ANAMBRA: Oure regrets - Jega

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SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

UN House Bombing: Court orders suspects to enter defence within 21 days

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI Abuja

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USTICE Gladys Olotu of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, ordered four alleged Boko Haram members who reportedly bombed the United Nations headquarters in Abuja on August 20, 2011, to file their defence within the next 21 days.

The suspects, Salisu Mohammed, Inusa Mukailu, Danzumi Haruna and Abdulsalami Adamu, were said to have perfected the terrorist act which killed 23 persons and wounded 75 others.

Among those affected by the explosion were a retired Navy Captain, members of staff of the UN, visitors as well as workers with private businesses stationed within the building.

The accused persons,

who are facing a fourcount terrorism charge, were arrested in September 2012 and charged before an Abuja Magistrate court before being re-arraigned at the High Court on May 7, this year.

The Federal Government told the court, that the actions of the accused persons were contrary to Section 96(a) of the Penal Code Law. Besides, the accused persons were alleged to have deliberately and maliciously committed the act which seriously damaged an international organization, contrary to the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, who okayed the suspects for trial, insisted that they were involved in the release of dangerous substances that caused explosion that killed 23 people at the UN building, contrary to the pro-

visions of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.

Meanwhile, the accused persons have since pleaded not guilty to the charge.

However, since their trial commenced, the accused persons had maintained that they could not understand English Language, a situation that led the court to procure the services of an interpreter, charged with the responsibility of translating the court proceedings to them in Hausa language.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, Justice Olotu, gave the government the nod to close its case, just as she ordered the accused persons, to file their defence within 21 days.

The court however, berated the government for producing only one witness, Mr. Ibrahim Agu, as the PW-1, against the accused persons despite the gravity of the alleged

offence.

The court had earlier on June 11, directed the prosecution to provide its proof of evidence linking the accused persons to the alleged terrorist act.

Meantime, counsel to the accused persons, Mr Ken Obiduruzo, yesterday, expressed his intention to file a no-case-application, saying that the government had woefully

failed to either establish a prima facie terrorism case against the suspects, or, provide any convincing evidence linking them to the UN house bombing.

(L-R)- General Counsel, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigeria, Eyitemi Ned Mojuetan; Board Member of the Lagos Court of Arbitration, Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) and Former Vice President, External Affairs, Tullow Oil Plc, London, Rosalind Kainyah at the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA) Regional Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Conference held recently in Lagos.

Trustfund Pension savings hit N250bn

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU Abuja

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HE management of Trustfund Pension Plc has announced that the customers savings under its custody has risen to N250 billion with about 560,000 contributors.

THE Abuja Regional Manager of the Trustfund Mr. Maurice Ogar, who disclosed this during the fund’s retiree customer forum in Abuja explained that the forum was necessary so as to save and protect their customers from insurance companies that were using annuity to lure them away.

Mr. Ogar said, “we have in excess of N250 billion as funds under management that we are managing for our customers, and we have 560,000 customers as contributors.”

According to him, “The issue is that the insurance companies, under the law – the Pension Reform Act, 2004 – are allowed to operate one of their products, which is annuity.

Annuity is a life insurance policy. The Pension Reform Act, 2004 presents it as one of the options available for

retirees to choose for the payment of their entitlements. They either choose a programme withdrawal or the annuity.

“The insurance companies have decided to capitalise on it because they found it easier to sell than the rest of their products, and this is posing a very serious competition to the operators of the pension industry.

“We, too, would not want to sit by, and allow the insurance companies to come and cart away all the money that we have been managing. That is why we found it necessary to explain to them the advantages of lump sum withdrawal as against annuity, as well as other advantages so that they will stay with us.”

He further stated that, “when they (customers) stay with us, they will continue to maintain ownership of their money; but once they buy annuity, the money goes into a pool, which none of them can trace anymore.”

The regional manager observed that the only thing the insurance companies hold when they buy annuity is the promise

to pay customers pension for life.

“But when they stay with the programmed withdrawal, they continue to lay claim to the ownership of their money because the account is still maintained by us, and we manage the money so that when anyone of them dies, their next of kin can have access to the same money unlike what happens in annuity.

BIRTHDAY Madam Unice marks 105 years

Madam Unice Adekunle Falohun of Ogotun Affa Oke-agbe, Akoko Ondo State celebrated her 105th birthday recently.

•Madam Unice Adekunle Falohun

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013 — 5

ANAMBRA 2013:

INEC fixes Nov. 30 as date for supplementary election •Rejects APC’s call for poll cancellation

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC yesterday fixed November 30, for the conduct of supplementary governorship election in Anambra state.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Commission Prof.

Attahiru Jega while addressing a press conference at the headquarters of the Commission in Abuja. He also rejected the call by the All Progressives Congress, APC to cancel the election.

INEC had last Monday declared the result of last Saturday’s governorship election in the state inconclusive after canceling the election held in 210 polling units across the state.

Prof. Jega appealed to all stakeholders in the state to cooperate with the commission to ensure that the supplementary poll is successfully conducted.

He acknowledged that INEC’s performance during the controversial election wasn’t what its leadership had expected but insisted that irregularities that occurred during the polls were not enough to warrant outright cancellation of the result.

He further stated that the Commission received complaints from many stakeholders and held meetings with its field officers before taking a decision on going ahead with the supplementary election.

Said he: “INEC prepared for that election more than it had ever prepared for any election, but there is no doubt that INEC’s operational capability could not be said to be its best. But we did our best under very difficult circumstances.”

He continued : “Nigerians are aware that the Returning Officer for the election, Prof James Epoke while announcing the results of that election declared it inconclusive and announced that there would be a supplementary election.”

He expressed regret

that inspite of the detailed plans made by INEC, the outcome of the election was not the best.

Said he : “We regret that there is no other decision that could be taken by the Commission other than to conduct a supplementary election in the areas where elections were cancelled.”

Prof. Jega maintained that there was no substantial evidence to support the call for the cancellation of the election as most of the allegations that have been made could not be substantiated.

Commenting on the delay in the deployment of the electoral officers and materials during the polls, the INEC boss admitted that this contributed to the problems during conduct of the elections.

Responding to allegations by some of the opposition candidates that the voters register given to political parties was different from the one used in the elections, he said “ We have reviewed the register and are convinced that it is the same register we gave to the parties. It is very unfair to accuse INEC of giving out a different register; we challenge the parties to come out with evidence that the register that was used was different from the one that was given to the parties 30 days before the election.”

He insisted that the only difference was the age of the registers presented on different d a y s .

Commenting on the alleged disenfranchisement of some voters during the polls he said “ this is quite regrettable as we had briefed the parties on how the number of registered voters came down from 1.8 million to 1.7 million based on INEC’s efforts to clean up the register.

Said he: “We were determined to discard the use of manually compiled register. We did a continuos voter registration and used it to correct the problem of manual register.

Anybody who voted in 2007 and had his name in the addendum register

must take part in the continuous voter registration which we did last August to have his details captured in the updated voters register.”

He maintained that a substantial majority of those alleged to have been disenfranchised, must have been those who may have done multiple registration or who did not take part in the continuous voters registration in order to have their names in the electronic register.

Said he : “No evidence has been adduced to warrant the cancellation of the election, the electoral act is very clear and our guidelines are very clear that if on presentation of your voter ’s card and your name is not on the register you will not be allowed to vote. “ He continued: “our electoral officers were trained to allow those whose names were only on the electronic register to vote. I can speak emphatically that the PDP governorship candidate Mr Tony Nwoye who alleged that he was not allowed to vote, even though his name was on the manual register. Since we were not using the manual register, and he did not use the opportunity we provided to get his name on the electronic register, we couldn’t have allowed him to vote”.

Said he: “ We recognize that the election we conducted in Anambra State was not perfect, but we are satisfied that the evidence that has been adduced is not sufficient to warrant a total cancellation of the election. “ Prof. Jega further assured Nigerians that “ we are not partisan and we have the capacity to ensure that anybody that compromises the elections is made to face the wrath of the law. We have handed over the electoral officer who compromised the election in Idemili North over to the police and he is being investigated and would soon be arraigned.”

He maintained that as a Commission “ we are determined to keep on

Anambra Supplementary Election: INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega addressing pressmen , announcing November 30 for Supplementary election in Anambra State while National Commissioner Lawrence Nwuruku looks on in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

improving. We are still investigating what happened and we will ensure that anybody that had a hand in what happened in Anambra State would be brought to book. There are other people who should take the blame for what happened in Anambra by enticing our staff to compromise the process.”

Commenting , on the arrest of some APC members who posed as observers during the polls but were not accredited by the commission he said the accreditation for the Anambra elections was even tighter.

Said he: “We were very strict as we only accredited only those who applied within the time frame. In previous elections we were very thorough as we had to ask for the photographs of the applicants.For the Anambra State election, given the complaints we had received we insisted that the would-be monitors must be in Awka to get their accreditation”.

He explained that due to the tight measures introduced for accreditation of observers, “ we even arrested somebody that was trying to impersonate another person. He is with the police and would soon be prosecuted. It was that thorough and the accreditation that we did aided the arrest of fake observers from Osun State.”

He alleged that the Osun delegation of observers forged their documents. “They did not come to Awka to collect

their accreditation; rather they camped in Owerri.

Some of them have been arraigned before a Magistrate Court” he said.

He accused the DPP of an unnamed State of attempting to take over the prosecution of these people.

Responding to a question concerning the use of commercial vehicles for the conveying of electoral materials, he said all over the world, electoral management bodies always used adhoc staff during elections “as no organization can put on its pay roll all the staff it needs.

No electoral body can have all the vehicles it needs in an election. When we came on board, we made a case for one four wheel drive vehicle per local government across the country. You also need vehicles to transport people and materials.

These challenges should not have arisen, it was due to human error.” ” When we prepared for the Anambra election, we did a budget for the number of vehicles that would be required, and we provided funding for it. So these are some of the things we are probing.

We want to know whether inadequate number of vehicles were hired. We want to know whether some of them broke down or the drivers did not turn up on the day of the elections.

Commenting on the use of students from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, he said those who complained over this

misunderstood INEC procedure.

Said he: “In all elections we do, we have ensured that the NYSC members are presiding officers. But there are also Assistant Presiding Officers, and others. where there are insufficient number of corps members, we have always complemented them with students from Federal Universities. We did it in Edo, we did it in Ondo and we also did it in the 2011 elections as they were not enough NYSC members to be presiding officers. Even for us to get enough corps members to be Presiding officers, we had to bring in some of them from Enugu and Delta States. we have been using tertiary education students to complement members of the NYSC”.

