Jonathan, 4 northern govs play hide and seek

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PAGE 2, SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013

Arc. Dike Emmanuel, Nigeria Institute of Architects, NIA, chairman, Rivers State chapter (m), while commissioning Eternit Ltd regional office/showroom in Port-Harcourt, at the weekend.

Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia State (l), Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Minister for Finance (m) and Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State (r), all of whom accompanied President Goodluck Jonathan to China, after the signing of bilateral agreements between Nigeria and China in Beijing.

Troops withdra wal fr om Mali withdraw from T Nigeria petitions Ban Ki-Moon, UN Sec. Gen

BY DANIEL GUMM

HE transition Chair man of Warri North Local Government Council, Evangelist David Ewetan

BY JIDE AJANI With agency reports

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ONTRARY to the mis conception that the Federal Government of Nigeria is withdrawing its troops from the United Nations, UN, peace-keeping force in Mali because of pressing security challenges at home, Sunday Vanguard has authoritatively learnt that the action is a protest against the UN for naming a Rwandan army general as the force commander instead of a Nigerian officer.

The Rwandan is 50-yearold General Jean-Bosco Kazura and he has been appointed to command the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

Nigeria’s Major General Shehu Abdulkadir, who was the force commander of African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) from inception in January 2013, was said to have come out tops in the interview for the appointment of the force commander but was sidelined, a source said.

This is the first time Nigeria would be unilaterally recalling its troops from any UN operations.

Nigeria is the fourth largest troop contributing country under the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and no Nigerian has had any appointment as force commander in any of the UN peace keeping missions.

“Kazura is to assume command on 1 July 2013” which is “in accordance with the Security Council resolution 2100 of 25 April 2013,” Eduardo del Buey, deputy spokesperson for Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary Generay of UN, said at a brief-

ing. The Council resolution stipulates that the 15-member body will review the transition of authority to Kazura and “the transfer of authority is to take place from the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) to MINUSMA,” del Buey added. In April, the UN Security Council approved the 12, 600-strong United Nations peacekeeping operation to take over in Mali on July 1 for an initial period of 12 months.

The main task of MINUSMA is to support the political process in Mali, in coordination with the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The UN currently has 15 peacekeeping operations and one special political mission – the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

Sunday Vanguard was told by a very dependable source privy to the goingson, that Nigeria had, indeed, earlier sent a protest letter to Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary General of the UN, when the idea was being mooted that General Kazura would lead the force.

The letter, it was learnt, expressed, in both strong and persuasive terms, the incongruity in appointing a Rwandan to lead a force that is preponderantly populated by Nigerian military personnel.

In fact, “Nigeria had expected a favourable response from the Office of the Secretary General on the matter but going ahead with the appointment of the Rwandan suggests that the Sec. Gen. was not persuaded”, the source said.

Of note, diplomatic sources said, is the fact that “Ka-

zura fought in the 1990s in the ranks of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the rebellion led by now President Paul Kagame, who took power in Kigali in 1994 to end the genocide.

In 2010, he was briefly arrested for “insubordination” after travelling without permission to South Africa to watch the football World Cup and he has over 24 years of national and international

military experience, as well as command and staff experience. In February, Nigeria sent 1200 troops for AFISMA. In terms of hardware contribution, the Nigeria Air Force deployed two Dassault-Breguet Dornier Alpha fighter jets and two Mi-35 Helicopters, the C-130 transport Hercules and the medium carrier, the G222, among others.

Edun, is seeking assistance in form of food, money and other relief materials from donor agencies, especially the National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA, State Emergency Relief Agency, SERA, as well as humanitarian organisations and well-meaning Nigerians over the recent crisis in the riverine communities of his LGA. He said the assistance was to meet the huge financial costs involved in rehabilitat-

June 12 re-echoes as Mark, Oshiomhole, Ihedioha, others mourn Legogie

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENATE President, Sen ator David Mark, Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, led other dignitaries to the burial of the former Deputy Senate, Senator Albert Legogie, yesterday, at his village, Ugbekpe Ekperi, in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State.

Mark, who spoke at the funeral mass, described Legogie as a true democrat and one of the outspoken voices during the June 12 debacle. The Senate President was represented by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume.

He said, “I knew him when he served under Iyochia Ayu during the June 12, 1993 election annulment.

Hewas a strong voice who served his country home and abroad, creditably”.

Also speaking, Ihedioha said, “ I came to pay this last respect to a leader that

I encountered since 1991.

He was a great Nigerian, a courageous man who ensured that democracy was enthroned.” He was a bold and accomplished lawmaker. I recalled that when Abacha struck after the June 12 debacle, he was one of those who saw to it that stability returned to country and one of those that formed the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)

and consequently became a member of its BOT”.

In his tribute, Oshiomhole noted that moments of this nature was an opportunity to remember a brother, recalling that of the politicians he met when he wanted to contest for elective position in 2007, it was Legogie that took up the courage and challenge to show him around.

Itsekiri victims of Ijaw attacks need aid — Council boss ing the victims of the crisis during which some groups of armed Ijaw youths allegedly attacked and razed several Itsekiri towns and villages with about 12 persons killed, maimed and several houses razed while many people are still missing.

Edun made the call in Koko when he played host to the member representing Warri North Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Mrs. Irene Imilair, who visited him on a fact-finding mission on the attacks.

Narrating his ordeal after the crisis, the council boss disclosed that he had lost sleep since it broke out on July 2, stressing that he was eager to see the situation return to normal.

He praised the intervention of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, whom he described as a father, mentor and lover of lives.

He said the Ijaw councillors in the council, who fled in the wake of the incident for fear of reprisal, will soon return as their security is now guaranteed.

Mrs Imoke seeks transition homes for widows

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HE wife of governor of Cross River, Mrs Obioma Liyel–Imoke, wants transition homes in each of the six geo-political zones of the country to cater for widows in distress.

She made the advocacy in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, while answering questions in a press conference preceding the first National Widowhood Summit convened by wives of governors in the South-south and South-

east-states to commemorate the 2013 International Widows Day. She explained that such a home would provide a three-fold package to include welfare, counseling and legal services to the widows.

The governor ’s wife, who is also the Founder/ Board Chair of Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realization, POWER, lamented the dearth of in-

formation and data on widows as well as the absence of systematic means of addressing issues affected them.

She expressed happiness that the Minister of Women Affairs had put the machinery in place to address the issue, adding that in Cross River, the government was undertaking comprehensive biometrics to enumerate widows.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 3

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PAGE 4—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013

WARRI KIDNAPPING

Victim’s br other ther bro ther,, 3 o other therss Anti-Kidnapping Squad, arrested SAKS, detailed an Assistant

BY EMMA AMAIZE OLICE in Delta State P have arrested four persons, including the

Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke (m), flanked by members of King's College Old Boys Association, 1978 set at the 30th year re-union in Calabar

manager of a hotel in Abraka, Ethiope-East Local Government Area and the elder brother of a 17-yearold kidnap victim, Henry Oke Dukuye, in connection with his (Henry) abduction, in Warri.

Henry was abducted, last Sunday, and, allegedly, taken to a hotel by a kidnap gang, including his brother, who is an undergraduate, while they demanded and collected ransom from his family. The victim’s father, Mr. Johnson Dukuye, reported the kidnapping of his son to the police, on Monday, and the Special

Superintendent of Police to handle the matter.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, told Sunday Vanguard, “It was an insider ‘s job, the victim ‘s elder brother, an undergraduate, was one of the suspected kidnappers arrested.”

According to him, “As soon as report was lodged with the police, the Government House Tracking Team was deployed to Warri and, at about 09.00 hours on July 19, the victim was rescued unhurt by the police through a bait of ransom.”

He gave the names of the suspects nabbed as Isaac, Kelvin, Blessing and Paul, adding that part of the ransom collected by the gang was recovered by the police.

OIL THEFT: Don’t blame N-Delta ex-militants, Presidency warns oil firms

BY SONI DANIEL,

Regional Editor, North

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Sen. Ahmed Hassan Barata (Chairman Senate Committee On Tourism, Culture & National Orientation) (left) with Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, Director General Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), during an event in Abuja

he Presidency de fended ex-militants currently on the payroll of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) of involvement in the theft of oil in the Niger Delta.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, claimed over 400,000 barrels of

crude are stolen daily by unknown persons. The Presidential Amnesty Office (PAO) asked the international oil corporations (IOCs) to take urgent steps to halt the negative trend rather than accuse the former warlords and their foot soldiers of theft.

In a statement, PAO’s Head, Media and Communications, Daniel Alabrah, stated that the ex-militants were no

Boko Haram: Stop playing to the gallery, cleric tells FG

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, ABUJA

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ISHOP of Diocese of Kubwa, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Duke Akamisoko, has advised the Federal Government to summon the courage to tackle the security challenges facing the country instead of playing to the gallery.

Akamisoko also said that granting amnesty to the members of Boko Haram was promoting criminality and advocated that members of the sect should face capital punishment.

The cleric, who gave the advice while briefing journalists on the activities on the second session of the second synod and launching of N5 billion Anglican University project in Abuja, said capital punishment was written in the Holy Books especially the Bible.

He said the Bible recommends that “If you kill, you should be killed,” adding that nobody had the right to live if the person had killed and

that granting amnesty to one that committed such dastardly act was a way of compensating evil. ”You have no right to live if you killed.

Why should you grant amnesty to one that kills?

You are compensated for

killing,” he said. He further stated that it was lack of courage and political will that had contributed in the insecurity challenges in the country, stressing that some people whose identities were known to the

Federal Government were bent on discrediting the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan by sponsoring Boko Haram. On the purported rift between Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi and

President Goodluck Jonathan, he advised Nigerians not to be deceived by the script acted by politicians, saying that it was during any crisis that they share the resources of the country.

DPP files N50m suit against PDP aspirant in Delta

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HE chairmanship aspirant of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. Blessing Erhiavwarie Oborevwori, has filed a N50 million suit against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Hon. J.J Scott, and Okpe Mirror Newspaper Limited, following alleged libelous publication.

The suit filed by A. E. Duku and Associates at Ekpan in suit No. HOR/ 13/2013, declared that the paid publication/ advert by Scott, 1 st defendant on 2 nd defendant (Okpe Mirror Newspaper), FebruaryMarch 2013 at page 18

is libelous. Speaking with newsmen at Delta State High Court, sitting at Orerokpe, Mr. Michael Akubowe, who held brief for the counsel

CK CC R oad CKCC Road

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hrist The King C a t h o l i c College(CKCC), Odolewu, Ijebu, yesterday commissioned the 3km school road. The commissioning was performed by Dr. Albert Fasina, the proprietor and Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Ijebu Ode. The road was financed by the school’s Parent’s Teacher’s Association and it covers the internal network-administrator’s block, students’ hostels and classrooms. The P.T.A

to the claimant, said, “We have filed a motion before this honourable court to set it down for hearing and actually that motion in its own

wisdom, has graciously been granted and the matter is fixed for hearing on the 27th day of September”.

chairman, Mr Nnamdi Nwagwu, speaking at the occasion, noted that the project is one of the association’s ways of

assisting the school’s management to give the children an enabling safe environment to aid excellent learning.

Urhobo leader pleads with Jonathan

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he National Treasurer of Urhobo Union, Progr essive

UPU,Chief Francis Atanomeyowi, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint an Urhobo son or daughter as a minister in his cabinet to compensate them for their electoral empower-

ment of the president during the election that brought him to power. Speaking on his personal capacity and not on behalf of group, he said, “the best thing President Jonathan should do for the Urhobo people and Deltans at this point in time is to appoint one of our sons or daughters into the Federal Executive Council.

longer in a position to embark on such a venture, given their reorientation by the PAO. Alabra said: “Having being properly disarmed, demobilised and currently undergoing reintegration through various training programmes, the former agitators do not have the capacity to embark on the scale of oil theft in the region where the country currently loses about 400,000 barrels of crude per day.

“While commending the security agencies in the Niger Delta, particularly the Nigerian Navy, for almost wiping out cases of illegal refineries in the region, the PAO notes that the incidence of oil theft is actually a setback to the amnesty programme, which has succeeded in ensuring the stabilisation of security in the region.

The spokesman stated that the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the PAP, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, did not raise a false alarm nor was his call on the oil companies to look inward in their search for the culprits misplaced, as claimed by some of the oil workers’ union in their reaction to the SA’s comment.

The Presidency also noted that the IOCs in the region had not shown enough transparency in the process of award of their pipeline surveillance contracts, which tended to emasculate the communities and the Niger Delta people from the process of securing such critical infrastructure in the region.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013 — PAGE 5

Continues from page 1 former President Olusegun Obasanjo but also avoided one another.

The drama began when Jonathan paid an unscheduled visit to his estranged godfather in his mansion on Osoba Hilltop, Abeokuta, after the four northern governors had arrived Abeokuta but, reportedly, hid in an undisclosed location apparently to avoid the P r e s i d e n t .

There has been no love lost between Jonathan and some northern governors who have been clamouring that the presidency should revert to the North in 2015 to compensate for the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar ‘Adua mid-way to his tenure in 2010 .

The President, who was on his way from Togo, arrived Abeokuta at 11:52am and, reportedly, ord ered some members of his advance party to proceed to the house of his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, while he drove into Obasanjo’s expansive compound where he immediately held a closeddoor meeting with the former Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for about one and a half hours.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that Jonathan was originally billed to visit Abati in his private house at Asero Estate in Abeokuta to commiserate with him over the death of his mother, Madam Maria Taiwo Abati, who was buried on Friday before he decided to see Obasanjo.

It was learnt that the quartet of the PDP northern governors - Murtala Nyako(Adamawa State), Alhaji.

Sule Lamido(Jigawa State), Alhaji Aliu Wammako (Sokoto State) and Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano State)- were to meet with Obasanjo at about the same time but decided to delay their arrival in the former President’s residence by stopping at an undisclosed location in Abeokuta ostensibly to avoid meeting Jonathan.

The 2015 connection

The governors arrived Obasanjo’s compound

SECRET MEETINGS WITH OBJ

Jonathan, 4 northern govs in hide and seek

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State (middle); wife, Margaret (2nd left); Bishop of Awka, Paulinus Ezeokafor (1st left), with the Emeritus Bishop of the Diocese, Simon Okafor (2nd right), during the golden celebration of his priestly ordination and reception in honour of Bishop Peter Okpalaeke (1st right) of Ahiara Diocese at St. Patrick Cathedral, Awka, yesterday. minutes after Jonathan left the place around 1:25pm.

Jonathan’s mission to Obasanjo’s home was unknown ,but a source said it may not be unconnected with his purported 2015 re–election bid which the former President is reportedly opposing.

It is widely believed that Lamido is being subtly supported by the former President as the person to fly the PDP presidential ticket in the next general elections in a bid to return power to the North.

It was not also immediately known why the four northern governors visited Obasanjo and the content of the secret meeti n g , but whe n t he y emerged about an hour later, Nyako told reporters that they were in Abeokuta for “consultation” with the former President on “very important matters.”

Nyako said, “We have come to greet the most accomplished Nigerian ever and would remain so for a very long time and to consult with him on very important matters.”

Meanwhile, Jonathan arrived Abati’s house at 1: 43 pm, and went into a closed-door meeting with the family and later addressed newsmen on what took him to Abeokuta.

SOLUTION

Obasanjo’s backyard When asked about his mission to Obasanjo’s house, the President said: “Of course, you know that Reuben’s house and Obasanjo’s house are just about 10 minutes drive to each other. It would not be proper if I’m coming to Ogun State to see Reuben who is

just at Obasanjo’s backyard and I would not stop over to greet him (Obasanjo). “ Even if he hears that, they would think that I, as Obasanjo’s son, and my father (as he is)probably have some differences. So, I said that before coming to greet the family, let us stop over and greet Obasanjo and we did that. We stopped over there.

“Even our helicopters are

there in the Government House, we drove down here,” Jonathan said.

In his remarks on the death of Abati’s mother, the President said, “The death of Madam Maria Taiwo Abati touches all of us and we must collectively play our role. Since we were unable to be here for the church programme, we said that this morning we have to be here”.

The President continued: “We must come and greet our brothers and sisters to express our condolence and to encourage the family. Those of us who are Christians, the Bible says that we are supposed to live three scores and 10. So any number of years above that three scores and 10 is a blessing. “ So, for her to have lived to that ripe age, her departure should be celebrated and not mourned. So, our being here is to encourage them and to reassure the family that we are together and we’ll continue to be together”.

Addressing newsmen after Jonathan left his house, Abati disclosed that he did not expect the President to come in person following his financial assistance towards his mother ’ s funeral ceremony.

From left: Mrs Roli Uduaghan, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina and Mrs Unoma Akpabio at the first national summit on Widowhood in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, organised by wives of governors of South-South, South-East.

Prominent Rivers leaders visit injured lawmaker in London hospital

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ROMINENT leaders of Rivers State from across political and professional divides, yesterday, vi sited the

member representing Obio/ Akpor State Constituency 2, Hon. Michael Chinda, at the Bupa Comwell Hospital, London, United Kingdom (UK), where the legislator is recuperating from head and jaw surgeries.

Those who visited the injured lawmaker include the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike; a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara; President of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Chief Okey Wali (SAN); a former Action Congress of Nigeria,

ACN, National Treasurer, Mr Kenneth Kobani; a former Transport Minister, Dr Abiye Sekibo; Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah; and a former Commissioner in Rivers State, Mr. Bonny Iyaye.

The leaders thanked God that Chinda survived the attack during the fracas at the state House of Assembly. They condemned the assault.

Speaking after the visit, Wike called on the constituents of the lawmaker to remain calm; pointing out that justice will be done in the matter.

Opara expressed happiness that the lawmaker had been stabilized.

Sekibo, while condemning the attack on Chinda, said Nigerians must rise to

condemn pre-meditated act of violence Obuah regretted the attack on the lawmaker.

CORRIGENDUM In the story, "Army intercepts petrol tanker loaded with arms in Kebbi", published in our edition of last Sunday, July 14, we stated that the arrested petrol tanker carried the Mobil Logo. We have since found that this is not true. The petrol tanker had no imprints of Mobil whatsoever. We regret this error, and hereby apologize to Mobil Oil Nigeria plc for any damage this misrepresentation may have caused.

We hold the Board, Management and Public Affairs of Mobil in high regards - Editor

PAGE 6 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013

Do not tarnish our image, NYSC boss tells corps inspectors

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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HE Director General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia, has

called on those saddled with the responsibility of corps inspection to desist from practices capable of undermining the relevance of the scheme.

Okore-Affia made the call during the opening ceremony of the 2013 Northern States Inspectors Development Training Programme at the NYSC

Orientation Camp, Keffi, Nasarawa State. Represented by the Director of Human Resources Management, Mrs Elizabeth

Adimorah, the DG said it was imperative for inspectors, as field officers, to live above board, and act as role models to corps members, adding that a situation where they left their duties for corps liaison officers would not be tolerated.

Okore-Affia maintained that it was in recognition of the fact that there were teething problems faced by

the scheme that the management deemed it fit to prioritise staff training and development to enhance service delivery.

In her welcome address, the Director of Corps Welfare and Inspectorate Department, Mr Emmanuel Obi, urged the participants “to take advantage of this workshop to sharpen your skills and become that ideal inspectors”.

Opposition parties won’t distract me — Mimiko

BY DAYO JOHNSON Akure

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O V E R N O R O l u s e g u n Mimiko of Ondo State, yesterday, said he would not be distracted by criticism from opposition parties over the construction of markets across the state.

He spoke during the commissioning of Moferere Modern Market with 412 open stalls and 364 lock-up stalls.

Also, N15million loan was distributed to 300 market women to trade with by the state government.

Mimiko is to commission four other high brow markets in towns across the state in the next one

week as part of his administration’s urban renewal programme.

The governor said: “It is the least we can do for women empowerment, the very least we can do to restore the dignity of our women traders, and reduce pandemic poverty in our communities. ”We may need to ask the question, why is government venturing into market reconstruction and renovation? Or why do we care so much for market women? ”My response is simple. Why not? Why should this long-neglected and overlooked segment of the population not be given at least a taste of the government they helped vote into office?”

Anambra guber: Ifeanyi Ubah picks Labour Party nomination form

BY CHRIS OCHAYI HE governorship aspirant for Labour Party, LP, in the November 16 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, yesterday, dismissed the claim that Anambra North Senatorial District should produce the next governor of

the state, saying what the state needs is somebody who can perform.

Ubah said this when he submitted his letter of intent and picked the party’s nomination form at its national secretariat in Abuja, saying he was not aware of any resolution or law passed by the state House of Assembly which allocated the seat to Anambra North in 2013.

From left: Category Manager, Skincare, Unilever Plc, Rotimi Oyesiji; Music Star, Kenny Saint-Brown, being presented with a plaque by 2013 President , JCI Eko, Jide Adeyemi, for participating in the “2013 Clean Up Lagos” organized by JCI Eko in partnership with Lifebuoy Antiseptic Soap and Unilever Plc, last week.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013—PAGE 7

SEASON OF CHILD-DEFILEMENT

Why we had carnal knowledge of small girls – Pastor, others

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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hild defilement is becoming a source of concern in Benin-City, Edo State capital. It is even more worrisome when the act is carried out by supposedly men of God. In the last few weeks, no fewer than five children have, allegedly, been defiled in Benin-City by men old enough to be their fathers. On Thursday, Edo State Police Command paraded 32 suspected criminals, amongst them, three accused of defiling children. The suspects include a pastor with the Deeper Life Bible Church, Abudu, Edo State, Eze Fidelis, who was said to have had carnal knowledge of two girls: Joy, 9, and Anthonia,11.

There is also the case of one Grace, 12, who was sent on an errand by her mother to get her a rechargeable lantern from a hall within their compound. When the said girl failed to return after 30 minutes, the mother went in search of her, only to discover that one Segun Oteru, 42, was allegedly having carnal knowledge of her in the hall.

The woman raised the alarm which attracted members of the public while the suspect was arrested.

The incident happened on July 6. The following day, one Saturday Cole, 35, and a co-tenant of the complainant (names withheld), allegedly lured the complainant’s daughter, identified as Mariam, 11, into his room and had a carnal knowledge of her. While the victim was coming out from the suspect’s room, her elder brother saw her and, on inquiry, discovered that the victim was not putting on her pants. The victim narrated her ordeal in the hands of the suspect.

*Suspects: Otaru and Eze According to the victim, “uncle has always bought me things but I didn’t know he wanted to have anything with me. He forced me and removed my dress, I was shouting but he closed my mouth and forced his penis inside me”.

On July 12, one Eugene Odozor, 46, allegedly took a 13-year-old girl, identified as Oluwabunmi,into his room and forced her to lie on his bed where she was said to have been defiled by the suspect. For Eze, the suspect in the September 11, 2013 alleged rape, luck ran out on him after one Joseph observed that his daughter Joy, 9, was not walking properly. While suspecting that the daughter may have been defiled, he invited her inside the room and threatened to deal

with her if she refused to say the truth. The little girl allegedly that her pain started after she had sexual intercourse with the pastor. She further confessed that the pastor had intercourse with her friend, Anthonia, 11, too. Joy revealed that the unwholesome practice had been going on for about a year.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Adebanjo, who expressed worry over what he described as the increasing number of underage sex in the state, said the action of the suspects was wicked and they will face the wrath of the law.

Confessions Pastor Eze confessed that he defiled both girls, Joy and Anthonia, saying he

was possessed by evil spirit to commit the act. “I am really ashamed of myself particularly as a pastor. I have been a pastor at Deeper Life for over six years but I was tempted to defile the girls. They were always visiting me; so, on this particularly day, I defiled both of them. It was temptation. I have a child. Joy brought Anthonia to my house. They were my church members. Their parents have left my church but we still leave close. I know their parents very well. They come to collect wheel barrow from us.

Sometimes Joy will ask me for money to go to school. That particular day, I did not have money to give to her, so I asked her to go to school and come during break. It was during the break that she came in company of the other girl. I was tempted to defile both of them. They undressed and we all went to bed”.

Oteru, the 42-year-old who had sex with girl, 12, also narrated his story: “It happened that the woman employed me as her security guard. So there was this little girl working with the madam, but, whenever madam was not around, she would come to play with me. The girl is about 12 years old.

I was tempted to have sex with her on several occasions. I have a wife but I don’t have girl friend. The day we had sex, she told her madam that she wanted to go to the toilet, but she had informed me that she would come and use my phone because she was always playing games with my phone. I always assisted her in operating my handset. Each time she came, she would sit on my lap. That particular day, I was tempted to defile her. Unfortunately, the madam started looking for her and she entered my room and caught both of us making love”.

CHILD MARRIAGE

Ex-Gov Saraki’s wife seeks amendment of constitutional provision

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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ife of former Kwara State governor and founderPresident of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, WBFA, Mrs Oluwatoyin Saraki, has called for an urgent amendment of Section 29 (4) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), legalizing child marriage.

In a position statement on the resolution of the Senate to retain provisions of the Section in question, Saraki pointed out that the constitutional amendment was desirable for clarification purposes, and to eliminate all forms of equivocation that can and will promote the continued abuse of girls through child marriage. In the statement signed by the WBFA Executive Director, Mr Temitayo Erogbogbo, the body

Saraki expressed grave concern over the Senate’s resolution which, it said, disenfranchises girls and women, and encourages child marriage which robs girls of a good education, optimal health, opportunities for socioeconomic empowerment and violates their rights to security and protection from all forms of physical and mental abuse.

“Section 29 (4) (b) contradicts

conventions that the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a signatory to, which profess, as commitments, the protection of the rights of girls and women from all forms of abuse, neglect or discrimination, as well as providing the best-available opportunities for selfactualization and fulfillment, through education and other means,” the statement said.

“The evidence is clear that child marriages deny girls of an opportunity to complete an education, thereby directly diminishing their chances at a good life. In line with the Foundation’s longstanding policy we shall continue to strive for improved well being of the girl-child by protecting their rights to security; protection from all forms of physical and

mental abuse; education; health; and social and economic empowerment, irrespective of their religious or cultural backgrounds.”

Calling for the rejection of any form of stigmatization of married minors, as well as seeking exceptional and increased protection of child rights and citizenship benefits for all existing married minors, the statement said,“ We look to the House of Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to support our call to action to this end.” According to the WBFA, child marriages are detrimental to a girl’s health, by a direct effect. “Young girls, by virtue of the fact that their bodies are not yet fully developed, run a high risk of developing complications in pregnancy and childbirth, compared to

women. Such complications include prolonged and obstructed labour, bleeding, and even death. Girls who are married young are also more vulnerable to contracting sexually transmissible infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS”.

The statement observed that chain reaction that results from a mother ’s ill-health also have direct effects on incomegeneration, especially in Nigeria where the informal sector, mainly driven by women and girls, has contributed largely to household income.

“Therefore, there is an urgent need for the amendment of Section 29 (4) (b) of the Constitution of Nigeria, if the government must keep to its word of ensuring good health and economic prosperity for its people”

PAGE 8—SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

A nation of nay-sayers ure for measure. I think that what we really need may after all be compassion. Compassion is the gift of the spirit. It is calmer and kinder; less abrasive than the harsh and blind mistress, whose sword and balance, reminds us all in its arching, that all must come short and be damned. I have thus broken with Soyinka on that principle, after many years, and I have redefined that mantra about justice: I think compassion is the first condition of our humanity. I am reminded, in coming to these terms, that Soyinka is a great creator often under the grip of his archetypal divine.

He may in one moment of overreach, succumb to the fate of his demiurge, who in one moment of excess, smashed his own work, and upon waking to the consequences of his rage and inebriation, created misshapen life, and thus inundated nature with sublime terror and the horrific. I felt a chill in the bones, when last week, Soyinka unloaded a barrel of grapes on Patience Jonathan, Nigeria’s first lady over the crisis in Rivers State.

It is pointless repeating

some of Soyinka’s words about Mrs. Jonathan, but it was clear that he was not only impatient with this Patience, he held her in utter contempt. In Professor Soyinka’s view, Mrs. Jonathan was the

,

L

AST week, Profes sor Wole Soyinka, our world-renowned playwright and Nobel laureate for literature inserted himself in a very unseemly way in the rage in Rivers state.

In many regions of the world, Soyinka is known much more for his defiance than for his art. In fact, he has turned naysaying into an industry and into an art.

He is of course to be counted among the most politically or socially conscious intellectuals spawned in the 20th century, and we must be grateful to Soyinka, for those moments when in his actions and his work, he helped us to articulate the very principles of what he himself described as the “first condition of our humanity” – justice.

On my part, over the yearshowever, I have come to an increasing understanding that Soyinka set the bar too high; it requires the arch-angel Michael, himself the archetype of Amadioha/Ogun, to pass the test for justice. Justice in fact is far too high a demand. Justice is expensive. It demands one eye for one eye. Meas-

cup. We must have the courage to tell our highly respected man of letters, that his words not only amount to the abuse of another man’s wife, the disregard in his address of Mrs. Jonathan smacks of pointless elitism and partisan rancour.

The president’s wife holds no political position. She does not head the army or the police.

She is actually a permanent secretary in the Bayelsa State civil service on a leave of absence, and whatever that means. If she breaks any law, she must bear the

Of course, Soyinka loves to say his nays, and the situation in Rivers offered him an opportunity to indulge, but in this particular example, the laureate falters rather badly

cause ofthe crisis in Rivers State that threatens democracy. First, I’d like to say, that the situation in Port-Harcourt has been overdramatized, and overplayed for political gain.

A minor political disagreement in one corner of the federation does not threaten the fundamental foundations of the democratic state. Those who make that claim only stoke the stove of discontent. The Rivers crisis amounts to nothing more than a storm in a tea-

,

consequence, since the constitution of the land does not grant her immunity. If there is any proof that she is the cause of the crisis, the law must be allowed to treat her like every adult citizen.

But to demean her, and to ask the president to “call his wife to order ” without as much as understanding the intricate issues behind the Rivers situation exposes Soyinka to needless partisanship. Of course, Soyinka loves to say his nays, and

Edo: The future engages the present VIEWPOINT

BY BRIAN AJAYI-JATTO VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

A governor’s commitment to development

F

IVE years on, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as governor of Edo State, has redefined the role of government as promoter and facilitator of interventions and initiatives in core areas to raise the living standard of the average people.

The core areas include monumental successes in the construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of moribund infrastructure in all sectors and in human capital development to drive and power the people’s engagement with the present and the future. The Oshiomhole administration has also made giant strides in healthcare delivery, education, agriculture, commerce and industry, tourism, youth and women empowerment, transportation, etc.

The governor, in his quest to actualise his roadmap for the development of Edo State, has shown that it is no longer the amount of resources that is available to a government that impedes or heigthens

development but the failure of leadership to make prudent use of the resources.

A peep into the successes in all the sectors in the three senatorial districts of Edo speaks volumes of the Oshiomhole administration’s commitment to fast-tracking the state’s development and engaging the future, today.

The governor is guided by the mindset that a policy is put in place to mitigate the effects of the stoppage of oil revenue in future. The two-pronged objective of an Edo Without Oil are: The development of new revenue generation avenues from non-oil sources and employing the present earnings from oil in the development of critical infrastructure and human development that will be enjoyed by the present and future generations of Edo people.

By exploring and emphasising on alternative means of revenue generation and wealth creation, the Oshiomhole administration has de-emphasised the continued over-dependence on oil revenue allocation.

This view is anchored on the analyses of geologists that, within the next 40 years, oil wells in the Niger Delta may dry up as the current exploitation rate of 2.5 million

barrels of crude oil per day will take a 40-year timespan to exhaust the estimated reserve of 37.2 billion barrels of oil.

Oshiomhole, in his first tenure, revamped hitherto neglected tax system in Edo to shore up earnings from the non-oil revenue generating sources and also provide a veritable alternative to the mono-economic oil revenue earnings which account for over 85% of the state’s revenue base.

In opening up of new vistas for revenue generation, the Comrade Governor is conscious of the fact that oil and gas resources (and by extension revenues generated therefrom) are exposed and controlled by global oil price fluctuations and politics are inherently exhaustible; nonreusable and nonregenerative in nature.

By creating the enabling environment for potential local and foreign investors to invest and thrive, the Oshiomhole administration has laid a solid and enduring base for the industrialisation and further development of Edo – a critical factor that will mitigate the futuristic years of a state without oil on this and future generations. *AJAYI-JATTO, a political analyst, is based in Lagos

the situation in Rivers offered him an opportunity to indulge, but in this particular example, the laureate falters rather badly. Which brings me to another issue: last week Professor Ango Abdullahi, politician and former Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, purporting to speak for the North claims that the north will ensure that “power does not remain in the South.”

It’s all part of nay-saying.

No! in Thunder! “We no go ‘gree!” Fela calls it all “shakara.” It is a form of signifying. But let me be up close, and a little personal: what forces could Ango Abdullahi muster to take power back to the “north?” I do not see it.

Rotation of power, North and South, is not a constitutional requirement, it is a gentleman’s agreement.

Of course politicians often redefine who the “gentleman” is and what constitutes an “agreement.” It is slippery stuff.

To be clear, I do not worry where this power stays – not or south – so long as it is good hands. If a great candidate emerges out what is now called “the north” to challenge President Jonathan in 2015, it will be a great thing: it will give Nigerians a broader choice to make. Perhaps such a person might have something of value to say and do in terms of effecting the economic and social transformation of Nigeria. This is not what Ango Abdullahi is suggesting.

He is not making any

case for policy changes in lower and higher education; in research and development; in the rebuilding of the infrastructural stock of the nation; in our national security and national defence capabilities; in providing access to adequate housing for a majority of Nigerians; or establishing a robust foreign and domestic policy to enhance the standing of Nigeria in the world; or of transforming the bureaucratic system for greater efficiency and productivity; no; he simply wants power to return to the North, merely for the sake of power.

It is mediocre thinking for a Professor. Finally, the question I often ask, which North? There are three norths today, and there is no historical evidence of shared destiny.

Besides, Ango Abdullahi seems unwilling to understand that today, in many parts of the north, there is increasing awareness of individual choice, and the fact that peoples fates are no longer determined by a group gerontocrats playing God and Russian roulette in a select conclave.

Power ultimately belongs to the people – not to the Arewa Consultative Forum. That is what 2015 will be about. The right to say ‘No!’ is a democratic right.

But nay-saying simply for its sake is a symptom of a particular kind of excess – an addictive love of the stage.

NEWS

Osun 2014: ‘Why we back Omisore’

A

former commissioner for commerce in Osun State, Hon Sola Oladeinde has cited reasons why the candidature of Senator Iyiola Omisore is receiving overwhelming support across the state, declaring: “Iyiola Omisore is the only one that can defeat Rauf Aregbesola in 2014“.

Speaking after a meeting of Omisore Renaissance Group at Ilesa, Oladeinde, who is the Coordinator of the group, said Omisore has prepared a blueprint that provides answers to the yearnings and aspirations of Osun people across the

society.

“Omisore, for the past two years, has assembled a team of experts cutting across all sectors. They have collated data on education, health and job issues. The action plan has timelines with costing and expected outcomes. This aspirant is prepared for governance“,Oladeinde said.

Oladeinde said Omisore has strong footing within Ijesaland, adding that he has identified key areas of focus that will change the fortune of Osun people for the better within one year of assuming governorship of the state.

Lagos UI alumni to discuss waste management

T

HE University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA) Lagos State Branch would at this month’s edition of its General Meeting/Sharing Experience host the Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ola Oresanya, as he speaks on the topic: “Waste Management to

Wealth.”

A statement by the Association’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Idowu Sowunmi, said the event, slated for July 28, at Osun Hall, Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, will be graced by ancient, medieval and the modern alumni/alumnus of the university.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 9

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

Mr. President, check consumption of foreign goods Dear Sir,

W

E all know that unemployment, crime and underdevelopment are the major problems facing Nigeria and most African countries. Nigerians will eternally be grateful if President Goodluck Jonathan will help to address these issues. When the British colonized us, they set up various ministries in such a way that it favoured consumption not production, so the individual ministries depend on

goods manufactured from Europe, therefore our needs are tied to their industries. Today, the only change is that the needs of our ministries are tied to Asian industries of China and India.

