EBOLA: N60,000 daily pay fails to attract health worrkers

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2 —SA TURD AY Vanguard, A UGUST 23, 2014 —SATURD TURDA AUGUST

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Ebola: Dearth of volunteers persist in Lagos despite N60,000 daily pay, insurance * Spouses of 2 health workers infected, total infection 14, those in isolation 4 * Plans underway to honour Dr. Adadevoh –FG * NAS cautions against stigma, panic is working with the Lagos

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE, CHIOMA OBINNA, OLASUNKANMI AKONI, VICTORIA OJEME & FAVOUR NNABUGWU

AGOS State is facing the L problem of shortage of volunteers to help care for the victims of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). In spite of a life insurance scheme and N60, 000 daily allowance being offered by the state government, health workers and volunteers are still not forthcoming.

This is coming as the Ebola disease saga in Nigeria took a sinister twist with cases of Ebola virus infection emerging among two spouses of the health workers (primary contacts) that attended to the index (first) case, Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer.

Minister for Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, who confirmed the development in an announcement yesterday in Abuja, said the new cases are among the secondary contacts who have been under surveillance in Lagos but were quarantined as soon as they developed Ebola symptoms.

Disturbed by the dearth of volunteers, the Lagos State Government has appealed to health workers and volunteers to come forward to join the state’s effort in the battle against the dreaded EVD. Lagos State Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris, said they were striving to save the

lives of confirmed Ebola cases but “our major challenge in this regard is personnel with requisite expertise, hence, our call for volunteers.

“We require experts in different medical fields including critical care and infectious diseases and these still need to be trained using the World Health Organisation (WHO) protocol which may require up to five days of committed training before such experts can apply their skills safely without risk to themselves. Our international experts are currently providing this training on site.”

This is coming on the heels of the donation of 30 body scanners by the United States of America, USA, government to the Nigerian government to check body temperature at the country’s various ports of entry.’’

Speaking on the two new cases, Onyebuchi said: “The two are spouses of a man and woman who had direct contact with Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer, who flew into the country last month with the virus and infected 11 others before he died in July, including the male and female caregiver who both subsequently died of Ebola.’’

“The last two cases bring the total number of confirmed infections in

Nigeria, including Sawyer, to 14. This brings to four the total number of EVD patients currently under treatment at the isolation ward of the Ebola Control unit of the Mainland Hospital, Lagos.

“The number of deaths still remains five while the number of those successfully managed and discharged also stands at five,” Chukwu said, noting that Federal Government, is working with the Lagos State government and other partners, to maintain vigilance and continue to strengthen containment of the dreaded Ebola virus.

Along with Sawyer, the Lead Consultant at First Consultants Medical Centre, Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, one other female doctor, a nurse, and an official of the ECOWAS office in Lagos have so far died of Ebola in Nigeria.

It was not immediately clear if the newly confirmed cases are spouses of primary contacts who are dead or alive even though Chukwu had earlier in the week, hinted that with a good number of secondary contacts yet to complete the 21-day incubation period, the possibility of more cases of Ebola could not be entirely ruled out.

He reassured the global community that the country would not relent until the very last case of the disease is eradicated.The Federal Government, Chukwu said,

State government and other partners, to maintain vigilance and continue to strengthen containment.

The Federal Government, last Thursday approved the release of N200 million to Lagos State to fight the disease.

However, the emergence of Ebola infected secondary contacts is unprecedented and heightens fears about the possibility of the disease spreading beyond expectations.

It also raises questions about the validity of assurances earlier given about the general low risk of exposure to the index case alleged to have been taken to hospital immediately on arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

Reaching all contacts

On Thursday, the Lagos state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said a total of 213 people were currently under surveillance as part of efforts to monitor people who may have been potentially exposed to Ebola and that all persons certified negative have been freed.

The Ebola virus runs a maximum of 21 days and aside the treatment for those who have full blown cases, the more important work is tracking all those who have had primary and secondary contact.

Reaching all contacts is believed to be crucial

towards gaining control over the virus, according to the World Health Organisation, which expressed cautious optimism when it noted that it was hopeful over the situation in Nigeria because all the confirmed cases came from a single chain of transmission.

Plans underway to honour Dr Adedevoh — FG

Arrangements are being made by the federal government to honour Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh for the sacrifice she made in ensuring that Ebola did not spread to other parts of the country, the Minister of Health, Prof. Chukwu said yesterday in Abuja yesterday when he received the Association of Private Medical Practitioners in his office.

Chukwu who commended the efforts of private medical practitioners in the country especially the role played by the First Consultant Hospital and the late Dr Adadevoh which he described as very crucial in ensuring that the virus do not spread like in other countries.

He said that the role of private medical practitioners have become sacrosanct, adding; “particularly now when public medical practitioners, doctors are on strike.”

“You have lost one of your colleague, Dr Adadevoh, we mourn her and all Nigerians who lost their lives to Ebola. We will ensure that her bravery, courage and patriotism will not go unnoticed.”

NAS cautions against stigma, panic

President of the Nigeria Academy of Science, Prof

Oyewale Tomori, cautioned against panic and stigmatizing of victims.

In a statement, Tomori said: “As the foremost independent scientific body in the country, and based on available evidence from the 22 other outbreaks of EVD that have occurred in the East and Central Africa in the past, the Academy wishes to state that there is absolutely no need for panic, but that the public should fully cooperate with the appointed health authorities. “The EVD is a deadly disease but patients stand a good chance of survival if taken in early for supportive management.

The Nigerian record of the number of patients already discharged from the Ebola Treatment Centre strongly supports this. It is important to point out that these persons were discharged after having been certified virus-free by the laboratories at LUTH and Redeemers University.”

MDCAN commends FG

Meanwhile the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, has commended the Government over its response to the Ebola disease. It also called on Nigerian communities to cooperate with the government to locate treatment centres in any area of choice by the Ministries of Health.

Rising from a meeting of its Executive Committee, MDCAN in a statement, signed by the President, Dr Steven Oluwole also called for better protection for the health personnel in the forefront of the fight against the disease.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014 — 5

Mimiko decamps to PDP •To control 60% of appointments in Ondo

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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T last, Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has decamped from the Labour Party (LP) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Leaders of both parties confirmed the development to newsmen in Akure last night.

However, Ondo State Information Commissioner, Mr. Kayode Akinmade said that due to “serious pressure from the leadership of the PDP before and after the Osun governorship election, the governor is still consulting with stakeholders across the country on this.”

“For now, the governor is still in Labour Party even if he will eventually move he cannot take a unilateral decision on this matter,’’ he added.

But another Commissioner, Barrister Remi Olatubora of Adult Education Ministry was categorical about the governor ’s movement to PDP, saying: “ I woke up this morning as a LP chieftain but I am going to bed tonight as a PDP chieftain.’’

Saturday Vanguard learnt that the governor met with leaders of the party across the state yesterday where he reportedly informed them of his decision to move to PDP as a result of the

pressure since 2006.

A chieftain of the party who attended the meeting in Akure said that Mimiko’s commissioners and political appointees have been directed to go to their communities and pass the message to the LP members.

At yesterday ”s meeting, five leaders were invited from each of the 18 local councils across the state.

It was learnt that the governor, who returned from Abuja two days ago met with the national leaders of the PDP and other leaders including Senate President David Mark where the final deal was reportedly sealed.

The deal Saturday Vanguard gathered that a deal in which the governor’s LP would take 60 percent and the PDP 40 per cent in the state is being worked out in the distribution of political appointments.

Governor Mimiko has reportedly briefed his Executive members before last night meeting and will in the following week meet with National Assembly members of the LP. Before now some members of the party have been holding secret meetings with the PDP in the state ostensibly to prepare the ground for him.

Leaders of the PDP had been sad over Mimiko’s dilly-dally on the issue.

Their grouse was that he could not be in LP in Ondo State and at the same time claim to leaders in Abuja that he is in PDP and work against them in the state.

The complaining PDP leaders include the former governorship candidate of PDP, Chief Olusola Oke who lost to Mimiko in the state election, Chief Segun Ojo, Prof Olu Agbi and the party state Chairman Hon Ebenezer Alabi.

A member of the Board of Trustee and a leader of the party in the state Dr Bode Olajumoke said the governor is welcome to the party.

From left: Dr Tayo Bello, Chairman, Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency; Aishah Ahmad, Head, Retail Financial Services, Diamond Bank Plc; Uzoma Dozie, Deputy Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc and Dr Ngozi Onyia, Non-Executive Director, PharmAcess/Medical Director, Paelon Memorial Clinic, Victoria Island at the launch of Diamond MediLoan QualityCare in partnership with SafeCare in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele

Obasanjo commends FG, Lagos on Ebola •Says Govt’s effort contrasts that on Chibok girls

BY DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

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ORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has commended the Federal and Lagos state governments for curbing the spread of the Ebola virus in the country.

The former President stated this at the opening ceremony of the 11th Biennial International Conference on “Drugs, Alcohol and Society in

Africa” organized by the African Centre for Research and Information on substance Abuse (CRISA).

This came as Ogun State government has procured a variety of emergency supplies including specialised Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) as part of its efforts at strengthening its preparedness towards curtailing the sudden outbreak of Ebola

Boko Haram sacks another Borno village, hoist flags

BY NDAHI MARAMA, the first time Pulka was being attacked, the latest Maiduguri attack which occurred on ARELY 24 hours after Thursday evening was the suspected members deadliest o with quite a of Boko Haram sect dis- number of residents being lodged the National Po- killed. Houses, shops, lice Mobile Training and vehicles were set Camp in Limankara vil- ablaze before the insurlage of Gwoza Local Gov- gents dislodged the comernment Area of Borno munity and established a state, another set of heavy settlement there..

A competent and reliterrorists stormed Pulka able sources told our Corvillage of Gwoza and sacked the whole commu- respondent that “the innity before hoisting their surgents, large in number, black and white flags and using Rocket Propelled Launchers, ImproThursday night..

Pulka about 20 kilome- vised Explosive Devices tres from destroyed Gwo- and petrol bombs, invadza town which is also lo- ed Pulka and opened fire cated between Borno and on innocent civilians beCameroon republic sur- fore overpowering securirounded by Mandara ty operatives and vigilante groups and hoisting Mountains.

Although, this was not their flags”.

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This development, we gathered, forced some Internally Displaced Persons who ran away from the Gwoza attacks three weeks ago and resettled at neighbouring Madagali town of Adamawa state and residents to vacate their community following the sounds of explosions and gunshots that ensued from the terrorists.

One of the Gwoza refugees who was in Madagali, Mr. Yakubu Jidda told our Correspondent that “the latest attack on Pulka forced many people in Madagali including the displaced persons to flee to neighbouring Mubi and Gombi towns of Adamawa for fear of possible attacks from the terrorists who now operate freely

without confrontation from security operatives”.

A close political associate to Governor Kashim Shettima from Gwoza who was not authorized to talk to the Press and who pleaded anonymity confirmed the attack and the taking over of Pulka community by the Boko Haram sect on Thursday.

“Yes some Boko Haram terrorists invaded Pulka and killed many innocent people and destroyed a lot of houses before hoisting their flags in different locations of Pulka.

We, the people of Gwoza are very worried with the spate of killings and destruction by terrorists without military or security agencies confronting them.

Virus Disease (EVD).

Sequel to this development, Officers of the State Ministry of Health have sensitised Environmental Health Officers Association on safe practices relevant to viral hemorrhagic fever containment.

Obasanjo who however, submitted that if the attention given to the dreaded virus had been given to the abducted Chibok girls about three months ago, the story could have been different today.

He called for collective efforts at the West African region to stem the tide of the virus in the region.

According to him: “I have always believed that where we have done well we should be able to commend ourselves whether or not anybody comments. On the other hand, where we have not done well enough, we should be bold and courageous enough to admit our failing, show remorse and make correction.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Lagos State Government and the Federal government separately and collectively have done very well in the prompt measures taken

to stem the tide of Ebola disease and to prevent the spread into an epidemic proportion both in Lagos and in the country .

“We should hail these efforts which are in contrast to the efforts and time deployed to rescue the 276 Chibok girls abducted. The difference is clear and the results are obvious. Where we fail like in Chibok, no excuse will absolve us from the responsibility and guilt that will remain for years and decades to come.

Receiving the PPEs, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Daisi Odeniyi said that other efforts of the state towards curtailing the disease included visitation of the State Steering Committee to the isolation centers being prepared by the state to further step up the capacity to combat any outbreak of the disease.

The Permanent Secretary further said that the regular meeting of the Emergency Operation Committee and the SubCommittees on ebola would take place as the State continues to implement its Emergency Response plan.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014

Chibok girls: Parents want case closed •Say funeral rites already performed

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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ORE than four months after unfruitful search for their abducted girls, parents of the kidnapped Chibok school girls said they want the matter closed.

Since the girls have been missing for more than four months, the parents said they presumed the students to have died for which their funeral rites have already been performed in their (parents’) minds according to their

custom.

They, however, urged the federal government bring the girls’ corpses for honourable burial.

This position was disclosed yesterday by the #BringOurGirls advocacy group, during its daily sit-out meeting

Bring Back Our Girls group took to the street in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikana

for the rescue of the missing school girls at Unity Fountain, Abuja.

“All they said they want is their corpses to bury them honourably,” the group said.

As a way of driving their demand home, the group said it is vigorously mobilizing people on and offline and via social media towards holding a mega protest march in the FCT. According to them, over 200 groups in Abuja have so far been contacted and have given positive response to participate, with 135 individuals on the group’s database contacted.

While calling on federal government to double its effort to free the girls, the meeting said only political and military action can rescue our girls, and that is why we do what we are doing to compel that.

The group added a new slogan #NotWithoutOurDaughters! in response to a question on when it will stop the campaign.

Why Confab succeeded — Akinyemi

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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HE just-concluded National Conference succeeded largely because of noninterference by the Presidency in the

deliberations, Deputy Chairman of the conference, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, has said.

Akinyemi, who spoke exclusively to Saturday Vanguard in Abuja yesterday, said that the leadership was grateful

to President Goodluck Jonathan for not trying directly or remotely to teleguide the delegates as was the case with previous conferences.

The former Foreign Affairs Minister, who has taken part of many

Man charged to court for stealing 3-year-old girl

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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44-year-old man, Samuel Omotayo, has been charged before E b u t e - M e t t a Magistrate’s Court,

sitting at Oyingbo, for stealing a three-year-old girl, Victoria Ukoh.

The defendant, who claimed to be a father of two was alleged to have stolen the little girl on June 13, 2014, between 12

noon and 1 pm, at Ogunbela street, Aiyelala area, Odongunya at Ikorodu, Lagos.

The prosecutor, DSP Etim Ekankum, told the court, that the defendant, has made two conflicting statements to the police.

He said in one of the statements the defendant claimed to have bought the girl for N450,000, and on the second statement, he also claimed to have found the little girl in the rain, and as a good Samaritan, took her home.

However, when the defendant, was asked by Magistarte O. Olatunji, on how he came about the little girl and what informed the contradicting statements he said he was in state of confusion when he wrote the statements.

political conferences, noted that previous conferences failed to achieve set objectives because of the ‘unseen hands’ that tried to dictate to the delegates.

The one-time Director General of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, explained that the free hand given the leadership to manage the deliberations made it possible for Nigerians to decide for themselves how the country should be run.

Akinyemi said: “The wisdom of the president in not micro-managing the conference made it possible for us to succeed. I can attest to the fact that he never interfered with our work on any occasion. Part of the reasons why other conferences actually failed was because of the unseen hands, who never left the delegates alone to take their decisions. So the president must take primary praise that he never sought to interfere, he never intervened and he never sent anybody to the management to say this is the way I want this or that to go.”

BRIEFS Fresh exposes INEC over false appeal claims

BY ADERONKE ADEYERI

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AWYERS of the Fresh Democratic Party, FRESH, Dr. Fred Agbaje and Kola Dopamu, yesterday made available to the media, a new notice of appeal/affidavit dated July 17, 2014 filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, against the court verdict that voided the commission’s deregistration of the party.

INEC deposed in the said affidavit: “The delay by the Appellant/Applicant in compiling and transmitting the records was occasioned by the fact that the Appellant/ Applicant was engaged with numerous appeals emanating from pre and post election cases.”

The FRESH lawyers said that the new notice of appeal effectively debunked the false claims that INEC officials have been making all along, that they have appealed the verdict which was why FRESH has not been recertified as required by law.

Adoption of children at orphanages, illegal —Falana

BY DAUD OLATUNJI, ABEOKUTA

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legal practitioner, Funmi Falana has warned bar ren couples to avoid patronage of orphanages for adoption of children, saying, it is unconstitutional and attracts prosecution.

Falana stated this while delivering a paper titled,’Nigerian Child and The Law’, at a Seminar, Presentation of Awards and Musical Launching Our Fate, Our Street, organised by Gender Development Initiative which took place in Abeokuta.

She explained that, government is the only authority to handle the child adoption,adding that only juveniles,persons under the age of 17 may be adopted. She stressed further that the adopted child would be treated as the lawful child of the adopter and not the child of any other person.

“Adoption is the process whereby a court extinguishes the parental links between a child and his natural parents and creates analogue links between him and his adopter,” she explained.

Agbor Community seeks extension of voters’ registration

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

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HE President of Agbor Community in Delta State, Major-General Nick Aigbogun (rtd.) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to extend the ongoing fresh registration of voters in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Speaking with Saturday Vanguard after monitoring the exercise in different registration points in Agbor yesterday, General Aigbogun, who was happy with the turnout of people for the exercise, however, regretted that the desires of capturing voters in the area into the national voters’ register could fail if present logistic and personnel limitations were left unchecked.

The fresh exercise in Ika South Local Government Area followed what was described as a computer hitch that wiped out the list of eligible voters in the area.

Praising INEC for its forthrightness in conducting the fresh registration, Aigbogun, however, appealed for an extension in the registration exercise to enable all eligible voters partake in the exercise.

Council chairman to FG, “extend PPP to LGAs”

BY WILLIAM JIMOH

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MUWO-ODOFIN LGA Chairman, Comrade Ayo Adewale has urged the Federal Government to extend its Public Private Partnership, PPP, programme to abandoned federal infrastructure in the state. The chairman, who attributed dilapidating condition of some buildings and roads within FESTAC housing estate in particular and other parts of the state to negligence on the part of the Federal Government, noted that every improvement to infrastructure within the estate has been through the effort of the local council .

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014 — 7

BRIEFS No Ebola patient in Ethiope West — Council boss

BY ADERONKE ADEYERI

2015: Jonathan will contest — Clark R …Says four years will not bring Nigeria down

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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N elder statesman and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has declared that President Goodluck Jonathan will seek re-election for second term in 2015, saying that nobody can stop him from doing so because he is qualified and has performed credibly well.

Chief Clark who stated this, Friday, in Abuja while receiving a delegation of Northern Women Mass Movement for President Jonathan 2015 Ambition, an umbrella body of Northern Women in Politics, said that “four years more of Jonathan will not bring the nation to an end.

“Mr. President will definitely contest the 2015 presidential election because he is qualified and nobody has the right to stop him,” Chief Clark said.

He argued that everyone who had ruled the nation spent two terms of

eight years and therefore, Jonathan should be allowed to complete his eight years in office.

The elder statesman who said he was sorry for the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, which is accusing Jonathan of not doing anything for the North, said the President has done more than enough for the north in the history of the country.

According to him, “for the first time in the history of the nation, two Inspectors General of Police from the North were appointed consecutively.

“When people who are close to Jonathan advised him to appoint someone from the South South as IGP, he said no. This is because, he is not sentimental. He appointed two Heads of Service consecutively who are from the North. He created 10 new federal universities in the Northern region.

“It is a feat that has not been achieved by anybody.

He built al-majiri schools

in the North, rail system has been resuscitated.

“Some people say Jonathan is parochial that he is developing his own people. We say No, those of us in the South South are even complaining”, he said.

On the abducted Chibok school girls by Boko Haram sect, Chief Clark stated that the girls will come back to join their fellow women to build a new Northern Nigeria and new nation.

He said, “if President had used force to free the girls, some of them would have died, and the same people would still shout that Jonathan has killed our girls.”

“Jonathan will contest in 2015 because of two things; one, he is quali-

fied to do so under the law and secondly, he has performed well to the extent that those who voted him in 2011 are willing to do so again.

“Nobody has a right to stop him from contesting.

Every President who has ruled this nation spent two terms. We voted for Alhaji Shehu Shagari as President in 1979 and 1983.

“Everybody in this country is created equal, no matter the tribe, gender or background as long as such a person is a Nigerian and educated,” he said.

Chief Clark while responding to remarks by the northern women group, commended them for taking the bold initiative to support Jonathan come 2015.

EPORT that an Ebola patient had been admitted in Our Ladies Hospital Oghareki in Ethiope West Local Government Area has been described as untrue.

The Chairman of the Local Government Transition Committee, Honourable Precious Ajaino while addressing journalists at the kings palace in Oghara said no Ebola patient was admitted in Our Ladies Hospital in Oghara, adding the Delta State Ministry of Health, Asaba had also debunked the story.

Hon Ajaino explained that the doctor of the said hospital, noticed some symptoms that were similar to those of Ebola Virus on a patient who had just returned from Lagos State. He added that the doctor was scared and alerted the Ministry of Health in Asaba and they responded immediately. He further stated that the blood sample of the suspected patient was taken to Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, for proper screening.

The council boss added that the results were forwarded to Asaba, where it was confirmed negative.

He said Oghara is a blessed land devoid of such dreaded disease. While condemning the peddlers of such rumour, he advised the people of Ethiope West to adhere to medical advice and remain steadfast with God. Ëbola response team that would monitor and sensitize the people on the virus will be inaugurated soon.

EFCC arrests two in Rivers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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CONOMIC and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC has arrested two staff of Access bank in Port Harcourt for alleged “conspiracy and fraudulent conversion of Rivers state Board of Internal Revenue’s cheque for N9, 554, 286". The statement signed by Spokesman of the body, Mr Wilson Uwajeren said the two bankers were of the Access bank branch on Moscow road, Port Harcourt, adding that they were arrested yesterday.

Mr Uwajeren further said the suspects would be prosstopped a luxurious bus at ecuted in court. gunpoint at Asaba, robbing a passenger of his laptop.

Police spokesperson in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City , arrest, yesterday, said, “ On OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo States has 19/8/2014 at about 2305hrs, commissioned a 10-kilometer network of roads reone Ifeanyi ‘m’, aged 36yrs built by the State Government in the Nigerian Air Force and Chibuike ‘m’ , aged Barracks in Benin City, Edo State.

30yrs, both of Abia State, While commissioning the roads which are complete with who boarded G.U.O Group walkways for pedestrians, Oshiomhole commended the of Companies Luxurious role the Nigeria Air Force plays in the maintenance of bus with Reg. No. XD 458 security in the country. Oshiomhole who was in company AWK from Owerri to Lagos, of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adeshola Amosu on getting to Asaba in Del- and other top officers of the Air Force said, “I know that ta State, forced the driver this is a very busy period for the Nigeria Armed Forces of the said bus, one Ojuk- and as the Chief of the entire Air Staff, I need not be wu Mac-Donald ‘m’ to stop educated on your own specific challenges with regard to providing Air cover to our men and women under arms on gun point.”

“The duo robbed one of who are confronting insurgency in the various parts of the passengers by name the country”.

Promise Okwuake ‘m’ of his lap top, jumped down from the vehicle and took to their heel.”

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA “The suspects were, however, pursued and arrestHE People of Delta North Senatorial District have ed by patrol men from ‘B’ been reassured of more dividends of democracy in Division Asaba, who got wind of the incident and the next political dispensation.

A PDP senatorial aspirant Hon. Pascal Adigwe gave mobilized to the scene,” the assurance while speaking to a cross section of stakeshe said. holders, leaders and youths during his ongoing consulAccording to her, “ Items tation visits in Asaba and environs. recovered from them inHon. Adigwe stated that his quest to provide a credclude one cut to size dou- ible and result oriented representation and platform for ble barrel gun, the stolen the economic/social transformation of the entire Delta laptop and a wrap of dried North Senatorial District was as a result of leveraging on weeds suspected to be In- his considerable vast experience and record of quality service. He remarked that if he was given the opportudian hemp.”

She asserted that the sus- nity to be elected in the 2015 senatorial election, he would pects “are helping detec- create an enabling environment to galvanize the unity tives from ‘B’ Division Asa- and resourcefulness of his people in team work under the auspices of the PDP to advance peace and progress ba in investigation.” of the Senatorial District.

Police nab two luxurious bus robbers in Asaba

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OLICE in Delta State, have arrested two suspected bandits, who

Oshiomhole commissions 10-km roads in Air Force Barracks

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Adigwe reassures people of Delta North

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8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014

BRIEFS Olejeme praises Uduaghan

Oshiomhole flags off new 64-page e-passport in Edo

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

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OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole has flagged off the new 64-page e-Passport in Edo State, saying the new passport released by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), is in tandem with what obtains in other civilized parts of the world.

Speaking at the event at the Offices of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Benin City, yesterday, Oshiomhole also commended the Immigration for their contribution to the maintenance of peace and security in the state.

He said, “I had wondered why the passport carries few pages as a result of which you are compelled to have more than one passport. If you are a frequent traveler, within two years, you would

Visit to Chief Clark : PDP Women Leader , Chief Mrs. Kema Chikwe, Chief Edwin Clark and National Coordinator Northern Women Mass Movement for Godluck Jonathan, Hon. Halimat Hussan Tukur chatting during the group’s visit to Chief Clark in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan have finished the pages of the passport and yet some of the visas are still valid.

The result is that most frequent travelers find themselves carrying bundles of passport, the current one and the one that carries your valid visa.

“It seems to me that it is only Nigerians that carry more than one passport.

Sometimes, I find myself carrying more than one and when they ask me, I say, this one is where the visa is and then this one is the current one. I think for me therefore, your management has responded proactively to something that has been of concern to many people especially those who are frequent travelers and this

to me is what leadership is about.”

The Governor appreciated the President, Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Interior and the Comptroller-General of the Immigration for the wonderful initiative as it is a capital benefit to every person who wants to travel.

Ex-militant leaders set to reconcile aggrieved ex-MEND boss, Gov. Dickson

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagoa

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X-MILITANT lead ers from the SouthSouth region under the aegis of Leadership for Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI) have announced the setting up of a five-man Reconciliation Committee to intervene in the feud between the former member of the Movement for the Eman-

cipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Eris Paul and the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson.

Though the ex-militant leaders, dissociated themselves from the raging feud between the exMEND member known as ‘General Ogunboss’ and the governor, they said the setting up of the five man committee was to plead with both parties and affirm the need for support for the ongoing

development efforts of the state governor.

Led by the National Coordinator of the (LPCDI), Pastor Reuben Wilson, the ex -militant leaders in a communique read yesterday after the Thursday emergency meeting of the group in Yenagoa, announced that they have resolved not to allow themselves to be used by those tagged Abuja politi-

Onuesoke calls for revitalization of Delta Steel Complex

BY EPHRAIM OSEJI

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ELTA State Peoples Democratic (PDP) Governorship Aspirant in 2007 general election, Chief Sunny Onuesoke has appealed to the Federal Government to revitalize the moribund Delta Steel Complex (DSC) situated in Ovwian/Aladja, Delta State.

Onuesoke made the call when Udu Youths agitating for President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection in 2015

visited his office in Warri, Delta State asking him to call on the Federal Government to reform the moribund DSC located in their community.

Onuesoke said if Delta Steel Plant was revamped, it would play an important part for which it was originally designed to play, adding that it would catalyse industrial development in the country.

Said Onuesoke: “Beside, the revamping

of DSC will return Warri in particular and Delta State in general to its old pride of place as people far and near will be attracted to the state as such opening road for other sources of businesses and ecocomic development. It will also create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.

Federal and the state governments will also gain as it will lead to increase in revenue generation for both arms of government.”

cians to scuttle the existing peace, security and development in the state.

Pastor Wilson said: “The committee is expected to meet with our brother, Ogunboss and plead with the Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson to forgive him.

“No matter what the state governor deserves respect. We would not allow the verbal attack on the governor to continue. We will serve as mediator and settled it.

“We have resolved that we would not allow ourselves to be used by politicians. No one can ask us to write and publish something against anyone.”

The ex militant leaders commended the developmental strides of the governor saying his achievements are there for all to see.

“Dickson has done well and affirm the support of all ex-militant leaders for his administration. We commend him for appointing exmilitant leaders into the State Task Force on security along the waterways and creeks of the state,” he said.

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HE Chairman, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme has praised the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for setting high standards in sports, security and management of public finances, promising to continue where the governor will stop in 2015.

“I must thank His Excellency, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for a job well done. I will bring my wealth of experience to bear in the administration and development of Delta State. I will also take Delta State to the next level” she promised.

Olejeme, who spoke in Asaba during a courtesy visit on a member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Pat Ajudua, described herself as a sellable candidate that will give the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) victory in the 2015 governorship election in the State.

Praising God and the management team for the progress so far made on National Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITFOlejeme said the organization under her leadership transited from its moribund nature to a desired state.

“Today, NSITF is having almost 6500 staff with offices in different parts of Nigeria”.

She said the agency would continue to provide social security protection and safety nets for all Nigerians against deprivations and income insecurity.

Ughelli North mourns Aziza

BY EDIRI EJOH & RICHARD UDOFIA

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LEGISLATOR, in Delta State, Hon. Akpodiete Edoja from Ughelli North 11, said the Urhobo nation has lost a courageous and illustrious leader who tirelessly pursued the goal of the Urhobos.

According to him, “the late Aziza was a goal getter who was always bent on getting what he needed no matter the sacrifice and commitment involved.”

Until his death, Patrick Aziza was the President General of Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU, a group that serves as a unity umbrella for the wellbeing and welfare of the Urhobo worldwide. “The Urhobo People will miss him at this time the most, because of the way he relates with people irrespective of their socio-economic level, status or class. He also stressed that the vacuum left by the statesman will be hard for anybody to fill, while he urged the people to take this time and focus on achieving that which the late President died for. ‘’Let us remain united and fight for a unified goal as our togetherness and one voice, will give our beloved leader joy and happiness wherever he may be”, he added.

