help you wherever you need us. We have strong technology in many areas and sectors. For us I think what is important is to establish a relation mutually beneficial. That means you obtain something and we obtain something in exchange. To achieve peace and stability in Nigeria, you have to create employment and to create employment you have to build infrastructures, invest in agriculture. We can also work with you in the power sector, in renewable energy, elements that are fundamental for the economic development of Nigeria. Our economic relations, I would say, is good. I think it is very important for Nigerians to know that, in 2014, Spain bought a total of 6.5billion Euros worth of oil. Spain is the second or third best client of Nigeria

depending on the year. Thanks to the oil sector, we have a very important presence in Nigeria. In 2014, Nigeria became the major supplier of crude oil to Spain . 12% of the oil that is used in Spain comes from Nigeria and 8% of all the gas used in Spain comes from your country. We have strong economic relations, we are buying a lot of oil, gas and it is mutually beneficial. But I think we have to diversify. Nigeria is only importing from Spain 338 million euros.

We have trade relations that is unbalanced and we have to work on that.

Currently, what do you say the trade volume between the two countries is?

The trade volume between the two countries is, as I told you, worth 6.5billion Euros and Nigeria is buying just only 330million Euros from us. As you can see, it is unbalanced. I would say it is something that you would have to help us to correct in order to establish a healthier trade relation. That is the message I am trying to pass to the administration. We would be very glad to create a relation that is mutually beneficial for both countries and that will help you to create employment and to acquire the highest technology in a very competitive country. Spain is nowadays the country that is growing the most in Europe . It has a very open economy and exporters and investors are looking abroad for new opportunities.

In what way can the Spanish government assist Nigeria in the fight

We are negotiating right now an agreement with Nigeria to foster cooperation in the area of fighting crime that includes terrorism.

This agreement might allow us to exchange intelligence and training.

against terrorism?

Well, I think terrorism is a very important issue because it affects peace and security in Nigeria . Let me start by saying that Spain has a long experience in fighting terrorism.

For almost three decades in Spain, we have suffered this blight. ETA was a terrorist group that wanted independence from Spain and killed unfortunately many people. For three decades, we suffered the terrorism of this organisation.

In 2004, a jihadist terrorist attack in a Spanish train station killed more than 170 people. We have condemned terrorist attacks by Boko Haram. We are negotiating right now an agreement with Nigeria to foster cooperation in the area of fighting crime that includes terrorism.

This agreement might allow us to exchange intelligence and training. We sent a team of experts from different Spanish intelligence units in May last year to help find the Chibok girls. By this gesture you could see the attitude of Spain . We know what terrorism entails and we want to express our solidarity with Nigeria . We have experience and we want to sign an agreement with Nigeria in order to strengthen the cooperation that we already have.

You said the Chibok girls rescue was unsuccessful. Can you give us some factors that made that not to happen?

Well, it is not for me to explain the situation; I am just a foreigner here. We have expressed our solidarity with the families numerous times but the truth is that we haven’t seen the Chibok girls yet.

But it is not only about the Chibok girls.

There are many other women and girls that have disappeared and also boys.

Chibok is just a symbol of the many women and girls and boys that are suffering.

Are you demoralized by that situation?

I think we all must feel very sorry. I hope and I know that the new administration will be keen in using all the means to find all the women and girls that have disappeared because of Boko Haram.

Let’s talk about the new administration; what areas do you think the new administration should focus on?.

Well, I am very optimistic about this new administration. I think they know very well that Nigeria has to face important challenges. President Buhari has expressed many times his concerns about security, about diversifying economy, about agriculture, corruption.

These are some areas that the President has mentioned. At the same time, like I said before, Nigeria is full of potentials. We are to start a political change and I am very optimistic.

Nigeria did a very good job at the last elections. You held credible elections and you showed the world that you could do the best and you did it.

And I think you should be very proud of the current Nigeria. It doesn’t mean that there are no challenges, there are challenges and this administration

• A l f o n s o Sebastian de Erice

knows what to do and when to do it.

In the 1980s Spain was a donordependent country. But today, it is the sixth largest donor to UN system.

Hhow did you do the magic?

Well, the transformation of Spain was very impressive. It has taken a lot of efforts and work, a common aim. I think that is important for a society to have a common objective, a collective project. We learnt to work together. We knew we had to transform our economy, to develop our infrastructures, to improve our educational system. We knew we had to fight terrorism together and united. I am not comparing the situation of Nigeria with the Spain of three decades ago, but some of the problems you have are similar to the ones we experienced back then. We received the economic support of the European Union and that helped us to open up our economy and we started exporting. It is true, 25years ago, we were recipient of aid and today we are one of the biggest donor-countries in the world and we are very satisfied to be able to assist other countries.

How many Nigerians are recently based in Spain ?

There are 40,000 Nigerians based in Spain and there are 257 Spanish based in Nigeria .

There are complaints about how difficult it is to get Spanish visa. Even journalists on mission are often denied visa. Why is it so?

The Spanish consulate has granted about 2,300 visas a year. The present rate of refusal is very similar to other Schengen countries. There are visa requirements to fulfill whether you are a journalist, businessman or you a tourist. Many Nigerians go just with a passport or without sufficient documentation and then their request for visa is rejected. We want Nigerians to go to Spain . We would really want that because tourism is good and making business is good. Nigerians that want to go to Spain and apply for visa have to file an application and bring the documents required by all Schengen countries. W e have many Nigerians travelling to Spain for legitimate purposes. We have smoothened the process since they can now apply in Abuja through VFS offices without having to go to Lagos.

We want to make life easy for everybody. But whoever requests for visa has to bring the documentation.

One of my main objectives here in Nigeria was to foster people to people relations and the best way to do so is by inviting Nigerians to visit Spain to see what we are doing, how much we suffered from terrorism and how we succeeded.

PAGE 44—SUND AY 44—SUNDA

Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

Buhari not fair to Ndigbo in inaugural speech — Chekwas

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU Chief Chekwas Okorie is the founder of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, and the United Progressives Party, UPP. He was the UPP presidential candidate in the March 28 election. In this interview, he speaks on the expectations of Nigerians from the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Excerpts:

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has just been inaugurated. What are the expectations of the people from him?

His inaugural speech pointed clear at the direction his administration will take and what Nigerians should expect from him.

One thing that he set out immediately in his speech is what his democratic profile will look like when he said he belongs to everybody and belongs to nobody, that is a very loaded reassuring statement for a leader who was feared to have become a victim of some political investors that were already making claims. So, he served that early notice that all Nigerians can look up to him for fair but firm leadership.

Do you think that he belongs to nobody as he stated going by the roles some individuals and his party played in his emergence?

I want to take him on his words and doing so relying on his track record; he is a man that has his own mind, a man of unquestionable integrity, a man of uprightness, a man of boldness, courage and fearlessness. All these attributes have been fully demonstrated by him in the past.

President Buhari is coming into office on a high moral pedestal and so, the statement he made clearly and unequivocally showed no strings attached on his ascendency. There are some people that will make that statement and I will take it with a pinch of salt.

As an aside, let me mention a fallout of somebody of Buhari's character being at the helm of the leadership of this country. My brother-in-law, who travelled to the UK (United Kingdom) last week on a short trip and came back today (Monday) June 1, 2015, called me immediately he passed through Immigration and Customs formalities to express pleasant surprise that the airport he passed through a few days ago and went through very demanding and compromising officials now became a place he met very polite, efficient and well behaved

officials. And so, he wanted to find out whether I knew of any order given to these officials to mend their ways. I told him I was not aware of any order but clearly the fear of the Buhari phenomenon has become the beginning of wisdom for all government functionaries and citizens alike. So, you can see what an established character of one man has started achieving even before directives and orders are issued. I have no doubt that all of these people will resort to business as usual if the Buhari administration takes good behaviour of Nigerians for granted.

So, in all these, what are the expectations ahead?

We are expecting a frontal attack on corruption which will include recovering all illegally acquired wealth and enunciating policies that will make corrupt conduct risky and unattractive. We expect a review of the entire power supply sector with a view to taking difficult decisions in the overall interest of the Nigerian people.

We expect that the unsatisfactory and suspicious privatisation process that concessioned the industries to companies that are merely fronting for vested interests in the previous government be reversed.

We expect, like he stated, the resuscitation and revival of industries that have collapsed and the ones that are ailing due to neglect or lack of basic infrastructure and amenities that are necessary for their efficient operation. This will definitely improve productivity in the economy and provide jobs. Perhaps, the most radical thing that he said in his statement is that his government will not standby and see local government allocations hijacked by state governments. I say this because Nigeria's 774 local government areas have remained largely non-functional in nearly 16 years. And so, the basic infrastructure such as culvert, rural electrification, roads that lead to farmlands and other services that local government were associated with in the years passed have stopped because of the greed and mismanagement including outright embezzlement of revenue allocation that ought to be flowing to the local government areas from the Federation Account.

This policy shift that will make the president to ensure that this allocation gets to the third tier of government will check the drift of rural dwellers to urban centres, and many people in the urban areas will begin to trace their ways back to their communities because they will now be gainfully engaged including being more productive. The other area Nigerians are very expectant concerns the issue of security. He has made it clear that security agencies, their officials and men have to get to the theatre of trouble to confront security challenges

One thing that he set out immediately in his speech is what his democratic profile will look like when he said he belongs to everybody and belongs to nobody, that is a very loaded reassuring statement for a leader who was feared to have become a victim of some political investors that were already making claims

and not stay in their cosy offices at the FCT (Federal Capital Territory) dishing orders to hapless operatives and addressing the media in Abuja, making claims of exploits and achievements in the field of operation that took place in far away Borno, Yobe States, etc. By ordering that the commanding centres should

relocate to the field of war, to many Nigerians is a pragmatic step towards addressing insurgency in the short run.

He talked about long time measures after careful studies on how to prevent re-occurrence. He didn't leave out the welfare and motivation of military personnel which is also fundamental to getting the best out of them.

There is the clamour for unity government that will involve all political parties and geopolitical zones. What is your take?

I support it but very cautiously. Yes, the winner takes all attitude is no longer fashionable in the democratic world today. Although the APC (All Progressives Congress) government does not require the coalition of other political parties to form government especially at the executive level, it will make for stability of the polity considering Nigerians ethnic and religious diversity. If political parties that the ruling party considers, in its wisdom, will add value to both quality of governance and stability of the country, such political parties may be invited. The prerogative to invite or not to invite is that of the APC and President Buhari. On our own part (UPP), we have already extended the hand of fellowship to APC as a party and to President Buhari before he was swornin; we made it clear that we will remain in the opposition and constructively engage them if our hand of fellowship is accepted. By this we mean that we will be making suggestions that we think will make the government to succeed and criticise constructively where the need arises. It therefore follows that if we are invited to become part of the government in any form the president may deem it fit, we will accept without compromising our identity and our character.

We are definite that we are not going to merge with the APC or collapse with the party because we believe that our growing democracy will be better served if three or more political parties with different tendencies are allowed to ventilate their views in order that Nigerians will have options at any given democratic context.

There is the insinuation that Ndigbo have lost out in the present dispensation because they did not vote for the APC. What is your comment?

I will like to correct the impression that they did not contribute to Buhari's election and this is a general belief.

But Ndigbo became a little more circumspect in the support they gave to President Muhammadu Buhari especially after when some of us whose opinions were sought had questioned his adoption by some Igbo groups without negotiation or anything to

show for the unconditional and wholehearted support the Igbo gave to the PDP in 2011. We were very vehement in our propaganda and it was sustained, they may not even have voted for me, but definitely, more than 50 per cent of those who voted for Jonathan in 2011 did not have any reason to cast their votes again. The votes that Goodluck Jonathan did not get in the South-East paved the way for Buhari to win. The number of registered voters was approximately 7.2 million, eligible voters and about two times of that number are Igbo people who reside outside of the states in South-East.

Considering that the margin of defeat which gave President Muhammadu Buhari victory was approximately 2.5 million votes, it then follows that any support for Jonathan similar to what he got in 2011 would have seen him returning to power. So, it will be a major political miscalculation to overlook or disregard the potentiality of the Igbo in Nigeria to determine who wins or who does not win the presidency of this country.

I believe that President Muhammadu Buhari has come of age politically and therefore will give Ndigbo what is due to them considering that, in less than four years, we will be facing another election. “Having said that, let me seize this opportunity to point out the fundamental flaw in the inaugural speech of President Buhari. You can notice I have applauded the speech, but it is not 100 percent. When he began to mention Nigeria's past heroes, he did not mention Dr. Michael Okpara, the former Premier of the Eastern Region. If you look at the composition of Nigeria till 1966, Sir Ahmadu Bello presided over 14 provinces that made up the North and Dr. M. I. Okpara presided over 12 provinces that made up the former Eastern Region, while Chief Obafemi Awolowo presided over seven provinces of Western region and Sir Denis Osadebeh presided over two provinces that made up the Mid-Western Region. In terms of area of influence and the positions these heroes occupied, it amounted to unavoidable mistake that clearly sent very negative signals to have recognised even the likes of Akintola, Mallam Aminu Kano and J. S. Tarka whose political party did not control any region.

“So, I have received a lot of calls by concerned Igbo people concerning this unfortunate omission. Let me put it like that because I believe it was an omission because if the inaugural speech was brought to him before, he would have corrected it.

Another area that left a gap is that no reference was made whatsoever to the prolonged and scandalous neglect of the South-East geopolitical zone by all governments since the end of civil war in 1970. There is no gain saying the fact that the three 'R' Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Re-integration promised by the Gen. Gowon government has been observed in the breach. We were full of expectations that a government that is for all would have made even if it is a passing statement to show that in the course of the administration, the special circumstances of the SouthEast geopolitical zone shall receive the consideration and special dispensation of the president. Such a statement would have been very reassuring, considering that the North-East geopolitical zone and the Niger Delta areas received special mention in the inaugural speech. I hope that President Buhari in the days ahead will do the needed message of hope to the people of South-East geopolitical zone.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 45

C M Y K

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C M Y K

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 47

Controversy over Obasanjo, Saraki secret meeting

By Daud Olatunji

T

HE visit of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his Abeokuta residence could be said to be suspicious.

The visit, attended by only members of New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) and some senators loyal to Saraki added credence to the insinuation that the nPDP was plotting big in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It is being insinuated that the members of the nPDP led by a former acting National Chairman, of the PDP Kawu Baraje, might soon ditch the APC and rejoin their former party.

The claim has meanwhile been denied by Saraki and his supporters.

The meeting with Obasanjo has been interpreted to be a preparatory step by the APC chieftains to return to the PDP. Journalists were barred from covering the meeting.

Both Obasanjo and Saraki, while emerging from the meeting, laughed while they whispered to each other.

Expectedly, none of the parties (Obasanjo and Saraki) wanted to divulge the details of the meeting which began at 9:10am immediately after the Senate President arrived the palatial home of the former President and ended 11:10 am.

But, there were some activities that took place prior to the secret meeting .

For instance, a day to the meeting, there was an insinuation that, Obasanjo might not attend to the Senate President.

To lend credence to this, the former President was said to have travelled out of the country.

It was reliably gathered that Obasanjo apparently travelled to Norway, but flew back to Nigeria the previous night to attend the meeting.

Many things had sparked off the controversy over the meeting. That Saraki was accompanied by some members of nPDP who defected to APC is believed not to be mere coincidence.

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Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State and a former member of the PDP, had defected to the APC along with some aggrieved members of the party, including five governors, following irreconcilable differences between them and their former party leaders .

•Senate President Bukola Saraki (l) with former President Obasanjo Their defection, political analysts after the meeting believed, aided the victory of the APC at the general elections. of the National Assembly hit the on the logjam and how to be a But, after their victory, there brick wall as one of them successful Senate President. seems to be disagreements emerged Senate President.

Meanwhile, there was an between the group and the APC on Saraki ,who emerged the Senate indication that the leadership of the sharing of some positions.

President under controversial APC might not have forgiven Saraki Findings showned that the group circumstances, was believed to have completely despite its statement of had wanted one of them to fly incurred the wrath of Obasanjo and pardon issued recently. the APC flag at the presidential other leaders of the party.

The indication was that no APC election, but, was blocked.