For example the budget of the Ministry of Health is set to consume equipment are imported. So we are well and healthy but more than 50% of the budget of the ministry has gone to give jobs to young Chinese, Indian and Europeans.

When the Ministry of Agriculture set up its yearly budget, more than 50% is

In support of the ASUU strike!

Dear Sir,

I

am in total support of the nationwide ASUU strike, because our greedy and selfish politicians have appropriated a great chunk of our local, state and federal budgets for the payment of their mindboggling salaries and allowances that are the highest in the world, while relegating to the background the proper funding of education, health e.t.c, as their children study overseas and they themselves shamelessly rush to hospitals in Europe, America, Israel and India, even with air ambulance for medical treatment at government

expense!

It is because over 50% of our local, state and federal budgets go into recurrent expenditure to maintain the lavish lifestyles of our over-bloated elected and political appointees, that little is left for education, health, electricity, water, jobs, to boost our economy and to strengthen our naira, thereby culminating to our rising debt profile, both internally and externally!

What a shame and a tragedy for our richly blessed country!

Ifeka Okonkwo GR.A. Awka.

sent to procure equipment from simple cutlass, chemicals to the machines. We feed well but we are jobless, we can afford this because of the oil money we get.

Why can’t we change this and create ministry of equipment production like the ministry of medical equipment production, ministry of agricultural equipment production and other

ministries too. We have to focus more on production than just consumption so that there will be jobs and the 3 problems of unemployment, crime and underdevelopment can be a thing of the past.

Dr Ademola Oladosu Lagos Based Medical Practitioner Anthony Village Lagos.

PHCN of shame!

Dear Sir,

P

ERMIT me to ask the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, the reason for the continued increase in taxation of its tariff irrespective of its poor performance.

It is true that the cabals have sold PHCN to themselves and need to arbitrarily increase the tariff unchallenged to milk the masses dry.

The toothless bull dog House Committee on Energy of the National Assembly, could not call this madness to order? How much money will they use to bribe you that you will sell your conscience? It is shameful for law makers to leave this issue unchallenged.It is true that we are in a lawless country but can't there be exceptions or must every person be

mad because of money? Apart from the value added tax (VAT), the other fixed taxation started from N200, N350, N500, and now N750 is the Government not ashamed of this day light robbery on Nigerians. So, fraud and corruption is now the correct way of governance in Nigeria? I hope these corrupt and fraudulent tendencies are not carried beyond the shores of Nigeria. I say this because of the recent bilateral trade relationship with the Peoples Republic of China who do not tolerate corruption. They will not care whether you are anything in Nigeria, the penalty is execution, and no appeal. If you like, try these nonsense in China, they would not tolerate any corrupt individual.

Pastor Emmanuel Osamudime Church of Divine Protection, Port Harcourt.

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

“God save me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies”, Anonymous.

“In every mess I find a friend’, Charles Dibdin, 1745-1814.

OMETIMES being prophetic and turn ing out to be right can cause as much anguish as being wrong – when catastrophe results. About five weeks ago, I wrote in an article titled” PRESIDENT JONATHAN: AMAECHI SHOULD NOT DIE, that given Governor Amaechi’s open feud with Jonathan and the alarm that somebody wants him (Amaechi) dead, then it is the President’s duty to ensure the governor does not die. The fingers of suspicion will point in one direction.

Then, two weeks ago, writing under SS MUTINY: PDP’S CANTERKEROUS ELEMENTS, I also wrote about PDP – the President’s party. “What we are witnessing now is probably the warm-up to 2014 mayhem.

By this time next year, a few funerals would have followed the fights. There is absolute bedlam in that “ship” [PDP]. The picture on the front page of PUNCH on Wednesday, July 10, 2013, showing a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, a lawmaker, wielding and actually hit-

S

ting a fellow member with a weapon in full view of cameras, has proved my point beyond all reasonable doubt. PDP is home to a nest of mindless killers who would commit murder just to gain power. The victim could have died; and, quite obviously, the attacker, until now presumed to be a responsible citizen, would not care. The question is: what has Jonathan got to do with it?

Dr Doyin Okupe, Jonathan’s intelligent, but not wise, Senior Adviser, while reacting to the call for the impeachment of President Jonathan by Lai Mohammed of the ACN, made the following observation.

“The President is not, has not, and will never engineer any act that can cause disaffection between Governor Rotimi Amaechi or any other Governor and the state legislature or any other institution of government”. I totally agree that President Jonathan cannot be impeached without absolute proof he planned the fiasco in Portharcourt. But, poor Okupe, he should undertake a course in advanced communications.

He would have learnt that perception is vital. Whether a person is a villain or hero, in a matter such as this, is a function of the person’s credibility; and the

Dirty, rotten scoundrels "Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners" --- Laurence Sterne

W

ORDS really fail me for what I am about to write but write I must. The behaviour of Nigerian law makers has sunk to the lowest depths.I would have thought any right thinking person could not have imagine a depth this low. The River state assembly had the dubious venue of the crime most foul.

These hoodlums parading as honourable people have not only brought their position to disrepute but they have also given us a glimpse to the type of people we support and put in high office.

I wrote some months back, in "Ladies, jets and big egos" that Jonah was flexing his FG muscle to intimidate the River state governor, Rotimi Amaechi and that trouble was afoot.

The latest antics are deplorable and if the finger of blame points to the FG and Jonah, then Nigeria is indeed ungovernable and the

leaders are scoundrels.

They should hang their heads in shame and accept that what happened on the floor of the assembly was truly despicable and shocking,period.If grown men, and I mean,grown men behaved in such thuggish manner,waving the mace and using it as a weapon, what example are they displaying to the the young and the impressionable. No wonder Nigeria is going to the dogs! On July 9th, Bipi led his rent a mob then attempted to take over the assembly chambers. Where he proceeded to make himself the speaker of the House,with no assailable majority,they refused to abide by the rules when faced with descent.He then starts to beat up some principal officers of the house.

The farce was cringe worthy as he paraded himself with his goons as the speaker,before Governor Amaechi personally intervened to thwart his charades.

So ensue the most farcical tussle when a pro-Amaechi lawmaker, Chidi Lloyd smashed a wooden mace

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Rivers of blood: A prayer for Jonathan

public’s perception of him.

It is also dependent on the situation in which the event occurs. And, finally, it is influenced by whether the “accused” is generally popular or not. Furthermore, Okupe must have easily forgotten our national experience with the third term bid

by Obasanjo. Until it failed, none of those working and benefiting from Obasanjo’s bid admitted that such an attempt was being made.

Later, people like Professor Jerry Gana came out to admit what Nigerians had already known themselves.

Okupe, as an employee of

ed to have done nothing to avert disaster. While Okupe is entitled to his delusions, President Jonathan should be aware that, although he did not promote the attack, some people, who are labouring under the wrong impression that they were expressing solidarity with him, have inadvertently smeared the president with mud. One unintended consequence of this ill-advised way of “supporting” the president is the take over of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Federal House of Representatives – a den of political lions ready to embarrass Jonathan. Even, the Senate is not exactly supportive of the President and they are going to conduct independent inquiries. The Chairman of the PDP, as well as the Chairman of the Board of

When a Minister vainly tries to deceive us about what we know; he makes it impossible for anybody to believe government when he talks about what we don’t know

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President Jonathan is not a credible witness – given his antecedents in the presidency.

Okupe must be the only adult in Nigeria who does not realize that Amaechi and Jonathan are engaged in conflict – which had divided the PDP in Rivers State and Nigeria. As every grown up knows very well, once your “antagonist” is attacked, whether you instigated the incident or not, you become the number one suspect. Especially, as in this case, the culprits are known to be your friends and the security agencies, which could have prevented the attack, were suspect-

Trustees, BOT, who should ordinarily step in, and quickly put out the fire, are known to be partisan in the conflict between the President and the Governor. That limits their roles almost to the point of making them redundant. Yet, the president needs to move quickly to stop the situation from escalating and from more blood to flow in Rivers State.

WHAT HAPPENED TO SHAME? ANY DECENT PEOPLE LEFT IN PDP? “Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are”. Old adage.

If that is a generally true observation, what about the

on the head of another lawmaker who has remained hospitalised overseas.

There seem to be silence in the aftermath, which can only be reserved for the mischief makers because no one need tell them that these what they did was s unlawful and totally unacceptable. They should be a shining example but instead they behaved disgracefully and dishonourably,sadly these

enough,enough? We cannot pretend it did not happen,it did and should not be swept under the carpet like all the others before it.

I see that some people remain deep in their trenches blaming others for what happened and refuse to lay the blame for the shambles with the culprits How do we justify the unjustifiable is beyond me.When someone is wrong,they are wrong,there are no two

,

It is high time Nigerians made a stance that these behaviours are not acceptable and cannot be condoned

scoundrels have shown.The nation how not to behave.They have the temerity to go on boasting that their behaviour as if it is justified and that they were merely responding the governor's stubborn stance . They have already made themselves judge,jury and executioner! What a country and what a people! We definitely have scrapped the barrel to be represented by these uncouth,bully boys and narcissistic men. They are ready to compromise the safety of Nigerians because of their over inflated egos. It is about time Nigerians insists that those found guilty of this raucous behaviour should face the full weight of the law, put them in chains and throw away the keys. Really,when is

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ways about it,no more pussy footing about,we need to grow some moral backbone.

These anti-Amaechi lawmakers in Rivers State House of Assembly in particular,the Hon. Evans Bipi, representing Ogu/Bolo constituency, had the gall to declare himself a worthy replacement for the speaker of the house and also attempting to remove the incumbent governor for insulting Patience .

He said"why must he (Ameachi) be insulting my mother, my Jesus Christ on earth?" "I have no mother, I have no father. She (Mrs Jonathan) is my mother," he said. Well, one cannot make this up even if one wants to; he spoke like true deluded loved up puppy this man

political party to which a person belongs? Should a political party and the activities of its members reflect the ideals of that political party and what the people should expect of it?

In less than two months, the PDP had opened Nigeria to shame and ridicules world wide.

First, the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, dominated by the PDP, organized an election with 35 members – all governors, who should provide political and ethical leadership.

Surprisingly, till today, the PDP has still not resolved which of its two governors won the election. Instead of driving them away from the presidency, out of shame, the President threw his weight behind one group.

Last week, with cameras clicking away, a person, no, a lawmaker, presumed to be normal, carried a weapon and chased another lawmaker until he unleashed blows, which could have resulted in death on his victims. Both are PDP members.

The next day, the show of shame shifted to the Senate, again, dominated by the PDP, As usual with anything controlled by the PDP, Nigerians and the international community were treated to another round of fisticuffs.

Anybody still deceived by the idea that the PDP will solve its problems in a “family way” must remember that what we are witnessing is not a maturing democracy; but one which is disintegrating right under our eyes. More blood will surely flow. That is the PDP way and Jonathan is now their leader. People, like Okupe, who “eat” from this mess, will certainly do everything to prevent any-

one from fixing it. Jonathan, however, must understand, that, like former Egyptian president Morsi, the buck will stop at his table.

His “friends” will not tell him the truth; they never do.

They continue to deceive him and then run away when REAL TROUBLE starts. Morsi’s former spokesmen are sleeping peacefully in their beds now.

Okupe will also go home without shame – if the worst occurs.

LABARAN MAKU: MINISTER OF MISINFORMATION “At the moment there is an average of 18 hours per day of constant power supply to different parts of the country. This feat was brought about by the implementation of the integrated power sector reform programme anchored on the power roadmap”. Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, in THE NATION, Friday, July 12, 2013.

Nigeria is again headed for the Guinness Book of Records; we must have the only Minister, a university graduate for that matter, who either does not know the meaning of the word average or cannot count to eighteen. Mr Maku and others like him in Jonathan’s cabinet represent all that is wrong with the bunch. They cannot separate truth from falsehood.

When a Minister vainly tries to deceive us about what we know; he makes it impossible for anybody to believe government when he talks about what we don’t know.

I am sorry for the President of Nigeria; if he thinks he needs this sort of falsehood to succeed.

V i s i t : www.Delesobowale.com

is not fit to be a law maker or anything else for that matter. So is this man really sane? Not sure that is what one wants in their law maker.

So what has the fragrant Patience got to do with the melee ? It seems the lady is not an innocent bystander, the blame should be shared by her and her cronies of sycophants for meddling in the state business. Me thinks the lady is acting like a tyrant "she who must be obeyed" is pulling some political might and no one seem to be stopping her by rightly putting her in her place. I and many other Nigerians who saw the videos of their madness on the floor of the assembly watched with shock and horror, it was not pretty.it was downright gory. In full view, we can see Evans Bipi attacking a police officer and all hell broke loose,it seems that the break-away fraction of the House also control the use of the police and officials in the state.They flexed their physical and political muscles, bullying their way through so as to make the Governor a lame governor . They have misfired in fact it had made them look instead uncultured,mediocre and self serving.

So ,no surprise there then, when the Rivers State Information Commissioner, Ibim Semenitari,stood up for the good lady and declare her innocent of all suspicions!

Wole Soyinka has called

on Jonah to call off his unruly, out of control wife. At last someone with courage and wisdom calling it as it is that she is a loose cannon,she meddles in the business that she has not been elected for nor have the experience and qualifications for ; she seems to have the knack of creating disunity and discord in the Government and I totally agree.

We have for awhile given people unbridled respect that their high office deserve but the wrong type of people are chosen to represent this high office and they seem to demand the respect they do not deserve and thus cheapen the position. It is high time , we make our elected officials and non elected people accountable to the high office they occupy, there should be and I believe, a cord of conduct that they should adhere to and if they fall below that then they should face the consequences even if it means custodial sentences. This shameful event is the game changer here if the president operates in such cavalier manner and behaves in a way that puts his office in jeopardy then it is high time Nigerians made a stance that these behaviours are not acceptable and cannot be condoned.

So suddenly,Patience, the lady now wants to smoke peace pipe, through her spokespersons, she denies any involvement in the event.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 11

PDP: Big for what?

S the PDP candidate visited many states to campaign whereas some of his opponents were not seen at all in many states. Indeed, it is usually only the PDP that has party agents in every polling unit during elections.

A

gain many politi cians supposedly in other camps did not only begin in the PDP, they are only away for awhile de-

,

OME few years back, a bosom friend who wanted to get into partisan politics after retiring from the Federal Public Service pleaded with me to sleep over the subject and come up with the most suitable political party for him. I promptly replied that he had no option but to pitch his tent with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - the only national political party in Nigeria. Of course until the recent merger arrangements by some groupings, every other Nigerian political party always operated like a small regional party.

For me, my friend was too big to swim in any of the little streams when a big river was available.

I could not have been wrong because the PDP is indisputably large. As the current chairman of the party Alhaji Bamanga Tukur testifies, it is the only party that has a candidate in every election everywhere across the nation. He is correct because during the 2011 Presidential electioneering period for instance,

impeached. In my state – Edo - it is only our Governor whose roots in the PDP are not quite clear. While one school of thought says he begged in vain to contest the governorship election in the state under the banner of the PDP, another school says it was the PDP that struggled in vain to attract him. Head or tail, PDP is involved. Our deputy governor and all other major ACN office holders in

Somehow, PDP appears to be leaving in everyone’s sub consciousness that it is a violent organization

pending on the vagaries of political weather. The CPC governor of Nasarawa State and that of Labour in Ondo State may be back shortly just as the Bauchi State governor who left came back while his deputy who refused to return was

,

our state are certainly PDP by birth. hus, that the party is exceedingly large is a T notorious fact. No one has faulted its claims of being the largest political party in Africa. It accommodates

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

S

OME psychologists believe that human beings manifest some level of insanity. That is very true, because every individual experiences strong emotions, which usually precipitate irrational behaviour. Persistent existential deprivations that characterise the human condition in Nigeria right now is particularly conducive to insanity. Human beings rarely act sanely and rationally most of the time when society approaches the Hobbesian state of nature, as has been the case since 1985.

Last week, on a lovely Monday morning, I went to buy some pre-recorded compact disks at Yaba. It was difficult to find somewhere to park my vehicle because virtually all the parking lots around were full. After driving for about fifteen minutes, I was able to squeeze my jeep behind another vehicle along Montgomery Street. When I came out of the vehicle, I noticed that it extended beyond the white line on the ground. However, before leaving I made sure it did not obstruct traffic in any way. After purchasing the CDs I wanted, I went back to my vehicle. As I entered, I discovered that the driver's door would not open properly. I tried to free it

from the obstruction by driving backwards a little bit. Moments after, with the engine still running, I tested the CDs one after another to ensure they are okay before leaving. I looked up when I heard a knock on my window. A man wearing a reddish-brown or maroon coloured uniform (let us call him Mr. A) signalled me to wind down the driver's window and I complied.

He said I have committed an offense by packing my vehicle beyond the white mark on the ground. Politely, I told Mr. A that the engine was running and that my jeep did not obstruct the road at all. As we were arguing, his colleague (Mr. B) joined him, and after a brief exchange between three of us, both men decided that my alleged offence deserved punishment.

Meanwhile Mr. A brought a camera and took a photograph of my jeep.

He threatened that if I refuse to comply with their directives, he would bring a tow van to remove the vehicle to their office in Adekunle. To cut a long sad story short, they tricked me into driving to their office.

As I drove through the gate and entered a compound that looks like a makeshift garage, a man who called himself Hon. Muyiwa who

claimed to be Chairman House Committee on Works approached me. He entered my vehicle and insisted that I must pay a fine of twentyfive thousand naira. I tried to reach an amicable settlement with him because I thought that as a legislator, Muyiwa is likely to be more reasonable than the others are.

However, I was wrong. I pleaded with him that as a university teacher, I would not deliberately disobey traffic rules and regulations, that the so-called offense I

,

The growing audacity of insanity in Lagos

everybody -the rich and the poor; geniuses and illiterates, philanthropists and rogues, diplomats and hooligans etc. Notwithstanding this rich mix, what is it principally known for? The public by convention has a way of pinning an issue on a political party hence in spite of its many wonderful works, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group of old was known for its free education scheme. Somehow, PDP appears to be leaving in everyone’s sub consciousness that it is a violent organization he recent bloody fight in the Rivers State T House of Assembly, a pure-

ly PDP state was the handiwork of PDP members only - no political opponents were involved. The aggressors and the aggrieved as well as those they were and are still fighting to support are reportedly fellow party members of the PDP. At the peak of the crisis, four state governors, Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) were in Port Harcourt on a solidarity visit to Governor Rotimi Amaechi. The four governors and their host are all PDP governors. They were ambushed on arrival by thousands of protesters who threw stones at them.

According to media reports, the protesters are PDP supporters loyal to Chief Nyesom Wike, himself a Minister in the PDP controlled federal government. psychiatric evaluation?

Even after explaining that lecturers are on strike and that it is necessary to conserve funds because the federal government might stop our salaries, Muyiwa "the oga at the top" remained adamant.

At this stage, there was a hot exchange of words between him and me. Muyiwa angrily accused me of disobeying the law, and boasted that he is the leader of a task force established by the state government to apprehend and punish offenders. He ordered a vulcaniser to deflate my front tyres. I was thinking of what to do and wondering why Lagos State government created another outfit to deal with traffic issues when

The level of intimidation and embarrassment is unacceptable.

People are now afraid to drive their cars because different officials claiming to work for government fabricate excuses to extort money from them

committed is insignificant, and that he should use his discretion to let me go. He refused. Instead, he threatened to deflate my tires, recommend that I should go to a designated place for psychiatric examination, and refer my case to "headquarters." I felt humiliated and angry. How could a purported member of Lagos State House of Assembly who, judging by the low intellectual quality he displayed while we were arguing, is not even qualified to sit in my Master's class, be the one to recommend me for

,

LASTMA is still functioning - then it occurred to me to call Ade Ipaye, a colleague and current Logos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

Luckily, he picked my call and his timely intervention saved me from further embarrassment. The entire horrible episode lasted for over one hour. Afterwards, a few friends and colleagues I told my ordeal narrated their own ugly encounters with the same people. It is quite distressing, I must admit. For quite some time now, Lagosians have been

It is doubtful if anyone is about to save the PDP from itself because at about the same time of the Port Harcourt embarrassment, PDP members in Ekiti State were engaged in a vicious public fight which left some of their members badly injured. The issue at stake was the selection of the party’s candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in the state. Why is the PDP so crisis ridden? Interestingly, some of its members are hopeful that normalcy would soon return to the party. Jelili Amusan who until recently was a member of the House of Representatives from Ogun State says he would not be surprised “if, like the legendary Phoenix, PDP rises anew from the ashes of what looks like an unending crises”. But who will kick start the process? he national leader ship of the party which T by logic should arrest any

ugly incident within the party is according to reports trying to do something. But is the leadership itself sobre enough to effectively handle the situation?

It is true that the national chairman a few days after the Rivers crisis called for a truce while reminding his members that “democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of violence and anarchy”. In reality however, the chairman has himself been under tension for longer than makes sense – the latest being the south west complaining bitterly about unwarranted incessant harassment by KAI and LASTMA officials and all sorts of miscreants-in-uniform. But the government has not done anything concrete to address the complaints.

The level of intimidation and embarrassment is unacceptable. People are now afraid to drive their cars because different officials claiming to work for government fabricate excuses to extort money from them.

Concerted efforts of the state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, and his lieutenants to increase the internally generated revenue base of Lagos State are commendable. Nevertheless, must ordinary citizens be harassed, intimated, and oppressed just because government is trying to raise additional funds? Officials of LASTMA, KAI and others constantly cajole, insult, bully, and threaten people in order to extort money from them.

Of course, some of them are nice and reasonable: only the bad ones, the "animals in uniform," enjoy inflicting pain and suffering on Lagosians. Their uniforms intoxicate them to the extent of megalomania.

Given the crude and uncouth manner of KAI and LASTMA officials, qualifications for employing staff for these outfits should be strengthened. In other words, the qualifications must be tightened to minimise the influx of miscreants and undesirable elements into the system. I believe that politicians create most of these outfits to resettle and create jobs for thugs they used during elections to capture power. But this approach usually boomer-

zonal congress and mini national convention of the party scheduled to hold on August 24 and 30 respectively.

The party had earlier put up a committee led by Prof Jerry Gana to organize the events. But last Monday; the Alhaji Tukur-led National Working Committee (NWC) through a press statement suddenly halted the activities of the team.

The latter is reported to have dismissed the directive and continued with its work thus bringing to the fore a new controversy whose end no one can predict. Is the chairman not party to the composition of the Gana team? If so why is he against it now? Is the team working independently of a sitting chairman of the party? If so, who swore-in the team? Who will blink first and what will be in use raw force or brainwork? rrespective of the an swers to these quesI tions, it is time for members

of the public who have any business near the PDP secretariat to be watchful of a fracas shortly as well as the possibility of stray bullets as the party has of recent increased its tempo of violence. Oh yes, from its posture in the last one year or so, it is as if the PDP is in hot contest with the National Union of Road Transporter Workers (NURTW) as to who should lead in the game of hooliganism in the nation.

angs, with devastating effects on the society, as is evident in the emergence of Niger Delta militant groups and Boko Haram.

To repeat; there is an urgent need for thorough overhaul of the employment procedure of KAI, LASTMA and so on. The reform must include adequate training for those employed to improve their emotional intelligence, appreciation of civilised conduct, and respect for human dignity. It is extremely important that government officials dealing with the public in whatever capacity must learn to treat people with respect, and exercise discretion whenever it is necessary to do so. The stress of living in Lagos is already very high and health threatening. It is not the business of government under any guise to increase it by empowering all manner of insane people to intimidate and extort money from law-abiding citizens.

The insane audacity of miscreants masquerading either as LASTMA, KAI, and task force officials is going out of bounds. We are supposed to be operating a democratic system which requires that government officials no matter the situation must respect the citizens.

I suggest that Governor Fashola should take a hard or critical look at his internal revenue generation strategy and come up with appropriate and effective ways of eliminating the jarring highhandedness of government officials running the system. I hereby express my sincere gratitude to Ade Ipaye for rescuing me from predators-inuniform. He is a good man indeed! CONCLUDED.

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013

‘THE PLACE’ As a Market Influencer I

of multi-national businesses locating their production plant in distant place far away from their home-location, for reasons of ‘cheap labor ’ gives credence to the relevance of what we would glibly refer to as old school theory. Agreed, technological advancement, development in the area of telecommunications and innovative business practices have all come together to narrow the size of distance and expand the frontiers of space, to the effect that the rigidity of land in its definite term is no longer as compulsive in today ’s world.

Never-the-less, we think some business engagements are taking the basic truths for granted, with their resultant consequences in business failures.

In some cases, however, past experience could lead to mistaken anticipation and therefore, drive wrong investment, not minding careful consideration of the basic factors. Projections, in scenarios such as the above, are erroneously based on past experience. But it is very important to take into consideration the peculiarity of every individual market, no matter how close they are, when making investment decisions.

At the start of my advertising practice 25years ago, two things were predominantly evident (1) advertising or brands management services were in demand only at the economic center point of the country, for the reason that that is the PLACE head offices of the businesses and decision makers, for whom the services are targeted. Therefore advertising agencies were located in Lagos, which was the PLACE. (2) Outdoor media services were only an appendage to the package on parade by the advertising agencies, being, in those early period, a complementary media to the core media vehicles in demand. The client at that time will immediately lap-up spaces in newspapers,

take up airtime and position in TV and Radio stations, before considering the appropriateness or need for outdoor. I remember in the early 1990s, we were challenged in selling outdoor medium, among other media options, as a hard-sell. We would rationalize the need for the inclusion of outdoor in our campaign plan, on the basis of the given brand’s need to associate with the not too literate, semi urban and the not-too upwardly mobile, given the nature and characteristics of the brand, and its role as a reminder medium. In addition, which was more convincing, outdoor media was comparatively the cheapest of the media options.

Over time, however, the

,

implore my esteemed readers to see this article as a ‘soft-touch’ on an issue that should be considered somehow important. We also like for this article to be considered invitational to a reminder to the effect that somehow, some of those little things we consider common-place, by reason of time or sophistication (or furthermore, sophistication), tend to hurt our outcome, as a consequence of their being taken for granted; some things do not change.

Recall the traditional ‘factors of production’ (remember they are about four in number Land, labor, place and capital); I suspect that over 87% of those in secondary schools up until 1979/80, will find it difficult to relate with this very old traditional economic theory, for reasons of innovative postulations, more sophisticated theories, technological and advancement. All of the above have combined to deem our reference to the old-school, to which some of these early learning are categorized. In essence, that is exactly the objective of this piece for this week – to call us to remembrance and reconnect to some of those fundamentals, which though old and archaic, remain instructive and relevant in our modern-day business/investment decisionmaking process - either for instruction as a guide.

Characteristically, the OLD SCHOOL seems unprogressive, irrelevant and serving as a distraction, but in the main, they remain relevant. The challenge for us in our modernity is to apply them in the modern environment of sophistication, in ways that they are relevant and profitable.

For reasons of bringing this topic to relevance with the foregoing, let us commit to remembrance, furthermore, the addendum to LAND as a factor of production, according to our old school theory. Land, as a factor of production, encompasses the need for nearness to market, nearness to raw materials and nearness to/or availability of labor (in this case, though labor stands alone as a factor of production, the importance of the location of land itself, being considerate of its nearness to source of labor, brings to focus the ingredient of real and opportunity cost). Suffice, therefore, that for the cost of land as a factor of production to be efficient, it must also enable the cost efficiency of acquiring labor, also a very important factor of production, standing alone.

It would be appropriate to reason that the present trend

entire outdoor service evolved into a profession of some sort, owing to the injected innovation and repositioning.

KLINSITE’s lead became the fillip for the traditional service providers, leading onto the improved image, target market perception and the value essence /appreciation of outdoor advertising platform as an advertising media platform. With its equity appreciation, came quick growth in business performance, in volume and value terms. Until recently, the outdoor sector enjoyed the image of a lead media option in the media mix for every campaign. More and more service providers and investors went into the business, and fortunes grew.

It is very important to take into consideration the peculiarity of every individual market, no matter how close they are, when making investment decisions

relevance of outdoor advertising media and therefore, the demand for it, grew. As an individual practitioner, I will commend the tenacity of those pioneers in the business and their determination to succeed.

They held steadfast, in the face of obvious challenges market limitations. However, we must acknowledge the power of innovation in the business and services offering within the sector. While Afromedia struggled to keep up, based on its heritage and pedigree, the then KLINSITE (later metamorphosed into Optimum Exposure) changed the entire sector, by her aggressive drive for innovative service offering/ delivery.

In less than ten years of the

,

The forms of display panels dotting landscape in Lagos and select locations outside Lagos, today, are rather exciting to see. In fact, the attraction in outdoor hoarding has slowly shifted from the messages they display to the platform on which the messages are displayed.

To the focus of this piece, Abuja has turned out a disaster market for outdoor advertising service provision, bringing us to the consideration of PLACE, as a factor of production.

The success of Lagos market, as a spin-off of the introduction of innovative service provision, sparked off aggressive investment drive among the key players. There is no doubt in my mind, the

investment drivers among service providers played up proactive market forecasting and market expansion, in their quest to open up new market.

Secondly, I want to reason, the opening up of Abuja, posted new opportunities, in their calculation, based on the old assumption that since it will become the new federal capital, corporate heads/ decision-makers will be at the PLACE, therefore, it is the place to be.

Perhaps it is a function of the particularly expansive landscape characteristic of Abuja city plan, the smallest size of display panels in Abuja is a spectacular board. That was how ambitious the investors were; large size hoardings for optimum opportunity to see, and the converse attraction of high rates (good business). They rushed up locations in ‘strategic location’ in and around the city. Some of the players prided their improved performance and high rating profile on the number of hoardings they have in Abuja.

The sad news is that, over 75% of outdoor hoardings in Abuja are either empty or abandoned.

Perhaps the stor y would have been different if careful attention was paid to peculiar indicators attributable to Abuja as a PLACE for outdoor service usage. From our observation, the following could be important: 1. The media usage pattern evident in the target market 2. The environmental influence on the target audience’s outdoor engagement (lifestyle, traffic profile, etc.)

3. The market opportunities open to the offer, based on the evident economic nature ( how much of commercial activities and interests are evident in the targeted market 4. The profile of business leaders in the market 5. The population density Among other factors, we consider the above as not having been properly considered before Abuja was decided as the PLACE for outdoor business market location, before the huge investments decisions were taken. The consequence today, is poor showing in the outdoor business in Abuja market. I am sure outdoor service providers in that market are retooling, in the face of evident challenges. We need to carefully consider all and every single ‘factor of production’, no matter how much of old school it has become, in taking our business decisions. The fundamentals don’t really change in their basic truths.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 13

S E N AT E ’ S C O N S T I T U T I O N A M E N D M E N T P R O C E S S

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n what is turning out to be an en gagement strewn with self-serv ing considerations, the process of amending the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Senate, as witnessed last week, is creating disaffection in some quarters.

Specifically, the Sani Yerima propelled shooting down of an amendment to parts of Section 29 regarding renunciation of citizenship, has sent a dangerous signal that some members of the senate want to further endanger the girl-child in an environment that is made unsafe by socio-economic and security challenges. What were they thinking of?

Last week, Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria chose to walk on blade. And they have fallen off.

As at the time of going to press, the degree of angst against them on social media has reached dizzying heights. What is the cause of their problem?

They decided to be selfish and incorrigible in the choices they made.

Proceeding with the amendment of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Senate began its clause by clause voting for the amendment.

The issue that is causing them so much discontent is the non-passage of the amendment proposal to Section 29 (4)b. The section deals with the renunciation of citizenship. It provides that for a Nigerian to renounce the country’s citizenship, he or she should not be less than 18 years of age or be an adult.

Section 29 (4) b then goes ahead to state that to be an adult, the person must be married.

The implications of that sub-section is that those girl-children who are under the age of 18 who have been conscripted into marriages across the country would also qualify to be described as adults – because they are married.

This was the vote that was being taken and which the Senate was almost amending with a view to removing the ‘B’ part of sub-section 4, when the former Zamfara State governor, Ahmed Sani Yerima, worked himself into a frenzy.

On the floor of the Senate, he ob-

PASSED

An act laden with selfish intent

•President Jonathan jected to the removal of the clause and also went a step further by piling so much pressure on some of his colleagues not to allow the amendment to pass.

Interestingly, by the time the vote was called, the Senate could not muster the required 73votes to allow the amendment sail through.

And so, Nigeria’s Senate, by implica-

,,

BY JIDE AJANI

With the voting by the Senators, if passed by the House of Representatives after the joint conference and subsequently by the State Houses of Assembly, the amendments will become law

tions, told the world that any married girl-child can be categorised as an adult.

Had the amendment sailed through, the direct import would have been that those who relish abusing the girl-child via marriage would no longer have any

excuse under the Constitution.

How Yerima, who, only penultimate week, sneaked Islamic clerics from parts of the country to a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, was able to swing the process of voting in his favour remains to be explained.

The Constitution amendment is tagged Fourth Alteration Bill 2013.

But if the way the Senators voted on the renunciation issue creates a discount, the way they voted on other equally important matters smacks of a group of people who placed personal political interests above national consideration and ethos – see box for amendments in brief.

Most of those who voted on some very thorny issues did so because they had their eyes either on the presidency or governorship. Therefore, what they did was with the mindset of being governors of their states.

The Constitution requires at least two thirds of the total number of Senators for most amendments to sail through – it requires four fifths of the votes for boundary adjustments and state creation.

With the voting by the Senators, if passed by the House of Representatives after the joint conference and subsequently by the State Houses of Assembly, the amendments will become law. This is because one of the amendments by the Senate is that “any bill passed by the National Assembly becomes a law at the expiration period of 30 days, if the President refuses to assent to it - in line with Clause 6, section 58 as altered in subsection 5A. This, provided there is a commonality of position when the House of Representatives conducts its own voting this week. The efforts of David Mark, Senate President, cannot go un-noticed.

For each vote, Senators were required to register to participate.

At some point when the number present, 101, began to dwindle and Senators started abstaining from voting on some issues, Mark had to make a passionate plea to his colleagues to endeavour to participate with commitment.

However, whatever the Senate has done would still require a concurrence from the House.

AMENDMENTS IN BRIEF

*Presidential assent to bill not required after 30 days of passage - “(3A) that the assent of the President shall not be required for the purpose of altering the provisions of the constitution * Life pension for Senate President and Deputy Senate President as well as former Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives *Transfer of Labour, Pensions and the Railways, pension, Stamp duty, Health Care, Arbitration, agriculture , Road Safety and youths to the Concurrent List

FAILED *Six-year single term *Local government autonomy *29, (4), (B) (Adulthood and marriage) * Mayoral status for the Federal Capital Territory *First line charge for Attorney- General *Separation of the office of the Minister of Justice from that of Attorney General of the Federation

* Recommendations to delete the Land Use Act, National Youths Service Corps and Public Complaints Commission from the Constitution *Removal of Aviation and Prison from the exclusive list * National Security Agencies Act and the word ‘Force’ from the Nigeria Police Force *Removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and other serving judicial officers as chairperson and members respectively of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, FJSC C M Y K

PAGE 14—SUND AY 14—SUNDA

Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

terers.

Neither does it mean that we should preserve the institution of slavery or crucify petty thieves simply because the Holy Bible endorsed both practices in the Old Testament. We must accept the fact that the interpretation of biblical and koranic provisions are evolutionary and are ever changing. Jesus Himself said ‘’laws are made for man and not man for laws’’. The suggestion that paedophilia has any place in any modern and decent society simply because it was once practised in the distant past is not only a despicable argument but it also does not make any sense. After all, cannibalism and child and human sacrifices were once widely practised and were held as being perfectly acceptable throughout the world as well but that does not mean that we should practice any of those terrible vices today.