Responding to a question on the APC’s petition to INEC, he said “ I have looked at it and have asked a team to also look at it. All the allegations contained there were a repetition made by the APC candidate which we had replied to. As I said earlier there are no sufficient grounds to warrant the cancelation of the election, if the purpose of the petition is to convince us to cancel the election, I am sorry to say that there is no sufficient evidence to warrant the cancellation of the elections”.

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6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

I’ve handed over my father’s Anambra decides ....... Anambra decides..............Anambra decides... kidnappers to God — Bayelsa Commissioner

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenogoas

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AYELSA State Commissioner for Tourism Development, Nelson Belief whose 78 years old father, Pa Uroh Nelson Tempurah was kidnapped in the early hours of Wednesday at Akassa on the Atlantic fringe of Brass local government area by armed men yesterday said he has handed over everything to God. Saturday Vanguard learnt that three days after the kidnap incident which jostled the serene coastal settlement of Minibeleu in Akassa, the whereabouts of the old man is unknown while the kidnappers were yet to establish contact with their victim’s family.

The continued silence from the kidnappers, a security source told our correspondent is a tactical

ploy to put their victim’s family on the edge with a view to demand huge ransom whenever they choose to contact them. ”They might also be playing safe by refusing to contact the family for fear of exposing their location,” the source added.

But son of the kidnapped septuagenarian, Nelson Belief in a telephone chat told our correspondent that though the kidnappers were yet to contact him or any members of his family, they (Belief family) have handed over everything to God. He prayed God to cause confusion among the kidnappers to release his father unconditionally just as he said the security agencies are working round the clock to ensure his rescue.

According to him, his father left behind his mobile when he was seized and forcefully taken away

from his country home by his captors, a development that might have been responsible for the current state of incommunicado.

Belief who sounded optimistic about God’s divine interference in the matter said, “though everything is blank and no contact is yet made, the security agencies are doing their job.”

Former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida receiving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the former Vice President’s courtesy visit to his house in Minna yesterday.

Fashola faults proposed establishment of N5.69bn Nigeria Int’l Financial Centre •Demands change of NSE to Lagos Stock Exchange

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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OVERNOR Babantunde Fashola of Lagos State, has faulted the proposed bill seeking the

establishment of the Nigeria International Financial Centre, NIFC, for the country.

It will be recalled that the bill seeking the establishment of the centre which is expected to gulp N5.69 billion, according to the financial compendium attached to the bill, scaled through the second reading on the floor of the Senate last May. The governor, in an interview with pressmen yesterday, at the end of the technical session of the 10 th Lagos Executive/ Legislative parley, themed ‘Towards perpetuating the culture and practice of excellence,’ held in Lekki axis of the state, said that the measure is against the 1999 constitution.

He also demanded urgent review of the 1977 decree which changed the Lagos Stock Exchange into Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, saying “this negates the global standards.”

According to him, “We have looked at and we think that there is a tendency that there may be over legislation on the bill. The intention of the bill is well defined in the activities of Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE and the Security and Exchange Commission, (SEC), Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and other agencies of the central g o v e r n m e n t . ” “There is also doubt about whether one can legislate the existence of a financial centre. Is the legislation aimed at achieving a geographic entity for it or the creation of an agency to create regulatory frame work? It also seeks to set up an appellate court. It is very clear in defiance and in conflict with the constitution itself.

“The idea that Lagos is the financial centre for the country is one that is hard to debate due to the location of the stock exchange and the number

of industries in the state.

It shows that it doesn’t need any legislation to define. This is evident in other countries like England, as one will find in London as against Liverpool and others,” he said.

On NSE

The governor said, “I think the time has come for us to begin to look at the legislation that was passed during the military administration that is decrees and acts. I think that was when Lagos Stock the

Exchange became the Nigerian Stock Exchange, in unification for the country.

“Perhaps there is the need for us to go back to what is best global practice because we have the Johannesburg, Paris, New York and we don’t have the American Stock Exchange or German and others.”

Gov Obi commences N400m maternity projects across the state

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OVERNOR Peter Obi has laid the foundation stone for the multi-million maternity and child care centre at Ugwuagba Obosi. Governor Obi performed the function within St. Martin Catholic Hospital premises. He also presented a cheque of thirty million Naira being the total sum required to complete the project and signifying the commencement of the building of a total of 11 maternity com-

plexes in remote parts of the State to improve maternal and child health.

Part of the fund for the projects was from the prize money won by the State as the best on immunization coverage from Bill and Millinda Gate Foundation competition. Governor Obi said the project was in partnership with Church to bring quality healthcare services down to the grassroots.

He disclosed that the

State government would embark on major infrastructural development of the area, while St. Patrick’s Secondary School Ugwuagba would before 13th of December receive a school bus, about two million naira for laboratories and library as well as forty computer sets with complete accessories. The Governor urged the church to accelerate work to ensure early completion of the project.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013 — 7

Jonathan recovers; makes surprise appearance at London Conference •Says I am strong enough to attend

BY BEN AGANDE, London

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RESIDENT Jonathan yesterday made a surprise appearance at the Hilton Hotel at Parklane London, venue of the conference on investment being coordinated by the Honorary International Investors Conference, HIIC, where he was forced to stay away due to a sudden illness earlier on Thursday, saying he was now fit to continue with the meeting.

This was even as the Arch bishop of Cantebury, Justin Welby offered to make his personal physician, who he said is one of the best in London, available to Jonathan if the president was not satisfied with the medical attention he had received so far.

Jonathan who arrived at the second floor venue of the event at exactly 9:30 am, London time in the company of both the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Senator Dalhatu Tafida and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, apologized to members of the council over his inability to attend the conference on Thursday.

Dressed in a black stripped traditional SouthSouth attire and bowler hat to match, Jonathan did not display any sign of weakness as he shook hands with members of the Council and the Coordinator, Baroness Lynda Chalker before taking his seat after the national anthem.

Blaming his illhealth for his inability to attend the meeting from the beginning, the President however promised that the Federal Government would ‘’intensify the fight against corruption in the country.’’

This was even as Jonathan further remarked

that, ‘’we are indeed happy that the private sector has begun complementing our strong desire to tackle all forms of rent seeking tendencies.’’

Jonathan further noted that his administration had remained steadfast in making Nigeria the preferred location for investors to do business, saying that competition was the catalyst that drove profitability, which was what investors were seeking worldwide.

His words, “as we approach the end of 2013, it is only ideal that I begin this address, first by thanking you all for your continued commitment to Nigeria. Our country is indeed honoured to have friends and partners like you, with whom we can openly share ideas, and shape our agenda. ‘’With every HIIC meeting I attend, I am always encouraged to see the quality of the debate, the frankness of the conversation, and the big things Nigeria can achieve.

I am also sure that likewise, you are inspired by the vast potential and opportunities within our great country.

Indeed at the HIIC, I can sincerely say that we are all in very good company. ’’This 15th meeting builds on the last conversation we had in Abuja and begins to address the fundamental issues con-straining competitiveness and investment in Nigeria.

Competitiveness ultimately drives profitability, which is what investors are seeking worldwide.

To be competitive, we must address long standing issues, and introduce bold and courageous reforms, regardless of short term political pressures. This is why my government has remained steadfast in mak-

ing Nigeria the preferred location for investors to do business, because it is our only pathway to create jobs, generate wealth, and guarantee our security. ’’In building a truly competitive environment for business, we are addressing the fundamental issues such as internal security and power supply head-on. For the first time in Nigeria’s 53 year history, we have successfully privatized the electric power industry.

“We are bringing capital, technology, and operational excellence into the sector. As a result, 11 distribution companies, and four generation companies have been privatized, realising over $3 billion for government. The assets were finally handed over on November 1, 2013. ’’I am delighted to inform you that investors are responding positively to the opportunities in the sector and we expect to see significant investments across the value chain going forward. Ladies and Gentlemen, resolving the power sector alone, completely changes the paradigm on doing business in Nigeria, and we are satisfied with the progress made. Equally, although challenges remain, we are investing in the requisite security infrastructure and intelligence network that

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will enable us deal more effectively with the new threats we face which can and do hamper investor confidence in our economy. ’’In ensuring that the environment is suitable for investment, we will also continue to intensify the fight against corruption. We are indeed happy that the private sector has begun complementing our strong desire to tackle all forms of rent seeking tendencies.

The “Clean Business Nigeria Today” initiative coming from the meetings of the Council is a very good example. ‘’I urge the council members and key functionaries of government to meaningfully participate in the discussions towards our desire to transform the Nigerian economy to one of the world’s largest econo-

mies by the year 2020. ’’I also use this opportunity to inform Council that Nigeria will be hosting the World Economic Forum in Africa, between the 7th and 9th of May 2014. Our hosting this event is yet again a strong sign of Nigeria’s central economic and political role on the continent. ‘’Dear Council members, in the year 2013, I can sincerely say that Nigeria has attained significant momentum on the drive to attract new investors into the country, and also to encourage existing investors within the country to expand. In 2014, we must not lose this momentum, but rather broaden our interventions to address other difficult issues like the

high cost of financing in the country, and the dearth of adequate skills.’’

Earlier in her speech, the Coordinator of the HIIC, Baroness Lynda Chalker thanked the president for attending the conference, saying that the Arch bishop of Cantebury, Justin Welby had offered to make his personal physician available to Jonathan if he was not satisfied with the medical attention he had received in London so far.

Yesterday’ meeting was attended by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State who briefed the council on the efforts so far to reduce cases of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

2013 Merit Award: 37 Professors dropped

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Abuja

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HREE eminent Professors from the fields of Science, Humanities and Engineering/Technology have emerged as winners out over 40 candidates that were nominated to be

Duke to deliver keynote address at the 3rd annual British council building, technical and

BY ANOZIE EGOLE, Building Blocks For a ComLagos petitive Creative Economy” HE Minister of Culture in an edition themed, “Ca& Tourism, Edem pacity”.

This year’s Expo which Duke, will deliver a keynote rd will hold at Sheraton Hoaddress at the 3 edition of the Annual British Council tels, Ikeja, is poised to disCreative Expo which will cuss and debate current take place on the 26th and measures to develop talent, 27th of November 2013. The best practices, case studies minister will speak on “ The and different approaches to

L-R : Wife of the Special Guest of Honour, Lady Ebun Omotoso in a chat with a retired CBN Director, Princess Dr. Ebun Oladunni and the PRO Igbimo Ure Ekiti, Lion Dr. Funke Adebajo at the Group’s reception for the Secretary, the newly appointed Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank Ltd, Sir Remi Omotoso held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.

business capacity across the diverse creative industries.