Obasanjo, though claimed he leaders in the South-West, Also, the position of vicewas not a member of APC, has including the host state, Ogun, was president was not given to the ceased to be a member of the PDP seen with Saraki. group. After these, another and was seen as more of a member The tradition is that the host attempt to shove the group of APC. governor would either be physically aside in the leadership positions All his ‘boys’ have defected to the present at the meeting or be APC while he hosts many leaders of represented. Apart from that, the APC, including President the Senate President would also Muhammadu Buhari and the pay a visit to the governor. None of National Leader of the party, these happened.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The governor of the state, At the initial stage of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun, was said campaign for the election of the to have travelled out of Abeokuta Senate President, Saraki was not shortly before the meeting the preferred candidate of the between Saraki and Obasanjo party, but he refused to step ended to attend a funeral ceremony down for the party’s choice, in Ijebu.

Ahmed Lawan, and he eventually This was unlike during the visit of emerged with 57 votes. a former Senate Present, Senator After his victory, he is believed to David Mark, to Obasanjo when be mending fence with some party many of the party (PDP) leaders leaders. were present.

Part of the moves was his meeting Mark paid a visit to the governor with former Vice-President Atiku who was not even a member of his Abubakar. party.

But his choice to visit Obasanjo It was reliably gathered that there and not Tinubu is interpreted as might have been a directive by the extremely political and strategic.

APC leadership to stay away from According to an insider who did Saraki pending the resolution of not want his name mentioned some issues. because he was not authorised to The party, according to the speak on the details of the findings, may have reached out to meeting,Saraki’s visit was to lobby Amosun and others in the SouthObasanjo.

West prior to the Saraki meeting The source further said that the with Obasanjo. meeting was held to set agenda for The Senate President, when asked the Senate President and to ensure to comment on the alleged the party embraces him despite his disobedience to the APC directive alleged insubordination. on the choice of the candidate for According to the source, the the Senate President seat, kept meeting also centred on how to mum. handle some sensitive issues at the However, he denied any rift National Assembly. between him and his party, Obasanjo, according to the saying the relationship was source, suggested some way out cordial.

Part of the moves was his meeting with former VicePresident, Atiku Abubakar.

But his choice to visit Obasanjo and not Tinubu is interpreted as extremely political and strategic

P AGE 48—SUND AY PA 48—SUNDA

Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

GOVERNOR UGWUANYI AND HIS PREDECESSORS

A commitment to peaceful co-existence Governor Ugwuanyi, who enjoyed the uncommon favour of being supported by Chime, is proving naysayers wrong. The rumour-mill had been rife with insinuations of a possible rift between the duo.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

BY FRANCIS IGATA

S

uccessive administrations in Enugu State have been dogged by political feud occasioned by discontent between the incumbent and the immediate past governor.

Since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999, the people of Enugu State have been treated to barrage of shenanigans between a predecessors and successors.

When, in 1998, former Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, foisted former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani on the people of Enugu State, the former had barely reached his residence before the bubC M Y K

ble burst in their relationship.

Nnamani quickly built political walls and dug trenches from where he launched pointed onslaught against his benefactor. It was a case of biting the finger that fed you.

The wheels of governance trudged with billowing acrimony which served as a distraction to the performance of the administration and affected the overall output of the government.

Governance suffered.

With that, professional influencepeddlers had a field day, fanning the embers of discord. Colossal sums of money were expended on trivialities, funds which should have been channeled to productive ventures that will alleviate the sufferings of the people - which is supposed to be the main focus of government.

The same scenario played out again

when, in 2007, Nnamani exhausted his two-term tenure and naively threw up immediate past Governor, Sullivan Chime.

Unfortunately for Nnamani, Chime handed him the roughest part of the stick. The crack on their friendship wall was raven beyond imagination.

It was so bad and even worse, compared to the Nwobodo/Nnamani, that by the time of handover on May 29, 2007, both were already on warpath.

UGWUANYI'S PEACE INITATIVE However, Governor Ugwuanyi, who enjoyed the uncommon favour of being supported by Chime, is proving naysayers wrong. The rumour-mill had been rife with insinuations of a

possible rift between the duo.

At a maiden parley with journalists at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Enugu, Ugwuanyi vowed not to engage in unnecessary fight with his predecessors in office, including the immediate past governor, Chime.

Hear him, "it is not worth it to engage in such war as experience from other state in the country where there is no peace because of power play by political gladiators is enough lesson to learn from.

"I will tap from the wisdom and knowledge of the council of elders, including all the past governors, which I have reconstituted. I am sure you listened to my inaugural address, all former governors were recognised.

We are getting in touch with all of them to formally talk to each and every member of the council of elders we are reconstituting.

"We cannot in a state like this ignore the experience of these former leaders. Everybody is our friend. The era of politics is over. The peace we enjoy here is what we will maintain. It’s peace enmeshed in agape love covered by the Holy Spirit. We have fully taken over, we are in charge.

"The tradition, I don't know tradition but in the past, you find a situation where once there is change of baton, the new guy will start fighting the old guy. The experience of Boko-Haram and experiences in the states where there is no peace is enough to teach us some lessons. It’s not worth it. Instead we should move from strength to strength."

APPLAUSE TRAILS PEACE STANCE Okey Agbo, a resident in Enugu, expressed delight at the peaceful stance adopted by Governor Ugwuanyi.

He said, "in a peaceful atmosphere, government is bound to achieve more when compared to crisis period. With the commitment to peace made by the governor, it has shown clearly that he is ready for the business of governance.

"Such a stance will certainly breed rapid growth and development. Resources which would have been deployed for the stockpiling of political weaponry will be deployed to meaningful ventures that will alleviate the sufferings of the masses which he has vowed to do.

"He should learn from the good sides of past administrations and better our lot. People usually judge the performance of government by physical infrastructure, forgetting that there will be no physical infrastructure in an atmosphere of crisis. The peaceful disposition he has adopted is invaluable.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 49

Igbo should learn from SouthWest politics — Sen. Eriobuna *Says kinsmen clamouring for appointments are selfish

BY YINKA AJAYI Aggrieved by the inability of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Working Committee (NWC) to retain power, Senator Nnamdi Eriobuna, in this encounter, joins other members of the party calling for a new leadership that will direct the affairs of the party and ensure victory in the next general elections.

Is that the perception of politics of most of your people?

Probably, and that is why most Nigerians take us for granted. For instance, immediately the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat, many jumped to APC even before the governorship and state Assembly elections were held. You heard he said recently that his close friends had left him. Which is not encouraging in all ramifications.

I am one of those that believe that now that we have thrown a bloc vote for a party, let the world and Nigerians know us as people that are consistent and that we belong to that party. With that, our bargaining power will be more. And when our bargaining power is more, we get more from powers that be, because anybody who wants to contest election and needs our votes, would know that our votes are in a bloc. But if we share it here and there, it doesn’t make sense.

Again, if President Jonathan had won the election, then Gen. Buhari might not be too offended with the way the Southwest voted. Because if you looked at it, they never gave a bloc votes to any candidate. Their votes were shared among all the candidates.

But, there is one place I disagree with those that say the Igbo has lost out because of the pattern in which they voted.

They are saying that because they know, a good number of Igbo politicians love to jump to where the action is. Why didn’t they say that Kano State, Kastina State, Jigawa State will lose out because they voted one candidate? That did not ring

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•Senator Nnamdi Eriobuna any bell in their ears, it is only the Igbo, because they know the Igbo man can be very inconsistent.

What we are preaching now is: let us forget the immediate gain and work for a defined ideology and a party that agrees with our thinking. By the time we work with a party whose constitution blends well with our aspiration, then we would have started.

What is your view on the controversy trailing the amendment of the Constitution?

I believe the Constitution needs to be amended. I also believe that the Buhari will look into the reports of the last National Conference, because most of the decisions taken are in the best interest of the country. But if he decides to sweep it under the carpet, he will be prolonging the evil day, meaning that the problems will remain.

But do you think the court action against the National Assembly was right?

Constitutionally, the National Assembly is vested with the power to amend the Constitution, but whether the Presidency assents to the Bill or not, it is the responsibility of the National Assembly to make laws. The President must have a reason for declining to assent to it, which I believe will be backed by the Constitution.

Don’t forget, he has quite a number of legal luminaries in his team. His reason would be unveiled by the Supreme Court and not himself.

What is the chances of the Igbo in the new government in terms of power sharing and appointments?

In the last dispensation, the Yoruba, were not Senate President, neither were they Speaker of the House of Representatives, not Deputy Senate President or Deputy Speaker. If that is the case, what is the big deal whether we are schemed out or not? I always hate when people start say-

So, why are some Igbo leaders fighting over ministerial appointments?

It is very unfortunate. I believe the party should get names, screen them, and bring out the best. The two people fighting themselves over where the constituency the ministerial appointment will go to, are just wasting their time because those that will take the decision will eventually take decisions.

In ministerial appointments, every state is entitle to a slot. Three names were submitted, it is the prerogative of the President and the leaders of the party to decide who is better qualified for the position.

For people killing themselves and fighting over it, it is selfish and it will not have effect on whom the President would want to work with.

Aside that, how would you rate the performance of the National Working Committee of the PDP at the elections?

All over the world, I have listened to news about party chieftains and chairmen resigning because of one challenge or the other due to dismal performance of the party.

I was expecting that after the just concluded elections, the way the PDP lost in some places, would have made members of the working committee to apologise to the party and honourably resign which is the norm everywhere in the world. But in our own case, people are struggling to get into power while others are saying they won’t should resign because they have done their bits. It shows that the working committee are there for pecuniary interest. I believe having performed the way we did, The PDP needs a radical reorganisation that will get a new crop of politicians. Because the NWC worked on what was obtained before the just concluded election. The dynamics of the polity from 1999 - 2015 was well defined and known.

But the dynamics that will take place between now and 2019 have not been determined. So we need a new crop of politicians that will quickly understudy the dynamism that would manifest in 2019, knowing how to key into it and achieve results.

W

hat is your view about the style of politics played in the SouthWest, when compared to that of the South-East?

I so much admire the late sage, Chief Jeremiah Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo’s style of politics. He started way back in the 40s and was very consistent. He followed a defined track in his political career as a progressive and a modified socialist. He was consistent, and remained in opposition throughout his political career. He never rocked the boat to join the winning team. So, that consistency is what I admire in the politics of the Southwest political zone. Secondly, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has followed the same line. When he started, he had only Lagos State and was consistent. Even when his brother from the South-west, former President Olusegun Obasanjo denied him his local government allocation for many months, he carried all through. He never considered joining the winning party to sail with them. From one state, he had more states. He re-strategised and today, he is the leader of the ruling party.

This type of politics is what I admire.

Not the butter and bread politics played by most of our people. When they go for primaries and fail to get nominated, they jump into another party to contest. The next time, they are not lucky enough, they go back to the other party. This act is what I call ‘political prostitution’, and should not be encouraged by Ndigbo. Regrettably, one of them openly referred to political party as a vehicle that takes you to your destination.

zoning are very selfish people. They are only thinking of personal gains and not that of greater majority of the people.

From one state, he had more states. He re-strategised and today, he is the leader of the ruling party.

This type of politics is what I admire. Not the butter and bread politics played by most of our people

ing zone this or that to us. Zoning anything, is for people with selfish interest.

We the Igbo have produced many Senate Presidents, what did they do for us? Nothing! It is only their pockets! They earned their salaries and ran their own affairs.

Let anybody that has the interest of this great country at heart be there - tribe and tongue notwithstanding. The tribe that holds a particular position does not make much difference because it is the President and governors that determine who gets what. But all the ministerial positions we are clamouring for, have huge limitation on the people. The Minister carries out orders of the executive council headed by the President. And if that is the case, he carries the instruction set out by his boss and he reports back to him. I want to believe those clamouring for ministerial

Do you think the PDP is ready to put the new government on its toes as the opposition?

Why not! We are prepared to take that charge. Look at what happened during the primaries, the members of the working committee said during the primaries that the governors were imposing people. If I am in such a position, and a governor is trying to impose a delegate, I will definitely make him see the popular view and if he insists, I will put in my resignation!

Was that not the genesis of what led to the party’s poor performance at the last elections?

Those people should have resigned immediately they saw that things were not done rightly. But because Nigerians are so interested in power and what comes out of it, they tend to stay put. I believe you can still exist without those incentives that comes with positions. So my blame is that those that complained about governors imposition would have resigned before it turned out this way. By now, people would have been calling them back to head the position due to their uncompromising character. The PDP will stand as the best opposition and very constructive. We have people that will deliver. It is for our party to reorganise, restructure, re-orientate and have specific plan on where they are going and how they will get there without being antagonistic.

What is your advice for President Buhari?

We know he already has a focus, and he knows what he wants to do when he is on board, but I will urge him to see Nigeria as his constituency and look at the report of the National Conference critically to bring out all those things that will foster the development of this country and implement them. He should build on President Jonathan’s achievements.

Page 50—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

Without fighting graft Buhari’s govt will lose credibility — Onokpasa Mr. Jesutega Onokpasa,is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, a lawyer and public affairs commentator. In this interview with Sunday Vanguard, he expresses his displeasure with the conduct of the April 11 governorship election in Delta State, his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and his firm believe that President Muhammadu Buhari has the capacity to fight graft.

Excerpts

Y

ou have been accused of insist ing that you will not recognize Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as Governor of Delta State. Why assume such an extreme position given your credentials as a detribalized Deltan?

That Senator Okowa is the Governor of Delta for now is indisputable and I accept that reality regardless of how uncomfortable I am with it. However, I know that he became Governor through entirely underhanded means and as such, a usurper and illegitimate temporary occupant of Government House, Do you have any problems with Okowa personally? You are known to have made some powerful arguments for equity and inclusive governance; why are you not willing to give Senator Okowa the benefit of doubt and support him as your Governor?

You are very wrong. Okowa may be the Governor of Delta State for now but that does not in any way make him my Governor as a person. No one is

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Our country has been lost in the woods for decades and our challenge is to find our way back to the right path. This government is barely a month old and PDP failures are complaining about what?

Mr. Jesutega Onokpasa entitled to be anyone’s Governor without the permission or subscription of the electorate. We most certainly did not vote for Okowa. Our determination is to ensure that his stay there is as brief as possible. As for my credentials as a detribalized Deltan, they are absolutely unassailable and completely irreproachable no matter what PDP spin doctors are out there saying. I accept a Governor from anywhere in so far as such person emerges legitimately.

Why did you actually join APC with such fervour?

As to fervor, I am a naturally faithful person; I am either with you or not with you and if ever I decide to turn my back on you, you will be the first to know because I will ensure I inform you that I am no longer with you. I am quite proud to support my party

the APC. It was Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Delta APC Governorship candidate who brought me in to the APC and convinced me to eschew sentiments and assess President Muhammadu Buhari, then APC Presidential candidate, dispassionately. I am quite proud of where I am and have no regrets for supporting my President, O’tega, and my party’s candidates when it mattered. I am equally proud that I am no longer associated with PDP, a party I feel totally ashamed to have ever supported.

You have been very vocal in insisting that President Bbuhari must tackle corruption. Is that what he was actually voted to do?

What else was he voted in for? All those loudmouthed pseudo-intellectuals suggesting that he was not voted

to combat corruption are morally bankrupt apologists for a corrupt society in free fall. What are Mr. President’s credentials anyway if you remove anticorruption from the mix? I concede and indeed insist that our President was voted in to do many things, one of which and indeed the most important of which, is fighting corruption. Those insisting he should ignore corruption are President Buhari’s worst enemies, conspiring to ensure he loses his credibility with the public in an era with lowered oil earnings. We need to fight corruption as an article of faith with the voting public who brought us to power and also to discourage corruption while mopping up stolen funds to augment government finances.

Anyone with a contrary opinion is a despicable enemy of this government and an archenemy of the long-suffering Nigerian people.

Well your hero, President Buhari’s Government has been described as clueless and starting on a very shaky foundation like someone lost in the woods.

Our country has been lost in the woods for decades and our challenge is to find our way back to the right path. This government is barely a month old and PDP failures are complaining about what? What did they do for the sixteen years in power?

They are the ones who led us into the woods and President Buhari is trying to get us out of there.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 51

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PAGE 52—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015

Unemployment crisis worse than new statistics

by NBS — Expert .Says it ‘s a time-bomb about to explode

BY PROF. AKPAN EKPO

T

he former Federal Office of Statistics, now National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has been calculating employment/ unemployment statistics to guide policy over the years. During the 1960s, data from the then FOS reflected full-employment in the economy. Even when government was concerned about rising unemployment, the FOS from 1983 – 1998 published unemployment rates average as 4.0 per cent signaling fullunemployment. From 1999 to 2013, the rates of unemployment published by NBS mirrored the concern of government that unemployment was not only a major challenge but also indicated noticeable rising trend among youth unemployment. For example, in 2010, the rate of unemployment stood at 21.4 per cent and rose to 27.4 per cent in 2012 and declined to 24.7 per cent in 2013. These high rates clearly indicate that the economy has an unemployment problem. These rates are quite at variance with the 5-5.5 per cent full employment rates.