Four killed in cult clash in Calabar

BY EMMA UNA, Calabar

F

OUR persons were believed to have lost their lives in Calabar in the last two days in gun shootout between two rival cult groups, the Vikings Confraternity and KK group.

One of those killed was a 40 years old traditional chief in the Efut Esighi kingdom in Bakassi LGA whose name was given as Etim while he was taking his bath right in his house at Nqu Street, near the Palace of Obong of Calabar. An eye witness, Andem Ekpenyong Effiom who gave graphic account of the incident said the titled chief was believed to have been traced from Bakassi a day before but was shot yesterday night at about 7pm.

He said that there was shooting in the area in the past days thereby making residents of the area to flee or lock themselves inside their homes.

Strike: Oshiomhole gives 7 days ultimatum to four schools

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

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OLLOWING the strike action embarked upon by staff of four tertiary institutions in Edo, Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday charged the new Governing Council of the institutions to find out the problem in the institutions within seven days.

It would be recalled that state owned tertiary institutions had embarked on a seven-day warning strike over alleged non- payment of their 16 months salary arrears. The affected institutions are College of Agriculture Iguoriakhi, College of Education, Ekiadolor, Institute of Management Technology, Usen and College of Education, Igueben.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014 — 9

BRIEFS

Abia Elders’ Council lauds govt on handling of Ebola

Collapse APGA into PDP, says Ezeibe, PDP chieftain

BY TONY EDIKE

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Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain in Anambra State, Chief Benedict Obiora Ezeibe has decried the conditional support which the national leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have decided to give President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 presidential ambition.

Chief Ezeibe told reporters in Enugu, yesterday, that APGA should be collapsed into the PDP rather than such proposal, coming from its national leadership which he accused of hypocrisy.

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, his predecessor in office, Mr. Peter Obi and National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh had said that the conditions upon which their party would support President Jonathan in 2015 presidential election is, among others, giving their party members high profile Board appointments.

Chief Ezeibe, who was also Chairman of the PDP Finance Committee in the state, described the demand as “mere blackmail and an opportunistic outburst.”

“For four years, you are telling us there is no APGApresidential candidate; does that make it (APGA) a political party?” he asked, adding: “What’s the essence of having a party that will not present a presidential candidate during elec-

tions?” He further re-stated: “We should collapse APGA into PDP. What do APGA people have that will deliver the president in 2015? We want them to have their own presidential candidate as a political party.” He added sarcastically: “Is APGA a national party or Igbo party? Or is it an Igbo party for a particular Local Government Area

in Anambra State?”

According to him, PDP does not, in any way, need APGA todeliver President Jonathan in next year’s presidential poll. “It is important to clear the air at this stage so that our brothers and sisters in APGA are not deceived or cowed into isolated Local Government Party. PDP has a good product and candidate and

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HANEZE Ndigbo, the umbrella sociopolitical body of Igbo in Nigeria, has hailed the unrelenting efforts of the Nigerian military in the battle to dislodge Boko Haram (invaders) terrorists from the nation’s shores even as the group sympathized over the casualties and sacrifices troops were being subjected to.

President General of the body, Chief Gary Nnachi Enwo-Igariwey who led members to the office of the

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BIA State Elders’ Council has commended Abia State government’s proactive handling of the dreaded Ebola disease described as satisfactory which should elicit the support and compliance by residents of the state.

The council also “endorsed all relevant steps being taken by the government to respond to the threat of the dreaded Ebola virus”. In a communiqué after its meeting, the Council, which is the highest advisory body to the State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji and his administration, enjoined all residents “to respond promptly to the protective and preventive measures already being advanced by the government”. The Elders in the communiqué signed by the Chairman, Prof Joe Irukwu and the Secretary, Dr. Eme Okoro noted that it was the responsibility of all residents to ensure that the Ebola virus is not given a foothold in Abia State.

Imo prisons: Promotion sparks off protest

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, OWERRI.

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From left: The Brand Director, African Artist Foundation, Wunika Mukan, Mr Azu Nwagbogu, Director African Artists Foundation; CSR/ Sustainabilty Manager Nigerian Breweries Plc, addressing the media and Mr Tola Wewe, past Commissioner for Culture &Tourism Ondo State, during the media briefing on finalists of seventh edition of Natioal Arts competition in Lagos Photo By Diran Oshe

Doctors’ strike contributed to my son’s death — CNPP spokesman

BY TONY EDIKE, ENUGU

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ATIONAL Publicity Secretary of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said yesterday that the

ongoing nationwide strike by medical doctors was partly responsible for the death of his son.

Okechukwu who spoke at the burial of his son, Matthias Koso Okechukwu, at Eke, Enugu State Friday,

Terrorism: Ohaneze hails military for defending Nigerians against invaders

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, ABUJA

we do not need APGA to vote him in. In 1999 and 2003 President Olusegun Obasanjo was voted in without APGA, again in 2007, Musa Yar’Adua won without APGA support so what are we talking about?

APGA or no APGA, PDP will deliver its candidate, Jonathan in 2015,” he said.

BY ANAYO OKOLI, UMUAHIA

Minister of State, Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro in Abuja, condemned the continued violence perpetrated by Boko Haram on innocent Nigerians noting that “No country develops when there is this kind of insurgency”.

His words: “No person should pray that these attacks and destruction should continue. We have come here to show solidarity and to appreciate the efforts being made by our troops to encourage them to do more. We pray for them, we appreciate that their lives are on the line

and we sympathize with the families of those who have already lost their lives”. “We are here to give support to your war efforts.

For over two years now we have had the situation in the country where some extremists are trying to undermine the unity of this country. We know the cost in lives and properties to our people we are also aware of the efforts our security operatives have been making over time they have put their lives on the line making sacrifices so that we live. We appreciate their efforts and one can only wish that they do more”.

appealed to States and Federal governments to adhere to the imperative of increased funding of the health sector.

According to him, “even if it needs to borrow, as we have entered the debt trap again, the government should please improve funding of the health sector to save some of us who grossly lack the means to travel abroad for treatment,” adding that the scant attention paid to the health sector was because the president, governors and chairmen of local government councils find it more convenient to travel abroad for medical treatment.”

Okechukwu, whose son died on 10th August, partly due to the strike, as Consultant Pediatricians, were absent when his son was rushed to National Hospital Abuja, lamented over millions of Nigerians who die because of ill treatment, caused by shabby treatment of doctors and poorly equipped hospitals.

HE 2013 promotion exercise recently released by the high command of Nigeria Prisons Service, NPS, has started generating ripples in Imo State Command of the establishment.

Most of the affected officers, who stormed Vanguard office yesterday, to complain on the issue, fingered “corruption, injustice, marginalization and brazen lack of due process in the exercise”.

They not only faulted the promotion exercise, but also insisted that “it was full of palpable malpractices and anomalies”, stressing that “many qualified officers that were due for promotion, were unjustly dropped because they had no godfathers”.

The aggrieved NPS staff were equally irked that some of their colleagues, who did not write the promotion examination were allegedly promoted.

BAMA HELICOPTER CRASH:

Airforce buries fallen hero

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

T

HE Nigeria Air force yesterday buried late flight Lieutenant Akweke Junior Nwakile who died in a helicopter crash in Bama, Borno State on 21 July amidst wailing and grieving by family members and friends of the young officer.

The atmosphere at the Nigeria Military cemetery in Abuja witnessed by the Minister of State Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Permanent Secretary, Aliyu Ismaila, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubril, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu and Major General Sarki Yakin Bello (rtd) who represented the NSA, was solemn as the remains of Junior Nwakile were laid to rest in military tradition.

Lapo spends N103m on education

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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APO Microfinance Bank Limited says it has spent N103 million in the last seven years in scholarship for clients’ children education.

The bank disclosed this during the 2014/15 scholarship scheme examination in Lagos, where Osayi Itohan, Secretary , Lapo Scholarship Board, while breaking down in monetary terms the amount spent so far by the bank on the scholarship which she described as the bank’s own Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR drive.

Mrs Itohan who also said that the bank has a yearly budget for its scholarship fund, stated that for the 2014/15 academic session the bank will be spending N38 million to help indigent clients’ children education.

Read more news on page 52

10—SA TURD AY 10—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 23, 2014 AUGUST

LIFE SP AN: The long and short of it The heart

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igeria is becoming an inheritor of strange diseases by the day but the people have a way of surviving.

New ailments are developing everyday and somehow, they find their ways into our land. Bird Flu. Lassa Fever. HIV/ AIDS, etc. We have had it all. Newspaper pages on daily basis are filled with images of young people who died before their time. Kidney diseases, high blood pressure and other system debilitating diseases are on the increase. And recently, a Liberian after having contact with Ebola victim couldn’t think of another country to visit but Nigeria.

When Felicia Mayford, a Nollywood star slumped and died on location several years ago while shooting a movie, many did not understand it because slumping and dying suddenly was not in our character.

Sam Loco Efe, a top Nollywood actor also slumped on location and died.

Goldie Harvey, a top Nigerian celebrity musician slumped and died in the arms of her friend Denrele Edun after returning from an

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BY CHIOMA GABRIEL

Kidney diseases, high blood pressure and other system debilitating diseases are on the increase

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overseas trip.

Amaka Igwe, a Film producer of repute had an attack on location and died before getting to hospital. During her funeral, another reputable actress who earlier suffered kidney disease and underwent transplant, Ngozi Nwosu slumped but survived.

And there was Kefee, a top singer who recently slumped and later died under controversial circumstances.

Outside Nollywood and the music industry, the sports world has had its dose of casualties.

Sam Okwaraji, the former Super Eagles midfielder collapsed and died during a World Cup qualifying match against Angola at the National Stadium, Lagos, on August 12, 1989 of cardiac arrest.

He collapsed within 10 minutes left of the game with Nigeria leading 1-0.

Amir Angwe, 29, a striker with Julius Berger in 1995 collapsed just with one minute before the end of an African Cup Winners’ Cup semi final match with Maxaquene of Mozambique at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos. After he slumped, Angwe waved off playmates saying he would be fine but doctors at the stadium

were unable to revive him. Angwe died of a heart attack.

Endurance Idahor, a budding footballer also died after a flourishing career at home with Julius Berger of Lagos and Dolphins of Port Harcourt. The former Under-23 striker moved to Sudan where he joined El Merreikh in 2006 but was sent on loan to Saudi Arabia in 2008 and later return to his club in Sudan.

He was the club’s top marksman, scoring a total of 118 goals in 176 appearances for El Merreikh. He collapsed during a league game with Al Amal in Omdurman and died on the pitch after a minor incident in the vital area of the visiting team.

Years ago, Jaiye Aboderin, son of the late publisher of Punch newspaper slumped and died after a lunch meeting and a basketball game.

In July 14, 2001, Charles Esheko, 26, died in hospital after suffering a massive cardiac arrest on the field. Charles, a strong defender for Bengal Mumbai Club in India was playing against the Income Tax team in the Harwood

Continues on page 11

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 23, 2014—11 AUGUST

‘Why people slump and die’

Sam Loco Efe

Endurance Idahor

Amaka Igwe

Goldie Harvey

Jaiye Aboderin

Emmanuel Nwanegbo

Continues from page 10

Why people slump

E

xperts have revealed that for anybody to slump and die, two vital organs of the body must be involved. These are the heart and the brain. The heart is a major organ that has to function optimally, and during intense physical activities, the heart works more, pumping blood adequately to support the brain. The brain is also what keeps people alive, but if it is deprived of blood supply for more than four minutes, a person can go unconscious and this could lead to death.

The tragedy of these calamities is that most people are not aware that they have hypertension and diabetes — the two conditions that predispose people to suffer stroke or heart attack and kidney diseases.

It was therefore a shock when Funmilayo Femi, a 20-year old undergraduate fell ill and was diagnosed with hypertension. Funmilayo felt dizzy and had consistent head-ache and so had to go to hospital. Her BP was 200/120.

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League. He collapsed in the first half but managed to sit in a taxi and get admitted in a Mumbai hospital. But there, he suffered a second stroke and died. The Nigerian had been playing in the Asian nation for over three years.

In 1997, a Nigerian player, Emmanuel Nwanegbo, died after only few minutes of play for SSV Reutlingen in the Regionalliga due to cardiac arrest.

In the political arena, it was the same story.

Not long ago, former governor of Ondo State, Segun Agagu slumped and died.

Experts have revealed that for anybody to slump and die, two vital organs of the body must be involved; these are the heart and the brain

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None of her parents has it and so it became a puzzle to the doctors. She was lucky and was treated but for her to live on BP drugs from age 20 became incredible to her and her parents.

Alhaja Safinatu recently got to her shop at Ladipo, relaxed on her chair to have lunch when she slumped on her chair.

Thinking that something was wrong with the chair, her neighbours in the market rushed instantaneously to give a helping hand and lift her up. Then, apprehension set in when they noticed her still form. And still thinking that she might have suffered a concussion as a result of the fall, they rushed her to the General Hospital but within minutes of her arrival, she was pronounced dead by the doctor. Her BP was 280/150.

The recent goal is that BP should be below 120/80. These numbers were extremely high and very dangerous.

These are not isolated cases. Sudden death syndrome is becoming all too common.

Apart from slumping and dying, strange diseases are cropping up everyday and poverty-stricken Nigerians are falling victims.

Almost every Nigerian knows somebody who has had a stroke, or died suddenly.

There is an epidemic of both men and women ‘slumping’ and dying. It is bad that someone left home in the morning seemingly healthy and did not make it back home.

It is reported that the average life expectancy in Nigeria in 2000 was 51-56 years and by 2011 had declined to 47.56 (World Bank figures). All indications are that this decline occurred even as we have become a more affluent country. The average worldwide life expectancy presently is approximately 65.5

Sam Okwaraji

Segun Agagu years, while that of countries like the USA is in the 70s. A more realistic comparison would be that of a country like Rwanda, where the life expectancy is estimated to be approximately 55 years in 2011.

What appears most alarming is that people are ‘slumping’ from treatable and manageable medical conditions such as Malaria, Diabetes, Heart Attacks and Strokes. All have local definitions and ascribable spiritual connections. Such illnesses are preventable and treatable through appropriate health education, change in life style and adequate treatment, despite the misguided ‘spiritual’ diagnosis.

People are increasingly dying of treatable diseases due to ignorance, unholy deception and misinformation. These are preventable health issues. As the body ages, it stops functioning as it should and naturally needs assistance. A body that was able to tolerate a high fever may be unable to do so anymore as it ages. An unintended result of ‘healthy’ eating is obesity which by the way leads to adult onset diabetes. It is the nature of life.

What ordinarily could be treatable with ‘onions’ is now treated with antibiotics. It is bad enough to have incurable diseases but it is good to at the very least deal properly with the ones that are curable and can be managed.

It is advisable to seek medical attention at the first sign of illness and routinely at least once a year. People should understand their family medical history and respond accordingly and proactively.

Continues on page 12

12—SA TURD AY 12—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 23, 2014 AUGUST

Kidney

‘kidney business is booming in Nigeria’

Continues from page 11

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ecessity, says an adage, is the mother of invention. And in Nigeria,with the increasing stress in the lifestyle of many Nigerians and the accompanying hypertension, heart diseases and kidney diseases, kidney business is booming in Nigeria, And the refusal of relatives of kidney disease patients to donate kidneys to their diseased ones has opened a new business for voluntary donors who make millions by donating their kidneys to patients.

Over the years, kidney donors have been making millions from their benevolence, earning between N1.7 million to N2.5 million for giving their kidneys. Donors also have the opportunity to experience life in other climes in the course of donating their life saving organs as they follow the recipient to the country where the kidney transplant is to be done.

The patient takes responsibility for transportation to India or wherever the transplant is to be done. The trip may last between six and 18 months during which a series of tests is conducted to ensure that there would be no complications and he (donor) would survive for many years on his remaining kidney. The same duration is also required after the transplant to ensure that the patient doesn’t suffer rejection after the transplant.

A new ‘association’ of donors was formed sometime for the purpose of scouting for donors and their leader, Olugbemiga, (not real name), a 32-year-old young man has already donated his kidney and now helps patients who need transplant to search for potential donors with matching blood group.

Olugbemiga who donated his kidney in 2006

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Your kidney at risk

With the increasing stress in the lifestyle of many Nigerians and the accompanying hypertension, heart diseases and kidney diseases, kidney business is booming in Nigeria

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said: “The patient had tried all he could in search of kidney but couldn’t get the match for his kidney because he has a rare blood group, O negative. His family relations were scared that if they donated their kidney, something could happen to the remaining one and they could die but it’s not like that.

“I was fresh from secondary school and needed money to continue my education. My parents couldn’t afford to send me to the university and I decided to take the risk. I was paid N1.5 million then and taken to India where the transplant was done.

“The patient paid for the return ticket to India and took care of everything during our nine months stay. The pay was exclusive and not part of the return ticket or feeding. The patient takes care of all that and that still prevails.

“But now, our job is to seek donors with matching blood group and healthy kidneys and once we see a potential donor, he meets with the patient and discusses the terms of payment. Nowadays, some pay as much as N2.5 million depending on who is involved and how urgent the kidney is needed.”

Olugbemiga said he had no home then but when he returned from India, he built a twobedroom apartment with the money he was paid, and used the remaining to start a business of hawking electronics on the highways. These days, when he helps patients to get donors, he takes a percentage of what is paid but that, according to him, is not the attraction.

“When I was taken to the hospital in India, the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre Civil Hospital, I noticed that the fear over donating kidneys is baseless. It is only Africans, especially Nigerians that fear over giving their kidneys.

Patients from the United States of America

and Europe come with their family members and after tests are conducted on them, the potential donor with the matching kidney is picked.”

According to experts, the best donor is someone that has identical features, usually, a brother or a sister but most Nigerians bring outsiders of the same blood group as donors.

A husband of a kidney disease patient currently in India, Bobby told Vanguard that getting a donor for his wife was not easy.

“Our experience was quite overwhelming. In the first place, getting a referral letter to IKDCH in India was not easy. My wife was on dialysis here in Nigeria for over two years and we kept spending money on that. Eventually, we got a referral letter to India from a doctor after parting with $1,000.

“We spent a fortune on treatment here in Nigeria but I thank God we made it to India at last. Our experience has taught us a lesson: we won’t let anybody that we know spend to get a referral letter. I have come to the realisation that Nigerians need a lot of education. My wife couldn’t get a donor amongst her siblings because they were all too scared.

“We eventually found a donor for N1.2 million but that is the least because when we got to India, we found several patients and their donors who charged them between N1.7 million – N2.5 million. Most of these donors are the very poor who cannot get help any other way. So, they decided to trade their kidneys for the money to start a business or solve life’s problems.

“I can tell you from experience that if you see 20 people at the Indian Embassy searching for visa, more than half of them are kidney or cancer patients and their donors who have come to obtain visa to travel for treatment.

Continues on page 13

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

‘Why children have kidney diseases’

“Donors operate as a cartel and they charge whatever they like. My wife is still in India with the donor she took along and all kinds of tests are still being conducted to ensure there won’t be any complications.

“We did not solicit for funds publicly because we could afford the treatment and the transplant but not every patient could afford it.

In fact, most Nigerians cannot afford dialysis or transplant.

And in the Indian hospital, there are so many Nigerians and other Africans awaiting transplant. My wife went with her donor since last year and getting the transplant done is taking time because of the series of tests being conducted. It’s possible she would be there till the later part of the year and that translates to more money.”

Asked how helpful Nigerian Embassy has been to the patients, Bobby said “the Embassy renders help only in terms of confirming documents but woe betide you if you cannot meet up your bills. As a matter of fact, the Nigerian Embassy writes the hospitals from time to time to remind them not to involve the Embassy in any form of financial support or assistance to the patients. What the hospitals do is write to the Embassy, sending copies of the documents the patients bring for them to confirm the patients are Nigerians and that is all they do. The Embassy does not render financial help to Nigerians who come to India for treatment. They only confirm the documents they brought to India and even that is a big deal.

“There was even a case of this Nigerian girl whose donor failed one of the tests. She remained in the hospital for 18 months until an Indian offered his own kidney to her free!

Getting a donor is not easy and that is why when you find one, he charges as much as N2.5 million but we didn’t pay that much because it was a man who had done business with a donor that introduced us to the ‘donors association”.

Experts say the commonest cause of kidney failure is hypertension, systematic chronic hypertension and about 50 per cent of people above the age of 50 years in Nigeria are probably hypertensive.

The issue of high hypertension in Nigeria is getting higher. Some patients who have hypertension are not well treated in Nigeria, they are not well-evaluated because a lot of people who are hypertensive don’t go for

medical check-up. Hypertension is a silent killer and it brings a lot of complications.

Nigerians don’t seem to care if they are hypertensive or not and even when they know they are, some hardly follow-up on the treatment.

That is deadly. Then, some of the people who have been diagnosed to have hypertension cannot afford the treatment. Hypertension requires that you take the treatment everyday, usually for life and the drugs are very expensive. The cheaper ones, according to experts have more side-effects than the expensive ones. Now, if you give the patients the expensive drugs, they cannot afford it.

But if you give them the cheap ones, they have a lot of complications and it affects the males more than the females.

According to reports, cheap hypertension drugs bring about erectile dysfunction and kills a man’s libido. And when they discover this, they abandon the drugs. The other thing is that majority of drugs used for hypertension are fake. A lot of hypertension drugs are allegedly being smuggled into the country and they are fake or expired. So, these are some of the reasons people have chronic renal failure.

The other thing that increases the rate of kidney diseases is the use of bleaching cream by both women and men. These days men also bleach and use of bleaching cream can increase rise in renal failure.

The foods eaten on daily basis can also contribute and that is why these days, we tend to control what we eat. These days, it is advisable to stay away from fried foods, packaged foods, carbohydrates and processed meals.

Nigerians who are comfortable like to be in air-conditioned places: cars, homes, bedrooms, offices and that is not too good as these can help accelerate the problems. Room temperature is the best .

The risk factors

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hen children have kidney diseases, it is due to other things. It has been found that children have been exposed to some form of infections.

Some throat infections are ignored and when they happen, the child may not even know about that or may ignore it.

Some people don’t treat malaria in their children very well and these can bring about other diseases. It depends on how much they recover fully from these diseases or the

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Continues from page 12

It has been found that children have been exposed to some form of infections.

Some throat infections are ignored and when they happen, the child may not even know about that or may ignore it

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Vanguard , A UGUST 23, 2014—13 AUGUST

untreated infections keep eating the inside and causing other things.

Some children are also born with abnormal genes which affect the kidney functions, that is, hereditary diseases. In such cases, you cannot change the genes but you can evaluate the children with the aim of preventing the retrogression in a more serious form.

Unfortunately,one can’t quantify the number of people who suffer from these diseases annually because of lack of data. The Nigerian system has not encouraged data collection as in developed countries but everyday in newspapers, television and radio, you read, see and hear people soliciting for help to treat the ailment. In some rural places, no diagnosis are made and where they are, no treatment is given and the patients die.

It is a shame for the nation not to have done enough on this disease. If you work in the United States, you’d find that there are patients with kidney problems. Even in Europe. But 90%/95% of the patients with chronic renal failure live on dialysis for ever.

However, in these countries, the system supports them very well. They don’t pay for dialysis. There are centres set up by their governments for every infirmity and chronic renal failure. So, these patients live their normal lives.

In Nigeria, the story is different. Even dialysis is expensive quite unlike overseas where dialysis is taken up by the insurance companies. The person does not pay.

Experts also reveal that the best kidney transplant is that of an identical twin.

In the history of kidney transplants in the world, nobody has died because he donated one kidney. People have accidents and lose one kidney and are living perfectly well with one. So, it is important to understand this fact because in Nigeria, people are very afraid to donate their kidney and that is due to ignorance.

Nigerians believe that if they give out one kidney, they will die or that if they give out one, something will happen to the remaining one and they will die but that never happens. A lot of education is needed on why they should donate kidneys to their loved ones.

In Nigeria, there are usually many brothers and sisters to choose from, not like in US or Europe where couples prefer one or two kids.

So, to do a transplant in Nigeria is easier and cheaper if the equipments are here. It is easy to do a transplant and the sooner this is done, the better.

Nigerians are rugged. There is something about being Nigerian that resists the wind of diseases and who knows, the Nigerian will equally resist the Ebola disease.

14 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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is take on the just concluded Nation al Conference It had been five months of very rigorous work. I don’t think most of us have attended any conference that was so demanding like this one. It was so demanding because we were given three months to finish the job and we tried as much as possible to finish the work given to us and that’s why we had to do extra work.

Again, I can say that the main objectives of setting up the conference were achieved. We achieved so much more than we expected Personally speaking, what did you take away from the conference?

Number one: you should remember that when we came into that conference, we came like parallel lines. Nobody expected the views of the other person to meet with his at a

And even that one, I can say it was a huge success in the sense that, at least, there were views being expressed by those who wanted an increase and those who wanted the status quo to remain. The views are now going to help Mr. President to take further decisions: to either abort or let the status quo remain.

Let me say this: if it were just bringing us together to know one another, to express our views without any body holding back. That was enough because it was the first time people were told to speak whatever they wanted. That enabled us to offload things that had bottled up over the years in our minds.

Two, lack of communication causes a lot of misgivings and people conceive ideas based on rumours or assumptions. Take for example, when we came in on Monday, last week. People peddled rumours. Some people came with suspicious mind and every day, they were looking at everything very meticulously, trying to see where the hidden agenda was. They did not see

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Again, a very close and meticulous look at the clauses showed clearly that there was no single clause that was smuggled into the so-called new constitution

Senator Ibrahim Mantu

2015 ELECTIONS:

Mantu jabs Northern Elders

zFloors Ultimatun to President Jonathan on Chibok girls zSays APC dead on arrival

ne would think that as a prominent northerner, he would join in the campaign by the leading opposition party and some of his O kinsmen to edge President Goodluck Jonathan out of office in 2015.

But that card is not on the table. For Senator Ibrahim Mantu, former deputy president of the Senate between 2000 and 2007 who was also a delegate to the just concluded National Conference on the platform of the North-Central zone, the recent statement credited to some northern leaders that President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection was predicated on the release of the abducted Chibok school girls was senseless. In this interview with Vanguard, he, among other things, condemned the ultimatum. Excerpts:

convergent point. So, after a week or two, the tension was easing because everybody was able to understand which side of the divide the other person was. Then the next thing was: why is the other person taking a different position from my own on the same issue? And of course, everybody had to ask and the other person was able to give his or her views as to why he or she was holding that kind of view. Then, we were now able to understand one another. The other person was also able to see my own point of view. And as a result of the interaction, we were now able to understand one another and why we were holding these different views.

We now said to ourselves, what kind of sacrifices can each group make so as to achieve what the economists call Point of Equilibrium? At what point can we meet because we have been told that we must agree on every issue by consensus? And that means that everybody must shift his ground to accommodate the other person’s position. Now, in order to meet with Mr. President’s directive that delegates must agree on all issues by consensus, we went back to the drawing board. Now, the north has understood the position of the south. The south has understood the position of the north. What adjustments can the south make to meet the northern position and what adjustments can the north make to meet the southern position? And the adjustments we made it possible for us to agree on virtually everything by consensus except one naughty item of derivation.

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anything. So, when they saw a strange document inside the document given to us, they now said wow, what we have been looking for is now out.

But by the time we read through the contents of the socalled new constitution, we discovered that one thing was responsible for that misgiving: the titling of the document.

Instead of reading amendments to the 1999 constitution based on resolution passed on the floor of the plenary, they said “draft constitution 2014”.

So, it connoted the idea that a new constitution 2014 was in the offing. So, they were now asking why. All over the world, constitutions are amended. So, when the issue of the title was resolved, the next was let’s us look at this draft for amendment. What does it contain?

Are there some clauses that have been smuggled into the constitution that were not what we resolved at the plenary?

Again, a very close and meticulous look at the clauses showed clearly that there was no single clause that was smuggled into the so-called new constitution. It was all a reflection of everything that was agreed upon by delegates at the conference.

Are you saying that the champions of the cause goofed?

They were just being preemptive. But the good news is that when they now saw the light, they all joined hand with other people to commend the wisdom of the secretariat because the truth is that although, it was not part of our mandate that after the deliber-

Continues on page 14

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014 — 15

‘Floors Ultimatun to President Jonathan on Chibok girls’ Continues from page13

ations, we should go ahead and draft an amended constitution to reflect the resolutions but common sense tells you that this thing will end up in an executive bill by Mr. President to the National Assembly amending the relevant portions of the constitution that were not in conformity with the resolutions on the floor. So, the national secretariat of the conference went ahead to use their wisdom to say look, why don’t we reduce the workload for the presidency This conference, I can say has the best recommendations that will actually push Nigeria forward and actually take us to our destined greatness. Everything under the sun has been so meticulously examined and solutions were proffered on how to get these things done the way they ought to.

As a former Deputy Senate President, how do you think the outcome of the conference will be given the force of law?

There are two options: one is for Mr. President to send this draft amendment constitution by way of an executive bill to the National Assembly and the National Assembly will now employ due process of lawmaking and promulgate those areas affected by act of parliament. And those that will be affected by the amendment, they will now go through the due process of amending the constitution. Number two is by way of referendum. But if it has to go by way of referendum, the National Assembly also must provide for that because right now the National Assembly is currently amending the 1999 constitution. So, what they have to do is also provide for referendum in the 1999 constitution which is not there now.

Mantu...There is no alternative to PDP now

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Away from issues of the conference, certain northern leaders recently gave an ultimatum to Mr. President predicating his re-election on the release of the Chibok girls. How do you view this?

You see, the President has not even made up his mind if he is going to contest or not. If he decides to contest an election, no group of persons is qualified to give him ultimatum. Those people called themselves northern elders. Who elected them to represent the elders in the north? I am an elder in the north. I don’t know them and they didn’t seek my views. If they decided to constitute themselves into an elders’ council or forum and want to speak on my behalf as an elder, I think that I am qualified by every standard to have been consulted. At one time or the other, I was the second in command for seven years in the highest lawmaking body in this nation. I am also a northerner. How many northerners have occupied my position among those people who called themselves northern elders? How many of them have occupied an exalted office? So, why am I not qualified to be one of them? I think I should be qualified for consultation by virtue of the office I held. But they didn’t consult me.