The event is divided in such a way that the first day will be lectures by professionals from different parts of the world and the second day will be a day of coming together to co produce a strategic plan for developing the Nigerian creative sector.

bestowed with the prestigious Nigerian National Order Award, NNOA. The award which is a celebration of the intellectual, academic and creative achievements of Nigerians expected to take place on December 5th, 2013, will have Prof.

Chukwuemeka Ike who was a past winner of the award deliver lecture on “The Story Writer and National Transformation.”

The Chairman of Governing Board of the Nigerian National Merit Award, NNMA, Prof.

Adegoke Oluwafeyisola, who disclosed this yesterday while unveiling the winners of the 2013 edition of the award, said that the three eminent academics emerged after

rigorous selection process.

Prof. Oluwafeyisola said, “Over 40 candidates within Nigeria and in Diaspora were nominated for the award in the four disciplinary areas described by the Act, viz: Science, Medicine, Engineering/Technology and Humanities (including all other fields of human endeavor).

“At the conclusion of our very rigorous, merit driven, 3-stage assessment process, only three (3) Nigerians were approved for the Award by the Governing Board of the NNMA.” According to him, the winners of this year’s award are, Prof. Seth Sunday Ajayi who came top on science category as he has been a major figure in the international community of scholars in

Wildlife Conservation and Environmental Protection and management.

In the field of humanities, Prof. Francis Abiola Irele, an author of over 100 papers that include “The Cambridge History of African and Caribbean Literature and four collections of essays, while Prof. Hillary Iyang Iyang won in the Engineering / Technology category.

The Chairman of Board Governing Council stated that in the past 35 years the merit award was instituted, non of its recommendation had been considered unworthy and there had not been any protest or rejection of those that had emerged, adding that the system put in place for the selection was not interfered by anybody.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

10 persons killed in Bauchi, Adamawa and Calabar

BY UMAR YUSUF, SUZAN EDEH & EMMA UNA, Yola

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Gov. Peter Obi (middle), with Chinyere Okunna ( 1st right), Vivian Nwandu (2nd right),during the presentation of the cheque of N30m to Fr. Patrick Omuta (1st left) and Sr Mercy (2nd left), for the maternity project at Ugwuagba, Obosi, one of the 11 being built in different parts of the state at the cost of N400m

30 die in Benue road mishap

BY PETER DURU, Makurdi

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O fewer than 30 persons have been reportedly killed in auto accidents across Benue state which also left over 100 persons sustaining varying degree of injuries in the last three weeks.

The Zonal Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in charge of Zone 4, Assistant Corps Marshall Yakubu Attah disclosed this yesterday at the inauguration of the north central zone chapter of the Federal Roads Committee on Surveillance and Action Against Road Abuses, FERCSARA, in Makurdi.

Attah attributed most of the mishaps that claimed innocent lives of motorists and commuters to “the abuse of roads in the state through illegal construction of speed bumps, cutting of major roads and making of bonfire and

erection of illegal checkpoints on the roads.”

Earlier in his speech, while inaugurating the committee, a member of the Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, representing the north central zone, Hon. Samuel Gwomna disclosed that the federal government would soon set up mobile courts to try the culprits of road abuses across the country.

Gwomna said, “when established, the courts would go a long way in checking activities that lead to unwarranted road mishaps and loss of innocent lives across the country.

While urging road users to strictly abide by the rules governing the use of roads in the country, Gwomna said, “those behind the erection of speed bumps, cutting of our roads and the erection of illegal check points on roads across the country should also desist or be prepared to face the

wrath of the law.”

In his speech, the National Chairman of FERCSARA, Mr. Kelvin Onuoha lamented that “the country is daily recording increasing deaths on the highways due mainly to destruction and abuses of our roads by communities where the roads are situated and road users alike.

Also speaking, the north central zone chairman of FERCSARA and zonal coordinator of FERMA, Mr. Robinson Ibe said the inauguration of the committee was timely stressing that it would help the government check the abuses and deaths recorded on major highways in the country.

He added, “this committee will henceforth regularly traverse all federal roads in the zone to ensure that our roads are no longer abused in any form and by so doing check the increasing road mishaps in the country.”

EN persons including four policemen have been reportedly killed by unknown gunmen in Bauchi and Adamawa States.

In Cross River State, a 16year old female student of the University of Calabar, (name withheld), was also raped to a state of unconsciousness by armed robbers who raided one of the private female hostels in town on Tuesday night.

Four policemen were killed in an ambush in Bauchi, while two others were seriously injured just as six other people were killed when some unidentified gunmen invaded Yola, the Adamawa State capital Thursday night and unleashed terror on the inhabitants. The policemen in Bauchi were ambushed along the Bauchi- Gombe road.

The gunmen also reportedly destroyed an Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, belonging to the military but parked along the roadside as well as the police patrol vehicle in which the deceased policemen were travelling at the time of the attack.

Also, sources told Saturday Vanguard that hell was let loose in Yola, the Adamawa State capital Thursday night when suspected Boko Haram insurgents unleashed terror in the state capital.

During the attack which lasted several hours, at least six people were re-

Court strikes out Oyo ruler’s suit to hold title

BY OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

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HE efforts of Alago Oja of Ago Oja, Alhaji Ganiyu Busari Ajiboye to quash an earlier judgment which barred him from parading himself as the traditional ruler of the town failed as a Federal High Court in Ibadan struck out the suit he instituted.

He was enthroned by former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala against the consent of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

Ajiboye had prayed the court to quash an earlier judgment restraining him from parading himself as the Alago Oja of Ago Oja in Oyo town.

The earlier judgment was delivered by Retired Justice Olu Akinola of the Oyo State High Court in a Suit No. HOY/46/2006

between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III and Assistant Commissioner of Police and others.

However, the alleged failure of Alhaji Ajiboye to heed the judgment was said to have caused unrest in the ancient town of Oyo, a development said to have necessitated the attempt by the police to enforce the judgment.

This then compelled Alhaji Ajiboye to institute another suit before a Federal High Court to challenge the attempt by the police to enforce the subsisting judgment, claiming over N1 billion damages against the Oyo State Government and the police.

However, Justice Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo of the Ibadan Judicial Divi-

sion of the Federal High Court, in her judgment, struck out the suit instituted by the Alago Oja through Fundamental Enforcement Procedure Rule.

According to Justice Obaseki-Adejumo, “the suit is incompetent and the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain matters touching or relating to chieftaincy matters” .

portedly killed, while many others sustained injuries.

Eyewitness told Saturday Vanguard that a large number of the insurgents stormed the popular Kasuwar Gwari Market along Mubi Bye Pass, where they identified their targets and shot them at close range.

It was gathered that the incident led to stampede as people ran helter-skelter for their lives as the news spread to other parts of the state capital like wild fire.

The military men enforcing the state of emergency in the state later launched a man haunt for the fleeing suspected Boko Haram members, leading to the closure of all roads leading to and from the state capital thereby creating long queues along the major roads.

As at the time of this report, all the major markets in the state capital have remained closed, even as most shop owners were not operating.

The Commander of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Yola, Brigadier General Fattai Alli declined comments on the issue when newsmen approached him, saying he was too

IGP redeploys five AIGs, two Commissioners

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja

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HE Inspector-Gen eral of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered the redeployment of five Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, AIGs, and two other commissioners to zonal and state commands or formations for effective policing of the country.

They are AIG Ballah Nasarawa, formerly Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, who is now the AIG in charge of Zone 9, Umuahia.

The zone covers Abia, Imo, Enugu and Anambra

Oyeleke urges journalists to report peace instead of violence

By ANOZIE EGOLE

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HE North Western President of the Nigerian Mission of Seventh-Day Adventist church, Pastor (Dr) Oyeleke Owolabi, has urged journalists to always try as much as possible to report peace, unity and progress of the country and shun vio-

lence reporting as that is the only way to move the country forward. The clergy made this call in Lagos while addressing newsmen on their church evangelism tagged, “Lagos for Christ 2013,”. In his words, “ I urge journalists to try as much as possible, to report peace, unity and progress and

shun negative and pessimistic reporting because, it will not bring any development to the country”.

According to Dr, Oyeleke, the evangelism, is a continious activity which will be taking place yearly as it is a positive way towards harnessing the raw talents in Nigerian youths

busy to talk to the press.

The Federal Government had announced the renewal of the six months state of emergency imposed on Adamawa alongside Borno and Yobe States due to activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East part of the country where the three states belong.

In Bauchi, police sources confirmed that the four policemen who were on night duty were killed by unknown gunmen while two others sustained injuries.

“It is quite unfortunate that the four police men were ambushed and killed by gunmen in the state. Two other policemen also sustained injuries during the attack. Furthermore, the gunmen damaged the police patrol vehicles and an armoured personnel carrier belonging to the military but parked at the roadside.

There was no soldier inside the APC but security personnel had been deployed to restore law and order in the area even as the “police were able to counter the attack by hitting the gunmen and recovering one of their guns.’’

especially, Lagosians.

“This evangelism is also mearnt to proffer a means of moving Lagos in paticular and Nigeria as a whole forward. We have through our humanitarian arm called, ADRA, been able to reach the poor and the less privileged. We have provided clothes to the naked and food to the hungry,” he said.

State commands.

Others include AIG David Omojola who was redeployed to Oshogbo to head Zone 11 and AIG Tambari Mohammed who moved to the Zone 1, with responsibility for Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States.

Also, AIG Mohammed Gana was redeployed to Zone 12, Bauchi with responsibility for Bauchi, Borno and Yobe States even as AIG Edgar Nanakumor moves to Force Headquarters to head the Animal Branch.

However, Usman Gwary is now the new Commissioner of Police for Anambra State, while Saidu Madawaki moves to Kogi State in similar capacity as G w a r y .

A statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba noted that the redeployments took immediate effect.

Mba said “The affected officers were charged by the IGP to ensure that they step up the fight against crime and criminalities,” while asking them to ensure that the safety, security of lives and property of the citizenry were not compromised.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013 — 9

Tears in Edo as Akhigbe, Omo Omoruyi are laid to rest Admiral’s contribution to our democracy made it possible for me to be governor today — Oshiomhole

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM B/CITY

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EARS flowed freely yesterday in Benin City, as two prominent sons of Edo State, the former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe and former Director General of the Center for Democratic Studies (CDS), Prof.Omo Omoruyi began their final journey on earth.

The remains of Admiral Akhigbe, touched down at the Benin Airport, aboard a Nigerian Airforce plane with registration number NAF-031, at 11.45am, with Governor Adams Oshiomhole, his deputy, Dr Pius Odubu and several Naval officers on hand to receive the corpse.