The NBS recently published new rates of unemployment for Nigeria’s economy from 2010 – 2014 based on a ‘ new ’ methodology, which suggests that the economy is almost at full– employment, as the rate for last quarter of 2014 stood at 6.4 per cent. The rate as at first quarter of 2015 was 7.5 per cent. One is not so much concerned about the methodology used because they are based on certain assumptions, so if any of the assumptions is relaxed, the calculated rate may be different.

However, what is worrisome is the speech made by the Statistician General, on May 14, 2015 while welcoming the committee on the review of the framework for calculating unemployment rate in Nigeria.

He asserted that the ‘new’ rates of unemployment were based on scientific method and that persons should not be sentimental and ideological over unemployment figures, stating that it was not social science. He further argued that the new rates were calculated on the basis of accepted international best practices. Is the situation different in the Nigerian economy? Every economy must take into account its own peculiarities in applying the concept and calculation of employment and unemployment.

While one would agree to some extent that sentiments ought to be set aside but the issues of ideology, science and international best practices must be challenged in the interest of knowledge in general and the Nigerian economy in particular. In measuring unemployment, countries have adopted the concept to their peculiarities. For example, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) considers that a person who works for an hour a week is employed and often adduces reasons to support its position.

The same organisation also calculates the rate of vulnerable unemployment. The USA Labour Agency assumes that if you register as unemployed and did

•Mr. Timothy Oguntayo Job seekers in one of Nigeria Immigration recruitment centres. (Inset: Prof. Akpan Ekpo) not show up after a week, you must be employed. The same country considers the frequency, duration and incidence of unemployment in measuring the overall unemployment rate in the country. The USA economy also pays unemployment compensation to workers who lost their jobs among other welfare programmes.

For the most part, the outcome of administered surveys in any economy depends on the coverage, the content (questions asked) in the questionnaire is crucial. In the Nigerian case, the number of Enumeration Areas is relevant. The NBS states that the working age goes from 15-65 years, one would ask why stop at 65? Why not 60 or 70? How many Enumeration Areas are covered by the NBS? About 28, is that adequate? How is rural employment/unemployment captured? Nonetheless, whatever the assumptions, one should be guided by economic theory and principle. Economics may be an inexact science but it uses scientific method. The other social sciences do the same. For example, in analysing the population structure within the context of the labour force, one may need a demographer, among other experts.

In the epistemology of knowledge, the distinction between the natural sciences and social sciences is a false distinction. Every scientist/ science deals with matter in motion. It is interesting to note that certain laws in economics were based on casual observation. Hence, one would have expected that the wide variation of the unemployment rates between the old and the new methodology as well as the concern of all Nigerians would have alerted the experts in the NBS to re-examine their data, coverage, sampling techniques, among other variables. Not all variables observed in statistical sampling are based on objectivity. The experience of the policy-maker and the reality on ground are also crucial. In addition, there are no unemployment benefits in the

Nigerian economy.

There are tendencies and different schools of thought in economics. The matter of full employment is and has always been ideological in terms of conceptualisation, formulation and implementation. Within a market based economy, there exist debates as to whether full employment should be an objective as well as what should be the role of government during high rates of unemployment. The debate becomes intense if the economy is in a recession or a depression. It is interesting to note that even in Nigeria, economists have different tendencies. Their ideas are not homogenous despite the broad and technical training. The tendencies may not be perceived to be sharp because of the underdevelopment of the economy and the economics profession itself in the country.

Regarding international best practices, the unemployment rates from the ILO suggest that the Nigerian economy has been at (average of 4.2 per cent) fullemployment in the last five years.

No active observer of the Nigerian economy would take

those ILO figures seriously. Who determines the so-called International best practices? In the same vein, the NBS ‘new’ unemployment rates indicate that unemployment is not a serious challenge in the economy hence no need for urgent government policy to tackle unemployment. Is that really the case?

One is not alluding that the NBS cannot fine-tune any of its methodologies including that of employment/unemployment.

The worry is that not too longago, the NBS informed Nigerians that the incidence of poverty stood at almost 70 per cent in 2012 and projected future increase.

The government challenged the figure of the NBS and invited the World Bank to calculate the incidence of poverty for the country. The Bank arrived at a rate of 33 per cent indicating that the poverty incidence decline sharply over the years. What the World Bank should have done was to use the formula and data of the NBS and see whether the result would be different. It is hoped that the rates of unemployment has not suffered

the same panel-beating like the incidence of poverty measure.

The NBS needs proper funding by government so that labour survey coverage would be extensive while the questionnaire design, testing and execution would be rigorous reflecting the Nigerian reality. Furthermore, State governments should also make efforts in computing employment/unemployment statistics in their jurisdictions.

Notwithstanding the low unemployment rates published by the NBS, the new administration should see job creation (not seasonal employment) as a priority. The reserved army of the unemployed in the economy is too large. It remains a time-bomb, and it is in our collective interest not to allow it to explode. In economics, between 5 and 5.5 percent is construed as full employment because at some point in time some persons may not wish to work for various reasons. Before 1936, full employment was never considered an objective of government. The economists before then (referred to Political Economists or Moral Philosophers) argued that the economy was always at full employment and that supply created its own demand. Hence, any deviation from full employment was very temporary and if it persists for a while, it was because workers were unwilling to take a wage cut. This position which prevailed during the Great depression of the 1930s is still relevant today with some coloration by neo-and new classical economists.

The intervention of government’s fiscal policy to set their economies on the path of recovery and growth convinced skeptics that the State has a role to play in the economy. Thus, most governments in Europe and North America enacted laws mandating their governments to ensure that full employment was among the macroeconomic objectives of the State. Hence, the employment/unemployment matter should not be taken lightly. If a high per cent of the labour force is unemployed then that economy cannot be performing satisfactorily even if such an economy is registering positive growth rates.

Ekpo, a professor of economics is the current Director General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM).

P&G invests N8.8bn in 20 yrs

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

P

rocter and Gamble says it has invested about $450million (N8.82billion) in its 20 years of existence in Nigeria.

The company while opening its new head Office in Lagos, said the highest is the $300million (N5.9 billion) invested on its manufacturing plant in Agbara Industrial estate in Ogun State and other invests which amounts to $150million(N2.9billion).

The company ’s President for India, Middle East &Africa, IMEA, Mohammed Samir , said the company’s commitment to growth and development of Nigeria is reflected in its continued investment in the country.

Speaking about the employees, the IMEA President said: “We place much value on our employees: P&G has a growfrom-within culture and part of this is making sure we attract and select the best talent in the country and groom them to become leaders in their respective professions. “Our employees are taken through extensive training programs across our global offices and given remarkable corporate responsibilities from day one.”

“This commitment has also been extended to upcoming entrepreneurs in other parts of the country and I am proud to inform you that till date, we have provided jobs for over 5000 direct and indirect agents in Nigeria.”

“A few weeks ago we activated Small Medium Enterprises

development academy as part of our commitment to the federal government of Nigeria, by training over 150 young and upcoming entrepreneurs on basic business management skills he quipped.”

On the other hand, George Nassar, Managing Director, P&G said he is excited to lead the expansion of P&G through a stronger local presence in Nigeria.

“Our success in the manufacturing sector demonstrates P&G’s value as a flexible platform for responding to complex business challenges and i fully expect the organization to become a strategic platform throughout the Nigerian market for many years to come.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 53

Subsidy: Making a case for Modular Refinery operators

BY CHARLES DANIEL

A

s President Muhammadu Buhari settles down to the serious business of governance, one key area that should quickly engage his attention is the petroleum industry.

The reason for this is not farfetched. As a major player in the global oil market by the virtue of our natural crude endowment, it is ironical that the country is not only an importer of petroleum products, but also, experiences acute shortage on a constant basis.

Due to the heavy dependence on the importation of petroleum products to augment local production, marketers have exploited the situation to perpetrate massive fraud as the subsidy fraud imbroglio showed.

At will, they also hold the nation to ransom by withholding products from the market.

To address the ugly situation, it has been suggested over the years that local refining of the crude oil is the most sustainable option.

However, the combined capacity of the four refineries in the country, which are owned by the Federal Government, is far below the daily oil requirements.

The involvement of the private investors in establishing refineries becomes imperative. The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has issued a number of licences to various companies who showed interest over the last ten years. Despite this, no privately-owned refinery is operational in Nigeria as of today.

Investigations revealed a lot of factors are responsible for private investors shunning the building of refineries despite holding operating licences.

Many of the licence holders have accused DPR of shifting the goal post in the middle of the game concerning sourcing of crude, the major raw material. The initial arrangement was that there would be a sovereign guarantee of steady supply of crude by DPR to Nigeriabased refineries. A situation where no priority is accorded and operators would have to rely on off-shore crude sourcing is a major worry. Instead of selling crude to foreigners as a matter of priority, operators are demanding that national interest and investors concern should take precedence in arriving at a decision.

The current oil subsidy regime by the Federal Government also

Due to the heavy dependence on the importation of petroleum products to augment local production, marketers have exploited the situation to perpetrate massive fraud as the subsidy fraud imbroglio showed constitutes a big headache for intending refinery owners. Except for diesel, all other petroleum products are currently being sold at a highly subsidised rate. With the possibility of private refinery operators production cost being higher than the current subsidized rates, there are fears that they

might run into a huge loss if they invest in the refinery business. The operators are waiting to see how the new government addresses this disincentive. Two options are open for considerations here: One, government assures operators of buying their products at the production cost so they could break even. Two, the sector is deregulated and allow market forces to determine pricing.

Another huge concern is that of infrastructural challenge. Setting up a refinery comes with its peculiar challenges. In most cases, refineries are sited in locations, that are far from city centres, where there are deficit in terms of infrastructural provision.

Good access roads, constant electricity supply, hospitals, schools, among others are some of the facilities that the operators would expect the government to provide in order to support the social and economic needs of the refineries and their host communities. Leaving the investors to provide all these facilities aside the huge capital requirement of setting up the refineries would be highly discouraging.

A critical area that government

could help the operators is that of financing. The current high interest rate of domestic borrowing will surely have a negative effect on product pricing.

The ordinary citizens will bear the brunt of high product price. Like the government did in some critical sectors like entertainment and aviation, operators have suggested an intervention fund would help a great deal.

Government can also provide encouragement by granting generous waivers for the importation of needed materials and equipment for the projects.

For the country to jump start the country ’s oil industry and guarantee the availability of petroleum products for the citizens at all times, the establishment of local refineries is crucial. Government needs to support the licensed operators through the provision of conducive environment for them to thrive, bring succour to Nigerians and contribute substantially to the country ’s economy by way of job creation, among other benefits.

• Charles Daniel, an expert in the oil and gas industry, writes from Lagos.

At 15, it is FOREVER changing lives

BY TONY NWANKWO

F

orever Living Products Nigeria Limited celebrated its 15th anniversary in its 15 centres and many Wellness Centres nationwide. Friends, , business associates and wellwishers participated in the celebrations. The festivities, from Wednesday May 6th - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 had different events to mark 15 fruitful years of empowering Nigeria and Nigerians with the theme:”Celebration of Success, Resilience and Integrity of Forever Business in Nigeria”. There was more celebration as the parent company, Forever Living Products International Inc. in Phoenix Arizona, with over 37 years in profitable global existence, and present in 158 countries, also celebrated their Global Rally event in Singapore, at the prestigious 7-star Marina Sands Bay Hotel in April 2015.

Of the 158 countries in which Forever International is present, Nigeria ranks 4th and has consistently been ranked Number 1 in Africa in terms of quantum of sales and quality of the FBOs. It produced four of the topmost five FBOs in the continent and is poised to remain the greatest force in Africa for quite a long time. In 2000, when Forever commenced full operation in Nigeria, there were many network marketing companies in the country. Majority died out quickly, while others were not heard of after a decade. But after fifteen years, Forever Nigeria has grown to be an internationally recognised power house that has marked many milestones. They keep getting better and stronger, as it breaks new boundaries in different areas and sectors, which is evidenced in its growth and dominance in the Fast Moving Commercial Goods industry.

The flavour of a new management team was evident at the main event as they upped their game in the celebrations.

There was the red carpet (Aloe’d

Carpet), with a back-drop of their products which got the excitement and the buzz going.

Top artiste, Skales, performed with his hit songs that got the elderly grooving. The grand finale, also featured awards segment, as Forever Nigeria presented plaques of honour to distinguished individuals who had contributed to the growth and success of the company in Nigeria. There was the Legacy Award to Engr. and Mrs. Adewale Oyemade, in appreciation for their good works in laying the foundation for the growth of Forever business in Nigeria. Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Tay were honoured with Leadership Builders Award in appreciation for their hard work and dedication in building many Forever Business Owners into leaders in Nigeria. A Regulatory Leadership Award went to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for ensuring that only the right quality food, drugs and other regulated products are manufactured, exported, imported, advertised, sold and used in Nigeria. Forever Nigeria had, in the past, received several awards from NAFDAC, Nigeria’s prime regulatory body, in areas of quality product and full compliance to the statutory laws.

Other certifications include the International Aloe Science Council, the Kosher Rating, Islamic Seal of Approval and the Halal certification. The company has received several awards in Nigeria from corporate and regulatory agencies, including the NAFDAC Ports Inspection Directorate Performance Recognition Award 2013 for attaining the third position as the Most Compliant Supplement Company in Nigeria.

The Partnership Award, went to the Nigerian Heart Foundation, for years of its professional support to Forever Living Products. The company ’s management was also honoured,

From left: Mrs Ayeni, FLP Sapphire Manager; Mrs. Fehintola Foluso-Onagoruwa, Sapphire Manager: FLP Director of Operations, Mr. Bode Olasinde, Country Sales Manager, Olusegun IsraelAdegboye; Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Loye Akinyele; FLP Double Diamond Managers, Dr Clement and Dr. (Mrs.) Maria Idigo, as company management and part of top Forever Business Owners address the press in Lagos to mark Forever Nigeria 15th anniversary. as the Director of Operations, Mr. Bode Olasinde, received award for his meritorious hard work and dedicated long service as a pioneering staff of FLP Nigeria.

There was also an award of meritorious hard work and dedicated long service as a pioneering staff of the company to Olufemi Sanya, while Forever Sapphire Manager, Tope Rotimi Akinola received a Leadership award in appreciation for the demonstration of his good leadership skills as he opens his training sessions to all FBOs without discrimination, at his own expense.

Speaking at a press conference earlier, at the company headquarters in Ikeja, Forever Nigeria Country Sales Manager, Olusegun Israel-Adegboye, commended FBOs for their dedication and resourcefulness and said that the company ’s anniversary celebration was all about them. “Our success is reflective of your commitment, your dedication and hard work.

Even as we celebrate, we continue to commit ourselves to serving and supporting you. With our offices in major cities and product centres easily accessible to you and new business owners;

we ensure you get the best”.

According to Israel-Adegboye, “Success Showcase events will continue as avenues where we recognise and celebrate your achievements and progress, and acquaint you on new products and company policies. It remains a platform where we reward FBOs on company approved incentives like earned luxurious vehicles or Certificates of

Occupancy (C-of-O) of property.”

He said the benefits of the business, beyond the lavish compensation, was that it develops individuals to be goal driven and self confident as they thrive in harnessing group effort for great accomplishment. He revealed that the new frontier for Forever was to reach out to the grass-root and rural communities where entrepreneurial development and health management are in high demand. “We are reaching out to politicians generally, from governors, local government chairmen, councillors to opinion leaders, we want to partner with them so that our world-renowned products can help improve the livelihood of people in this demography.” he said.

Others present at the press briefing, were Forever Nigeria Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Loye Akinyele; Director of Operations, Mr. Bode Olasinde; Mr. John Ekperigin a Double Diamond Manager; Mrs Ayeni, a Sapphire Manager; Dr Clement and Dr. (Mrs.) Maria Idigo, Double Diamond Manager and Fehintola Foluso-Onagoruwa, a Sapphire Manager.

From left: Chief Bassey Edem, National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA); Dr. (Mrs.)Nike Akande, former Minister of Industry/Honourary Life Vice President, NACCIMA; Alhaji Remi Bello, National Treasurer, NACCIMA/President, Lagos Chamber and Barr. Emmanuel Cobham, Director General, NACCIMA at the 9th World Chambers Congress held in Torino, Italy.