So, they are speaking for themselves not me.

And like I said to you, even if they have been given a mandate by everybody in the north to speak for them, there is no way they can control the way everybody will vote on the day of voting.

You don’t make a statement that cannot hold water and just expose your stupidity to people. As far as I am concerned, that was an invalid statement because I,

The crisis in the APC has led to even the founding father of the APC abandoning the party for the PDP, coming back to say, sorry, we didn’t know you are a role model

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as a northern elder, will vote the way I want to vote on the day of voting according to the dictate of my conscience. Whether the Chibok girls are found or not, Nigerians did not vote for Goodluck Jonathan to be president on the basis of chibok girls other than what they feel he can do.

Besides, I believe that President Jonathan is more concerned as the man who wears the shoe.

He knows where it pinches more than any one of them. President Jonathan is under tremendous pressure from the world community to do everything possible to ensure that these girls are found safely. I believe that they are doing what we don’t know in that line because there is enough pressure on him from within and outside.

Therefore, these people cannot claim to be more concerned about the safety of these girls than Jonathan.

If the President declares today, would you support his candidacy?

It depends on who he is declaring with because the president is actually a member of the PDP and the PDP as a political party is going to declare a level playing ground for everybody to contest the presidential ticket.

If he is going to contest against those people they are mentioning their names in the APC, automatically, there is no alternative to Jonathan but if he is going to contest agains some people who are better than him which I don’t know, I cannot say now until I see who president Jonathan is even contesting the primaries with and who is facing him if he emerges as the candidate of the PDP later on. Of course, by the time he emerges as the candidate of the PDP, I am a loyal party person; I am a member of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the PDP. I cannot vote against my party. I will always vote for whosoever our party fields as candidate.

Do you think PDP, irrespective of whoever they field as a presidential candidate, will win in 2015 amid unhealthy developments in the polity?

Are you a stranger in Nigeria? There is no alternative to PDP now! I am not joking. Let me tell you one thing, I am one of those people that was so happy and excited when APC was born because as a democrat, I have been looking forward to an opposition that can have the guts, strength and support and be an alternative to the PDP. I have always yearned for a very strong opposition that can be an alternative to the ruling party. So, when the APC was born I said Alleluya .

From the way people were rushing to join the APC, I said for the first time, we have got a party that can challenge us and put us on our toes so that the right thing will be done. All this imposition of candidates, all the wrong things that we do that are not in conformity with democratic principles and culture, we will now stop them so as to win the hearts of Nigerians. But unfortunately, while the APC was basking in that euphoria and everybody saying an alternative to PDP has come, you see what is now happening.

Many of them came here and said, look, Senator Mantu, since 2007 you have been out of office. PDP hasn’t given you any appointment and you are a very relevant politician in Nigeria. We cannot understand how somebody like you is being ignored.

Therefore, come to APC where we are going to correct all the ills of the society created by your party, the PDP. And these were my former colleagues in the PDP. And I told them one thing. I said, gentlemen, I cannot jump from frying pan to fire. I agreed that all was not well with the PDP but I will rather stay in the PDP because there are more chances of me correcting what is wrong in the PDP than going to APC. They said no, no.

This new party is going to address all the problems of the PDP. So, there will be no problems whatsoever. I now said, let me watch how your conventions will go.

Then what happened? The moment they started their conventions, they were more impositions, more disrespect for the views of the people, lack of internal party democracy than it obtains in the PDP and today, a 63 year old person is a youth leader in the APC. Yes, we had a similar thing in the PDP but we corrected our own immediately because we believe that a youth leader should be somebody that understands the culture of the youths.

Now, the crisis in the APC has led to even the founding father of the APC abandoning the party for the PDP, coming back to say, sorry, we didn’t know you are a role model. So, today, people like Shakarau are now in the PDP. Yesterday, Ali Modu Sherif declared. These are the ones you are seeing at the national level.

There is no single state in Nigeria today that APC has not lost people back to the PDP. Look at what happened in Adamawa state to the extent that they even impeached the governor. So, you can see that APC is dead on arrival.\ There is no alternative to the PDP up till now. But PDP shouldn’t relax saying we don’t have an alternative. As a member of BoT of the PDP, I still feel that we should address some of our problems that have to do with internal party democracy.

As a democrat, I am looking forward to very strong opposition that can be an alternative to the PDP because without any serious challenge, you can’t be put on your toes. Opposition is very important because objective criticisms help a ruling government to do those things that the people want but with the situation today, it is like there is nobody to challenge and I wish we look for a challenger.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard , AUGUST 23, 2014 lot of issues keep cropping up over the presence of the dreaded Ebola disease in Nigeria since that miscreant, Patrick Sawyer, brought it here from Liberia. What one finds rather disturbing is the fact that his trip into the country was deliberate. He was aware that he had been infected, or was under suspicion that he was liable to being infected, his sister having been a victim of the highly contagious disease shortly before he left Liberia. In fact, he was said to have been ordered not to travel out of the country. But he sneaked out not minding that he was putting the lives of countless innocent people in danger.

Appropriately enough has President Goodluck Jonathan described him as a mad man. patients, even from Europe, now make In the wake of the man’s Eastern countries, like India, their health lunacy, Nigeria is saddled destinations. And what about HIV, once the with yet another concern death knell of anyone inflicted by the on top of inadequate power disease? It was known to be curable here by supply, political Nigerian therapists who were ignored by the disruptions of carpetauthorities of medical practice. crossing and impeachment, Ebola may be near effective cure already, growing unemployment, perennial corruption, stifling insecurity, and mind-boggling trade dispute everywhere.

Unfortunately, one of the labour imbroglios is in the area of health, at this of all periods. The Federal Government, in its typical manner is, once again, at loggerheads with doctors all over the country.

Although the track-record of our medical men with regard to their respect for the values of the Hippocratic Oath has not been inspiring on the whole in such circumstances, their response was also inhibited by the threat of infection which a handful of them had encountered with disastrous effect already.

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*The challenge of Ebola brave Stella Adadevoh breathed her last, the question that invaded the mind was, “And what is America doing about it all?”

Pretty little. And why should they? What is in it for them? The days of The Cold War are gone into history, The World Powers no long have to exert themselves over the prospect of winning over the developing

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ll the same, it would appear that the medical authorities are coping admirably at containing the spread and virulent nature of Ebola. Its horror stems from the fact that it would appear to have no known cure. That was once said of other ailments like leprosy or even syphilis in the past. But science has brought in relief for sufferers of such diseases, and more discoveries are being made. Orthodox medical practice has not been very enthusiastic, however, about new remedies for the cure of diseases that have proved resistant to available treatment in recent times.

That is especially true in Western countries where powerful pharmaceutical companies are not eager to welcome any product that might put the drugs that are already in the market out of business. That indeed has been the story of malaria for which is said to have been discovered and put into use in China and some Latin-American countries.

But the drug has been kept out of reach of West Africa in order to protect vast investments in the antimalaria drugs which are being recycled through new names from one season to the other. And that also accounts for why cancer

of communications technology in the last two decades, but it is clear that it has acquired commensurable development also in other areas. One aspect we should explore is health science.

The ravage of diseases like cancer seems to have largely bypassed China over the years. This also seems to have happened in other spheres like malaria. We would lose nothing by keying into their expertise but have not done so up till now in as vigorous a manner as would provide useful results. It is not late even now with the Ebola epidemic. It is true that we do not have a cure for it, else worthwhile lives, like that of late Stella Adadevor, would been saved. She was a physician steeped in the practice, schooled in the art and totally committed to the highest standards of her profession. Who knows if she, as well as so many others might have escaped the cold hands of an untimely death from that dread disease through a better course of therapy.

The ravage of diseases like cancer seems to have largely bypassed China over the years. This also seems to have happened in other spheres like malaria. We would lose nothing by keying into their expertise

at least in the United States. They have been able to keep their two infected medical workers rescued from Liberia alive for weeks. However, they have been less than transparent about the circumstances of the prolonged survival of the Americans beyond the fact that a certain kind of drug, which they are loath to recommend for general use, may have been responsible.

Many people may find it incredible that the “US or A”— benevolent giant and largehearted benefactor of the universe— may find itself reluctant to bequeath such a grand token of kindness to humanity. But America’s imperatives about interaction with issues of international considerations, on any subject are intertwined with its foreign policy, which is based purely on American interests.

And so as one listened to the wild praise song that was being lifted by that American diplomat in Abuja, just around the time

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countries, which are not so undeveloped as they used to be. America did not hesitate to use naked force to bind the young countries over when they could not be won over — like in the case of the Congo in the days of Patrice Lumumba. But the emerging nations are maturing into prime international economic units which may not be ignored much longer. China’s involvement in trade with Africa highlighted this fact, and America sat up and took notice by recently inviting African nations to a round-table conference in Washington to woo them into closer economic ties. It could not have been less clumsily done, but the message was clear: don’t stray away.

But so also was the lesson. African countries definitely have a second choice.

We can look into another direction, and we should. China has demonstrated a phenomenal upsurge in the development

e do acknowledge with profound gratitude the donation from the United States but what is urgently needed is a cure.

That is the point of emphasis that has been submerged under the facilities mounted for containing the disease, needful even as that measure too is. Our only other alternative, if we cannot obtain help from other nations, is to look inward. We must rise as a proud nation, proud of her heritage in the Continent in which every fifth human being is a Nigerian, and proud of her material and intellectual endowments, to engage the menace of Ebola fiercely and bring it down. That is what we should have done with malaria all these years.

Where are our scientists, anyway? We have recorded outstanding conquests in technological areas but usually in other parts of the world. Why can we not bring it all home, especially in the areas of scientific inventions and medical discoveries? It is about time. This is the challenge of Ebola

Time out.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, AUGUST 23, 2014—17

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couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article captioned ‘This beauty that makes me sad’. It was centred around my experience on a cruise where I touched on the beauty of nature and our inability as a country to harness and use nature for the common good. It was an article that led to comments on twits, blogs and emails. A friend and reader described it as ‘ your soliloquy on the sea’. It was an apt description; why didn’t I think of it?

This is not a part two of the article. It is, if anything, ‘matters arising’ to borrow an often abused cliché. If I try to avoid two, three part articles, up, prompted mainly by an email from a close friend and it is because I have been avid reader of my column. cured of that early in my He lives in the UK (the profession and I have to thank the editors when I was wonders of the internet) and has a home in Florida. Part a young reporter for it. One of his mail read: ‘If you particular Editor drummed a drove in Miami, you might few points into my young have ended the article even head that have been very more depressed. You cannot difficult to forget. The first miss the similarities that was that ‘there is no article strike you and tell you what that cannot be cut or Lagos Island could be/could condensed. But you must do have been’. End of quote. it in a way that is sensitive not only to the theme but also the style of the writer ’.

The second was ‘it is an indulgence on your part and a burden to the reader to do a two or three part article particularly if the serial will be at least a week or more apart.

Re: This beauty that makes me sad the beauty and power of nature admirably.

I start with our neighbour, Monrovia, Liberia before the war, was a beautiful place; neat and serene. It was also able to use the little that nature has bestowed on it to make money for its country through tourism. The war, and the recent Ebola epidemic must have done incalculable harm to the beauty and serenity of the

I have indeed come across cities with similarities to Nigerian cities in weather and topography if nothing else, that have used the beauty and power of nature admirably

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o you think they have nothing else to think about but your article?’ he concluded. (I have tried to avoid serial articles since then unless the occasion sorely warrants it. This is my answer to readers who have asked why I have not exploited some particular themes further by doing them in two or three parts.)

So this, at best, is a followWelcome to another exciting time. We continue with the teaching of “The Impossible Place” We rejoice knowing that you readers are richly blessed with our anointed message as inspired in us by the person of the Holy Spirit.

Often in life, you see people who are faced with situation beyond their control. For some, depending on the nature of their case, they have proceeded to seek a solution. For the sick, they run to the doctor, financial problem, they run to friends, relations and bankers. Others may run to native doctor for help. But in all of this, they soon find out that whatever

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The mighty hand of God touched me and broke the power of hell that was destroying me

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solutions they receive or gain is always temporary. This is because genuine and often permanent miracles comes only from the Lord who is the miracle working God. He knows no impossibility.

Let’s look at a case history in the bible. In Mark 5:25-34 the bible says “And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and suffered many C M Y K

Yes, like I said in my article, my stay in Miami was a very brief one. I wish it was longer, but it was mainly from airport to seaport and back to airport with a short interlude which influenced the article.

However, in my travels over the years, I have indeed come across cities with similarities to Nigerian cities in weather and topography if nothing else, that have used

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city. Another beauty that has led into sadness.

Beirut reminded me of Jos or Calabar with its friendly weather and those little houses on the hills. It was a beautiful city that served both the eastern and western cultures well until religion — and man—consigned beautiful Beirut to distant memories.

Cairo reminded me very much of Kano. But see what

The impossible place (3) things of many physicians and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. When she had heard of Jesus came in press behind and touched the His garment, for she said, if I may touch His clothes, I shall be made whole and straight way the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. But the woman fearing and trembling knowing what was done in her came and fell down before Him and told Him all the truth, and He said to her, daughter thy faith has made thee whole, go in peace and be whole of thy plague”.

Like our text above, some years ago I found myself in an impossible situation. I kept falling ill and started losing a lot of weight. All manner of test and treatment were carried out on me.

But instead of getting better, my health was getting worse. I spent so much money on treatments that I lost count on the amount.

All I was concerned about was to get well. Then one day, the doctor said to me that they have done all they know how to do. In fact, I was like a vegetable. Everyone who saw me was convinced that I will soon die because of my condition. But I made up my mind that I will reach out to God and trust Him for my miracle. I am so glad I did, because today I am hale and hearty. The mighty hand of God touched me and broke the power of hell that was destroying me. This was twenty-two years ago. The God who did it for me can also do it for you if you can trust Him. The woman in our text had an impossible case. For twelve years running she was constantly losing

that city achieved through tourism. Hot weather or not, it was able to preserve — and present— its culture in a way that made the world to accept it. The Arab Spring’ has unfortunately turned a thriving city into a ghost town. (Those asking for a revolution in our country should be careful what they ask for in case they get it).

I went to Las Palmas in the 70s with Sambo, the then Assistant Editor –In- chief of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and we joked when we went to their famous beaches that we had better beaches in Nigeria. That may be true, but the difference is that they organised theirs and made money— lots of it— from them while we abused ours. Some parts of Las Palmas will always remind you of some areas in Lagos.

Salisbury— now Harare— was before Mugabe, one of the most beautiful cities I ever went to. The planning that went into the marriage of houses, trees, flowers and wide, well tarred roads, showed what man could do if they worked with God to harness and cultivate the blood. She had consulted with doctors/physicians but every one of them could not help her. Instead of getting better, her condition grew worse. Some of you right now may be in an impossible situation. The case may be such that you have tried so many things and yet no result and you want to give up. Please don’t be discouraged, there is a miracle in Christ Jesus for you.

The woman in the bible having tried all she knows best then decided to get in contact with Jesus. She made up her mind that Jesus who heals, delivers and sets people free can heal her and change her situation. She didn’t allow hindrances on her way to stop her. Don’t allow religion or tradition to stop you from reaching out to Jesus.

The woman with the issue of blood decided to throw away religion and tradition to reach out to her miracle and she indeed received her miracle, which no one else could give her. If you can make up your mind just as this B U L B W woman and A O also as I did R I Y A D

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

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

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1011711622.

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

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some years ago, you will experience a supernatural change. It does not matter how long or how difficult the situation may seem. For with God, nothing shall be impossible. God bless you, our great nation Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan.

We are trusting God to make a way for us to go on radio and television with the same message of His reality and we count on your financial support in bringing this vision and mission to pass. You can call us on phone to discuss with us or you can send your donations in cheques and cash to our contacts at the end of this message. The mission is estimated to cost about N7.5m (Seven million, five hundred thousand naira). As you support our vision to take His reality to the world, the Lord will supernaturally turn around every impossible situation in your life and family.

Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour?

If not, but you desire to do so.

Then pray this prayer out loud and believe. Father in heaven, I have heard your word, I give you my life; cleanse me of my sins with the blood of Jesus.

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hort enough distance to allow them feed off their more financially endowed neighbours, yet long enough to remove both towns from the industrial pollutions of their capital cities. But what Pataya has been turned into in terms of tourism, of night life, of different types of water sports, of shopping, of beach enhancement, will make you wonder why a country blessed with rich natural endowments like Nigeria will refuse to do anything but pay lip service to them.

No, my friend, I did not have the time to drive round Miami so —thank God— I did not find out the many similarities you talked about. But there are many cities in the world that are similar to some Nigerian cities especially Lagos, Calabar, Kano and Jos. You see what those cities have done with what nature has given them and you can’t but be a little sad at what we have done with ours.

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beauty of nature. But I guess it is another beauty that now makes one sad because it did not last. Its change of name probably heralded its change in fortune.

But what reminds me so much of Lagos and what should have/ could have been is a town called Pataya in Thailand. Pataya has so much in common with Badagry that it is uncanny.

It is just a few kilometres from Bangkog the Nation’s capital just as Badagry is from Lagos.

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18 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014

By KEHINDE AJOSE & ANU TELLA

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ti Nwachukwu is a multi-tal ented dude who came into the limelight after winning Big Brother Africa Season 5, The All Stars edition in 2010. Since then, the debonair entertainer has continued to up his game and remain a force to reckon with in the Nigerian entertainment scene. In this interview, he talks about his first sexual experience as well as his experience hosting Star’s The Winner Is. What is responsible for staying on top of your game even after winning Big Brother Africa years back?

I have no idea other than I don’t play with my God .I am a Jesus boy. I represent Jesus everywhere I go .I am in love with God , I don’t play with my maker.

One thing I always tell God when I pray is that:’ Put me in a position where your perfect will, will take me. Don’t let me do anything that will not bring glory to your name. There is no body that knows my life’s journey like God. I got a mail from Big Brother to participate for the second time after we had a thanksgiving in my church called ;”The God of the second chance”. Big Brother Africa is a once in a life time opportunity .So, I didn’t expect to go for the second time .I just said to God:’Any second chance that will bring glory to your name let me experience it. This was on a Sunday , and

by Wednesday I got a letter from Big Brother Africa saying :’We are giving you a second chance .I ran mad , it was obviously from God. What has it been like working on Star’s The Winner is?

The experience has been worthwhile .They are so professional. The only other professional set that I have been on is that of “Jara and Star The Winner Is.” Everybody is on time and everything is so organized. It’s been comforting and satisfying I can’t even find words to describe how I feel .I am having all of my blessings via this show.

Me, women and my career — Uti Nwachukwu identify myself with things of quality ,anything written my name on I can guarantee you it’s going to have quality.

Look at all the jobs i have done TV, modeling, presenting .Music has taken a back seat .I am not doing music for commercial reasons may be that is why I have not paid it a lot of attention.My compeering seem to be my most consistent thing on TV You have been seen hanging out at parties. How do you juxtapose between Uti the party boy and Uti the Jesus boy?

The question you should ask is what do I do at those parties? Am I sleeping around? Am I getting drunk? It’s not to say I am judging people that do all these things but like I said earlier, Jesus is for people that are imperfect. What do I do?

How do you know I am not evangelizing at these parties. How do you know I am not making friends .Do you know how many girls have collected my phone number and want to start flirting with me or want to start sending me messages? There is a story of a girl who said I inspired her to do great things with her life but she started out by sending messages like: ’Hello dear, hello sexy to me’.

When she was going through hell I started talking to her. I am not a pastor, but through life experiences and personal relationships I have talked about Jesus.

People are usually surprised to see this

b a r rassed but the second time was much better.’

On

what occasion do you lie?

When am trying not to make you feel bad, maybe I was suppose to call you or visit you and I forgot.Then I will lie like saying something happened .Just so that you don’t feel that I don’t regard you. Sometimes you have to lie to protect people’s feelings.It’s harmless.I don’t have to lie, but sometimes you just have to especially when its someone sensitive and someone that can get hurt easily.

Have you ever broken a woman’s heart?

Of course who hasn’t? And I have had my heart broken too. We all break people’s heart please .Let’s leave that one.

They have broken my heart, they have crushed it. I have broken heart ad my heart has been broken. especially when I was young in my late 20’s.Right now, I am trying to allow myself to be loved.

The last girl that was on my case said something to me:’Uti allow somebody to love you’ and I guess I did’

Do you think the show’s response has been great because you are the host?

The content is amazing and the dynamics too. The fact that you can change your life with just one song or with just seven songs if you get to the finale is breathtaking. People love the tension, people love the drama, and people love the possibilities of what happens on the show. I don’t think there is any show like this worldwide. The Winner Is is like you gambling away your talent and the fact that you can change your life if you are true to yourself. The producers must have thought I will add some form of flavor before hiring me .We share a symbiotic relationship, that is the show and Uti Don’t you think your compeering talent is overshadowing your other talents?

I don’t think so .I have a movie released at least once every three or four months .The only talent of mine that is taking a back sit is my singing talent and that’s because I have not had time to go to the studio .A lot of music and time has to go into making quality music .I always

side of me. I like the fact that people look at me and see a party boy, a wild boy.

When was the first time you had sex?

I was fifteen when I had sex .I remem-

ber very clearly because what you watch on TV is different from what practical.It was a disaster. The lady just kept looking at me asking ‘are you sure you know what to do?’ and I was so em-

Do you still keep in touch with Tonto Dike because both of you were on Next movie star?

Tonto and I actually met after Next Movie Star,I have so much respect and love for Tonto. Tonto always support me and everything I do. Tonto is always there for me supporting my charity works.

She is one person that is seen in a different way by the public, but I know Tonto on a personal level she is such a sweet personality and a no –nonsense person. I think I am going to advice her to have her own reality TV show so that people can see the true her. She has a big heart What is your relationship with saeon?

I have no comment about that.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014—19

JULIET EBIRIM 08137897935

I will hope for the best

What would you do if your spouse denies you sex?

— Se yi Hunt er ctress Seyi Hunter er,, A Actress

I

’ll find out what the issue is with him, because most times it usually pertains to stress, having a lot on his mind and possibly not finding me attractive anymore or at that time. So I’ll do everything in my power to ease his stress, if that’s the case and also try to be sexy. So, that he’ll want me more. Then hope for the best.

A

worried neighbour recently confided in me thus: “My husband and I have not had sex in 4 months, and in the last 18 months, we’ve had it only four times. I’ve tried talking to him about it, but he gives flimsy excuses. Our last conversation on the issue left me hurt, angry and devastated. I don’t know how long this is going to go on, but I miss the intimate moments we shared. I might end up looking for a sexual relationship elsewhere.” Sex is very important in marriage because it is a gift given to a man and his wife for their pleasure. This gift, if neglected or under utilized can stunt the growth of any marital relationship. A common marital problem is that of a husband or wife denying each other sex. The reason a husband or wife would deny their spouse sex could be anything like anger, distrust, tiredness and so on. If you were in this ladies shoes, what would you do?

I’ll pray he changes — Omoni Oboli, Actress I won’t kill myself. I’ll pray that he changes his mind. There is nothing you can do, you’ll talk to him and seek counselling. Then you pray.

Talk and seek wise counsel

—Yemi Blaq, Actor

T

here is nothing else I’ll do but to talk to her and find out why. If talking to her doesn’t change the situation, then it might be a good idea to take the issue to a respected elder or counsellor.

Resolve the problem — Jesse King aka Buga, Singer

I

think it can be resolved by both parties. I don’t think it’s going to last forever. I’ll try to find out what the problem is and look for ways to resolve it. It’s not an excuse to go out with other girls. I believe we can sort things out and move ahead. We’re humans and sometimes, we get upset.

The most important thing is resolving the problem so that we can go on with our lives. I’ll hold on a bit to sort out the problem before anything else.

We’ll go our seperate ways if....

— Evia Simon, Actress

There must be a reason for such action. I’ll find out why he’s denying me sex. If the reasons are understood by me, fine. But if I’m not convinced by his explanation, I’ll let him know that since he’s denying me sex without genuine reasons, I’ll have to look elsewhere.I’ll tell him that we need to give ourselves a break, because there is no need being together and seeing another man because my husband is denying me sex. We better go our seperate ways.

20 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014

08061644307 With Florence Amagiya

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t is not every day you get to meet somebody who, despite his challenges, has done enough for himself. So it would be right to say that Yinka Ayefele is indeed an icon who didn’t only struggle to make something out of what life has left him with, but has helped others to achieve their goals as well. In this edition, we present to you, an entertainer, an icon and a sensational singer, who has made so much out of what life has thrown at him and who is making millions doing what he enjoys doing.

Enjoy!

Yinka Ayefele Sensational singer and entertainer, Yinka Ayefele needs no introduction to many Nigerians especially to those in the western part of the country. Ayefele is considered to be one of the best Juju singers in the West, even though he became handicapped due to a fatal motor accident. He hails from Ekiti state, south western part of Nigeria. He is the first born of his parents, born in 1968. Ayefele completed his Primary and Secondary education at Ipoti-Ekiti in Ondo state. He went further to Ondo state College of arts from where he got a diploma.

Ayefele worked as a broadcast journalist before venturing into music. He began his career as a freelance journalist with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria {FRCN}, Ibadan, Nigeria and later joined Radio Nigeria in 1990 or thereabout.

His music career did not begin until he suffered the fatal accident that nearly claimed his life in 1997. Although Ayefele has been confined to a wheel chair after a spinal cord injury, it didn’t stop him from developing his music talents and went ahead to become a household name.

Yinka Ayefele's songs are dynamic in nature. His songs are a blend of Gospel, Juju, Fuji and sometimes Makosa. His his first album was titled Bitter experience.

The album, Bitter experience, was said to have motivated his second album - Sweet experience. He turned his ordeals to success within few years and soared higher as the years went by. He remains the most sought-after entertainer at parties. And he charges as much as N5-6m per event depending on the location.

He charges 2.5 million naira for events in Lagos and the environs and five to six million naira for events in Abuja, depending the time of the year. Ayefele is booked all round the year and has more than eight events per mouth. He charges about $10,000 for events abroad.

Properties The sensational singer has a huge office complex, Yinka Ayefele’s

email: daise4000@yahoo.com

The incredible lifestyle of an entertainer Charges between 5 and 6 million naira per event

•One of his houses Music House, which houses his office, studio, and other businesses. The Music House cost him roughly N150m to complete. He has another magnificent Penthouse building which caught fire only this August, but was put out before any damage could be done. The Penthouse is his second house in Ibadan apart from his Music House. The Penthouse is worth over 150 million naira.

Ayefele has a magnificent 32room hotel in Ibadan called “the Downtown hotel.” He also has a world class house in his home town. He has succeeded in building a befitting apartment for his dad and another one for his mum which cost millions of naira.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014 — 21

•Yinka's hotel naira.

Foundation Ayefele has a foundation for spinal cord injuries. He has helped a lot of people get access to treatment and provided wheel chairs as well.

He also has a scholarship scheme as he is sending a lot of impoverished children to school. In his own village, he has built and set up a computer school in his Alma Mater. His workers and band members are not left out on his charitable lifestyle as he has succeeded in empowering them to the extent that more than 50% of his workers have built their own houses. He shares the money 'sprayed' on him during his shows with his band members at the ratio of 28, taking the lesser part.

Cars, clothes and perfumes Yinka

•His office complex

Ayefele is a car frk. Hs he has a lot of cars in his , arage mostly SUVs. He has a black Ford Explorer, 2014, worth 14 million naira. He also has a Land Cruiser worth 12 million naira and other cars too numerous to mention.

Ayefele spends a lot of money on clothes and expensive perfumes.

•One of his sons

•Yinka Ayefele

22 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014 KEHINDE AJOSE 08024212530

Ho w I go How gott the name Omo London -Mer cy London-Mer -Mercy Ajisaf e Ajisafe

M

ercy Ajisafe, a model and On-Air Personality with Cool FM Lagos is one damsel who isn’t scared to express her views concerning salient issues. The sexy media personality who once based in the U.K described what stands her out and her unique selling point as an OAP. “We tolerate counterfeits in Nigeria but accept authenticity and that’s one thing that has helped me. I have been able to connect to my listeners by being myself. One of the ways I have been able to connect to my listeners is by being honest. I don’t know everything, I don’t always get it right but one thing I can always promise is that whatever comes out of my mouth is real. I have a brain I am not scared to use. I am opinionated and my listeners kind of appreciate that about me,” she said.

She also explained how she got the nickname,Omo London.“I started working in Cool FM in 2012. Dotun, also

an OAP asked me to do a radio sweeper, a short pre-recorded sample. After doing it, it was edited and in the sweeper Dotun referred to me as Omo London and it became really hilarious. Till date that sweeper became one of the most popular sweepers.

So when I go out people ask me: “Are you that ‘Omo London’ that Dotun talked about on radio”? and I said “ yes.”

I initially didn’t like that name because I was scared that such nicknames will come across as pretentious and people will start thinking: is she not Nigerian? Why is she called ‘Omo London’? But soon, I began to realize that this is what people relate to.”

R

uggedman who has been off the limelight for a while now has been behind the scene mapping ways to have a great comeback .In an industry where upcoming talents are gradually taking the centre stage; the ‘Opomulero’ crooner is sadly missing in action.

The leak of his yet to be released single ‘Agidi’ recently surfaced on the internet and Wande Coal shines through

Wande Coal tak es the shine takes in R uggedman’s Ruggedman’s ne w single new

with his trademark voice and fusion of Yoruba and English dishing out melodious vocals. Many are wondering if Wande Coal actually featured Ruggedman in the song because Ruggedman ‘s rap lines hardly dominates the song.

Harmony signs with HF Music H

armony, the newly discovered singing sensation has signed to HF Music. The spokesman for the Lekki Lagos-based entertainment powerhouse said “Harmony is a gifted artiste and people are bound to discover this with time. She makes the kind of music you would expect from an artiste who is musically sound. While she draws from a wide range of influences, she’s managed to create a sound that is wholly hers.”