While the corpse of Akhigbe was being received at the Airport, commendation service for former Prof Omoruyi, held at the Akin Deko Main Auditorium, University of Benin. It was followed by a funeral service at the Central Baptist Church, Benin City.

The late Political Scientist was later interned at his 18, Oza Street, family home. Omoruyi had requested in his book, “My Journey back to life” that he should be buried in Oza street where his family house is located.

Shortly after late Admi-

ral Akhigbe’s corpse was received at the Benin Airport, it was moved to the Edo state Government House Benin City where it was laid in state for about an hour. Father Andrew Obiyan officiated during a brief mass in his honour. Both leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) put aside their political differences to give their last respect to the late Naval Chief.

Oshiomhole in his tribute said Akhigbe made it possible for people like him to ascend to become President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and later governor of Edo state, through the removal of obnoxious extant laws, adding that the late Admiral gave his all to Nigeria.

According to him, “anyone who had the opportunity to interact with our late brother closely, will know that he will live forever wherever he is today.

The story of my journey to Edo state Government will not be complete if not for the contribution of this truthful man, a complete gentleman. Admiral Akhigbe during while he was Chief of General Staff during the administration of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, repealed the decrees which forbid people like us then from contesting the position of

the NLC President.

“They repealed those decrees and that was how I was now legible to contest as President of the NLC. If I did not become the President of the NLC, may be I would have remained a stranger in Edo state. He did not do that

Mrs. Josephine Akhigbe and Comrade Oshiomhole after the occasion at the Government House.

A

RMED gunmen again struck Thursday night in the creek of Bayelsa State kidnapping the wife and daughter of the state Treasurer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Gbalipre Turner.

The latest kidnap occurred at the riverside town of Opume in Ogbia local government area of the state.

This incident occurred 24 hours after some unknown gunmen snatched the father of the state commissioner for Tourism Development in the coastal Minibeleu community, Akassa in Brass council area of the state.

Saturday Vanguard learnt that the abduction of the PDP Treasurer’s wife and daughter occurred at about

of the sleepy town had retired to the comfort of their homes.

They were said to have

always, he had the courage to speak the truth even to his senior colleagues. And I am particularly happy that throughout his time in the service, he was never associated with any scandal, that will tell you a gentleman that he was. Even as we mourn, we know that our brother is in heaven with our Lord”.

Oshiomhole further admonished the family to take solace with the fact that the late Admiral was a great man who contributed immensely for the democracy the nation is enjoying today and assured the continuous support of the state government to the family.

Shortly after the lying in state at Government House, the body of the late Admiral was taken through a motorcade to his ancestral home in Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Council of Edo state, where he will be buried today (Saturday).

•••As IBB eulogises late Akhigbe F ORMER Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida has joined pantheon of Nigerians who continue to eulogise the sterling qualities of the late Chief of General Staff, late Vice Admiral Mike Okhai

Gunmen kidnap Bayelsa PDP Treasurer’s the community in a wife, daughter 11pm when most residents stormed speedboat and fired sporadBY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, YENAGOA

because we came from the same area but because that administration respected human rights, and it was the freedom they created that led to the democracy we started enjoying in 1999.

“So if a man has made these contributions to our

great nation, what else do we ask from God to give him. Yes as human beings we will miss him, we are grieved but we must not fail to thank God for what he has used him to achieve for our nation and out state in particular. Our brother stood by the truth

ically into the air before heading for their victims home.

Akhigbe who passed on recently at the age of 68.

IBB, in an eulogy termed ‘Akhigbe: Death, A Thief Forever’ said he still could not absorb the shocking news and thus short of words to convey his heartfelt condolence to his family and the nation for the loss f another great Nigerian.

Describing the former number two man in the General Abdulsalam Abubakar’s administration, he said “ Okhai was not

only down-to-earth on anything he laid his hands on; he as an extra-ordinary officer amongst his compatriots in course 3, some of whom I had the rare privilege of working with both as an officer of the Nigerian Army and later as Military President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

He went on to say Akhigbe will be sorely

missed, not only by the Nigerian Military but every Nigerian who understands and appreciates the capacity of the human intellect to contend with situations.

“There are too many anecdotes to recall about Mike Okhai Akhigbe, which I would have loved to share with our fellow country men and women, but my mood even as I write this, is forlorn” he said.

Anambra: We’ll not be part of it — APC, PDP, LP

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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HREE major parties which contested the November 16 gubernatorial election in Anambra State yesterday expressed disappoint-ment with the statement by the National Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega that

the commission had no sufficient information of alleged malpractices that could led to the cancellation of the entire election.

The parties including the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, All Progressive Congress, APC and Labour Party, LP, accused the

Christ the King College marks 80 The Lagos branch of Christ the King College Old Boys Association is set to celebrate the 80 th anniversary of the College with series of activities.

The celebration begins on Saturday 23rd with a retreat at Our Lady of Apostles Convent, St Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland

followed by a Holy Mass of the Feast of Christ the King at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos. Celebrations continue on Wednesday with a lecture and an anniversary luncheon on Sunday, December 1st at Chevron Club, Lagos.

commission of engaging in double speak over the issue, adding that Jega had earlier insisted that INEC lacked the power to cancel the election, wondering why he had turned round to say that the commission had no sufficient evidence to cancel an election he had acknowledged to have been flawed.

Reacting to to Jega’s address, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said, ‘’the APC has rejected yesterday’s announcement by INEC to hold supplementary election in Anambra State on

November 30, 2013. We will not be a party to what is obviously a travesty of election by a selfdiscredited and conniving electoral umpire. ”This announcement has confirmed our worst fears that INEC is working in cahoots with the PDP and the presidency to ensure that no election ever counts in Nigeria.

Also, a Media Aide of Dr Chris Ngige, the APC candidate for the governorship election, Mr Tony Icheku denounced Jega’s position on the matter saying that the APC has no other option than to challenge INEC’s

fraudulent action in the state state.

On his own, the Media Aides to Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, the Labour Party candidate in the election and the Labour Party, Emma Ibeleme and Mr Chris Anyaonu, Media Director for the party said, ‘’we stand by our position that the election must be cancelledAlso, the PDP candidate for the election, Mr Tony Nwonye rejected Jega’s re-scheduled election in the state saying that ‘’we stand by our earlier stand that the poll must be cancelled because it was characterised with fraud.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

NIGERIA: Health sector is suffering so much neglect (2) Last week, we began an X-ray in Nigeria’s health sector and published some of the reports.

This week, we bring the concluding part of the story.

FCT Poor capacity and manpower shortage impact poorly on healthcare

T

,,

BY VICTORIA OJEME

he Federal Capital Territory, Abuja has 13 government hospi tals, spread across the 6 area councils, namely, General hospitals, Abuja Area Municipal Council(AMAC)

located in Nyanya, Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje and Bwari, including those located in the federal capital city. These are the Wuse General Hospital, Maitama General Hospital, Asokoro General Hospital, National Hospital Hospital and of course Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital, as well as Federal Staff hospital, airport road Jabi.

For a population of 6 million, the current population estimates for the Federal Capital, the number of government hospitals seems adequate on face value, but a closer look at some of the indices, including, doctor to patient ratio, expertise as well as quality of service clearly indicate that all is not well with health care delivery in the FCT, in spite of Abuja being the Federal capital.

An estimate of patients who go to seek medical care at government hospitals located within the city centre indicates a figure of between 300 to 400 daily, while the area council is estimated to be between 150 to 200 patients.

The National hospital daily patients attendance is put at between 400 to 500, apparently because it is one of the few referral hospitals for more serious ailments that would otherwise require treatment abroad.

The overall estimates of patients’ daily attendance at government owned hospitals in FCT are put at about 6,000, a number that has far outstripped available infrastructure and manpower.

In FCT, only the National hospital has the MIR Scan, an important requirement for successful diagnosis of ailments such as cancer related diseases as well as bone marrow and

brain related injury and treatment.

The general hospitals located in the six area councils are worse hit, barely managing to render mundane primary health care services, such as maternal and ante-natal care, HIV/AIDS care and prevention, among others.

As far as bed spaces are concerned, the

In FCT, only the National hospital has the MIR Scan, an important requirement for successful diagnosis of ailments such as cancer related diseases as well as bone marrow and brain related injury and treatment. The general hospitals located in the six area councils are worse hit, barely managing to render mundane primary health care services, such as maternal and ante-natal care, HIV/AIDS care and prevention, among others

National Hospital has the highest number of bed spaces, with 350 bed spaces, while such hospitals as Wuse has 130, Maitama, 60 and Asokoro, 60 bed spaces, meaning that on the average, only about 800 bed spaces are available for an estimated patient population of about 6,000, including estimated bed spaces of about 150 available at general hospitals located at the area councils.

The quality of service delivery, ranging from misdiagnosis, aswell as outright incompetence in the handling of patients and ethical issues related to poor capacity have continued to dogg health services in the Federal capital.

The death of a 26 years old pregnant woman, Mrs Nana Lasisi during labour at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada not only opened the eyes of the public to the level of incompetence in government hospitals in FCT, but also highlighted the helplessness faced by government in taking far reaching punitive measures against such misconduct for fear of losing the scarcely available medical personnel.

The woman was said to have fallen from a theatre table during labour, which later led to injuries on her head , after which she was confirmed dead on August 4, 2011, leaving behind a

new born baby boy.

Lasisi who was hospitalized on the 21st July, 2011 for the purpose of delivery was administered with drugs to induce labour, after she was past her due date by one week and two days, further complicating her situation.

Then Minister of State for Health, Dr Mohammed Pate, who visited the hospital on a fact finding mission condemned the incidence.

The Minster had promised to investigate the incidence and possibly take punitive measures against those responsible for the unfortunate death of the pregnant woman, but nothing has been heard about the matter till date.

Ministry sources had confided that, the Ministry could not afford to dismiss any doctor at the moment owing to severe shortage of man power in the nation’s health sector, particularly in the FCT. The case of the plight of five years old Ferdinand Chukwuma, also easily lends credence to the growing level of incompetence in government hospitals in FCT. His parents recently pleaded for support to take their child to India for surgery owing to the apparent inability of doctors at the Maraba general hospital and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, both in the suburb of FCT to surgically correct intestinal obstruction.

Though Ferdinand’s intestines were removed by doctors at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, ostensibly to rectify the problem, but it did turn out that, the course of treatment was wrong.

The Federal Staff Hospital, Jabi was recently embroiled in crisis, when pharmacists in the hospital downed tools over allegations that the Medical Director imposed a private pharmaceutical company as the sole dispenser of drugs in the hospital.