PAGE 54—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015

Nigeria caters for 2m IDPs, says NCRMIDP

BY SAM EYOBOKA with Agency reports

T

HE National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMIDP) has said that Nigeria is currently catering for two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

National Commissioner for the commission, Hajia Hadiza Kangiwa, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday, adding that government was also catering for 2,000 foreign refugees, noting that the people were kept in churches, public schools and other makeshift buildings.

“Government provides food items, toiletries, cloths and insecticide to cater for their welfare under a temporary arrangement,” she said, pointing out that caring for that huge number of IDPs, posed a serious challenge for the government.

According to her, the Federal Government is not favourably disposed to setting up camps for the displaced persons, noting however, that having camp was imperative to taking good care of those displaced on account of insecurity and disaster in parts of the country.

“The challenge is the spontaneous nature in displacement because without warning, you find groups of people displaced. IDPs are citizens of Nigeria but displaced from their ancestral homes due to insecurity and natural disasters.

“They have freedom of movement and right to work, and that is why government does not like to keep them perpetually on camps. So, it is like a struggle with humanitarian work and development, human right and constitutional issues,” she said.

Kangiwa expressed concern about the security implication of keeping the IDPs and refugees, which further explained why government opposed setting up camps, stressing that security needed to be improved, especially for the IDPs, who could be vulnerable to dangers, having been displaced from their natural homes.

“In the camps, you hear of all kinds of ills including child abuse, child trafficking and militarisation of young people and that is a big security issue,” the commissioner said, noting that inadequate funding is a major challenge militating against the operations of the commission.

• Pastor (Mrs.) Helen Oritsejafor (c) surrounded by her sister-in-law, Chief Yemi Oritsejafor (l), Mrs. Dittimi (r) and other members of Daughters of Sarah Fellowship cutting the birthday cake at the Warri GRA home of the Oritsejafors.

“Because of the nature of displacement, we are not able to prepare budget accurately and where you make budget, fund requested is not released in accordance to the needs of the commission. Last year the commission got N70 million for protection, care and maintenance of over one million IDPs. “In this year ’s budget only N32 million was approved while the number of IDPs doubled to two million. We are constantly struggling to get corporate sponsors to augment funds from government,” the commissioner said.

The resettlement, according to her, includes six months’ house rent, one year health insurance and one off-cash

hand-out as empowerment assistance to the family.NAccording to her, with N200,000, a family of five children can be resettled and they do not have to remain in the camp any further.

“If we have the fund, we will be able to resettle half of those we have in the camp now,” Kangiwa said.

Meanwhile at least 23 people were reportedly killed when a Boko Haram bomb that was confiscated by vigilantes exploded. The BBC reports the vigilantes had been celebrating a successful mission against the terrorist group when the bomb detonated.

The incident appears to have been accidental.

Military police member Tahir

Monguno said: “The vigilante group together with the military decided to go to villages in Marte Local Government where there is preponderance of Boko Haram elements...In the course of the operation they killed some Boko Haram insurgents and confiscated their weapons.”

The mission went awry when a vigilante did not report one of the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that was picked up during the attack. Ten people were killed instantly in the blast and 13 more died en route to the hospital in Maiduguri. Others remain in the hospital with injuries.

80 Hallelujahs for Primate Emmanuel Alder

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU T was fun and praises to God Almighty last Thursday as friends, family members, I colleagues and a host of members of the Cherubim

& Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, gathered to give God thanks for the life of Primate/ Spiritual Head of the Cherubim & Seraphim (C&S) Church of Christ a.k.a, The Worshippers, His Grace Prophet Emmanuel Babalola Alder, who turned 80. Apart from the birthday thanksgiving service, there were lots of other activities lined up to honour the man of God who has maintained an enviable position as a firm believer in the power of God. Prophet Alder, a retired teacher, said he has every reason to give praises to his God for sparing his life and for enabling him continue in faith.

“God called me in 1969 while I was still in public service as an Anglican, to work for Him but I refused. On December 31, 1969, God forced me to answer the call by making me fall sick and I couldn’t attend office work again. The very day I resolved to answer the call of God in my life marked the beginning of my recovery.

“Owing to my resolve to always hold an annual

thanksgiving, I donated my plot of land for building of the church and so far, I have maintained that pledge. I can assure you that I have no regret in life especially since I answered His call. In year 2000, I had a spinal cord operation at Lagoon Hospital and thank God I’m still alive though I cannot walk properly again. In all these, I give glory to God,” he stated. Alber, who frowned at the idea of ministers seeking power to do miracle, emphasised that “I have strong confidence that it is only God that can do everything. I advise ministers of God to worship God in the truth and holiness. Remember God said, thou shall have no other God besides me. “As a member of the C & S Unification Church of Nigeria, I have been preaching that ministers of God should follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and have faith in God who only can perform miracles. If He gives you the power, you can do miracles, otherwise do not attempt to use charms or other wrong means to get power. Concerning his thoughts for Nigeria, Alber said, “I have been praying to God to change the mindset of our political leaders. I don’t belong to any party and I don’t vote, but I see newly elected President Muhammadu Buhari as a man with purpose. I believe he will do something to move the country forward.

Pray for Govt, Mar tins enjoins Martins Muslims

BY OLAYINKA LATONA ATHOLIC Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace Alfred C Adewale Martins, has enjoined

Nigerian Muslims to use this year’s Ramadan period to pray earnestly for the country’s new leadership that God may give them the much needed wisdom, vision and political will to move Nigeria forward.

In his 2015 Ramadan message signed by the Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr. Gabriel Osu, Archbishop Martins said that there was need for all to seek the face of God in this trying period in our nation’s history, adding that the myriad of challenges currently facing the country was daunting.

While extending his felicitation to all Muslims across the country, Martins also called on them to use the period to work together with people of other faith toward partnering with the new administration to rebuild the country from the ashes of corruption and ineptitude.

“There is no doubt that our country is going through very hard times, but there are still many reasons to thank God. And so I urge you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for the continuous peace and unity of this country because without peace there can be no progress.

“We also need to pray for our leaders that God would grant them the requisite wisdom to lead us on the right part,” he stressed.

The cleric also opined that the Ramadan season was an opportunity to reflect on the love of God for humanity, and the need for all to live in peace irrespective of creed or religious differences, further urging them to join hands with government to put a lasting end to insecurity in the land, particularly in the North East region of the country.

GKS minis ged ministt er erss ur urged to live by example

M

INISTERS of the God’s Kingdom Society (GKS) started their annual conference during the week with a stern admonition that they should live by example as everyone will be rewarded by God according to how he had used the opportunity to work in the Lord’s vineyard.

In an address at the opening of the three-day conference, chairman of the church’s Executive Board, Brother Godwin Ifeacho said the theme; “We shall all reap what we sow” highlights the close connection between cause and effect even as he stressed that the ministers must by word and exemplary conduct, sow only seeds that make for discipline, orderliness and decency as God would in due time judge every man’s work. While thanking God for the church’s ability to carry out a range of evangelistic programmes within the year, Brother Ifeacho urged the ministers to demonstrate their faithfulness to their ministerial vows through diligence in studying the Scriptures and readiness to propagate the gospel effectively at every opportunity.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 55

J

IDE Akintunde told me a story about an exemplary Christian in his former church who was unemployed.

Everyone in the church was impressed with his piety and devotion to God. Therefore, the prayer squad took it upon themselves to fast and pray for him to get a job.

Soon enough, he obtained a good high-paying job at a local branch of an international organization.

Sooner still, he was given a loan with which he purchased a posh car. But just as wellwishers were blessing God for his testimonies, he had an accident in the new car and died.

Why does this kind of adversity befall the righteous?

Can his new job and car still be considered blessings; or were they really curses? Would he not have been better off in his old station without the intervention of the prayer squad?

Practical Christianity I have coordinated an interactive session on “Practical Christianity” every Monday for the past 17 years with no holds barred.

However, the set-up in most churches precludes the raising of “controversial” issues. The gospel is whatever the pastor or proverbial “man-of-God” dishes out; no questions asked. This ensures that many Christians are indoctrinated on principles that are merely self-serving to their churches and pastors.

However, the faith of a seasoned Christian must stand the test of scrutiny. II Peter says: “We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN T O GODL GODLYY PEOPLE? (II Peter 1:16). Those called to be the first-fruits of Christ must speak convincingly of what we know. We must: “Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks (us) to account for the hope that is in (us).” (I Peter 3:15). Our beliefs must be open to question, otherwise our faith is vain.

Don’t believe the lie: Christianity is amenable to reason and logic. The soundness of Jesus’ faith is practically demonstrable.

Among other things, Jesus multiplied loaves of bread to show he is “the bread of life.”

He raised Lazarus from the dead to demonstrate he is “the resurrection and the life.”

Accordingly, he says: “Signs will accompany those who believe.” (Mark 16:17). He says furthermore: “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”

(John 7:17).

Questions and answers The staple in many churches today, especially those of the Pentecostal persuasion, is the “prosperity gospel.” This maintains it is the will of God for the believer to prosper in this life. Some insist “without Christ there will be crisis.”

God does not present himself as the preventer of adversity.

He presents himself as the redeemer of adversity Others sing affirmatively: “I will not suffer; I will not beg for bread.”

Indeed, David says in the scriptures: “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25). The psalmist says the man who fears the Lord: “will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.” (Psalm 25:13). As a result, the faith of many Christians cannot survive hard times.

The harsh reality often presents a different picture.

The psalmist declares that prosperity is not the exclusive preserve of the righteous. On the contrary, he says: “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” (Psalm 73:12). Job laments that the wicked: “See their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes. Their homes are safe and free from fear;

the rod of God is not upon them. Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry. They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.” (Job 21:8-10/13).

Therefore, the prophets barraged God with questions.

Jeremiah asks: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?

Why do all the faithless live at ease?” (Jeremiah 12:1).

Job asks a similar question: “Why does God let evil men live, let them grow old and prosper?” (Job 21:7). The psalmist is also conflicted: “Lord, how long shall the wicked be allowed to triumph and exult?” (Psalm 94:3).

I want to address here a variant of the same burning questions: Why does God allow bad things to happen to godly people?

Kingdom dynamics Some of the things we call bad are not bad in God’s eyes.

God does not have the eyes of

—Paul Emeka

BY SAM EYOBOKA N absence of any further legal interpretation, the embattled General Superintendent of Assemblies of God Church, Prof. Paul Emeka, weekend claimed that he remains the authentic General Superintendent of the church recognised by government, the court and the constitution.

He made the disclosure at the 2015 Professorship Graduation Ceremony of the United Bible University, Lagos on Saturday, where he bagged a certificate in Theology.

“We are the authentic GS,” he said, recognizing the existence of factions in the church, when he added, “we are in the process of resolving it.”

It will be recalled that a letter dated March 6, 2014

titled: “Re: Rev. Prof. Paul Emeka, former General Superintendent, Assemblies of God, Nigeria,” signed by Rev. Dr. John Ikoni, Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor and Rev. Dr. Vincent Alaje, the General Secretary, Acting General Superintendent and General Treasurer respectively accused Prof. Emeka of being autocratic in behaviour, financial mismanagement, abuse of power and above all taking the church to court.

In December, an Enugu High Court judge, Justice Anthony Onovo in ruled in a suit brought by Emeka over the breach of his fundamental human rights, that Emeka was never removed as the General Superintendent of the church, stressing that the meeting that took the decision was illegal as it was convoked without regard to the constitution of the church or law.

•Paul Emeka Emeka last Saturday urged people with means to assist education generally and especially Bible candidates and students to aspire higher, arguing that if a pastor or an evangelist is verse in the Bible, he will interpret it correctly.

“That will take care of so many errors that exist today in the society,” he noted, arguing that a good interpretation of the bible will help develop the society in all

Redemptive calculus

flesh; and he does not see as man sees. (Job 10:4). He affirms this again and again: “‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isaiah 55:89).

For example, it is agonizing to lose a child. But life is not lost to one who can restore it.

Thus, Jesus declared that a dead child was only sleeping.

To demonstrate this, he raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead: “Jesus said. ‘She is not dead but asleep.’ They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, ‘My child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.” (Luke 8:52-55).

The believer needs to appropriate the mind of Christ. Amos asks: “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3). God creates the good out of the bad: “The LORD kills and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and brings up.

The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and lifts up.” (I Samuel 2:6-7).

One of the best things that ever happened to me was that I was attacked by armed

I remain GS of Assemblies of God

I

robbers. I would not have known God if this “bad thing” had not happened to me.

Thus, Isaiah asks rhetorically: “Who allowed Israel to be robbed and hurt? Was it not the LORD? It was the LORD whom we sinned against, for the people would not go where he sent them, nor would they obey his law.”

(Isaiah 42:24).

ramifications.

Asked how his new studies would help douse the crisis in the AGC, he said: “I am not existing for that controversy.

I am existing for a larger society, and I feel my world does not begin and end with AG in particular.”

He intends to, through the crisis, prove his innocence and make Nigeria bigger, “so, my mindset does not focus on any crisis. I didn’t read for AG; I read for Nigeria, Africa and

God does not present himself as the preventer of adversity.

He presents himself as the redeemer of adversity. He stands as our redeemer because he delights in converting our losses to gains.

God is infinitely more glorified in redemption than in prevention. There is a redeeming purpose to every pain and suffering. C. S. Lewis, who watched his beloved wife die of cancer, put it this way: “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Nobody delights in an injection because of the pain. But it may be necessary to prevent a disease or an infection.

An anonymous writer puts things in a more cryptic manner: “I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong. I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve. I asked for prosperity and God gave me brawn and brain to work. I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome. I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help... My prayers were answered.”

the entire world.”

Taking a cursory look at the state of education in the country, Emeka decried that the sector is struggling, urging governments at every level to pay more attention to the sector by paying teachers, injecting more funds for research and other necessary needs of lecturers.

He maintained that many Nigerian universities are glorified secondary schools, stressing that the government has the means, “let it pay attention to the needs so that we can compete favourably well with our counterparts outside Nigeria.”

The institute’s Director of Studies, Prof.

Kunle Macaulay, warned ministers of the gospel to desist from using worldly devices including cultism and mysticism as means of propagating the gospel, noting that what such Christian leaders are doing is deceitful.

Macaulay assured that the Bible School teaches undiluted word of God in Nigeria, and that it remains the best. “The graduands can attest to that.”

Page 56 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

VIEWPOINT

By Ibrahim Suleiman

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The fear of a former governor ahead of 2019

T

HE recent outburst by the former governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over the emergence of the National Assembly leadership, leaves no one in doubt that the development, especially the election of Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the Senate’s presiding officers, has given him sleepless nights.

Let us interrogate his views. First, in chastising Saraki, Kwankwaso said: “Bukola should not go too far on his ambition. At his level, people should be more careful about what they do. Members of the party (APC) should have limitations; they should know where to start and where to stop. I think this is going too far romancing members of the PDP. As far as we are concerned, PDP was dead until recently when ambition brought certain people to do what they should not do in party politics”.

Reading him, one is pushed to wonder whether Kwankwaso is actually speaking about the same party on whose platform he rose to

NASS Leadership and Kwankwaso’s Bad Verses the position of a minister and twoterm governor. It makes one to wonder if the man sermonizing about party supremacy and discipline is the same Kwankwaso who, along with seven PDP governors, staged a rude walkout on the PDP hierarchy, including then President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, at the party’s mini-convention in 2013 because he wanted more grips on the party to oil his presidential ambition. The same Kwankwaso, along with four governors of the New PDP (nPDP) fame not only romanced, but also married into the APC family in pursuit of his presidential ambition during which he was floored by General Buhari at the Lagos presidential primary. He never stopped at nothing in pursuit of his personal interest above party interest.

So, when then did he become born again and anointed to sermonize on party discipline and supremacy? What treachery and indiscipline could be worse than carrying PDP’s gubernatorial mandate to the APC, passing off projects done under the PDP as though they were done under the APC, and finally manufacturing a screaming 1.9 million votes (which he boasts about today) to rig out the PDP on March 28?

Again, he tried to justify the Hon. Aminu Tambuwal rebellion in 2011, which he was part of, while demonising the one that led to Saraki’s emergence.

Kwankwaso is being economical with the truth? A rebellion is a rebellion and both Saraki and Tambuwal were rebels with just causes.

In 2011, Tambuwal led a rebellion that ensured that democracy and legislative independence prevailed.

Today, Saraki, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, etc have further stretched the rebellion to ensure that free choices and constitutionalism prevailed above party highhandedness and cabalism.