The songstress will release Chocolate, her first single on the record label later this month. Artistes currently on HF Music’s roster include Zeez, who will feature on her second single.

Plans have already been set in motion to shoot the video of Chocolate this weekend and Harmony promises “it’s going to be off the hook!”

Jimmy Odukoya launches Firehouse Records, drops Mr Wonder

C

harming and talented gospel singer, Pastor Jimmy Odukoya popularly known as Pastor J, has announced the birth of his new record label, Firehouse Records. According to him, Firehouse Records is a label expected to play a major role in reversing the exodus of gospel artistes to secular music due to the perceived unprofitability gospel music.

The energetic singer and performer who is the first artiste to be signed on to the label has also re-launched his career with a brand new single titled Mr. Wonder.

The label will be working in collaboration with SoundCore Media, a media and entertainment consulting firm headed by Mr. Tony Nwakalor as principal consultant to create high value business.

An exceptional young man, Jimmy is a gifted singer and has released a few gospel themes, rap-inflected singles including Mr. Capable which were well received and earned him the respect of music lovers and industry stakeholders. He studied at the Oral Roberts University for his first degree and graduated top of his class in the MBA programme of the same university.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014 — 23

By AYO ONIKOYI, 08052201215

Baby Chocolat is my story

—Ella Martins

B

enin Republic actress and musician, Ella Martins, who shot into limelight in Nigeria after reports of alleged lesbianism acts between her and Nigerian screen goddess, Genevieve Nnaji went viral is back in the news again. This time, Ella isn’t just telling people she is straight, she is doing it with release of her 4th album which has a single Baby Chocolate to tell her story in the eye of the storm of the lesbianism rumour.

The sexy singer dropped the twelve-track album titled Success on Monday night. But it would seem it is Baby Chocolate that it most dear to the singer. “ People say I am magnetic and yet very elusive,” she said. “ They say I am a lesbian, that I have dated Genevieve and I have dated presidents. People are confused about me. But the story of Baby Chocolate is my story. The story of how men lust over me. Ella is an obsession of many people. But most of these people are hypocrites, they cannot come out and express themselves. Baby Chocolate is a song to tell people to free themselves, their mind and express their inner feelings. They call me Baby Chocolat, the song is my answer to their many questions.”

She went on tell Showtime that she knows her backside is a bomb and she made a mention of it in the song.

«33)± )7805·

I am not promoting girls dating Alhajis—Onom-

E

W

hen you talk about female artistes in Nigeria with talent and good looks, Soul Muzik’s Zaina will be on the list. Armed with a sultry look and melodious vocal chords, Zaina, is a hot item any day. She recently opened up to Showtime on the inspiration behind her afrobeat song, Sare wale.

“The inspiration behind Sare wale is a common love shared for the late musician, Fela Anikulapokuti. The producer, Shizzi, and I happen to both be huge Fela enthusiasts, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when he played me the beat. After listening once, I let my creativity take the driver’s seat and started to freestyle whatever came to mind at that time.

Seventy five percent of the song was created at that moment. It all came together naturally and spiritually,” she said.

On how she was able to blend into the afro beat genre despite being known to be an R n B artiste she said: “I would actually say my back ground is more afrobeat than R n B. Even though I was raised in the U.S, I grew up listening and knowing all of Fela’s music, as well as Fuji musicians and High-life. As an entertainer I would consider my ability to confidently blend my western background with my Nigerian background as my selling p int and entertain my audience.”

5µ4-

ven though she is not yet a top gun in the Nigerian music circuit, Onome Okumagba, a graduate of public policy and management from York University,Toronto, Canada who recently returned to the country is a breath of fresh air in the country’s music terrain.

After the release of her acclaimed hit track Alhaji Onome has been working in the studio and recently released a highlife tune titled Chale. In a chat with Showtime, the talented songstress talks about the fact that her song Alhaji isn’t promoting young girls dating rich men.

Hear her: “The song Alhaji is just talking about certain kinds of relationships in Nigeria .I have been here for almost eight months.The Alhaji song is about a certain type of relationship where you have girls dating men that are rich and have the money to take care of them. The Alhaji in this case is a metaphor for rich married men who give these girls money .Really the choice is up to the girls to either succumb to the tricks of the Alhaji or go out with a regular guy who is not as rich as the Alhaji but can take care of them .The song is just a social commentary on this kind of relationship. It’s not inspired by a personal experience, it’s just from my observations .You know how ladies meet and talk about their experiences with certain men in the society.”

My love for wale- Zaina Fela inspired Sare

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014

B

ig Brother Africa,BBA, the biggest reality show in Africa is back with season 9, and this time, it’s still giving out a mouthwatering USD 300 000 about N47, 400,000 to the star winner. The show is billed to kick off, on Sunday, September 7, in South Africa.

Unlike the previous editions, this year’s titled “Hotshots” which typifies more twists and intrigues housemates would orchestrate in their quest to smile home with the grand prize.

More good news is that the witty and entertaining TV presenter, IK Osakioduwa returns once again to host the show. He has won many fans across the continent for his ability to speak openly with housemates and allow them to be at ease at their most vulnerable moments.

M-Net Africa Regional Director (West Africa), Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, says the viewers are in for almost as many surprises as the housemates. “We work hard to make each season of Big Brother Africa bigger than the last – and we’ve really upped the ante this year,” she says.

“Big Brother Hotshots is going to bring viewers exciting innovations, heartstopping twists and uniquely African glamour, 24/7 for

Celebrities gather for DelYor k Del-Y ork Academy graduation/awards ceremony

By ANOZIE EGOLE This year’s edition of Del-York Creative Academy graduation/awards ceremony was held at the prestigious MUSON Centre, Onikan,Lagos amid glitz as celebrities gathered for the annual event.

The star-studded event wrapped up the four weeks hands-on intensive workshop which saw 75 participants go through a remoulding process under the tutelage of great minds from Hollywood. The workshop tagged” Film Made In Nigeria” took place at the Digital Bridge Institute, Oshodi, Lagos, where the participants were trained in courses such as Editing, Directing, Cinematography, Graphics Design, Filmmaking, Production and Set Design, Costume makeup as well as Screen Writing.

The participants drawn from the Directors Guild of Nigeria, the Nigerian Society of Editors, Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria, Screenwriters Guild of Nigeria, Nigerian Society of Cinematography, Actors Guild of Nigeria

C M Y K

08111813022

Big Brother beckons ...as IK Osakioduwa returns as host 91 days. Both fans and housemates are in for some unmissable television.” The housemates will start the game in two ultraglamorous houses which are built with magic, fun and mischief in mind. For 91 days, the Housemates will do their best to outshine each other in the hope of convincing Africa that they are the continent’s biggest Hotshot.

and the Association of Movie Producers, were given certificates in their various areas of competence.

Interestingly, at the event, eight of the short films shot by the participants during the duration of the workshop were premiered to a delighted audience who attested to their exceptional quality and impact on the future of the creative industry in Nigeria. Nollywood stars that graced the event include, Monalisa Chinda, Segun Arinze, Mary Lazarus, Ufoma EjenoborMcDermott among others. The Consular-General of France, Mr. Francois Sastoume and seasoned Entertainment lawyer, Mena Ajakpovi were also in attendance. Another highpoint of teh event was a plenary session tagged “Conversation with Nollywood” moderated

by Segun Arinze with two separate panels made up of the Hollywood faculty of the Del-York Creative Academy and stakeholders in the Nigerian creative industry including President of teh creative Designers Guild of Nigeria, Iyen Obaseki and actor cum producer, Francis Onwochei.

Speaking at the event, the CEO of Del-York Creative Academy, Linus Idahosa said, the Academy would continue to help nurture the participants’ dreams until they get a strong footing in their chosen fields.

“Our goal is to equip these students after our programmes to be able to take their craft to the international market,”he said.

CORRECTION Our story “Nollywood needs a more reactive leadership” in the edition of Saturday, August 16, 2014, was wrongly credited to Ikeddy Isiguzo.

Nollywood Studies Centre of the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, sent it.

Lilian Okoli cries out: ‘I am yet to get married’ ANOZIE EGOLE

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ultry actress, Lillian Okoli is not a happy woman at the moment.She is still wondering why people are good at spreading falsehood in respect of her marital status.

Recently, it was rumoured that she’s married. But the fair-complexioned actress has refuted the rumour, declaring that she’s not married. She, however, admitted that she’s in a relationship that could lead to marriage.

The actress warns rumour mongers to desist from such act as it’s affecting her current relationship negatively.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014 — 25

08111813022

Invasion 1897:

Fred Amata vows to drag Mr. President to Abuja filmfest

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opular Nollywood actor and festival director of the prestigious Abuja International Film Festival, Fred Amata has vowed to drag Mr President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to the venue of this year’s edition of the annual film festival where Lancelot Imasuen’s highly anticipated historical movie, “Invasion 1897” is scheduled to be the opening film of the festival.

Fred made this promise after the official unveiling of the movie at Silverbird cinemas, Victoria Island, last week. He described the movie as one of the best movies that ever come out of Nollywood, giving kudos, however, to Lancelot for a job well done. “We have decided to adopt “Invasion 1897” as the opening film of the Abuja International Film Festival. I must personally ensure that Mr President attend the opening of the festival which comes up on Tuesday, September 23, to see the film,”Amata assured.

The event was well attended with the hall full to its capacity with people who were eager to see the offering from the maverick director. The movie did not disappoint; as clips of it rolled unto the screen. It received a thunderous ovation from the

EBOLA: Group mo o movves tto sa savve Nolly Nolly-wood F

ollowing the ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Health to contain the further spread of Ebola virus in Nigeria, a Pan Igbo sociocultural group in Nollywood, Ohaneze Ndigbo Nollywood has called on the movie practitioners to consider embarking on a recess from film productions pending when the coast will be cleared for safe practice.

The group reasoned that adhering to call would go a long way to curtail and possibly prevent the practitioners from being exposed to the danger of contracting the deadly virus.

The importance of this proposed recess cannot be overemphasized, it is a “stayalive proposal” which aims to restore confidence in our resolve to combat and containthe viral spread of Ebola.

Addressing the National Executive Members of the Association in Ikeja, during the week, the PresidentGeneral(Ezeomenani) Harris Chuma a.k.a Ogene Ndigbo stressed that “There is no

alternative to serious health challenges ifyou want to change your future for the better. It is shocking, but it is true.Fear and doubt are now our bed-fellows and our greatest enemies. We must rise and stop Ebola virus from penetrating Nollywood.

One cannot successfully execute a movie shoot without exposing the cast and crew from bodily contacts, both on set and offset.”

elated audience. The trailer and poster were also unveiled to the delight of many. The event was anchored by Uti Nwachukwu who introduced all in the house and gave them the rare opportunity to appraise the big-budget film. Interestingly, the World premiere tour of the movie will commnce with the Toronto African and Music Festival, holding on the 27th of August, where ‘Invasion 1897’ will be the opening film of the festival. Also, there will be a London VIP premiere of the film alongside a major exhibition of Benin bronze works coming up on the 13th of September. This will be followed by a special premiere of the movie at the famous Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C on the 17th of September. Back home, the film will be screened at the Abuja Film Festival, after which there will be special Nollywood premiere. According to Lancelot, the movie will be

Lancelot and a British actor

premiered on the 30th of September, in Lagos and start showing in cinemas nationwide as from the 1st of October.

Liz Anjorin ups her ant e T op Yoruba actress, Liz Anjorin has upped her ante. The mother of one daughter has had a lot of good things going for her. Having successfully premiering one of her much-talked about movies in Lagos, Liz’s profile has been on the rise in recent times. To her credit, the actress won the Yoruba Movie Personality of the Year at this year ’s City People Entertainment Awards. It was recently rumoured that she has also moved from her Abule-Egba-Lagos residence to a pent house on Admiralty Way in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

More good news, Liz few days ago took delivery of a brand new white 2014 Range Rover Evoque (full options). Her high-profile lifestyle has sent tongues wagging. But Liz says: “Don’t mind them. It is through the grace of God.”

Mbong Amata’s bir thda birthda thdayy message to her ex-husband

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espite the fact that their marriage has crashed, Nollywood actress, Mbong Amata, has shown that she still has a soft spot in her heart for her exhusband, Jeta Amata.

Last Thursday, when the ex-hubby turned 40, the actress doffed her hat to her former Romeo, celebrating him and what she calls “the best gift they both share forever.”

Jeta and Mbong were married for 10 years before their union crashed few years ago. While he was marking his 40th birthday last Thursday, Mbong sent him a warm birthday message, reliving memories of their past.

Incidentally, it was also their daughter ’s birthday anniversary.

C M Y K

26—Vanguard, SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

anozieegole@yahoo.com

08116759764

Jim Iyke turns pure water seller

Call me Jasmine instead of sexy!

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ONTROVERSIAL actor, Jim Iyke has concluded plans to go into pure water business.

The actor who escaped from Liberia recently following the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in that country, now has a pure water company better known as Burgeonwater. He disclosed this development, via his Instagram account during the week.

“Henry and I; partners in quiet revolution coming soon. Burgeonwater, committed to wealth, so grateful to Lord, countdown begins. Supreme hustle mode activated,”Jim Iyke announced.

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AST rising Ghana ian singer, Jasmine Bridi a.k.a Jayla, has expressed dissatisfaction with the “Sexy appellation” her fans are adding to her name, Jasmine.

The beautiful damsel says, she would wish to be called by her name, insisting that she is still in her teens. Moreover, there is a negative impression people always have about being sexy in her country. “I have had people pass a lot of comments about me, saying that I am very sexy especially when you go to my fan pages. I really appreciate those comments because it shows that my work is being recognised but I would prefer them to use ‘cute’ instead.

This is because I am still in my teens and you know how the Ghanaian society perceives people who are called sexy. I do not want to be seen in that light but at the right time when I come of age then they can call me sexy”, she said.

•Jim Iyk

•Jasmine

AFRIMA: There’s

Is Tiwa Savage expecting a baby?

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ANS of Nigeria’s queen of pop, Tiwa SavageBalogun were filled with joy during the week when news hit the internet that their idol is expecting her first baby.

Tiwa got married to her manager-turned-husband, Tee Billz several months ago.

Reports of her pregnancy went viral online after she showed up at DJ Jimmy Jatt’s 25th years on stage celebration which held last Sunday at Intercontinental hotel, Victoria Island. The songstress obviously looked glamorous in a blue free gown which many suspected was meant to hide her growing baby bump.

Meanwhile, her tweets further fuel speculations that she may be pregnant. “Official Tiwa Savage, the spirit of a mother. Mrs Tee Billz, married and taken,”she tweeted.

•Tiwa Savage

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hope for African music — Oscar Kidjo

S Africans await the nomination list which would be released to the public at the end of the month, a Jury Member of All Africa Music Awards,AFRIMA, Oscar Kidjo representing West Africa Region has revealed that out of the 2,025 entries submitted for the awards, 60% had good quality videos.

Kidjo made this disclosure while speaking to newsmen in Lagos recently. This figure, however, indicates there is still hope for African music.

According to him, there were music videos entries of poor quality which shows that the African Music industry is growing and will need a lot of professional investment to improve the standard of production. “No music is bad; Africa is blessed with great potentials and talents but the challenge is with the quality of video production and this reflects the quality of music we produce in Africa”.

The adjudication process by the jury members ended a fortnight ago with a media parley held at Ibis Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The nomination process is on and the list would be audited by a professional and international •Oscar Kidjo auditing firm.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014 — 27

BY IYABO AINA 08184172548

Amber Rose reacts to break-up rumours R

Lily Allen entertains audience with her nipples

ecall that for few days, it has been rumoured that newly weds Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa’s marriage is heading for the the rocks, as result of Wiz’s most recent Twitter activity.

Interestingly, Amber used her Instagram account to hit back at the rumour mongers that there is no substance in the rumour.

Also, the rumors of trouble in paradise came after Wiz posted a series of cryptic tweets to his Twitter account making followers to wonder if the messages were targeted towards his wife and mother

I

t seems English singer, actress and television pre senter Lily Allen, clearly couldn’t contain herself at the just concluded V Festival, as the star flashed her nipples by accident at the crowds at the Hylands Park site.

Dressed in her silver jumpsuit from her recent stint on Miley Cyrus’s Bangerz tour, Lily’s unfortunate mishap went unnoticed by the star.

She certainly seemed to be enjoying herself while she and the crowd were seemingly oblivious to her serious wardrobe malfunction.

The Hard out Here hitmaker, who put on an amazing show at the Staffordshire site was watched by Professor Green and his wife Millie Mackintosh as she knocked out several of her chart hits before stopping for a quick cigarette break.

“Hashtag sorry not sorry!” she screamed down the mic.

of his child.

“It’s crazy because this always happens and I always end up feeling like this.” “I love you, but your freaking me out.” “Watch out for psychological vampires.The most expensive mistakes happen in cheap hotels.”

But Amber blew off reports of a rocky marriage posting a sweet picture of her and hubby Wiz, alongside the caption, “The Khalifa’s”. The starlet also posted a flick spotting a robe with the words “Mrs. Wiz” written on it. Rose captioned that photo, “The Love is real.”

•Lily Allen

Beyonce’s surrogate mother files custody suit for her daughter

I

t seems things are begin ning to get on the negatives for Beyonce and Jay Z these days. As report has it that a woman named Tina Seals has filed a maternity suit in Manhattan against Beyonce and Jay z, claiming that Blue Ivy is her daughter.

Seals even points out in the document that she was “previously associated” with the couple.

Beyoncé’s lawyers have not responded to the suit, as we gathered! Beyoncé is currently dealing with rumours

concerning her marriage to Jay Z and this just seems to make it worse.

•Wiz Khalifa, Amber Rose and son

I’m happy without future---CIARA •Beyonce and Blue Ivy

Jay Z, Kim Kardashian ignore each other in public

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chance of friendship between Jay Z-Beyoncé household and Kim Kardashian seems slimmer than ever, especially after the

•Jay Z and Kim families C M Y K

rapper reportedly ignored the curvy reality TV star recently in public.

Jay Z was at a popular restaurant in Malibu, California,

with friends and allegedly ignored the Kardashian family when they entered the eatery.

An eyewitness said, “It was really awkward. Jay Z had been quite low-key having a meal with pals. But then everybody noticed the entire Kardashian family when they came in. Jay Z was heading to leave and Kim was right in front of him but they completely blanked one another.”

Recall that ever since Jay Z and Beyoncé skipped Kardashian’s May wedding to Kanye West in Italy, there have been reports that the couple no longer like each other.

A

merican entertainer Ciara seems not bothered about her break-up with fiancé as report has it that the screen diva rather feels ‘’a whole new spiritual energy.’’ She insists she is ‘’very, very happy’’ after having three-monthold son, for him.

The 28-year-old singer, who dumped the rapper after she reportedly found out he was cheating her, plans to express all of her feelings through her new music and insists she is ‘’very, very happy.’’

Ciara said:’’I’m in a much more clairvoyant place in my life. So, I want to express that through my music.’’

•Ciara

28 — Vanguard, SARTURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2014

My first sex experience — Biodun Okeowo

Says, “I married as a virgin” Sultry and sexy Yoruba actress, Biodun Okeowo known in the industry as Tolani Oshirin is without doubts one of the hottest and most talented Yorubaspeaking actresses on the scene right now. With eight movies of her own and having featured in close to fifty of others, Biodun is certainly a face to reckon with in the Yoruba sector.

In this interview with Showtime Celebrity, Biodun bares her mind on her person, career, family and even some secrets she had never before revealed.

By ADERONKE ADEYERI

W

hy did you choose to be a vegetarian?

I have been a vegetarian for many years now and the reason is not far-fetched. I have the tendency to be overweight, so I’m seriously checking it in order not to lose my figure-eight shape.

Which parts of your body do you think are your selling points? ...

Well, I will say my hips and eyeballs. God has blessed me with what African men really like. Even the modern day African man who pretends to like a skinny woman, after getting down with her, he would marry a woman who has ample flesh in the right proportions.

As a learned person, why have you never featured in English-speaking movies?

I’ve not gotten a script from that sector yet. Besides, I have my own films to produce too and ever since I started, I have never had reasons to invite an English actor or actress too, so it is a two-way C M Y K

thing.

How have you been coping, as a single mother with two kids?

It’s one question I don’t like going deep into for personal reasons. I will only say God has been faithful. I’m fine and cool as you can see. I am a happy woman in all ramifications and the envy of other ladies.

Any plan of getting married?

I’m yet to get one and would not like to say much about that.

Has there been any particular role you refused?

Yes, not even one. I’ve rejected many scripts in the past and will continue to reject many other scripts.

Why do you do that?

I reject scripts or roles when they seem sub-standard or not well-baked. Biodun Okeowo would not want to soil her integrity or disappoint her fans.

Did your parents especially, your father being a pastor, object to your chosen career?

Not really, my dad was an actor before he became a Prophet. So, he did not object to it but my mother was afraid because many people told her that I would have to go diabolical to make it in the industry.

Also, the fear of losing me, her simple and God-fearing daughter to some worldly things made her object. But later I was able to convince her that all I needed was her prayers. And being a prayer warrior, God answered her prayers and the rest is history.

W

ould you say your chosen career was the reason for your failed marriage?

We are pencils in the hand of the creator, he knows and directs our lives. My career has got nothing to do with that.

What lessons did you learn from your previous marriage?

My broken marriage was a place of learning to me. It taught me to be a better person and has opened a hidden part of me. Then I was younger but I have learnt that what will be will be, no matter what.

Would you say he was at fault?

Fault, who am I to apportion blames or Judge? God knows best. I thank God we are both doing well in our respective homes.

Any plans of marrying again?

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2014 — 29

What do you mean by saying you are not single?

It simply means I have a man in my life. But what I am not ready to disclose are details about him. I am not single because I am with a man.

Please don’t ask me any further question on this. I am a very happy woman in love with a man in my life.

At this stage in your life, would you consider being a second wife?

I won’t break someone else’s home because I don’t want mine to be broken as well. But then man proposes and God disposes. No one can decide for God. We can only pray fervently for our wishes. But one thing I don’t joke with is my happiness.

What do you have to say about pre-marital sex among our youths?

It is saddening that premarital sex has taken over our time. In the past, most of our men would disassociate themselves with girls who

,

Presently, I’ll like to remain mute on my marital status but the glaring truth is that I’m not single.

I’ve not really traveled far and wide to know much about other film industries but I know we’ve improved greatly.

have been deflowered outside wedlock. Then a woman’s virginity was her pride but time has changed and human beings have changed. I am not happy about it. Maybe we should blame civilisation or modernisation for this. I pray for God’s intervention in this era.

Did you marry as a virgin?

Yes, I did and I can boldly say that.

What was your first sex experience?

My first experience was full of fear, uncertainty, pain and alas! I loved it at the end.

How do you think your kids feel when they see their mum in sensual roles?

I have been working and thinking on that recently.

My kids are growing fast and are very

quickly retraced my steps and in the process, I offended some producers.

How do you relate with male fans?

Well, as a public figure, I try as much as possible to be calm and respectful but some men can be annoying.

,

intelligent. For their sake, I am trying not to act dirty or rough, but at the same time I have to interpret my roles very well, especially if it is a movie I producing. I also censor the movies they watch, be it mine or other films.

Acting is make-believe and there’s this general belief that saddens my heart, and that is the belief that Nollywood does not deliver sexual roles well enough in graphic details.

Our fans often forget that we are Africans, we have a culture that needs to be inculcated into our movies and that is what Biodun Okeowo is working on.

D

o you agree that female actress es are making it more than their male counterparts?

I don’t agree. It depends on how hardworking each individual is in the industry. But if you say female artistes are more favoured than the male artistes then I’ll say you are right.

How would you rate Nollywood in comparison with other film industries around the world?

I’ve not really traveled far and wide to know much about other film industries but I know we’ve improved greatly.

What do you want to be known for?

I want to be known for my humility and my down-to-earth nature.

Which fashion item would you say is indispensible to you?

Earrings.

What is your favorite colour?

Pink and lemon green. I love these colours to a fault.

Have you ever regretted being part of any movie?

Yes, years back when I was still a novice in the industry. I did some wishy-washy jobs because I grabbed every job that came my way. Unfortunately for me those jobs didn’t come out until I have already become an established actress in the business.

Some of these films were so bad that most of my fans thought I didn’t measure up to standard. I nearly lost many of them but they didn’t know I did those films when I was still green in the industry. But I

Annoying? How? Some can go as far as taking a bet on you, staking a bet that they could get you or do things to you. And when they must have taken this bet they can go to any length to get down with you, all in the bid to win a bet or prove to their friends they could get you. But when you are wise and didn’t fall for their money or material things, you become their enemy. They label you all sorts of names and they would do everything in their power to run you down. This could be very annoying and could make one to get rude sometimes.

Considering some roles you play, have your children ever been embarrassed?

No, all I’ve always heard from my kids are nice comments. Most times they compliment my beauty on screen and openly tell me they love my movies. I am very grateful to God for giving me those kids. They are my strength.

W

hat is the worst thing ever written about you?

I guess that was when one unpopular magazine wrote that I was owing Iyabo Ojo some money when I never owed her any money. I hardly buy things on credit instead I would rather deposit some money and wait until the payment is made. So, the story was rather amusing to me because that is something I don’t do. But honestly, false and scandalous stories don’t bother me because when I decided to pick this job I knew such things would be writen about me. Everyday, something, true or false must be writen about a known person. And over time I have grown to love being talked about.

The secret is to read and flip aside the unwholesome ones and carry on with your normal life. And if it is too detrimental to your career then you can seek redress in the court of law.

How many movies have you produced, and which do you consider the best?

I have done eight movies to date.

Though my best is still to come but if I have to pick one very close to my heart, it would be my latest film, Ore. Our society does not support single motherhood. How do you cope with the stigma of being a single mother?

(Smiles) I only know my status. I only know who I am. (smiles) for Biodun, she’s the happiest woman on earth. I am comfortable and happy in all ways. No stigma for me.

What is new about Biodun Okeowo?

My fans should watch out for “Instagram Babe” to be marketed by Corporate pictures. I love my fans and my God will continue to bless them.

C M Y K

30—SATURDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014

Lifeline

Good bras do bad things H

undreds of millions of women wear a brassiere (bra). Why? This was the subject of discussion at a function recently. In the course of finding an answer to this knotty question, I discovered that, many women wear bras without ever asking why. Interestingly, bra wearing is not a necessity for most women for their breasts’ sake; rather, it is worn more for cultural reasons.

The modern bra with its two separate cups dates back to the corset in the early 20th century, in an attempt to manufacture a more comfortable underwear piece and has evolved from simple underwear into an actual sexual garment that emphasises the sexual nature of breasts.

This can be readily seen, for example, by the terminology used to advertise bras: enticing, hot, ravishing, seducing, etc. For most purposes however, wearing a bra is feminine and rather strangely, going braless is sometimes also connected with feminism.

So why wear, or not wear a bra?

According to experts, women’s breasts change sizes an average of five times over their life. That means that the bra size you wore when you are 20 now will no longer will fit you properly. And there is a good chance that the bra you are now wearing will no longer fit you in a few years time.

Skin, not muscle actually supports the breasts, and skin stretches with movement.

to automatically wearing bras, it’s possible to not even notice or pay any attention to the slight discomfort from bras.

Why you DO need a bra Your bust has no muscle. When gravity pulls your breast down, it also stretches your throat and face tissue. Your breast depends on an outside source of support to keep its shape and the shape of your breast is determined by the bras you wear.

Ordinary bras on the market today are only covers. The woman’s bust must be lifted to allow for proper circulation.

Without proper support, lymphatic drainage is impeded, which interferes with cellular health. Breast disease such as cancer is more likely when there is no circulation and lymphatic drainage.

Why you DON’T need a bra Several medical experts argue that there is no evidence that wearing a bra brings

•Strapless Bra

any medical benefit. They say you •Assorted bras could be putting your health at risk per cent when the women by wearing bras, researchers have stopped wearing a bras. Several warned. Surgeons found women are separate studies have shown a more likely to suffer regular breast link between breast pain and breast cancer. It is estimated that two in five women suffer from breast pain, with some also having cysts. The pain can leave breasts feeling extremely tender, and restrict movement. Breast pain, which has been linked to breast pain is very common but very hard to treat. cancer. Across the world, breast cancer is a problem only in cultures Body of evidence where women wear bras. There is The figures are numbing. Of already international evidence that 4,000 women interviewed in a cultures where women do not wear major study lasting over two bras are free of breast cancer. Tight years, half the women had been bras cause congestion in the lymph diagnosed with breast cancer; 75 nodes — a vital part of the immune percent of women who slept in system and the body’s first line of their bras developed breast defence against the spread of cancer. cancer; 1 in 7 who wore their bras Repeated inflammation from for 12 or more hours per day constricting bras are implicated in developed breast cancer; 1 in 168 painful breast cysts and lumps, scar who did not wear a bra developed tissue develops, and milk ducts breast cancer. become plugged, all of which is Within one month of ditching associated with a higher risk of their bras, women with cysts, breast cancer. breast pain, or tenderness found In one study, 100 premenopausal their symptoms disappeared. women who went braless for three A study published in the months and then returned to wearing European Journal of Cancer one for another three months found found that premenopausal women that, on average, the number of who do not wear bras had half the totally pain-free days went up by 7

,

Across the world, breast cancer is a problem only in cultures where women wear bras

Wearing a good support bra is essential to minimise this stretching.

To wear or not to wear, would, depend, first of all, on the breast size, and secondly, on the woman’s habits. I gather that very large and heavybreasted women usually need to wear bras for support, and they feel pain and discomfort if they don’t wear bras.

For women with small-tomedium size breasts, if they are used to wearing bras, say they feel a little uncomfortable without them.

However, this is more a psychological issue and a question of habit: women tend to feel awkward or selfconscious without bras if they are used to wearing them. In fact, when a person gets used

C M Y K

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risk of breast cancer compared with bra users. More interestingly, Japanese, Fijians, and women from other cultures tend to have a significantly higher likelihood of developing breast cancer when they began wearing bras. Japanese researchers found bras can lower melantonin by 60 percent. Melatonin has anti-cancer properties. And Spanish researchers wrote about the use of melantonin in breast cancer prevention and treatment.