In what is clearly an ethical issue, known to be rampant practice in the medical profession in FCT, the crisis paralysed services in the hospital for days.

The Ministry of Health has since waded into the matter, leaving many to guess what might be the outcome of the Ministry’s intervention.

Only recently, a woman, who did not want her name mentioned was

wrongly diagnosed with breast cancer and had two of her breast cut off, only to discover in far away America that she did not have cancer.

Minister of Health Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu had recently lamented poor service delivery in federal hospitals, including hospitals in the FCT. The Minister expressed his concern at a meeting with the Forum of Chairmen of Boards of Federal Tertiary Heath Institutions, in Abuja.

Insisting on the need for health professionals to adhere strictly to the World Health Organization(WHO) checklist on standards on surgical safety, he warned of dire consequences for doctors who become negligent .

The minister, in a statement signed by Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Communication, Dan Nwomeh , Chukwu recalled the dismissal of some consultants and resident doctors in some federal hospitals for negligence, saying that if the checklist is used as a standard procedure in hospitals, the unfortunate incidences that led to the sack of the doctors would have been avoided.

“The minister lamented that most of the criticisms against the Federal Ministry of Health arise from the situations in the hospitals, and mandated the forum to take necessary actions to ensure the realization of President Goodluck Jonathan’s vision for health” “Prof. Chukwu listed critical areas of intervention such as environmental hygiene, out-of-stock syndrome in pharmacies, long waiting time and quality of services to patients” the statement added.

Manpower shortage is also a critical area that has continued to negatively impact on health care delivery in FCT. For a daily patient population of about 6,000, the distributions of various categories of health care professionals grossly undermine any meaningful effort to improve service delivery.

Estimate of pharmacists available at any point in time in all government hospitals is put at about 120 in the whole of FCT, while doctors are slightly higher with an estimated number of 350.

With so many patients in FCT traveling out in droves for medical care, as well as unprecedented expansion in the number of daily patients attendance in private hospitals, inspite of the exorbitant charges, health care services in the FCT are clearly not meeting the needs and standards expected by residents.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013—11

EBONYI STATE

Affordable health-care service delivery taken to the hinterlands

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI- THE Health sector among other key sectors in the State had nonetheless received the attention of the present administration of Governor Martin Elechi since it came on board on May 29, 2007. One of the strategic initiatives of the administration that is geared towards tackling the health challenges facing the state was the taking of affordable healthcare service delivery to the hinterlands of all the 13 Local government areas of the State through the introduction of awareness campaigns led by various communities, groups and the media, construction of standard healthcare Centres, streamlining of the number of general hospitals in the state, state government’s partnership with major health related partners like the World Health Organization, WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF etc and passage of relevant Health related Bills by the State House of Assembly.

These measures among others had enabled the general public to express confidence in the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary healthcare delivery of the state.

Speaking with Saturday Vanguard, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sunday Nwangele stated that when the present administration came on board, its major priority was on the functionality of the numerous Health centres across the state rather than their plurality and the implementation of Health assessment needs of the people of the State. He said: “The Governor of Ebonyi state vested more interest in the functionality of the health facilities rather than in their multiplication. Chief Martin Elechi with emphasis on the functionality and operations of these hospitals also injected standard primary health centres directly and also through the MGDS project of the state; so we have about 443 primary health centres in the state. So far so good, the policy of the state government now is that the present authorities of the LGA and the development centres are not encouraged to build any new health centres and where absolutely necessary, they should get clearance from the State Ministry of Health.

“We understand that more people are in the rural communities with economic challenges with poor access to health care delivery and they are prone to diseases; these rural diseases give us more of the negative health challenges in the state. And to augment what some humanitarian health service providers have been doing by attending to Ebonyi people, this led the Governor to establish the Rural Health programme, RHP. “It is a programme that identified six rural based hospitals which are service oriented rather than profit minded and they have been able to attend to a larger portion of the rural dwellers in the state; the Governor introduced the Rural Health Programme which is the fourth tier; the purpose is to bring health care delivery to the populous yet underserved diseased challenged Ebonyi people.

“The hospitals enjoying the RHP of the state government include Mater Miserecordia Hospital, Afikpo, Sudan United Mission, Izzi, Rural Improvement Mission, Ikwo the Presbyterian Joint Hospital, Uburu and Saint Vincent Hospital Ndubia and Mile Four Hospital, Abakaliki. “They are spread across the three senatorial zones of the state and it is a medium to reach the rural people bringing to them affordable health care delivery; a tranche of money is released to these hospitals for infrastructural development, recruitment of quality care providers, purchase of modern and diagnostic equipments so that the people do not need to come for unnecessary referrals in hospitals in the state capital. The government has so far invested N1.7 billion into this programme and the results are very eloquent as the public is calling for the sustenance of this programme”.

Also on health care delivery, the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, NOFC had treated over 1800 VVF patients from across 20 states of the federation since its inception in 2008 as the then South East Fistula Centre, Abakaliki. The facilities in the medical complex are assisting medical experts’ carryout critical treatments including surgeries that were hitherto not possible. One thing that is peculiar about the Centre is the offering of free medical treatments to all and sundry irrespective of one’s tribe, state or political affiliation. The centre took this format of treatment because of the wife of the Gover-

nor, Mrs. Josephine Elechi’s passion and willingness to ensure a total eradication of the VVF scourge cross the country. As a vibrant woman leader with the heart of patriot, she partnered various health related national and international agencies including the WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF among others to ensure that not only that the treatments were affordable but also qualitative in all ramifications.

Tracing the historical background of the Centre, the Chief Medical Director of NOFC, Prof. Sunday Oduoye explained that the idea behind the emergence of the National Obstetric Fistula Centre in the state was based on a project under the initiative of the Mother and Child Care Initiative, MCCI of the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Josephine Elechi geared towards the reduction of obstetric fistula among other thematic areas.

According to Oduoye, the NOFC as the cancer screening centre for the South East geopolitical zone had within the last 18 months offered free cervical and breast cancer screening to about 7000 women even as

it visited the Local government areas in the state offering women living in the remote parts of the council areas the opportunity to get screened without any stress.

This development, according to him, had provoked lots of awareness among the people of the State as the Centre was now receiving more requests from both women and religious groups requesting that their communities be included in the screening exercise.

The Chief Medical Director of the Centre added that apart from offering free treatment to women suffering from the VVF scourge at the centre, it also has a component where it visits other states of the federation offering similar treatments to women.

Another establishment that is contributing its quota towards improving healthcare service delivery in the State is the Office of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P in the State. The SURE-P in the State among other areas has contributed towards the improvement of both Maternal and child health and in doing this, it selected some heath centres around the state, employed health workers and deployed same to the health centres. It equally equipped hospitals with drugs so that the pregnant women can access them at zero cost. Saturday Vanguard also gathered that the SURE-P had successfully implemented Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT in Ebonyi State; during the exercise which took place at the pilot LGA, Ivo, pregnant women were given cash incentive to spur them to come out and receive antenatal services free of charge in a bid to reduce child mortality and maternal death to its barest minimum. Saturday Vanguard gathered that over 500 women benefited from the CCT Pilot programme launch in Ivo LGA of the State.

KOGI STATE :

Health institutions deteriorating

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, LOKOJA

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he State of Infrastructure of Health institutions in Kogi State is deteriorating especially primary health centers across the local government areas of the State.

While the state government has concentrated much attention on the tertiary health centers in Lokoja,the State capital and others in some major towns of the State, minimal attention has been shown to dispensary and community clinics across the 21 LGAs. A visit across those health centres in the rural areas shows a complete state of despair with many of the building in dilapidated form. Aside from the dilapidated physical structures, majority of all the these health centres lack basic drugs and are also short of medical personnel.

At some of the dispensaries, only a nurse or one health official are left to manned them, with no trained medical doctors to attend to the medical needs of the rural people which has resulted in many of the rural dwellers seeking for medical attention in the cities despite the presence of such health centres in their communities.

Most time, its the intervention of special medical teams from non Governmental agencies or concerned individuals to the rural areas that aided the rural dwellers to access medical attention.

So far this year, the CEDIO medical team; a free rural medical programe of Governor Idris Wada

has further attested to the fact that health centres in the rural communities fall short of its purpose as over 30,000 persons in the rural communities scattered across the 21 local government areas benefited from the medical team, with many of them stating that such programe is the only place that afford them the opportunity of having good medical attention.

The tertiary health centres in the cities are minimal. Only the Federal Medical centre in Lokoja shows the best of such institution as the Federal Medical centre in Ajaokuta has become obsolete lacking both in man power and medical equipment.

Not until recently was the Federal Medical centre, Lokoja equipped to handle cases of Diabetic heamolysis.

Also, the State Governor, Captain Idris Wada gave approval for the General hospital in Anyigba to be equipped into a teaching hospital as a result of the accreditation of the medical degree for the State university in Anyigba.

The State government owned health centers is not different from the Federal Government health centre. The modernized Specialist hospital in Lokoja is the only one in good operational condition coupled with the ongoing building of a diagnostic centre. But aside this, the General Hospital in Kabba, Egbe in the western Senatorial axis and Okene in the central senatorial axis though boast of enough medical staff but lack some basic equipment.

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

KADUNA STATE

Dearth of medical workers hits crisis point . . . 81 staff run 34 hospitals in Hunkuyi LGA

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

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woman, maybe in her 20s, dressed in hijab, was helped by two others into a decrepit, match box size room that had only a rickety bed and worn out mattress at the Hunkuyi Primary Health Care Centre, in Hunkuyi Local Area (LGA) of Kaduna state.

“Does she have a card a lready?” asked Aliyu Nuhu, the man in charge of the medical services of the LGA while he took the visiting team of reporters around the place.“Yes”, the most elderly of the two answered in a very worried anxious voice, while making their way to the bed. “This is what you see here twenty four hours everyday per week”, he said. “pregnant women coming to give birth, and there is no midwife. And they may come from as far as 30km.

“I know that you people are looking out for the neatness of the Clinic and the kinds of facilities and equipment that we have”, he teased at the reporters, “while, as for this LGA, that is a luxury that we cannot bother about”, he said.

“Look, gentlemen, at this centre, we get on the average about 250 to 300 patients. On market days we may get as much as 500 patients”, he said of the place that is just slightly the size of a badminton court, (the entire Health Centre). That means that some patients manage their ailments until the next market days, when dilapidated commercial vehicles moving traders and their goods to the Hunkuyi market would also take them out to the PHC, sometimes with women in labour who may have developed complications.