Kwankwaso also overreached himself when he decreed as follows: “That position (Deputy Senate President) doesn’t belong to the PDP and that is the mistake Ekweremadu is making. All those who supported him and his party to get it have made a big mistake for themselves and for the party and indeed for the country and they should be ashamed of themselves”.

His reason was that for the 16 years that the PDP was in majority at the National Assembly, no other party shared the position of presiding officer with it.

However, it is either Kwankwaso is being hypocritical or he is crass-

ly ignorant of the constitutional provisions on the election of the presiding officers of the nation’s apex legislature; it could be both.

But, he needs to be tutored that the position of the Deputy Senate President or any presiding officer at the National Assembly is for any duly elected senator or House member.

Also, besides the fact that Kwankwaso was instrumental to Tambuwal’s defection to the APC as a minority party with PDP’s speakership mandate in 2014, APC legislators are currently Speakers of the Benue and Plateau States House of Assembly. Yet PDP has the majority there. So, on what moral grounds does he chastise the PDP? He also probably forgot that the APC only enjoys a delicate majority in the Senate, unlike the overwhelming majority the PDP enjoyed those 16 years. Of the PDP’s 49 senators, 32 come from the South East and South-South, regions the APC did not consider worthy of any substantive office from President to Deputy Speaker. They distributed those offices as if the two regions are inconsequential even though both have federal lawmakers elected on the APC platform. The APC even endorsed a North East and North Central Senate Presidency even though APC has a senator

Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi: The Man in the silhouette VIEWPOINT

By Philemon Doro Adjekuko

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The national sacrifice of a former governor

N

OT many Nigerians con sidered the possibility of General Muhammadu Buhari ever becoming the President. The tribe of the die-hard doubting Thomases failed to reckon with the man who stood staunchly behind the dream of the CHANGE that was to come the way of Nigeria.

While some of his political colleagues were still weighing their options whether or not to leave the PDP, f o rmer Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State had long made up his mind to move to the APC with or without them. And as soon as he got there, he “locked” his eyes on Buhari as the one who should fly the party’s presidential ticket even though the party had not begun the process of choosing its flag bearer.

Therefore, for Amaechi, it was Buhari, Buhari, Buhari. Amaechi threw his heart and mind right into the project. The Rivers State Lodge in Abuja practically replaced all other earlier places of party meetings as party faithful trooped in and out on daily basis.

The first major challenge in delivering Buhari was the inability of the APC to agree on him as a consensus candidate. The problem dragged until the party decided that primary should be conducted. Amaechi strongly felt that left on his own, Buhari will not emerge as the flag bearer. He joined others to build a coalition that will deliver Buhari at the primary. The process did not only deliver Buhari, it was adjudged a spectacular success by Nigerians. Given his big push role in the emergence of Buhari as the APC flag bearer, Amaechi was logically picked to be Director of the Buhari Campaign Organization.

Meanwhile, as Amaechi was busy pushing the Buhari project with all he had, things were smoldering in his home state of

Rivers. The state’s branch of the PDP had parted ways with Amaechi way back in 2013, opening him to fighting on many battle fronts simultaneously. His defection to APC blew the confrontation wide open.

He was accused of illegally moving a PDP mandate to the APC. The Presidency descended on Amaechi like a ton of bricks by trying to scuttle his re-election as the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, distorting the security situation in the state and using the state PDP branch under the leadership of Nyesom Wike, the current governor of the state, to take on Amaechi in an open warfare.

Amaechi was, therefore, torn between the deteriorating situation in Rivers and helping to deliver Buhari and APC at the centre with the likely consequence of losing the state to the PDP. Amaechi knew that winning both battles would be an uphill task but he was iron-willed to take a shot.

Meanwhile, the battle to deliver Buhari and APC at the centre was both contentious and acrimonious.

It was perhaps the most hate-filled campaign in recent memory.

There was clear risk to the life of Amaechi from the South-South as he was considered a ‘traitor’ who was planning to ruin the chances of a Niger Delta’s son and his own ‘brother.’

Despite the odds, Amaechi trudged on not knowing exactly what the outcome of his efforts would be. He was confident that given a level playing field, Buhari would win the election.

Amaechi hardly had time to support his state’s APC in their feisty battle over the elections there- even with a personal approval rating of over ninety percent. He appeared to have put most of his hope on ensuring a Buhari-win. He rightly believed that Rivers people were ready for change, but grossly underestimated how desperate his enemies - within APC and PDP were.

Buhari won the March 28 presidential election. But he lost Rivers more to official mischief.

In what turned out to be a bloody and vicious election, Amaechi’s

JULIUS PONDI: Recognising a legislator of great promise VIEWPOINT

By Michael Tidi

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

An advocate of justice and fairness

A

CCORDING to William Shakespeare; “there is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken to the flood, leads to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries”. When the good people of Burutu federal constituency elected Hon. Julius Pondi in March 28th as their representative, they took the tide at the flood and this has led onto fortune for the entire constituency. He has become a metaphor for legislative excellence and people-centred leadership

The era in which this piece focuses on is the proclamation of the 8th National Assembly, as it affects the good people of Burutu federal constituency.

The questions that readily comes to discerning mind is what caliber or qualities of persons would occupy the highly coveted seats in the hallow chamber? Incidentally, the people of Burutu are sure of a man prepared to take up the gauntlet and cut the Gordian knot by solving difficult problems and propounding solutions through adopting bold and well thoughtout measures.

In Julius Pondi they have a man of pedigree, who has been tested and confirmed to be fit and erudite in legislative knowledge, managerial competence and administrative proficiency

in fostering excellent governance. He is like a candle wax that consumes itself to light the way for others. A devoted Christian; humble, purposeful and loyal, Pondi is a man who believes in the institution of friendship; he honors and has the fear of God. A defender of the destitute and a shrewd legislator par excellence, he needs no further introduction though for the benefit of those who might have forgotten that every man’s umbilical cord is traced to his mother ’s placenta, Hon. Julius Pondi comes from the most peaceful, loving, hospitable and accommodating clan – Sokebolou.

As an advocate for justice, fairness and equity in all areas he has found himself, especially his antecedents at all times and par-

ticularly in the legislative arm of Burutu LGA, his political career has shown intrinsically that he is a disciplined parliamentarian with yearnings geared towards patriotism, political responsibility and the effective representation of his people.

As a social crusader, he aptly understands the wonder-tools of education in curbing societal menace; no wonder he has always given it a deserved priority, as could be gleaned from the array of degrees he presently parades.

With such a man with an extraordinary passion for education, who has by God’s grace gotten to this stratum at a very young age, we can be sure of legislation that will deepen education in his constituency.

Hon. Pondi, having understood

from Edo and even though the APC will rely on the oil resources in both regions to fund their government.

It is the height of unreasonableness and the party was deservedly punished.

Far from patriotism, Kwankwaso is afraid of retribution. His words: “What complicated the whole matter is that the situation now is that more than 50 percent of Bukola is in PDP. If you take the position of the Senate President (that is compared to what Tambuwal’s rebellious speakership position), it becomes more difficult.

The implication is that very soon the leadership of the Senate will start Tambuwalising the party and, of course, the government as we have seen in 2011".

In other words, Kwankwaso is afraid that what he and his cohorts did to the PDP as enemies within might also turned round to visit them in their new party.

Ultimately, Kwankwaso’s fear is his 2019 presidential ambition.

But, with all that happened in this country, whoever does not yet understand that all power belongs to God is still in spiritual and political kindergarten.

•Sule, a political analyst, lives in Lokoja

people ‘lost’ all senatorial seats, House of Representative seats, House of Assembly seats (except one) and the gubernatorial election. It was a huge price that Amaechi had to pay just to ensure that Buhari wins at the centre.

Amaechi had delivered as a Campaign Director the first ever opposition victory in a presidential election in a spectacular manner, but he had become a broken man having lost everything in Rivers. He did it for the sake of his country. He bagged a red card so his team could win.

As Amaechi licks his wounds and carries the burden of his trauma, speculations as to what will be his role in the President Buhari’s government will continue to be a topic for both political and academic discourse for a long while to come. Nevertheless, no matter what that position may be, Amaechi will continue to carry some deep emotional scars and remain the man in a silhouette, a shadow in the mix of national sacrifice.

•Adjekuko is a development economist and consultant based in Abuja.

that there is dignity in labor, successfully used his closeness to the high and mighty in the society to assist many youths in securing recruitment into well paid ventures.

Having performed excellently throughout his career in public service and philanthropy thus far, there can be no doubt that he will do well as a representative of the good people of Burutu. As Hon. Julius Pondi officially assumes duty as the Hon. Member representing Burutu Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber, I wish him the very best in giving his people a voice in the larger Nigerian spectrum.

CONGRATULATIONS OSIKI-NA-GBA ON YOUR ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE!!!

•TIDI, an advocate of youths participation in governance, is based in Warri.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015,

VIEWPOINT

By LAWANI MIKAIRU

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Giant strides of an aviation agency

T

HE re-election of the Direc tor-General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, as member of the Executive Council of the World Meteorological Organisation, WMO, for another four-year mandate, starting January 1, 2016, is an eloquent testimony of the laudable feats the DG has achieved in NiMet within his current tenure.

Anuforom election took place on June 4 at the quadrennial congress of WMO held in Geneva, Switzerland. The Executive Council is composed of 37 directors of National Meteorological or Hydro-meteorological Services, and to be re-elected for another four year to be one of these 37 Directors to coordinate the programmes of the organisation’s 191 members is an affirmation of the positive changes that have taken place in Nigerian Meteorological Agency these past years under the leadership of the DG.

Anuforom re-election: Another milestone for NiMet Anuforom’s membership of the council is a boost as it is expected to attract more infrastructural development as well as training workshops, scholarships and other development programmes for Nigerian meteorologists in particular and the country’s aviation industry in general.

A remarkable achievement of NiMet under Anuforom is the ISO 9001:2008 Certification of its Aeronautical Meteorological Services. NiMet successfully

The agency has also been positioned to increase its revenue from non-aeronautical sources to 50 per cent

scaled the first maintenance audit of its ISO 9001 Certification last year.

The agency has witnessed physical infrastructural development as the agency Abuja head office is now a multi-storey office complex, equipped with state-of- theart facilities, a movement from its former one duplex office building.

The agency has also been positioned to increase its revenue from non-aeronautical sources to 50 per cent.

Taking the former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, and aviation reporters on a facility tour of NiMet complex, which include Central Forecast Office, National Weather Studio, Instrument Calibration Laboratory, Upper Air Station, before the commissioning of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre and Scientific and Technical Information Library, Anuforom told his audience that the agency plans to increase the services it presently render to the maritime, and oil and gas sector and this will drastically increase

Why Akpabio should not join APC VIEWPOINT

By Mohammed Suleiman

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The case against a former governor's defection

T

HE shocking revelation that the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, GodsWill Akpabio and his successor, Udom Emmanuel, have been visiting key leaders of the APC to pave the way for their defection to the party has once again brought to the fore the inherent weaknesses in our politics. Should they be welcomed into the party, the APC would appear more as a group of people with weak moral content and poor ideological standing than an ideologically driven political party. In addition, such a cross over, if it happens, will irredeemably rubbish the anticorruption brand of the Buhari administration and irredeemably weaken the legal case instituted by Umana Okon Umana, the APC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state against the disputed election of Udom Emmanuel.

Page 57

Let’s examine the Akpabio phenomenon. Between May 2007 and the first half of 2009, Akpabio maintained a chummy relationship with President Yara’Adua, but was noticeably lukewarm towards then vice president, Goodluck Jonathan. When Yara’Adua became too sick to function, Akpabio led a major campaign against the emergence of Jonathan as the acting president because he had always nursed the ambition of being picked as the vice president in 2011. This was publicly confirmed by Senator Aloysius Etok, his representative in the senate.

As soon as Jonathan became the Acting President, Akpabio turned around and became his cheer leader. The defeat of Jonathan on March 11 was a big disappointment for Akpabio who blamed the former president for not taking extreme measures to guarantee him victory. The former governor had long wanted to be ‘an enduring national political figure that is relevant in one administration to another ’. His role model is Tony Anenih. But the defeat of Jonathan and the prospect of the loss of his senatorial

seat at the tribunal have rankled with him endlessly. So, quickly, he ditched Jonathan as soon as he conceded defeat.

There are many reasons why Akpabio and Governor Udom Emmmanuel should not be admitted into the APC. It is widely known that the elections in Akwa Ibom State were flawed, conducted in breach of the INEC electoral guidelines and the 2010 Electoral Law. Over 30 Akwa Ibom people were killed on the day of the governorship election across the state by in widespread violence. The APC in the state, led by its governorship candidate, Mr Umana Okon Umana, has filed a petition against the purported election of Udom Emmanuel. Evidence that Udom was not duly elected is over-

It is widely known that the elections in Akwa Ibom State were flawed

its revenue.

Chidoka, overwhelmed by what he saw during the facility tour, said: “If you are looking for technological development, come to NiMet; if you are looking for technical growth, come to NiMet; if you are looking for technology-driven organization and a truly transformed parastatal, come to NiMet “ The commissioning of the centre and Scientific & Technical Information Library is also significant because it is in line with the policy of former President Jonathan that all projects started in the aviation sector must be completed and there must be no abandoned project.

The establishment of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre to enhance efficiency of collection, processing, archiving and dissemination of meteorological data and information is a clear evidence that NiMet has indeed transformed into a world-class technology-driven organization whose operations are in consonance with contemporary global

best practices.

It will be recalled that the management of NiMet in 2012 reviewed its five-year Strategic Development Plan and evolved the NiMet Impact Plan that was designed to align its projects, programmes and activities to the transformation agenda of the Federal Government. Within the framework of the plan, the agency set out to achieve a number of objectives, which include: “reinforcing the ICT infrastructure; automating the processes of data collection, transmission, analysis, storage and dissemination of weather forecasts/information; expanding NiMet’s revenue base so as to reduce dependence on government funding and contribute to national GDP; and Intensifying manpower development and capacity building.”

Anuforum has also revealed that NiMet operates a network of 54 surface weather observing stations across the country; each one taking measurements of a minimum of 15 meteorological parameters every hour.

whelming, one of which is that data obtained from INEC head office in Abuja shows that the total number of accredited voters captured by card readers for the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State was 437,128, but the figure declared by the state INEC office was 1,122,836. By INEC guidelines, use of the card reader was mandatory in the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections. If they join the APC, Umana’s case will be diluted or he could even be compelled to drop it; and all the sacrifices of Akwa Ibom people who deserve justice would be in vain.

It should noted that Akpabio’s election into the senate is also being challenged vigorously by the APC candidate, Chief Inibehe Okori. Their defection into the APC would therefore tantamount to laundering their illgotten mandates just like criminals are always eager to launder proceeds of crime. It will also be morally reprehensible and politically repugnant if these two men join our party. Umana and thousands of his supporters were driven out of the PDP by Akpabio to create unimpeded opportunity for the imposition of Udom during the primaries. Many PDP

chieftains in Akwa Ibom like former governor, Victor Attah and former Petroleum minister, Don Etiebet have been constantly harassed, insulted and humiliated by Akpabio. In the course of the presidential campaigns, Akpabio heaped insults on our presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, who by God’s grace won the election. During PDP’s presidential campaign rally in Uyo, Akpabio said: ‘Mr President (referring to then President Jonathan), some people were trained to be soldiers only, and so they do not have certificate...

They can only shoot guns....Buhari is not qualified to be president as he does not have certificates’. The video is available on YouTube. Akpabio’s eightyear tenure as governor is trailed with controversies for the over N400 billion debt he left behind (owed to the banks and contractors), lack of transparency, reckless spending and politically motivated violence and murders.

Instead of being admitted into the APC, he should stay back in PDP and give account of his stewardship in accordance with the anticorruption mantra of the Buhari administration.

•Suleiman works in a federal agency in Uyo.

Bayelsa 2016: Will a dark horse succeed Dickson?

VIEWPOINT

By Iyobosa Jackson

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The battle for the soul of a state

I

NDICATIONS are that be tween now and next year when gubernatorial poll will take place in Bayelsa State, much is bound to happen. The Peoples Democratic Party’s loss at the last general elections and festering interpersonal frictions with key personalities in the state may have truncated Governor Seriake Henry Dickson’s lone-star run.

What remains to be known now is the likely dark horse that would be the beneficiary of what many critics perceive as the governor ’s excesses.