Go braless as much as possible?

Most women agree it’s actually easier to do this. When these muscles and ligaments are forced to bear the weight of breasts, muscle tone returns. The more you wear a bra, the more you need to wear a bra. Chest muscles and breast ligaments atrophy, which then makes it feel uncomfortable to go braless.

A study found that “medically, physiologically, and anatomically, breasts gained no benefit from their weight being supported in a bra.” There was some evidence that eliminating bra use helped ease back pain. *Some say bra wearing is a “false need.”

A medical doctor (female) summed up this way: Remove your bra when you get home. Don’t wear a bra to bed. And if you’re self-conscious when going out, try wearing camisoles, thicker material, or nipple pads. However, it does make sense to wear a support bra while exercising.

Wear loose bras in softer materials Tight bras and under wires promote congestion and stagnation of toxic waste materials that are supposed to be flowing out for excretion. Further, the closing of lymphatic vessels reduces the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells.

There’s no need to toss your expensive underwire bras. If you cut a small opening at one end of the wire, you can manually remove it from each cup. You’ll probably find that your bra supports you nearly as well without them. If you still need the support, you can buy and insert plastic wires.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014—31

Age, more than just a number H

ow old are you really? The answer is more complicated than counting the number of chronological years of number of candles you blew out on your last birthday cake. Your daily habits can either add or subtract years from your life—like how much you exercise, or how stressed you allow yourself to be.

Here are activities you can adopt today to live a longer, healthier life.

Lose weight Being obese increases the risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease, possibly shaving up to 12 years off your life, per an analysis in the journal Obesity. But being too thin can hike your risk of osteoporosis and poor immune function. So aim to stay at a weight that’s healthy for you.

Reduce alcohol Regularly exceeding one drink a day or three in one sitting can damage organs, weaken the immune system and increase the risk of some cancers.

Ease stress Chronic stress makes us feel old—and actually ages us: In a 2012 study, Austrian researchers found that workrelated tension harms DNA in our cells, speeding up the shortening of telomeres—which protect the ends of our chromosomes and which may indicate our life expectancy.

Of course, it’s impossible to completely obliterate stress.

“What’s important is how you manage it. Practice yoga, pray, meditate, relax in the shower or do whatever else chills you out.

Keep learning Having more education lengthens your life span, according to a study in the journal Health Affairs, for a number of reasons. Extra schooling may help you become better informed about how to live a healthy life. And educated folks, as a group, have a higher income, which means greater access to good health care and insurance.

A 47, Oscar-winning Hollywood actress, Halle Berry, retains stunning good looks.

Lifestyle

Don’t let the bedbugs bite B

edbugs appear to be making a comeback.

The good news is that they typically do not pose serious health risks, even though their bites may be uncomfortable. These slides show you how to recognize bedbugs, know where they’re hiding, and learn what to do to prevent getting bitten.

mattress. Bedbugs often reside include curtains, edges of carpet, corners inside dressers and other furniture, cracks in wallpaper (particularly near the bed), and inside the spaces of wicker furniture.

Since bedbugs can live for months or even longer under favorable conditions without feeding, they can also be found in vacant homes.

Signs of bedbug bites The first sign of bedbugs may be red, itchy bites on the skin, usually on the arms or shoulders. Bed bugs tend to leave straight rows of bites, unlike some other insects that leave bites here and there. A few don’t notice the bites; others become very annoyed with the itchiness from their bites and can’t

sleep. Some may experience clusters of five or so bites that create welts, and there are those incidents of extreme allergic reactions as well.

How they spread Bedbugs live in any articles of furniture, clothing, or bedding, so they or their eggs may be present in used furniture or clothing. They spread by crawling and may contaminate multiple rooms in a home or even multiple dwellings in apartment buildings. They may also be present in boxes, suitcases, or other goods that are moved from residence to residence or from a hotel to home. Bedbugs can live on clothing from infested homes and may be spread by a person unknowingly wearing infested clothing.

How they bother you Bedbugs bite and suck blood from humans. Bedbugs are most active at night and bite any exposed areas of

Dos & Don’ts to Combat Kitchen Germs Where are they found?

While bedbugs are often reported to be found when sanitation conditions are poor or when birds or mammals are nesting on or near a home, bedbugs can also live and thrive in clean environments. Crowded living quarters also facilitate the spread of bedbugs. They can live in any area of the home and can reside in tiny cracks in furniture as well as

Bedbug bites on textiles and upholstered furniture. They tend to be most common in areas where people sleep and generally concentrate in beds, mattresses, box springs, and bed frames. They do not infest the sleeping surfaces of beds as commonly as cracks and crevices associated with the bed frame and

skin while an individual is sleeping. The face, neck, hands, and arms are common sites for bedbug bites. The bite itself is painless and is not noticed. Small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin are the most common sign; redness, swelling, and itching commonly occur. If scratched, the bite areas can become infected. Bedbug bites may go unnoticed or be mistaken for flea or mosquito bites or other types of rash or skin conditions, since they are difficult to distinguish from other bites.

Health risks Bedbugs have not been conclusively proven to carry infectious microbes.

The majority of bedbug bites are not serious. The only known serious consequences are severe allergic reactions.

32 — SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, AUGUST 23, 2014

One dress

2 styles

•Sequins jacket

T

HERE is no boring moment with the Little Black Dress as it can be styled in a variety of ways. Go from day to night by switching a few accessories.

Go to work by throwing a tweed jacket over your LBD and pairing with a structured bag and solid flats. Add a nice bangle for effect.

Then at night, ditch the tweed jacket for one with sequins. Every girl likes to shine on a night out. Bring on the shine with a pair of drop earrings or a diamanté-embellished pair of shoes. Your outfit needn’t be too boring.

Give it a pop of colour with your shoes or clutch bag.

•Tweed jacket

•Red clutch purse

•Oloori Julianna

•Red pump with diamante

•Sparkly Golden drop Earrings

Beautiful brows launched in Lagos •Isabella Rhea structured bag

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•Bangle

•Salvator Feragamor C M Y K

HE Make-Up Industry in Nigeria, received a boost lately with the launch of Beautiful Brows, an eyebrow essentials manufactured by a Specialist UK Cosmetic Company.

The new product a semi permanent powder can be worn to swim as it is not only water proof and sweat proof but also smug proof.

Speaking at the product launch which took place at De Renaissance hotel, Ikeja, Emmanuel Saibu, COO, Beautiful Brows Nigeria, described the brows as a

very important asset noting that the right brow shape and colour not only flatter and frame the feminine face, but can also take years off one.

He added that the new product when applied is not affected by sweat and the wearer can achieve the same celebrity outlook without having to call a makeup artist.

The exclusive compact is completely unique as you can insert refills of your favourite shade or remove to fit in the tiniest purse, pocket or bag.

The product designed to address the heat in Africa will be officially launched in September alongside the unveiling of the Face of the prod

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, A UGUST 23 AUGUST 23,, 2014—33

Is all really fair in love and war?

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F, once in a while you find yourself at the crossroads where you have to wrestle with your conscience trying to deal with treacherous people who have no qualms about stabbing you in the chest instead of the proverbial back, ponder on recent experiences I had. A few months back, a ‘friend’ called on one of his usual chinwags. We had a few drinks then—casually mentioned a business I was interested in. Virtually, witling details of the business from me, I was mildly shocked when I discovered him in my friend’s office a few days later with a folder containing his own ‘proposals.’

He didn’t bat an eye-lid as he glibly explained that he’d been after the business for quite a while and it was sheer luck that I ‘helped’ him prepare for his write-up. The old me would have flared up and showed her fangs. But” I kept my cool. The lady sitting in the MD’s chair was an old classmate and a very close friend. Her secretary waited for me to finish talking with the traitor before asking me to go right in without as much as a glance at the opportunist who’d been warming his chair for close to an hour. It was then he looked embarrassed, and asked the secretary if she’d taken his filled visitor’s slip to her boss. She assured him she had and the boss would call him when she was ready for him.

Now, what better comeuppance would I have wished him?

Giving him a plastic smile, I went in. He must have heard our hoots of laughter as I recalled what happened to my friend. Supo’s wife wrote to her With me ensconced in the husband she was devastated. visitor’s chair, she sent for the From the letters, she got to man. He came in looking a bit know Felix had even taken Riki pompous whilst handing over a to his mother ’s! How letter of introduction from one of irresponsible can you get — the directors. taking a girlfriend to a mother who knew you were a married y friend’s professional father of four? When she told face was back on as she her best friend of her latest informed him that, as soon as her predicament, the friend was office had made a decision, he excited. Supo turned out to be would be informed. Thinking he the new found lover she’d been might have the last laugh, he ravaging’ about. said pointedly that he would Now providence had put the report back to the ‘director’ and nail in the coffin of his marriage my friend said he should give in her hands. She scooped up him her compliment whilst he the letters from Riki and took was at it! The sad bit is that most them to Supo’s office. The poor of us experience treachery such man was so devastated he as this all the time. Do we broke down and cried. But he indulge in it too? Believing that knew his wife could always all is fair in love and war?

Shortly after this incident, I had a phone-call from another friend that Supo, an ex-husband of yet another friend” had just got any have suspected it married! The plot thickens, for years, but now doesn’t it? The gist of the story is that Riki, Supo’s ex-wife, was research has proved that an incurable flirt who solemnly driving with your other half promised her husband never to sends your stress levels flirt again. That, after four soaring. Motorists feel four children, she would rather times more anxious if their devote time to the children God partner is along-side them in had given her. But she reckoned the car, according to a study. without her long-throat. So, when temptation came calling, Researchers at Allianz she threw caution to the wind. Insurance said: ‘Drivers are Bold as brass, she was even happier, more confident and writing love letters to her new focused when driving by find from her matrimonial home! themselves. As well as Felix, her new man, was so quadrupling stress, ‘partner smitten that he kept her love- pressure’ was found to make letters. A chronic philanderer, his motorist feel twice as rushed, long-suffering wife just kept her increasing the risk of them cool, attending regular church having an accident. Drivers ‘revivals’ with the hope that her husband would, one day stray told pollsters that the addition of any passenger increased back to his family.

When she accidentally their stress levels but that stumbled on the scotching letters they were least relaxed with

Bold as brass, she was even writing love letters to her new find from her matrimonial home

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wrap her round her fingers if he confronted her without any evidence.

Instead, he waited for her to give her endless excuse to get out of the house a few days later, then discretely followed her in his car.

Minutes after she got to her rendezvous with lover-boy eagerly waiting to receive her, Supo showed up. That was the end of the marriage. But, Riki wasn’t fazed, Felix was a good stand-in and his mother supported her and insisted his son should make up-for Riki’s failed marriage by making her a second wife.

After all, if it weren’t for Felix wife’s treachery, Riki would still be married by now.

So, it was a bit of a shock to now learn that Felix had gone back to his first wife and moved out of the flat he rented for Riki. As I write, the reason for the sudden change of heart is still sketchy. Supo, who

quickly got divorced from his philandering wife, got married to the girlfriend who betrayed Riki by showing her letters to Supo — a bag of treachery is what is woven around this story and only a judge —with the wisdom of Solomon would phantom who the most treacherous is! o, dear readers, in a S dog-eat-dog life, such as we live in, I think it is

better to share the lighter side of life with you from time to time. We all need a bit of adventure in our lives.

The most important thing is to have a fairly large circle of friends you can relate to.

So, what if a lot of them laugh with you and run you down when your back is turned?

Which is what happened to Bola the other day. She’d gone to a house-party where there were more females than males and the gossip was quite bitchy. She was alarmed at details of intimate secrets about friends and

family that were freely traded.

“As each guest left, the knives were out for her”, she recalled “I was a bit fed-up with the two-faced attitude of the guests but I hung around so I wouldn’t be the next target. But, leave I must, so I did. When I got home, which was a few minutes’ drive from the venue of the party, I discovered I’d left my purse behind and couldn’t get in as my house-keys were in it. I was about to open the door when I heard another friend giving graphic details of all the atrocities I was supposed to have committed with some of my lovers in the past.

“We used to be very close until I got fed up of her vicious attitude. She was in the middle of another juicy ‘escapade’ of mine when I opened the door. She was visibly shaken. ‘What happened to you?” She spluttered, “did you forget something?” he other guests looked T as if they’d seen a ghost. I calmly walked up to

where I once sat, picked up my purse, waved it in the air and with a cheery’ enjoy the rest of your gossip,’ I left.

“We all gossip from time to time —a lot of good gatherings thrive on it. But, the rule is to be fair to your supposed friends. Why reveal details of confidential secrets a friend believed were safe with you? Yet, who wants to hear boring gossips except the ones that are embellished with stamps of top secrets?

Like someone once observed, all you have to do is listen to different accounts of an accident by so-called eye witnesses for you to think twice about confiding in any friend.

The w or st car passenger is yyour our par tner wor orst partner

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their husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend in the car.

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he study revealed that women are more wound up by men than vice versa. When driving with their partners, only 32 per cent of women said they felt relaxed, compared to 43 per cent of men. Children also featured in the top five stress factors. Only a quarter of women and a third of men felt calm with their own children as passengers. Other car stress triggers were other people’s children, patents and other family

members.

Almost one in five motorists listed city centres as the most stressful driving locations. They were followed by town areas with 8 per cent, motorways with 8 per cent and dual carriage-ways chosen by 5 per cent. More than half of those polled cited country roads as the calmest place to drive.

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ut motorways divided the sexes, with almost half of men feeling relaxed when driving on them, compared to less than a third of women.

The research also looked at

times of day that drivers feel most rushed—commuting to and from work, travelling to appointments such as visiting the doctor, and driving children to school.

The biggest worry for motorists was ‘other drivers’, followed by tailgating and those with aggressive road rage.

Jon Dye, CEO of Allianz Insurance said: ‘The tales of back-seat drivers and in-car arguments we’re all so familiar with, cause stress and distraction when drivers should be feeling calm and focussed. It’s important that motorists and their partners are aware of the risks a stressful environment in a vehicle can create.’

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014

08 116759 759 081 6759759

Lesbian Muslim couple from Iran tie the kno kholm knott in S Sttoc ockholm kholm... Gay Imam excited

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eaming with pride, their faces wreathed in smiles, this is the moment that Sahar Mosleh and Maryam Iranfar finally tied the knot after nine years together. But the moment proved bittersweet for the couple, as both come from Iran — a country where homosexuals can pay for falling in love with their lives.

Safe in the Swedish capital Stockholm, however, the pair, who met online, were free to enjoy their big day which took place during the city’s Pride week. Maryam, who is expecting the couple’s first child, and Sahar, who suffers from congenital brittle bones, were blessed by

Iman Ludovid Mohamed Zahed. The holy man, who is based in South Africa, is also gay and has become a household name among LGBT activists from Muslim countries. Speaking after the ceremony, Algerian-born Zahed told of his delight at the couple’s happiness and revealed his

admiration for their bravery in pursuing a new life abroad.

‘I am very grateful for this beautiful wedding,’ he revealed, ‘and to be able to give my blessing to this happy couple.’

In Iran, the pair would have faced a penalty of 50 lashes for the first time they were caught together, a punishment that would have been repeated on two occasions.

Had they been caught together a fourth time, the death penalty would be applied.

‘I’m glad that this is a happy couple who can now form family after many years of struggle,’ added a thrilled Imam Zahed.

‘It’s a long journey to leave your homeland, come to a foreign country and manage to form a new life together.’

Chinese ffemale emale ar tis ed on bed of iron wire ffor or 36 da ys artis tistt sleeps nak naked days

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ad a bad night's sleep? Well try sleeping naked on a bed of iron wire for 36 days.

That's what Chinese female artist Zhou Jie has been doing for her art project, '36 Days'. She hasn't revealed why she is doing it, but crowds of Beijing art goers have been flocking to the Art Now Gallery to watch her 'perform'.The exhibition, which began on August 9, will see the artist continue sleeping on an iron wire

bed until September 13.

In front of exhibition visitors, Zhou Jie will be doing daily activities like, eating, washing, using the bathroom and playing on her mobile.

The art project has attracted attention on an online Chinese publication, with locals questioning its artistic value.

One viewer commented on website chinaSMACK: 'Look at Korean performance art, then look at

domestic ones. Is art in our country only streaking [nudity]? No wonder women in our country have a lower and lower sense of shame, all as a result of these garbage artists streaking [going nude] everyday!'

'So this is a so-called artist, very unreliable,' another viewer wrote.

Zhou Jie will continue to spend her time on a iron wired bed, with 'plush toys' weaved from iron wire.

‘I hardly felt a thing’

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an feels no pain as knife plung es 12 stories to land directly in his head.

When Xiao Chien felt a sharp blow to his head while walking down the road, he didn’t panic. After investigating the cause of the sudden pain and discovering a large knife protruding from his skull, he calmly decided to stroll on home and call an ambulance.

Chien had been walking through Guangyuan City in the province of Sichuan, south-west China, when a woman accidentally dropped a gardening knife from a twelfth floor balcony.

The blade, which had been used for trimming plants, plunged into Mr Chien’s head with such force, that it embedded itself 12 centimetres into his brain after piercing his skull. On realising what had happened, Mr Chien began his journey home — but only made it 100 metres before stopping because he felt faint. Chinese doctors believe Mr

Chien’s amazingly composed reaction was a result of the knife damaging the part of his brain that sends out panic signals.

At the sight of the dazed Mr Chien, shocked passers-by called emergency services and the injured man was taken to hospital, where surgeons operated to remove the wedged knife. Miraculously, doctors believe he has escaped without any permanent damage.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Chien told local media: ‘I felt a blow to my head and I could see stars for a few seconds.

‘When I put my hand up to see if there was any blood I could feel something sticking out of my head.

‘I felt remarkably calm about the whole thing, and realised that I couldn’t pull it out.

‘I thought maybe the best thing to do would be to go home and call an ambulance but after about hundred metres I felt faint and I had to sit down.’

Doctors say Mr Chien’s neural functions including eyesight, hearing, touch and cognitive abilities, all seem to be working normally.

They added that if there was no sign of infection within a day then he could be released.

Customers accuse Chinese firm of adding Viagra to its spirits

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hinese police have arrested a businessman who is alleged to have added the active in gredient from anti-impotence drug Viagra to bottles of alcohol.

The businessman, known only as Mr Huang, was arrested in Jianshi County in China’s Hubei Province on Sunday according to officials.

The man is accused of adding one kilogram of sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, to 750 litres of a clear Chinese spirit known as Baijiu.

China Daily reported that the man bought the drug in January and began adding it to the spirit at his factory in February. According to investigators, the man added 130 milligrams of the drug per 100 millilitres of spirit. Police claim the man sold 420, 100ml bottles of the spirit in Wuhan while a further 750 bottles were sold in Jianshi County. He was receiving approximately £3 for each bottle. He also gave 810 bottles to friends as gifts. Huang is the founder of the Nine Springs Ecological Agriculture Development company. Officials are now trying to track down any remaining bottles of the spirit warning that they may be dangerous.

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When God instituted marriage... teenage child has grown like an “agric fowl” does not make her physically, biologically, mentally and emotionally ready for marriage. I have a bias for early marriage, but I also feel that the couple should come of age and freely give their consent without which the marriage is a divine nullity, notwithstanding parental endorsement.

Respect: What is respect?

The dictionary says respect “is a feeling of admiration or deference towards somebody or something.” So if you admire your spouse or you defer to him/her, you are respecting him/her. Respecting your spouse is not really a favour but self preservation.

My mother always told us while growing up that if you do not have regards for your “emekpe” ( a container used in measuring and packing foodstuff), people will use it to pack ashes instead of garri.

About 10 years ago, while mediating in a marital case, the husband told us that he has told his neighbours to beat up and strip his “troublesome” wife naked the next time she makes trouble with them. I told those who were with me that “this marriage

is dead”. Shortly after, they divorced.

Reward: We all want to be acknowledged and appreciated, especially on the home front.

Very few things kill the spirit of a spouse than would ingratitude. Long ago a family friend kept lamenting to my mother that her husband never appreciated her efforts. The husband was unemployed with children from a previous marriage. The wife was responsible for the upkeep of the entire household and all she wanted was appreciation from her spouse. She

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arriage is a formal union of man and woman, but each letter of the word “M-A-R-R-I-AG-E”, does have some significance and together bring to fore the character of marriage.

Man and woman: when God instituted marriage, it was between a man and a woman.

God never intended persons of the same sex to be in any “sexual” relations. That was why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. They did not even engage in same-sex “marriages”; they were only into in homosexuality. God is the same yesterday, today and forever, so all these so-called legalized same-sex “marriages” in America and Europe are divinely null and void.

Agreement:Consent is a prerequisite for any legitimate marriage to be contracted, be it civil, traditional or Christian. In Christian marriages, the intending couple is asked by the officiating priest: “John, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?” John and his spouse must answer “ yes, I have” before the solemnisation can continue. If not the ceremony ends abruptly. In traditional marriage in some culture, the bride takes a cup of drink and seeks out the groom in the gathering. Giving and accepting the wine signify both parties’ agreement to marry.

Parents should not force their children, especially underaged daughters, into marriage under any guise. That your

SA TURD AY Vanguard, A SATURD TURDA AUGUST UGUST 23, 2014—35 a house built on sand, it will does not reward us according not endure. Information flows to our deeds, whose steadfastfrom communication and com- ness never ceases and whose munication is the live wire of mercy never comes to an end. marriage. Lack of information Earthly: Finally, despite its leads to assumptions and assumption is the hypertension divine origin, marriage is a (silent killer) of marriage. vocation and an earthly expeWhatever the challenges are, rience. A good and godly there should free flow of infor- marriage life is part of human mation. Once couples are talk- earthly pilgrimage to God’s ing positively, there is hope for eternal presence. That is the the marriage. Always remem- closest relationship marriage ber that there are no perfect has with heaven. Those suimarriages; only marriages cide bombers killing themselves and innocent people in striving to be perfect. order to inherit and deflower Availability: Spouses should virgins in their imaginary be there for each other. Many paradise are in for a shock of us are too busy for the good because the hottest part of of our marriages. After God, hell is awaiting them. Moreyour marriage (family) comes over, there is no marriage in next, not your work or other heaven. As Jesus told the pursuits. As much as possible, Sadducees, “the people of you should be available for this age marry and are given your spouse physically, emo- in marriage. But those who tionally, intimately, financially, are considered worthy of takmaterially and in all other ing part in the age to come ways that you can conjure and and in the resurrection from defend before God. the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage” (Luke 20:34-35).

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Always remember that there are no perfect marriages

died a few years later from hypertension. Couples must appreciate each other, not oneway traffic. Sometimes it is the little “thank you” or absence of it that does the magic or damage in a marriage.

Information: Ideally, there should be uninhibited flow of information in a marriage. This breeds trust (and understanding) which is a necessary ingredient in a happy marriage.

A marriage without trust is like

God: God created the institution of marriage, so it makes sense that He should continue to be part of it. God is the principal reason why the marriage institution is alive today and has survived all kinds of onslaught and assault over time.

Ordinarily, every marriage should revolve round God. Unknown to those who do not believe in God, He is also working in their marriages because He is the God who

CONGRATULATIONS: I congratulate Ese Ziregbe and Emeka Chukwuneke, as they are joined in holy matrimony today. I wish them and all married people a happy married life.

The above thoughts are basically mine, but I got the marriage acronym from a talk by Rev. Fr. Matthew Ogunyase, the Parish Priest of St. Peter ’s Catholic Church, Ejigbo, Lagos

(Text Only)

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egs Raise Technique: Lie on your back with the feet raised up and placed against a wall. Interlace the fingers and resting the back of the head on them, breath

Legs Raise

C M Y K

in deeply for about 10 times in this position.

When you're done with your practise, the next step is to lie flat down and remain still, quite and relaxed on your mat for a few minutes.

This is to allow the body to soakup what you've just done and also afford the body a bit of proper rest of body and mind.

The Triangle Technique: Stand with the feet very wide apart and turning the trunk to the left, bend the left knee till it's at the same level as your waist.

Place the left hand on the inside of the left foot and pass the right at the back with the palm on the left leg. Breathe normally and retain the position between five and 15 seconds and then repeat on the other side.

•Spread Eagle

How far can your legs go

•The Triangle Benefits: The Triangle like the chair strenthens the leg muscles. It also stretches the spine and trunk muscles. It tones the spinal nerves and abdominal organs. It reduces or eliminates back pain.

Spread Eagle Technique:Sit down and spread the legs out as much as

possible. Holding the legs just below the knees, lower the trunk while sliding the hands down to the ankles

and resting the chin on the floor. Remain very still and breathe normally for a few seconds and then straightening up the trunk, bring the legs together and lay on your back for a brief rest.

Benefit: The spread eagle stretches the spine and rejuvenates the nevous system.

•The Triangle

and then I feel guilty that I’m such a “snob.” My anger bubbles up around these issues all the time. What do I do?

Hilda, Abuja

juliecoker100@yahoo.com

Is this passion sstr tr ange? trange?

Dear Julie, Thank you for touching peoples lives through relationship counselling. I read your column and I love what you are doing. Please I have also my own issue and will appreciate if you look into it.

I have been living with this man for over a year and I’m really not sure if he’s the one for me. The problem is that: he wants to do, literally, everything I do, and everything together. He wants us to wake up together in the morning, shower together, leave for work together, spend all of our evenings together, and go to bed at the same time. I feel like he’s infringing on my individuality, and I feel like he’s clinging to me in an unhealthy way.

I’ve given up my morning exercise routine because it bothered him that we didn’t spend mornings together. I’m a writ-

er and I like to do some writing in the mornings. I really enjoy waking early and having some time to myself. Because I wake up early, he wants to wake up early too.

When he does this, I feel like he’s a little puppy dog who just needs to follow me around all day and do everything I do. If I say I don’t WANT him to do that, he feels rejected and as if something is wrong because I don’t want him there all the time.

It’s not that I don’t want to do anything together. It’s very enjoyable and fun to share this time together. We have dinner together every night, which I also love. On the other hand, I also wonder if I’m making up this story about his lack of independence and perhaps I’m not allowing myself to “be” with a man. I wonder sometimes if he’s “good enough,”

Dear Hilda, Maybe I can start by saying that you are the lucky one. A lot of woman complain about their men not paying them enough attention but your case is different. Many will envy your situation. But like you pointed out, people in relationships need time apart and need their own lives in order for the relationship to work. So I am wondering why you have been willing to give this part of yourself up, giving up your time alone, your exercise, your writing, instead of allowing your partner to deal with his feeling of rejection? After all, you know you are not rejecting him when you want some space and time - you are taking care of yourself. If this brings up feelings of rejection for him, you can gently help him deal with the feelings, instead of trying to fix the situation so that he does not feel rejected. I suggest you try taking care of yourself and then help him deal with his emotions as they come up, by listening and being understanding, but not giving up yourself again. I think this will change how you feel about him.

He’s too suspicious Dear Julie, I have been dating a guy for over two years. Everything is fine except that my boyfriend is very possessive, suspicious and jealous. I have never cheated on him and have no cause to do so. I love him and hold him in high regards but his jealousy and suspicion is killing me.

He doesn’t want me to have friends or mix up with other people. Even my girl friends are a problem to him because he thinks they are too footloose and carefree and would lead me astray.

Yet, these are the people who have been encouraging me in the relationship up the this level because of my phobia for falling in love.

This type of behaviour is killing me. I have openly dis-

cussed it with him but he says it’s because he loves me too much. This puts me off. Please help me.

Titi, Lagos Dear Titi, Thank you for your letter and please take it easy. Every relationship has its issues and yours is not an exception. However, I am not surprised your boyfriend’s possessiveness and jealousy is putting you off and making you feel stifled. I think you already know this behaviour has nothing to do with how much he loves you, but has to do with his fear of being hurt, abandoned, perhaps being cheated on. I believe you that you have not done anything to make him feel more insecure than he already is, which means how he

feels has nothing to do with you. The bad news is that you cannot do anything to make him stop being possessive, suspicious and jealous. The good news is that you don’t have to take it personally.

The better news is that you don’t need to try to make him feel better, because you can’t - he will likely have these feelings for a long time, in any relationship he is in. So go about your life, doing what you need to do and stop accommodating his feelings.

This is your only hope of helping him ever get over them.

But find time to communicate your feelings to him and the fact that you do love him indeed and that your friends are not a threat to the relationship.

C O C K - T A L E S

Good basis for marriage?

A husband and wife were at a party chatting with some friends when the subject of marriage counselling came up.

‘Oh, we’ll never need that. My husband and I have a great relationship, ‘the wife explained.’ He was a communications major in college and I majored in Theatre arts. He communicates really well and I just act like I’m listening.’

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Learn to read the signs Geoff had six children and was very proud of his achievement. He was so proud of himself that for years he called his wife, Anita, “Mother of Six,” in spite of her regular objections. One evening, in their retirement years, they go to a party. It is late and Geoff is ready to go home and wants to find out if Anita is ready to leave as well.

Geoff bellows at the top of his voice, ‘Shall we go home, Mother of Six?’ Anita, greatly irritated by Geoff ’s lack of discretion over so many years, yells back at him, ‘Anytime you’re ready, “Father of Four”.’

She’s in love with another man Aunty Julie, The lady of my dreams is in love with another man.

I don’t know what to do.

I really like her and I think she likes me. The problem is that she is dating someone. The bigger problem is that she is dating my friend. I cannot come between them because I’m the one that settles their love issues.

What do I do?

Tobi, Akure Dear Tobi, As I see it, you have two choices - let the girl know you like her, but lose the

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36—SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 23, 2014

friendship with your friend. Or, keep the friendship and go find another girl to focus on.

It all depends on how important the friendship is to you.

However, you are working on your belief that the girl loves you but the truth is that she may not feel exactly the way you are feeling. She may be friendly to you because of your friendship with her boyfriend and you should not misconstrue that to mean she feels the same love you feel for her.