“We do not have a doctor here. No midwife. No laboratory. No lab technologist”, he went on.

“The fact is this: we have a total of 34 Health Facilities in Hunkuyi LGA, but we have only 81 trained staff to run them. Look at me, I am a Community Heath Worker trained by white men, and I have a Diploma from the University of Ibadan on Health Promotion and Education. I am not a doctor, but I have to help do a lot of all kinds of works here. I leave home in the morning, and I am working round sometimes after mid-night. The pressure on us here is too much.

“Yet, in this Hunkuyi, I have received applications of 46 unemployed, qualified medical personnel, and all of then indigenes of this LGA. It is not because we don’t have them. Their applications are on the desk of the LGA Chairman. But he cannot employ them, because he has to get directive from Kaduna”, he said. “ People are saying that even if there is embargo on employment, must these rural areas not be helped with staff out of the exigency of the time?

“I don’t believe that there should be embargo on employing health workers under the present conditions that we are. Because some of us are soon retiring and there are no replacement. People are looking for work. “ In fact, some of this idle health personnel are even the ones that come around to render free services, out of humane considerations”, he said.

The story is the same at the Sabon Gari-Giwa Primary Health Centre in Giwa LGA of the state, about an hour’s drive from Kaduna. This centre which takes an average delivery of 10 babies a day, and 200 patients daily, does not have single microscope among others. With no generator, the Centre has been without light for three months, because it has been unable to pay for its monthly light bill of Four thousand Naira only (N4000) For a centre that receives over 500 patients on market days, it has a Staff strength of 16, with just one Nurse.

In Unguwar Ali Gado, a suburb of Birnin Gwari town, about 300km from Kaduna metropolis lies a Maternal and Child Clinic established to cater for basic health issues of the women and children of the estimated 10,000 residents. “This Centre has 15 beds, but has a capacity to take 50”, said one of the staff who does not want his name published. “We are mainly concern with antenatal and children issues. We treat on the average about 300 of them daily. At times we get 10 deliveries a day, but we only have one delivery bed.

“Of the 17 workers here, we have only four nurses for this teeming population”, he said.

Again another grim aspect of this story is displayed at Makarfi LGA. According to findings the entire Makarfi LGA does not have a single medical doctor, not a single Pharmacist nor radiologists. It has only three nurses and three midwives on top of its staff list.

At the expansive Makarfi General Hospital, the story is even more vivid.

BENUE STATE

Lack of qualified hands to run health institutions

BY PETER DURU, MAKURDI

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he completion of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, and commencement and rendering of medical services to the teeming people of Benue state, remains one of the greatest achievements of the Governor Gabriel Suswam led administration in the last 78 months.

Though at the inception of the administration in 2007, the Governor had in line with his development blue print as encapsulated in the “Our Benue Our Future” working document, set a target of ensuring that each of the 23 local governments of the state had a General Hospital.

Soon after, the administration commenced the phased construction of general hospitals in 18 local government areas of the state that lacked the health facility.

While the construction of the new facilities were going on, some others were also being upgraded from primary health centres to full fledged general hospitals.

In the same vein, primary healthcare centres in the state also received the attention of the administration with most of them accorded tremendous facelift.

These rehabilitation and construction, were followed by the supply and distribution of basic medical equipment and medicaments valued at over N6billion, across the public hospitals in the state.

Perhaps the rejuvenation of health facilities in Benue state by the Suswam led administration, some four years ago, remains the most far reaching since the creation of the state.

Hospitals in the state were positioned for better service delivery to the generality of the people of the state.

The primary healthcare centres were functioning at their peak, the general hospitals were running while the newly commissioned BSUTH rendered medical services to the people and also served as a referral centre for all other hospitals in the state.

It is pertinent to point out here that though the state government had made concerted efforts to put these medical facilities in place, the major challenge facing these hospitals is the lack of qualified hands to run the health institutions especially those that are located in the rural communities

Most of these hospitals also enjoyed the benefit of being supplied Anti Retroviral drugs for free distribution to the herd of persons living with HIV/ AIDS in the state.

The tempo with which the Governor Gabriel Suswam led administration tackled the challenges confronting the health sector at the inception of his administration actually received commendation which also led to the donation of a dialysis centre at the BSUTH by the MTN foundation.

It is pertinent to point out here that though the state government had made concerted efforts to put these medical facilities in place, the major challenge facing these hospital is the lack of qualified hands to run the health institutions especially those that are located in the rural communities.

This remains a daunting challenge that the state government must quickly find a way of tackling.

When Saturday Vanguard visited some of the general hospitals at the hinterlands of the state, it was discovered that the facilities were mostly in good shape but the medical staff to run the hospitals were inadequate and in some cases lacking.

It was also discovered that outside nurses on duty in the hospitals visited, most of the medical personnel serving at the hospitals were National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, members who serve in these hospitals and leave at the completion of their service year, hence denying their patients prolonged attention where their health situation demand such.

It was further discovered that despite the huge resources expended to put up these facilities, they have been left to deteriorate because no proper attention had been accorded to the maintenance of the institution. Reacting to this development, a staff of Okpoga general hospital in Okpokwu local government area of the state who craved anonymity, told Saturday Vanguard that “the last time this hospital was renovated was when a team from Makurdi visited the hospital, since then no serious rehabilitation has taken place here in a long time. ”Moreover, the road leading to the hospital is also in bad shape and requires attention without which patients would continually be discouraged to seek medical attention here. ”The truth is that the people now prefer seeking medical attention in our public hospitals in Benue state because the state government took steps to upgrade facilities in all the hospitals in the state.

But my pain is that we spend so much to build these facilities but nobody cares about their maintenance, which means that in the coming few years these facilities might not be running; the situation is not peculiar to Benue state, it is a nationwide problem,” he stressed.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013—13

LAGOS STATE

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE, RACHEAL OLAYIWOLA & MODINAT AMUSA

Things are looking up

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urrently, Lagosians enjoy the best of both worlds in terms of government and private health institutions. Government health institutions have strong presence at Federal and State levels and leading the pack is the 52-yearold Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba, widely acknowleged as one of the nation’s “Centres of Medical Excellence”.

When it comes to matters of health, Lagos is listed among States in the “high end” class because of the high number and variety of general and specialist health facilities on offer.

A rundown of statistics of healthcare facilities in the State is a pointer to this potential. Statistics from the Healthcare Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, shows that in Lagos, there are 26 registered General Hospitals, 256 public healthcare centers, 2, 886 private hospitals or specialist clinics and laboratories or diagnostic centers in addition to an estimated 160 tradoimedical centers. HEFAMAA was set up by health sector reform law of 2006 to ensure improvement in the quality and efficiency of health care delivery in the State. HEFAMAA performs its regulatory functions to ensure that the minimum set standards by law are maintained thereby securing the safety of lives of its citizenry.

Unarguably, things are certainly looking up for Lagosians when it comes to matters of health. Gone are the days when a State or Federal medical institution situated in Lagos would wear the toga of abject neglect or gets bogged down by lack of medical manpower. These days the level of preparedness, service and attention to detail is quite commendable. From one public health institution to the other, one can say with confidence that the game has been stepped up in terms of qualitative delivery of healthcare and staff augmentation.

This is not to say it is all plain sailing. There are problems and it is not uncommon to find lapses here and there, but the bottom line is that is the state of hospitals in Lagos is at its best now much more than in recent times. Things can get a lot better if government lives up to expectation.

Tertiary health care centers that are the highest of all government hospitals in terms of facilities and staff as well as functions are the University Teaching Hospital, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, National Orthopadaeic Hospital Igbobi and the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba.

Between them, they train hundreds of thousands of medical personnel for the country’s health sector while also rendering diverse medical services. These institutions have capacity to carry out complex medical services such as heart surgeries,

Generally in Lagos, the holistic approach to healthcare delivery is the norm.

There are efforts geared towards minimising the current trend of Nigerians traveling overseas in search of medical treatment to drive the concept of medical tourism kidney transplant or other organ transplants. For instance, at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, care for the mentally ill is remarkable. There are no theatres but there are professionals who can take care of any psychiatric problem as well as consultants, clinical psychologists and psychiatric nurses and social health workers all trained to deal with related psychiatric cases. The approach to diagnosis is quite modern with approaches such as ECT and ECG tests.

A top management staff described the 535-bed hospital is the largest dedicated hospital for mental health in the country. “All the staff, psychiatrist doctors to the nurses, and even the cleaner and security personnel are all specially trained. In some cases, people abandon their rela-

tives and it becomes the burden of the Federal government to cater for them. The treatment and follow up is crucial and as part of the training, the first thing is the orientation to correct and change negative attitude.

Most people are of the opinion that only government health institutions provide the best care services and case studies of the state of the medical institutions Lagos revealed that although efforts are in the right direction, a lot still has to be done.

One of the most vexing issues which is staff attitude, appears to be improving, although far from perfect. Patients confirm that the quality of services rendered by hospitals is better while some say it is satisfactory in some cases and poor in others.

The biggest complaints are connected with the long waiting times to the slow and unreliable doctors’ appointments at the clinics and endless queues. There are still instances where allegations of staff demanding money from patients to hasten their appointment with a doctor make the headlines, but all in all, the quality of staff appears better than in the recent past, even if there may be need to employ more staff in the hospital.

But there are challenges. One thing that practically every health institution in Lagos is looking forward to is increased budgetary allocation even as the Federal government has restated commitment towards improving facilities in Federal Teaching and Specialist hospitals across the country. This complaint of inadequate allocation in the face of increasing utility expenses runs across all Federal and State health institutions. Issues of inadequate Capital Appropriation and untimely release of funds are often listed as factors affecting the level of desirable infrastructural

development of hospitals in Lagos.

The resultant effect of this is that quite a number of these health institutions are compelled to augment their expenditure in their own way, while ensuring the upkeep of patients does not become an even bigger challenge. But it is also not unlikely that the patient bears the brunt of these imposed increases by way of increased service charges.

Generally in Lagos, the holistic approach to healthcare delivery is the norm. There are efforts geared towards minimising the current trend of Nigerians traveling overseas in search of medical treatment to drive the concept of medical tourism. While there are so-called 5Star privately owned hospitals operating in Lagos, it is on record that the majority of such privatelyowned health institutions are best described as consulting clinics.

Hence the average Lagos-based hospital and maternity center could offer more specialized services in addition to the general services rendered.

Primary health care centers render sundry health care services while General Hospitals render general medical services including surgery to the public. Most of the existing General Hospitals in Lagos were constructed in the 1970s and 1980s but have undergone significant refurbishing and upgrading under the current administration. This has been augmented with better conditions of service for the staff. Patronizing the government owned hospitals is good because it guarantees treatment from skilled and well trained personnel as well as being affordable; however, the biggest drawback is the inadequacy of the facilities to cope with the huge demand and heavy rush of patients.