The governor, thrown up for the office courtesy of the benevolence

of the immediate past first family of the country, has, over the years, jettisoned the very ideals that stood him out for the job.

What exactly is Dickson being accused of? The governor appears to have stepped on so many toes. First was a fight with the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, and her godson, Waripomowei Dudufa, a presidential aide under Jonathan’s administration.

In a related development, the Bayelsa chapter of PDP, apparently prompted by the governor, expelled nine of its members from the party over alleged antiparty activities in the last general elections.

The affected members are Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, Mr. Nestor Binabo, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa and Mr. Chamberlain

Kren Ikidi.

Others are, Mr. Osomkime Blankson, Mr. Emmanuel Okponipre, Mr. Ebikapade Dibiya and Joyce Fouyowei. Others are retired Colonel Sam Inokoba, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, while Fiebai Gbeinbo was suspended for three months.

Mr. Leghemo Kaiser and Mr. Denyabofa Dimaro were to render apology to the leadership of the PDP, while Dr. Godson Omubo -Dede and Mr. Dan Omubo-Dede were reprimanded.

The development was largely seen by PDP members as an affront to former President, Goodluck Jonathan as most of the affected party members are his associates.

The governor too has made enemies across the Niger Delta.

Till date, questions are still being asked as to the reasonable-

ness in Dickson constituting a committee to review projects executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission in the state.

Other reasons abound why elders and stakeholders in the politics of the state now hold that Dickson’s time is up.

According to several Bayelsans, Dickson’s many ‘sins’ include covert moves against Jonathan’s re-election by reaching out to the APC and ex-Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, on all issues regarding the last general elections.

Then there is the allegation of abandonment leveled against Dickson by people of the state who prefer that he sits back in Yenagoa to walk his talk. Only recently, the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) raised objection to the frequent trips of the governor

outside the state.

Stakeholders in Bayelsa PDP and other actively involved in the affairs of the state argue that a major upset awaits Dickson in the countdown to the governorship poll in the state. The state PDP might not be interested in fielding him. The governor may become a hard sale if the opposition party in Bayelsa adopts him as their flag bearer for the 2016 election. With the way things are playing out, it is quite possible that a dark horse might as well clinch the state PDP governorship ticket. If that happens, it should not surprise the incumbent who also got into office as a dark horse, but favoured by Jonathan and his wife. History may repeat itself.

•Jackson is resident in Abuja.

PAGE 58—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 21, 2015

CHINYERE ASIKA (1939-2015)

C

hinyere Asika was the first lady of the now defunct East Central State, from January 1970 to the expiration of the administration of her Husband, the now equally late Anthony Ukpabi Asika, by the military coup of July 1975. Mrs. Asika’s death came quietly on Sunday May 3 in Lagos, on arrival from South Africa where he had attended a meeting of the Africa Peer reviews commission. She would have been 75 on June 19th.

Mrs. Asika’s death offers two important points of departure for this column: one is that every death of a public personage gives us the opportunity to engage with history; indeed we summon them to history, in much the same way as Wole Soyinka in his first major play, A Dance of the Forest (1960) summoned decolonizing Africa to confront its past in order to avoid repeating a “cycle of idiocy” of which Aroni, the lame one carrying his unhealed wound of history embodied, and which the errant dead and unburied child of that drama speaks to in its unspeakable horror.

History is a patient judge.

The second part is to examine, underneath all the welter of myth, the humane and mortal side of the individual often buried in the usually ineloquent noise of beer-parlour talk. To many Igbo, the name Ukpabi Asika connotes rebellion and betrayal. He

was a “federalist” while the rest of the Eastern region of which the Igbo was key, was engaged in a bitter war of secession from Nigeria. So, in the discourse of those years, while Asika was a “federalist” opposed to the war, the rest of the Igbo were “secessionists.” Asika was a “vandal” while the rest of the Igbo were “ rebels.” The Federal Army was tearing down the Igbo landscape with cluster bombs delivered by low flying planes, and the war policy of starvation was exacting a deadly toll of death on the Igbo, particularly its next generation, the children, while Tony Asika was justifying the federal cause as a historical imperative to which his Igbo kin must return.

The image of Ukpabi Asika as a high-living, champagne swilling revisionist and palace intellectual of the federalists justifying war against his Igbo kinsmen marked him in the Igbo psyche, through the fierce propaganda of those years.

He was a “saboteur.” The civil war remains Nigeria’s unburied ghost, and that is why there is a really, really loud silence East of the Niger on the passing of Mrs. Chinyere Asika, first lady of the East, in the crucial era of postwar reconstruction. But it is important to see, beyond the ideological issues

raised by that conflict, the true person of Chinyere Asika, who with her husband, Ajie Ukpabi Asika, played important historical roles, particularly at the end of that war in the attempt for quick Igbo rehabilitation.

It should now be a matter of record, once the achievements of Asika’s regime is placed in some dispassionate light, that the quick recovery of the Igbo in 1970 had in large part to do with the work Asika did as Administrator of the East Central State. Or let us put it in a different way: if Tony Asika were not there, speaking for the East, as one of the most powerful figures of the Gowon regime, and as the regime’s intellectual, the Igbo would most certainly have fared much worse at the end of that war.

As the only Civilian administrator in that regime, Asika’s East Central State certainly saw less of the brutal imagery of military power, and was buffered from the hoary effects of military dictatorships. This is a fact which the Igbo often reluctantly acknowledge even in spite of their sense of Asika’s betrayal. Asika’s regime requires a very close, dispassionate study, particularly because a new era, following Asika has long come. Among those who must be accounted for is Chinyere Asika. As anybody living in East

Central State from 1970 to 1975 would attest, she was, shoulder to shoulder with her husband in the public life of the East, and there are those who have suggested that Chinyere Asika was a calming presence in that regime.

She was a thorough Igbo, and was proud of her Igbo heritage. Born in Egbu, Owerri, her father the late Nathan Ejiogu was one of the prominent men of the East, first as educator and former Chief Inspector of Schools Eastern Nigeria, and later in the 1970s as Chairman of the East Central State’s Public

The civil war remains Nigeria’s unburied ghost, and that is why there is a really, really loud silence East of the Niger on the passing of Mrs. Chinyere Asika, first lady of the East, in the crucial era of postwar reconstruction Service Commission.

The Institute of Education of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is named in honor of Nathan Ejiogu for his contribution to public education in the East.

Chinyere Edith Asika, his daughter, was a thorough chip off the old block, to use a cliché. Yet, there was nothing clichéd about her.

She won scholarships to Queens College Lagos, and was on the ASPAU scholarship to the United States, where she attended the prestigious Mills

Nigeria's econom ed disas economyy is in a ssttat atee of unmitigat unmitigated disastter — Dogara

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG.

S

peaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, has said that Nigeria’s economy is in a state of unmitigated disaster and needs the contribution of every stakeholder for it to be revamped.

Dogara stated this yesterday in Jos while speaking with newsmen and expressed confidence that the House of Representatives under his leadership would experience peace and stability. On the alleged jumbo pay for lawmakers, he said,

“most of the figures being bandied about as the salaries of National Assembly members were far from reality. The lawmakers don’t fix their

salaries but Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission. “People should take the benefit of Freedom of Information

Act to seek for information on that from the Agency, I do know that our salary is not in the region of N1 million per month.

Change of go vt won’t af sement of N200bn govt afff ect disbur disbursement Buhari is the grand patron loan ffor or ffarmer armer armerss — Prof. Adesuyi of the entity. Adesuyi, who

BY CALEB AYANSINA

he National T Coordinator of Agroallied Agriculture Commodity Cooperative, Prof. Victoria Adesuyi, has assured Agro-allied farmers nationwide that the recent change in the country’s leadership would not hamper the disbursement of N200bn Micro, Small and

Medium Enterprise (MSME) loan for agroallied farming by the Federal Government.

She said the law and the policy of agro-allied farming in the country guarantees total continuity of any on-going programme whenever there is a change of leadership, and aside that, President Muhammadu

stated this in an interview with Vanguard in Abuja, said that farmers in the cooperative were at the verge of accessing the loan. The don explained that what was remaining is for the farmers to package themselves and pay their 20 per cent of the loan they are seeking to access to the cooperative’s account so that it will serve as security.”

oup ttells ells FG ttoo ignore AI's repor HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE: Gr Group reportt agains againstt ex-Generals Rights Writers Association alleging that the report was Coordinator mere mischief.

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, ABUJA

he Federal T Government has been told to apply caution in the implementation of the Amnesty International report over human right abuses in the fight against terrorism in the country.

Specifically, Human

of Nigeria, HURWAN, has told President Muhammadu Buhari not to take the Amnesty International report that indicted former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, and Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, among others over their roles in the execution of war against terrorism seriously,

The AI report had indicted some serving and retired military generals for alleged crimes against humanity while repelling activities of the Boko Haram sect and had pressed it upon President Buhari to investigate the alleged abuses.

The National

of HURWAN, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko while briefing journalists in Abuja, told the President not to allow international bodies to intimidate him, stating that the report of AI was fallacious and written to blackmail military officers that tried to protect innocent Nigerians from the Boko Haram sect.

College in Oakland, in the Bay area of California, and went to graduate school at the University of California, Los Angeles. It was while in graduate school at UCLA in 1963 that she met another Nigerian graduate student in the doctoral program studying politics, Anthony Ukpabi Asika, and they got married. They returned to the University of Ibadan in 1965, where Ukpabi Asika took a job on the faculty of the Ibadan Department of Political Science and Chinyere was employed as an Assistant Librarian of the Kenneth Dike Library.

They were in this position when the hostilities began.

Ukpabi Asika returned to the East, but took a divergent view of the response which Eastern Nigerian intellectuals articulated on the question of secession, preferring a more negotiated solution within the context of the federation.

He was basically walked out of Professor Anthony Modebe’s house at Onitsha, at a meeting of Eastern intellectuals who were fashioning a policy response to the question of secession in September 1966; Asika returned to Ibadan, and soon found his way to Makerere. He was in East Africa when he was appointed Administrator of the East Central State, in the midst of the war by the Yakubu Gowon-led federal government. There is no public record of Chinyere Asika’s response or position on the war and on secession; but she publicly supported her husband’s post-war efforts to rebuild the East. Asika brought the radical novelist Obi Egbuna back home to Enugu. At Enugu, the Asikas hosted luncheons and dinners for artists and intellectuals; and were patrons and collectors of

Igbo modernist artists at the end of the war, which saw the establishment of the Odunke Arts collective in Enugu in 1971. Chinyere Asika brought colour and sophistication to public life in Enugu as East Central state’s chief hostess. The Asika administration has remained since the 1970s, the most cultured, most friendly, and welcoming to Igbo intellectuals, many of whom, in spite of being ardent Biafrans, were recruited and genuinely rehabilitated by Asika as part of the rebuilding efforts of his administration. No administration in the South East since Asika, has had the same quality and capacity of intellectuals and professionals involved in any administration. It is not difficult to imagine, because Chinyere Asika was a formidable intellectual herself, and complemented her husband. She took the title, Dibueze.

Perhaps her greatest contribution in that administration was establishing the “Otu Olu Obodo” – basically, committees for public service and volunteerism a brilliant, visionary use of the Igbo self-help ethos for community development and civic involvement. It is an idea which remains relevant even today.

The only sad part is that lingering animosities did not permit a full blossoming of Chinyere Asika’s potential for public service on behalf of the Igbo.

After 1975, she went dark until her appointment as a special adviser to the Obasanjo presidency. She had much more to give. But her death should now permit the closure of a most traumatic history, and a final reconciliation. Her work is done in this mortal life.

The Ancient Ugep Kingdom Coronate New Monarch (Obol Lopon)

reparations are in top gear towards the coronation P of His Royal Majesty, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng, as the 16th Obol Lopon of Ugep, historically said to be

the one of the most populous indigenous communities in the country. The monarchy dates back to about 400 years and the Obol Lopon of Ugep was among the First Class Chiefs that sat in the parliament of the then Eastern Regional House of Assembly in the First Republic (19631966). The event which is scheduled for Friday June 26, 2015 at the Umor Otutu Palace, Ugep, Yakurr, Cross River State, is expected to attract the crème de la crème of the Nigerian and international society. According to a release signed by Sebastine Eko, Chairman of the Media SubCommittee of the Central Planning Committee, there will be a Sunday Mass at the St Mary’s Catholic Church, Ugep to hand over the event to God on Sunday June 19, 2015 as commencement of the coronation event. The coronation of a new monarch is sequel to the recent transition of His Majesty Obol Ubi Ujong Inah the 15th Obol Lopon of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State. The Obol Lopon-Elect was, until his election, a Non-Commissioned Officer who served in the Finance Department of the Nigerian Army Amphibious Training School, Calabar. He is 57.

Achebe’s kinsmen, church to immortalise Philanthropist, women leader The Nkwelle Ogidi community, kinsmen of the late international literary icon, Prof Chinua Achebe, has announced plans to immortalize one of her late prominent citizens, philanthropist and women leader, Mother-In-Israel Mary C. Ebo. Mama Ebo until her death early this month, was the chairperson of the Women Association of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim, Aba Province, Abia state.

According to one of her children, Elder Maurice Ebo, she would be interred in her husband’s compound in Nkwelle village, Ogidi in Idemili North Council of Anambra state.

An educationist and an apostle of family values, she is survived by 9 children(8men and one lady) including Mrs Stella Oraka, the South South Zonal Officer in-charge of the National Quarantine; Elder Charles Ebo- a key player in the oil and gas sector and a board member of the church.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 59

Students’ crafts showcase ray of hope at Vision Nigeria Art Challenge

By Prisca Sam-Duru & OgoOluwa Adelakun

E

mpty packs and sa chets of peak milk products which would have littered the streets of Lagos State, were creatively and aesthetically crafted to tell the Nigerian narrative. This was done by students from about ten schools in Lagos who anyone would be tempted to describe as up coming artists owing to the stunning works displayed at the Sports Centre, University of Lagos.

The art and craft challenge was the Vision Nigeria Art Challenge, held by FrieslandCampina WAMCO, makers of Peak Milk to celebrate the 2015 World Milk Day as well as to celebrate peak 60th anniversary was themed: Celebrating 60 years of Feeding Future Aspirations.

With children from 62 schools drawn from both public and private schools in Lagos State in attendance, only ten, fea-

By JAPHET ALAKAM

T

he Lagos state Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) has announced that it will commemorate the 2015 edition of the World Theatre Day on June 26. The International Theatre Institute (ITI) an arm of UNESCO had declared the day to be commemorated on every March 27th and the NANTAP has annually commemorated the day since 1991 but the Lagos chapter of the association has had to move this year ’s celebration to June 26th 2015 because of the uncertainties of the 2015 election.

The election that would have held in February 2015 was later moved to March 28th and this affected the planning and staging of the 2015 edition of the day.

Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of NANTAP Faith Eki Egboigbe disclosed at a press briefing held at the National theatre that the day had to be moved forward because of the exigencies of the time ‘’We scanned our environment and realized that it will not be feasible to commemorate the day as a result of the anxieties that followed to the build up of the general elections.

Although we issued a statement then, it would be

tured in the art competition.

The competition focused on challenging the ability of the children to showcase their vision of Nigeria by using Peak cans, pouch and sachets to create a vision of the Nigeria they wish to live in, working together with their art teachers.

Guests were amazed at the level of inspiration of the students. They seized the oppor-

tunity presented by the competition to bare their minds on expectations from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, for a brighter future. They emphasised on the importance of steady power supply, quality education for every child, good roads etc. Through the works, they displayed the Nigeria of their dream.

The entries were screened by a panel of creative art professionals, teachers and representatives from the state ministry of education and at the end of the competition, Head Start Private School, Isolo, which stressed on the importance of science and technology at secondary school levels, emerged winner with their artistic design of a space station for Nigeria in the nearest future and was presented with a cash prize of N250,000.

Deby Niky Nursery/Primary School, Egbeda came second while Wellspring College, Omole, took the third position and each received a cash prize of N150,000 and N100,000 naira respectively. It was noted that the cash was awarded to enable the recipients perform a grand renovation of their schools’ art studios in order to provide an enabling en-

vironment for the children and teachers to further develop their artistic and creative skills.

The 10 art teachers from the participating schools did not go empty handed as they each got Samsung galaxy tabs for training the children to artistically craft their inspirations cum aspirations of a better Nigeria.

Also, all the sixty-two participating schools were given fifty-thousand naira each.

The elated art teacher of the Head Start Private School, Mr. Solomon Amu commended the organiser of the competition for offering the students the opportunity to air their voices of issues affecting the country adding that the initiative has helped to bring out creativity among the children.