T

•Sen. David Mark

•Femi Fani-Kayode

A nation of paedophiles S

ENATOR and former Governor Ahmed Sani, the Yerima Bakura, has finally had his way. The Nigerian Senate has bowed to his will and agreed to be silent about the age that young girls can get married in Nigeria. What this means once it is followed through and enshrined in our laws and Constitution is that girls that are as young as nine years old, provided they are deemed as having been ‘’physically developed enough’’ by their suitors, could be lawfully bedded and married in our country. That is the sordid level that we have now, as a people and as a nation, degenerated to. I weep for Nigeria and, perhaps more appropiately, I weep for the Nigerian girl-child.

Yet we have no choice but to live with this new reality and to accept it as it is. After all, our representatives in the sacred halls of the Senate were not sensitive enough or ‘’man enough’’ to shoot down the whole thing, to stand firmly against the unholy agenda and to say boldly and firmly that, ‘’come what may’’, our children must be protected from sexual deviants and reprobates.

A

nd since the Senate, in its infi nite wisdom, has now endorsed the “Paedophile Charter”, which essentially seeks to make it lawful and constitutional for very young girls C M Y K

to get married and to have sex, it is my view that we have now become a nation of perverts and paedophiles. Every Nigerian should bow his or her head in shame because what the Senate did and seeks to do in the future, by beginning the process to amend our Constitution in order for it to cater for the filthy appetite and godless fantasies of

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By FEMI FANI-KAYODE

Surely, we ought to be seeking to protect our children and not seeking to bed them

child molestors and sexual predators is sordid, ungodly and unforgiveable.

Surely, we ought to be seeking to protect our children and not seeking to bed them. Yet it appears that not everyone shares our outrage and collective sense of shame. One Uche Ezechukwu made the following contribution which went viral on the social media networks and which I think speaks volume. According to him, whatever was done in the time of old, can as well be done in modern times— no matter how crude.

I am appalled by these words. The

truth is that I have never heard such a self-serving and specious argument in defence of the philosophies and beliefs of Senator Ahmed Sani, who married a 12-year- old Egyptian girl, as this one. Ahmed Sani himself could not have argued it better. Yet I think that it is an utter shame. And this is more so because the individual that is putting the argument is supposedly a Christian. The Old Testament of the Holy Bible prescribes ‘’stoning’’ for adultery but that does not mean that Christian countries, or indeed secular states like Nigeria, should stone adul-

he young man, Uche Ezechukwu, who appears to be defending child rape in the name of islam, should either let someone lay with and ‘’marry’’ his own six or seven-year-old daughter or he should seal his lips forever and stop trying to defend the indefensible. His assertions, and I daresay those of Senator Sani and anyone that shares their primitive views, are not only utterly immoral and reprehensible but they are also intellectually dishonest. I say this because the truth is that there is NO Muslim country in the world that has adopted the “paedophile charter” where six or seven year olds can marry and be bedded except for possibly Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Every other Muslim country in the world, including Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Egypt, Jordan, Senegal, the Sudan, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Qatar, Bahrain, Dagestan, Albania, Bosnia, Somalia, Algeria, Libya, Mali, Azerbijhan and Syria, have, specifically, banned child marriage, paedophilia and child rape in their various constitutions and laws and some have declared it ‘’repugnant’’, ‘’unacceptable’’ and ‘’unislamic’’. Are these people not Muslims too?

Like Christianity and Judaism, Islam is a noble, pure, honourable and ancient faith that seeks to protect the weakest and most vulnerable in society, including children. No one should use the misinterpretation of its provisions to try to justify or rationalise what is essentially depraved, shameful, disgusting and barbaric behaviour and the most sordid and filthy expression of sexual deviance and perversion.

Even animals do not marry or bed their own infants. The bitter truth is that paedophiles have no place in any civilised society.

I am constrained to say that in the light of their “ yes” vote to child marriage and their green light to paedophilia, every single member of the Nigerian Senate should bow his or her head in utter shame and should be compelled to offer their own infant and under age daughters for marriage. I repeat, they have turned us into a nation of perverts and paedophiles.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 15

C M Y K

PAGE 16—SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

BOKO HARAM CEASEFIRE:

Building on quicksand

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

M

inister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, is not a very happy man. The reason is not far-fetched. Since he was saddled with the task of overseeing the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, his joy has routinely been truncated by circumstances largely dictated by events beyond his control, leaving the Kebbi-born lawyer with a sour taste in the mouth. Unlike the comfort he used to relish in his law office, where he served as Principal Partner at K.T. Turaki and Co, he has come to realise that the task of managing a complex ministry, whose brief is not specially spelt out,a could be very daunting and unnerving. The message Turaki has so far decoded from the Boko Haram sect must have given him some sleepless nights and exposed him to the difficulty of dealing with a shadowy group, whose modus operandi keeps shifting.

It did not take long for the minister to come to terms with the malevolence that has become the lot of the Boko Haram phenomenon. And, while the sect played games in the name of keying into the amnesty granted them by the Federal Government April, it did not appear as if Turaki suspected that the men could mean more than they profess at any point in time.

On July 9, the sect played a fast one on the nation and the forlorn people of the North, whose patience and sense of hope for a better clime, appear to have been dashed, when, out of the blues, one its leaders, Imam Muhammadu Marwanu, declared cessation of violence and ‘pleaded for forgiveness’ from those they had wronged, particularly those whose relatives had been killed or maimed.

The cheery news of the stoppage of attacks, coming from Marwanu, an influential member of the Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram, was all the kite that the members needed to fly in order to hoodwink the government and the people, whose optimism in ending the crisis has been very high.

The announcement was an auspicious moment that the Federal Government had been praying for since the Presidential Amnesty Committee was inaugurated on April 24, 2013.

Question On a radio station- Hausa Service of the -Radio France International the sect leader was quoted as saying: “We are seeking forgiveness from the people over the number of people killed in the country.

“I appeal to those who lost their loved ones to our activities to forgive us and on our side we have forgiven all those who committed atrocities against us.”

With such powerful avowal coming from a man that remains unknown to many Nigerians but trusted by a C M Y K

Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki

But an excited Turaki did not smell a rat; he believed the man who made the declaration and fell for it. Apparently to prove a point to pessimistic Nigerians that he had succeeded in browbeating the Islamist sect, the minister went on a voyage of ecstasy almost at once. faction of the Boko Haram sect, it was clear that something was wrong with the ‘ceasefire’. Many questioned who Marwanu was and why he did not consider it necessary to make the all-important proclamation

at a public ceremony in Nigeria or through a Nigerian medium of mass communication to confer some form of credibility on the pronouncement.

Those who are not easily helmed into believing anything that emanates from the government circles quickly dismissed the statement as a huge joke having not emanated from the ‘acclaimed’ Boko Haram leader, Shekau.

But an excited Turaki did not smell a rat; he believed the man who made the declaration and fell for it.

Apparently to prove a point to pessimistic Nigerians that he had succeeded in browbeating the Islamist sect, the minister went on a voyage of ecstasy almost at once.

With a sense of accomplishment and a heart replete with adulation, he spoke as a warrior from a prolonged battle.

“We have reached an understanding with the leadership of Boko Haram arising from weeks of discussion and interface that we have been having with them. A declaration has been made… and a formal agreement will be signed soon.”

But the ‘historic announcement’, which would have significantly

altered the spate of destruction of human and capital resources in the northern part of Nigeria since 2009, has been found to be a ruse that has left many Nigerians, including the minister himself and other top government officials, confused and rattled. A few days after denouncing violence and asking for pardon from Nigerians, whose relatives might have been slain by the sect, the ‘authentic leader ’ of the sect, Shekau, thundered with another verdict: “We have not signed any ceasefire agreement with the Nigerian government”. The nation was shaken. Tongues began to wag.

Gloom replaced excitement in many northern states, especially in Yobe, where no fewer than 30 innocent students and teachers had just been murdered by the sect. The statements by the two sect leaders raised more dust than certainty on the side of the group and the government.

While Marwanu cleared the sect of any involvement in the murder of the Yobe secondary students, Shekau admitted that they supported the killings.

Continues on page 17

SUND AY SUNDA

Continued from page 16

Suspicion, deceit But who should be believed in a game where suspicion and lies have been deliberately and consciously built into the very essence of the dialogue that was meant to culminate in the cessation of violence and payment of compensation to victims. The theatre of the absurd that is fast playing out in the camps of government and the sect members bears semblance to the real politics of the nation that has sharply divided men of good conscience and those with perfidy, whose support for anything in the country is skewed towards pecuniary-yielding ventures.

For pure political and religious reasons, there are many who do not want an end to the Boko Haram crisis, which those in the group see as the only weapon that can make their political opponents to beat a retreat when the whistle for the deadly game is blown. There are also those who are genuinely interested in seeing an end to the attacks by the sect to bring about the restoration of socio-economic life in the region, as it was in the days of yore.

This explains the seeming incongruity between Shekau and his second in command, Marwanu, who claims to be rooting for peace while the former is angling for more destruction. But the apparent deviation merely helps to play into the hands of malevolent elements in the land, leaving us squirming in the dark with pains on our neck.

Building on quicksand

Abubakar Shekau

Pattern

F

or those who are familiar with the several ceasefires so far announced by the sect, a clear pattern that has emerged is that such pronouncements have often been observed in the breach. Last November, the acclaimed spokesman of the group, Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulazeez, gave government certain conditions to fulfill as a prelude to ending the spate of attacks in the North. But just as the administration made moves to do so, the spokesman was disowned, the olive branch waved by the administrated stultified, opening the way for more destruction in the region.

This was quickly followed by the peace deal that was supposed to have been struck after a marathon meeting between the representatives of the sect and Borno State government on January 28, 2013.

But that, again, was immediately jettisoned and a new wave of attacks unleashed

by Boko Haram, leaving many dead in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and some northern states.

Among the conditions handed down by the sect was the release of men and women, whose husbands and fathers had been detained by security agencies.

This, the government, apparently showing good faith in its effort to end the crisis, carried out in earnest two months ago, when no fewer than 100 women and children were freed from detention. The Amnesty Committee members even went to some prisons in the country and met with some Boko Haram detainees with a view to softening the ground for dialogue as a prelude to ending the violence.

Volte -face C M Y K

Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 17

that of Shekau. Marwanu, who claims to be the second in command of the sect, has challenged the leadership of Shekau over the ceasefire which he declared, took place with the Federal Government two weeks ago.

While describing Shekau as an impediment to peace, Marwanu asked Nigerians to continue to pray for peace in the land, saying it would no longer be possible for Shekau to have his way.

Speaking on VOA Hausa Service, Marwanu described Shekau as an interim leader of Boko Haram and warned against further violence in the country.

He said, “Between us who are praying for peace and he who prays for violence, we are going to see whose prayer will be answered. Everybody is not happy, let him come out and do what said he would do and let us see if it is possible for him to do that.”

He said this time, there would be no deception in the on-going discussion between the sect and government.

“In this month of Ramadan, we seek for forgiveness from every Muslim and we also forgive all. This is a journey I started and nobody will stop me. And anybody who resists, we will leave him behind and he will be alone, none of the Mujahideens will join him.”

The irony of the game that is now playing out is that while government believed the sect was ready to lay down its arms and return to the negotiation table, two groups in the North-Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) and Arewa Youths Forum-have warned that the peace deal announced by Boko Haram should be taken with a pinch of salt given the antecedents of the group.

Cautious optimism

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For those who are familiar with the several ceasefires so far announced by the sect, a clear pattern that has emerged is that such pronouncements have often been observed in the breach

But in a volte face, the sect launched another deadly attack and killed no fewer than 250 persons, prompting President Goodluck Jonathan to pay a visit to Borno and Yobe to plead for a peace.

In spite of the visit, he could not extract any assurance from the sect members, forcing him to return to Abuja, saying he could not dialogue with ghosts.

It was therefore all too clear that government was steadily building on quicksand in its quest to end the deadly strikes in the North. Even with its intention to end the orgy of violence, the sharp division among the contending factions of Boko Haram acted as a wedge against the attainment of peaceful resolution of the crisis.

Battle for supremacy

That is why it now appears as if the camp of Marwanu is locked in a battle for supremacy with

he Secretary-General of NEF, Prof Ango Abdullahi, and the National President of the Arewa Youth Forum, Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, said they doubted the claim by the faction led by Marwanu, going by the fact that it was not the first time such heart-warming message had been handed the nation by the same set of people.

Abdullahi noted that while the group received the announcement with some level of happiness, it was too early to be too optimistic about its workability given the fact that there were many factions of the sect.

The former Ahmadu Bello University Vice Chancellor said, “Perhaps, we should accept the pronouncement as the truth for now and begin to see if it will work in the next few weeks and months.

“My fear is that, perhaps, we are dealing with many Boko Harams because, while one group is rooting for peace, the other is causing more havoc.

For now, we should take the optimistic view that it will work and be on the watch out,” the NEF scribe noted.

Abdullahi regretted that government was even undermining the process of reconciliation with the sect by first proscribing Boko Haram and Ansaru groups before seeking to give amnesty to the same set of elements. He said it was baffling why the administration is shooting itself in the foot in the name of seeking peace and granting amnesty to proscribed groups.

“I suspect that the Federal Government was under pressure to set up the Amnesty Committee in a bid to score some political points. It is also clear that the government does not know whether to enter into agreement with the groups or to pronounce them proscribed because it cannot dialogue with a group that does not exist in the first place.

On his part, Gujungu doubted the sincerity of the

Continues on page 18

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Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

Continued from page 17 Federal Government Amnesty Committee in bringing about a lasting peace in the North.

“I strongly doubt if the claims of ceasefire is genuine. I would advise the government to take steps to stop the killing of people in the north and to address the monumental underdevelopment and poverty there instead of deceiving people with unworkable ceasefire,” the AYF leader said.

‘Don’t oppose ceacefire’

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ut not all is against the govern ment’s move. For instance, the Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Kaduna Diocese, Bishop Idowu Fearon, has called on fellow Christian leaders to desist from opposing the ceasefire with Boko Haram.

Fearon said that only those who were benefitting from the crisis were opposed to the work of the Amnesty Committee.

The cleric, who spoke to journalist in Kaduna, said, “Christian groups who oppose the current rapprochement with the insurgents, would have to learn to encourage the process in the interest of peace.

“I heard some Christian groups were reacting negatively to the Boko Haram announcement of a cease fire. Any Christian who reacts negatively to this act of cease fire is part of the group who we believe are benefiting from this crisis situation.”

The Bishop expressed concern over the growing distrust among Christians on the efforts of government to end the current security challenges in the country, adding: “this lack of trust will not help us.

“I take objection to any leader who says this cease fire should not be trusted because he is not God. Do not Judge anyone, whether a Christian or a Muslim”.

The strong support from the cleric has emboldened the Amnesty Committee to brush aside the opposition to its work and push ahead with its unenviable task.

Agreement

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oxed from many corners and apparently losing his voice when the renewed violence in Yobe erupted in the midst of the ceasefire deal, the Chairman of the Amnesty Committee and Minister of Special Duties, Turaki, explained that what happened was not a ceasefire but an agreement to do so.

The minister said, “It is not an agreement; we have reached an understanding with the leadership of Boko Haram arising from weeks of discussion and interface that we have been having with them.

“We will now move to the issue of parameters for an agreement and then when we are able to agree on the terms, the signing (of the agreement) will be done openly and all members of the press will be invited.

“But for now, they have agreed in principle that they have declared a ceasefire which we have commended as it will bring a way forward to C M Y K

Boko Haram suspects

Building on quicksand Boxed from many corners and apparently losing his voice when the renewed violence in Yobe erupted in the midst of the ceasefire deal, the Chairman of the Amnesty Committee and Minister of Special Duties, Turaki, explained that what happened was not a ceasefire but an agreement to do so solving the problem.

“A declaration has been made and we commend them for that and we see it as a right step in the right direction.”

But findings revealed that the amnesty committee is planning to give adequate relief to families of the victims of the BH attacks.

Although the minister could not be reached for comments after series of attempts, it was learnt from reliable government sources that the committee plans to cater adequately for the victims, once the modalities for peace has been formalised with the sect members.

“The Federal Government intends to give monetary and material support to these victims in such a way and manner that will enable them begin their normal life and it is a way of government informing or telling them that it cares and that in these challenging times, the government is there and will continue to be there for them.

“The government did not ask the amnesty committee to discriminate

and this committee will not be the one that will discriminate against victims on the basis of vocation, religion, section or tribe in recommending what kind and quantum of support the government will give them. The issue of victim support is an issue we have addressed severally. We have never said and will never say that it is only military victims that will be compensated.

“Government will continue to show concern to members of the public who unfortunately have been victims of these acts of terrorism and insurgency.

“The committee wants to make it clear too, that there is a wide difference, legally and technically speaking, between compensation and victim-support. What the Committee has consistently said is that while government may not be in a position to fully compensate victims of the insurgency because of the magnitude and large number of victims, it will however give support to victims to enable them recover and begin normal life again”

Victim-support programme

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he committee, it was also learnt, would recommend that the victim-support programme be extended to all victims of the insurgency, be they military men or civilians, and without regard to their religious or ethnic category.

But the committee has one main request: allow us to do our work. It believes that those who are calling for its disbandment have missed the point since they have more to offer than what has really happened. It was learnt that the committee has made it clear that it remains the best ever platform to interface with the terrorists, who have never hidden their disdain for the military and other security outfits in the country.

A source rooting for the committee explained why it must continue thus: “As at today, the insurgents are not prepared to sit down with

soldiers for any form of negotiation because they do not trust the soldiers. And, since the Amnesty Committee has been able to win sufficient confidence of the insurgents and have been discussing with them many times, there would be a dangerous vacuum in the peace efforts if the Committee is disbanded.

“Today, the government talks to the Turaki Committee and at the same time, the insurgents are also talking to them. To sustain and move forward the peace dialogue, the centrality of the Committee cannot be overlooked because presently, it is the only government committee that has not betrayed the confidence and trust of members of the Boko Haram. For government to continue to relate with the insurgents, the Turaki Committee is critical as a link between government and the insurgents. Take away the Committee and you will create a dangerous vacuum. The process may be slow but it is only anger that can make anybody to say that the committee has not achieved anything or call for its scrapping”.

The dialogue option

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any in support of Turaki are of the view that although no ceasefire agreement has been signed between government and the insurgents, the process of dialogue must remain open to both sides.

Another government supporter argues, “It is also not feasible for the soldiers to be part of the peace process at this stage because they are at war with the insurgents and therefore a fairly neutral body is needed to start and midwife the peace talk before other stakeholders come in.

“That is the role the Turaki Committee is playing now. It is true that the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Imam Abubakar Shekau has rejected the ceasefire discussion but he did not disown his second in command, Muhammad Marwanu who has been holding talks with the Turaki Committee.

“If the Committee has been able to sit down with the second in command to Shekau, then Nigerians should appreciate the efforts of the Committee in that regard. That also dismisses insinuations in some quarters that the Committee has not been able to meet members of the Boko Haram.

“As the Holy Bible says, the Kingdom of Heaven rejoices at the repentance of one sinner. So, if the Turaki Committee gets one insurgent to renounce violence, it calls for appreciation not attacks”.

Whether for good reasons or not, the true intention of the Federal Government in raising the Turaki Committee would manifest in the not-too-distant time. Will it be able to bring the insurgents to the table or will it fizzle out like other government agencies when the storm becomes unbearable? The nation, which desires peace and good life, awaits the outcome of the committee for good or bad, if it is not building on a quicksand

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 19

C M Y K

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Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

View-Point

U.K. Visa cash bond & fire for fire!

Helen Ovbiagele Woman Editor

T

HE other week, we woke up to the screaming headline, ‘Nigerians to deposit 723,000 naira for U.K. Visa!’ It was a must read for many citizens here, whether or not the airfares to Britain are affordable to them, because it is an insane amount of money for Britain to demand from citizens of countries she once colonized. I had to read the piece twice in order to ascertain that there hadn’t been an error in the figures published.

‘Britain is planning to force visitors from India, Pakistan, Nigeria and other countries, whose nationals are deemed to pose a ‘high risk’ of immigration abuse, to provide a cash bond of more than 723,000 naira, (3,000 British Pounds, $4,600, or 3,500 Euros), before they can

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Must Nigerians deposit 723,000 naira for U.K. Visa? favourite playground in the world. For many Nigerians, Britain is like a second country. Their language is our common language in this country, and as much as we’re able, we embrace their system of education,

I think it’s unfair of the British government to assume that any Nigerian above the age of 18 is likely to overstay in Britain, and thus slam an outrageous visa fee on them

enter the country, a report said yesterday. The Sunday Times newspaper, (I suppose this is British Sunday Times), said that from November, a pilot scheme would target visitors from those three countries as well as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ghana. Visitors aged 18 and above would be forced to hand over this some of money from November for a 6 month visa. They will forfeit the money if they overstay in Britain after their visa has expired.’

Angry voices echoed around our country as most people roundly condemned this new obstacle in our way to our

solutions to health matters, etc. What’s more, we’re a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, even though as a Republic, the Queen is not the head of our government. Like a child who’s being deprived of his favourite toy, we were right to protest this marginalization from an exparent.

However, our attitude of stamping our feet on the ground and declaring ‘fire for fire/ we’ll retaliate’ seems childish to me.

I think we should ask ourselves why Nigeria is always one of any group of countries which are noted

down for bad things. If there’s a red alert on unsafe countries (violence, terrorism, health issues) to travel to, we’re on the list.

If a list of the most corrupt nations on earth is being drawn up, we will come top of the list. Fraud/scam are associated with Nigeria.

Added to it now is overstay after one’s visa has expired.

In short, our name is mud on the international scene, and even on our home terrain, Africa. The only comforting thing this time around is that we’ve been joined by our sister, Ghana, which for several years now has been considered by the international community to be the golden child of the West Africa sub-region, on account of its economic recovery, cleanliness and relative peace.

In the sixties and seventies, Ghanaian citizens didn’t need visas to travel to/ live in Germany on account of earlier moves by their late head of state, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. That must have changed now, but Nigeria has never known such concession. When are we ever going to be counted among the trusted and the respected of the world?

This is not the first time we’re having problems with travelling to Britain. Some months ago, we protested

that British Airways and Virgin Atlantic (both British carriers) charge us more for Business and First Class, than they charge their passengers in Ghana. We breathe fire and brimstone and threatened to ban those two carriers from our country if they didn’t charge us the same fares that they charge Ghana. We even fleetingly spoke of having our own national carrier again! The airlines explained then that the disparity in fares was due to the huge number of Nigerians wanting to travel in those two classes where special cost-intensive services are offered; compared to the Ghanaians who mostly travel economy class.

I still see long queues at the desks for Business and First Class, travelling out and in, and I doubt if the protested airfares have been reduced.

Also, we still don’t have a national carrier, and these foreign airlines continue to have good patronage.

For many years, obtaining British visa in this country has been problematic, both in terms of the fees and the way we were treated at their High Commission. But for some years now, things have become decidedly better, especially now that interviews no longer take place solely on the premises

(07036819426)

of the High Commission.

Also, I hear that you have the right to appeal if you’re turned down.

Fair enough, but personally, I think the U.K. visa fees at any given time are too high in a country where some States are not able to pay the minimum monthly wage of 18,000 naira (about 80 pounds), and many university graduates are unemployed, and heads of families are losing their jobs due to retrenchments.

Travelling abroad may seem a luxury to some people who may feel that increased airfares and visa fees should not be seen as national problems, but young people need to travel out to developped countries if they can, in order to broaden their horizon through further studies/job experience, so that they can return home to contribute to nation building.

A good colonial master should be concerned about the progress and development of its former ward, and assist it in every way it can.

I think it’s unfair of the British government to assume that any Nigerian above the age of 18 is likely to overstay in Britain, and thus slam an outrageous visa fee on them. The truth is, this will not really deter those who are determined to go there and overstay/ possibly stay there for the rest of their lives. They will find a way to get the required sum of money and be given the visa. Most Nigerians are decent and law-abiding people, and the majority of those who travel out, do so for vacation, shopping, or just to get away for a while from the tension of living in this country.

They actually go to aid the economy of the countries they visit, through shopping.

When we proclaim ‘fire for fire’, who will feel the heat?

British citizens are not queuing up for visa to come here on vacation, spend their money and improve our economy. They would rather go to South Africa, East Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Gambia, Senegal, etc., than come to Nigeria. Those who want our visa are usually those who have been invited here for 'work, visit to friends, or, to give talks.

We all, both old and young, should join hands with the government to work hard at shedding the bad and the ugly in our image, so that we can be taken off the ‘risk’ list everywhere. Let’s start from the home and the educational institutions.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 21

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

(07036819426)

Like Americans, we need a ‘Nigerian dream’ — Toyin Ayeni, US-based Nigerian

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

S

HE'S resided with her family in Chicago, USA, since 1996 when she left Nigeria, yet Toyin Ayeni has practically been representing her motherland, working hard towards giving Nigeria a facelift.

‘Self-appointed ambassador’, I choose to call her! A motivational speaker, Mrs.Toyin Ayeni is the author of the book, ‘I am a Nigerian, Not a Terrorist’, a piece enjoying cult-following in the United States and beyond. Vista Woman had an online chat with this lady who has been a twotime guest-panelist at the United Nations sessions on the Commission on the Status of Women, CSW. Enjoy!

ost Nigerians in diaspo ra wish they could erase the thought of being Nigerians, but you particularly seem proud of your country…

It is strange that you ask me this question from Nigeria because just a few months ago while giving a presentation to a group of High school student ambassadors at Ogden International School in Chicago, I was asked a similar question.

This teenage boy’s question was, “America has a lot to be proud about, what can you say you are proud of about Nigeria?” My simple answer was: “Its rich culture”. As much as I am not proud of where Nigeria is right now, I am definitely proud to be a Nigerian. Growing up in Nigeria makes a huge difference. Regardless of the negative reputation the country has sometimes, my very core beliefs and values are rooted in Nigeria. We have things that are priceless- rich culture and values to be proud of and passed on to the next generation. Rome was not built in a day, so, I believe we have hope that Nigeria will grow and get better for the next generation with strategic changes. We can’t afford to give up.

Kindly share with us those activities you’ve been engaged in, in your bid to promote Nigeria?

Being a part of the Diaspora in the United States has its advantages and opportunities- the biggest advantage being exposure to other ways of life. In a land full of foreigners, people are curious about other foreigners; hence the opportunities.

As mentioned, as with the case of my presentation at Ogden, I do some public speaking. I get invited to speak but I also volunteer to speak especially to encourage the youth. Some of my speaking engagements include being the keynote speaker at the Horace Greely Elementary school’s International Week where I spoke to the entire school in sessions about Nigeria. I was also

invited as the keynote speaker at the 51st Nigeria Independence Day celebrations in Springfield, Illinois.

Other speaking engagements about Nigeria were at the Chicago African Festival of Arts to a diverse audience, Mather’s More than a Café to senior citizens and at various elementary and high school functions around the United States.

What inspired the writing of your book ‘I am a Nigerian, Not a Terrorist’, and when was the book conceived and published?

I call it my “God idea” considering the fact that I didn’t set out to be an author. It was truly Godinspired and it was written to mark Nigeria’s golden jubilee. I’m always asked a lot of questions about Nigeria by colleagues at work and acquaintances at business and social gatherings. My three children who

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feedback however, students have used excerpts from the book for their class assignments.

As a widely-travelled Nigerian, a motivational speaker and an advocate for good governance, what's your advice to Nigeria?

For change to happen, our actions have to be deliberate.

Happenstance will not work.

We can’t expect others to develop Nigeria for us and we can’t procrastinate and leave it to the next person or next generation. I believe that the opportunities to make progress are all around us. We have enough bright minds in Nigeria to plan and strategise for change and now is the time to act. I strongly believe that

We can’t expect others to develop Nigeria for us and we can’t procrastinate and leave it to the next person or next generation. We have enough bright minds in Nigeria to plan and strategise for change and now is the time to act.

were all born and raised in the United States also had a lot of questions about Nigeria. So, in my bid to not only promote a more positive image about Nigeria to the general masses but to be the one to give a more accurate and balanced story to my children than what they hear from Western world media, I wrote the book “I am a Nigerian, Not a Terrorist”.

The book was conceived in 2009 but I didn’t start writing seriously till 2010. It was published nine months later in 2010. It is a very light read and certainly not intended to be a history book. I deliberately wrote it that way so anyone could pick it up and read within a short period. Based on

the private sector of Nigeria will be a contributing factor to Nigeria’s growth and development and successful Nigerians based in the Diaspora have to be a part of it. I actually have some pointers with specified areas of development in my book.

Nigeria’s development might need to be a bottom up approach by Nigerians for Nigeria, regardless of where they are, as long as growth and progress is steady and measurable.

What inspired your decision to share Nigeria with non-Nigerians and introduce them to its vast culture?

I believe ignorance is not bliss. I also believe that people treat one another

Toyin Ayeni

with a little bit more respect when they know them.

Everyone has a story and I think knowing is what leads to an understanding and more acceptance of our diversity. I share Nigeria for the same reason I wrote the book- I get asked a lot of questions about Nigeria, by colleagues, acquaintances, my children and their friends. When I look at my children’s social studies or humanities history text books, I discover there is really nothing deep enough to tell them about the most populous African country.

The fact that we’re the 8th most populous country in the world means that we are important because ‘people’ matter. I believe that Nigeria’s diversity, its complexities and richness need to be shared to avoid the onesided story syndrome that a lot of supposed “third world” countries are victims of.

Nigeria clocks 53 in three months and the hope of many for a brighter future for it, is dimming by the day; what about yours?

My spirit is definitely rising. Hope is everything.

There is so much potential in a land with as much natural and human resources as we have. Against all odds, I am optimistic and excited to say that I plan to “put my money where my mouth is.” With so much talk about developing Nigeria, I am working on a project

whose primary goal is to empower Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Afro Projects HQ- APHQ is a US based online crowd funding and project management company with a satellite office in Lagos, Nigeria. The mission is to reduce unemployment and poverty ultimately leading to a reduction in crime. Afro Projects HQ’s goal is to create an upward shift for Africans, going from the “American dream” to an African dream and in our case, a “Nigerian dream.” I am looking forward to launching APHQ this year in Nigeria.

May we know about your background ?

I'm an Egba girl with parents from Ogun State, but born and raised in Ibadan, Oyo State, and married to an Ondo man. I attended Maryhill Convent School, Ibadan, went on to Federal Government Girls College, Sagamu and then proceeded to the University of Ibadan where I graduated with a B.Sc in Microbiology.

I moved to the United States after my NYSC and went on to do a Masters degree in Information Systems Management. That took me into the world of Information Technology, particularly in financial institutions including Northern Trust, Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase; with work experience varying from Treasury Services to Commercial Card Quality Assurance and Project Management .

PAGE 22 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013

Dear Rebecca

Pursued by three suitors!

I

must confess that my weekend is not complete without the Sunday Vanguard.

Well done. I’m a young man of 24, a final year undergraduate. 1 have two ladies in my life. The first one is in my life, while the second one is doing her Industrial training in a corporate organization. I met the second lady seven years ago when she just left school, but it was several years later that I was able to get her phone number.

When I called her, she was so surprised to hear from me. To my greatest surprise, she paid me a visit and since then, we have been keeping in touch. The problem with her is that she always gives excuses and apologizes when I ask her to ring me. The first lady is cool and soft-spoken. The truth is that I love the two of them. However, I don’t think I can marry the two of them because I intend getting married, by the grace of God,on my 27th birthday. Please, I need your help.

Bobbie Warri.

REPL Y REPLY

W

HO is talking marriage now in these two friendships? It seems it’s just you. I think you are reading more meaning into them that the girls are doing. I can’t see anything romantic in your relationship with them. When we advise young people to have several members of the opposite sex as casual friends so that they can have the opportunity to study and understand them, it doesn’t mean they are for a boy to choose marital partners from. This can happen later if you and one of them fall in love and begin to have a romantic relationship, but with the two girls you’re friends with at present, you talk only of being in touch, not actual dating. In fact the second girl even finds it difficult to give you telephone calls! I don’t think you can call them your girlfriends.

Also, you’ve decided to marry in four years time, but you said nothing of

Dear Rebecca

I

Both girls appeal to me! any decision you arrived at with them. It seems you think they are putting their lives on hold, waiting for you to fit them into your life. Hence the problem you have is how to do so, since you said you can’t marry both of them.

Are they aware of your intention to marry them?

Do they find you their ideal man and would they be ready to settle down in marriage at the time You specified? Get-

ting married involves two parties who should be aware of the goal they are both working towards. I suggest you find out first what you are looking for in the woman you hope to make your wife, and then make friends with girls and go on to find out which of them has at least 80% of those ideals. Mind you, there’s no guarantee that your

choice would automatically want to be your wife. She too would have what she’s looking for in a man and you may not measure up. So, it’s advisable that you groom yourself so that girls would find you clean, kind, caring, responsible, achieving and with good manners and a sense of humour, and would consider you their ideal man.

’M a 17-year-old in S. S. 3. There is this guy who approached me for a relationship, and I refused.

Recently, another guy in my school told me that he is interested in me. I told him that we will be casual friends but he refused and told me to go think about it. Now, the first guy is back.

He has been coming to my school and sending people to me. My principal is also interested in me. Please Aunty I don’t know why they are all after me. I told my classmates about it and some of them advised me to accept the two guys and reject my principal while others say I should refuse all of them including my principal and face my studies. Aunty, the other part of it is that the two guys are talking about marriage and both of them are from the State next to mine.

Please, should I accept the two of them or not?

Princess

REPL Y REPLY

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HAT would you do with the two of them, since they don’t want casual friendship? Are you ready for marriage now? Are the two boys ready for marriage now? You didn’t say what the first one does, but you said the second one is in your

school. That means he is a secondary school pupil like you, and is perhaps your age or a little older. Whatever the case, I doubt if both of them are in a position to settle down soon. Boys and men know that girls like marriage proposals, so, in order to convince the girls that they are serious, they start talking marriage as soon as they meet them. This is also a ploy by which some boys get girls to have sex with them.

Some girls believe the bogus marriage proposals and agree to have sex with the man, thinking that the man would actually marry them.

When he has had enough, he could deliberately start a quarrel with the girl, and then leave her. Or, he could ask a friend of his to approach the girl, and he would use that as an excuse to leave her when he finds them together. A sensible girl does not get carried away by marriage proposals, but would tell a boy that they should be casual friends first and see where the relationship would lead later. She wouldn’t allow sex.

You should not have a relationship with your principal while you are still his pupil.

If indeed he wants to marry you, he should allow you to leave school first and then he can go and tell your parents of his intention to court you for marriage.

She allows love-making, but I don’t want to marry her!

Dear Rebecca

I

’M a 24 year old un dergraduate. I have a girlfriend in my department that I’m quite fond of. She doesn’t deny me sex, but readily allows me when I demand for it.

She’s always telling me that I must marry her or else she would kill me and herself if I ever dump her. But the thing is that we’re age-mates, and even though we’re fond of each other now, I feel that she would be too old for me by the time I’m ready for marriage. I wouldn’t fancy an agemate as wife when I would be mature myself by the time I would be ready to settle down Please, Rebecca, advise me on what to do. It’s this same age thing that boters me. So, I have not promised to marry her. I wouldn’t want to promise something and then not do it. I’ve become helpless, restless and sleepless. I need counseling before I make a big mistake.

Stephen G.

REPL Y REPLY

A

T least you’re hon est and realistic

enough to accept that by the time you would be ready to take a wife, you would find her too ‘old’ for you to marry. Fair enough. I wish all girls who allow their boyfriends sex with the hope that they would be rewarded with marriage, would read this; also those girls who agree to wait indefinitely for a man to be in a position to marry them. Sometimes (very rare) their dreams come true and the relationship finally leads to the altar. Even then, when this happens, the union may not last. This is because the familiarity over the years will drastically reduce any spark or excitement that a new marriage should have. The couple would already have been doing for quite a while, the things that should have been deferred until after the wedding.

When this has been the case, there’s nothing romantic and tender to anticipate and look forward to with much excitement; especially on the part of the man. Most men naturally feel excited having a ‘ new ’

face in their bed when they marry, so very few would want to marry the ‘old’ face they ’ve been used to in bed, over the years.