So, be careful and take it easy.

Don’t spoil your friendship with both of them. Sincerely, you should look for someone else.

I’m beginning to stop loving him, and I’m not sure how to bring up any conversation about this without starting an argument

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I think he’s losing interest Dear Aunty Julie, My guy and I have been dating for six months now. Two months after we started, we got engaged but later broke off the engagement on the grounds that it was too soon. Lately I’ve been feeling like he’s lost interest in me.

He spends most of his time on the computer or asleep and we hardly ever speak to each other. He’s very snippy and when we do speak, one of us always gets angry or we start an argument. I’m beginning to stop loving him, and I’m not sure how to bring up any conversation about this without starting an argument. He always says that I’m putting words in his mouth or what I’m saying is a lie, when I know it isn’t. Even our close friends have re-

alized that our relationship is falling apart. Should I try to discuss this with him or should I decide to end things and see if that is for the better?

Ivie, Edo Dear Ivie, Thank you for contacting me.

You cannot just stop loving him without anything happening or for him to start behaving in a strange manner. I think it is always better to try to talk things out with your partner. How about you try to talk to him about what is going on between the two of you and try to listen when he responds. Most of all, refuse to get into an argument with him.

Arguing is often one way to avoid dealing with the real issues, so if you refuse to be pulled into an argument, you might just have a chance to get to the truth.

Suspicious mind Russ, a deeply suspicious husband, hired a private detective to check on the movements of his wife. In addition to a written report, the husband wanted a video of his wife’s affairs.

A week later, the detective returned with a film.

They sat down together and proceeded to watch it. Although the quality was less than professional, Russ saw his wife meeting another man.

He saw the two of them strolling arm in arm and laughing in the park. Russ viewed them, enjoying themselves at an outdoor cafe. He then watched them dancing in a dimly lit nightclub. Russ saw them having fun and continually laughing together. ‘I just can’t believe this,’ spluttered the distraught Russ.

‘What’s not to believe?’ the detective responded.

‘It’s right up there on the screen.’

‘I simply can’t believe my wife could be so much fun.’ Russ replies grimly.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014—37

Obule harps on impor importt ance of mathematics in education

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Student writing the WASSCE. (Inset) Ibrahim-Shekarau,Education Minister

Why 69% of students failed WASSCE

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bout 69% of Nigerian stu dents who wrote the last West African Secondary School Certificate Examinations, WASSCE, failed. If this statistic is anything to judge the education sector by, it would mean that only about three out of ten students currently in the nation’s secondary schools will be qualified for the tertiary level at the end of their secondary school careers. It would also mean that seven out of ten Nigerian students are unqualified to leave secondary school after six years. Who is to blame for this dismal performance, and inadvertently the overall failure of the education sector?

To answer this question, Vanguard School Life, VSL, first turned to the students. A student from Command Day Secondary School who failed English Language told our reporters: ‘The time given was too short, and as a result of this, I didn’t finish answering the questions.’ The student, who did not want her name in print, had hoped to rely on her friends to give answers to questions she didn’t know. However, this was not possible.

‘The invigilators were too strict,’ she said, ‘so I didn’t have the opportunity to ask my friends for answers I didn’t know.’’

She wasn’t the only one counting on examination malpractice. Another student, Tobi Isaac (not real name), who failed Mathematics, said he did not like the subject and knew that he was going to fail even before the examinations began. He said: ‘I don’t like Maths, and I also dislike my teacher, so, I didn’t bother to prepare, because I already knew I would fail Maths before writing the exams. That is why I paid someone to provide me with the answers; but I was disappointed, it turned out that the person was not legitimate.’

Another candidate who also preferred to remain anonymous told VSL, “I don’t have any plans to school in Nigeria; that is why I did not take the exams seriously. I want to attend

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BY LAJU ARENYEKA & FAVOUR ANTHONY

I was really distracted by social media. I was always fond of my phone.

Even a day before examinations when some of my friends were reading, I was busy with BBM and Instagram

a private school abroad and that just requires a lot of money.’

Yet another candidate who failed the examinations spoke to our reporters. He blamed his failure on his addiction to social media. He said: ‘I was really distracted by social media. I was always fond of my phone. Even a day before examinations when some of my friends were reading, I was busy with BBM and Instagram.”

Recall that a total of 529,425 candidates, representing a meagre 31.28 per cent, obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics. When compared to the 2012 and 2013 May/June WASSCE results, there was marginal decline in the performance of candidates as 38.81 per cent was recorded in 2012 and 36.57 per cent in 2013.

M r. Mark Okoh, Principal of Caro Favoured College in Lagos, gives reasons for this decline.

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‘There are a lot of combined factors responsible for this’ he said, ‘there was less commitment on the part of the Government, teachers, as well as students.

Last year, all hands were on deck to ensure that the performance was better. I guess everyone relaxed this year because of the performance of last year. Another issue is the fact that the average Nigerian student reads for examinations. Even when the school calendar is running, students do not study. They wait till exams are around the corner and begin the fire brigade approach.’

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or the Education Rights Camaign, ERC, the blame should be placed solely at the feet of the Government. In a Press statement signed by its National Coordinator, Mr. Hassan Soweto, the ERC said: ‘Far from being the fault of the individual candidates, this disastrous result is a reflection of the failure of the anti-poor and capitalist neo-liberal policies of education underfunding and commercialization by government at all levels in the country. Government at all levels has pursued a relentless policy of starving public education funds such that public primary and secondary schools across the country have become devastated with little or no teaching infrastructures such that no useful learning is taking place.’

Recall that a member of the House of Representatives, Chief Yomi Ogunnusi, even traced the poor performance to erratic power supply in the country. Ogunnusi, who represents Ifako-Ijiaye constituency in Lagos, said that unstable power supply in the country was disincentive to learning, adding that it had discouraged students from studying hard.

The buck is now being passed on from power to social media, from Government to students, but the truth remains that if all stakeholders do not begin to take responsibility immediately, another blame game will begin when the next WASSCE results are released.

former Delta State guber natorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Chief Charles Obule has harped on the place of Mathematics as the most important subject in the educational curriculum of the educational sector.Chief Obule who was speaking during the 4th Graduation/Prize giving ceremony of Obule Integrated Schools, Sapele, Delta state, stated that: “No matter the profession one specializes on, Mathematics is needed for the day to day financial transactions. Obule while rewarding the four students who represented the school in the contest with a cash reward of N50, 000 each, applauded them for making themselves and the school proud in the contest.

In his welcome address, the Principal of the school, Deacon A.O Onojafe said the school founded in 1993is aimed at providing high quality morally sound and socially relevant basic and secondary education in the most effective manner to all students.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Fred Sowho while commending the vision of Chief Obule in the establishment of the school, described Obule and his wife as a duo who can make something out of nothing.

Nigerian students for IB sc holar ship scholar holarship programme abroad

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s part of efforts to prepare selected Nigerian students for success in higher education and life in a global society, additional 11 students are on their way to undertake an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma in some of the United World Colleges, UWC across the globe.

The programme which is an initiative of the United World Congress is academically challenging and balanced programme of education for students aged 16 to 19.

The programme is a two-year curriculum that prepares students to qualify for admission to leading universities around the world if they pass their final examinations.

Information and Welfare Officer of the United World Congress Nigeria, Mrs. Comfort Coleman, advised the students to represent Nigeria aright by showcasing our rich culture in their new found colleges.

According to her, in spite of challenges presently confronting the country, there are many positive traits, stories, opportunities and potentials to project about Nigeria to the rest of the world without undermining their academic performance.

Coleman also employs the medium to caution the students against bad behaviour and ungodly associations that could truncate their ambitions; lamenting that many promising children have lost focus of their dreams in life because they ignore wise counsel from their parents, guardian and mentors.

38—SATURDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014

YETUNDE AREBI

Sacrificing humanity for sexual satisfaction of rape, accusing them of provocative and indecent dressing or being teases, how does one blame a three year old rape victim by a man years older than her?

Indeed, this must confound the mind of any decent human being.

But rape, though the most conspicuous and of most alarming proportion in Nigeria now, is not the only perversion we might have to contend with in the nearest future. Last Sunday, one of the prominent headline stories of the Sunday Vanguard featured a story from Edo State about an 18 year old boy caught having sex with a dog in an uncompleted building in Ovia North East Local Government Council Area. Ighodaro as the culprit was simply identified was caught right in the act by a passerby who promptly raised alarm at the strange sight. Apprehended, Ighodaro confessed to villages and the Police that this was not his first time of relieving his sexual tensions with dogs. He has had successful five outings and definitely a number of unsuccessful campaigns judging from the number of dog bites he'd had to tend to. The villagers considered it

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Hi A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article about sexual perversion and its alarming increase in our society. I narrated the story of a young man whose queer sexual orientation got him into trouble with his neighbours somewhere in Surulere area of Lagos State. The guy eventually confessed to them that he found it difficult to derive sexual satisfaction unless his partner wept and begged him to stop.

In the said article published in Saturday Vanguard of 14th July, I tried to scratch the surface of this issue, by touching only on the more familiar ones, while trying to gauge the level of awareness of our people. At that point, my concern was about the infamous and ignoble sharp increase in the rate of rape cases in our society. Unfortunately too, not limited to a particular geographical area, as both rural and urban areas are affected, just as it had no social class distinction, both the rich, poor and powerful have been caught pants down in this inhuman and shameful act.

About four years ago, a prominent traditional ruler in Osogbo, Osun State was caught in the web of a rape scandal which involved a female Youth Corps Service member and saw the highly respected Oba being prosecuted at the court of law. On Wednesday, 20th August, Newspaper reports published the story of a randy pastor who raped a married woman right in the church premises. In fact, stories about supposed men of God and illicit sexual acts now know no bounds in today's Nigeria.

Age and gray hair were once accorded great respect because the elderly were perceived as being full of wisdom, high moral and spiritual standards and commitments. Old age means that one's days on earth are naturally and gradually coming to an end and ought to therefore be dedicated towards striving for the kingdom of God, no matter the religious beliefs one might profess. But today, it appears that that the evil bug of sexual perversion has no regard for frail bones.

Or whatever excuse will a 75 year old man have for raping his neighbour's 12 year old daughter? Flip through the pages of our national Dailies on any given day and you will marvel at the level of moral decadence we have sunk especially in relations to sexual perversions.

In my earlier article on the subject, I did mention that the world now being a global village, while the internet and social network platforms have introduced us to many things hitherto unknown in the Nigerian society, these cannot be enough reasons for the rate of rape and other evil sexual acts in our society. While men would easily dump the blame on victims

All of these are clear cases of societal maladjustment, psychological and psychiatric cases, even as we might not be able to totally negate spiritualism from its causes

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one of the greatest taboos against the land and swiftly put the poor dog to sleep while Ighodaro was handed over to the Police for prosecution.

As if this was not enough, a similar story broke last Wednesday of another 19 year old boy in Akure, Ondo State, who was caught having sexual intimacy with a chicken. Though the young man was not spared of the humiliation and shame in the neighbourhood, he was able to escape the long arms of the law because Mrs. Stella Akintola, the owner of the raped chicken decided not to report to the Police. Unfortunately here again, the

chicken lost its life to the unholy alliance even though the death sentence was not passed on it. The teenage boy reportedly confessed that this incident was also not his first as he had had liaisons with animals in the past. According to the story, he'd once been caught having a go at a goat in his home town, Afo, in Ose Council area of Ondo State from where he was ostracised and relocated to Continental area in Akure to live with his older brother. Unfortunately, he was caught again pants down with another animal. Both boys in the two stories blamed their actions on the devil and evil spirit which led them to do these unspeakable sexual acts.

While this may sound rather queer or almost unbelievable to the undiscerning mind, this is not the first time some of us would hear of such tales. Decades back, one heard loads of interesting stories about sexual escapades especially about young men and those who probably did not have regular sex partners. Indeed stories about young male farmers and herdsmen making out with all sorts of animals in their care were not unheard of, even as city guys improvised with hot loaves of bread, stuffed pillows and cushions.

Homosexuality which is characterised by anal sex was considered in similar light. Anal sex, either on a woman or man was once considered such a taboo that it attracted the death penalty and by stoning too, even in ancient Europe and the Western worlds. Today, rather than call a spade by its name, they now call it different social orientation and fundamental human right.

Many of these acts were more rife across some geographical areas of our country than others. At some point, one heard it was a club for the rich and powerful and that not a few aspiring, young men surrendered their butts for the benefits found therein. Yet, they remained in the shadows of society's consciousness, never as rudely in our faces and psyche as we now have them.

If you were one of those who were shocked by the little snippets of different sexual pervert behaviours I listed in the previous article, then you are in for more shocking revelations. In that article, I listed sex addiction, rape, sadism, masochism, voyeurism, frotteurism and sexual exhibitionism as some of the sexual perversions dominant in our society today.

Please, let me add to the list as I think it is time to hit the bull in the eye.

Zoophilia or bestiality as practiced by the two young men this week is the urge to be intimate with animals. Paedophilias are attracted to children or pre-puberty girls.

Incest is sexual intimacy with ones direct blood line or relation. Necrophilia is sexual

intimacy with the dead. Transvestism, also known as cross dressing, is the practice of dressing and acting like the opposite sex.

Partialism fetishism describes sexual attraction for specific parts of the body. And wait for these: a Coprophiliac is someone who has a marked interest in faeces or filth.

It is the urge to poo or be poohed on before sexual intimacy. Klismaphilia is similar, only that rather than pass out faeces, water or any liquid of choice is injected into the anus to provide sexual stimulation.

Urophilia, dubbed the golden shower or water sports is sexual stimulation induced by the smell of urine or physical bath with urine!

All of these are clear cases of societal maladjustment, psychological and psychiatric cases, even as we might not be able to totally negate spiritualism from its causes. Socially sexual deviant behaviours have been with us as far as man can remember and it is vividly documented in the Holy books in the story of Lot and his exit from the lands of Sodom and Gomorrah. There are many different theories on what causes a person to perform deviant behaviours and they include biological, sociological as well as psychological explanations.

Sigmund Freud, in his psychoanalytic theory of human behavioural pattern states "that all humans have natural drives and urges that are repressed in the unconscious.

Additionally, all humans have criminal tendencies. These tendencies are curbed, however, through the process of socialization. A child that is improperly socialized, then, could develop a personality disturbance that causes him or her to direct antisocial impulses either inward or outward. Those who direct them inward become neurotic while those that direct them outward become criminals." It therefore means that individuals must be properly integrated into the society in order to function positively in it.

Another worrisome point of note is the tender ages of these young men and their level of education. Both fell out of school in the Junior Secondary stage, meaning that they have very little or no formal education when you consider the rot that our education system has become.

Meaning that sex education and sexual orientation talks are things they have not been exposed to. There are indeed grave dangers for a society that fails to educate her young ones as such societies are doomed for extinction. Sex and sexual matters are not issues to be joked with. We have acclimatized with HIV/AIDS and now, it Ebola which has no fidelity in its lingo. If we surmount this looming epidemic, only God knows what next! Do have a wonderful weekend!

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, A UGUST 23, 2014—39 AUGUST

Temitope Odusanya, Osahon Asemota seal love

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L-R: Eng Eddy Agbahor, representing groom's father; Mrs Teniola Odusanya, mother of the bride; Mr and Mrs Osahon Asemota, the new couple; Mrs Emma Asemota, groom's mother and Mr Dapo Odusanya, bride's father.

ovebirds, former Miss Temitope Odusanya, daughter of Mr and Mrs Dapo Odusanya and Mr Osahon Asemota, son of Mr and Mrs Mark Asemota sealed their romantic union, the traditional way before family and friends last weekend.

The event held which at Shabs Event Centre, Ikeja was a spectacle of pomp and pageantry as both families of bride and groom graced the day in different colourful attires. Photos

by Lamidi Bamidele

L-R; Chief Emmanuel Ogbuagu and Mrs Isabel Ogbahor.

L-R: Olayemi Shodipo; Mojisola Saliu-Aina and Adetola Shodipo

Frank Nw aozomudoh Nwaozomudoh weds in grand style

L-R: Mr Mike Ogbuagu and Professor Egerton Uvieghara .

L-R:Mr Kobla Mensah; Mr Edema Ogbuagu; Mr Austin Oyowe and Mrs Tuoyo Oyowe

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Ambby Okuhor marks bir thda or son birthda thdayy ffor

A Prominent community leader in Onicha-Ugbo Delta State and retired commissioner of Police, Chief, Sir, (Barr) Linus Nwaozomudoh and wife, lady Bridget Nwaozomudoh including family members recently accompanied one of their sons, Mr. Frank to seek the hand in marriage of former Miss Preye Edonyabor of Tuomor town in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

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RCH. Ambby Okuhor and wife, Bukky threw a lavish birthday for their son, Maro who clocked nine. The party which held at Fun Factory, Lekki, had their friends and those of their son’s in attendance.

The couple in a group photograph with Amb. ANC Nwaozomudoh (l), the groom's brother; the father, mother and sisters .

L-R:Mr Francis Ekonye, Arch Austin Emua, Engr.

Stephen Emehi, arch.(Dcn) Ambby Okuhor and Hon.(Dcn) Austin Igbine .

L-R: Ireti Adelaja, Shola Adebambo, Remi Ofili (Currys), Bukky Okuhor and Amoke Adekemi.

C M Y K

L-R: Arch. Ambby and Decns. Bukky Okuhor, Miss Roro Okuhor, Master Dezi Okuhor and celebrant, Master Maro Okuhor cutting the cake.

The couple, with the Nwaozomudoh and Edonyabor families

40—SA TURD AY 40—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 23, 2014 AUGUST

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Charleigh Disbrey and Mert Karaoglan

SUICIDE: Why two teenage lovers took their lives

•Hand in hand they plunged to death •The pair left a video about why they couldn’t live on because of ‘cultural and family issues

some friends.’ He was asked to stay to have a meal with the family and joined them for a short while before insisting he had to go. ‘That was the last time the father saw him,’ said Dr Danbury.

Mert’s friend, Harry Whitlock, told the inquest he had seemed normal at school that day. At around 7pm he received the picture of the pair on the bridge and a text moments before they died at around 9pm saying: ‘Find my phone. Find the video. I love you.’

Dr Danbury said: ‘In one of these [videos] they gave some explanation of what they were about to do, which was to end their lives and they referred to family and cultural problems and they felt that they weren’t going to be able to be together in this life and they would rather be together in a different place.’

Harry told the hearing he was at the cinema at the time he received the messages from Mert and was later told by a friend of the tragic deaths. He said the last picture on the bridge

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girl of 15 and her Turkish sweetheart ran hand in hand into the path of a high-speed train because they feared his family disapproved of their relationship. Charleigh Disbrey and Mert Karaoglan, 18, had been together only a month but chose to die together rather than be forced apart by ‘cultural issues’. Mert sent a picture message to a friend of the pair on a bridge over the railway line, saying they would ‘never be together in this life and would rather be together in a different place’.

They then climbed a 6ft fence to get on to the tracks at the busy Elstree and Borehamwood station in Hertfordshire.The driver of an empty London First Capital Connect train saw them running down the line but was unable to avoid hitting them. According to an inquest, they died of multiple massive injuries.

Graham Danbury, Hertfordshire’s deputy coroner, told the hearing: ‘Because of Mert’s background it seems like a relationship between him and Charleigh would not have been approved by his family.

And it seems to me that such was the intensity of their feelings for each other that they ignored the effect that their acts would have on others – their family, their friends and the train driver – and decided that they wanted to be together in death.’

The young lovers attended Hertswood Academy near their Borehamwood homes.

Charleigh, who was studying for her GCSEs, had auditioned for the TV shows Britain’s Got Talent and Must Be The Music. She had posted videos of herself on YouTube playing an acoustic guitar and had written on her website that she wanted to become a musician ‘to be remembered’. Mert, who was said to be a talented film-maker and photographer, was studying for his A-levels.

The inquest heard Charleigh had taken overdoses and had expressed suicidal tendencies in the month leading up to her death on June 17 last year.

In a statement, Mert’s father Sukru Karaoglan, 49, told the inquest: ‘Mert got up earlier than usual and went straight out to school without breakfast or speaking to the family. ‘He didn’t get home until after 5 o’clock, got changed and said he was going to meet

know he had been seeing for the last month. He was happy. He gave me a big hug, and left.’

Charleigh, known as CJ, also sent a number of texts before her death saying sorry and telling them she

Charleigh Disbrey and Mert Karaoglan, 18, had been together only a month but chose to die together rather than be forced apart by ‘cultural issues

‘ was just them two together, just smiling’.

Another friend, Christopher Walker, said he last saw Mert at 1pm on the day of his death and was told he would be sent some internet passwords.

He added: ‘He told me he had met his soulmate. I think this meant the girl I

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loved them. In one, she wrote: ‘I have met the most amazing person – he is my life.’

There was no answer at the flat where Mert lived with his family. Neighbours said they returned to Turkey earlier this year and Mr Karaoglan had made occasional trips back.

Dr Danbury recorded verdicts of suicide at the hearing in Hatfield.

Culled from DailyMail

Charleigh Disbrey and Mert Karaoglan

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

‘I only have two to three years left to live’ Pope FFrrancis speaks ffor or the firirsst time about his own death as he hints at ‘ner ve pr oblems’ problems’ ‘nerve and early retirement

past two months. But he said the last time he took a holiday away from home was ‘ with the Jesuit community in 1975’. The Pope has kept up a whirlwind of activity since his election in March 2013. However he has some underlying health problems, including sciatica. He also had part of a lung removed in his youth.

Some observers claim the pontiff has gained weight and is having difficulty breathing, which could be

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ope Francis has said he might have only two or three years left to live. On a plane trip back from South Korea, he told journalists he believed he only had limited time left to complete his reforms of the Roman Catholic Church.

Asked about how he copes with his popularity, he said: ‘I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, so as not to think that I am somebody important.’

He then added with a smile: ‘Because I know this is going to last a short time, two or three years and then… to the house of the Father.’

According to a Vatican source, the 77-year-old has previously told those close to him that he thought he only had a few years left. He also revealed that he would consider retiring if he felt he could no longer perform his duties. His predecessor Pope Benedict XVI resigned in February last year. ‘If you asked me if, in the future, I felt I could not go forward, would I do the same? I would do the same. Benedict has opened a door,’ Francis said on board the papal plane. The conference marked the end of his trip to South Korea, which he had been touring. He also admitted that his advisers have been encouraging him to rest more after he cancelled a series of engagements earlier in the year. In June, he cancelled a visit to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to a ‘sudden ailment’.

At the time, he told Catholic television station TV2000: ‘We are not masters of our own lives, we cannot arrange things to suit us. We have to accept fragility.’

He also called off trips to a shrine in February and a seminary in May. ‘Those were very demanding days.

And now I have to be a bit more sensible,’ he said, adding that he had been sleeping more over the

I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, so as not to think that I am somebody important

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signs of a heart condition.

He instructed advisers to clear his schedule so he could recuperate from his trip, calling off a visit to a shrine near Rome. He also received the sad news that three members of his family had died in a car crash in Argentina. His two young great-nephews, aged two and eight months, and their 39-year-old mother Valeria Carmona, were killed in a road accident recently.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the Pope’s nephew Emanuel Bergoglio, who was driving, was in a serious condition.

He added: ‘The Pope was informed about the tragic accident. He is deeply pained.’ The family’s car reportedly collided with a lorry in the Cordoba region, north-east of Buenos Aires.

Culled from Dailymail

Pope Francis

Vanguard , A UGUST 23 AUGUST 23, 2014—41

42—SATURDAY

Vanguard , AUGUST 23 23, 2014

How Covenant Varsity student, 20, was kidnapped, murdered in Lagos

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agos State Police Command is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the kidnap and murder of a 20-year-old undergraduate, identified as John Chinedu Okere, who until his death was a 300 level Electrical Engineering student at Covenant University, Otta in Ogun State.

According to reports, Chinedu left his parent’s house in the morning of Wednesday, August 6, 2014, to a Hospital in Yaba, Lagos for medical reasons and never returned. He reportedly left home with about N6000 and that was the last time he was seen alive.

The mysterious disappearance of Chinedu, caused a stir as the parents ran helter-skelter, in search of him to no avail. They gathered from some family members that one of his friends called on phone earlier that morning to tell him to meet him at an undisclosed hotel.

KIDNAP Crime Guard learnt that at about mid-day,the victim’s father, Jude Okere, received an SMS notifying him that Chinedu had been kidnapped. Later, he received a phone call from a hidden number demanding N10 million ransom for the release of his son. The caller allegedly threatened to kill the victim if the parents refused to comply as the line went dead.

FATHER’S TESTIMONY Chinedu’s father said: “ At about mid-day, I received an SMS that John had been kidnapped. Later, I received a phone call from a hidden number. The caller said they had my son, Chinedu and demanded N10 million as ransom threatening to kill him if we refuse to comply.

Immediately, I inquired who the caller was, the line went dead.

My wife and I quickly reported the case to the Divisional Police Station at Sabo, Yaba.”

After the case was reported to the Police at Sabo, Yaba, it was later transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja the next day where investigations commenced.

DEAD BODY IN A HOTEL ROOM It was learnt that initially when the whole issue started, the family of the victim felt it was a kidnap that would just be resolved but unfortunately, as

events continued to unfold, it turned out to be a premeditated murder.

Shockingly, the decomposing corpse of Chinedu was discovered in one of the rooms at ‘DE Homes Hotel’ located in Ejigbo by one of their staff, two days later.

According to reports, the Manager of the hotel went to Ejigbo Divisional Police Station on Friday, 8, 2014, to report the case of murder and investigation began.

HOW SUSPECTS CHECKED INTO HOTEL A reliable source in the hotel intimated that early on Wednesday morning, the prime suspect, Okorocha Michael along with another young man simply identified as Okey,checked into the hotel with the name Christian.

“He booked the room for three days with the name Christian. He claimed he is a youth corps member who wanted to write exams and would be there from that Wednesday to Friday.

He also said he was expecting his cousin to join him in the hotel.

‘After booking, Michael left his friend Okey in the hotel and returned an hour before the victim, Chinedu arrived the hotel, which was at about 3pm that day. As soon as Chinedu arrived the hotel, Michael took him to the room. We don’t know what happened inside the room. However, it was later gathered that during their stay in the room, the suspect reportedly confronted the victim on some personal issues. The confrontation

Late John Chinedu Okere

eventually led to a heated argument, which later led to the suspect strangulating the victim to death. On Friday, a hotel staff discovered the lifeless body of the young man and alerted the police.”

ABANDONED IN A POOL OF BLOOD According to reports, Chinedu was murdered and left in the pool of his blood by unfriendly friends, who brutally killed and abandoned his corpse, went ahead and demanded for ransom from his parents.

ARREST OF SUSEPCTS Crime Guard learnt the 24-yearold suspect, Okorocha Michael, who was arrested on Sunday, in a friend’s house around Ajah area in Lagos, is a graduate of Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja. He has been unemployed since he completed his youth service in February this year.

APPEAL FOR JUSTICE A family member who spoke on the

,

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

Chinedu was murdered and left in the pool of his blood by unfriendly friends, who brutally killed and abandoned his corpse, went ahead and demanded for ransom from his parents

,

condition of anonymity revealed that the Okere’s were willing to pay the ransom, and were still trying to get it when his corpse was discovered. ‘We sincerely pray that law takes it full course, his killers brought to book and Chinedu will get the justice he deserves even in death,’ the source stated.

SATURDAY

Vanguard , AUGUST 23 23, 2014—43

from the operation to buy a motorcycle for N10,000, a generating set for N80,000, and used N470,000 to stock his provision store at Meiran, Lagos.

Another suspect, Abiodun Alimi who hails from Akinyele area of Ibadan confessed that he provided the implements while the third suspect, Haruna Alasi, provided the vehicle with which they committed the offence.

He also revealed that the gang converged at Agege, Lagos and agreed to proceed to the company where they operated noting that after the operation, their leader, Dayo cheated them.

The suspect and their loot

Man poisons night guard, leads gang to rob Lagos compamy

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gang of vicious armed robbers who swooped on the warehouse of a popular company in Victoria Island, Lagos, carting away goods worth over N1 million met their waterloo recently, after detectives from the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji-Adele, rounded them up.

The 4-man gang reportedly invaded the warehouse belonging to Ekulo Group of Companies at their base— plot 1393, Tiamiyo Street, Victoria Island, carting away various brands of alcoholic beverages (Sparkling Wine) after overpowering the companies security guards.

Police sources said they held the guards hostage with their eyes blindfolded, hands tied behind with synthetic ropes after beating them up mercilessly and dispossessing them of their mobile phones.

POLICE ACTION It was gathered that after the case was reported to the Federal SARS, detectives led

by Inspector Banjoko Olumemimo, swung into action after recovering items of evidential values from the premises of the company and reviewing the CCTV footage of the incident. Suspecting insider complicity , the detectives reportedly extract-

ed useful information and subjected it to scientific analysis which resulted in the tracking and arrest of the leader of the gang known as Dayo Olagunju a.k.a. Uncle D and subsequently, the arrest of the trio: Abiodun, Adeoye and Babatunde.

Individual and collective confession led to the arrest of one Alhaja Kudi from whom all the robbed goods were eventually recovered.

WITNESSES SPEAK One of the security guards attacked by the hoodlums told Crime Guard that while he was on duty on the fateful night, a gang of robbers numbering seven, scaled the company’s perimeter fence and held them hostage.

According to him, at gun point, we were immediately dispossessed of Nokia Asha 201 phone valued at N13,000, another Nokia phone valued at N7000, one HTC phone valued at N18,000 and the sum of N2,000. We were tied with synthetic rope on both legs and shoulder and led to a toilet at the rear and locked up with our heads covered with empty cartons. ‘The hoodlums evidently broke into the warehouse and carted away several cartons of wine beverages. We did not know any of the robbers but we told policemen that we can identify them if seen.’

Another witness, Hassan

,

BY EMMA NNADOZIE

We were tied with synthetic rope on both legs and shoulder and led to a toilet at the rear and locked up with our heads covered with empty cartons ‘

,

Shuaibu, also gave detectives a shocking version of his account of the incident.