Hence, services tend to slow, inefficient and frustrating for those who require it.

14—SATURDAY

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23,, 2013

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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ince Sunday, the 17th November, 2013 when the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared the Anambra State governorship election inconclusive and directed that a supplementary election should be held in 211 polling units across the state to determine the eventual winner of the election, the state has been awash with intrigues, propaganda and, sometimes, blackmail by politicians to get their views across. Expectedly, officials of INEC have kept mute, allowing the politicians and their supporters and self –styled analysts to flood the airwaves with arguments to advance their varied opinions.

Recall that while announcing the result at the INEC headquarters in Awka, the state collation officer, Professor James Epoke said that the inability of INEC to declare a winner for the election was because the margin with which the highest scorer, Chief Willie Obiano of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, beat the runner up, Comrade Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was less than the number of registered voters in the 211 pilling units where election was cancelled.

The affected areas have registered voters strength of 113,113. Idemili North local government area, which is the stronghold of the APC candidate, Senator Chris Ngige, has the highest number of cancelled units with 160 polling units and a combined registered voters’ population of 89,997.

Other areas where the supplementary election would hold include three poling units in Ayamelum local government (1247 voters), one poling unit in Anambra East (250 voters), six units in Anambra West (2000 voters), one unit in Anaocha (276 voters), two units in Awka North (1356 voters), one unit in Aguata (310 voters) and one unit in Awka South (249 voters). Others are three units in Ekwusigo (884 voters), two units in Idemili South (800 voters), one unit in Onitsha North (484 voters), 17 units in Onitsha South (12299 voters), four units in Orumba North (588 voters) and four units in Oyi (1202 voters).

Before announcing the decision, the collation officers for all the 21 local government areas of the state had announced their results, which showed that the APGA candidate, Chief Willie Obiano scored a total of 174, 710 votes to place first, followed by the PDP candidate, Comrade Tony Nwoye who polled 94,856 votes, while Senator Chris Ngige of APC polled 92,300 votes to place third.

The official results for the 21 Local Government Areas showed that Obiano won in 16 LGAs. They include Aguata, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West, Anaocha, Awka North, Awka South, Ekwusigo,

ANAMBRA:

Intrigues,propaganda trail poll

Ihiala, Njikoka, Nnewi South, Ogbaru, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Orumba North and Orumba South Comrade Tony Nwoye of PDP and Dr Chris Ngige of APC won in two councils each. While PDP won in Dunukofia and Oyi, APC won Idemili North and Idemili South where Ngige holds sway. Dr Ifeanyi Ubah of Labour Party only won his Nnewi North Local Govern-

The exercise was manipulated by INEC officials in collusion with security agents to favour the APGA candidate. Nwoye was, however, later countered by his party’s national secretariat which praised the conduct of the election

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did not arrive at all. But perhaps, after getting full details of the election in all parts of the state, his party opted for total cancellation in view of what was described as monumental malpractices by officials of INEC and the disenfranchisement of many voters.

Two other candidates, Tony Nwoye, PDP, and Ifeanyi Ubah, Labour, were later to join the APC candidate in con-

ment. The 21 local governments in the state have 326 wards, 4, 608 polling units and 1, 784, 536 registered voters.

Epoke, who is the vice chancellor of the University of Calabar, said the decision to order for supplementary election in areas where the exercise was cancelled was due to the commission’s inability to conduct the election there due to alleged electoral malpractices.

As soon as INEC took the decision, vested interests began to emerge and it became obvious that they infiltrated the media, both print and electronic. Initially, the APC candidate, Ngige, wanted election to be repeated in four local government areas of the state which he described as his strongholds and where materials for the election either did not arrive on time, or

demning the outcome of the election.

Opposition candidates in joint conference The trio subsequently addressed a joint press conference where they called for the cancellation of the polls. They alleged that they would not accept any result from the election as conducted on November 16. To Ifeanyi Ubah, who won only in his home local government, Nnewi, faulted the outcome of the election, saying that having won convincingly at his Nnewi North local government, which is also the home town of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the late APGA leader, he would have won in the entire state if the election was not rigged.

On his part, Nwoye described the election as far be-

low average, adding that it was neither free and fair, nor credible. According to him, the exercise was manipulated

by INEC officials in collusion with security agents to favour the APGA candidate. Nwoye was, however, later countered by his party’s national secretariat which praised the conduct of the election. National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh while commending INEC for the good conduct of the Anambra election said the exercise was very peaceful. More was to come from the Anambra State branch of the party with the state chairman, Prince Kenneth Emeakayi toeing the line of Metuh, while the campaign organization of Nwoye insisted on the cancellation of the polls.

The director general of Tony Nwoye Campaign Organization, Prince Okey Ezenwa told reporters that PDP members in the state were surprised at the statements coming from the national publicity secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh who, he observed, has never really shown interest in the affairs of Anambra PDP. He said: “INEC has stated that the election is not yet won, but our member who is a national officer, Chief Olisa Metuh, is in a hurry to say that the election is peaceful. We, as members of the campaign organization, are calling for total cancellation of the election and for a fresh election to be conducted. From what we gathered, Olisa Metuh did not even put up appearance in his ward in Nnewi during the election which means that he did not vote.

“He also did not participate in the campaign and it shows that ab initio, he did not support Nwoye’s candidature.

Before making the pronouncements in Abuja, Metuh did not consult us and he never gave the party any support before the election. We would have thought that the contribution of Metuh should be for the good of the party, but rather, he is doing everything to undermine the success of PDP in Anambra State. It is sad that he is making these statements without recourse to our candidate or to find out the true situation of things concerning the election.

“We want to say that whatever he is saying is personal to him as it does not represent the position of members of PDP.” Also, the publicity secretary of the party in the state, Mr. Ken Arinze described the election as a sham, adding that the voters’ register was so doctored that even in his own ward, foreign names appeared. in the register, while those who had voters’ card could not cast their votes as they could not find their names.

But the state chairman, Prince Emeakayi said it is a political party that presents a candidate for the election, adding that the position of the state PDP tallies with that of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party. He said: “We state categorically and unequivocally that PDP will participate in the supplementary election in the contentious areas of the state as announced by INEC and we charge our members to continue to remain calm and focused.

“We commend our members and the good people of Anambra State for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the gubernatorial election in Anambra State. We also commend President Goodluck Jonathan for providing adequate and enabling environment for the hitch free gubernatorial election witness in Anambra State.

We also commend the Nigeria Police, the Army, the DSS and other security agents and other stakeholders who played key roles in ensuring maintenance of adequate security and orderliness throughout Anambra State during the election.”

According to him, every stakeholder in the party worked very hard to ensure the success of PDP at the election and believed that ‘it is not over until it is over.’

But while the three candidates of PDP, APC and LP were calling for total cancellation, INEC accredited agents who monitored the governorship election commended the commission for what they described as the commission’s steadfastness in ensuring that those whose motive was to rig

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SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013—15

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16 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

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SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013—17

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18 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23 23, 2013

I have been doing a lot of traveling recently. I'm concluding my African tour .

We just finished the MTN All Stars tour for all the contestants from the MTN Project Fame and the MTN ambassadors. It was a good experience. And then I just signed my ambassadorship contract too. I did that this year , but I don’t like broadcasting it and I haven’t talked about it before now. I did it in June, this year. This is actually my first time talking about it. It is a good thing. So that’s what I’ve been doing at the moment. Then, I have been in the studio, trying to put finishing touches to my first album. My album is going to be different. People are going to see another side of Chidinma. You are going to listen to different sounds this time around. I am delving into other genres of music.

As a young singer, I like to challenge myself. I am going to be doing something that I have not done befor now. I intend to be doing those songs as it comes to me and it’s going to be different from what I’ve been doing in the past. My brand is growing and evolving, so, I wouldn’t want to stand at a place.

Talking about my relationship with Adams, I am not in any relationship with him. I don't know who is spreading this rumour. And I think it is one of those things that come with being a celebrity. We are just friends and those pictures I took with him were shots from a photo shoot we did together. In fact, there is no man in my life.

As for me, the ambassadorial deal is far beyond the money.

MTN is the brand that makes people know who Chidinma is.

The relationship has always been there. You all know MTN is a massive brand and everyone would always love to be associated with the company. It’s a very good thing and the activities are so much.

I’m sure it’s going to be fun.

My performance at the MTN All Star tour was great. I did a lot of travelling across the country.

When I did the video of “Emi Ni Baller”, last year, I was due

I’m still the girl next door — Chidinma Ekile …says there is no man in my life Chidinma Ekile hit the limelight after she took part and won the MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 3.The 25-year-old petite and light-skinned singer also won the KORA award for Best Female Act in West Africa and dazzled with hit singles ‘Kekedike’ and ‘Emi ni Baller.’ In this interview , she talks about her fame, music and other issues...

to go on vacation then. The year 2012, was a very busy year for me. I had no time for my family at all. So, I felt I should slow down this year. Then Clarence Peters was going to shoot her video and I offered to go with her. But when I got there, Clarence was busy shooting for other people and I felt this was an opportunity for me to shoot my video. It was very impromptu but we still have to pull it off somehow. It

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BY IYABO AINA

and now said, Chidinma you cannot even try this, you are a singer. It got me really challenged as if he was daring me. So, I was like why will this guy tell me I can’t? So I decided to give it a trial by doing some solo stuffs. I was just playing with the beat. And then, Suspect said he liked it and I said, you can’t keep this thing, let me do another thing,

I am going to be doing something that I have not been used to doing but it’s not like I’m going to be forging anything

wasn’t only my video we shot, we shot some other videos. They were not my videos but I featured in them. Emi Ni Baller was my own video shot at that time. I was born here in Lagos so, I understand Yoruba. If you notice, it was a very hard core beat and for a singer, it was for the rapper, Illbliss and he was not in the studio then. I and Da Suspect were in the studio listening to the beat. Suspect started something on the beat and did his verse

,

this is not nice. Other people came and listened to the song and they liked it. And I didn’t want to drop it as Chidinma’s single. So, to me, it's just a freestyle. People loved it and I just felt the next step was to shoot the video. It wasn’t planned . It was my song. I just had Da Suspect and Illbliss collaborating with me to do the song.