Yes, you and this girl are age-mates, but where there’s true love and if you are both ready for marriage at the same time, you can have a successful marriage. That can happen even where the girl is older. The only thing is that girls tend to be ready to marry much earlier than their male age-mates. This girl can marry now even while still an undergraduate, because, usually, it’s the men who finance setting up the home. You, as a man, still have quite some time to go before you’re in a position to invite a lady to come share your life. In my view, this lady is too emotionally mature for you now. She readily allows you sex because she wants to use that as a hold over you and your conscience so that you would marry her.

With the unrest in your heart about this relationship, the best thing to do is to stop intimacy at once. If she asks why you haven’t asked her for

sex for some time, tell her that you’ve realized that fornication (having sex while single) is a sin, and so, you’ve decided to stop. Seize the occasion to tell her too that it would be many years before you’re ready for marriage because there are so many things you want to do before getting married. You could say you want to do a second and third degrees first if the Lord permits. She may feel hurt at first, but if you don’t immediately start dating other girls, she would believe you, know that marriage with you may not be possible, and she would begin to look elsewhere for a marital partner.

I suggest you give dating and girls a wide berth for some time, possibly until you’ve completed your studies and done your youth service.

At 24, actually your studies and future career are more important to you now than sex and a relationship with girls. If you go back to having sex

with this lady, she may allow you unprotected sex, get pregnant, refuse to have an abortion, and insist on marriage. Her people could make a lot of trouble with your own people until you yield and marry her. So, get wise soon, and postpone sex until you get properly married. Abstaining from sex brings peace of mind, as you won’t have to worry about unwanted pregnancy, likely abortion, and venereal diseases. You won’t miss anything by not having sex. It isn’t food or water or air, so, you can do without it until marriage. It’s always wise to discipline one’s self about intimacy matters.

It makes sense.

So, make your studies your priority, move with focused young people, and ensure that you don’t have carry-overs. Aim to make good grades from now on. Girls and sex are not educational qualifications which would fetch you good jobs later. First things first.

•All letters for publication on this page should be sent to: Dear Rebecca, Vanguard Media Ltd, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria. E-mail: dearrebecca2@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 23

What kind of a wife condones open marriage

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PEN marriages work when one partner, usually the wife, turns a blind eye to her husband’s shenanigans. In most cases, the husband is usually careful not to push his luck by always flaunting his trophies. In a few cases, however, wives have been known to forgive the humiliation of a serial adulterer all in the name of love and a sad excuse of hanging on to the marriage. When Ope met Abdul a couple of years back, it was at the insistence of Clara, her best friend.

“We both worked as nurses in the teaching hospital,” Ope said, and she was there for me after my marriage of six years crashed. For months, I was depressed and weepy. Clara was a lot of help but when she realised I wasn’t going to get over my heartbreak in a hurry, she suggested I had a chat with her dad. ''He is a good listener,'' she said, ''and had counselled a few people with reasonable success.'' I was a bit wary. Clara’s dad was in his 60s and had a reputation of a ladies’ man. The rumour was that his wife of over 30 years didn’t mind his affairs and I found that a

bit daunting. My ex was a dog and I was happy to pack up the marriage after humiliating affairs.

I couldn’t begin to imagine any woman hanging on to a man like Clara’s dad, but who was I to judge?

“I’d seen him a couple of times when I went to their house. This time round, he knew why I came and he hugged me sympathetically whilst his wife looked on. For the next few hours, I spilled out my heart. He is a good listener and he hugged me whenever I got tearful. In spite of his generous beer-belly protruding under his shirt, his hug was comforting. He urged me to feel free to call anytime I needed sympathy but I knew I wouldn’t take him up on his offer.

“A few months later, I ran into him at the supermarket. He paid for the few items I had in my basket, then drove me home. He invited himself into my flat but nothing happened. He visited a couple of times more and I found myself having feelings for him.

I was appalled. He was my best friend’s dad and married. I knew how I’d be feeling if my husband

kept disappearing - jealous, suspicious. ''What does your wife think about you going out all of the time?'' I asked him.

He just shrugged. ''She doesn’t really mind'', he said. ''She wouldn’t mind if we were having sex either'.'

“I was flattered, but confused. He volunteered to give me a massage and before I knew it, he started peeling-off his clothes. His chest, crinkled and saggy had some white turf on it. I’d see hundreds just like it - on the geriatric ward at my hospital job. But the love-making that followed was mind-blowing. Later, two words

kept playing on my mind - open marriage. What kind of a relationship was that exactly? What did it really mean? How could his wife let him make love to other women? What exactly is in all this for me?

“From then on, we met twice a week and he was his old sexy self until the evening he started gasping for air as we made love. Was he having a heart attack? He said he suffered from angina but had effective drugs to control it.

Still, that didn’t put me off. What he did was that every time he left my bed, he’d go back to his wife.

I was very jealous and I

told him so. I’d suffered the pain of losing a husband to another woman and I didn’t want that to happen to my friend’s mum. In the end, he offered to come clean to his family and make me a second wife.

“Telling his wife was a nightmare. He looked haggard and drained and the fact that I was pregnant with my first child didn’t help. ''How did your wife take our news''! I asked him. ''Badly,'' he said. ''She just cried and cried.'. I felt a bit guilty but relieved. At last, I could have my child in peace. It wasn’t all as pIain sailing as I’d thought. Our relationship

seemed to offend everyone. Disgusted, Clara refused to talk to me for a long time. And, my own family were appalled too.

Even strangers seemed to judge us. He was labelled a ''dirty old man.''

While their silent stares seemed to scream ‘golddigger!’ at me. Yet, I didn’t love him for his money - we just clicked.

“So, now my new husband shares his time with me and his family. I know his wife will never kick him out, why should she?

They’d been married for over 30 years and she allowed him to have an open marriage. Giving a passionate man like him permission to see other woman is crazy. I never set out to get him and it wasn’t a seedy affair.

Life’s too short to worry about little things, especially the 30 plus-age gap between us.

“His wife confessed she allowed him an open marriage to try and make him happy.

That she didn’t mind us being together because he was too randy and she couldn’t cope. He knows that I won’t stand for that nonsense. If he cheats on me, I would send him packing - to his long-suffering wife!”

08052201867(Text Only)

Stretching for health R

IDDING the body of stiffness will improve health and restore youth. Nature intended the body to be supple and flexible. That, explains why children are born that way.

But we get careless with our body management and we become prone to all kinds of ailments.

How can we expect to have well-being with such neglect?

But the body is quick to recover if we help it along with exercise.

Yoga with its emphasis on suppleness ensure that practitioners maintain youth right into ripe old age.

The Reed and Head to knee postures help the body regain an appreciable degree of flexibility.

THE REED TECHNIQUE: Standing with feet close toC M Y K

gether clasp the hands and raise them overhead as you take in a deep breath. Tilt the body to the left, breathe out and count to ten. By this time you should be breathing normally. Take in another deep breath and return to the upright position drop the hands by your side. Rest awhile and repeat on both sides.

HEAD TO KNEES (STANDING) TECHNIQUE: Stand with feet close together.

Take a deep breath, raise the hands overhead and breathing out, drop the trunk with palms flat on the floor beside the feet with head as close to the knees as possible. Stay in the position for about 10 seconds. Return to the upright position. Rest briefly and repeat.

This exercise brings flexibility to the spine.

The hamstrings get a great work-out and the abdominal organs are massaged cutting conditions like constipation and indigestion.

THE COBRA TECHNIQUE: Lying flat on your belly, arrange the hands beside the shoulders. Take a deep breath and lift up the trunk but don’t straighten up the elbows

completely.

Breathe normally and stay in the posture for about 5 to 10 seconds and then return the trunk to the floor. Rest for a little while and repeat.

BENEFITS: The Cobra knocks out the rust of stiffness from the spines.

It helps to expand the lungs.

It is of great help to asthmatics.

* The Reed

* The Cobbra

Yoga classes at 32 Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island, Lagos, 9.10am on Saturdays

P AGE 24— SUND AY Vanguard , JUL Y 21 , 2013 SUNDA JULY

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

Why couples need to rise above affairs J

UST at what stage do you start get ting cynical about love? A few weeks ago, Jade, an old friend became irritated because her daughter’s boyfriend of 18 months didn’t want to face the reality of the death of the romance.

“He keeps on hanging around the house like a love-sick puppy”, she complained. “I’ve asked my daughter how she feels about him and she assured me she was no longer interested in the relationship. As a matter of fact, she’d moved on to greener pasture. But would be listen? He said he’s in love. In love my foot! He’s just miffed because he’s the one who was dumped!” A couple of our friends present were a bit irritated by her outburst.

I scolded her not to be that dismissive of relationships. We might be less starry eyed about love, but we owed it to the younger ones to make them realise love could conquer all in the end. Her eyes narrowed: “It hasn’t conquered much for you over the years, has it?”, she asked nastily. Ouch! She then went off on one of her lecturing jag: “Have you taken notice of how much sleeping around goes on these days?”, she asked. “It’s even more rampant amongst married couples - all pretending to be family friends! As a result, when your husband has an affair with someone close, you don’t even have to agonise over what the other woman looks like because you already know.

The betrayal is a double blow - two of the people you are closest to going behind your back and shattering your life”.

“Charlotte, who was really just an acquittance, hadn’t said much, but she was suddenly interested in what Jade had

Y

so say. “My husband’s mistress used to be a member of a close group we belonged to at our social club”, she said sadly. We promptly perked up our ears.

“Greg, my husband, and Akin, the other woman’s husband, were teaching each other how to play golf when Ropo, Akin’s wife, said she too was interested. There were some second-hand golf clubs advertised for sale on the club’s notice board and she promptly bought a set. That was how the four of us often met at the club, becoming such good friends that we saw each other most weekends.

R

opo was bubbly and flirtatious. She and Greg often exchanged banters with each other, but I didn’t think much of it. Early this year, Greg told me he’d bumped into Ropo at the club without her husband and I instantly had this gut feeling that something wasn’t right.

So, I watched Greg’s mobile like a hawk and when he went to the bathroom, I accessed his messages. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read a couple of messages from Ropo with one ending with ‘love you’, see you soon!’ When I confronted Greg, he said what they had was platonic friendship, that he didn’t always tell me when they met in case I got the wrong idea. That all Ropo was interested in was perfecting her golf moves. He obviously thought I was an idiot with a child’s imagination. Months later, I sort of suspected Akin too guessed what was going on - he just chose to turn a blind eye, hoping it would blow over. It’s amazing what some spineless men would condone in the name of peace. The final straw was when a female mem-

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"

My Princess

I live to love you, I live to see you happy,

ber of the club told me she knew where their love nest was. Apparently, Ropo is a sort of barracuda, who had snapped up a few gullible husbands and my informant’s husband was one of them.

I staked out the place for days until I saw Greg’s car in the park. I stormed into the bungalow in spite of the night guard’s protest, knowing both of them would be there. I found her cowering in the toilet’, with Greg begging that we needed to talk. I simply walked out of their illicit nest.

T

he saddest bit is that I don’t trust Greg anymore,” “He certainly hasn’t given you enough reason to trust him, has he?” I asked her. “And the affair has nothing to do with you but if your marriage is to survive, you both need to look at your role within the problems you now have.

“He has assumed full responsibility for the affair but you need to stop seeing yourself as the victim and move past the hurt. If a partner cheats, the woman’s instinct is to wonder what she did wrong - was she too fat, too thin, not smart enough? In some

ways, what you’re mourning is the relationship you once had, and having difficulty coming to terms with the fact that it may never be the same again.”

I

can’t stop going to the club because of her,” fumed Charlotte, “in spite of the fact that Greg assured me it is all over, he can’t really stop talking to Akin and Ropo. You said a woman has to come to terms with her husband’s infidelity. But, what about Akin? He too is a victim and a lot of members laugh behind his back for getting stuck with a nympho. Why hasn’t he given her the heave-bo, after all these years of humiliation? The other day, the same female member who hinted us of the affair, pointed to Ropo’s last child and asked me to look closely at him, then look at the current chairman. The resemblance was startling. Yet, the Mugu of a husband still fetches and cares for her. Why? We’ll never know,” I soothed. “All you want to do now is start repairing your marriage. This

I live to adore you, I live to put a smile on your face, I live to see your dreams come through, I live to be your only man, I live to care and cherish you all day long, I live to see you through the storms, Just know you are my princess;baby...

And I will stand by you...,because I have chosen you as my one and only wife, I will love you till the end of time...

James N Okonkwo (Freesoul) ngesina363k@yahoo.com 08066043380

Never change my love for you

I may love to change many things in my life but I will never change my love for you, for you have planted and nourished a giant seed of love in my

might be learning new ways to relate to each other or putting intensity back into your love life.

Learn to talk more rather than look for external solutions.” “And that would be it?,” Charotte sneered. “Not really.

Some couples find an affair turns out to be a sort of blessings - they come out of it with a closer, stronger marriage than they imagined. For them, the affair is a wake-up call and a chance to begin a new and better relationship. But, if your spouse is a philanderer, there’s not much you can do - even if you talk till kingdom come. There’ll always be that last fling he must have before he gives up!”

Sex is good for you and these are the reasons why!

H

AVE sex at least once a week. Research shows this helps keep illness and depression away. It seems geni-

tal stimulation makes for a stronger immune systems, relieves headaches and combats the aches and pains of everyday life.

Forget statistics: Ignore statistics about how often other people have sex. It can lead to feelings of insecurity and worthlessness, which in turn leads to a decline in your sex life.

Minimize distractions: Watching television in bed has recently been voted the biggest libido killer. The flicker of the TV screen apparently hypnotizes you into wanting sleep, desensitizes you to sex and kills your sex drive for the night, so if you want sex switch off.

Change positions, eighty per cent of people use the missionary as their number one position. Get on top of things - literally!

Take a banana to bed: They ’re rich source of Vitamin D and enhance both sex and orgasm by promoting the flow of blood to your sex organs.

Discuss your fantasies with each other. This will turn you both on quicker than foreplay. If you’re stuck for something to say, ask him to go first.

Don’t gossip to others about your sex life. Chatting with your friends about what goes on in the bedroom can have a detrimental effect on ‘Your love life. Firstly, most men consider a sexual revelation told in jest to be a major betrayal, secondly, comparing and contrasting can deflate self esteem.

Forget simultaneous orgasms. They always seem to manage it in movies - but that’s because they’re always faking.

heart. Infact, you are indeed the very phenomenon that add spices to my life and give it the real flavour that flows in it. And if I am to live a million years,I will still love and cherish you.

Akachukwu Ferdinand. aka5forever85@gmail.com 08063819314

Love at first sight

Is there such a thing as love at first sight?

That's the question I used to ask until I sighted you. How is it possible to feel so much for a stranger, a passerby? Love has no limits, no color, no time. That's when I realized I had fallen in love with you Cent Obama, centobama@gmail.com +2348061379003

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 25

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PAGE 26—SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

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‘I could have died!’ *Tragic memories of deaths, injuries in gov’s convoy STORIES BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE, Benin-City

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ewind the tape to 28, April 2012. It was at the heat of the campaign for the Edo State governorship election slated for July 14, 2012 between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria ( A C N) and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Major- General Charles Airhiavbere. Oshiomhole had just left Afuze, the administrative headquarters of Owan- East Local Government Area, where he had gone to campaign and was on his way to Auchi enroute to Benin-City to flag off another campaign at the Museum Ground in the state capital. Few kilometers to Auchi, tragedy stuck. A tipper lorry veered off the road and crashed into the convoy of the governor. It missed the vehicle conveying Oshiomhole by a hair’s breadth and hit the bus conveying Government House press crew. Three journalists lost their lives and several others sustained various degrees of injury.

Among the dead were George Okosun and Olatunji Jacobs, both of Indepen-

*The scene of accident...more than one year ago dent Television (ITV), Benin-City, and Fidelis Okhan of the African Independent Television (AIT).

Miraculously, the driver of the Press

Crew bus, Mr. Samson Imobeme, survived the crash among others. More than one year after, Sunday Vanguard by chance, met Imobeme on his sick bed at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) on Wednesday while there to interview another accident victim abandoned in the hospital by the transport company he traveled with but was involved in an accident at Okada, near Benin.

According to Imobeme, when the accident occurred, he and other injured victims were rushed to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital but later referred to UBTH for further medical attention due to the seriousness of his case.

“I was unconscious when the accident happened and, when I regained my consciousness, I found myself at the UBTH”, he stated.

“I have been undergoing medical treatment since then. I have not been able to regain the use of my feet, I cannot walk unless assisted. But I have been told by the team of medical doc-

A PASTOR’S TRIPLE TROUBLE!

*Injured in auto-crash, leg amputated, detained over N1.5m hospital bill

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HEN Rev Elijah Esei left Lagos for Ebonyi State on 2 July, 2012 to accord his late mother a befitting burial, little did he know that he may end up at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital {UBTH).

The 38-year-old cleric, who hails from Ezi-Edda Etiti community, in Afikpo South Local Government of Ebonyi State and head of THE HOPE OF FAITH MISSION based in Lagos, had traveled with one of the vehicles allegedly belonging to Okeyson Investment Services Ltd. Shortly before Okada, near Benin-City, the vehicle was said to have been involved in an accident.

Explaining how the accident occurred, he alleged, “The driver was on top speed and every entreaties to him to be careful and obey road traffic regulations by passengers fell on deaf ears. I was sitting with him in the front and I saw what happened when he was attempting to overtake a trailer whose driver would not give him the chance to do so.

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“He rammed into the trailer. I was one of those seriously injured. We were rushed to the Central Hospital, BeninCity after the accident but I was later referred to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) due to the seriousness of my case same day, while others with minor injuries were discharged.

“To save my life, one of my legs was amputated. Since then, I have been in hospital, abandoned by the management of Okeyson Investment Services Ltd. I have been discharged by the hospital management since 2, May 2013, but I cannot leave as the accumulated bill of N1.5million has not been settled.

“I have made several telephone calls to the management of Okeyson Investment Services Ltd to come and off-set the medical expenses to enable me go back to my family in Lagos, but they have not responded. They claimed they were responsible for the payment for the ambulance vehicle that conveyed me from the Central Hospital, Benin to UBTH and nothing else from them”. Esei went further: “My wife,

Esei...raises issues with transport firm

Sarah, went to meet them at the company headquarters at Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos, but they refused to see her.

They have abandoned me to my fate.

I have not been able to see my child who was also involved in an accident and unable to walk since January, this year”.

He disclosed that the UBTH management would not allow him to leave

tors treating me that a major operation has been recommended and needs to be carried out before I can walk, but whether this has been conveyed to Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole who has been responsible for the payment of my medical expenses since I was brought here is what I cannot say”.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the operation to cost between N1.5million and N2milion needed to be carried out in India because of lack of facilities in Nigeria. But Dr. Moin, directly in charge of Imobeme’s case in a telephone conversation, disagreed, saying that the operation can be carried out by the UBTH. “What Samson needs to enable him walk again is the replacement of the knee cap in both legs. It can be done in Nigeria”, he said.

Attempt made to speak with Dr. Alfred Ogbemudia, an orthopedic surgeon and Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), UBTH, on the fate of Imobeme failed as he was said to be attending a Board meeting. However, the Government House driver expressed gratitude to Oshiomhole for taking adequate care of him and his family since the accident. “He is the only one who has been taking care of the medical bills since I was admitted into hospital and I was even told that he deposited some money there to make sure that they take adequate care of me. The government has been paying my salary and my family lacks nothing. I must thank him for this and I appeal to him to prevail on the management of UBTH to ensure that the operation is carried out to enable me walk again”, he said.

and therefore appealed to public spirited individuals to prevail on Okeyson Investment Services Ltd to off-set the bill since it was the driver in its employ that was responsible for the accident.

Commenting on the fate of Esei, the National Coordinator of Save Accident Victims Association of Nigeria (SAVAN), Dr. Eddy Ehikhamenor, who has been partly responsible for the care of the accident victim, lamented the abandonment of accident victims by motor transport companies.

“We have persistently made efforts to reach the transport company to come and pay the medical bill of Rev. Esei but they have rebuffed all our pleas. I have contacted the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Benin-City to assist the victim by ensuring that vehicles belonging to the company were seized until they positively step into the case, but they have making promises upon promises”, Ehikhamenor said. “I am appealing to the National Assembly to come up with a legislation that would compel motor transport companies whose vehicles are involved in accidents to be held responsible for the outcome of such accidents. This is the only way to bring sanity into the operators of transport business in the country”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013 — PAGE 27

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The day Ekiti people took full ownership of projects

BY BOSE ADELAJA

A

mong other things, Il eje-Meje community in Ekiti State had prayed for a befitting palace where the traditional rites of the community would be carried out as the existing one had degraded and could no longer meet up with modern standards. This made the residents to comb everywhere in search of funds and, when they couldn’t, they resigned to fate.

The situation was the same at Ora Ekiti where residents complained about the deplorable situation of their Town Hall which was constructed in the 50s.

The hope of both communities was however rekindled on Saturday, December 1, 2012 when Governor Kayode Fayemi convened a meeting of Chairmen and Secretaries of Community Development Associations in the state assuring them of his resolve to de-

velop and transform the state.

The meeting was held in Isan-Ekiti to discuss how to empower local communities and ensure development at the grassroots.

Ileje-Meje and Ora communities seized the occasion to present their requests to the governor. Few days later, the communities were asked to submit their priority self-help projects for assistance; at the end of the day, N300million was approved as grants inaid for the first phase of the self-help projects for 82 communities.

Under this initiative, the communities are expected to handle the project themselves, get a contractor and monitor the project till completion while ensuring that standards are met. Wednesday, July 4 was a day to remember as cheques were presented to the 82 benefitting communities. The residents defied a downpour and trooped out to St. Augustine’s High School,

Presenting the cheques, Fayemi said the programme was borne out of his belief that development is more enduring when the people take full ownership of what is done by government by not only suggesting what they consider most valuable to them, but also participate actively in its implementation and monitoring.

Also speaking at the occasion, the state commissioner for rural development, Hon Bamidele Folorunso Olabode, said Ekiti was determined to uplift the people’s standard.’’We are determined to create a new lease of life for Ekiti people through rural empowerment. The cheques distribution is the first in the history of the state and other communities will receive their cheques before the end of the L-R: Governor Kayode Fayemi; Chief Bisi Akande, ACN last quarter of the year. We National Chairman; and former Governor Niyi Adebayo of want every community to be Ekiti State at the occasion. involved and we are not going to leave any community outside the ring,’’he said.

The representative of Osi sembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin; Ekiti, one of the benefiting Oye-Ekiti, where the cheques were distributed directly to former governor, Otunba Ade- communities, Mr. Peter Agbebayo; National Chairman of lusi, lauded the Fayemi adthe communities.

The communities got be- the Action Congress of Nige- ministration for embarking on tween N2 million and N7.5 ria, Chief Akande; Deputy the self-help programme, Speakers of Houses of Assem- which he said has not only million each.

The programe, dubbed Ajo- bly in the Southwest, members given communities the sense se Eyiyato, was attended by of the Ekiti State House of As- of participation in government the Deputy Governor, Prof. sembly, members of Ekiti State but also facilitated the execuModupe Adelabu; wife of the Executive Council, tradition- tion of their priority projects Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; al rulers and chairmen of lo- “without going around to beg for assistance.”

Speaker of the House of As- cal governments.

When the poor came to be taught how to fish

BY EFFIONG NDEM

B

y whatever name you may choose to call it, citizens em powerment scheme, poverty alleviation programme, or better still, Project Comfort, as the pet project has been christened, what was at the heart of parents and their wards at the Social Development Centre in Odukpani Local Government Area, for the biometric capturing for trainees of Project Comfort, a social security safety net of Cross River State Conditional Cash Transfer programme, on this particular day, was to be taught by their government how to fish.

Before now, they had waited patiently and later despondently for fish that never came and would never come.

So, in their thousands, with no nets, but bonded by common desire to learn a trade, the sea of enthusiastic and ambitious crowd thronged the Social Developmental Centre, Odukpani for the documentation exercise, preparatory to their skills acquisition training.

For this group of would-be-trainees, a silver lining has finally appeared at the end of their hitherto long dark tunnel.

In an economy highlighted by increasing poverty, stark unemployment and sundry socioeconomic challengC M Y K

Governor Iiyel Imoke es, with no steady fish to give out, teaching its people how to fish has been identified as Cross River State’s own approach and effort at breaking the cycle of poverty among its impoverished populace.

The project occupies top position in Governor Imoke’s development policy objectives. To highlight the importance the state attaches to this obligation, a full-fledged ministry of social welfare was set up by the governor to focus on the welfare needs of the ordinary people of Cross River State.

Drawn from the 196 electoral wards in the state in conjunction with churches, each ward contributes 15 of its subjects to be trained on any vocational skills of their choice.

According to the Commissioner for Social Welfare, Mrs. Patricia Inyang Endeley, it is a scheme where the trainees and the trainers called Master Trainers are both empowered. At the end of the training, which usually lasts for one year, beneficiaries are given financial support to tool themselves. Parents of the trainees are also paid a monthly stipend of N10,000 to keep off the wolves from their doors, while their wards are still undergoing training.

At the end of their training, government intends to bring together the various groups of artisans who have learnt same trade and acquire shops for them.

That way, they can cut down on the cost of having to rent shops individually.

Ekaenem Effiom Bassey, who could barely contain her excitement at the government’s support for her would-be trainee son, said, “I never thought this was happening to me. The government is training my son on skills acquisition and at the same paying me money every month which I am using for my petty trading. In turn, I invest part of the profit in my younger children’s education. Before now, it was as if some of us never existed in the scheme of things. To be paying me money and at the same time offer my son vocational skills, I cannot thank the government of Senator Liyel Imoke and the Ministry

of Social Welfare enough. The government has given me and my family a future.”

Francisca Eyo Effiom was no less excited as she hinted that “until now, there was nothing like empowerment plan for ordinary people like us.

What gladdens my heart is that at the end of my vocational training as a fashion designer, the government will give me money to establish my own fashion house. From there, I will be able to provide jobs and training for others. I cannot be any happier”.

If Ekanem and Francisca were excited, Sylvia Eyo Bassey was, however, overwhelmed by the hope that is about to be handed to her. “This is what I have always wished for. I had dreamed of being a fashion designer. Today my joy knows no limits because my dream is finally answered.

I want to be trained and after wish I will also train others. I was nominated by household out of about 12 of us that showed interest. Of course, there is a one-year monthly basic income support from the government for every household head that has a trainee and that includes my mother.”

PAGE 28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

Royal panac he as Olo wu’s son w eds panache Olowu’s weds

I

t was a train of royalty and nobility when the son of the Olowu of Owu kingdom, Ogun State, Oba Gboyega Dosunmu took for wife the daughter of the Asipa of the kingdom, Chief Akin Obimakinde. engagement took place at the Basic Trust International Hall and the ‘White’ wedding at Owu Baptist Church.

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, making a speech at the Church service.

Alhaji Akanbi Lawal is a septuagenarian The groom’s father, the Olowu of Owu, Oba Gboyega Dosunmu; the groom, Olusunmade and Olori Bosun Dosunmu.

The bride’s father, Chief Akin Obimakinde; groom, Olusunmade and bride’s mother, Mrs Mubo Obimakinde.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, with the couple; Prince and Mrs Olusunmade Dosunmu.

L-R: The groom, Prince Olusunmade Dosunmu, engaging Prince Bola Ajibola and the Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Dapo Tejuosho in a tete-a-tete..

Special day for C&S CHERUBIM and Seraphim Movement Church, Ibudo Ayo Jah To Fun Wa Ayo Ni o held a four- day special ‘Vigil Prayer ’ at the church’s headquarters in Lagos.

Pix From Left Baba Ijo Senior Apostle Emmanuel Adeoye,Mrs Yetunde Odejaye Iya Ijo,Most Senior Apostle Femi Yemi Founder Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church Shallon Zaria with Most Apostle Prophet Abayomi Ajibola founder Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Ibhudo Ayo Jah To Fun Wa Ayo Ni o and Mr Isiaka Zubair Adviser. Photo Joe Akintola Photo Editor.

L-R:Prophtess F.Ajibola Iya Adura, Prophetess F.Shinaba with Mrs O.Ayeni And Mrs N.Oyegunle.

C M Y K

O

ne of the foremost leaders of NASFAT’s Elders’ Forum, Alhaji Abdul-Lateef Akanbi Lawal celebrated his 70th birthday in Lagos and the occasion turned out to be a reunion session for some of the top members of the society and elders.

All ffor or Diocesan W omen Women APAPA Diocese Women Fellowship of Mount Zion, Ligth house Full Gospel Church Incorporation, Lagos held their Women’s rally at the church premises in Apapa, recently.

Members of Elders For um, NASFAT Headquarters, Ikeja, presenting a giant birthday card to Alhaji Lawal

L-R: Snr. Deacon Margret Okoturo, , Apt. Nkerenwem James, Apt. E O Ofan, Deaconess Patience Umana and Snr. Deaconess Eno O. Ita

Alhaji and Alhaja Lawal and their children

L-R: Apt. E. O. Ofan, Snr. Deacon Enobong Umondia, Deacon Eno Ita, Apt Nkerenwem James , Dcn. Grace James , Snr. Dcn. Margrate Okoturo and Sister Christiana Udoyoh

Alhaji Abdullahi Akinbode, chief missioner, NASFAT (right) with guest lecturer, Alhaji Balogun

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 29

at least, on moral grounds, at the end of four years, the North should take over.

President Jonathan

Prof Ango Abdullahi

Obasanjo

2015: How we will stop the South - Northern elders •The two-way plan

BY: LUKA BINNIYAT, Kaduna

The clamour for the presidency to return to the North in 2015 is growing. No fewer than four prominent groups are now championing the cause. The campaign was initially spearheaded by two groups – Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Northern Elders Forum (NEF).

Last week, the four northern groups signalled that the presidency will not remain with a southerner beyond the next general elections.

In other words, incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, from the South-south, suspected of nursing re-election, will not return to power. They claimed to have conceded power to the South to give it a sense of belonging, saying, whether by power rotation or voting power, the North would upstage the South from the presidency in 2015.

The groups also said that once North was back in power, it could decide to hold unto it indefinitely. The spokesman for the groups, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, who spoke in Kaduna, said: “Let me state that ACF, to many people, is not being as assertive on 2015 as they wish.

This is not correct. Here in the North , we have certain tradition that sometimes people misread as a weakness”.

North must take back power

“The fact that we don’t come out in shouting match and in abusive language and so on sometimes gives the wrong impression that we do not have deep-rooted concern for ourselves about 2015. This is not true. The Southsouth is a tiny enclave of a few people, perhaps not bigger than Kaduna State”, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, a former vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU) and the NEF leader, told journalists. He continued: “The North is determined and is insistent that the leadership of the country will rotate to it in 2015. “And I am making that very clear. ACF in front because they have been the oldest group, the Middle Belt Forum and our other groups have been very active and strong. All of us are likely to have this very tough but a common agenda. It is not that the North is power blind. No! it will be argued on the rational agreement on ground today. “The North, on the basis of one-man-one-vote, C M Y K

can keep power indefinitely in the present Nigeria state. If it is on the basis of oneman - one-vote, the demography shows that the North can keep power as long as it wants because it will always win elections.

No zoning in the constitution

“Some of us who participated in conferences- constitutional conferences from 1987 to the last one, the Political Reform Conference - accepted that every part of this country should feel it is part of the leadership and that is the basis of the acceptance of the rotation arrangement between the North and South.

This is what happened at the constitutional conference.

There was no question of geo-political zones. The geo-political zones were later introduction. So when this happened, of course, the argument was that it was supposed to be in the constitution but the government in power at that time said it was better for parties to use it to attract support and growth from all parts of the coun-

try. And this is what the PDP, the ruling party, now accepted. I was part of the constitution drafting committee of the party and we incorporated it that there would be rotation between the North and South and, particularly in terms of the top leadership of the party.

The question that followed immediately was that where would the rotation start?

We, northerners, thought we should concede, that it should start with the South.

‘Obasanjo begged’

“This was because the North, over the years, whether military or civilians, had taken a good share of the leadership. And before then, there had been a crisis that led to the annulment of the June 12, 1993election. For example, somebody from the South-west was believed to have won the election that was annulled. This was the cumulative issue that informed our decision that the South should start.

That is how eventually Obasanjo came to be our president under an arrangement and the tenure clearly for four years. And when he asked or rather begged for the arrangement to be extended to match the constitutional allowance that the president could go for two terms, this was extended in an expanded caucus to make it eight years for Obasanjo.

“This particular president(Jonathan) was there as deputy governor representing the governor of Bayelsa State in that caucus meeting. He signed as number 37.

It is in the document. The meeting agreed that the South will have eight years and then the North will have eight years. But, Obasanjo, after seeing some lacuna, tried to abandon the zoning as well as the constitution to seek third term. Of course he failed. He came to the North and thought we will allow him to go without resistance to hand pick his successor. He hand picked my younger brother, the late Umaru Yar ’Adua. But the condition had been satisfied, a northerner was president.

Umaru soon took ill and died two and a half into his first term. It is obvious the constitution says if the president for whatever reason is not there, his vice will take over. That is why Jonathan, being his vice, became the president and we thought that

North to blame “It must have been the fault of northerners as far as I am concerned that they allowed this because it was their turn in 2011. But they allowed it. I thought Jonathan should have been first, purely on moral grounds, knowing that there was a rotation arrangement in place and that there was an agreement and all of them were signatory, but they came out to say they didn’t know about rotation. Obasanjo started it, he said he didn’t know about rotation. Jonathan himself said it that he didn’t’ know about rotation.

“But if you go to Chief Audu Ogbeh, who was chairman of the PDP at the time the agreement was brokered, he will give you the full story of how this thing happened.

But the issue here is that we now have another four years pending. But, recently, we are now getting to know from one of the governors that they had some secret arrangement that they will still allow Jonathan to go for another four years.

They haven’t expatiated but it was revealed by at least governor of Niger State that there was this pledge to do one term

by Jonathan in 2011. But it makes you think, really, how could leaders be trusted if they can not honour simple agreements whether written or unwritten? The hallmark of decent leadership is to honour agreements.

Two means

“The North is insisting that the presidency should come to the North whether on the basis of rotation or on the basis of voting power and we have the voting power.

Middle Belt and the North

“It is true that we are not as united as before. The Middle Forum has been there as part of the North. Last month, they went to say they supported Jonathan. Someone is taking advantage of the problems confronting us in the North to divide us.

But we are working on that. We are going to bring back everybody to a roundtable so that everyone will say his mind, and we will come out with a political solution that will address the fears and needs of everyone. The North will always remain one.

“When we decide on our candidate, we will pick a northerner. It does not matter his religion and ethnicity. We shall look for a qualified northerner and support him. He can come from any tribe, state or religion. The most important thing is that we get back power ”.

Hands of the Presidency

On the crisis in River State, the northern groups denounced it, including “the role of the spouse of the president in the impasse.

Their spokesperson added, “The shameful and disturbing abuse of power and rule of law in Rivers State are signs that Nigeria is descending into anarchy and lawlessness rarely seen in our history.

“The hands of the Presidency are clearly visible in all these events that appear to draw inspiration from the ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan to stay in power in 2015. The most recent development in Rivers State represents a new low in the shameful conduct of political office holders at the highest levels, and they should be condemned by all Nigerians.

“The crisis in Rivers State is a sad reminder of our experience in the Western Nigeria crisis of 1963. We call on President Goodluck Jonathan to order an immediate cessation of hostilities in Rivers State and stop using the Nigeria Police to settle his political disputes. The police must not be dragged into the internal crisis of the president’s party. The governor of and people of Rivers State and, indeed, all citizens of Nigeria deserve the full protection of the law and their rights to live in peace under the state-guaranteed security”.