He said that he received a deceptive telephone call from Dayo, a former employee of the company who later turned out to be the leader of the gang and the mastermind of the attack, saying he had a gift for him; that when they met at the company gate, Dayo gave him wine which he refused to drink, suspecting it was a Greekgift. He cautioned the men on guard at the gate to be vigilant as he suspected Dayo’s visit to be for a purpose. ‘I was therefore, not surprised on discovery in the course of police investigation that Dayo led the armed robbery gang that attacked our company.’

SUSPECTS CONFESS In his confessional statement, the leader of the gang, Dayo, an iron bender who hails from Ilaro town, Ifo in Ogun State, told Crime Guard that they were not armed with gun during the operation.

He, however, confessed that they used steel irons, knife and ropes to attack and subdue the security guards on duty. He also admitted that he short-changed his accomplices by telling them that the loots were sold for N40, 000 and ended up having a chunk of the proceeds. He further stated that he used money realised

POLICE INVESTIGATION Crime Guard gathered that in the course of their investigation, detectives learnt that the leader of the gang, Dayo, worked with the company as a security guard at the warehouse and left voluntarily for undisclosed reasons in 2013. Before he left, he was familiar with the staff both serving and out gone and very conversant with the surrounding terrain within and outside the premises.

According to police sources, on June 1st, 2014, Dayo paid an unusual but criminally intended visit to his former colleagues offering them wine laced with stupefying substances. One of the guards, Hassan Shuaibu, being curious of such offer declined partaking in the drink, stepped aside and called his colleagues who were on duty on phone warning them to be wary of such offer as it could be intended to divert attention. ‘ While two of the guards, Barnabas drank the wine, dozed off , Agbo resorted to rolling on a skating board around the premises to remain awake. The alertness of the later deterred Dayo and his gang from carrying out the operation that day hence they came back violently equipped, 16 days later and carried out the nefarious act.’

The gang reportedly fled the scene leaving traceable leads that led to their arrest.

Efforts to speak with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the unit, Chris Ezike were not successful as he was said to have gone out when our reporter visited his office at Adeniji-Adele but a credible source intimated that all the stolen items have been recovered and the suspects would soon be charged to court.

44—SA TURD AY 44—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , AUGUST 23 23, 2014

I couldn't marry because of my robbery operations Says notorious armed robber nabbed after 10 years of police hunt for him

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ts end of the road for a 33year-old man, Obinna Okolie, who was dubbed the most notorious receiver of stolen goods and a key financier and recruiter of hijackers, terrorizing major highways in Lagos and other parts of the country.

Saturday Vanguard learnt during the week that, Obinna who is based in Onitsha, Anambra State, met his waterloo recently when operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in Lagos, led by Sp Abba Kyari, tracked and apprehended him in his sanctuary in Onitsha.

Sources at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, disclosed that, the search for Obinna, who was described as highly elusive and discreet, began 10 years ago, when operatives of the Federal Special AntiRobbery Squad,FED-SARS, in Lagos and Abuja, including their counterparts at the state command levels, learnt of his notoriety, following rampant cases of hijacking and diversions, which were traceable to him although he remained elusive.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that Obinna, received over 80 percent of all hijacked or diverted goods in Lagos and other adjoining states, between 2003 and 2014. He was also said to have sponsored and maintained over 50 different gangs of armed robbers, which included military personnel, who he had used in perpetuating his criminal activities.

In the past, Saturday Vanguard had interviewed several armed robbery suspects, who had links to Obinna, after their arrest by operatives of the Fed-SARS, Adeniji Adele, Lagos and SARS Ikeja.

They reveled how Obinna coordinated his operations and created an empire of crime in many areas. . In 2010, at FED-SARS, Saturday Vanguard interviewed 38-year-old suspect identified as Emeka Ikenga, who hijacked a truck carrying, a 40 feet container with goods worth, N11 million from its driver on the Benin-Ore

Road and the goods were subsequently diverted to Onitsha, Anambra State.

The driver of the truck and his conductor were abducted, sedated and they slept off, but were later dumped in the Mile 2 area of Lagos..

The Imo State-born suspect, who was arrested at his residence in Apapa said was said to be highly fetish and and always escaped police arrest with ease.

One accomplice , Ikenga, under arrest said “if the police want to get him, I can drag him out. I wish there is anyone who could surety my release, so I can go after him, but the police would not listen. That man is bad and he has to be taken”.

Ikenga, also narrated how they hijacked the truck disguising as military personnel. According to him, “ we are based in Lagos and he is at Onitsha.

Whenever we get there for operation,

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BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

He was also said to have sponsored and maintained over 50 different gangs of armed robbers, which included military personnel, who he had used in perpetuating his criminal activities

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he would instruct us on how to go about it. On the operation that brought me here, one of the conductors, Kalu, contacted my Chairman, Obinna, and they made the arrangement.

The conductor supplied the name of the driver of the truck and the numberplate. And, when they started out for the journey, Kalu called my chairman, we got alerted and we went after them. ”We intercepted them with our operational Hilux Jeep at Ijebu-Ode and when the driver inquired what was happening, we showed him a warrant bearing his name and the number-plate of the truck, claiming that it was an order from the Chief of Army Staff that all trucks passing enroute should be searched for arms and ammunition and that such vehicles

Suspect should be towed to the nearest Police station. ”He insisted on driving his vehicle but we refused and pushed him and his conductor into the back seat of our Jeep. ”I went back into his truck. The other members of our gang together with the driver and his conductor, headed back to Lagos.

They injected them on the way though I was not there. After a little while, Obinna called us and instructed that we transfer the goods into another vehicle to prevent being trailed. We heeded his instruction and Kalu followed one of the vehicles down to Onitsha and I came back to Lagos, expecting my share of the loot which I did not get until my arrest.

A source, who spoke with Vanguard on the condition of anonymity said after FED-SARS busted the gang that operated with Hilux vans, Obinna, recruited a new gang that uses commercial bus. This gang would drive round the Lagos metropolis in their commercial buses disguised as police officers on patrol. Then, they would stage a fake accident with their target, one of the robbers would drive off in the targeted vehicle, while the driver and conductor would be seized by the rest of the gang.

Before their arrest, they hijacked an articulated vehicle laden with cartons of engine oil in the Ojuelegba area of state and the product valued at N15million. The eight-man gang were later rounded up by SARS operatives in Lagos and they confessed that Obinna received and also financed their operations. The sourced added that, operatives tried using the suspects to apprehend Obinna but it turned out to be impossible. According to the source, “ We took the suspects and the goods to Onitsha hoping to lure Obinna out with them. After several efforts it turned out that Obinna was

elusive. When we got to Onitsha, he sent a driver to take over the truck from the suspect we arrested and take it to his warehouse. We arrested the new driver but we didn’t know that, Obinna also sent another man to monitor the movement of the new driver he sent to us. Soon news got to him that we have arrested the new driver he disappeared.

Lucky, we arrested another gang who he sent to hijack PVC pipes and one of them had a direct contact with him. Our OC, Kyari, then hacked into his data and picked out contacts that were very close to him. He then deployed a team to Onitsha, and they kept close watch on those contacts.

Fortunately, Obinna contacted one of them who was owing him some money, then our operatives on ground used the person to apprehend him. He was interrogated and he confessed to own the warehouses in Onitsha, Kano State and Cameron. We are currently working hard to retrieve the goods and hand them over to owners.” The source further added that some of his most recent cases included a 40- feet container of Forever Living Product, 40-feet container of PVC pipes and another 40 -feet container of motor tyres. Others were 40- feet container of powder milk, 40- feet container of refrigerators, 40 -feet container of LG home theatre, two trucks of rice, one truck of solder chemicals, two 20ft containers of groundnut oil, a 40 feet container of motorcycle, Umbrella and a 20 feet container of school bags.

When Vanguard, interviewed the suspects, he pleaded forgiveness never to return to crime if he is released. According to him “ I have suffered a lot. A lot of people have committed atrocities with my names and the police thought I was the one.

I admit I was a bad man but I am now a changed man. I was scared to get married because the police could use my wife to arrest me”. He lamented.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014—45

E

Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

EBOLA:

Alison-Madueke Rallies Oil & Gas Industry on Containment Efforts *Forum lists 6 areas of intervention the Federal Government to halt the spread of the Ebola epidemic, stressing that what was needed was urgent action. She urged the industry to mobilize fully to support the containment efforts In their contributions, the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and representatives of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) present pledged that the forum shall also ensure that all measures needed and directed by the health authorities will be implemented fully to ensure the protection of not only the health and well-being of industry workers, their families and communities, but also those of their large international partners, traders, contractors, shippers, and their numerous associates as well.

About 60 delegates including CEOs of IOCs, indigenous operators, oil and gas service companies including the NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), were present at the meeting.

The Oil and Gas Industry Coordinating Team on EVD was established

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fforts by the President Good luck Jonathan’s administration to galvanize the entire nation for a massive curtailment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country have received a major boost with the convocation of the Oil and Gas Industry Stakeholders Forum on the disease led by the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and Board Chairman, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Arising from its maiden meeting in Lagos recently, Saturday Vanguard exclusively gathered that the forum, after listening to a joint presentation by officials of the Federal Ministry of Health, Lagos State Government and the World Health Organization on the state of EVD, agreed on six essential areas of intervention for the oil and gas industry geared towards supporting the national intervention efforts of President Jonathan.

The minister explained that companies in the oil and gas industry will key into the national response and support awareness efforts particularly in their areas of operation.

“Specifically, the industry is to support the efforts in containing the EVD spread through the following interventions: Support the urgently needed capacity building efforts and assist in boosting the number of skilled personnel (health officials), equipment and facilities needed to contain the disease. This, they will do by supporting needed training programs for health care and allied personnel,’’ the Minister stated.

Our sources said that the other areas of intervention include: Provision of identified needs like dedicated appropriate ambulances to move suspected cases from airports and other locations to isolation and screening centres, laboratories and testing centres to improve on the speed of diagnosis and screening of suspected cases, rapid screening of persons in identified areas such as airports, heliports, and other entry points by provision of appropriate equipment.

We gathered that the Oil and Gas Forum on EVD also pledged to support the provision of needed inputs such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) aprons and thermal scanners to further support the protection of health officials, volunteers and surveillance operations, and ensure the containment of the outbreak in a sustainable way. They also plan to provide assistance to communities in information dissemination and working with other intervention teams in other areas as may be needed from time to time.

While emphasizing the need for proper information management and dissemination aimed at providing needed education rather than creating panic and fear, the forum pledged to avail the Federal Ministry of Health with all possible assistance that can be mustered from the sector.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke who was represented by Engr. Jonathan Okehs, Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a Corporate Service Unit of the NNPC, in her opening remarks emphasized the need for the oil and gas sector to key into the intervention initiatives of

The team is also mandated to ensure timely availability of current information on the disease and its spread within the oil and gas sector, their host communities and the country as a whole; and collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health, advise and update the general public on all matters as they may affect or impact the sector

by the Petroleum Minister following the confirmation of the Ebola Virus outbreak in Nigeria.

The objectives of the team include: leveraging the capabilities of the oil and gas industry to support the Federal Government intervention efforts to contain the EBV disease; mapping out containment and management strategies by working in tandem with the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies; synergizing, harmonizing and coordinating the response of companies within the sector to ensure

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maximum impact and value for the companies, host communities and the entire country.

The team is also mandated to ensure timely availability of current information on the disease and its spread within the oil and gas sector, their host communities and the country as a whole; and collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health, advise and update the general public on all matters as they may affect or impact the sector.

46—SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 23, 2014

We are committ ed ttoo committed Nigeria—PZ Cussons

By Princewill Ekwujuru

Glo boos ts cashless policy inancial boosts policy,, ffinancial inclusion with Glo Xchange *Empowers training for employment

G

lobacom, Nigeria’s national telecommunications carrier is boosting cashless policy and financial inclusion with the launch of Glo Xchange, a Mobile Money Agent Network that is aimed at accelerating mobile money revolution and financial inclusion in the country.

Glo Xchange was launched by Globacom in partnership with three licensed mobile money operators, FirstMonie, Ecobank and Stanbic IBTC in Lagos on Thursday.

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, in a statement he personally signed on the launch of the platform, said the initiative marks the beginning of the deeper collaboration between the financial industry and the telecommunications sector.

He congratulated Globacom for launching the first mobile money Super Agent Network in Nigeria, saying it is a win-win situation for all stakeholders.

Globacom’s Head of Corporate Sales, Mr. Kamal Shonibare, said Glo Xchange will avail the mobile money sector of the much needed agent network across the entire country, as well as the technology platform required for seamless mobile money transactions.

He said the initiative will provide

the partner banks on the project with the telecom company’s extensive network of 150 Glo World & Glo Zone shops, over 35,000 Glo Dealer and sub dealer outlets and over 400 Con Oil filling stations across the country. He added that this has positioned the Glo Xchange platform for phenomenal success from its first day of operation.

The initiative is also leveraging on the Association of Community pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) with their over 7,000 outlets.

Shonibare said the partnering banks will collaborate to ensure that mobile money reaches the critical mass of the people across the country, leveraging on the parties’ extensive retail market experience and customer-base to build an unprecedented mobile money distribution chain across Nigeria.

“The obvious push to reduce the physical movement of cash during business transactions in the economy has stimulated the “marriage” between telecoms operators and the banks, which invariably led to the birth of Glo Xchange”, he remarked.

He said Glo Xchange offers a robust platform to provide mobile money service to both banked and unbanked Nigerians, enabling existing and potential customers of partner banks to carry out transactions under the three key areas of banking transactions – deposits, withdrawals and transfers.

L-R: Chief Commercial Director, Globacom, Mr. Ajay Mathur, Globacom’s Executive Director, Legal Services, Mrs. Gladys Talabi, Director, Banking and Payment System, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Dipo Fatokun and Globacom’s Ag. Coordinator, Business Solution, Mr. Ike Oraekwuotu at the launch of Glo Xchange, Nigeria’s 1st Mobile Money Agent Network at Eko Hotel, Lagos on Thursday.

Training and Employment: Based on the agreement with the partner banks, Globacom will recruit mobile money agents, train them and also provide management services for the partner banks, making available its network infrastructure to support mobile financial transactions. Glo will also provide a dedicated helpline for customers to make inquiries about mobile money services.

The banks, on their part, will provide their mobile money platforms to Globacom’s mobile subscribers in compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy on mobile money. They will also provide specialized trading platform and merchandising materials to the recruited agents while managing customer accounts and support services.

Speaking at the launch event, the Managing Director of Firstmonie, Mike Ogbalu said that Glo Xchange will make financial services available to more Nigerians especially at the grassroots, corroborating the Ecobank’s Executive Director, Kingsley Aigbokhaevbo’s assertion that the Network, through Glo Xchange, will drive financial inclusion in the country.

Aigbokhaevbo cited the example of the Conditional Cash Transfer program of the Federal Government as one of the ways in which mobile money is already impacting positively on the lives of the common people through Globacom.

He disclosed that under Glo Xchange platform, Ecobank mobile money wallet, hosted on Glo Mobile lines, is already being used to disburse monthly subvention to beneficiaries.

He also disclosed that youth farmers in Ekiti State are also receiving subsidies through the same means.

Speaking on behalf of Stanbic IBTC, Executive Director, Mr. Obinnia Abajue said his bank was proud to be associated with Globacom because “Glo, in its characteristic manner, has provided the bridge that will deliver true financial inclusion in Nigeria”.

Nigeria, Indonesia tr ade hits $588 million trade

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

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irector, Indonesian Trade Promo tion Centre (ITPC), Mr. Pontas Tobing has disclosed that the total trade volume between Nigeria and Indonesia on non oil and gas transaction amounts $588 million US dollars, with 26.8 per cent growth trend.

The ITPC Director also noted that as a result of the cordial bi-national relationship between the two countries, Indonesians presently have over 15 reputable companies operating well in Nigeria.Tobing who spoke at the conference heralding Indonesia’s 29th Trade Expo, scheduled to take place October 2014, at the Jakarta International Expo, in Kemayoran, said that with the support of Indonesia

Ministry of Trade, the ITPC, Lagos is dedicated to the promotion and improvement of business relationship of both countries in the non-oil and gas sector, by introducing quality market penetration of Indonesian products and services into the Nigerian market.

“Indonesia Trade Expo is the biggest exhibition organised by the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry, State Ministry of Cooperative, Small and Medium Enterprises and Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board to ensure that bi-national trade between Indonesia and other countries are prosperous.

According to him, the Expo, expects to boosts prospects and chances to business minded individuals, particularly to those who seek venturing and or investing in

Indonesian industrial sector, such as, agricultural products, building materials, furniture, creative products, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Beverages and many others.In the same vein, the Indonesia Trade Promotion Deputy Director, Mr. Bona Kusuma, acknowledged the fact that both countries have made collaborative efforts to ensuring that they maintain better diplomatic ties in key areas of their economies, stressing that Nigeria remains Indonesia most cherished partner and the country will not relent in efforts to keep the relationship as healthy.

T

he management of Peterson Zachonis, PZ Cussons, owners of the Thermocool brand said they are committed to the Nigeria vision as it celebrates 40 years of doing business.

The Chairman/ CEO of the company, Christas Ganapolos, while speaking to newsmen in Lagos, stated that when the company started operation in 1974 in Nigeria, the it was aware of the potential and value it would bring to the Nigeria market. “We saw the need, the desire of Nigerians to enjoy life; run their businesses and personal chores with relative ease. As an innovative company, we sought to fulfil these needs by providing products that were technology relevant in that era and even surpassing it.”

According to him, “since the 1970s Nigerian consumers have trusted the Thermocool brand and have selected it as their preferred choice for white goods. The rich history behind these 2 brands - PZ Cussons & Thermocool has been responsible for the successes recorded over the years, and that is why we are expressing our commitment to the country in terms of delivering quality products.”

Continuing he said: “from a global perspective, Thermocool has truly earned its stripes as a remarkable brand doing remarkable things across several continents and aligning with the peculiarities of these markets in catering to the specifics needs of its audience.”

Forty years of heritage and experience have shaped Thermocool’s understanding of the peculiar needs of the Nigerian family; this is translated into innovative products that improve the quality of life of our customers. He noted.

Also speaking, Managing Director of the company, Mr. Panos Katsis, said: “We are glad to have been able to satisfy our customers in Nigeria in the past 40 years. It has been a journey of success and mutual benefits nurtured by our values as an innovative company and our understanding of the demand of our esteemed customers”.

Our partners are proud of our brand —Airtel’s COO THE Chief Operations Officer of leading communications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, Tolu Ojo, has said the company’s channel partners are proud of the Airtel brand and very happy with the company.

Ojo, who was speaking recently at the 2014 Edition of Airtel Channel Partners’ Awards held at the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, said its business partners are actually proud and happy with the company, and ready to offer their continuing support for the success of the Airtel brand in the country.

According to him, Airtel enjoys a strong bond and very cordial relationship with its business partners, as all its channel partners are committed to building the Airtel brand and expanding its retail and service footprints to most distant partS of Nigeria.

Citing the well-attended Channel Partners Award as a reflection of the trade partners’ affinity to the brand, Ojo noted that majority of the channel partners graced the event, which is an indication of their unflinching support and commitment to the company.

“Without a doubt, our channel partners are proud and happy with us and ready to take part in the success of Airtel. Our future is great and the future of our partners is great as well,” he said.

He also lauded the channel partners for their commitment, loyalty and significant contributions towards the success of the Airtel brand in Nigeria, saying that Airtel has earned the commitment of its channel partners to work together in order to achieve greater results for the business year.

The Airtel chief noted that all the awardees merited the awards because they have put in a lot of hard work through the year to ensure success of the brand and to guarantee that Airtel consumers enjoy product availability.

“Because of the commitment and industriousness of our channel partners, our products are available in every nook and cranny of this country, even in very remote areas.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014—47

Political notes

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN, Political Editor

Ribadu’s and his friends

Nyong

Imoke

How we can change Cross River *New body, CCRSP campaigns in Calabar

BY JACOB AJOM

T

he banquet hall of the Transcorp Hotels Calabar witnessed a different kind of gathering on August 13, 2014. It was midweek, and the gathering which started converging as early as 9.30 a. m. was at the instance of the Conference of Cross River State Professionals, a body formed by a group of professionals of Cross River State extraction. The aims and objectives of the group are among others, to create a new consciousness in the people of the state; educate them on their right to good life and make them understand that the power to effect change in their environment resides with them.

With the initiator and most of the members based in Lagos the Conference of Cross River State Professionals is still seen with skepticism by many. On this day in question, the CCRSP did everything, humanly possible, to clear any doubts in the minds of the indigenes as regards what it stands for by organising a one day summit with the theme: Sustainable Development and Growth of Cross River State.

Convener of the CCRSP, Effiong Nyong, an ex-athlete and a Lagos-based media practitioner was evidently happy that the event which, according to him, “is a big step in the right direction,” ended well with over three hundred participants, cut across the entire social strata in attendance.

Three papers were presented and so much was discussed and lots of ideas exchanged among participants on how to make Cross River State a better place.

The first paper titled “The role of the electorate in

determining the political climate in a democracy,” was presented by Professor Zana Akpagu, Dean of Arts, University of Calabar and a former Commissioner of Education in the State exhaustively discussed the importance of educating the electorate on the importance of participating in the process for change.

“The electorate must register to vote; ensure they exercise their civic duty to vote at elections and should, as a necessity, endeavour to acquaint themselves with each political party’s manifesto.

“Acquainting itself with a candidate’s manifesto will help the electorate to take an informed decision on which candidate to vote for, especially when you have a plethora of aspirants,” Akpagu said.

The university Don also tasked the electorate to ensure they vote according to their conscience, must insist their votes count, must not accept bribe and must participate on voter education programmes.

Above all, Dr Akpagu insisted that the electorate must not allow themselves to be used in perpetrating election malpractices and should willingly give evidence in court against electoral criminals.

The timeliness of the presentation was underscored by some participants who insisted that the State Independent Election Commission be sent copies of the communique.

The second presentation by Honourable Patrick Antigha Ene, a former deputy Speaker in the State House of Assembly, centered on “Current state of insecurity in the country and the dangers it portends for our tourism-based economy and the implications of boundary delineation of Cross River State on the lives of our people”.

Antigha Ene went down

memory lane, recalled with chagrin the International Court of Justice(ICJ) judgment of October 12, 2002, and said it was “the deep price Cross River State paid to sustain the fragile peace between Nigeria and Cameroon.”

He observed that “the judgment and the severance of the Bakassi Peninsula dealt a devastating and deadly blow on the social and economic life of the people of Cross River State. Not only had the state lost her land and water resources, her oil resources, the tourism potentials that were possibilities within the 1000km body of water contiguous to land and its archipelago of islands were lost.”

The state has become the butt of a perennial victim of legal paradigms. “As if the loss of territory and resources (both human and natural) were not enough, a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of Nigeria stripped the state of whatever revenue that was accruable to her from crude oil activities within her coastal purview.

With a reduced source of revenue, the state’s tourismbased economy is in jeopardy as government now struggles to even pay salaries. Every aspect of development, including tourism, is witnessing a lull as a result of the state of the economy.

But the presenter sees hope in the state after all. “I see a silver-lining and I am profoundly consoled and relieved by the words of our Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke who when faced with the dire realities of the state’s economy declared thus, “there is life after crude oil.”

The state can overcome this through Foreign Direct Investments, tourism and above all, human capital development.

On April 9, 2014 in the thick of the All Progressives Congress, APC membership registration exercise, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, a chieftain of the party had blasted purveyors of the rumour that he was about to defect from the party.

“I felt personally insulted by rumours making the rounds in this space over my alleged intention to dump my party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). There is no iota of truth in that malicious falsehood being peddled by persons who do not wish me and my great party any good.”

After successfully dismissing that supposedly malicious and insulting speculation, Ribadu reiterated his devotion to the APC just before the Osun election on July 23 when on his facebook page he praised the unusual efforts of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

“My Friend and Brother, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, is leading the Broom Revolution in Osun State and delivering Government Unusual. I am glad the people are totally behind him and will massively vote for him come August 9th.”

Just four weeks later, the language and leaning of the former anti-graft czar changed. In his first public confirmation of his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ribadu on his facebook page last Tuesday, the one time presidential candidate of the defunct ACN said: “I wish to assure you that my defection is in pursuit of a good cause, and never out of any selfish interests as portrayed by a section.”

When Ajimobi begged Jonathan for second term It was a forum organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to promote Small and Medium Scale enterprises in the country at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. But given the abundance of governors at

the function last Tuesday, it inevitably turned into a political talk shop as a couple of the governors present used the opportunity to mobilise support for the second term aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan who was the special guest of honour that day.

Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo State kick-started the second term call with his assertion that given the encomiums poured on the federal administration’s successes in SMEs that the pilot of the project should be inspired for a second term. His comment was echoed by Governor Godswill Akpabio. The only All Progressives Congress, APC governor at the forum, Senator Abiola Ajimobi after rendering his stewardship on SMEs, however, pleaded that the PDP should allow APC governors doing well to continue.

Ebola points for Jonathan What an irony it is for the aficionados of President Goodluck Jonathan. Dr. Jonathan who has been described as Nigeria’s most criticised president arguably had a sort of relief with the administration’s response to the Ebola scare.

In a way apparently never seen before by most Nigerians, the administration acting through the Minister of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu was able to marshal a fitting response that has helped to check what could have been an unmitigated disaster had the epidemic spread beyond the 12 confirmed cases.

The response of the federal administration was helped by the equally well coordinated response of the Lagos State government whose officials led by Governor Babatunde Fashola brought some zest in their response to the pandemic.

The wish of many Nigerians indeed is that governments at all levels respond to governance issues in the same way.

48—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014

2015: Will Jonathan ensure another bloodless, credible election?

In spite of this condemnable repression and abuse of human rights, the unflagging spirit of our people triumphed.”

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

President Goodluck Jonathan only place the PDP had the upper hand was in Ekiti State, where Ayo Fayose defeated incumbent Kayode Fayemi of the APC. The last on the series was Osun and the contest was won by APC’s Rauf Aregbesola amid avalanche of mudslinging and bitter exchanges between the APC and PDP. The Campaign of calumny was so deep-seated that it over-shadowed the real manifestoes of the candidates to the detriment of development-thirsty Osun electorate.

Learning from the Ekiti episode, a wary APC leadership took its allegations to new heights as the Osun polls approached. It repeatedly accused the PDP, Independent National Electoral Commission, the police and security agencies of perfecting plans to manipulate the election in favour of the PDP. It deplored the deployment of heavily armed security agents to maintain peace. It had earlier decried the deployment of such forces for the Edo and Ekiti elections.

Among the polls, the only ones the APC commended INEC for a job welldone are those of Edo and Osun, which incidentally, the party won. The party came third in Anambra and Ondo, behind the winning parties and the PDP. Leaders of the APC alleged foul play in the Ekiti election even though Fayemi , few hours after the polls, accepted defeat and congratulated Fayose on his victory.

Before each of the five elections, the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, organised sensitisation workers for the candidates, INEC, party leaders and other stakeholders. At each of the workshops, the stakeholders promised to play by the rules and ensure peaceful and credible elections, a promise they have kept as the outcome of the various elections show.

In spite of the peaceful and credible nature of these elections, APC leaders are insisting that the presidency and PDP are perfecting plans to rig the 2015 election. Warning against such moves

and militarisation of election, they have threatened to form a parallel government if the 2015 polls were rigged.

Our democracy still endangered – Aregbesola

Savouring his victory after the election, Governor Aregbesola, however said: “Ordinarily, this should be a moment of joy and celebration consequent upon the hard earned triumph of the people’s will. However, this election shows that democracy is still gravely endangered in Nigeria. We witnessed gross abuse of power and, of due process before, during and even after the actual voting process. It is so sad and unfortunate that what should be a normal, routine process was maliciously allowed to snowball into a needless virtual war by the Federal Government and the PDP. “Osun State was unduly militarised in an unprecedented manner through

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W

HEN on February 19, 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was running for his first term, said his “political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian” that nobody should rig for him as every vote would be made to count, many observers, especially the opposition did not take him seriously.

Many did not believe that an incumbent president would not rig his election. They were yet to forget the ‘do-ordie affair’ comment of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who said the 2007 election was a do-or-die affair for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

And indeed, the 2007 polls were one of the worst in the history of elections in the country with the main beneficiary of that exercise, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, admitting that the election that brought him to power was flawed and set up the Justice Mohammed Uwais’ Electoral Reforms Committee, to proffer solutions.

Upon Yar’ Adua’s death, Dr Jonathan, who surmounted several hurdles before he was sworn-in as acting president and president and later winning the PDP presidential ticket, declared that he was out for peaceful, free and fair election.

Leaders of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), which have now merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) took Jonathan’s comments with a pinch of salt. At every juncture, they enumerated Jonathan and PDP’s plans to rig elections.

Arguably, President Jonathan has managed to keep his promises. The 2011 presidential election was adjudged by local and international observers as free and fair and peaceful.

Thereafter, a series of violence-free and credible governorship elections have been held in five states out of which opposition parties won four and the ruling PDP won one. It started with Edo, where Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the ACN now APC retained his seat. The baton went to Ondo where Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party prevailed. Thereafter, it was the turn of Anambra State where Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) triumphed. The

APC out to scuttle 2015 polls –PDP Responding, the National leadership of the PDP urged the opposition to learn from the Osun gubernatorial election and desist from actions and utterances that were capable of overheating the system and creating room for violence.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party hailed President Jonathan for creating a peaceful environment for the Osun election, it described as “a clear testimony to President Goodluck Jonathan’s unparalleled commitment to peaceful elections in Nigeria.”

The party said, “the lesson from this election is that the opposition party should stop crying wolf where there is none. They must desist from actions and statements that cause confusion and create unnecessary tension, capable of igniting violence and blood-letting in elections.”

Ahead the 2015 general elections, the PDP accused the leadership of the APC of plans to truncate the elections through its attack on the Presidency, the Judiciary, security agencies and other organs of government.