Amu further said that the competition has taught children that materials which should have become wastes can be transformed into meaningful materials.

Performances, awards herald NANTAP Lagos 2015 World Theatre Day We shall induct some personality as Ambassadors of the theatre profession and another set as certified thespians irresponsible and insensitive of us to go ahead with the commemoration when the country was that charged up.

So we decided that we shift it until when we are done with the elections’ she said.

To be held under the theme of ‘Theatre and Conflict Resolution in the 21st Centur y ’, the one day commemorative event that is supported by the Kabir Yusuf led National Theatre will hold at the conference banquet hall of the national theatre on June 26 beginning at 12noon. It will feature a keynote speech on the theme of the c o m m e m o r a t i o n , performances, presentation of awards and investiture of the World Theatre Day personality.

The Managing Director of FSDH Mr. Rilwane Bello Osagie will chair the commemorative event while

the Country Director of British Council, Lagos Mr. Connie Price will serve as guest speaker.

Also the Lagos NANTAP Chair disclosed that the Managing Director of Terra Kulture Mrs. Bolanle Austen Peters will be decorated as the WTD 2015 Distinguished Personality. “Each year we identify and recognize a personality that has contributed greatly to the growth and development of the theatre profession and Mrs. Austen Peters rightly qualifies to be honoured because of her immense contribution to the growth and development of the arts. Apart from running the upscale cultural centre in Lagos, Mrs. Peters has

dedicated the space at Terra to sustained theatre production. She has also ventured into production of theatre with the musical production SARO, a production that has engaged so many of our members. I must say that the passion and commitment she has exhibited is worth celebrating and recognizing’ Egboigbe said.

Chairman of the WTD organizing committee for Lagos NANTAP Shaibu Husseini spoke in a similar light. He reiterated that Mrs. peters was

unanimously chosen because of her invaluable contribution to the development of the arts particularly the theatre profession. “We usually vote to select a personality to be honoured each year but this year we unanimously chose Mrs. peters because her record of service is there for everyone to see’ shaibu said.

But the WTD Personality award is just one of the awards that will be presented on June 26th.

Some important personalities will also be recognized on the day of theatre. “We shall induct some personality as Ambassadors of the theatre profession and another set as certified thespians. The idea is to remind the certified thespians of where it all started for them and that is the stage. As for the ambassadors, it is to appreciate them for their selfless service to the theatre profession” the NANTAP chair remarked.

Those to be decorated as ambassadors include the filmmaker and Executive Director of iREP documentary film festival Mr. Femi Odugbemi, Efe Omoregbe, Mrs. Laja Adedoyin, the actor Yemi Sodimu, Dr. Ostia Ezewanabe of the University of Lagos and the founder and President of the African Film Academy Peace Anyiam Osigwe.

PAGE 60—SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

BY CHRIS ONUOHA VISUAL

F

or this visual artist cum advertising practitioner, success in life can be defined as realization of innate objectives and contentment.

Rauf Thompson’s name may not easily ting in the ear of the current contemporary visual artists, but having been under Prof. Yusuf Grillo’s tutelage, one can understand the creative doggedness that has shaped him.

Rauf, an indigene of Lagos State is among the pioneer students,HND Fine Art (in painting), Yaba College of Technology in 1972. In this interview, he reminisces on the evolving Nigerian art, and his upcoming exhibition.

What was it like being a pioneer student of painting class in Yabatec I was excited to be one of those that started the HND painting class in 1972 under Yusuf Grillo.

I did my (OND) general art from 1968 to 1970 and when the school was approved to run HND course in Arts, I was fortunate to be part of the 10 students that started the painting class.

Yusuf Grillo, who was the Head Of Department Fine Art, handled most of the subjects we did. It was amazing that one man could creatively combine all that with administrative job as HOD. To us Yusuf Grillo was a great influence, mentor and

By Prisca Sam-Duru & Damilola Ademakinwa

T

he June edition of the poetry reading platform ReaditLoud, created by the Public Affairs Section of the United States of America Consulate, Lagos, was as interesting as other previous editions.

ReaditLoud is a reading Platform...

The programme began on a rather humourous note with Be Watchful, and ended same way, with a poet everyone called Baba, Jones Kayode throwing the floor open for more than five others, who took their turn at the centre stage.

As expected, most of the poems read, expressed hope for our nation Nigeria especially with the dawn of a new government.

Etunum Egede’s Nigeria Past Present Future best captures the country’s transition from early 70s till date. Although some poets in the house criticised her work for living out the Nigeria Civil War out of the chronicle, Etunum maintained she had to deal with issues she was conversant with having been born after the war.

But then, critically analysing the poem gives an insight that the poet streamlined her thoughts towards the nation’s economy hence, the civil war became irelivant in her poem. Also, Dawn of Change read by Saanu Oluwakayode, of course dealt with the obvious with regard to the nation’s transition from former President Goodluck Jonathan to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Of interest however is the poets

Ho wY usuf Grillo drilled his ffir ir st ar How Yusuf irst artt students

Rauf Thompson One of Rauf ’s works, ‘Race-course’ inspiration. Every one of us in the class wants to be like him but he told us not to, rather, be ourselves. It was a scene of seriousness and commitment, and being the first President of the Society of Nigerian Artist (SNA), our school became the temporary SNA secretariat. This attracted other professionals like Ben Enwonwu, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Uche Okeke, Solomon Wangboje, Aina Onabolu and others who are the pioneers of contemporary visual art movement in the Nigeria today. It was a great experience having them around and they influenced us.

What’s your assessment of painting from your time to present?

Painting in Nigeria has evolved over time. Currently, artists are exposed to sophisticated

Back then artists were very few. We were basically trained to train others, to develop art in the country,

materials to enhance work of art but the style and medium remains same. Exploration and discovery in art is also evolving as mix media, installation and ew form of art are been embraced massively by young artists.

In our time then, the experience was equally interesting because we have to sketch life from the scene.

No camera is allowed.

There’s no short cut to painting and that’s Prof.

Grillo’s style. We can sketch for two or more weeks and paint for few days. Every living element within the scene must be included in the painting to ascertain its originality.

Poets express hope for better Nigeria

caption here pls emphasis on poeple changing the mind rather than minding the change. Also, it was

“I salute the world changers... I want to be in the shoes of these great heroes, singing their songs on the hiltop, with my plank of strings in the sound proofed cubicle, let the change begin from the mind.”

encouraging seeing he nursed the desire to join world changers in the likes of Nelson Mandela, and other heroes to ensure people’s mindsets change. As a guiterist, he hoped his songs would be a viable means of achieving this dream.

“I salute the world changers...

I want to be in the shoes of these great heroes, singing their songs on the hiltop, with my plank of strings in the sound proofed cubicle, let the change begin from the mind.”

Away from change and its minders, there seem to be an undesirable increase in the number of young men and women suffering from diverse levels of insanity. They are seen litering every street corners of both the cities and rural areas.

This was one of the issues that came up twice in the course of the programme. Poems The Drifting Passenger by Atuegbu Chioma and Silhouette Of A Lone Pilgrim

by Oti Nanna capture this ugly trend. While one poem expresses the state of mind of the poet as mere wonering on what led to the insanity, the other simply felt pity for the lonely being.

As serous as the issues discussed were, poems such as Unidentical Twins by Patrick Udeh, Oti Nanna’s Love Stronger Than Death and A Liberal Captive, and of course, Baba’s ( Jones Kayode) Be Watchful, left the audience, rifting with laughter.

The ‘5 Ws’ in communication language is also applicable in painting. Without it, a life painting may not have an identity except in abstract, still life and other forms of art which somehow, still reflects the ‘ when’ with the artist’s signature in it.

One of my old works titled, ‘Race-course’ done in 1974, is among the collections billed for the upcoming exhibition. In the work, I reflect on what Tafawa Belewa Square (TBS) used to look like in those days - centre of fun and leisure that attract lots of activities which exist no more. The work tends to relive history.

I am merging my recent works and old ones to tell an evolving story of art in the country. More so, having practiced for many years and equally been blessed by God to some level of contentment, I feel I should be able to give back to society.

Part of the proceeds of the exhibition will be given to less privileged homes.

Why teaching, instead of studio practice?

Back then artists were very few. We were basically trained to train others, to develop art in the country, especially to encourage students to appreciate and enroll into art in schools. We combined both practice but at a minimal level.

I was teaching art in four secondary schools in Lagos, likewise most of my colleagues.

Was it easy to combine teaching and studio practice then?

Obviously, it was not easy to combine studio practice and teaching. Although we paint, but most of us did not produce enough works for exhibition.

Secondly, works has to be assessed critically and must be claimed standard before it can be taken for exhibition. It might take one year to bring artists together to exhibit.

I had my first solo exhibition in French Cultural Centre in 1978 after FESTAC ’77 with about 40 pieces of works. You can imagine, I left school 1974 and exhibited in 1978. That shows how long it could take to produce standard work. I sold many of the works and it was my pride then.

And you later went into advertising?

Yes, advertising has helped to shape my thinking. It’s a profession that accommodates any other, like law, banking, medicine, etc. It’s challenging, makes you restless, broadens your mind and opens doors to many opportunities.

Did Galleries encourage artists then?

There weren’t much galleries then apart from National Museum, Gong gallery, Edubor in Kakawa Street and some embassies’ cultural centers that supported art in the country. Gallery owners then were very conscious of high standard works. It was a challenge. But recently, all these have changed as more galleries can be seen in the city with many works exhibited now and then. I would rather encourage government to move a step further to improve and build more galleries to encourage artists in Nigeria.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 61

FIFA WWC: Meet Marta the ‘Pele with Skirts’ L IKE so many of Brazil’s greats, Marta is a player that requires just one name. She is, according to Pele himself, the female Pele (or, as he put it, “Pele with skirts”).

Others have likened her to Ronaldinho with the way she waltzes past opponents with the drop of a shoulder.

A five-time FIFA World Player of the Year – finishing in the top three for 11 consecutive years – Marta, 29, is undoubtedly the greatest female player of all time and, as Australia prepares for a Round of 16 clash with Brazil today, the World Cup remains the one honour missing from her resume.

At her fourth attempt, Marta has already notched up another record, becoming the highest scorer in Women’s World Cup history. Her penalty against South Korea took her to 15 goals, and a goal against Australia would see her level Germany’s Miroslav Klose on 16. The South Korea goal also saw her inch one closer to scoring her 100th international goal – she current sits on 92 goals in 94 games for Brazil.

Marta’s best remains the incredible goal against USA in the semi-final of the 2007 World Cup where she received possession with a defender on her back, flicked the ball up, back-heeled it around corner to the left before spinning to the right to pick up the ball in the box. Marta then dropped her shoulder, cutting in onto her weaker right foot before finishing beyond the helpless

goalkeeper.

But despite her incredible successes, Marta’s career has also been littered with struggles to find clubs and brain snaps to go along with her sublime range of skills.

Throughout her 15 year career, six of Marta’s nine senior clubs have ceased to exist. Vasco da Gama, Santa Cruz FC, Los Angeles Sol, Santos, FC Gold Pride and Tyreso FF all went bankrupt forcing Marta to find somewhere new to play. Now, with her current club, FC Rosengard, she agreed a pay cut and earns just $500,000 a year.

Compare that to another Brazilian – Neymar – who is in talks with his club FC Barcelona to sign a deal worth $400,000 a week.

In fact, Neymar’s earnings have played a direct role in Marta’s career. When both were at Santos, the women’s team, with Marta the star player, was disbanded in order to fund a new contract which allowed the club to hold onto Neymar.

Neymar eventually left for Catalonia, but the women’s team no longer exists.

“The goal of Santos is to have professional football that can last for hundreds of years,” said then Santos president Luis Alvaro during Neymar ’s contract renewal press conference.

That kind of disregard for women’s football is not unusual in Brazil, a country which banned women from playing

•Dazzling Feet... Brazil star Marta seeking her first world cup title the beautiful game until 1979 because it was “considered incompatible to their feminine nature”, and where, just this week, the head coordinator for women’s football in Brazil said shorter shorts and wearing make-up was the reason behind the growing success of the sport.

Pogba not going anywhere, Juve coach insists

M

•Paul Pogba... Working hard for Juve C M Y K

ASSIMO ALLEGRI insists that Juventus have no need to sell Paul Pogba this summer.

Pogba has been linked with Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City in recent weeks with the players departure talked about as a foregone conclusion.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are also thought to be in the hunt for the 22-year-old.

But Allegri has pleaded with the French international to stay at Juventus and continue his development after he helped guide the club to the Champions League final last season.

He told Sky Sport Italia: “The club has no need to sell Pogba, but it will also depend on what the player wants. “I spoke to him and he’s happy to stay. He is young and still needs time at Juventus to grow.

“He has a long career in front of him, plus Juve are a big club and he’ll have the right motivation for another important year.”

Meanwhile Allegri stated that Mario Mandzukic’s is not coming to Juve to replace Carlos Tevez.

Juve have agreed a fee for Mandzukic - who was linked with Arsenal and Manchester United but is now expected to have a medical in Turin on Monday. “All of them can play, as during the season there will be room for everybody. We went all the way in every competition because of the strength in depth. “It’s not that we have to replace Tevez, but rather sign players and evaluate the playing style. Mandzukic has arrived, we have Simone Zaza, Kingsley Coman, Alvaro Morata and Dybala - all young players of great quality.

“Mandzukic scored goals in every League, has strong character, is of an international level and will do well.

“We signed Mandzukic because we specifically wanted him. He’s a great player and I am very happy.”

COPA America: Brazil protest Neymar’s ban

B

RAZIL will appeal the four-match ban that ruled Neymar out of the remainder of the Copa America.

The forward was sent off after the final whistle of Brazil’s defeat by Colomnbia on Wednesday for kicking the ball at Pablo Armero and aiming a headbutt at Jeison Murillo. In addition, CONMEBOL’s disciplinary board fined the Selacao captain $10,000.

He was initially suspended for one match but the South American football federation CONMEBOL increased the ban following an investigation.

On confirming the appeal, Brazil manager Dunga said: ‘We don’t want anyone to do us favours with the Neymar suspension. We only ask for the decision to be as fair as possible.

“Neymar is always fouled. Okay he made a mistake, but if everyone is punished this way, we’d all be sitting at home right now.”

Neymar ’s shock early departure marks a stunning fall from grace for the young forward, who had been carrying his nation’s hopes as they chased a first C o p a America crown since •Neymar 2007.

Messi vows to deliver for Argentina

L

IONEL Messi said he will give his all to ensure that Argentina win the Copa America.

Messi has won it all with Barcelona but has only tasted limited success with Argentina.

The Barcelona star claimed the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and then followed that up with an Olympic gold in 2008 but since then it has been relatively barren.

Of course, Argentina came agonisingly close to claiming the World Cup last year only to lose in extra-time against Germany.

Yet Argentina have the opportunity to put last year’s disappointment behind them with victory at the Copa America in Chile.

“I would give everything win the Copa America,” he told Argentine daily newspaper La Nacion.

“This group deserves it for the way they fight. We had a great World Cup and we deserve it.

“It’s what I dream of.

Winning the Copa America would us some give peace of mind for the coming World Cup qualifiers. Not only for my team-mates, for the coach and for me, but for the country, too. The fans also want us to •Messi succeed.”

Messi made his 100th Argentina appearance against Jamaica on Saturday “In these 100 games I have had incredible experiences, really great times. They are unforgettable.

“I’ve been through situations that have helped me grow as a player, but unfortunately with no title to show for it. Hopefully I’ll have one to go with these 100 games.”

PAGE 62 – S UNDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JUNE 21 , 2015

Emenike will find a club in Europe, says manager T

HESE are not the best of times for striker, Emmanuel Emenike as his wish of playing top flight football with a new club in the summer remains only a dream.

The Super Eagles hot shot at the 2013 Nations Cup reached his lowest point with his Tukish club Fenerbahce, after he was booed by his own fans and he asked for a forced substitution during a local league match. Emenike recently attempt a move back to the Russian league, but that seems to have crumbled as Fenerbahce slammed a 10m euro price tag on the player.

However, all is not lost for Emenike who has not played for the Super Eagles, since the

Heineken lovers fans relive Berlin 2015 experience

Brazil 2014 World Cup. According to his former manager at Karabükspor, Yücel Ild1z, the striker will find a good club in Europe and may not be moving to an Arab or Chinese club.

“Emenike will join a top European league over the summer he will not be moving to the Arab Gulf or China,” Ild1z told Radyospor.