PAGE 30— SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 31

njokujamin@yahoo.com

I was arrested for loving my wife — Emeka Ike

N

ollywood star, Emeka Ike, got married about 14 years ago to his half Dutch, half Isoko, Delta State wife, Ema. The marriage has since been blessed with three boys, Michael (nine), Nicholas (3) Kelly (7), and one girl, Andrea Oluwakemi. Emeka and Ema say their union was made in heaven. Their story runs like a novel.

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU How I met her I met my wife accidentally. It was time for me to get married and, about that time, my father had been worried, disturbing me to give him a grandchild.

While I was editing my movie, “7-12”, at Cine Craft studio, Surulere, Lagos, in 1999, I saw this damsel through the window passing by and, immediately, I fell in love with her. I told one of my junior colleagues to call her, but he was scared to talk to her. The moment I saw her the next day, I rushed out of the studio to speak with her. She was coming for a modeling job at Cine Craft. She was with her sister when I asked for some of her time. I said, ‘Excuse me baby’.

Her sister turned, but I pointed at her. She stood up and; within three minutes of our interaction, I knew I was going to marry her. She was downto-earth, straight to the point. There and then, I proposed marriage to her, saying, “If i ask you to marry me, will you? “ She was startled before she started laughing probably because she thought I was joking. But as far as I was concerned, I She’s down-to-earth and half Dutch, had seen the qualities I was looking for half Isoko. She was different from other in a woman. women I had dated during my encounter with her. She was herself. I The attraction saw the woman in her, the beauty and

the virtue of a young girl who was ripe surprise, she jumped into another enough for marriage. I said to myself, ‘I man’s car. When she returned, I asked her where she was coming from and, would cash- in on this virtue’. sensing that I knew what happened, she confessed to me. I made up my Accepting proposal After our first meeting, I did not set my mind never to discuss anything about eyes on her until three months after. marriage with her again.

Though I gave her my residential Courtship address, I think, when there is love, we Remember, I told you that I asked her must look for each other: Her spirit agreed with mine, hence my spirit was the first time I met her whether she looking for her in between those three would marry me. When we met again months. Eventually, she traced my after three months, we started courting. address. She showed up in my house in Then, I was like ‘a guitar boy’ who had the company of her sister. My joy knew nothing to offer her parents. The parents thought I wanted to deceive no bounds. their daughter; therefore they didn’t want me to have anything to do with Other girls There is one thing Nigerian ladies fail her. In fact, they got me arrested at to understand. When you are dating a some point, but I would not give up guy, there is the tendency that the guy my desire to marry her. While at the will scrutinize every move you make police station, I settled with her family while the relationship lasts. There are after which they gave their consent for some of these ladies who me to marry her. would bring a pot of 14 years after soup to your house We married in 2000. The journey has and insist on finishing the soup been memorable. As a young man, your the same day. How dream is to survive; now, you are going do you propose to carry extra load. You do not even marriage to that know how heavy the extra load is. The kind of woman? strength you had in pushing yourself And many of them before now needs to double. And by are not real. At the time you are three in the family, some point, your strength needs to triple and so on. some of them You do not know until you get into it. did not know I But with God, understanding, we have was looking for kept the marriage going. The ability to a wife. There be a man and God over us and being was this partners in the marriage makes the particular girl I difference.

Secrets of success wanted to God, understanding, patience and marry then, she was interested ability to be in charge as a man are keys in working her to our success. You have to be man way into the enough to go into marriage. marriage. She Marriage break-up was dating two What happens to your wife and other guys. One Christmas, while children? She’s your wife no matter I was shooting the what happens. Maybe, there is a movie, “7-12”, I was challenge, it’s left to you as the man in doing prayers and the house to overcome the challenge; had to vow never to save her because you are equally have anything to do saving her from living in the street. A with any woman man that allows his wife to take a walk out of his house has just exposed her during that period.

Unfortunately, this to disgrace, shame, sorrow and pain. lady visited me, and So, you can consider all that, the pain wanted me to go she is going to go through while living against my vow that in the street Lessons night. But I resisted the I am a star but people do not read temptation. The following day, she asked me to give her some negative stories about me and my wife. money, pretending that she was going It has not been reported that we were to the market. For the first time in my fighting each other. These are lessons life, I secretly followed her and, to my anybody can learn from my marriage.

His eyes attracted me —WIFE Love I met him while I was coming for a modeling job at Surulere. Then, he was editing his film entitled, “7-12.” When I saw him on that fateful day, I recognised him as one of the Nollywood stars. So, the next day, when he saw me, he came out of the studio to chat with me. We got talking, and the rest is history.

the way he was conducting himself. I started looking what he had to say. That was the attraction. at the positive direction in the relationship.

Women around him The ladies around him then were never a problem to Courtship Yes, there was a courtship. We started dating from me. Yes, I had people who advised me not to marry him 1999, and had our introduction in 2000. We courted because they felt that celebrities are usually “rough and for about a year. irresponsible.” My family was specifically against the marriage. But upon meeting with him, and understanding Attraction the kind of person he is, they decided to give their Marriage proposal and acceptance The attraction was his eyes. I had always dreamt blessing at the end of the day. But even in the midst of all Right from the first day we met, he told me that that my husband would be a tall black man. I didn’t these, there was never a day I had a change of mind or he was going to marry me. I didn’t believe him. want to marry a man I would be taller than. His nursed the fear that the marriage would not be successful.

But after a while, I saw the sincerity in him and height was okay for me. I could talk and listen to I never had any doubt in my mind about the marriage.

C M Y K

PAGE 32—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013

Entrance of the bustling China Town in Lagos.

T

HE importation of goods into Nigeria by traders who seem to be showing preference for variant lucrative business attractions that Dubai offers compared to what is obtainable in China has continued to generate comments by Nigerians. In this report, Nigerian businessmen and women, who bared their minds, believe that business in Dubai, the Persian Gulf city, is more favorable.

Mrs. Kate Ibe (aka Madam K), who trades in Dubai gold ornaments, said, “ Doing business in Dubai is full of excitement because of its proximity and the lack of visarestriction rules that comes with it.

Unlike China, the business environment is very conducive and the infrastructure is reliable.”

Kate further stated, “A large number of Nigerians come to Dubai on weekly basis to engage in buying and selling because of the access to visa and decent profit margins that they make on sale of purchased products back home in Nigeria, and this is not achievable with products from China”.

Jonathan Ozoemena, a merchant, said he had to relocate from his manufacturing business at Idumota to Dubai due to the alleged invasion of substandard goods from China, in addition to Nigeria’s incessant interruption of power supply, deplorable road condition, and insecurity C M Y K

China vs Dubai: The battle for the Nigerian market which has led to crime almost unavoidable.

According to Jonathan, who hails from Anambra State, “I travel to Dubai each time I exhaust my stock and I have been doing this for over three years now. It was a friend who introduced me into this line of business in Dubai, and I have not encountered any problem so far. Doing business here in Dubai is quite conducive. The only time you have a problem is when you try to go against their law.”

The market leader

Comparing both markets ( China and Dubai), Jonathan disclosed that although China is one market that is giving Dubai a quick run, majority of Nigeria business men feel better buying from the Dubai market.

“Majority of the goods that come into Nigeria from China may be sold at cheaper rates, but lack quality and durability, because some of our Nigerian businessmen in China specify the quality of the items they want manufactured for them and, most times, they place orders for low quality goods in order to attract low prices. This attitude, ironically, has attracted more patronage, and profit for them, which, if viewed in real sense, is

dangerous.

This unmindful attitude of these traders also explains why Nigeria seaports consider most items that come from China as substandard.”

The merchant frowned at the operations of the Standards

,

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

large number of Nigerians who specialize in trade and commerce to achieve better returns on variant products purchased These products which range from gold, textiles, spare parts, cosmetics, electronics,

Majority of the goods that come into Nigeria from China may be sold at cheaper rates, but lack quality and durability, because some of our Nigerian businessmen in China specify the quality of the items they want manufactured for them

Organization of Nigeria (SAN), which, he said, “ Is a show of total neglect to the welfare of fellow citizens, because, by demanding a token as penalties from importers, who brought in sub-standard products that are harmful, they have sabotaged the vision of the organisation, which is to ensure that no sub-standard products get to end users.”

Sunday Vanguard further gathered that Dubai enormous business attractions and nonvisa restrictions on visitors, who have genuine businesses to transact, have enabled a

,

telecommunication gadgets and household items can be obtained at a bargain if the trader knows his/her way about the numerous souks (markets) in the city.

In accordance with the rush to Dubai, three major airlines now offer daily flights from Lagos and Abuja to Dubai and with what appears to be pocket friendly flight fares, Dubai is for many Nigeria traders synonymous to a successful business.

What opened Dubai was the objective of a free trade zone, established in 1979, which

permitted foreign investors unrestricted import of labor and export capital.

Owing to this, Dubai is now one of the world’s major trade and business hubs, and, among African countries, Nigerians rank highest among countries that travel to Dubai to import trade goods.

Majority of Nigeria traders in Dubai agreed that, knowing where you source your products and getting the best bargains is very critical if one hopes to make reasonable profit margins back in Nigeria.

Igbo traders based in Dubai have established direct links with big time suppliers who sell at very cheap rates to traders.

Speaking also to Sunday Vanguard on the grounds of anonymity, a young man, who trades in female outfits said, “ I am better off with clothes from Dubai, even though they are slightly higher in price than those from China; they have quality and durability,” adding, “In Dubai, you do not have this long stretch of agents who you have to settle at the end of every purchase made, which is the situation in China.

Personally, trading in Dubai has given me my business more and better millage, and I do not think I would want to compromise.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 33

The challenge of policing Idiroko’s many exit points, by Customs boss The fresh impetus by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to stem illegal trades at Idiroko border is yielding positive results in various ways. The Command recently made spectacular seizures of band items including petroleum products and bulldozer excavator.

When Sunday Vanguard visited the border, it was observed that specific communities like Ipokia, Ajilete and Owode where the people were volatile, as smuggling was so prevalent, had experienced relative peace in the last seven months. Also, the point where officers check movement of border traders at the major entry line between Nigeria and Benin Republic has been repositioned. Two traditional rulers at Ajilete, who commended the new initiative, attributed the success to constant enlightenment of the people on the dangers of smuggling and indepth study of the region by the current controller. The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Ogun Command, Comptroller Prince Ade Dosumu, speaks on the new development, the award on innovation transformation and revenue repackaged control, presented to him

by Centre for Development and Movement Strategies in Africa , in conjunction with Freight and Energy Watch.

T

HOUGH synonymous with various economic activities, Idiroko has porous border points with volatile communities. What steps are you taking in policing the region?

Obviously, the border line between Nigeria and Benin Republic is one strategic business arena that many entrepreneurs cannot do without. One of the challenges is that the border has many exit points but we have also renewed our security network to tackle the issue. Though I am not going to reveal details of our operational strategies but NCS now is intelligence driven. As such, we operate with intelligent network at all times. For instance, we had numerous meetings with traditional rulers and community leaders at the grass root to foster a smooth working relationship with the communities. So, we started by creating an enabling environment free of hostility to enable us work effectively to generate more revenue for government and facilitate trade, which is our primary duty.

We set up Excise Monitoring Team in the Command to ensure total compliance with the unit cost analysis on excise from different factories within the region. So, with the new strategies, we are blocking all lope holes, even as we are getting maximum cooperation from border communities in policing the region. This is evidence in our revenue records for the period under review. For instance, our half year report from January to June 2013 shows that over N2.2billion was realised as revenue against N1.6 recorded same time in the previous year 2012. The anti-smuggling operation is on top gear, as 645 seizures with the Deputy Paid Value (DPV) of over N618million were recorded in the half year 2013, as against 537 seizures with DPV of N297.8million made the same period

in 2012.

The progressive difference in DPV of the seizures accounted for the quality seizures made by the Command this year. These seizures include motor

,

STORIES BY UDEME CLEMENT

Our target is to ensure that the FTZ is resuscitated to function optimally, in order to achieve the intended purpose for which it was established

,

vehicles, rice, frozen products, shoes, textile materials, used tyres, apparels, Indian Hemps and several others.

Within the same period, we impounded a 40ft container laden with 3,500 cartons of frozen poultry products, a Mercedes Benz 911 lorry laden with 640 cartons of the same frozen products,

Comptroller Prince Ade Dosumu along Lagos/Shagamu Express.

What uncommon trend of smuggling have you uncovered in the Command?

We recorded spectacular seizures of petroleum products and bulldozer excavator. We arrested one Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep recovered from suspected armed robbers, who after exchanging

fire with our operatives escaped into the nearby forest along Ayetoro/Imasayi axis of the Command. Others include 498 cartons of assorted wine, 434 cartons of body cream, 64 cartons of soaps and 57 sacks of Cannabis with estimated monetary value of N3million, which were handed over to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials in Abeokuta .

The Centre for Development and Movement Strategies in Africa in conjunction with Freight and Energy Watch, honoured you with award on innovation transformation and revenue repackaged control, for out standing performance. How do you describe the award?

First of all, we thank the organisation for recognising our efforts in working tirelessly to curtail smuggling in the Command. We attributed the success recorded in the Command to the current Customs management under Comptroller General of Customs, Inde Dikko who provided us with operational tools and the motivation to carry out our statutory duty effectively.

What measures did you put in place to revamp the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in the Command, after being inactive for a long time?

Our target is to ensure that the FTZ is resuscitated to function optimally, in order to achieve the intended purpose for which it was established. When fully utilised, it will boost revenue generation for government to stimulate economic growth and development.

Nigeria, China bilateral agreements: Economic expert counsels FG on technology transfer

A

S President Goodluck Jonathan secured bilateral business agreements with China to invest in key sectors of the economy during a recent visit to the Asian county, an economic expert wants the Federal Government to ensure full implementation of the local content policy of empowering indigenous entrepreneurs to enhance long-term growth.

In a chat with Sunday Vanguard, Dr. Olu Ajakaiye, a professor of economics and one time Director General, Nigeria Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER), advised government to ensure that Chinese investors partner with local entrepreneurs for technology transfer and technical-know-how in executing major projects in the various sectors.

He said, “Government must insist that a large portion of Chinese operations be outsourced to indigenous companies to enhance sustainable development. This implies giving opportunities to local communities to achieve domestic value addition in terms of skills transfer in every capital project. We may lock ourselves up in a very long maintenance problem if the Chinese do not give the key in technology and skills transfer to enable us continue with the maintenance of projects they will execute in the country.

This means, we will always call on them whenever the need for every maintenance project arises.”

He went on, “Also, there is the urgent need to internalise the foreign business innovation in the country to enhance maximum economic growth. We must build adequate capacity to boost tangible development. Nigerian society must be actively involved in developing Nigerian champions, who can promote the country in the International business arena. These champions, such as local manufacturers must be made

to realise the importance of promoting national economic growth to advance national interest in creating jobs for the citizens. In partnering with their foreign counterparts, they must put the developmental agenda of Nigeria as top priority.”

Ajakaiye, who is also a former Director of Research, African Economic Research Consortium in Nairobi , said, “Government must tread with caution to ensure efficiency with international loans contracted for various projects in

the country. If not, we may find ourselves in heavy debt burden like the period of 1986 when Nigeria became heavily indebted. I do not understand why government is saving money in Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) and also borrowing at the same time. You borrow when in deficit and not when you are saving. Aside from that, government must also put measures in place to enhance efficient use and delivery in projects these loans will bring to Nigeria .”

N1.6 billion inspection facility for Apapa ports

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HE management of APM Terminals Apapa Limited, the concessionnaire handling Apapa ports, is constructing a new physical N1.6 billion inspection facility. The facility will use a multi-level racking system operated by yard cranes. The inspection system is being constructed in China and will be delivered to the terminal before the end of this quarter.

In the same vein, the company has called on the Apapa Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to adequately utilise the ultra-modern physical examination facility the company built and handed over to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in 2010.

The managing director, APM Terminals Apapa Limited, Mr. Dallas Hampton, disclosed this in Lagos , stressing that the facility was specifically built by his company three years ago to provide a conducive office accommodation for officials of NCS, and also to serve as facility for physical inspection of containers and for related administration of Customs operations at the terminal.

According to him, despite the huge

investment of about N640 million invested by his company in building the facility, Customs has refused to use it, preferring rather to use a make-shift open area, which subject importers and their agents to inclement weather condition.

He went on, “Borne out of the need to cope with the abnormally high rate of physical examination of containers by Customs, the facility is part of the Phase Three of the modernisation and upgrading of APM Terminals Apapa, which includes terminal yard redevelopment and expansion, including new staff amenities and customer service building, acquisition of additional container handling equipment, and implementation of new terminal operating systems. The expansion project will also convert the terminal to full Rubber-Tyred-Gantry (RTG) operations and includes purchase of additional container handling equipment, a new customer service building, new employee amenities buildings, office for Customs and a new container inspection area. The project will also include state of the art terminal control systems with a satellite based container positioning system.

PAGE 34—SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

EGYPT’S TURBULENT TRANSITION Morsi did not understand the forces that enthroned him – Prof. Anya *Warns Nigeria against dismissing revolution lessons

Professor Anya O. Anya

Mohammed Morsi....He did not make enough effort at recruiting new allies.

The state of affairs in Egypt is worrisome given the fact that it is Arab’s political center and a key player in Africa’s affair. Egypt holds the balance of power in the Middle East and whatever happens in that country must go beyond its shores. In this interview, Professor Anya O. Anya provides insight into the transition process in the heartbeat of Arab politics.

I

S Egypt, the power house of Arab and Middle East politics, descending into anarchy?

Yes and no. Yes in the sense that, what we have seen in the streets of Cairo and Alexandria are unexpected and unheard of given the past of Egypt. However, what we are seeing are the convergence of several forces: democratic, religious and tradition. None can wait hence the ferocity of the engagement. But it will stabilize at a new point of equilibrium which may change the long term outlook of Egypt. The supporters of deposed President Mohammed Morsi will not go in a hurry or willingly and the army may be drawn into old patterns of behaviour despite the fear of American response to the apparent defeat of democratic forces.

,

BY HUGO ODIOGOR, FOREIGN AFFAIRS EDITOR

Our politicians have not learnt from our past national experiences nor are they sufficiently knowledgeable about the global forces that are impacting on our societies

Do you think Morsi deserves to be ousted just after one year in office?

The run up to the elections showed deep divisions within the Egyptian society. The advantage of Muslim Brotherhood has always been its better organisation and embedding in the lower strata of Egyptian society. But it was not and is still not a majority party despite its exemplary patience and long history.

Morsi did not understand the coalition of forces that brought him to power. He could not therefore convert the electoral coalition that brought him to power into a ruling coalition.

Given this fundamental lack of understanding, his ouster was inevitable and prolonging the period before his ouster could have done greater damage to Egypt’s long term prospects. Egypt is not yet a democratic society, but a society in transition. The presumption of applicable democratic norms as the Americans are wont to do is

,

unrealistic given where the Egyptian society is coming from-the Pharaohnic past, the military pre-eminence and deep divisions occasioned by high level of poverty and unemployment amongst the youth and the rural majority.

Do you think the way Morsi handled the military after he took office, the Sharia and Coptic Christian crisis and referendum on the constitution paved the way for the way he was ousted?

He showed neither understanding of where these forces are coming from nor did he show sufficient flexibility and inclusiveness in the handling of the affairs of state. He did not make enough effort at recruiting new allies. His vision of the future of Egyptian society did not enjoy the kind or pervasive support they presumed in his posturing.

Can democracy thrive in Arab world given the experiences in Turkey,

Egypt, Iran, Iraq, etc?

The question really is: what kind of democracy. Democracy as a form of government has several variants even in western societies; so a narrow definition of democracy will regard the national experiences of these countries as precluding democracy.

However, as recent events in Turkey are illustrating democratic ideals must adjust to the national environment, history and experience. These nations will overtime adjust to the reconciliation of the purist Islamist interpretation of governance and secular pressure for development and inclusiveness. But it will be a rough road given the tendency to recruit violence into the political space by extreme Islamist forces.

With hindsight of the Algerian crisis in the 1990s, do you envisage a back lash from the Muslim Brotherhood?

Yes, there will be a backlash but how long it will endure will depend on how fast the military can return the country to civilian governance and control. The military needs to build quickly a coalition of alternative forces incorporating women and the youth.

Political developments in the Maghreb and the Middle East have exerted their influence on Nigeria since 1973, is there a possible domino effect for Nigeria and sub Sahara Africa?

No, the national experiences are different. The parallelism is superficial. The real danger to Nigeria and by extension Sub-Saharan Africa is that our politicians have not learnt from our past national experiences nor are they sufficiently knowledgeable

about the global forces that are impacting on our societies and are therefore, negatively reshaping the society. But this will change but time is not on our side.

Given the role of social media and youth discontent with governments in the Arab world, can our political class ignore the lessons from Egypt?

We cannot afford to ignore the lessons of events in other societies given the unrelenting economic and political forces unleashed by globalization.

How would you respond to the reaction of US and major powers to the political situation in Egypt?

There is a tendency towards simplistic responses to complex situations in the American approach to the Middle East and indeed to much of the developing world including us. The strait-jacket approach to economic and political developments not only by the US but also by the western powers is often unhelpful and usually produces unintended consequences. The history of western societies is a variant of other histories that are part of world history as events in China continues to underline.

We live in a world of dynamic forces. Hence the tendency towards linear projections of multiple forces often evident in western reading of recent history can lead to situations widely off the mark. In the modern age, history is often shaped by the minor forces rather than the major or dominant forces. a multi-factor approach to analysis and understanding of the new forces including technology reshaping the world environment is unavoidable.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 35

.... CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY Efforts can only be made to minimize such collateral damages. We missed out at the very early stage not to have come down heavily on Boko Haram the same way the Maitatsine sect was crushed in Kano. Unfortunately, we played politics with it, and we are all paying for it today.

The military is doing its best through the JTF arrangement. We can only assist by words of encouragement. These are individuals laying down their lives for us all. If you have not experienced it, you may never appreciate what they go through. So, never say things that could dampen their spirit or demoralize the men.

Col. Hassan Stan-Labo

Boko Haram deserves the Maitatsine treatment —Col. Stan-Labo, ex-OPS MESA Commander *‘The problem with amnesty for Islamists’

BY EMMA NNADOZIE, Crime Editor

On retirement give God the glory for serving and coming out in one piece, hale and hearty. In the military, you either exit voluntarily, or suffer a forced exit or by death do you part.

I

Blend into the civil society From the day you are commissioned an officer, you are advised to start preparing for your exit. This preparation, to some of us, takes a holistic dimension. Certain fundamental questions about postservice life begins to agitate your mind as you grow career wise. So, with adequate preparation, integration into civil life can’t be a problem. I have not suffered any form of culture shock or intimidation in the course of my transition. The military equipped me adequately for my post-service life.

Present engagement I am into security consultancy. I own and manage a security service delivery outfit. We are also working at expanding into the aviation and maritime security sub-sectors and this has kept us rather busy for some time now. As you know, these are critical areas to the economy and therefore entail high level technical competence and delivery capacity.

Competence and capacity You can’t go it all alone except you are not desirous at making a difference in the industry. We are partnering with a foreign company to avail us technical competence, training and logistics support. Our foreign partners have the requisite capabilities with a presence in 31 countries worldwide (nine of these in Africa). With Nigeria gradually becoming the aviation and maritime hub within the sub-region, there are prospects for good business.

Discussions have attained advanced levels and attorneys at both sides are currently fine tuning the joint MOU preparatory to a formal take-off.

Operation MESA It is important to state that performance is dependent upon a whole gamut of input-variants at interplay with each other.

Performance is often a reflection of the level of commitment, training, logistics, welfare and environment.

So, it would be foolhardy of me to just sit here and play the ignorant armchair critique when the key performance indices (KPI) are not known to me. For instance, I had no Boko Haram challenges to contend with during my time, but today it has become a high profile inject on the daily threat analysis in the joint operations room. However, let me advise that as a joint operational platform, high level synergy, rapport and camaraderie should exist amongst the security agencies. Gone are the days of inter-service rivalry and superiority complex.

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He came into the limelight after he was directed to take charge of Operation Messa – a military outfit saddled with the responsibility of fighting crime in Lagos State and environs. He put all his strength and professional acumen into the assignment after which he retired from the army. Colonel Hassan Stan-Labo speaks on his days in the military and security issues. Excerpts:

Until Boko Haram is completely silenced, one can only say it is ‘work in progress.

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The Maitatsine option Until Boko Haram is completely silenced, one can only say it is ‘work in progress.’ The battle against the Islamic Boko Haram sect is an asymmetrical one in which the belligerent force is neither seen nor known. That is the more reason politicians should stop aggravating the situation by their politicallyinduced pronouncements.

The military should avail the lead here and do just what is professionally required. Mind you, no politician can afford to be unpopular, and that accounts for the very irrational and nonsensical comments you hear them make, that soldiers were bombing or shelling innocent civilians. You don’t need to be a professional soldier to know that fighting in built up areas (FIBUA) attracts high level collateral damages. Nigerians should not be deceived by any 2015 vote-seekingpolitician; we can’t fight Boko Haram at zero cost to innocent human lives.

JTF and STF They should remain professionally focused in the execution of their given task. They must bear in mind at all times that, the task of keeping this country ONE and UNITED rests with the military at the end of the day when other things fail. The military remains the most pan-Nigerian organization or body with the capacity to save this country when the chips are down and our sovereign existence threatened.

Training emphasis must, therefore, be aimed at enhancing capacity in meeting contemporary challenges in internal security which today is characterized by armed struggle. Unfortunately, armed struggle or violence has become a rewarding past-time since initiators are sure of amnesty or pardon if only they remain consistent and extremely brutish.

Training doctrines would need to be repackaged especially in counterrevolutionary warfare to meet the peculiarities of our challenges in internal security operations. Current training curriculum must take into cognizance the specifics of our environment – culture, tradition, history, religion and ethnic relations. Doctrines and training should therefore be customized and inward looking aimed at meeting local internal security conflicts. My recent visit to India exposed me to how the Indian Defence Force has been able to internalize and develop on this to their advantage.

Their entire doctrine is centered on their border issues with Pakistan and likely related threats. We can replicate same here.

The security agencies must be adequately equipped and troops morale sustained through a robust welfare and logistics modality that guarantees uninhibited flow of their allowances, ration, petroleum, oil lubricants, kitting, etc.

Synergy amongst operating agencies must exist and not taken for granted.

Exchange of information and intelligence should be a critical and integral component of this synergy.

Strategies at meeting challenges must continually be redefined and complimented with a perfected community generated information process. Since these insurgents live amongst the people, the community must drive the information process. If the community is not a critical stakeholder at the input stage of your information gathering, then the overall higher commander’s intent may suffer.

The development of an information data bank to include biometric data of any suspicious element is a ‘must do.’

Embedding could be a belated strategy at this point except the circumstance and environment avails the right opportunity.

At the diplomatic level, foreign assistance could be sought by government from friendly nations with a wealth of experience fighting insurgency.

Engagement of experienced professionals from the private sector

Continues on page 36

PAGE 36 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

.... CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Insecurity: FG can conquer with Abia formula — Adindu lege of a man who has been honed for leadership. So Nigeria needs Orji at the centre to replicate the miracle.

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

H

on. Godwin Adindu, Special Assis tant on Media to Abia State Gov ernor Theodore Orji, is also the President-General of the Abia Renaissance Movement (ARM), a socio-political group.

After ARM’s second Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place , he addressed journalists on the vision of the group and why Nigeria needs to tap from the skills of the Abia governor. Excerpts: What’s the way forward for Nigeria?

Nigeria is passing through a trying time.

President Goodluck Jonathan is an unfortunate leader who inherited a nation at war with itself. It’s a very difficult situation for him as a leader. People are quick to criticize but they don’t know the burden of leadership. Some of them cannot even run their homes. But, our position is that despite our trials as a nation, Nigeria must remain a united country. We call on the insurgents in the north to toe the line of peace and lay down their arms. They have caused enough havoc to the country. By now, they should have realized that their dream of a divided country is unattainable. But, we are worried as a group, over the dimension of the foreign terrorists in our midst. The discovery of the involvement of some Lebanese residents in Kano and Abuja in the sponsorship of terrorism in Nigeria is a challenge that the law enforcement authorities must tackle immediately.

Top on your communiqué is the recommendation that the Federal Government should engage Orji at the centre. How will this work?

The issues confronting Mr. President today at the national level are similar to the issues that Orji grappled with in Abia at

Continued from page 35

Godwin Adindu the point of the liberation. The governor inherited a state and a society that were literally at war. There were serious issues of insecurity. You are aware of the siege by kidnappers. The entire state was polarized. People were working at cross purposes. There was tension everywhere. The governor carefully and meticulously addressed these issues and stabilized the state. There must be a special skill and strategy that he deployed in tackling these issues. If it is in the professions, we will call him an expert on these matters. And what do you do to experts? You bring them in when the situation looks complex. You tap from their wisdom and knowledge on the topic. You invite them to demonstrate the skill and experience they used in handling similar situations.

So we believe that Governor Orji has raised the bar in governance and therefore needs to play at the centre to help lift Nigeria from its present predicaments. Nigeria has the privi-

What’s the vision of ARM? Our vision is simple and it is rooted in history. We had a peculiar case in Abia.

We were under the kind of power arrangement witnessed in the Medieval Ages. Do you remember Louis xiv of France and his boast? “The state is mine,” said the grand monarch. Do you remember Charles V of England and his divine right of kings? We had a replica of these rulers in our former ruler. So in the midst of the nation’s hardearned democracy, Abia continued to be a colony ruled by one family. The iron hand was so strong and the grip so hard. Then, one day, God heard the cry of the people and prepared another Moses. God weaned Governor Theodore Orji for the work ahead because he passed through the bondage. He says it openly today. At the fullness of time, Orji took the bull by the horns and liberated the state. It was a major revolution.And, as it is the case with all revolutions, from the French to the Bolshevik and to the Red Bandits of China, you need to continue to work hard to sustain it, because the stooges of the fallen regime will persist with all devices to truncate it.

So this is where the vision of the ARM starts – to guard this our hard-earned freedom. We are saying in ARM that never again shall anybody come to betray the labour of our heroes past. After twelve years of backwardness, we are happy with the governor’s new vision of change and rebirth. We hold Governor Orji high as a great leader who made personal sacrifices and mustered the courage to lead us out of bondage as a people. So the vision is to defend and protect the Abia heritage of

freedom.

What issues did you address at your second AGM? Our first AGM was in Aba in 2011.

This year the co-ordinator of the group in Abia North, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo, suggested that we take it to Lagos because we have a large membership here. A large section of the group are Abians in Diaspora. Next year, we will take it to Abuja. The theme of this year’s AGM is: Abia: the Journey so Far. The major issue was to review the progress of the liberation. We put the whole exercise on the scale. We looked at Abia before and Abia now. We checked to see if there is major progress and if there are areas where we need to draw the attention of the leader. We did a projection of where Abia could be in the next 20 years if this vision is sustained. We evaluated the work of major appointees in government to be sure they are working in tandem with the vision. We looked at issues of security, the governor ’s infrastructural renewal efforts, social amenities and the entire welfare of the people. In fact, we xrayed the entire administration and saw that Governor Orji is indeed a revolutionary. He is indeed a true agent of change. You see, revolution is not just about taking up arms and overthrowing an existing political system.

Revolution is also about taking drastic steps and executing actions that progressively expand the frontiers of human existence. And this is exactly what the governor is doing in God’s Own State.

And what was your verdict?

We passed a vote of confidence on the governor. We were happy that he has sustained the tempo of the liberation. We were happy that he has achieved so much in a short time and with little resources. The facts are there and anybody can go and verify. We took the premise from where we started two years ago and where we are now.

‘Boko Haram deserves the Maitatsine treatment’

should be given some serious considerations especially in the areas of technology applications in enhancement of operability.

This is where a good working cooperation with private security consultants and integrators can help seriously.

Two groups stand out profoundly here: Members of the American Society of Industrial Security – ASIS, members of the Society for Security Practitioners of Nigeria – SSPN. These bodies are made of some of the best brains in security matters. The emergence of the Department of Homeland Security in the United States after the 9/11 incidence exposed America to the enormous role its private sector security could play in leveraging existing gaps in the national security management. Government must reach out to these professional bodies and work with them.

On the legal front, citizen’s rights awareness is on the upward trend daily. It may not be too long before Nigerians begin to legally challenge damages to their properties. I am aware that Section 33(2) of the 1999 Constitution grants immunity to troops deployed on internal security operations (when lives are lost), but I doubt if this immunity covers damage to properties.

Perhaps, other provisions do, but it is important that the Army Directorate of Legal Services commences some research in that direction.

Senior citizens I have always bemoaned the use we put our retired senior citizens especially in the process of information gathering. The fact remains that we have never been a security conscious people. We so jealously guard our freedom and liberty to a point of fault. Go round the entire rural Nigeria, you would be

Col. Stan-Labo amazed at the number of retired civil servants and military personnel in their advanced ages, highly immobile but with sharp reflexes wasting away.

These are hands that can very easily be mobilized in national interest at little or no cost to government. Their

past years of service had left them with imbued values of patriotism and service to mother-land. All that is required of government is to have a data bank of their full details and locations for administrative coordination. These old men and women, who do nothing but just sit under the trees in front of their compounds, will avail you very accurate information concerning the neighborhood. I applied this strategy successfully in 2001- 4 while overseeing internal security operations at Ika LGA in Akwa Ibom State, as a young Major. The result was mind boggling and assisted the military in providing informed advice to the political hierarchy then.

Amnesty Amnesty to whom and for what?

Amnesty to a bunch of terrorists and murderers of innocent Nigerians going about their lawful activities?

Amnesty to elements who want to bring about a second civil war to this country? Look , I am from the northern part of this country, and I can confidently tell you that the emergence of Boko Haram is informed by a mixed grill of the following: a.

Activities of the northern political class. b. Bad governance and serially failed leadership. c. Endemic corruption at all levels. d.

Unemployment, ignorance, poverty. e.

Abuse of the Almajiri system of education. f. Wrong religious (doctrinal) adulteration. Today, the same vision less leadership in the North is asking for amnesty as an

escape from their own creation that has gone out of control.

However, in their subtle but desperate agitation, they attempt a comparison between the Boko Haram insurgency and the Niger Delta militancy.

These are two different situations. In the Niger Delta, it was a legitimate demand for restoration of rights of the people, withdrawn vide an unholy connivance between the state (as represented by the corrupt elite political class) and the imperialist oil companies.

High level degradation of all source of livelihood had taken place: water, soil, air etc.

Secondly, it was never a faceless agitation. From day one, great leaders like Adaka Boro, Saro Wiwa down to contemporaries like Asari Dokubo, Government Tompolo etc, were all well known faces ever ready for discussions.

Thirdly, the agitation was issue-driven with demands readily on the table. What are the issues for discussion with Boko Haram? They do not want western education? Who is forcing you to acquire western education? Even the average northern politician is comfortable with the wide spread ignorance you display around him, as it facilitates and creates a soft landing for his corrupt tendencies.

SUND AY SUNDA

TEARFUL AL-MUSTAPHA DECLARES...

I met empty home!

‘I lost my father and mother whom I forced the authorities to allow me to see two times only in 14 years’

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD, Kano.

“I left my parents in full flesh. I returned to meet them as corpses”.

HESE words from the main character in a Yoruba epic play could, as well, have been spoken by the former Chief Security Officer (CS0) to the late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who returned from 14 years in jail to meet both parents, whom he left alive, dead. “I lost my father and mother whom I forced the authorities to allow me to see two times only in 14 years”, a tearful Al-Mustapha told Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State whom he visited after he arrived Kano

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C M Y K

last Sunday.

He had about 48 hours earlier been set free by the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos following his acquittal of the charge of murdering Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, the wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.

Al-Mustapha's arrival in Kano marked a new life in freedom.

The former security operative was flown into Kano aboard a chartered flight that touched the ground around 12 noon in company of the founder, Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, Chief Frederick Fasheun, and some Nigerians who were visible during the days of the Abacha government.