Claiming that the APC and its leadership were on the destructive march again the PDP stressed that in 2010 and 2011, they made similar statements which allegedly culminated in the crises and violence which erupted in some parts of the country.

The stance of the APC is raising question among observers on whether or not the Jonathan’s administration will maintain the track record of violence-free and credible election on account of caustic controversies trailing his second term ambition.

I’ll always ensure bloodless polls –Jonathan

Speaking on this issue, at an interdenominational church service organized as part of activities to commemorate the 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Jonathan said: “I have always said it that any ambition I have at any time is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. I will never ever expect a Nigerian to spill a drop of his blood because Goodluck Jonathan must fulfil his ambition.”

There’s no reason to doubt Jonathan –Mbadinuju

Commenting on the matter, former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju, said so far, there is no reason to doubt the president.

“In the case of President Jonathan his

I have always said it that any ambition I have at any time is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. I will never ever expect a Nigerian to spill a drop of his blood because Goodluck Jonathan must fulfil his ambition

criminal intimidation and psychological assault on our people. This election witnessed an abuse of our security agencies and amounted to a corruption of their professional ethics and integrity. The security agencies were unprofessionally utilised in Osun State to harass, intimidate and oppress the people whose taxes are used to pay their salaries and provide their arms.

Hundreds of leaders, supporters, sympathisers and agents of our party were arrested and detained. Also, hundreds of other innocent citizens, including women and the aged, were harassed, brutalized and traumatised.

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clarion call is adherence to Nigeria’s constitution, rule of law, equity and fairness. This form of rulership is very often seen as weakness on the part of the president whom many people expect to perform in a military fashion. President Jonathan’s mantra of one-man, onevote single him out as a real democrat, and he did not allow wuru-wuru as part of elections in Edo, Ondo, Anambra and Ekiti. He still maintained his stand on Osun election. So one can safely conclude that rather than being weak, President Jonathan will be remembered as the best active and action-packed President Nigeria has had.”

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, AUGUST 23, 2014—49

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014

DELTA@23:

The good and the bad *Review By Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan

D

ELTA State, also known as ‘Finger of God’ will be celebrating its 23 rd anniversary, Wednesday, August 27, just like the other states created same date in 1991 by former military President, General Ibrahim Babaginda (retd.) Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, who is the third civilian governor of the oilrich state, spoke to Saturday Vanguard on the state before it was created, what he met on ground on assumption of office in 2007 and what he has done to reposition it. Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan spoke with EMMA AMAIZE. Excerpts: Where were you when Delta state was created from the defunct Bendel state in 1991 and what was your feeling then as a Bendelite?

When the state was created, I was still in the private Dr. Emmanuel sector. I was working in the Uduaghan private sector in Warri. We were proud to call ourselves Bendelites at that time. It was one state in Nigeria that was well known for many things. But there was still agitation for more states because of the developmental advantage that comes with the creation of states. However, the joy associated with the creation of state was not full across the state at that time because of the location of the state capital.

While some were happy with the location of the state capital; others were not. There were mixed feelings on the creation of Delta State. For me, really, what was important at that time was that a state had been created and hopefully, it would give opportunity for the Delta part of Bendel to develop faster than the way it was going.

,

What was the position of things in Delta before you assumed office as governor?

It had a challenge of ethnic disharmony.

It was the biggest challenge then. There was a lot of disharmony among the various ethnic groups. So much so that it even led to inter-ethnic crisis, especially in the Southern part where the Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo are domiciled. That was actually the biggest challenge apart from the

You have ups and downs in any anniversary, whether birthday, weddings, state creation, there are usually mixed feelings because there are good sides and bad sides in any period of life

,

developmental issues. It was a big problem and one of the problems I had to tackle as a governor. I think that as at today, there is a better relationship among the various ethnic groups, there is less suspicion now, not that it is no longer there, it is still there, but the various ethnic groups tolerate each other better now than before.

So what have you done to position that state for the future as governor?

Well, what I have tried to do really is to see how to deal with the economic challenges of Delta. Yes, Delta is an oil producing state but the oil itself is not a commodity that can sustain an economy for such a long period, especially as many countries that depend on oil are using other sources of energy. We have to look at other areas.That was why we have come up with a developmental strategy that we call

Delta Beyond Oil. We are looking at other areas of the economy. We are looking at agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, etc, such that in a few years, Delta will not just be an oil producing state, but will also be a state that has the biggest agricultural activity in Nigeria, the best tourist destination and those things.

Some people have been assessing your administration ahead the 23rd anniversary of the state and it has a mixed bag, what does Uduaghan say about his footprints?

You have ups and downs in any anniversary, whether birthday, weddings, state creation, there are usually mixed feelings because there are good sides and bad sides in any period of life. We have had our bad sides in the last seven years, in actual fact, since the creation of the state. I think one of the bad sides is the ethic disharmony that had led to crisis, eh, also in the last seven years, we

Continues on page 51

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014—51

Continued from page 29

Asaba airport

had the Niger Delta crisis, which was the fallout of the neglect of the region, leading to kidnapping and all that, but we are dealing with all those ones. But we are indeed, virtually overcoming them and we are on the positive side. On the positive side, a lot has happened especially in terms of peace.

We have been able to attain a level of peace. The state is freer than it used to be. The negative news we used to have as a state is basically gone. Economic activities are springing up, infrastructure are being developed. Major infrastructure in the area of roads, airport, power are being developed, even the social infrastructure like education are being touched.

Our schools have been given a new look, our hospitals have been improved; our transport system has been rejuvenated and it is currently the best in this country.

We have subsidized transport fares of our buses. We are shouldering 50 per cent of the cost and water is becoming more available. So we have developed a lot of infrastructure. Our health care service is the most robust in the country today, of course you know there is free healthcare for Under 5year-old children and pregnant women. Our microcredit scheme has been

adjudged worldwide as a programme that is bringing hope to many families in Delta and our recent outing with Central Bank has testified that we are number one state in Nigeria in terms of using micro credit scheme as a low hanging fruit for our people. So a lot has happened in this administration and there is still room for a lot more to be done. That is where we have the mixed feelings, but a lot has happened positively.

What is your advice to the various ethnic groups as the state trudges on?

My advice to them is let us live in harmony, there is no ethnic group that is more important than the other. Yes, some ethnic groups may have more population than the others, but we should respect ourselves, whether big or small population. This is because no matter how big or how small you are, you can make or unmake any system. My emergence as governor has also shown that anybody from any ethnic group can become the governor of the state and the state will move on very well.

I want to thank the ethnic groups who have agreed to work together to move the state forward and I urge them to continue to work together to move the state forward. The harmony and relationship should be sustained.

,

Continues from page 50

Our schools have been given a new look, our hospitals have been improved; our transport system has been rejuvenated and it is currently the best in this country

Mass transit buses at subsidized rate

Inside the refashioned Eku Hospital

, Remodeled Nana College, Warri

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014

Adamawa PDP Ticket —Presidency makes U-turn on Ribadu •Fears Aspirants’ Gang-up Against Ribadu •I am sure of getting party’s waiver —Marwa •Imposition would affect party —Gulak

BY HENRY UMORU, KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

HEAD the October 11 gubernatorial election in Adamawa State, strong indications emerged yesterday that the presidency may have bowed to criticisms trailing its support for former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, just as it has made a U- Turn on him.

It was gathered yesterday that for fear of any gang up against Ribadu if he emerges the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP by other aggrieved aspirants and party leaders, the presidency was said to have now soft- pedalled on Ribadu.

Speculations have been on that Ribadu was drafted into the Adamawa governorship race by the Presidency on the recommendation of the Principal Private Secretary to the President, Ambassador Hassan Tukur.

The presidential aide and Ribadu were classmates who have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with each other.

Meanwhile, former military administrator of Lagos and Borno States, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa,rtd) yesterday declared that he will contest the governorship race of Adamawa state under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party adding that he will win the seat for the Party in the bye election slated for October 11 this year.

Disclosing that he was sure of getting the party’s waiver to contest the election, General Marwa said that the decampment of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu who is being touted as ‘anointed candidate’ as well as others, posed no threat to his ambition.

Also, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Barrister Ahmed Gulak has warned that

imposition would have a disastrous effect on the chance of the party in winning the state’s guber election, stressed that the least anybody could wish the people at this trying moment was for them to be allowed to choose their leader.

However, following the support from the Presidency, Ribadu who was the 2011 Presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and a Chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APCRibadu, picked his governorship form through his political associate, Hammidu Mahmud, at the national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja where he told Journalists that he was not aware that President Goodluck Jonathan had anointed him as the party’s governorship candidate.

According to him, “We are not aware that the president wants Ribadu, it was some PDP chieftains in the state who called on Ribadu to come and contest

for the governorship of the state. So the question of the president wanting Ribadu does not arise in the case.”

It will be recalled that the Presidency, particularly the PPS has neither denied nor confirmed the speculations, Ribadu has consistently denied that he was running for the governorship of Adamawa on the strength of an alleged presidential support.

Ribadu who has just joined the party must get a waiver from the PDP in line with PDP’s constitution, Section 50 (9) which says: “There shall be a minimum of two year membership span for a member to be eligible to stand for election into any public office, unless the appropriate executive committee gives a waiver or rules to the contrary.”

According to a member of Board of Trustees, BoT of PDP from the South-South zone and a member of the president’s inner caucus, “The race in the coming days is likely to be very interesting but we have all

Family of 7 drowns as boat capsises in Kaduna village LUKABINNIYAT

A

BOAT conveying a family of eight on a raging, flooded river Kagom, at Ungwar Sarkin Mata, Kagom District in Jema’a Local Government Area, LGA, of Kaduna State capsized yesterday, killing seven family members, authorities said.

The family members were braving the turbulent river to their farm to harvest maize when the boat overturned, drowning 7, living only one person who knew how to swim as the only survivor, it was gathered.

“Kagom District share boundary with Sanga LGA. The killing of seven people was the major water mishap recorded in our area this year,” a resident, Bulus Musa said. “This is what we go through every year.

Many of such cases are hardly known. But even when reported, nothing is done about it,” he said.

“The challenge we have here is lack of a bridge. We need a bridge that will connect us with Sanga LGA, and adjoining areas, because people keep dying on this river trying to connect these places. . Government must come to our aid. These poor farmers were on there way to farm but they died,” Musa lamented.

Vice Chairman of Jema’a LGA, Isiaka Ladan who visited the scene with officials of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, described the incident as unfortunate.

Ladan said five corpses have been found, with one survivor while emergency workers and locals were still searching for the two corpses.

Tukur explains why economic programmes fail in Africa

BY KINGSLEY NDIMELE

T

HE former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Nigeria’s Ambassador-at-Large, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, has called for effective international cooperation and mutual understanding between the leading political parties in Africa and the world.

He said that this relationship has become necessary now, in order to ensure the execution and implementation of party

programmes and manifestos of the leading parties to the economic advantage of all citizens of different countries of the world.

He made the call when he received the Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Tagelsir Ali in his office at Abuja today.

Dr. Tukur remarked that the political ideologies and manifesto of leading political parties in Africa and the world have identical features that will help to

foster peace and unity in Africa and the world.

Ambassador Tukur made it clear that leading parties in the world have great role to play in combating terrorism which has now become a global menace threatening the peace and unity of the entire universe.

He stressed the need for African countries to place premium on building institutions that will prosper for continuity and development of the African Continent.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 23, 2014—53

Ebola: Patrick Sawyer was evil, a terrorist —Nigerians

By Juliet Ebirim, Akeem Salau

Nigeria was a merry-go country and free of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) until late Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, ignominiously appeared on the scene on July 20 fully aware that he had the disease having had contacts with his sister, who died of EVB on July 8.

He had been suspended from work by his Company, Arcelor Mittal and was supposed to be under isolation, observation and monitoring. With the connivance of Liberia’s Deputy Finance Minister For Fiscal Affairs, Sebastian Muah, who cleared him to travel to Nigeria for an ECOWAS convention in Calabar, Mr. Sawyer, who avoided bodily contacts with people at the airport

Sawyer wicked

in Monrovia, Liberia found his way to Lagos. He boarded an Asky Airline plane and became severely ill on the plane and was taken to First Consultant Hospital, Obalende, from the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos. Since Sawyer’s infamous arrival, Nigeria has lost four people to the Ebola disease: the ECOWAS official, who drove him to the hospital, two nurses who assisted him at the hospital and the doctor, who physically restrained him from leaving his bed after he tried to remove the drip administered on him.Saturday Vanguard asked our teeming readers their views of Mr. Sawyer and captures their interesting views below.

was

The man was a very wicked person. He knew that he had the virus and he deliberately decided to bring it to Nigeria.

- Joseph Sunday, Interior Decorator.

He needed help

I see Patrick Sawyer as someone who only needed help.

He knew he had the disease, but felt he could get a cure in Nigeria without knowing how deadly and serious it was. Jefferson Aisegame, Banker

Sunday

Urokonweze

Aniagolu

Kate

Sherif

His actions expose our porosity as a nation

He was a thief

I think he’s a thief, because he knew he had the virus, yet he deliberately brought it here. He decided to distribute the disease to people. That kind of person is capable of terrible acts. Thank God, he was exposed at the airport. If he had succeeded and mixed up with people in the country without their knowledge, it would have been disastrous.

- Chief Gabriel Obi, Trader

He was a terrorist, devil

That man was a terrorist. He was a devil incarnate. He knew he had it and that he C M Y K

Agu

Obi

was going to die, but he wanted to die with innocent people. If they hadn’t caught him here in Nigeria, he probably would have migrated to another country. The man was just out to kill. He is worse than Boko Haram.- Elias Nwoke, Businessman

Adeleye

Eretan all suffering as a result. I pray the government gets a cure to the disease soonest. - Mrs. Okoro Kate, Trader.

,

The man became famous and will be remembered for a negative cause. His name has become synonymous and associated with the Ebola Virus – a time bomb whose explosion shows our porosity as a nation. I don’t think his actions were deliberate. Christopher Urokonweze, Biochemist

The man just He would have acted like a typigot help in cal African who Liberia wouldn’t want to What that man did was bad. fall alone, so he He wasn’t supposed to come into Nigeria with that disease.

Sawyer should’nt decided to spread He should have remained the virus. He where he was and I believe have left Liberia people would have been able wanted people to I think since he knew his to help him there. - Mrs. condition and knowing that die with him Amaka Aniagolu.

there was no case of the disease in Nigeria, he shouldn’t have embarked on that journey to this country. But maybe what ever the issue brought him here must have been very crucial. - Dr. Adeyinka Adeleye.

He was very wicked

The man knew what he was doing. He knew the disease is deadly and dangerous, still he travelled to Nigeria with

,

it. That man was a very wicked man. We just pray to God to help us. - Victoria Eretan, Nurse

It was sheer wickedness

What he did was sheer wickedness. If he wanted a cure, he should have remained in his country and looked for a cure there instead of coming to spread it here. Now, we are

Nwoke his problem to this country to cause us more problems. What he did was very bad and he did it intentionally. - Akeem Adeyemo, Meat Seller.

He didn’t want to die alone

The man just acted like a typical African who wouldn’t want to fall alone, so he decided to spread the virus. He wanted people to die with him . - Mr. Fortune Wilson, Businessman.

EVB has affected our businesses Episode exposed Since he knew he had the virus, he wasn’t supposed to travel. He should have remained where he was.

People are no longer free and this disease has caused bad sales for us. - Olaide Sheriff, Meat Seller

Sawyer was heartless

That man was heartless and wicked. He decided to bring

lapses in our security system

He knew quite well that he had the virus, yet he came into the country with it. This shows the lapses in our security system and how porous our borders are. He didn’t want to die alone and his actions have resulted into an epidemic. Chief P.C Agu, Businessman.

54—SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 23, 2014

Nwosu: What I told Okwaraji before he died

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

I

T has been 25 years since Samuel Okwaraji died while playing for the Eagles at the National Stadium, Lagos. It was a FIFA 1990 World Cup qualifier against Angola. Nigeria won the match 1-0 but painfully lost Okwaraji to the cold hands of death.

Okwaraji was playing before a full capacity at the Sports City and had wanted to use the opportunity to impress the ever-demanding Lagos fans. Sadly and ironically too, the only headline he made was that announcing his demise Doctors said he died of congested heart failure, which some said was orchestrated by the hot weather condition on that fateful day of August 12, 1989. Till date, his death hangs like a dark epitaph on Nigerian football.

One of Okwaraji’s bosom friends and teammate, Henry Nwosu, who also hails from the same Owerri zone like the deceased ex-international, while recollecting his time with the dreadlockwearing former VFB Stuttgart midfielder, has said that his tears are still flowing for Okwaraji, who died at the tender age of 25.

“Anytime I think of Okwaraji, my tears start flowing uncontrollably.

In fact, when I woke up on August 12 and remembered that it was the anniversary of the day that he died, I started shedding tears.

I shed these tears because I remembered his humility and dedication to the service of our fatherland.

“He was a true patriot, who wanted to prove to Nigerians that he was a good player but unfortunately and cruelly too, he didn’t live to see his work appreciated by fans”, Nwosu said in an interview with Saturday Sports Vanguard.

Recalling his relation-

C M Y K

•Nwosu ship with Okwaraji, Nwosu, a 1980 Nations Cup winner, who missed the game against Angola because ASEC Mimosas hid the invitation letter sent for his release by the NFA,

said that it was the only match that he did not play for Nigeria during the short career of Okwaraji.

“I was supposed to play that match against Angola and was

expecting my call-up letter from the NFA but surprisingly, I did not get any letter. I was alarmed and had to ask why I was not invited for the match. I was later told that the NFA sent a letter for my release but my club in Abidjan hid the letter. I was furious but there was nothing I could do because it was late and just had to stay back and follow the match through commentaries in Abidjan”, said Nwosu, who recalled with nostalgia, the conversation with the late Okwaraji during their time in camp.

“When Okwaraji joined us in camp for the first time, he naturally became my good friend because he was humble. I saw the potentials in him. He was a good dribbler and passer of the ball, a very creative player but one day, I called him aside and advised him that no matter how good a footballer is, that if he was not scoring, Nigerians would not remember him.

“What I told him touched him a lot because when he scored his first goal for Nigeria during the group match against Cameroon at Maroc 1988, he ran to me, shouting, ‘shame to bad people”, in Igbo language.

“He told me that my advice helped him a lot .That goal meant a lot to him and Nigeria, because it was the equaliser against the Indomitable Lions. The match ended 1-1.

“After that match, he stayed close to me and I was looking forward to reuniting with him in Lagos on August 12, 1989, which was not to

•The late Okwaraji be. It was the only match that I did not play for the Eagles during the time that Okwaraji came into Eagles limelight. “And unfortu-nately, it so happened that it was the match that my friend had to die while playing for Nigeria. How cruel can this life be”, Nwosu said rhetorically. kwaraji’s 25 t h anniversary on August 12, went without any fanfare and remembrance service to honour the player, a development that Nwosu said Nigerians should be ashamed of given the fact that the deceased paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“We have not done enough for him. This

O

was a young man, who died playing for Nigeria but regrettably, Nigeria has not done any meanin-gful thing to remember this man.

If only, they can even organise one competition, which final will be played on August 12, then one can say that Nigeria has done something to remember Okwaraji. But that has not been done, 25 years on. I don’t think they have done enough or anything for his family.

“Okwaraji was a Nigerian hero, who should be treated well.

He paid the ultimate prize for this country. If I die for this country, I know it will be a good death”, added a sorrowful Nwosu.

Moses: Osaze didn’t know I would join Stoke V

ICTOR Moses has revealed that fellow Nigerian teammate Osaze Odemwingie did not know that the latter had the chance to join Stoke City during the summer transfer market.

The former Wigan Athletic star also revealed that he secretly sought advice from Osaze, prior to making a final decision on his move.

“I sent him a text before I made the move and just asked him what the Club was like, and a few other things like that,” he smiled.

“He didn’t know that I had the chance to come here at the time, so he was a little surprised when I turned up 24 hours later to sign.

“He only had good things to say about the place. He told me the Club is a great place to be, the management are really good and that the training ground is superb too.

“I am really happy to be here now and I feel really comfortable. Peter and all of the other lads, and the staff, have made me feel incredibly welcome.”

Moses admits he is desperate to put last season’s frustrations behind him as he looks to re-launch his Premier League career at the Britannia

Stadium.

He endured a disappointing loan spell under Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool during the 2013/14 campaign – netting just two goals in 22 appearances in all competitions.

“It was a disappointing time but to be honest I would rather move forward and not dwell on what happened in the past with Liverpool,” the 23-year old said.

“All I want to concentrate on now is doing well here at Stoke City, and getting back to enjoying my football again.

“It is difficult to get back to your best when you aren’t really playing much football, so hopefully I can earn myself a place in the team here and enjoy it again.

“I will give 100 percent in training and I will do the same in matches too. I like to score goals and help create opportunities so hopefully I can play my part here.”

He added: “There were other options available to me, but as soon as I spoke to the manager and he told me of the Club’s ambitions, I knew it was the move I wanted to make.”

•Victor Moses

SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 23, 2014

— 55

La Liga begins

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

to Spain, as the 2014-2015 La Liga season starts, with Malaga week after matches in hosting Athletic Bilbao in the first the English Premier match of the campaign..

League kicked off , the attention In other interesting matches of football watchers will today turn billed for today, Granada confront Deportivo la Coruna, Sevilla play host to Valencia, while Almeria battle Espanyol in the last game of the night.

Until last season’s La Liga triumph of Atletico Madird, the La Liga title race was always between Barcelona and Real Madrid and after a busy transfer market dealings, it appears that this season’s title race will be another two-horse race between Barcelona and Real.

The rivalry between these two giants is legendary and remarkable, dating back to the very time that they were formed.

Barcelona have had the edge over their rivals in the last five years, largely due to the influence of Lionel Messi, Iniesta and Xavi.

Barcelona have a new coach in Luis Enrique, whose mandate is to win the La Liga. But in their bid to win the title, Enrique and his charges will face stiff battle from Real Madrid, whose coach Carlo Ancelotti has also been given the mandate to win the title.

Having guided los Blancos to the la decima last season, Ancelotti knows the only title to win this term is the La Liga and will be hoping sw Enrique fancies his side’s chances to beat Elche and he will be relying on the duo of Lionel Messi and Neymar to net the goals that will set the Catalan giants on the right track to winning the title.

Barcelona start their title challenge with an home game against Elche tomorrow while Real Madrid host Cordoba on JUBILATION.....Giurgiu’s Nigerian forward Kehinde Fatai (front) celebrate his goal with Gabriel Enache, during a Monday, with new striker James Europa League game against Lyon on August 21 at the Gerland Rodriguez in the frame to score his first Liga goal.

Stadium. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

A

No going back on elections — Minister

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN THE Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo has insisted that the General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), where elections into the Executive Committee of the football-ruling body are to hold must take place on August 26 in Warri, Delta State.

Danogogo’s submission yesterday came a day after the Aminu Maigari-led Executive Committee had said that elections would not hold at the Congress. The board said that it has informed FIFA of its intention.

But the Chairman of the NFF Electoral Committee, Anoni Bambo rejected NFF\s proposal to shift the polls, insisting that the elections must hold as scheduled on August 26.

But the Secretary-General of the NFF, Musa Amadu, quickly moved to discountenance the Electoral Committee stance, stating that “the statement must have been made in error. As far as the NFF is concerned, there will be no elections at the General Assembly of Tuesday, 26th August. There is a proposal that we are taking to the General Assembly (the supreme body of Nigeria football) for consideration and approval, with regards to the elections.

“It is for the NFF and the General Assembly to propose the date for elections, not that of the Electoral Committee, which was put in place by the General Assembly,” NFF General Secretary, Barr. Musa Amadu had said on Thursday.

And wielding into the issue yesterday, the Minister of Sports has called on the NFF board to respect FIFA’s letter of August 14, where FIFA clearly said that elections must hold on August 26.

In a statement released in Abuja, Danagogo, while wishing delegates a successful Congress, said ‘taking into cognizance, the resolutions reached in his meetings with the Maigariled faction and the Umeh-led faction of the NFF and the advisory letter from FIFA, dated 14 August 2014, which stated inter alia that, “it is C M Y K

advisable that major decisions are frozen until after the elections of 26 August”, it is clear that nothing has happened to alter that position”.

While urging those barred from contesting the elections to seek redress through the appropriate channel of the Elections Appeal committee, Danagogo tasked all interested and aggrieved stakeholders to set aside their personal differences in the interest of the development of the game in the country.

“That all parties, who were genuinely interested in participating in the NFF elections and felt disenfranchised ought to file their complaints and seek redress through available channels including the Elections Appeals Committee.

It is time for all parties to put aside their personal ambitions and promote the corporate good of Nigerian Football.

“The Honourable Minister is looking forward to a cordial and prosperous working relationship with the board that will be inaugurated after the elections of 26 August 2014, in Abuja to take Football in Nigeria to greater heights”, the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, the Sport Minister, we gathered, last night, moved to change the venue of the Congress to Kaduna. When Warri hosted the last Congress, the Olu of Warri, in welcoming the delegates, told them they were always free to return to return to the City and that he would always mobilise support from government and people of the State for them. Excited, NFF

decided to return to Warri and even notified FIFA so.

Delegates described their Congress in Warri as the best ever and were happy that they would return to the oil city. The Minister may change all that now. We also gathered that Maigari was told that for peace to reign he should not contest again. If was not clear if he agreed to that but indications pointed to his likely consent.

Mourinho: Cech is unhappy

M

ANAGER Jose Mourinho can understand why a “top professional” like Petr Cech is not happy at losing his status as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper - but will not offer any players selection guarantees.

Belgium international Thibaut Courtois started in goal for the opening English Premier League match at Burnley on Monday night, which the Blues won 3-1.

“Petr Cech is a top professional, he is working as always, behaving as always,

being a group man as always, being a Chelsea person always, and he is totally happy? I don’t believe so, but it is not (just) him. It is everyone who didn’t start the game (at Burnley). This period is hard for them, for me, because it is a period with one match per week, so (for the) first three matches, they clearly feel that some are playing more and some don’t. Now, when there is only one match per week, some are not playing and they feel (it) more, but Petr ’s behaviour is fantastic, and that is important.”

Moment of truth beckons Falconets T

OMORROW’s final of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada is a repeat of the 2010 showpiece between the then hosts Germany and Nigeria. That game went the way of the European side, an outcome the in-form Africans will be aiming to avenge this weekend.

This is the fourth time the ultra-consistent Germans have reached the final of the competition and the third in a row, though the Super Falconets can also lay claim to being a powerhouse in this age group, having checked into their second final in the last three tournaments. Given those impressive records, Sunday ’s showdown will reveal much about the balance of power in the women’s youth game.

In the play-off for third place, meanwhile, France

face 2006 winners Korea DPR. The North Koreans knocked out reigning champions USA in the quarter-finals only to slump to a heavy defeat at the hands of the Nigerians, while the French, who have found goals harder and harder to come by, were undone by some wayward finishing in their semi-final against Germany.

Nigeria’s 6-2 defeat of Korea DPR was the biggest win ever seen in the semi-finals of the competition and saw their attacking spearhead Asisat Oshoala become only the third player to score four goals in a match in the history of the competition. The rampant Nigerians have made a habit of scoring early and then overwhelming their rivals with their strength and speed, a winning formula they will be out to repeat against the Germans.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 23, 2014

Moment of truth beckons Falconets — Pg.55

Nwosu: What I told Okwaraji before he died — Pg.54 Moses: Osaze didn’t know I would join Stoke — Pg.54 Today’s Fixtures

•Asisat Oshoala

EPL Aston Villa Chelsea Crystal Palace Southampton Swansea Everton

v v v v v v

Newcastle Leicester West Ham West Brom Burnley Arsenal

LA LIGA Malaga Granada Sevilla Almeria

v v v v

Athletic Bilbao Deportivo Valencia Espanyol

6pm 8pm 8pm 10pm

BUNDESLIGA Cologne Eintracht Frankfurt Hannover Hertha Berlin Hoffenheim Dortmund

v v v v v v

Hamburg Freiburg Schalke Werder Bremen Augsburg Leverkusen

2:30pm 2:30pm 2:30pm 2:30pm 2:30pm 5:30pm

12:45pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 5:30pm

No going back on August 26 NFF elections — Minister • P.55 ...Congress may hold in Kaduna ….Maigari told not to contest La Liga begins today — Pg.55

Across 1 Flying Eagles (U-20) Midfielder, Benard – (6) 4 Ekiti State Governor, Kayode – (6) 7 Greek Alphabet – (3) 8 Saudi Arabian Capital City – (6) 10 Papua New Guinea Currency – (4) 12 President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed – (4) 13 L.G.A in Osun State – (3) 14 He invented the Telephone, Alexander – (4) 16 L.G.A in Akwa-Ibom State – (4) 18 Group Managing Director, First bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Olabisi – (8) 21 Ogun State Capital – (8) 24 State in Nigeria – (4) 27 Deputy Director, Public Relations, State Security Services, Mrs. Marilyn – (4) 28 Vietnamese Currency – (3) 29 Financial Institution – (4) 31 Mid-day – (4) 32 Flying Eagles Assistant Coach, Nduka – (6) 34 Collection – (3) 35 Former Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dame Virgy – (6)

Down 1 Enyimba International FC Coach, Zachary – (6) 2 Venomous Snake – (3) 3 Former Katsina State Governor, Mr. Emmanuel – (8) 4 L.G.A in Yobe State – (4) 5 Western Sahara Capital City – (6) 6 Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Media Executive, Chief Emeka – (6) 9 State in Nigeria – (4) 11 Part of the Eye – (4) 15 Cameroun “Indomitable Lions” Striker, Samuel – (4) 17 African Waterbuck – (3) 19 L.G.A in Kogi State – (8) 20 Anambra State Capital – (4) 21 President, Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Mr. Igwe – (6) 22 State in Nigeria Known as “Salt of The Nation”? – (6) 23 Nigerian Currency Unit – (4) 25 Region – (4) 26 President, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar – (6) 30 L.G.A in Zamfara State – (4) 33 Insect – (3)

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SOLUTION on page 17

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