The Nigerian international striker has scored only five goals in 34 league appearances this season in all competitions.

The 28-year-old striker has been linked with a number of clubs over the past season from England and Russia. He could also be heading to West Ham, where his former coach at Besiktas, Slaven Bilic is now in charge.

N

•Emenike... Get me out of here

Adebayor keen to stay at Spurs E

MMANUEL Adebayor has once again maintained he has no intention of leaving Tottenham this summer and insisted: “I can’t wait for pre-season”.

The 31-year-old striker has a year left on his £100,000-aweek deal at White Hart Lane but Spurs want to move him on during this transfer window to make room for new strikers.

Adebayor, however, is adamant he will not be forced out despite being marginalised by Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino over the second half of the past season.

Adebayor ended his lengthy goal drought with the winner

in Togo’s 2-1 win over Liberia last Sunday. After two goals in 17 games for Spurs last season, he has targeted a return to form for his club.

He tweeted: “Feeling really fresh after my goal. Can’t wait to come back to Tottenham and show everyone the passion I have for the club.

Looking forward to preseason.” West Ham failed in a desperate bid to take him on loan on the final evening of the transfer window back in January. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy refused to risk paying for Adebayor to help the Irons into Europe at Tottenham’s expense.

Adebayor... Home alone at Tottenham

Wood no longer the Tiger of golf A

golfer who once evoked awe and adulation from the galleries instead evoked pity while shooting an inept, inglorious 80 in the first round of the U.S. Open. It was surreal. The fans actually felt sorry for the former lord of golf.

They tried to buck him up, as if they had encountered a former high school golden boy now down on his luck as an adult.

He is, of course, no longer The Man. Tiger Woods wasn’t even good enough to beat an adolescent shooting three shots worse than 15-year-old Cole Hammer. Nor was he good enough to come within 10 shots of The Old Man, 51-year-old Colin Montgomery, who somehow shot 69 nine years after the last time he was in contention in the U.S. Open.

The saddest part of that 80? That came after the round, when Woods briefly met the media.

Credit him for not ducking that obligation – but what came out of his mouth deepened the suspicion that he is in denial about the desertion of his game.

“It’s just one of those things where I’ve got to work through it,” Woods said. “I’m trying C M Y K

as hard as I can, and for some reason I just can’t get it turned around with any consistency.” Someone asked if he’s still close to getting it turned around.

“I am,” he said. “When I do it right, it’s so easy. I just need to do it more often. … I fought. I fought hard. That was my number. I couldn’t grind out any harder than that.”

Woods compared it to the tribulations endured during previous swing changes – as if this is merely a small matter of mechanics that can be smoothed out with enough time on the range and enough rounds of competitive golf.

“I haven’t played enough. I haven’t had a rhythm to my play,” added the 2000, 2002 and 2008 US Open winner, who is now rated 195 in the world.

“I didn’t play much last year and I haven’t played much this year. Knee surgeries are pretty easy compared to a back surgery and, for some reason, it’s just a lot harder dealing with a nerve than a joint.”

Stuck in the Woods...

Tiger Woods lost on the course

IGERIAN fans who watched the final of the UEFA Champions League between Juventus and Barcelona at the Olympiastadion Stadium, Berlin, Germany, courtesy of Heineken have been reliving their experience.

Heineken, the major sponsor of the world’s biggest club competition took some lucky Nigerians to watch the game and they all had an exciting time in the German capital.

For the past eight years, Heineken have been rewarding five of its lucky consumers with an allexpense paid trip to watch the final match of the most prestigious club competition, and same this year Nigerian Breweries Plc gave some of its customers an unforgettable experience with the Berlin spectacle.

“It was like a dream when the call came through that I have won,” Benin based Christiana Odiaka said. Odiaka, whose experience at the Olympiastadion was her first of watching a football match live said, she would forever remain grateful to Heineken.

“Though I’m not really a football buff, all the experiences about football before now was restricted to watching it on television, most especially when it involves the national team. It was more exciting that my first experience was to see the greatest footballers on the planet. It was beyond my wildest dream that I would one day watch Lionel Messi play live. I will live to cherish the experience,” she said. Aside from the match proper, the customers also had fond memories of other exciting places.

An Oshogbo-based customer, Rauf Olaiya said as much as he was looking forward to seeing Messi, Neymar and other Barcelona stars on parade, seeing the remains of the Berlin Wall was something he would take to his grave. “Nigeria too can make the best of our history and tradition if the government can invest more on tourism.”

Olaiya, who interestingly is a Barcelona fan was very grateful to Heineken for not only giving him the opportunity of watching his team play in the final of the UEFA Champions League live but also to visit places of interest in Berlin.

However, for Chinedu Ofoma, who is an ardent Barcelona fan, he said seeing the Barca trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar play live will remain monumental. The other thing that thrilled him was the Heineken Village. “The fun at the Heineken Village was unprecedented. There was a lot to eat and drink and I also met and made friends with other Heineken family all over the world. Though the moment I boarded the plane to Berlin, my attention was on the game and nothing else, but the Heineken Village was the dress rehearsal to Barcelona’s victory,” an obviously elated Ofoma said.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015, PAGE 63

NFF not happy with Falcons exit —Sanusi

By Ben Efe

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IGERIA will today join the rest of the world in celebration of the world Yoga day which will take place in over 3,000 locations across the Globe.

With over one hundred cities in the United States, Australia, Africa, Asia, and Europe fully involved in the exercise, an estimate of five million people will roll out their Yoga mats as part of the fun to mark the

S

ECRETARY-General of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mohammed Sanusi yesterday told the women national team, the Super Falcons that the federation was not happy with their performance at the FIFA Women World Cup, which will enter the semi-final stage after today’s matches.

The Super Falcons booked an early flight home after they lost two games to Australia 2-0 and the USA 1-0. Their 3-3 draw against Sweden was the highpoint of their stay in Winnipeg and Vancouver where the group D matches were held.

Dr. Sansui, while welcoming back the Super Falcons in Abuja argued that since the junior team reached the final of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup twice in 2010 and 2014, the Super Falcons could have also done well to reach the crucial stages of the 2015 World Cup. “The NFF and indeed Nigerians are not happy that the team could not make it beyond the group stage of the competition.

Sincerely speaking, the NFF believed Canada 2015 was the opportunity for the Super Falcons to show how much progress has been made in women’s football in Nigeria,” said Dr. Sanusi.

However, he added that the NFF was not discouraged by the outing.

The NFF scribe could not however fool Nigerians as

HE chief executive officer and managing director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya has reiterated the company’s desire to develop future soccer stars for Nigeria’s national teams through the Airtel Rising Stars initiative.

Speaking at the media presentation of Ivory Coast and Manchester City star, Yaya Toure as the ARS Ambassador in Lagos during the week, Ogunsanya said,”without a doubt, Football in Nigeria elicits passion, creates fun and engenders unity. Airtel wants to be an integral part of our communities and our association with football has strong elements of creating positive change and engagement.”

He pointed out that the programme which began about four years ago had C M Y K

event which has found resonance in the heart of everyone.

For Nigeria, the programme that is part of the Sports For All Nigeria Initiative is being organized in partnership with Nigeria Olympic Committee and Sewa International and will take place at the National Stadium Surulere Lagos this morning.

FIBA continued from B/P

•USA midfielder Megan Rapinoe (R) and Nigeria forward Esther Sunday jump for the ball he forgot that the Super Falcons played only one friendly match against Canada, ahead of the tournament.

Their preparations was poor compared to those of their group opponents who are rated higher than the Falcons.

already started yielding positive result for Nigerian football.

He recalled, “it is on record that the Airtel Rising Stars Football programme has produced exceptional talents some of whom are: Musa Mohammed ShehuCaptain Golden Eaglets U17- who took [part in the programme in 2011; Zahradden Bello - U17 (2012); AL Hassan Ibrahim Abdullahi- U17 (2011); Muri LawalSunshine Stars FC Akure (2011); Josephine Mathias- Falconets, Pelican Stars FC Calabar(2011)”.

He pledged, “ we will definitely take grassroots football in Nigeria to higher grounds and bring back the lost glories of our great country in football”.

rebounds while team mates Atosu Upe, Nkechi Akashili and Primeiro Agosto guard Sarah Ogoke added 7 points, 4 points and 6points respectively with Ogoke and Akashili grabbing 6 rebounds each in the dominating performance.

Sarah Ogoke after the win said she’s confident Nigeria will make it to the finals “ We played pretty well, Chioma was huge for us in the paint and we have good shooters with myself, Nkechi and Upe, so I’m confident its gonna be difficult for

anyone to stop us”.

The Nigerian Under 18 Boys equally followed up the trail of victory blazed by the senior women as they pipped their Ghanian counterparts 12-11 thanks to God’slove Linus who hit a late 2 point shot from outside the arc to finish with 7 points while team mates Ebuka Kanu and Kenoye John combined for 5 points respectively.

The Under 18 girls then made it a clean sweep for Nigeria in the first round with a convincing 7-13 win over Benin Republic, and Liberia U18 Boys pipping Ghana 11-8.

Igbokwe, Uzoeto, win at Cuddly Scrabble tourney

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ARS ‘ll develop talents for national teams—Ogunsanya

T

Sports For All marks Yoga Day in Lagos

•Mrs Obiajiaku, Director Cuddly Kids Schools pose with winners of the Scrabble competition. continued from B/P owner.

Dein was regarded as Mr Arsenal and key to the appointment of Arsene Wenger as manager until he left in 2007 when the board chose to sell to American Stan Kroenke rather than his ally Alisher Usmanov. Kroenke, 67, is now the majority stakeholder at the club with a 67 per cent share.

Dangote believes his background won’t be an obstacle to buying Arsenal.

‘What I always say is that money doesn’t have colour.

HE Cuddly Kids Schools hosted over 60 pupils from 9 schools around Lagos to the annual Cuddly Protege Scrabble tournament. This year’s edition was tagged ‘Battlefield for for Math, Reasoning, Vocabulary and Creativity.”

The kids battled for supremacy in the various categories and at the end Kosiso Igbokwe of Queensland Academy emerged winner in the Masters category, while Adewale Olubajo of Chrisland School came a close second.

In the intermediate

Dangote It doesn’t matter whether you are from Africa or anywhere in the world. The colour of money is the same. Once I put money on the table, they will not think if I am an African.

‘It might be a policy that they don’t want an African to own it, that is another matter altogether, which I don’t really believe.’

Dangote tried to buy a 15 per cent stake in Arsenal in 2010 but claims the price was too high. ‘The people who were interested in were actually trying to go

for the kill,’ he said.

‘Obviously I am not going to lose money. Arsenal are doing well but they need another strategic direction.

They need more direction than the current ownership who just develop players and sell them.’

Dangote caused international headlines last week when he said in an interview with BBC Hausa that he would be in a position to buy Arsenal because of revenues from a private oil refinery he was building in Nigeria.”

category, Matdon Uzoeto of Cuddly Kids School came out tops, Ethel Femi-Gbenoba from High Seed School, Magodo placed second.

In the Opens category, Eleazar Ulinfun of Chrisland School, Opebi was the winner while Anita Orkeh of Grange School, GRA, Ikeja came second.

Winners in the various categories were given trophies and medals plus the prestigious Alfred Mosher Butts Award in honour of the American designer and inventor of scrabble. In addition, Eleazar Ulinfun and Matdon Uzoeto, winners in the opens and intermediate categories were rewarded with android phones with scrabble applications installed on them.

Director of Cuddly Schools, Anuli Fidelia Obijiaku who, in conjunction with the Scrabble in Schools Initiative organised the event said, “our aim is to encourage the kids to think outside the box.

“It is our belief that events like this will help develop the numeracy and vocabulary skill of the.” participants.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, JUNE 21, 2015

I’ve supported Arsenal for 30 years FRICA’S richest man of the club for more than — Dangote AAliko Dangote has 30 years thanks to former •Dangote

insisted his interest in buying Arsenal is not ‘overnight stuff ’ and revealed he has been a fan

vice-chairman David Dein.

Dangote, who is the 67th wealthiest person in the world with a fortune of

FIFA U-20 World Cup

Serbia shock Brazil to lift U20 World Cup •Mali win third place S

ERBIA have won the Under-20 World Cup after beating Brazil 2-1 in the final despite conceding a stunning goal from Manchester United’s promising youngster Andreas Pereira.

A winner from Nemanja Maksimovic in extra time sealed victory for the Serbs, bringing them their first ever global title as an independent country.

The game had been locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes after an opening goal from Stanisa Mandic which was cancelled by Pereira.

But the east Europeans clinched it in the 188th minute. Serbian coach Veljko Paunovic said: “They can get to the top of the world” “I can tell you in this generation there is a lot of good players that in the next 10 years will play in the best games in the world.”

“They have to focus on the next 10 years.”

In the third place match, Adama Traore produced two sensational long-range strikes to help Mali beat 10man Senegal 3-1.

Traore had brought his side back into the game after Senegal’s Ibrahima Wadji opened the scoring in the 64th minute. Traore’s footed free-kick curled away from Ibrahima Sy in the 74th.

Traore then blasted a right foot shot past Sy, to give his side the lead with less than seven minutes remaining.

continues on page 63

NFF not happy with Falcons –Page 63 ON TOP OF THE WORLD: Serbian goalkeeper, Crvena Zvezda lifts the FIFA U-20 World Cup trophy after defeating Brazil 2-1 in a keenly contested final in New Zealand Saturday.

Enyeama risks sanction over Kaduna comments T

•Green

HE Disciplinary Committee of Nigeria Football Federation has summoned Super Eagles captain and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to appear before it on Tuesday.

The Lille OSC of France goaltender is being invited to explain his statement against the football house’s choice of Kaduna for the 2017 Africa Cup of

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Nobel-winning Archbishop (7-4) 5.Sailor (3) 7.Consumed (5) 8.Domesticates (5) 9.Ovum (3) 10.Electricity counting gadgets (6) 13.Highlander (4) 15.Poem (3) 17.One that contests (9) 20.Nigerian tribe (5) 22.Cereal (5) 24.Demoted (9) 27.Pig’s pen (3) 29.No one (4) 30.Sulks (6) 33.Away (3) 35.Presses (5) 36.Till (5) 37. Swine (3) 38. “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” (11)

£12billion, has explained his interest in The Gunners by explaining he was first taken to the club’s former Highbury ground by Dein, a close friend and associate.

Dein, a former sugar trader, helped Dangote start his business in 1980.

Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc now accounts for 90 per cent of the product sold in Nigeria.

‘I have been a supporter of the team since the Eighties,’ confirmed Dangote after publicly declaring his wish to be the club’s next owner.

‘My love for Arsenal dates back to when I went to watch them play with thethen largest shareholder David Dein. I developed a likeness for the team and I have been a supporter of the team since then. So it is not overnight stuff.’

Using Dein’s name leaves the fascinating prospect of whether the former vice-chairman will return to Arsenal if Dangote becomes the club’s new

DOWN 1.Sleeping vision (5) 2.Possessor (5) 3.Tax (4) 4.Depressing (9) 5.Argentinian dance (5) 6.Wash lightly (5) 11.Greek letter (3) 12.Distress call (1-1-1) 14.English boy’s name (5) 16.Obstacle (3) 17.Bovine animal (3) 18.Mindfulness (9) 19.Alarm (5) 21.Help (3) 23.Village house (3) 25.Gnome (3) 26.Vast age (3) 27.Condescend (5) 28.Youthful (5) 31.Circular (5) 32.Trades (5) 34.Old Russian King (4)

Nations qualifying match against Chad on Saturday, June 13.

Chairman of the committee, Barrister Chris Green, conveyed the message to the shot stopper.

Midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, who earned a straight red card for an act of retaliation during the said match, has been issued a letter of reprimand, ordered to produce a written apology and fined the sum of $5 000. In a letter signed

by Tunde Aderibigbe on behalf of the General Secretary and dated 19th June, the NFF wrote thus: “The board of the Nigeria Football Federation has viewed your behaviour and conduct during the Nigeria/Chad match as tantamount to gross indiscipline and unprofessional.’’

•Enyeama

Nigeria dominate Lagos FIBA Africa 3x3 tour

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See solution on page 5

EIGNING Women’s League Most valuable player, Chioma Udeaja kept fans on their feet with a dominant performance as Nigeria’s senior women’s team powered to a 21-2 win over

Ghana in the first round of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 3x3 Tour at the National Stadium in Lagos.

Udeaja put up 7points and 6

continues on page 63

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