The Yobe State-born military officer walked into a reception organised by the Abacha family. Youths in their thousands lined the strategic route to catch a glimpse

Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 37

of the former detainee.

Commercial activities in the Kano's four major markets came to a standstill. Motorcyclists violated the law prohibiting them from carrying passengers to convey well-wishers round, chanting praises to Allah over Al-Mustapha's release.

Even women in purdah sneaked to the gates of their houses to see what was happening.

The stringent security measures put together by the military for one of their own frustrated thousands of people from securing access to the VIP Lounge and tarmac of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, while hundreds climbed trees to watch proceedings at the airport where hundreds, comprising mainly members of the Abacha family, the Al Mustapha family and notable members of the Abacha regime gathered to receive him.

Spotting a maroon kaftan with a cap to match, AlMustapha, led by Fasheun, emerged from the aircraft, beaming with smiles. He waved and kissed the air in appreciation of the turnout. He shook hands with personalities that lined up at the tarmac before walking into one of the three waiting vehicles provided by Kano State government to carry him round the city that he last visited in “chains and tattered clothes”, October 24, 1998.

The military, supported by local security outfits, had a hectic time securing the airport as thousands of supporters of the one they called Madiba surged into the place until Al Mustapha appeared through the roof of the convertible sports utility vehicle (SUV) convey-

Continues on page 38

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Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

AL-MUSTAPHA: LIFE IN PRISON WAS AWFUL

Al Mustapha alighting from aircracft Continued from page 37 ing him alongside Fasheun.

The intimidating crowd of supporters forced the organizers of the reception to cancel some items on the itinerary as it took one and a half hours for the convoy to leave the airport, and headed for Kano Government House, where Governor Kwankwaso and his commissioners were waiting to meet with the hero of the moment.

Once at the Government House, AlMustapha was received by the commissioner, State Affairs, Aminu AbdulSalam, who ushered him into one of the lounges.

Al-Mustapha, seated with his family, Hafsa, wife; Babaji, son; and Fatima, daughter, who was meeting her father for the first time clung to her father during the waiting period.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for when AbdulSalam ushered Al Mustapha and the entourage into the expansive office of Mr. Governor for a private meeting before a courtesy call.

Inside the office, Kwankwaso welcomed the freed CSO and requested to know about his experience while out there on the streets. Al Mustapha told his host that “the crowd was overwhelmingly huge but orderly”. Thereafter, the guests were asked to move to the ante chamber hall where the governor later joined them.

Fumble

The MC introduced Al Mustapha and his entourage that included Mohammad Abacha, the head of the Abacha family and Fasheun, and was asked to explain why he was at the Government House.

Al-Mustapha stood up and tendered apology for mixing up protocol, pleading understanding that “it has been a long 14 years that I am out of circulation and you can understand why I had to fumble”.

The former security operative told his host that his entry into the Government House was a reminder of an event on October 24, 1998 when he was brought into the place, chained and in tattered clothes by security men in what he described as an attempt to rope him into a coup against constituted authorities.

“I am yet to reconcile with my freedom for I am yet to believe that this was the same Al-Mustapha that was brought into this place (Government House) in tattered shirt, and in chains on October 24, 1998. I was kept between Kano and Yobe between October 24 and 26, 1998 all in an attempt to incriminate me over an alleged coup to overthrow the government”, he said. “I am yet to understand what is C M Y K

“I am yet to reconcile with my freedom for I am yet to believe that this was the same Al-Mustapha that was brought into this place (Government House) in tattered shirt, and in chains on October 24, 1998 happening to me, it is still a dream and I am finding it difficult to adjust to the reality.

“My brother by your right, referring to Mohammad Abacha, was also arrested and they forced him into accepting some conditions that never existed; thank God he was discharged and acquitted also, just like I have gotten my own—he (Mohammed Abacha) got his from the Supreme Court. Mohammed Abacha was charged along with me in 1999, and he got his own freedom in 2002. I suffered a series of allegations, arranged and well scripted by some people, just to continue to keep us on charges that had no substance. We thank God almighty that we have met justice at the end of the day.”

Death during Ramadan

According to him, “during the travails, members of our families suffered degradation, humiliation, deliberate mischief, including attempted kidnapping of my children when they were very small; and campaigns of calumny on pages of newspapers and magazines and the rest; but today, we thank God almighty.

“I can just sum it up by saying 15 years after, with all respect and praises unto God almighty, that it is the liberty and honour restored. I lost my father and mother whom I forced the authorities to allow me to see two times only in 14 years” The controversial major, who, as he spoke bowed, went on: “I was their first child, I must say I was their confidant and best friend in my family. Even when the court forced the then authorities to allow me set my eyes on them, the approvals were flagrantly refused.

And I was kept and punished the more

Al Mustapha with Fasheun (left) as a ploy to ensure that I didn’t set eyes on my parents. I saw my father in 2001, and later in 2007 May; my mother, I was allowed to see her in 2001, and then I was allowed also to see her after a long battle that led to instructions from Federal High Court, Lagos in 2006; she died last year, in the month of Ramadan. Things we went through are things that I cannot sum up; those who perpetrated what they did against us have done it in their own deductions, analyses, feelings, but, to us, yesterday is gone.

We have drawn a line and we have forgiven them. We are forging ahead to set examples.”

'He stood by me'

Tur ning to the OPC leader, Fasheun, Al Mustapha told Kwankwaso: “I have found a father, highly dogmatic, a senior citizen of this country, a detribalized elder, an intellectual, a person that is a father indeed with a wide shoulder and a big heart, a man that is very reliable, responsible, dependable. He stood by me, having taken time to come to the court to realize that what was going on in the court of law was different from what was being scripted and sponsored on the pages of newspapers, magazines, television and radio.

He now decided to stay on the side of justice and insisted that justice must be served.

“I know of the humiliation he suffered. I must say that I have a father in the South-West. I respect him as a father that can look through issues in this country beyond tribal sentiment, beyond religious issues, he is an asset to the country, and that is why I have anchored upon him as a father with whom we can look into the future together.”

Life in prison

Narrating his prison ordeal, AlMustapha said, “I was every now and then subjected to be friendly to the world of mosquitoes, of smelly, horrible environment. I thank God for the freedom God has granted me which we shall utilize for friendship, for respect and service to our land. Even, while in detention in the South-West, we utilized the wisdom God almighty has endowed us with through that hardship to build bridges”. Al Mustapha, who lamented his inability to meet with his parents, said, “Your excellency, it might interest you to learn that I have an empty house now to go to”.

At this point, he could not control himself as he sobbed profusely before Kwankwaso abruptly brought to an end

his almost 40 minutes speech. Responding, the governor commended the judiciary for standing by the truth, adding that Al Mustapha's ordeal was a lesson to all human beings.

“Al-Mustapha's freedom gives me joy, and his freedom is a big lesson to all of us. I wish to seize this opportunity to commend the judiciary for taking sides with the truth”.

Old friend

Later in an interview with reporters at the Government House, Al-Mustapha defended his visit to Pastor TB Joshua, describing him as “an old friend who cannot be forgotten so easily”.

According to Al Mustapha, “immediately I regained my freedom, I headed straight to the palace of Oba of Lagos, then I visited T B Joshua and other dignitaries who identified with us during our travails”.

Asked to confirm when he was going to resume office against the backdrop that he remained a major in the Nigerian Army, the former CSO stated that “the decree that set up the military is very explicit on the issue, and the court verdict left no vacuum on same”.

The street went alive again when AlMustapha cruised in an open jeep and headed to the Emir of Kano’s palace and was received on behalf of the ailing emir by Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sunusi. Sunusi praised Allah for seeing the former CSO through the long period of incarceration, stressing, “We are grateful to Him for His mercies”.

Prayer at tomb

He then left for the residence of his former boss, the late Abacha. There, Al-Mustapha prayed at the tomb of the late Abacha.

Al-Mustapha's efforts, however, to visit the graveyard of his late father were stalled by the huge crowd that followed him.

It was from the graveyard that he began his journey to his family house located at Lamido Crescent, Nassarawa GRA. He arrived home at 5.30pm.

It took him one and a half hour to enter the house he saw last in 1998 due to the surging crowd that came to shake hands with him. The security arrangement by the military collapsed as they confronted the huge crowd.

At home, he broke his fast and joined thousand of well-wishers to observe his Magrib prayers. He was served with a local dish and fruits, even as the same gesture was extended to everyone around.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 39

•Students groomed by the Foundation

More children in the N-Delta are back in public schools — Ms Esiri M

S. Pamela Esiri is the founder and President of Emoeferotu Foundation, a not for profit organization which offers children and young people in rural areas of the Niger Delta education. An environmental lawyer, Esiri, who hails from Abraka, Delta State, was moved by the passion to give voice to the voiceless and access to education to the less privileged. Over the past six years, Emoeferotu which, in her local dialect, means, ‘Children are the wealth of the society’, has been active in fulfilling its mission.

What informed the creation of Emoeferotu?

I was part of an environmental walk around the riverine area of Delta State and I found out that I could not communicate with the youths in the area. I just wondered why there was this huge communication gap. Because I lived in Lagos, I didn’t know things were like that, I had just acquired a master’s degree in environmental law and politics and I decided to go and experiment and, when I got there, I realized that I couldn’t even talk to the youths on the ground, I noticed that something was wrong.

Why couldn’t you talk to them?

We talked to them but we could not communicate. Understanding was a major issue, because each C M Y K

time we went there and raised an issue that we all discussed and arrived at a conclusion, when we returned there the next day, or the next week, it was turned upside down. It was so obvious that we weren’t communicating. So I started thinking that maybe we were too advanced but I discovered that it wasn’t about being advanced but that those youths had had a different and difficult life and orientation. We didn’t even know that all these years they just grew up all by themselves without proper guidance.

At a point, a friend suggested that we leave and go to our community and work with smaller children.

Because for the youths, it was like taking them away from a place where, when you want to build your house, they will come and collect money. So we decided to go back to our community and, for two years, I have been going, meeting with the children, entertaining and providing them with scholarships as well as exposing them to things from the urban areas; and, we had to travel by water transportation for about an hour and a half hours to get there.

Did you find something similar in your community?

Even in my community as an Urhobo person, I wasn’t accepted, they felt I just came from the city.

When I got back to my base, I decided to re-strategize, we decided to go from school to school within

,

By YEMISI SULEIMAN

Understanding was a major issue, because each time we went there and raised an issue that we all discussed and arrived at a conclusion, when we returned there the next day, or the next week, it was turned upside down

,

my community, it was then I realized that Nigeria had become so bad to the extent that things that I couldn’t do as a teenager, small children were doing it. Parents were paying for their children to be promoted. And the teachers themselves lacked commitment whatsoever.

When I saw what was happening, and complained, they said ‘you never see, come make I show you this and that’.

I saw students who could not speak English in classroom, students were speaking Urhobo and, when I questioned teachers and the authorities in charge, I received this attitude of “what is my own, if the government is not providing nec-

•Ms. Pamela Esiri

essary resources, after all they are not my children, and I get paid at the end of the month? We do our best and leave the rest”. I am not an educationist but I know every school has a scheme of work they follow but here the case was different. During school hours, you find students sitting on the fence and chatting while lessons are going on.

If I hadn’t gone there and had that experience, I would never have understood that the education sector in the country had gone that way and that the standard of education had deteriorated completely. I told myself I was not going to leave the children like that and that I will come back. At this time, we didn’t have money; I didn’t even know how to administer an NGO. I thought within me, `what can we do to help these children?; they are the future of the society, after all, every adult was once a child’. I strongly believe that when we invest quality life in any child, the society enjoys it in future and we won’t have to worry when they become youths or adult.

We organized a prize giving cere-

mony and the turnout was really impressive because we worked mostly in public schools. That was how we started.

How did you go about it?

All we did was go to schools, tell them we wanted to provide them with a better life and making schooling very interesting. When you want to do something with a hungry person, you have to first take care of his hunger to enable that person listen to you. So we had to put food in their mouths, give them something to make them feel better. When we did our first presentation, we had a turn out that was really impressive; and then we came with prize giving to appreciate those who had done very well in their academics. It doesn’t take so much to put smiles on the faces of children and with the help of MTN to provide bags and books for the children and they have been supporting us till date.

Would you say there has been improvement?

There is so much that we can do,

Continues on page 41

PAGE 40— SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

Ethics as antidote to corruption, by Ekpo Nta, ICPC Chairman Chairman of the Independent Corrupt and Other Related Practices Commission (ICPC), Mr Ekpo Nta, explains how his commission uses the various strata of the society to tackle graft. He spoke in a paper entitled, ‘Ethical Deficit, Corruption and Nation-Building in 21st Century Nigeria’, at the 16th Wole Soyinka annual lecture, organised by the National Association of Seadogs multi-functional (universal) and have investigative/prosecutorial, preventive and educational/public enlightenment functions. A good example is the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of Hong Kong established in 1974. Nigeria’s equivalent is ICPC which combines all these functions and was established in 2000. A second version of specialist ACAs are investigative in nature and address specific areas and needs. They may, or may not, have prosecutorial powers. When Nigeria had specific challenges in money laundering, terrorist financing, oil bunkering, internetbased fraud and related economic and financial crimes, it responded with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2004. A third variant of ACAs is largely preventive in nature. It is known as Ethics (and Anticorruption) Commission especially in Kenya and Ethiopia where it addresses and

*Mr Ekpo Nta

I

am always delighted when I have to speak on corruption because that’s what I have been hired to do. It is a rare privilege to for me to be part of any ceremony that would honour an international icon of Nigerian descent, Wole Soyinka, in a world where to be described as a Nigerian connotes trouble except you are a footballer scoring goals in the European League. The second and more compelling reason was the opportunity for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to use this forum as a testing ground to discuss the draft of the Nigerian National Ethics and Integrity Policy which is undergoing finishing touches in partnership with the Justice For All (J4A) Programme of the DFID. Ahead of this program, some friends and relatives called me to find out why I was accepting to speak with the Pyrates Confraternity who were cultists! Was I a member? “No,” I replied. “I have no intention of joining them or any group that will require me explaining all the time that ‘we are not what you think ’.” It is enough trouble for me to explain to the international community during confabs that the real Nigerian is an honest, Godfearing person who desires to be appreciated locally and internationally.

It was now clear to me why the team that came to me in the office to hand me the invitation letter came armed with a publication on the objectives of the National Association of Seadogs and a court judgment which affirmed that the association was not a cult!! They had this ready in case I had any reservations.

I have gone through this explanation to enable you understand the burden of some Nigerians who have to assure other Nigerians, and the international community, that “ we are not what you think.” In order words, you are being persecuted on the basis of PERCEPTION than for the actual misdeeds, if any, that you may be involved in.

permissible behaviour or actions which promote good human values: honesty (accountability, transparency, etc.), justice, chivalry, respect for others, patriotism, etc.

It guides conduct on the basis of ‘do what I say and do and not what I say and do not do’. An absence or low supply of ethical values leads to a deficit in moral well-being and limits the deficiency-prone individual in the delivery of good governance and promotes corruption. A high dosage of ethical values can also attract resentment for an upright individual operating within a morally bankrupt society. Societies have tended to address and maintain ethical balances through self-regulating conduct and sanctions through the use of law enforcement agencies, and, lately added, anti-corruption agencies (ACA).

Corruption is the subverting of public institutions, processes and goods for the benefit of a few persons or their associates.

The substructures that fuel corruption indicate that it thrives where there is a high percentage of ethical and moral deficit in the populace. Societies with high inflation rates, lack of social safety nets, poor infrastructure, poor access to good quality health and educational services, high unemployment rates amongst the youth provide fertile grounds for corruption. Illpaid civil servants, public office holders and unregulated businesses will tend to exploit these situations to provide personal safety nets and eventually become rabidly greedy.

Ethics?

This is a set of societal rules which have international acceptance in terms of

Types of Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACA) There are various types of ACA. Some are

,

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However there is a higher opportunity for success in countries that have had severe corruption crisis and have themselves decided to do something about it domestically

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concentrates more on ethical reformation as a basis for preventing corruption. Under this genre, we have the National Orientation Agency and the Code of Conduct Bureau to address specific areas.

The latter is part of the Nigerian Constitution and has elaborate ethical rules guiding those in public service.

The fourth type is the multi-agency approach where several distinct ACAs work in synergy to fight the common enemy (corruption) and each develops specialisation which comes in useful during coordinated inter-agency operations. A good example of this is the United States Office of Government Ethics which has preventive functions. It works in concert with the Justice Department which has investigative and prosecution powers. With the aftermath of the September 11 bombing incident, the Homeland Security Department came into being and coordinates several other agencies like Customs, Immigration, Coast Guards, Secret Service, etc.

How did anti-corruption agencies evolve in Nigeria?

Some countries established ACAs in response to international pressures especially trading and donor partners. I doubt the effectiveness of their ACAs making any impact because of the perception that their local corruption is against outsiders. However there is a higher opportunity for success in countries that have had severe corruption crisis and have themselves decided to do something about it domestically. The local

population must buy into and sustain it for its own good and the good of all.

Which is our scenario? Each country must understand its needs and be careful not to dance to external music to the detriment of its internal cohesion. We react in a kneejack fashion and oftentimes throw out the baby with the bath water and begin to reinvent the wheel at great expense and arrive at comical results.

Have you of late tried ordering certain goods on internet and found out that you could not find “Nigeria” in the drop-down box for mail deliveries?

Fixing ethical deficits ICPC is in the forefront of providing a National Policy on Ethics and Integrity under its preventive mandate if we are to win the war against corruption in the 21st century and beyond. We want to engage the citizens and allocate shares to them as owners of the change. We need to identify Nigerian core values.

Do Christians, Muslims and idol worshippers/pagans in Nigeria share the same ethical values? Do they have different reactions to “dishonesty”? The culmination and acceptance of shared values become core values and over time become a basis for negotiating acceptable laws for all persons in the society.

Do we need constitutional guarantees for ethics?

It must be noted that Chapter II of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2011) dealing with Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy has taken care of the need for national ethics. This is for “the purpose of promoting the good government and the welfare of all persons in our country on the principles of freedom, equality and justice, and for the purpose of consolidating the Unity of our people”.

Poser: Do Nigerians need Servicom and Social Charters to be scrawled all over the walls before public officers serve with integrity and honesty? What are human rights if we do not have respect for human dignity and the sanctity of the human person especially when other human societies have stringent rules for treating animals well?

Wherever you come from or whatever your religious belief is, which mother would like to see her children die in hospitals because they were administered with fake drugs?

ICPCs intervention/preventive activities: 1.

National Ethics and Civic Curriculum: Eight years ago, ICPC, in collaboration with the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), developed a National Ethics and Civic Curriculum for our educational system starting from the primary schools. Last month, we followed this with the launch of a Teacher’s Guide.

We have established Anti-corruption and Integrity Clubs in secondary schools and tertiary institutions across the country and my present Board has approved increased

Continues on page 41

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 41

‘Measures to stop corruption’ Continued from page 40 funding and interaction to this vital sector.

2. University Systems Study and Review: ICPC is currently involved in a review of corruption-prone processes at the tertiary levels of education with a view to assisting that sector take command of our national development imperatives. We have placed strong emphasis on the principles of honesty, hard-work, etc and will help develop new thought processes. We have begun the shutting down of illegal degree awarding mills nationwide.

3. NYSC: ICPC has integrity partnership associations with the NYSC and we have an ethics programme that we run during their camping. After camping, the process is driven by corps members as volunteer groups.

4. Town Hall Meetings: ICPC runs integrity programmes through town hall meetings throughout the nation where we interact with the local opinion leaders and citizens.

5. National Anti-corruption Volunteer Corps and National Coalition of Civil Societies: Our most rewarding partnership that is citizen-run is in the area of volunteerism by citizens in the fight against

*Mr Ekpo Nta corruption through sensitisation processes.

We are now engaging professional bodies so that they can begin to proactively monitor their members and sanction them.

Promoting Ethical Conduct: • Patriotism: What will make me die for Nigeria if my children will become destitute and will have no access to my death benefits? We need to and we have begun cleaning up the pensions system and enforcing new processes.

• Access to justice irrespective of tongue

or status: Legal Aid Council to assist the poor. Expand it to provide National Legal Schemes to encourage and assist young lawyers take up and defend the “defenceless” for a state determined fee.

• Democratic change in governance: Strengthen democratic institutions like INEC and let the citizens buy into it as a protection of their rights.

• Poverty alleviation programmes: These will strengthen democratic rights - the hungry and needy cannot make choices.

• Restitution and compensation for victims of crime and injustice and immediate retribution and punishment for criminal conduct: This is the best signal that can assist ethical conduct of citizens. Elaborate schemes, not adhoc ones, must be encouraged and developed.

• Unity in diversity: Educational Institutions, NYSC, military and paramilitary organisations must be encouraged to be universal in nature so that all citizens can have a stake and buy-in that these are national institutions • Professionalism: Holding professionals to the ethical values. Develop specialisation and allow professionals to run their sectors.

• Declaration of Interest - Code of conduct for public officers.

• Federal Character Principles: Inclusiveness or exclusiveness.

• Use of Technology: Our integration with the world is based on technological savvy and this must be done in line with international ethical considerations.

Internet banking and shopping is based on trust and we must remove the yoke of dishonesty that some of our country men have imposed on us.

Conclusion: In conclusion, I would like to posit that nation -building would benefit from a strong dose of citizen and leadership conducts driven by ethics and integrity. The substructures that will support genuine ethical conduct must be situated in a fair rewards system where there is access to minimum acceptable standards that provide a decent life for citizens. Our collective strength lies in the weakest Nigerian.

All levels of governance must key into a national ethical conduct and not play “politics” with our jugular arteries especially in the areas of education, health, agriculture, security, infrastructural development, utilities, community development and national elections. The ethics policy must be integrated into recruitment into the public service, procurements and must be binding on citizens and foreigners.

More children in the N-Delta are back in public schools — Ms Esiri them the importance of speaking English and they will learn especially because they are very young. Unfortunately there is a problem with the system, the teachers can’t even speak English, so how would they now teach or give what they don’t have? I try not to throw my weight around while investigating how these so-called teachers were employed as a large number of them were unqualified.

That was when we started doing teachers capacity building. We have done it twice this year, to encourage the teachers and they were willing to learn new developments. But then we have this financial constraint, nobody gives us money. Apart from MTN that has been providing us with funds for the prize giving, every other thing is done by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and our friends. It is just that I love working with children; it is not about the money spent but the lives touched positively.

What do you think is responsible for all these challenges?

Bad governance; there is no

commitment Everybody thinks: ‘is it my business? I do my own, you do your own, I get my salary at the end of the month’. There are just few people interested in making a difference. Initially, most of the teachers said the project would fail.

Looking back two years down the road, what are the achievements that you have recorded?

People are beginning to trust us.

If I tell them we are going to do something, we try to make them feel important. We tell them to dream big dreams and aim for the moon and the stars. I keep saying that to the children and parents. The private schools in the areas started complaining that we were taking food from their mouths, as people started leaving private schools for public schools. But God knew that I did not tell them to leave, but we made school interesting and they came back.

Apart from the prize giving ceremony, what other educational services do you render?

We have a scholarship scheme as well. Our scholarship ceremony is in August, that is where you see children from remote areas, with

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Continues from pg 28

All we did was go to schools, tell them we wanted to provide them with a better life and making schooling very interesting

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every tribe represented in the scheme; we get the poorest of the poor. We don’t just pick them, you must have done primary four, five and six in that school, because people cheat, they take their children from private school and put them in government school so that they can write the scholarship test. But I told the people they are dealing with a professional, we screen, the lady in the ministry of education will check to ensure that children in private schools do not move to public schools to take the slots of kids who have been in the public schools right from primary

one to six. And for those in rural areas, we reduce the cut-off marks because teachers don’t want to go there, we know they have potentials, and they haven’t disappointed us.

We groom them, we take them for excursion, mentor them, develop their skills, take them to leadership camps, and, by the time they are in SS1, we send them to boarding schools, because we have given them the foundation we think they need.

In Delta State, for instance, they don’t pay school fees in government schools, and they say the books are free, but the books don’t get to the children and so we buy books, sandals, uniforms for them. We put them together once in a while; when we do this, they don’t want to go back home, because they like it when they live together.

So how many children are benefiting from this scheme?

We have 103.

What are some of the challenges you face?

Transportation consumes about 70% of our budget because we use the best.

Any form of assistance from government?

I told myself that for the first five years of this project I will not ask anybody for anything. I was looking for where to learn how to

write proposals, and I met a lady and I went for training at the Partnership Initiative for the Niger Delta. If you haven’t had training with those people, you haven’t started anything. They teach you everything from writing proposal to financial management; so now I am equipped to write my proposals.

That aside, we plan to generate fund from an institute that we have just developed, propelling women through financial empowerment.

We want to be self sufficient; we don’t want to go asking for funding all the time.

Tell us about your love for the grassroots people?

I guess it is the way I was brought up, I did grow up in the village, but I don’t like seeing people suffer. My father was able to provide all that we needed. When I see people struggle so hard to survive, it really hurts me and some people who struggled and have made it now, they seem not to be able to get out that time in their lives when they had nothing; it is like they have branded themselves with poverty.

You don’t have to brand yourself, you are not a poverty brand, you are an asset. So think big, you can be anything that you want to be.

So how did you get into environmental law?

I was reading about what happened at Koko toxic dumpsite, how those people could have thought we were idiots as to dispose their toxic waste in our country.

C M Y K

Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

PROF. FESTUS IYAYI is a former National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). In this interview, he explains why university teachers nationwide are on strike; saying the action is to compel the Federal Government to implement the agreement it reached with ASUU on funding of universities. Iyayi, currently Head of Dept, Business Administration, University of Benin, insists that the union members are prepared to stay at home for the next three to five years until the right thing is done.

Excerpts:

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE, BENIN

A

SUU has gone back to the trenches with the Federal Government.

Why are you on strike?

The short answer is this: Government believes that Nigeria should continue to be not just a second rate country but a third rate country because the quality of development, the kind of society you have depend on the kind of education that the people have and the quality of education that exists in the country. In 2009, ASUU reached an agreement with government on how to rehabilitate and revitalize the universities. That agreement was a product of three years of negotiation, from 2006 to 2009, and government agreed that it will provide funding for universities to bring them to a level that we can begin to produce graduates that will be recognized worldwide, and our universities can also be classified and rated among the best in the world. People keep talking about universities rating, but no Nigerian university features among the first 1,000 in the world because of the issue of lack of facilities. So, from 2009

C M Y K

•PROF. FESTUS IYAYI

ASUU STRIKE Nigerian varsities may remain shut for a long time to come — Prof Iyayi

not coming to the universities, government will do the costing and get people to come and do all those things such as the rehabilitation of the laboratories, classrooms and a variety of other things.

Needs assessment committee

•Says system has collapsed, products 'learning ignorance' •'UK, US schools rejecting our graduates' to 2012, ASUU waited for the Federal Government to implement that agreement and what government did was to believe and present the argument that what ASUU was looking for was money, and so, they implemented part of the salary component; they did not implement the agreement on funding. As academics, if you pay us N10million a month and we do not have the tools to work with, that money is worthless because we want to be able to conduct research, teach students the latest that is available in the world of knowledge.

Those tools were not available and are still not available. So, in 2011, precisely in December, ASUU went on strike to force government to implement the funding part of that agreement.

What did the government do?

They apprehended the strike in January 2012 and the Secretary to the Federal Government invited the leadership of ASUU for a meeting in his office. We went there, discussed with them on the basis of which on 24 January, 2012, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government under the title, “MEETING OF THE SECRETARY OF THE GOVERNEMNT OF THE

FEDERATION WITH THE ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES “and signed by Prof. Nicholas A. Damachi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education on behalf of the Federal Government. The most important of the items signed was 3.0, that is, “FUNDING REQUIRE-

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PAGE 42— SUNDAY

years”. As we speak now, not a Kobo, not an iota of intervention has taken place in the universities. Yet, government itself, in the various studies it has done, said it recognizes the pathetic state of the universities. In order to implement this agreement, government first gave a reason saying, ‘oh, for

They went to laboratories where they found people using kerosene stoves instead of bushing burners to conduct experiments; they found specimens being kept in pure water bottles instead of the appropriate places where such specimens should be kept

MENTS FOR UNIVERSITIES”. And this is what the Federal Government said it would do: “Government reaffirms its commitment to the revitalization of Nigerian universities through budgetary and nonbudgetary sources of funds; government will immediately stimulate the process with the sum of N100billion and will beef it up to a yearly sum of N400billion in the next three

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us to apply the funds, let us first of all identify the areas of priorities to which the funds will be applied’. Government also said, ‘we are not going to give the money to the universities, what we are going to do is to identify the projects, we will them call on government agencies such as the CBN, PTDF, ETF to deliver the projects to the universities that would then be estimated’. So the money is

Now what should be those things: Government set up a committee called the NEEDS ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE and it went round the universities and what it found was shocking. First, it found that the students – teachers ratio was 1-400 on the average instead of being 1-40. It found out that the classrooms were grossly inadequate and could accommodate only about 30 percent of the number of students that needed to enter those classrooms; they went round and found students standing in their lecture theatres with other students writing on their backs; they found lectures going on under trees in some of the universities; they went to laboratories where they found people using kerosene stoves instead of bushing burners to conduct experiments; they found specimens being kept in pure water bottles instead of the appropriate places where such specimens should be kept.

They found chemistry labs without water; they found people doing examinations called theory of practicals and not the practicals and you will imagine what the practical ought to be. And when the report was eventually presented to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Federal Executive Council, we understand that Jonathan said that he was embarrassed and did not know that things were all that bad.

No intervention

It was on that basis that they said that this money should be spent. As we speak, the money has not been provided, no intervention has taken place and the academics are tired. We negotiated for three years,

Continues on page 43

SUNDAY

2006-2009, we went on strike in December, 2011 and government apprehended that strike; we signed an MoU in January 2012, between then and now, nothing happened.

That is why we are on strike.

We are saying, ‘look, rehabilitate the universities’. As a reporter, you can go round our classrooms and you will see what our classrooms are like.

In this era, it is the quality of knowledge that you acquire that will determine the position you occupy in any part of the world. We did this and government did not do anything. A professor came from Bayelsa State recently to the University of Benin, looking for journals. We went to the library because we have an elibrary and he could not do anything there because there was no light for two days in the library. If you go round here now, lecturers have generators in their offices to be able to work, every department has two or three generators to be able to do their work. Is that what a university should be like? If you go to the students’ hostels, they in a sorry state, they live 12 in a room; they are like piggery; they now have what they called short puts, they excrete in polythene bags and throw them through the windows into the fields because there are no toilets. If you come into this building (faculty building), there are no toilets and, if walk round, you will find faeces sometimes in the classrooms because students have no place to use. And it is like that in all other universities.

Enough is enough

A

cademic staff has said enough is enough, we cannot continue to work under these conditions, especially when government gave commitment in 2012 that this matter would be addressed but up till now nothing had happened.

We had several meetings between 2012 and now and they will say ‘next week this one will happen; in two weeks time that one will happen, give us one month, this one will happen’, nothing has happened. And when students leave here, they apply for progammes in the United Kingdom, United States and other countries for their master degrees, PhD or other postgraduate programmes and they are told that they cannot be admitted because their degrees are suspect. Shell here in Nigeria spent millions of dollars re-training graduates, people who made First Class and, when they test them, they found out that they have problems. How can you take an engineer who has not conducted an experiment, all he did is the theory of practical? He does not know how the equipment works? If you want a properly educated student population, you have to provide the facilities. That is what ASUU is on strike. What government has done in the past is to say that we are on strike because of money, now they don’t have that excuse. It is true that part of the agreement we have with the government also talked

'UK, US schools rejecting our graduates' development has to be about the ordinary people, it cannot be about the rich. So, there is no way, not in this century, not the next or in a life time that private universities will become more important than public universities.

So what is The Way Forward?

T

•PROF. FESTUS IYAYI about academic allowances, but academics are saying that we are not interested in that; we are saying that government should rehabilitate facilities and once they are rehabilitated and they are up to standard, we will come back to work. If you go to our classrooms, we use chalk boards, the situation of the 1960s but people are using multi-media facilities, mark boards where you can download information. That is not available here and government is not interested in that.

No country developed without a sound educational system and the foundation is not the primary school incidentally, it is at the university level because it is the university that trains other levels. For instance, if you want to teach in primary school, you need people who attended the Colleges of Education; if you want to be teacher at the Colleges of Education, you must have a degree from the university; so, the university provides the manpower for other levels of education and that is why you must concentrate efforts on the university education. If you don’t do that, other levels of education will suffer and that is what has been happening in Nigeria.

Against this backdrop, of your complaints more private universities are being approved by government. Will this help to solve the problem? ven the National Universi ties Commission (NUC), E which is licensing private univer-

sities, has now drawn attention to the crisis of quality in many of these private universities. You know what government does: We have refineries in Port-Harcourt and Warri; I was just talking with some people recently and they said, oh, Port-Harcourt refinery is in a state where it can refine whatever amount of crude oil sent to it; its plants are all now working,’ but, as at today, government has not send crude oil to it and they cannot process anything because they want to import. Nigeria is the only OPEC member country that

sells crude oil to its refineries at the international price? Does that work? It doesn’t work, but they use international price to sell crude oil to refineries, to make it impossible for the refineries to process crude and then they go to Spain and other countries to import refined products.

So, what is happening is that government wants to kill the public universities just as it has killed its own enterprises so that it can invite people to come and buy over the public universities? Unfortunately, it will not work because universities are not like enterprises. In the UK, most of the universities there are public owned; in the US, most of the universities are state owned; the one you hear about, HARVARD, is a private one, but most of the universities in the world are owned by government because education is a social service; the revenue and tax collected by government comes from the people, the commonwealth, that is the fund that is used in funding education. And what the government is doing is to under-fund public universities, give them a bad name and provide an excuse to license private universities many of which borrow lecturers from public sector universities, many of which do not have the equipment which public universities ought to have.

And many of the private universities focus on the social sciences, law and arts; they do not go into engineering, medicine or sciences because you need a lot of capital outlay, you need to spend a lot of money building laboratories. I went to Oxford University last year and they showed me a laboratory that was built last year, a huge building where people from different parts of the world went there to conduct experiments. It cost billions of pounds and no private sector person will like to invest such money because the returns on investment cannot be recouped. So, private sector universities are gimmicks by government to say that they are better than the public sector universities, but then, how many people are there how much fees do they pay and how many people in Nigeria can pay the sum of N350,000 and above paid in private universities? Those universities are not meant for the children of ordinary Nigerians and

he way forward is that the ruling elite in Nigeria must be sure of what that want.

We have an example; many years ago, Ghanaians were here; they flooded our universities; when the Ghanaians rulers saw what was happening, they took a step back and said, lets us change direction’. They closed down the universities for three years or so, rehabilitated all the facilities in the universities and brought the students and the lecturers back. Now, the CBN Governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi disclosed that Nigerians spent about N62billion paying school fees for 75,000 Nigerian students in Ghanaian universities.

Our people are in South Africa paying fees there, but who those going there; they are the children of the rich. Ghanaians are in Ghana universities but they are not paying what Nigerians are paying there. So, the way forward is that government makes up its mind that Nigerians must have a place under the sun and that place under the sun can only be guaranteed with a sound university system. It must make up

,

Continued from page 42

Vanguard , JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 43

And when students leave here, they apply for progammes in the United Kingdom, United States and other countries for their postgraduate programmes and PhD and they are told that they cannot be admitted because their degrees are suspect

,

its mind; is it to close down the university system for three years or so, do what should be done and then invite students and lecturers back? For instance, in the University of Benin, you don’t have a foreign student and if you go to other universities in Nigeria, I don’t think there are foreign students.

When I came to the University of Benin, I was interviewed by Prof. Smith, a Briton who was the Dean at the time and many people from different parts of the world were here as teach-

ers and students. But, right now, they are not in Nigeria; instead, Nigerians are everywhere. That shows that the system has collapsed. When we went to the National Assembly, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije and his colleagues told us that they were on the knees begging us to recall the students because they are on the streets posing dangers and problems, and we said, it is better for them to be on the streets than on the campus of universities learning ignorance. You cannot teach ignorance to people or half knowledge to the people because they will be more dangerous to the society.

‘Not asking for money for ourselves’

I

f you have a doctor that is not well trained, and you say ‘go and remove an appendix’, and he goes to remove your heart because he doesn’t know where the appendix is; it is better not to have doctors than the one who will go and remove your heart than the appendix. That is what the Nigerian government wants us to do and the academics in universities are saying no, for once, let us do the right thing; we are prepared to stay at home for between three and five years until these problems are resolved. We are not asking for money, facilities must be provided to make the universities truly what they ought to be. In terms of how to solve the problems in the universities, when the financial crisis broke out in 2007 and banks declared that they were in trouble, government brought out N3trillion to bail out the banks. First, they gave the banks N239billion, another N620billion and N1.725trillion making a total of N3trillion.

Then the aviation sector said that it was in distress, they gave the sector, N500billion and they gave even NOLLYWOOD billions of Naira. These sectors are important, but they are not as important as the fundamental which is the education sector. If you can give the banks N3trillion and all the universities are asking for is about N1.5trillion, the same way in which they sourced the money which they gave to the banks which they are now saying that they should not pay back, they should be able to do more for education. So, nobody should come to us and say that government has no money.

If they can bail the banks with N3trillion, banks owned by the private sector, they cannot tell us they cannot fund the education sector because the World Bank told them that Africans do not need higher education, that what Africans need is middle-level technical education; that is what the Okonjo-Iwealas and Goodluck Jonathan are for.

So, let them do what they did in the case of the banks to education and if they do that, the problems will be solved.

PAGE 44— SUNDAY

Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

FUEL SUBSIDY SCAM

EFCC should tell us how much was recovered — Olisa Agbakoba •’Why I am introducing Miranda Right to Nigeria!’

M R. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) is a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA. In this interview, the legal luminary argues that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the police have performed abysmally in the prosecution of suspects. He also speaks on the probe initiated by government into fuel subsidy scam.

Excerpts: YOUR client, Mr. Seun Ogunbambo, is standing trial for subsidy fraud. Don’t you think the ground of your application to quash the case, which you referred to as C M Y K

,

BY DAPO AKINREFON

Generally – we are talking whether the EFCC should be restructured. Not just the EFCC, what of the police? The police is a disgrace. Because, at least, EFCC have lawyers, but the police are not lawyers and the police can prosecute

,

“Miranda Right” is alien to our legal system? What is Miranda Right and how does it apply in this case?

Miranda Right is applicable to Nigerians. It’s a name that derives from the American decision when Miranda, a black person, was beaten to death by the police and Miranda’s fam-

ily brought an action against the state of Arizona and the Supreme Court decided that the Miranda Right is entrenched in the fifth amendment of the American constitution. Now in Nigeria, the origin of Miranda Right is quite old. It is traceable to the very widely known practice of

the police; to beat people to extract information, which they call confessional.

When you read the report when I was the President of the Nigerian Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), we found out that as high as eighty percent of the people in police custody are forced to make confessions and a very sensible rule was put in place, which was called the ‘Judge’s Rule’ which requires the judge to ensure that a statement of an accused person has been responsibly taken at the police station and signed by a senior police officer. Now, that Judge’s Rule is enshrined in section 35 of the constitution akin to Miranda Right.

All it says is that a person who is going to make a statement must receive legal advice immediately upon his arrest because it is that legal advice he receives that proves to the court that his rights have not been violated and, in particular, his statement has been voluntarily made. I have studied a number of cases, and, in particular the one I’m doing, when I did not see the application of the Miranda Right, I said no, that is serious. It is a very serious issue and I felt it is important that the right be contested in court.

So Miranda Right in a nutshell is not alien to the Nigerian system and not likely to

Continues from pg 45

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 45

Seun is entitled to the presumption of innocence, so it is you who say he has done something that should make sure that the case is prosecuted because the matter is all being bungled, nobody has any clue about what has gone wrong. If I were the EFCC chairperson, here is what I would have done; I would have written a memo to Mr. President, I would tell him this is a highly specialised matter and I don’t have the skill to handle it. We need to retain competent private prosecutors, agree with their terms of engagement and go to court.

That is what happens in En-

,

Continued from page 44 cause more trouble for your client?

No, it is not alien to Nigeria. How can it cause more trouble for my client!? Rather it would establish whether his statement was made voluntarily because the caution required in the statement was not there.

But has the Miranda law been argued in any Nigerian court before now?

This is the first time and somebody must start something. The constitution is in the interest of Nigeria, so I’m not talking to raise my voice.

What is your take on the operation mode of the EFCC in handling the subsidy probe?

Not just the subsidy probe; everything. I don’t rate EFCC highly in their prosecutorial methods. I know of some of my very good colleagues in the EFCC who have performed very well and I can mention Rotimi Jacobs (SAN). But I speak generally – we are talking whether the EFCC should be restructured. Not just the EFCC, what of the police? The police is a disgrace. Because, at least, EFCC have lawyers, but the police are not lawyers and the police can prosecute and prosecuting a crime is not an easy thing because you have to understand what you are doing and you have to be trained.

So, a lot goes on at the level of law, whether EFCC or the police because they are not trained. If as a persecutor and I’m reading the file brought by Mr. X and EFCC investigating officer says this is a file I have investigated and I feel that you, the legal officer, will make a charge. That is how it starts. It is the EFCC investigative side that first takes off the case; gather all the evidence and then says we think something should be done here. Do they do it? I challenge the EFCC to confirm or deny that they have a meeting where they say how many files do we have?

Who is the investigating officer? Did you check to see that all the elements that constitute murder are present? They don’t do that! They just say, ‘ we don’t like him, put him in the jail. Go and get a witness.

When you get it, collect and put it in proofs and when you put in the proofs, take him to court’. In one case in Abuja, I told the judge, ‘I can’t read this thing. I’m entitled by Section 35 (2) to provide legal representation to my client but if I cannot read the document, how can I do so?’ And I’m bringing that in this case too because they have charged

If I were the EFCC chairperson, here is what I would have done; I would have written a memo to Mr. President, I would tell him this is a highly specialised matter and I don’t have the skill to handle it.

,

Olisa Agbakoba (SAN)

’Why I am introducing Miranda Right to Nigeria!’ the man with offences giving a bundle but when I read the bundle, they are all jumbled– disjointed– not even paginated.

So, if you say the man forged something, I cannot tell where I can find it. Because in the olden days, a statement with which a man is to be charged with an offence is a sacred document. The judge reads thoroughly. Here how many judges read the proofs before they give consent? They just pile the files in the judge’s chamber and they say ‘ what do you want, consent?’ That was why Gani (Fawehinmi) challenged the principle of consent many years ago. Consent to prosecute is a serious thing. My point is that the entire chain of prosecution that begins from investigation, to prosecution, to judge’s consent is all messed up. So by the time you are in the hands of an experi-

enced constitutional-criminal lawyer like me, they can tear it apart.

In that case, what is your position on the handling of the entire fuel subsidy crisis?

It has not been handled well because Nigerians were very disappointed. In fact, not disappointed, Nigerians were shocked to their bone marrow that this type of thing is happening. And to me, in the maritime industry, I was absolutely stunned because I never knew that this type of thing was happening. So what Nigerians seek is a vigorous campaign to recover the money. But I don’t even know how much was stolen. Today they say it is this, tomorrow they say it is that. But what the EFCC should tell us now is “so much has been recovered.”

Don’t blame defence lawyers who take advantage of EFCC’s weakness. Like Seun, because

gland. In England, you have what is called the Crown Prosecution Service; it is headed by the Attorney-General. It is a highly organised and proficient prosecution service. Before they go to court, the evidence must be good. Crown Prosecution Service is no child’s play, but the ministry of justice, with due respect to them because they are my friends, is not just working. So you have no result from the fuel subsidy scam because the prosecutorial skill is weak.

Do you think a good use can still be made of the House of Representatives report on the subsidy probe?

The House of Representatives report on subsidy is what informed the EFCC probe, so I think they have exhausted their own part – they have done their own bit and the names they have sent to EFCC are the ones the EFCC is now required to technically examine; so you don’t waste time prosecuting a person who turns out to be innocent.

I have also discovered from my years of experience that there is always public sentiment in everything such that while the fuel scam was a huge thing, I was shocked to be informed, even though I still don’t believe, I thought that the entire scam was as big as ninety percent, but that should have been the first thing that the EFCC should have deciphered so that we know who

to concentrate on, so that there is no need to work on a large number of files if most of the files will not yield result.

Nigeria has been repeatedly ranked among most corrupt nations in the world.

How do you think the Federal Government can tackle corruption?

First is the will - to have the desire inside. You must desire it from the inside. I want to be a lawyer, I must desire it.

When that desire is there, then we must translate it by asking the right questions. Now, a right question will be how do we mount an effective anti– corruption campaign? What do we have as our anti-corruption campaign? My good friend, Larry Diamond, one of the world’s leading professors on this subject, when he gave a lecture on this topic; what rangs in my ear was when he said “perception”, you know perception is almost like fear.

There is a perception that if you move about in the night, you will be attacked. You may not be. So, you will say are you going out in the night? Don’t go! So there must be a perception that engaging in corrupt practices will land you in jail.

In England, it is known and the thing is not to be caught, but if you are caught you are gone. But here in Nigeria, whether you are caught or not, nothing happens to you. I have seen many people - a man who is under-going trial and who is flying around in private jets.

But if the perception is right, many people facing trial, just going around at parties, entering planes and living life as if nothing happened won’t be doing that. That is the challenge, but if that perception is there, many people who have done the wrong things would actually by now be in jail and you wouldn’t even see them because they will be so ashamed. Another thing is to have the tools. If you don’t have the tools, you can’t do it.

In Nigeria, there is no quest for excellence. Nobody cares.

I have not seen serious attempt by the law enforcement agencies to competently prosecute offenders.

For instance, if the EFCC is competent in their operation, they will know the right court to go. The question is, why is the EFCC prosecuting in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in a Lagos State court? And you may ask: did Lagos State take those who take money from the treasury to the Federal High Court in Abuja? Why should they say that they don’t have faith in the Federal High Court which is the correct court?

PAGE 46—SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

N spite of several sub tle nudging from the I Lord about her deplorable

condition, I refused to give Bolaji Ogundimu a housing loan. My position was that several others applied before her. So the Lord decided to set me up. I needed to catch a plane out of New York. By the time it was my turn, the counter was closed. Then the Lord said to me: “So Femi, how do you expect to get on this plane?” I finally saw the light and plea-bargained: “Only your love, Daddy; only your love can get me on this plane.”

On many occasions, Jesus broke the rules out of love. He could not help himself; he had to respond in love. When his mother told him at the wedding in Cana that they had run out of wine, he observed that it was not yet the time for miracles. Jesus was following God’s timing. But suddenly man's needs preceded God's timing.

The wedding hosts knew nothing about God’s timing. Had they known, they might have scheduled the wedding for a later date.

But the love of God could not but respond to human need. Accordingly, Jesus was often moved by compassion. Some of his most astounding miracles came as a response to human need. He multiplied loaves and fed the multitude because he was moved with compassion for people who had been without food for three days. And so at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, Jesus was compelled to turn water into wine. He did this out of season because he was moved by love.

LOVE BREAKS THE RULES Love overrules The Greek woman who prayed to Jesus for the healing of her daughter did not understand the times and the seasons. She was not a Daniel. She was not a bible scholar. She was not even a Christian. All she knew was that her daughter was sick. Therefore, she came and asked for the right thing but at the wrong time. She asked for the healing of a Gentile when it was still the time of the Jews. She came to ask the Lord for food when the children of the kingdom had yet to eat. Jesus told her to wait. “Let the children finish eating first.” But love does not wait. Her daughter jumped the queue and was healed.

Jesus tried to explain God’s love to hate-filled Jews. He asked them: “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with

A true believer only does things because it is the love thing to do him?” (Mark 2:25-26). The love of God says David’s “illegal” act was excusable because he was in need and hungry. God responded to David not legally, but lovingly. The mercy of God rejoiced over the judgment of God in David’s case. But do we react the same way today as Christians?

Ambulances drive “illegally” on the wrong side of the road because they respond to emergencies. If we insist that they keep to road safety rules, it can only be because the love of God is not in us. Similarly, if we insist that people must wear certain types of clothing before they can come to church, then the love of God is not in us. If keeping rules and regulations is more important to us than loving our neighbour, it is because we do not yet understand the love of God.

Acceptable motive

Loving our neighbour is more important than doing our duty. The widow of Zarephath gave her last meal to the prophet and God blessed her. Rahab lied to preserve the lives of the Hebrew spies in Jericho and God honoured her.

These examples showed love in action. But it is significant that these expressions of love did not come from Jews. They came from those outside of the church.

They came from those who were not bound by religion.

They came from those who did not know the right thing to do but who understood the love thing to do.

Is it legal to drive on the wrong side of the road? Why do you drive on the right side of the road? Do you pay tithes because it is the right thing to do? Do you give offerings because it is the right thing to do? A true believer does not do things merely because it is right or legal. A true believer does things because it is the

love thing to do. The only valid reason acceptable in God for doing anything is the love of God. Jesus says: "If you love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15). In which case the only reason why he wants us to keep his commandments is because we love him. And the only commandment Jesus has given us is that we love God and love our neighbour as he loves us.

So we must not allow any bad shepherd (or pastor) to intimidate us into paying tithes by telling us we would be cursed if we do not do so. We are not to do things because we are afraid of curses, or fear the windows of heaven will be shut against us. All our actions must arise from the love of God and the love of our neighbours.

Loving kingdom The Pharisees came to Jesus and asked him: "Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife?" The question itself is based on wrong premises. God is not legalistic. The kingdom of God is not a legalistic kingdom.

Testimonies amidst confusion in Deeper Life

By SAM EYOBOKA

U

NTIL recently members of the Deeper Christian Life Mi-nistry, also known as Deeper Life Bible Church, appeared to be united in love and are all with one accord committed to each other. They believed the same thing, saw the same thing, spoke the same language. There was no room for divisin or strife in their midst.

But the bubble burst during the June edition of the monthly miracle/revival programme at the Deeper Life Christian Centre, DLCC, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when the controversial 'worldly' wedding of John Kumuyi, one of the two sons of founder, Pastor William Kumuyi threatened to tear the church to shreds.

The younger Kumuyi is said to have walked the aisle with former Miss Love Odih, the daughter of the national overseer of the church in charge of Jamaica, on June 15 in a 'society' wedding which attracted widespread condemnation.

The bride was decked in a flowing white gown---a shift from the traditional Deeper Life wedding dress---looked radiant at the wedding, her face dabbed with a touch of make-up, including a lipstick.

The church operates a strict regime on ceremonies which outlaws even video coverage during nuptials. Mr. Kumuyi and his

*Wife of the General Superintendent/National Woman Leader, Deeper Life Bible Church, Sister Easter Kumuyi (l) with Sister Thersa Boyason at the 2-day seminar titled; ‘When Mountains Move’ at the Deeper Life Conference Centre, Lagos-lbadan Expressway. bride cruised in a limousine and had a huge wedding cake, creating a buzz on social media with people wondering whether the church had relaxed its rather conservative rules or their leader's son had become exempt to them.

The couple, realizing the embarrassment that event had caused the church, apologized "profusely" during the mid-year miracle crusade, but the leadership went ahead to sanction the twosome. Unconfirmed reports indicate that his father-in-law, Pastor Augustine Odih who joined the two in holy matrimony is being recalled, even as people are still pleading with Pastor Kumuyi to rescind his threat to resign as General Superintendent.

Its often easy to talk about oth-

ers and make fun! Its always amazing how preachers of the gospel manage to preach despite the multidimensional crises surrounding their ministries. Imagine for a moment, a father locking up his three dead children in a room and going up the pulpit to preach. Imagine a pastor pre-

paring to mount the pulpit and he got a call saying that his wife has just passed on. The news didn't deter him.

Despite the ministry-threatening matrimonial palava, Pastor Kumuyi still managed to preach the gospel and led the divided congregation to lift up their voices to God with one accord with signs following.

Participants at the revival programme had every reason to express gratitude to God as it provided an opportunity for those with long-standing diverse challenges to bid bye to such problems.

The event, which doubled as mid-year celebration, had as its theme; “When Mountains Move” and a promise of ‘Jubilation Unlimited Now and Ever’ (JUNE).

The event featured seminar sessions, choir renditions, orchestra performances, concentrated preaching, prayer and moments of testimony.

Speaking on a topic titled; “The power that moves every mountain”, Pastor Kumuyi quoted copiously from the scriptures, maintaining that there is no problem that could defy the power of Jesus. He stressed that unbelief is a serious hindrance to obtaining the promise of God to move mountains, counselling that the prefix “un” in unbelief should be cancelled.

Kumuyi assured participants that if they believed the promises of God; they would receive whatever they would ask in prayer.

In his second message titled; “The ABC of moving mountains”, the holiness preacher said nothing shall be impossible to whosoever that would believe, explaining: A- Ask on the basis of His faithfulness; B- Believe with the boldness of faith; and C- Cancel all bondage from your future.

He stressed the need for a different kind of boldness that belief has, which unbelief does not have.

Addressing the mammoth crowd on; “Mountain moving power of unity”, Kumuyi stressed the need for Nigerians to work in unity, pointing out that it was the only way to overcome various challenges besetting the nation.

“There is power in unity, if all of us are united in this country, we will move mountains because

It is a loving kingdom.

Who cares whether it is legal or not! If it is legal for people to kill Jews, should we do so because it is the legal thing to do?

The question should have been: "Is it loving for a man to divorce his wife?"

"Does the divorce of one's wife show the love of God?" Couched in this manner, the question would have been unnecessary. Clearly, divorce does not show love but hate. God hates adultery not because it is illegal, but because it is about hatred. Adultery represents hatred and disregard for one’s spouse.

Let me tell you a parable.

When Nabal married Abigail, he gave her a list of do’s and don’ts. It was so extensive, it was impossible to fulfil. No matter how hard she tried, he would always find fault that she forgot to do something, or forgot to say something, or did something in a way different from the exact way he wanted it done. He wanted his rice cook-ed in a particular way. His meat had to be boiled in a particular way. His shirt must be ironed in one way or you won’t hear the last of it.

Thank God, Nabal died prematurely. Thereafter, Abigail became David’s wife. After the marriage, she dutifully asked David for his own list of do’s and don’ts. But David said he had none. “I just love you,” he said. “There are no laws, no rules, no regulations, and no guidelines. Just love.”

Of such is the kingdom of God.

united we stand, divided we fall.

There should be unity of faith and unity of fellowship, because if we unite our faith with faith of others, it is that unwavering, united and mighty faith that works miracles in the lives of people, one mind, one soul and one spirit. Nigerians should have one goal, one aspiration, one passion, one language, one pursuit and one future; with these, we shall move this country forward,” he said.

Opportunity was given for people to testify to the wonder working power of God: Mrs. Royal Ekpong, a resident of Gowon Estates, Lagos said she had an accident that nearly paralysed her, warranting her to be using clutches. But after prayer at the event, she felt a vibration in her body and she was healed.

Adelaja Idowu Olusegun was diagnosed with HIV positive but he was now HIV negative just as Mrs. Ngozi Ifeanyi Okoro’s son, Samuel, had his hernia healed after the prayer.

Mrs. Glory Salami, a middleaged woman, said her husband, who was already dead was brought back to life by merely placing a pamphlet bearing Pastor Kumuyi’s picture on the dead man. The man got revived after doctors had confirmed him dead.

Jeremiah Adesuyi said he was delivered from ritualists who kidnapped him from Apapa in Lagos, but getting to the forest where they were to be sacrificed, a voice shouted from inside the hut, “No! Don’t bring Kumuyi to this place, take him back.” That was how he was delivered as he was taken back to the expressway where he made his way back home.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013,PAGE 47

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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

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08031903750 •Henry needs a sugar mummy who is caring, understanding and nice.08055425456, 08067643459.

PAGE 48 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013

ASUU: Treading softly

BY T.H. UMARU

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The need to end the ongoing strike in the universities WATCHED events as they un Iclear folded. I followed as it became that the Academic Staff

Union of Universities (ASUU) was leaving the venue of the meeting with the Joint Committee on Education of the National Assembly. The countenance of the National President of ASUU, Dr Nasir Fagge, betrayed no emotion. His companions followed, none of them smiling. My daughter-in-law, a student at the Bayero University, had, while serving lunch to me in her house in Kaduna, on Sunday before the strike, seemed vexed. She asked, ”Hajiya, is the purported strike

by ASUU confirmed?”

I lost my appetite. I know that

ASUU had been unhappy with government, which, it said, had “implemented two out of nine provisions in a 2009 deal signed by both parties “According to ASUU, “Government was yet to address the problems raised in the needs assessment report on sixty one universities in Nigeria”.

I also gleaned somewhere else that there were “issues of budgetary allocations “or “increments “ which government was yet to address. Let me also say that I know that “the level of decay in infrastructure and learning resources in our institutions” is a source of concern to government.

It should be a source of concern to every right–thinking individual. As investments in the sector continue, the challenges, which have grown over time, from one administration to the other, have become a behemoth, overshadowing the paths being charted by successive governments. Issues of “shared responsibility “in the financing of education, especially in relation to the tertiary level, leaves the gov-

ernment at the centre with a huge burden to ensure the emergence of “a trained and emerging midlevel manpower, critical to the Nigerian economy”. Some figures indicate that government spends about 500,000 Naira per student. Another issue to consider is efficiency in utilization of resources and commitment to “value for money”.

There is also the issue of security, which has become an addi-

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VIEWPOINTS

tation to drug and crime is out there . In its fouryear strategic plan, the Federal Ministry of Education is working towards the following: a close-knit stakeholders community, cost-sharing among tiers of government, exploration for the alternative source of funding, and, “developing workable systems”, private sector investment in education sector, with development partners as key, technical and vocational

We must develop our home – grown approach to issues, since ensuring the delivery of quality education, in Nigeria

tion to the challenges staring us in the face. Government and ASUU must come together, AND WORK TOGETHER. Our youths are back at home, idle. The temp-

,

education, where a committee is already on the ground, working out how best to “develop a body of individuals with the technical competence to drive diverse sec-

tors of the economy”.

Our youth must have employable skills while the newly-established federal universities should be supported to grow into centres of excellence. Investing in quality education is not a one-day affair. It must take time to grow, through commitment and adhesion to huge reserve of resilience and versatility. We must develop our home –grown approach to issues, since ensuring the delivery of quality education, in Nigeria, especially at the highest level, is dependent on building and sustaining strong institutions. Those institutions, I dare say, must be a rallying point, a depiction of our collective will and direction.

Every parent’s prayer is for our boys and girls to “go back to class”, and aspire to be the best they can, in class or outside of it.

Education secures the mind of each individual and once given can never be taken away.

Umar.T.H wrote from wuse,Abuja.

*Umar lives in Wuse, Abuja

Nigeria in top 10 medicine regulators

BY JOHN AINOFENOKHAI VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Honours for the NAFDAC chief helmsman

T

HE manufacture as well as distribution of counterfeit drugs is a genre of corruption, and, like corruption, which fights back, the menace of counterfeit drug fights back at the society.

Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, is well at home with this fact as he leads the agency’s battle against drug counterfeiting. He, indeed, admitted this fact at a recent press conference in Abuja where he spoke on the successes achieved by the agency in the anti-counterfeit drug war.

While he noted that the menace is fighting back, he assured that the agency would never be overwhelmed by the activities of drug counterfeiters.

He has been seizing various platforms and forums, both national and international, to bolster the campaign for a society that is free of counterfeit drugs. One of the recent forums was the honourary dinner reception hosted by the Washington Bureau Director and Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Policy of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored people (NAACP), Dr Hilary Shelton,

in conjunction with US Congress.

The ceremony, held at the James Madison Hall of the US Library of Congress, Capitol Hill, Washington DC, provided an opportunity for Orhii to receive an award of Special Congressional Recognition for his global frontline role in the fight against counterfeiting.

Orhii, in his acceptance speech, adverted global attention to the growing menace of drug-resistant strains caused by counterfeit medicines, which has an international annual market value of $200 billion (N32 trillion) going by World Customs Organisation’s (WCO) statistics.

He solicited international collaboration against the menace of drug counterfeiting, which, according to him, “requires no visa to cross interregional borders.” He had on

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VIEWPOINT

ment of cutting-edge technologies such as the Truscan, Mobile Authentication Services (SMS), which has put the power of detecting counterfeit medicine in the hands of the consumer and the Black Eye, which is a device using infra red technology to detect counterfeit medicines. These technologies are complementary to the traditional method of burning impounded fake drugs to ensure that they do not find their way back into the market. This feat has positioned NAFDAC as one of the top 10 medicine regulators in the world.

These innovations and other strategies have continued to attract industry applause as well as national and global recognition. A good number of the 42 awards in Orhii’s kitty are in recognition of his frontline role against fake medi-

Orhii, who basked in the euphoria of the recognition, dedicated it to the Federal Government and the NAFDAC family, and assured that the agency would not rest on its oars but would continue to up the ante

various occasions spoken on the dangers of fake medicines and the need for popular support for steps being taken to combat the scourge. It is for this reason that NAFDAC under his leadership, has earned a positive reputation in terms of commitment to the fight against fake medicines.

Orhii has indeed expanded the frontiers of the fight with the introduction and deploy-

,

cines. One of the most significant of the awards is the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) conferred on him

by President Goodluck Jonathan in September 2012.

The award was in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the development of the nation in the area of medicine and food regulation; and especially the committed prosecution of the increasingly suc-

cessful war against counterfeit drugs.

Besides, Orhii has been travelling to many countries and continents to meet minds with his contemporaries on the challenges of regulating medicines and food. He made presentations at such international events as the Second African Regulatory Conference in Johannesburg in 2010 where he spoke on “Increasing Regulatory Efficiency & Maintaining Standards without Increasing Costs in Developing Countries”; 4 th Open Forum on Tuberculosis Drug Development in Addis Ababa the same year where he spoke on “Current Drug Approval Process in Nigeria”; Symposium on “Ensuring Food & Drugs Safety in a time of Increased Globalization” at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York in 2011 and two others, namely: “The Public Health Implications of Unsafe Drugs” and “Capacity Building and Scale-Up of Proven Models” at the same event in Washington DC but at different dates in 2012.

In addition to these is the setting in motion of machinery for a review of the NAFDAC law to prescribe a life jail for anybody found guilty of drug counterfeiting and distribution or sale of the same. The proposed amended law has been endorsed by the Executive arm of government preparatory to its presentation to the National Assembly.

The award of Special Congressional Recognition endorsed by Congress woman, Janice Hahn, was a celebration of the successes recorded

by Orhii and his team at the NAFDAC. Orhii in his acceptance speech brought to the attention of the audience at the Madison Hall the securing of a conviction in court against a Lagos-based company and some of its top management staff members for the sale of a killer teething mixture called “My Pikin” which killed scores of children in Lagos, Nigeria in 2008. That, according to him, was the first time in the annals of counterfeit drug-related litigations that the agency would secure a major conviction.

The occasion, which held on June 24, 2013, was witnessed by the family members of Orhii-his wife, Eugenia, and children; representative of the Benue State Governor, Mr Sam Agwa, who is the State Coordinator, NEPAD/International Relations; Evangelist Peter Ichull; Mr Matthew Atim; and top management staff members of NAFDAC, among them, Acting Director of Special Duties, Alhaji Abubakar Jimoh; Special Assistant to the DG, Dr James Mbachiantim and special Assistant (Technical) to the DG, Dr Barbara Chukwurah.

Orhii, who basked in the euphoria of the recognition, dedicated it to the Federal Government and the NAFDAC family, and assured that the agency would not rest on its oars but would continue to up the ante in the fight to achieve zero tolerance-target for counterfeit drugs and other unwholesome regulated products. This is wishing Orhii elbow grease. · Ainofenokhai, a freelance journalist, lives in Abuja.

Contribution of not more than 1,200 words should be sent to sundayvanguard@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 49

Strange call for Jonathan’s impeachment

BY JUDE ONYEKWERE VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Those working for the opposition should not heat up polity

A

group called United Nigeria Group sent a strange text message around, last week, asking people to gather in Abuja for a protest to demand for the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The message did not state what impeachable offences Jonathan had committed. It only sought to justify the proposed protest as a move for the restoration of democracy, whatever that means, in a country with a legitimately elected government under a democratic dispensation that has been operating consistently and uninterrupted for over 14 years.

However, the protest did not hold and no reason has been given for its failure. Perhaps it was a hoax. But it seems the organisers could not pull it off and are hoping to try again some other day.

It is not clear if the group is a registered interest group acting on its own or just a collection of

people sponsored by the opposition or some fellows, even from the president’s party, who have an axe to grind with him. Whoever they are, they have the right under the law to protest any action or inaction of government they perceive to be against their interest by seeking to reverse or amend it, provided they conduct the protest in a peaceful manner that does not infringe on the rights of others or threaten national security.

However, what makes their case strange and their cause suspect is their stated intention to restore democracy by impeaching Jonathan. This is a contradiction. The man is a democratically elected president. His government is legitimate,whether they like him or not. If in their perception he has committed some offences that are impeachable, that is for the National Assembly to look into, but such does not stop Nigeria being a democracy.

This self-contradiction indicates the poor intellectual foundation of the group . It is a feature of hatchet groups often raised by politicians to intimidate their opponents.Their major qualification is self-professed loyalty to the cause of their

principal. This is why the United Nigeria group, in question, seems not to understand that the impeachment of a president or governor is a serious constitutional issue that cannot just be done off the cuff by the legislature.

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VIEWPOINT

and Appropriation, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, as an avoidable impasse which is being “ resolved through consultation and dialogue.”

The executive under Jonathan has worked harmoniously with the other two arms of government- the legislature and the judiciary- for the good

In what way has he breached the constitution or abused his powers? It is worthy of note that since his election two years ago, the National Assembly has not indicted him for any offences considered impeachable

What has the president done wrong to warrant a call for his impeachment? In what way has he breached the constitution or abused his powers? It is worthy of note that since his election two years ago, the National Assembly has not indicted him for any offences considered impeachable. The only notable disagreement between the parliament and the Presidency, recently, over the 2013 Budget Amendment, has been described by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance

,

of the nation. Even the 2013 Budget in question was passed early by the legislature and people commended them for it.

It will also be recalled that the legislature has been very helpful to the efforts of the executive to address the security challenges facing the nation, which have largely been brought under control.

In terms of meeting the aspirations of Nigerians, the Jonathan administration has contributed a lot to the development of democracy by

promoting the rule of law and other democratic tenets such as separation of powers among the arms of government, expansion of the civil space, entrenchment of checks and balances, demonstration of accountability and sanitisation of the electoral process, among others. Under his administration, the country has held many free and fair elections, some of which his party lost because he insisted that the process must not be manipulated.

The last governorship elections in Ondo and Edo states speak volumes of this fact.

Jonathan is not an autocrat or a dictator. Neither is he a threat to democracy. So, why would anybody want him impeached except to promote the selfish agenda of his opponents?

Before now, their style was to call on him to resign but, because that method has not worked, they have resorted to calling for his impeachment.

This call is self-serving and meant to further heat up the polity. It will not do anybody or the country any good.

Nigerians should ignore it now or at any other time. Finally, Mr President should not allow himself be distracted by the move because it will surely come to nought.

Mimiko, ex-HoS Kolawole and the gender question

BY JOE KOREDE VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Celebrating Ondo State’s first female Head of Service

A

S Mrs Stella Kosemani Kolawole calls time on her illustrious career as a consultant civil servant, the first ever in Nigeria, coincidentally on her 60th birthday on Saturday, July 20, a number of issues confirm her place as the architect of the millenniumcompliant, efficient civil service that Ondo State government aspires to build. Indeed, the career trajectory of the United Nations Development Programme-trained consultant is intimidating and more than a feast of honours has trailed her career since the late 80s.

Graduating from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, with a B.Sc Education/Biology, Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in 1978, she did her NYSC in a village about 10km from Ibadan, later becoming the principal of the school. Before becoming VP, she had obtained a Masters in Educational Management at the

University of Ibadan from 198182. However, it was in 1985 that her illustrious career began in the Ondo State Civil Service. Posted to Acquinas College as the Head of Department in Science and appointed vice principal in 1987, she was, on 26 January, 1991, via a letter of redeployment from the then state governor, deployed to the state Women’s Commission under the Better Life Programme, to oversee the women’s education section, and this was where the unmatched

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VIEWPOINT

programme on population and development, where she was the head of the class of 20 participants from 18 countries.

The set was adjudged the best since the inception of the course.

Back in the country and writing proposals and doing consultancy work, for which she was not paid as a civil servant, she was still at the Women’s Commission at the time when, in 1996, she was selected as the representative of Ondo State in the UNDP. Almost on a yearly basis for the next six

The first ever female Head of Service in Ondo State whose appointment, in her own words, was made possible because Mimiko refused to bow to political pressure

success story really began.

Serving as an assistant director, Human Resources Development at the Women’s Commission, which later metamorphosed into Ministry of Women Affairs, she was appointed the Social Mobilisation and Advocacy Officer on Water and Sanitation Projects for Ondo State, going, under the auspices of the UNDP’s Centre for Development Studies, India, for a 10-month

,

years, the UNDP representative announced Ondo as the best on the programme. Returning, in 2003 December, to the Ministry of Women Affairs as a director, she caught the attention of then Governor Olusegun Agagu, while giving a brief on what UNDP had achieved for the state.

Thus, the Accelerated Poverty Eradication Agency under the Governor’s Office was born. In 2005 July, with her appointment

as Permanent Secretary, the state became the first to use an original mace at the Children’s Parliament, the first to inaugurate a gender committee and, during one of the UNDP’s monitoring and evaluation visits to the state, it reported to the then governor that from July to September 2005, the UNDP committee in Ondo had saved $47,000 from projects implementation, which could be used for additional projects.

Again, the designation of Akure as a Millenium City out of the seven slots available for Africa is to her credit. Thus, when the Mimiko administration came on board, a ministry was created from the two departments in the then Ministry of Women Affairs and she was posted to man that new ministry.

The first ever female Head of Service in Ondo State whose appointment, in her own words, was made possible because Mimiko refused to bow to political pressure, Kolawole suggests that even the choice of her successor would be informed by the same developmental pragmatics given the forward-looking, gender-empowering administration in the state: “ It

has simply been wonderful working with Governor Olusegun Mimiko. This is the first time that a woman has been Head of Service in Ondo State. I thank him for not allowing political interference in the decision of the HOS. I also believe that the same applied in the choice of my successor.

I thank him for being there for me all the time, for being a mentor, because while he was my chairman on UNDP, I identified him as a mentor and I have been able to learn a lot of lessons from him. In fact, there was a day he said, ‘Head of Service, you are going to write a book and you will title it, ‘My Experience as Head of Service for seven months.’ I thank him for exposing me to all the experience I have garnered in the last seven months in particular. For that exposure, I will continue to appreciate him till eternity.”

However, as she herself has stressed, her exit will not stop the on-going revolution in the state. The good work can only continue as the state continues to place priority on viable institutions.

•Korede, a public affairs analyst, is resident in Akure, Ondo State

Contribution of not more than 1,200 words should be sent to sundayvanguard@yahoo.com

PAGE 50—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21 21, 2013,

By JAPHET ALAKAM LECTURE

VISUAL

A

t last, the much talked about unique exhibition by the artistic and harmonious family of painters, Emmanuel and Angela Isiuwe kicked off at the Didi Museum, located in Victoria Island , Lagos. The exhibition which is coming after ten years of the couple’s last exhibition tagged Our World Human and Equestrian Life.

A visit to the gallery revealed that the place now wears a new look courtesy of the array of works displayed at all the corners . Visitors to the gallery will be fascinated by the good use of colours, lines and creative ingenuity of husband and wife, who have refused to be distracted by their marriage but rather are forging ahead in all affairs of life. The works actually bring the much needed breath of fresh air to the exhibition circuit, something which is far away from the over flogged and boring depiction of everyday Nigerian life in Nigerian art.

The ongoing exhibition which can be described as a product of hard work is indeed unique in many ways, it is an exhibition by a husband and wife, the works are rendered in good colours and the brochure made in a special way in one booklet but depicts the two artists and their works. It will run till 27th July, 2013.

Featuring about 50 appealing works that can meet any collector’s demand, the couple who

Echoes from the harmonious life of Isiuwes’ art fications. Her art is very peculiar and unique in the broad spectrum of Nigerian female contemporary and modern art, her style is deeply rooted in the abstraction tradition and stands alone by itself. Although she has consistently worked on both paper and canvas, it is her work with colour on paper that really brings out her power and skill as an abstraction painter. Her works on canvas mainly depict the female form particularly the fe-

,

By JAPHET ALAKAM

Show offs, oil and acrylic on canvas, one of the works by Emma Isiuwe have made art their calling through the body of works rendered in acrylic on canvass and acrylic on paper reveal their continued love for art.

Some of the works include: Age of Innocence; In her Prime; You are Connected; Rainbow

Reflection;Guardian Angel; Passage of Time; Ghost Mode; Posture and others.

T

he exhibition features special works in simple linear forms from Angela, most of them in black and white form as she continues to explore the female anatomy in all its rami-

painter apart from the regular painting also showcases a different form of painting as shown in his painting of horses in a new form, something that is different from the various moods and poses in Nigerian art. His rendition of horses on canvass speaks for itself as it affords viewers another opportunity to see how nature creates diverse species of animals in one breed.

Speaking about the exhibition, renowned art patron,

Her art is very peculiar and unique in the broad spectrum of Nigerian female contemporary and modern art

male anatomy in semi-abstraction, her paper works depict pure abstract forms of objects and female forms. Of great importance also is the incursion from her fashion design background as reflected in some of her works like a monochrome piece titled Head Form in subtle representation of the Niger Delta identity of western bowler hat, baggy shirt and native wrapper.

For Emmanuel, who has been painting like his contemporaries of the 50’s generation, his recent work is a bit different from it. In the works, the Auchi Polytechnic trained

,

Sammy Olagbaju said, “The works are marvelous, very interesting, the couple are working very well, there is harmony in the works I have seen. I am impressed by the colours, the lines , the innovation and the treatment of the horses. So I commend them, it is quite an interesting and successful exhibition.”

For Prof. Ebun Clark, who sponsored the exhibition with her husband, Prof. J.P. Clark, “Its amazing and very refreshing works. I like the interactiveness of the works especially the line paintings of Angela that reminds one that it’s never finished...”

Blazes of hope from Adekunle’s Behind The Scene

By JAPHET ALAKAM REVIEW

I

N this end time, when many ministers of God and others alike have left the kingdom message for prosperity messages and turned their churches into business centres, a situation that has forced many to shy away from christian ideals . A situation that has caused many to find it difficult to stand with their faith, Nike Adekunle, whom I can describe as an ‘evangelist’ has taken it upon herself to redeem many lost souls through her new book titled, Behind The Scene.

The coming of Behind The Scene, the 111 pages, seven chapters book published by Deo Inspired Media, Lagos , 2013 is timely. In it, the founder of the quarterly women’s meeting, SWIM-Sisters,Wives and Mothers, in this narrative prose tells the story of a young girl, Oluwmadewa whose hope and fears were not all that

different from other young girls but was able to deliver her people despite the trials and temptations through her encounter with God. Exhibiting the quality of a master story teller, the mother of three through her book addresses certain topical issues in modern life, like courtship, premarital sex, inter tribal marriage, abortion and others with the aim of showcasing the real qualities of a child of God who is bent on making it on the last day. To her, there is no need to give up especially during trials and temptation, rather any one that has answered the call should be focused and believe that He, God has the final say.

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he story of Oluwamadewa as narrated by the author can be seen as that of a destiny fulfilled through an amazing interplay of characters and divinely

staged events. Well, for a women that believed in the supremacy of God, Nike has carved a delightful piece of tale from the story of Made’ as she was called. ‘Made’ as a young girl lived her life until she had a life changing encounter with God. And, in her new life with Christ, she expects everything to work in her favour but unfortunately for her she experiences a twist that seems to be contrary to the new life Behind The Scene; Nike she imagined. But Adekunle; Deo Inspired unknown to her, God Media, Lagos ,Nigeria; was interested in her 2013, PP. 111 and was working behind the scene to make all things beautiful for up by her mother and her. was determined not to From chapter one to the last disappoint her but her chapter, you are drawn to the stand always brings story of a young courageous her in one problem or girl who was presumed to have the other. But the lost her father and was brought

saving grace was that each time she finds herself in a problem God always provides solution.

First,it was her clash with her room mates in the campus who saw her as a threat and threw her out of the room and God who has a better plan brought her to Dalopo, who was to play an important role in her life.

From there, she met Steve and after graduation, life was sweet and every thing worked well and they were preparing to get married before she had an encounter with God and the story changed. But at the end God whom she followed saved her and brought joy to her and her family.

A

beautiful novel with a lot of lessonsfor all. The information and enlightenment that it provides is one which is not selective to gender, social status etc.

If there are things the reader of Behind The Scene will get is that it is a simple novel that one can finish in a day, written in very simple English for easy readership and rich with a sizzling message of hope for everybody. And I commend her modest effort for joining the few that are still interested in decongesting the kingdom of hell.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 51

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SUN State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, at the fourth edition of Ogbeni Till Daybreak, an interactive session with the people on radio, spoke about his achievements and the efforts of his administration to affect the lives of the people of the state. Excerpts from the session:What are your expectations on the Opon Imo initiative which your government recently launched?

It is to ensure that education is democratised. When we talk of democratisation of education, what we are saying is that never again will anybody be denied access to total learning by whatever reason. Wherever you are in this state, no matter how remote, education will be your birthright. And it is not just any wishy-washy education, it is total, comprehensive education. If you understand, as I do, that education means access to textbooks, best practice in tutorial, and whatever that will prepare students for their examinations, internal and external, then you will appreciate what I am saying.

The 1.1kg tablet has whatever that you need for your foundation on education.

That is the cardinal objective, but there are associated benefits. One, with Opo-Imo, we are guaranteeing for our children access to digital technology. It is also to ensure that from here, the heartland of the Yoruba nation, we can produce stars like Bill Gates.

There is an allegation that your son, Kabiru, was the one that handled the contract of Opon Imo. In 2000 when I asked my son to go and study medicine in Cuba, he didn’t reject the idea, but, when he got there, he refused to do medicine. He said he wanted to study informatic, the software aspect of the ICT and that was what he studied. After studying for five years, he went to London for further study on the same discipline.

However, when the idea of Opon Imo came, Kabiru was not in the know, but, when our first attempt to do it failed, I was depressed. My son asked me what happened, I explained to him and that was how he came in. Then he was working with AMCON. He was the one God used to upload what we intended into Opon Imo and, up till now, he was not paid anything, even for the work he did and that is to tell you that he is not the contractor as being speculated. If we had wanted to use Opon Imo to acquire wealth, we could go and do it secretly somewhere and come to sell to government. The truth is that no government has ever done this, but we used all what we had to raise the bar of education in Osun, including my son and that is how we have the Tablet of Knowledge. It was Kabiru that

2015: The signs for the PDP are ominous – Aregbesola *Says Osun is democratising education *‘How my son came into ‘Opon Imo’ project

Rauf Aregbesola....No bank will give the state more than its capacity and they will not even give you exactly what you have because the risk is huge, told us that if we must use Android, we must look for an expert that will put the software on it and that is how we found two companies from America and Malaysia that did it.

There are so many other companies and individuals involved in the actualisation of Opon Imo. All the companies collected money; Kabiru took nothing.

The so-called opposition raised the alarm that we spent N200 million to purchase the 56 textbooks for the 17 subjects that we uploaded into Opon-Imo and that is the truth. However, if we are to acquire hard copies of only two of the books for our 150,000 students in the high schools at 1,000 each, that will be N300 million. For the 56 books, we paid only N200 million.

This kind of device is nowhere in the world.

In concrete terms, what is the debt profile of the state?

A government is an entity just like a corporation. We should understand that a private company cannot be said to be successful if all is doing is within the ambit of its own resources.

However, when responsible governments realise the enormity of the task of

development and seek to involve others in the process of ensuring development in its sphere of influence, some people out of ignorance raise eyebrows.

While company invests in profit, government must invest in the people so that the people will be economically viable to support government.

If we limit to all the government could get, forget it, there will be stagnation and underdevelopment. Is the money deployed to projects

,

BY GBENGA OL ARINO YE ARINOYE

increase the burden on the populace because we will be paying commercial interest on the loan that, on its own, cannot generate return to meet the interest that we are paying and so it is debilitating. To make it easier for us to manage, we sought and got credit line with which we refinanced the loan, we stopped the project that were not beneficial to the people and we got the balance for serious capital projects that will impact positively on the

If we had wanted to use Opon Imo to acquire wealth, we could go and do it secretly somewhere and come to sell to government. The truth is that no government has ever done this, but we used all what we had to raise the bar of education in Osun

and policies that will enhance the capacity of the people? If the answer is no, then query it, but if the answer is yes, hail it.

On our assumption, we contended with some issues, including that short loan was taken for long term projects that had no benefit for the people by our predecessor.

Short term loan can only

,

people. That is why we said then that we had N35 billion to prosecute development.

Some people thought what we are saying is a pile up of debt, no. What we did thereafter was that the time given on the refinancing arrangement with the First Bank was used to process access to the capital market which is the ultimate for

investment purpose. So, we used the capital market to absorb the credit line.

Osun takes N3.4 billion every month from the federal allocation, but for the ease of calculation let us say we take N5 billion and that means the maximum we can get in a year is N60 billion. N60 billion in four years makes it N240 billion. Out of the money, we pay N2.6 billion to workers every month, including pension and gratuity; let us say we run government every month with N900 million. If you deduct all these, what is less for development every month is N1.5 billion and, for four years, it is N60 billion.

In absolute terms, no bank will give the state more than its capacity and they will not even give you exactly what you have because the risk is huge, they can only give you 50 per cent of your worth. So, our debt profile is within the limit of N30 billion.

We must add that there are two agencies in Nigeria monitoring debt of government. They are the Debt Management Office and Central Bank. A newspaper, few months back, published the list of debtor- states in Nigeria and Osun was not listed among them. In the CBN too, Osun is not listed.

If Osun is in a debt trap, we could not have paid May salaries when we have not received April allocation.

Many people think your courage in governance can work against you come 2014.

Let us see what will happen in 2014. But, really, we have been badly affected by military rule to the extent that we have even lost our spirit to resist oppression. We are people with dignity and pride.

It is in defence of the minimum threshold that Rauf Aregbesola is here and I am so sure that our people are so committed to stand by us because we are a people with history, tradition, custom and value. There is no doubt in my mind that we enjoy the total support of our people, we are looking forward to 2014, and, by the grace of God, we shall defeat whoever raises his head to challenge us. We are so confidence, because we represent the choice of our people; there is no threat at all.

How are you carrying along your party members?

If they are not carried along, they will not be here; I believe that our party members are

Continues on page 52

PAGE 52—SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

The crisis rocking the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) as well as the fracas in the Rivers State House of Assembly have been a source of concern to many Nigerians who are familiar with history. In this interview, a PDP governorship aspirant in Delta State, Prof. Victor Izegbu, says issues like these, if not properly handled, may snowball into the type that happened in the first republic in the Western-Region that led into military rule.

Excerpts:

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HAT is your view about the leadership tussle in the Nigerian Governors Forum between Jonah Jang of Plateau State and his River State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, and also the impeachment impose in Rivers State House Assembly?

It is an absolute disgrace and embarrassment not to just to Nigeria but also the entire black race. It is so disappointing that the federal government cannot resolve this issue that has been festering for quite a long time. If you are familiar with history, you will realize something similar started in the old Western Region that led to the crises of the 60s, that is, military rule and civil war.

Current crises may be the beginning of the separation of the country as predicted by some people.

2015: Festering political crises are dangerous – Prof Izegbu If we want to remain one in Nigeria we have to start solving these problems. When it was happening back then in Ibadan, people in Maiduguri were thinking Ibadan was 10,000 miles away, the next thing was military coup and then civil war.

So all these political crises need to be settled right away by the federal government headed by the president, if the president cannot resolve them, the Senate, which is next in level, must come in by setting up a special committee to review the issues and come out with a blue print on how best to resolve them, this is what is obtainable in most parts of the world. We need to know what the problem is and if it cannot be resolved politically, the judiciary will have to come in but we all know the judiciary in this country cannot be trusted.

We can resolve the issues with a committee of elderstates men like ex-presidents.

What do you forsee for 2015?

My anxiety is that; if things continue this way, we may not have 2015. We should not even be discussing 2015 because if these issues are not resolved within few months from now, they

with leadership qualities, not people with deep pockets or people who are there to feed themselves. If you look at societies that have done very well, you would notice they have quality leaders, unless we have

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BY OL A YINK A AJA YI YINKA AJAYI

Prof. Victor Izegbu... signs ahead are dangerous may snowball into something else. Already some people have predicted that there won’t be 2015. We have been debating the review of Nigeria’s Constitution and we are ironically coming to the celebration of the centenary which is a sad event because, instead of us progressing politically and socially, it’s like we are moving backwards.

If you have the opportunity to serve in government, what will you do better?

The problem we have in Nigeria boils down to leadership. People in government should be people

We as a political party need to get the democratic process right before preaching the gospel of democracy to other political parties

,

a democratic process that will make us elect true leaders, we may never get it right. Look at countries that are coming up like United Arab Emirate, they have Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoun , he second world transformed Dubai, the leaders in South Korea transformed the country; even Germans, after the

second world war, transformed their country because they had a very strong leader. Leadership is priority to transform a state.

How do you rate the People’s Democratic Party ’s (PDP) performance?

Even though I am a PDP member, I must confess that I am a little bit disappointed in the democratic process of the PDP. We as a political party need to get the democratic process right before preaching the gospel of democracy to other political parties because that is the major problem facing the party. However the various crises and issues within the PDP can be resolved and will be solved for the good of the country.

How feasible are your chances of emerging as governor in Delta State?

I will compare myself to somebody that will emerge from nowhere to take over Delta State.

The next governor is likely to emerge from the Delta-North senatorial district where I come from. And I am incorruptible.

What would you have done better if you were the governor of Delta State?

Some things have been done right and few things done wrong.

My major priority would be security of lives and property. It is disappointing that many people have moved out of Warri because of insecurity of lives and property and that is affecting economic and social development in the state.

‘How my son came into ‘Opon Imo’ project properly carried along. There is a distinction between the progressive in power and the ones who are not even qualified to be called anything, they are reactionaries who believe that the only reason for being in power is to appropriate the peoples wealth, but we are saying that is not the purpose of government. The government is there to relieve the people of their burden and stregthen them to stand on their own and give the government back in terms of taxes.

It is observed that many of your road projects are being carried out on the federal roads.

Are you working on reimbursement from the Federal Government?

We are working on it, but it is not easy. You might want to know that we have not yet been refunded the N1.3 billion spent by the last administration on Akoda/Old-Garage stretch of the Federal Government road. So, if they have not paid us the investment that the last PDP administration made on a part of the road, you can only assume that whatever we do, we only pray that they will be responsible enough to refund our investment. But whether they pay us back or not, we are committed to serving our people and we are not looking back.

Some people are saying that the airport you claimed to be

we are using the egg, fish, beef and so many other farm produce being provided by our local farmers. Some youths have been empowered to engage in poultry farming and from them the pupils are being fed with N150,000 chickens every week.

Also, the kids are being fed with 5,000 kg of cat fish. They are also now being fed with about 9,000

,

Continued from page 51

constructing is being financed by the Federal Government.

How true?

On the aiport, I must say that it has been named Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola Airport. And no government is doing it other than the government of Osun.

Though, no airport can be so called without the approval of the Federal Government and we have gotten that approval, it will be fallacious for anybody to say that because the FG must approve, that translates to ownership.

What are you doing to further assist the youths, especially to assist them in self-sustainable programmes like agriculture?

Firstly, the National Bureau of Stastistics has established that there is no state in Nigeria that has the kind of effective programme of Osun on youth development. Secondly, the same bureau has established that Osun has the lowest rate of unemployment in Nigeria.

We have committed about N2 billion to assist farmers in this state. We are also allocating farmlands to farmers free of charge; we have provided free transportation through rail for farmers to take their produce to Lagos for sale and so many others. Many people have become rich through our assistance, while some can only afford to feed themselves through it, that is life, but we will not relent in our committment.

Also, we are feeding our elementary school children and

Many people have become rich through our assistance, while some can only afford to feed themselves through it, that is life, but we will not relent in our committment

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crates of eggs. We have also empowered people to engage in cocoyam planting. So, through our programmes, we have provided jobs for our people.

We noticed a decline in the tempo of regional integration being proposed by the SouthWest gover nors. What is responsible?

There is no decline in tempo, but for those who don’t appreciate what we do the way we do it will see decline. The recent Oodua Children’s Day was part of the integration agenda and there is no better way to promote integration. We invited children and traditional

rulers from all Yoruba speaking communities in Nigeria. We went as far as Delta, Kogi, Edo and outside the shores of Nigeria, like the Carribean, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast.

We have a Ministry of Regional Integration. We are very much committed to the ideals of integration because that is the only way to go.

And if you read our position on the constitutional amendment, we were clear on the direction we want Nigeria to go and we are not changing our position on that.

How do you sustain the rebranding of the state, even beyond your term as governor?

There is legislation now on the issues on which we organised the rebranding. There is now a law that Osun is ‘State of Osun’, now there is law that Osun has anthem, now there is a law that Osun has its flag and crest as well as epitheth and slogan. It is not just for fancy anymore, it is a crime for anybody to call Osun anything than the ‘State of Osun’, that is the law. Beyond that, the people of the state have all internalised everything we brought out in the rebranding.

What is your take on one-term six year tenure for governors and president?

It will reduce the cost of governance in our country. The truth is that the architecture of governance in Nigeria is too expensive, I want it drastically reduced to cut cost. Whatever that will reduce the cost of governance will have my

support.

It is alleged that the local governments’ Executive Secretaries are hindered to do much because of your constant inteference. How do you react?

What we do is that as the allocation comes, we do what is called Joint Allocation Committee meeting. What we do is to look at the totality of what is available and take decision on what should be considered jointly and distribute. We save for the local government all unexpected income, such as Excess Crude Oil Fund, which is the basis for the monumental capital projects that you see. We are not doing this for any peculiar benefit and, as a matter of fact, I don’t know the account in which the money is kept.

So, I do not believe that anybody could complain about our judicious management of resources available to the local governments.

What is the expectation of your new party, APC, in wrestling power in 2015?

If you look at the strength of the merging parties, the pattern is predictable. The strength of ACN is in South-west, the strength of CPC is in the Northwest, the ANPP has its strength in the North-east and the signals we are getting from those still under the shattered umbrella nationwide is that they are looking at our side. We also have a section of APGA that is collaborating with us and, even in the South-south, feelers are coming that some things would happen

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 53

Doping saga

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ARMELITA Jeter of the United States and ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica walked out of a news conference on Thursday after the sprinters were asked about the atmosphere in their teams following recent failed doping tests for Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell.

Jeter and Fraser-Pryce had requested not to be quizzed about doping, ahead of Friday ’s Herculis meeting in Monaco.

When they were, following a couple of benign questions, the pair responded by abruptly getting up and leaving.

Gay won the 100 and 200 meters in the U.S. trials last month. But the 2007 triple world champion pulled out of the Herculis meet and of the world championships in Moscow after being notified of a positive doping test by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) earlier this month.

Powell, the former 100-meter record holder, and Sherone Simpson, a three-time Olympic medalist, tested positive for the stimulant oxilofrine at the Jamaican championships last month. Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown tested positive for a banned diuretic in May. However, Australian hurdler Sally Pearson, American high jumper Brigetta Barrett and sprinter Justin Gatlin did not shy away from discussing the issue of doping on Thursday.

“You have to make sure that you’re responsible for what’s going into your body and who’s around you,” said Gatlin, a former Olympic and world champion who was suspended for four years after testing positive

Gay, Asafa’s fall rattles top athletes

•Gay for a banned substance in 2006.

“It’s just life. That’s one thing I learnt when everything happened with me” Gatlin said. “You got to deal with it. You got to move forward. The one thing I learnt about track and field is: It’s not

D

about what you say, it’s about what you do.” Gay will turn 31 in August. If his ‘B’ sample also proves positive, he could face a two-year ban and would struggle to be competitive again.

“Getting back in shape was

really the toughest part,” Gatlin recalled. “I came back like 20 pounds overweight.” Barrett, who won the U.S. trials with a personal best of 2.04 and is the Olympic runner-up, clearly hadn’t expected the string of

Nigerian players set to join world’s 50 bracket F

ORMER international left back Benedict Iroha has declared that with improved performances from Nigerian players in Europe, the country will soon break into the exclusive list of 50 best players in the world. He said this with

Moyes ready for Mourinho mind games AVID Moyes said he was looking forward to playing “mind games” with his Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho and other Premier League bosses after getting his first win as Manchester United manager in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

The Scot and his new club have been forced to spend the week reiterating that Wayne Rooney was not for sale after the England striker was “angered and confused” by comments his manager made last weekend.

The public relations battle was made all the harder when returning Chelsea manager Mourinho came in with a bid for Rooney, a move which some saw as typical troublemaking by the Portuguese who enjoyed many a mental tussle with Moyes’s predecessor Alex Ferguson.

•Powell

doping test announcements in recent weeks. “You’re always shocked by the news when your ‘heroes’ have fallen,” Barrett said.

“It does feel like a shock because I didn’t expect those people to have a positive test.

“As far as Tyson Gay is concerned, my heart and my prayers go out to him and anybody else having to deal with the consequences of a positive test result,” added Barrett. “And I can only pray that they could deal with it with grace and that other people can treat them accordingly.”

Pearson regretted that doping has returned to plague the sport’s image, but highlighted the work of anti-doping authorities around the world.

“It’s disappointing that these things happen,” she said. “But at the same time, I guess it’s good that whatever doping agency is doing it is keeping on top of the athletes.

“It’s a shame that you have to talk about it. It’s a shame that you have to comment on it and have a feeling and an opinion about what’s happened, because it’s hard.

Asked whether he was looking forward to similar “mind games” with managers such as Mourinho in the season ahead, Moyes said his upbringing predisposed him to it.

“Sounds like your accent’s like mine,” he told his Scottish questioner. “If you’re from Glasgow you quite enjoy those sort of things. So bring it on.” Although Moyes had said repeatedly that results were not important on the Asia-Pacific tour, he was clearly happier with United’s 5-1 victory over an A-League All Stars team than he had been with a defeat in Thailand last week.

Moyes said he would like his formation to be flexible but thought the 4-3-3-1 he played on Saturday was a good “basic structure” which he could embellish when he had players such as Nani, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young available.

regards to the Goal 50, an annual list of the best players in the world that will soon be published by Goal. No Nigerian player has made the list since it began to be published in 2008.

Iroha was a stand-out performer in the heart of defence and he played a pivotal role in the Super Eagles’ squad that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 1994. The same team later went to the USA’ 94 Fifa World Cup and were a delight to watch. They were only two minutes away from an historic quarter final feat before Roberto Baggio’s goal evened

the score line for the Azurris of Italy and later got another goal from the spot in the extra time to eliminate Nigeria.

Iroha in a chat with Goal said that the country is producing players that are doing very well for their respective clubs and that if they do not tire out, in the next few years they will break into the Goal 50.

He cited the examples of Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike and others who are not only playing for established clubs but are also featuring very well for them in their domestic leagues and

other competitions.

“I can’t say that we do not have players that are doing very well for their clubs.

Emenike, Moses, Igiebor, Musa and a host of others are doing well and if they keep up their good work, it is possible that they can break into the top players in the world,” said Iroha.

“We must re-work our mentality and also ensure our players sign for the right clubs and for the right offers too. With that we can compete with the very best in the coming years,” Iroha stated.

Dodan Warriors target DStv/Premier BasketWith three games to the end ball league title

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ODAN Warriors of Lagos, have declared their intention to win this season’s overall champions in the DStv/Premier Basketball League.

The Dodan Warriors are leading the Atlantic conference table and according to coach, Peter Ahmedu their aim was to dethrone current national champions, Royal Hoopers of Port Harcourt.

“We are looking good to clinch this year’s league and the Final Four championships.

We are determined to unseat

the Royal Hoopers,” Ahmedu told NAN after his team defeated Lagos Islanders 73-69 on Friday.

“We are looking good towards achieving our target; it has been a tough season and I am proud of how well we have contended for the championship title.

“We have just three games to go and as Conference leader;, we are obviously well placed to retain the regular season championship we won last season.

of the regular season, Dodan Warriors is currently leading the Atlantic conference with 43 points.

Coach Ahmedu added that Dodan was not only concerned in clinching the conference trophy, but the overall Final Four Championship because that would mean clinching the “champions of champions title.”

“We lost the Final Four last season, even though we won the regular season championship; this was very painful for us.”

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PAGE 54, SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

Fashola tasks private sector on sports devt T

HE enormous challenge faced by government to provide basic amenities for the citizen may have prevented it from total funding of sports.

These were the views of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State at the maiden Town Hall meeting on sports development organized by the Lagos State Sports Endowment Fund (LSSEF) at the weekend as part of its efforts to raise fund for sports development in the state.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Development, Wahid Oshodi, said “The state government cannot fund sports alone because our budget will not allow us to. That is why LSSEF is a publicprivate sector initiative.

We are all stakeholders in this endeavour and I would like to use this forum to encourage every one of us to do more for sports in Lagos State. The responsibility of developing sports infrastructure does not lie with government alone.” Also, the occasion afforded the board of LSSEF an opportunity to present its plans of building sports centres across all the local councils in the state.

Emphasizing the importance of sports among youths, Fasho-

*As LSSEF plans facilities in councils la said: “When young people participate in sports, it impacts on their physical, mental and psychological well being. Greater participation equals healthier young people and it also equals psychologically balanced youths.

Development of a healthy sense of self worth is very important.

A young person who has a good sense of his or her abilities and has healthy self esteem and will be less likely to succumb to peer pressure or act out negatively.”

He added: “Building sports in our state will give the youths the opportunity to engage with inspiring adult figures in a safe environment. It will guide the youth in the best path for their futures. In furtherance of this, we will not stop until we have created an enabling environment for youths to thrive in sporting activities.” Fashola, however, reaffirmed support to youth development through sports, which he believes would help to impart virtues on the youths.

For the chairman of LSSEF, Rear Admiral, Anthony Oni (rtd.), the body would continue to work assiduously to encourage public-private sector support for sports

in the state.

The chairman of the occasion, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas

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UNGRY looking Insurance football club of Benin players who are being owed backlog of salaries and allowances have called on the comrade governor to rescue the team from hunger and starvation by paying them their money.

Some of the players who spoke on the ground of anonymity said they were tired of living on borrowing as they can not understand why some government officials should seat on their money and want their families to suffer hunger and starvation, living on the mercy of God. “We can not play games on empty belly, because an angry man is an angry

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man. If I collapse on the training ground or while playing a match, people will say that I have internal disease, they would not say is because of hunger. Let me say this, this people are not treating us well at all, they expect us to win matches on empty stomach. The truth is that the people at the top do not have interest in sports, we have bad advisers who do not want the governor to spend money on Insurance. You see I do not know how to pretend, I have to say my mind, I have a family that depends on me to provide their daily bread. Right now my two kids have been driven away from school because I have not be able to meet up my

support for the project.

The event afforded stakeholders to emphasis the need for

transparency and accountability in sports administration in the country.

Yola attributes completion of NFF House to Ekeji

BY OSARETIN EMUZE

Abba Yola, a former Deputy Director in the Sports Ministry/ National Sports Commission (NSC) has described the immediate past Director General of the NSC, Chief Patrick Ekeji as a very sincere and honest man whose modus operandi was hard work and dedication to d u t y .

Speaking with Sports Vanguard in Abuja during the official commissioning of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF House, the amiable sports administrator said Ekeji excelled where others failed

despite the harsh enviroment because of his unique style of l e a d e r s h i p .

“He is the reason we are here today.

His steadfastness and prudence saw us complete this edifice.

His problem is that he is too sincere to a fault. All the funds for Nigeria 2009 passed through his office he never touched any, ditto this one”, he s t r e s s e d .

Brila FM CEO, Dr. Larry Izamoje, also a member of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) that built the NFF House corroborated Abba Yola’s position, stressing that Ekeji’s sincererity and hard work saw to the completion of the NFF house.

•Chief Ekeji

NCF commends senior team over victory T HE Nigeria Cricket Federation, NCF, says the successes recorded by the Senior team in their friendly matches in the United

Save us from hunger, Insurance players beg Oshiomhole

BY OJIEVA EHIOSUN

charged the LSSEF to involve the community in their plans in their bid to raise fund and

primary obligation to them. Every day they keep making promises that does not hold water yet we are not seeing anything. I know that our governor means well for us but there are people in his government who do not want football to grow in Edo state. When they take good care of us, we would do our best to keep the flag flying.”

Insurance have suffered a very big set back in the history of Nigerian football. Today I feel shy to say that I play for Insurance. We want our governor to look into our matter and rescue us from acute hunger. Our coaches too are suffering the same fate with us. If they want good result, hey should act well,” he said.

Kingdom is an indication that the team is ready to take on their opponents when the World ICC Division Six league finally bowls off in London.

Speaking in Abuja, Chairman, NCF Media Committee, Kayode Adeniyi said the Nigerian team is sending a signal to their opponents that their victory in April in Gaborone, Botswana where they defeated their counterparts to win the Division Seven

League was not a joke. ”Our African Nations Cup victory in Gaborone is the first of its kind for the country and this has clearly shown that we are destined to reach the top in the Cricket World.”

The Board of the federation led by Emeka Onyeama had given the team every needed support to go and win the division six League”, Adeniyi stated.

The Victory last Sunday in Cheltenham over Here-

fordshire Cricket Club brings to three, matches won since arriving in the United Kingdom on July 5. Ñigeria chased 184 runs in 44 overs in a 50 overs game.

The team won by 3 wickets. Herefordshire batted first and scored 184 runs all out.

It is also on record that Nigeria defeated Brockhampton Cricket Club by 2 wickets in the first friendly match while beating Wiltshire Quarries Cricket Club by 3 wickets in their second match.

Benin All Stars mourn Oliha

M

EMBERS of the Benin All Stars and ex- Super Eagles players based in Benin have expressed shock over the sudden demise of their colleague and one- time national team player Thompson Oliha who passed on recently.

Head coach of Insurance football club of benin, Baldwin Bazuaye, described his death as a big loss to the Nigeria football fraternity adding

that Thompson Oliha was a highly dedicated and discipline Super Eagles player that gave his best to the country. He called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Edo state government and all football stakeholders in the country to give Oliha a memorable burial ceremony.

“It is a pity that we have loss yet another exfootball star in Nigeria.

His death is a big loss to the Nigeria football family. Thompson will be remembered for his contributions to the development of football in Edo state and the country in general. We can not question the Almighty God, because he knows the best,” Bazuaye said.

He added that every thing will be done to give him a befitting burial as the last respect they will pay to their colleague.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 21, 2013, PAGE 55

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SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 21, 2013

Dankaros happy over football house naming T

BY JOHN MKOM, Jalingo

HE family of late Chief Sunday Dankaro has expressed appreciation over the

naming of the newly built Football House after their late father.

The N337 million edifice,

FIFA Under-17 World Cup

Eaglets begin final rehearsal in Calabar N

IGERIA’S junior national soccer team will commence their final preparations for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Calabar tomorrow, just as coach Manu Garba is targeting the trophy.

The Eaglets are aiming to follow in the footsteps of the 2007 set by winning the tournament billed for October 17 to November 8 in the United Arab Emirates.

About thirty players who passed the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test will slug it out in Calabar for final list of 22 players that will make it to the competition.

“I have seen boys that are showing willingness to play and ready to give the sport their all. But I still have a responsibility to blend them, work on their imperfections so as to make a formidable team out of them,” said coach Garba.

He added that his emphasise will be target shooting with an aim at scoring goals, as well as ensuring good defensive formations, stressing “There will be no room for slips. We want to build a defence that is tight without loopholes for opponents to exploit to score goals. We shall also ensure we do not concede goals”

SUPPORTIVE... Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke being introduced to members of the Golden Eaglets team before a match in Calabar. The Manu Garba-tutored side will tomorrow commence their final preparation for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Turkey later in the year.

I am aiming at a gold medal to add to my collections and also make Nigeria and Africa proud because that is the joy of going into such a competition.

I have confidence in my players and I believe they will lift the trophy and bring joy to Nigerians at home, like the Super Eagles did at the Africa Cup of Nations

TODAY’S MATCHES Bayelsa United Akwa United 3SC ABS F.C. Sunshine Stars Sharks Heartland Rangers Nasarawa United Wikki Tourists

v v v v v v v v v v

Kano Pillars 5.00pm Lobi Stars 5.00pm Dolphins 5.00pm Gombe United 5.00 pm Kwara United 5.00pm Kaduna United 5.00pm Warri Wolves 5.00pm Nembe City 5.00pm Enyimba 5.00pm El-Kanemi 5.00pm

(AFCON) in South Africa,” he added.

Garba was part of the

coaching crew that won the 2007 African U-17 Championship in Togo

and the FIFA World Cup the same year in South Korea.

with 27-office apartments was commissi-oned on Thursday at the Package B of the National Stadium Complex Abuja, to serve as the administrative headquarters of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

Arc. Aliyu Sunday Dankaro who spoke on behalf of the family Friday in Jalingo Taraba state capital said: “the edifice has immortalized our late father. It means the great achiever who died since 2006 still lives and is being celebrated today for his good labour.

“I believe his soul would be smiling where he is resting with the Lord”.

Aliyu Dankaro, who is the Managing Director of Dasali Nigeria Ltd, lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for the honour done to the past hero whose administration won for Nigeria the Nation’s Cup for the first time in 1980.

He said: “we are happy to see our father’s name beautifully adorning the nation’s all-important sports house.

“We are indeed very grateful to President Goodluck Jonathan for what he has done. We also thank the Vice President, Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo who performed the ceremony.

“We wish to also appreciate and commend the visionary and pragmatic leadership of Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi as the PTF Chairman, the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi as ViceChairman, the Secretary Chief Patrick Ekeji, including other members such as Chief Segun Odegbami, Mr. Austin Jay Jay Okocha and our brother Ambassador John Fashanu among others.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. House of Reps Speaker (8) 5. Assistant (4) 7. Praise (5) 8. Upright (4) 9. Lantern (4) 11. Tradition (6) 13. Lagos masquerade (3) 15. Exclamation (2) 16. Pig’s nose (5) 18. Agent (3) 20. Glitters (6) 24. Forward (5) 25. Nigerian state (6) 27. Boring tool (3) 29. Ghanaian fabric (5) 31. Perform (2) 32. Oshiomhole’s state (3) 34. U.S. currency (6) 36. Vow (4) 38. Musical quality (4) 39. Inclination (5) 40. Eager (4) 41. Damages (8)

DOWN 1. Sample (5) 2. Niger state town (4) 3. Observe (5) 4. Lecture (6) 5. Everyone (3) 6. Use (6) 10. Inquires (4) 12. Carpet (3) 14. Colour (6) 15. Resistance unit (3) 17. Coax (4) 19. Rollicked (6) 21. Hatchet (3) 22. Satisfied (4) 23. Nigerian state (3) 26. Cry of derision (3) 27 . African country (6) 28. Endure (4) 29. Child (3) 30. Spoke (6) 31. Adorn (5) 33. Baking chambers (5) 35. Asterisk (4) 37. Possessed (3)

SOLUTION on page 5

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