My sudden rise to fame was accidental. I didn’t understand

Sta ying In taying TAKE TIME TO COOK AT HOME

W

hen was the last time you spent quality time at home with your kids? Family life has been on trial for many families over the years. This weekend, you can add spice to your family by spending quality time with your spouse and kids. The balance between children and married life is a constant struggle. With the kids around, you dream about a quiet day when nothing is damaged or destroyed. You and your spouse want to spend time together but you are both out everyday until weekend.So, what do you do today.

Plan an activity together days in advance so you can both look forward to your date. Have lunch together with your kids today.

Let them learn how to cook. Sometimes, the idea of cooking with children can be a daunting one. They don’t work as quickly as you would like them to. It can be messy being in the kitchen with your kids but don’t let the mess deter you from cooking with them.

Cooking with your children offers you the amazing opportunity to do something together that you can sit down and eat when the cooking is done.

it myself at some point. Then the KORA Award came and I was like, this is too sudden.

I knew I was going to get there but I didn’t know it was going to come really fast.

Everything is God’s doing. Nobody can make it happen.I just think I am favoured by God. I didn’t expect to win the award because people at that category were established artistes.

When I saw the nominations, I felt there was no way I could win it, let me just go there to perform and come back.

And I focused so much on my performance. But when my name was announced in the presence of other nominees, I was really shocked. I have been coping very well. I don’t know how.

It has been for almost three years. Chidinma is still the girl next door. I am still my normal self and I have not gotten to a point where I want to be.

Going Out GO SWIMMING

Looking back at when I had all the time in the world to do what I wanted, I long for those days to come back. But could they? Partly no or maybe. But not with all the work piled up on my desk in the office and at home too. But being monotonous can be boring at times. But how best can I enjoy this weekend without being bogged down by distraction? So I have decided to go swimming. Swimming, you asked? Yes, swimming. Recently, I found out some number of exciting outdoor activities one could engage in and swimming is one. It will really be nice to go swimming at the weekend.

Now swimming has a lot of benefit to the body. It is a way for you to cool off. It serves as a wonderful recreational need for individuals and families. It can give you a great exercise session, making you feel lighter. Swimming a few laps can help you cool down easily; move blood through your muscles to help them recover and help you relax as you glide through the water. But when swimming, you have to relax your mind and swim with very low effort. Allow your mind to wander from your worries focusing on nothing but the rhythm of your stroke.

This form of meditation can help you have a feel of wellbeing, leaving your water session refreshed and ready to go on with the rest of your day.

So why don’t you plan to go swimming this weekend. If you don’t know how to swim, learn. But be careful not to drawn.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 23, 2013—19 many other aspects of life?

I need the answer desperately.

Oswald, Abuja

Does age matter in love?

I am currently in a very good job and I think I love a girl who is three years older than me in the same job but working in a different city. I saw her during the training period. My family is completely against the love relationship. I don’t know about hers. We talk less these days.

I think I love her but she is really in love with me and she

said it explicitly in front of everyone when we parted.

The very thought of her is disturbing me in my work and affecting my real abilities.

I fear that her entry into my life and mind could lead to a disaster of my career which I value so much.

Does love happen only one time in life or does life give a second chance as it gives for so

Dear Oswald, You think you love a girl who is three years older than you.

You’re sure she loves you. You work in the same company but she’s in a different city. Your family is against the relationship. Just thinking of her disturbs your concentration at work. Her entry into your life could destroy your career.

Does love happen more than once in a lifetime? Let’s address the issues step by step.

First, you think you love her.

Let me remind you that love relationship has its ups and downs. Things are a lot easier to handle and fun when you really love your partner. You therefore need to do some soul searching. Do you really love her or you just like and admire her? Her thoughts disturb your concentration.

This suggests you have a

He is older than me but I love him Dear Aunty Julie, Six months ago, I met this man. He is 10 years older than I am and in the beginning of the friendship, I didn’t think it was a problem. Yet I knew we were not on the same level for many things.

However, I kept seeing him. I never meant to fall in love and he would tell me day in and day out that he wasn’t good enough for me and I deserved better and yet he was still there. Six months later, I have fallen in love with him. He knows exactly how I feel about him and that I love his company. An argument occurred which lead to us not talking for about a week now. He still speaks to my sister occasionally because he was always around us, always there with my family. He said to her one day, he didn’t want to speak to me until the feelings die out. I know he cares about me, but is he afraid to love? He’s been through a lot. I can understand that perfectly, but to push away someone you care about? He wants to stay away but every weekend when he’s not working, he’ll call my family to see if he can come visit and stay, knowing that I’ll be there. What is this game he is playing? I don’t know what to do. All that I know, is that I love him, with all my heart.

Barbie, Edo Dear Barbie, Is this man a friend of your family or your friend?

Your family knows him and accepts him as a friend.

Your sister is comfortable with him and on speaking terms. He spends his free time at your home.

He’s always around your family. You love his company. You fell in love with him. You still love him with all your heart .You think he’s afraid to love.

He’s ten years older than you. He says he’s not the right man for you, you deserve better. He picks up a quarrel with you and uses that as an excuse not to speak to you. He tells your sister he wants the feelings to die out.

The truth is that your man is content with being a big brother to you instead of your lover .Your man is afraid you’re getting emotionally attached to him instead of just being a good friend (or sister). That’s why he wants your feelings to die out. Your man is afraid he’s getting too intimate with you and so,

he picks a quarrel so he can keep his distance and force his feelings to die out. Does the above make sense to you? If it doesn’t, please run through it again.

So, what should you do? I may be wrong, but it seems as if he’s not interested in a romantic relationship with you. He enjoys the family atmosphere in your home and wants to be a part of your family. He wants to be with your family but not as your fiance. As I said above, I could be wrong.

Now, call a spade a spade and engage him. Use the direct approach: ask him what his real intentions are. And please listen with an open mind.

Do not jump to the conclusion that he is afraid to love because he’s gone through a lot. If you think that is the case , ask him if he is. Do not jump to the conclusion that he loves you the kind of love that leads to marriage. Just have an open discussion with him.

You have a sister. And this guy has become a close family friend to both of you.

Your parents ought to have asked him by now what his real intentions are. Is he interested in having a love relationship with you or your sister? If he’s not interested in either of you, what are his interests?

But since your parents haven’t bothered to ask him, and you’re interested in having an intimate relationship with him, it’s your duty to ask him. If he says he’s not interested in a love relationship with you, don’t conclude he’s lying or afraid to express his true feelings.

You can’t read his mind correctly. So take him for his words and move on with your life.

If a man truly loves you, he won’t be scared to declare his love. So, as a rule of thumb, if a man is not bold enough to tell you he loves you, he does not love you enough to be your lover.

I wish you true love and happiness.

strong attachment to her. This attachment is love when you have a strong desire to settle down with her and she reciprocates 50-50. You’re in love when you’re willing to give your heart to someone without reservations. If this is how you feel, then you’re in love.

But as you mentioned, there are obstacles.

For starters, your parents are against the relationship. Parents can be one huge stumbling block to love relationships. But then you must understand their position. Your parents want the best for you.

True, they may not always be fair to the girl you bring home.

They may over-scrutinize her or be outright prejudiced against her. Whatever the case, they’re still your parents.

My advice is that you should try and win them over. Emphasize the positives of your woman. Sell her to them. If after your best efforts, they’re still obstinate, it’s time to chose your parents’ smile of favour or the relationship.

Be ready for some serious family tension when you go against your parents’ wishes.

However, if you’re truly in love, and the girl is doggedly in love with you, nothing stops you from going ahead. Your parents will come around someday.

You said she works in the same company? Well, note that office relationships can be tricky. If something goes wrong along the way and the relationship doesn’t work, she can make claims that are untrue This is not to discredit your love. It simply says, “be absolutely sure. Let her prove her love”. Her love for you must go beyond just words. She must have a visible presence in your life and work with you to build a real relationship, a home. Occasional phone calls isn’t the real thing. She must be glued to you and your

Does he really love me?

Aunty Julie, I have been dating this guy for about four months. He and I both feel our best at each others side. I have been told that it takes two years to know if it is true love and to truly know a person by their actions instead of their words.

I do not want to rush into anything, I want to make a wise decision. How do you truly know a person is for you?

Laju, Ondo Dear Laju, I guess you’re asking two questions here: how long does it take to know if it’s true love? How long does it take to know his actions are for real? There is no specific time frame. It’s not the length of time you’ve been courting that matters but the amount of quality time you spend together during the courtship period and how closely knit. Some courtship crash just before it was time for marriage. Some relationships crash after many years. So, it’s not how long but how well.

C O C K - T A L E S A staged wedding to bust dealers As supposedly reported on CNN: Undercover police, staging the wedding of “a drug kingpin’s daughter”, let it be known on the street that dealers were “invited” (i. e. expected to attend). The bride and groom were police, as was the band, bartender, and about half the guests. The band playing at the wedding was the police band and the wedding went through the full ceremony, including the dancing afterward.The long-sought dealers were arrested after the “band” took their break. The last song the band played before taking its

world by her words and actions. She must be so in love that she finds excuses to call you again and again. Think about it. If you love somebody, the person will always be in your thoughts, right? Since that’s the case, it’s natural to at least want to speak with your lover at regular intervals. Love is real.

You feel it, you see it, you taste it. Distance is no barrier especially if you fell in love before distance became a challenge.

About the age difference. Age shouldn’t be a barrier to love.

However, depending on the society you live, age difference can be a challenge later in the relationship. Nevertheless, it depends on the woman herself and the way she was brought up. If she grew up believing the husband is head of the family and deserves deep respect as many Christians do, the age gap in favour of her will not cause problems. So it all depends on her beliefs and attitudes.

Does love happen more than once in a lifetime? Can you fall in love again? Yes . . . if you let yourself. A lot of people have suffered heartbreak sometime in their life. They were miserable after the breakup. They thought they could never love again.

Fortunately, they fell in love again. And many report that the second love was better than the first. They learnt from previous mistakes. They learnt not to rush in ...Only fools rush in. Your first love cannot be like your second,if there is a second. The two people will never be the same. You will miss some things in your previous love.

But then, you will gain new things in your new love. You can fall in love again after a break-up. It will hurt real bad to loose the person you love.

But life must go on. It’s sad but it’s true.

break? “I Fought The Law, And The Law Won” What will the neighbours think?

Jack was living in Lagos during a heat wave when the following took place. ”It’s just too hot to wear clothes today,” complained Jack as he stepped out of the shower. “Honey, what do you think the neighbors would think if I mowed the lawn like this?” ”Probably that I married you for your money.”

Getting revenge with marriage Old Farmer Johnson was dying. The family was standing around his bed. With a low voice he sad to his wife: “When I’m dead I want you to marry farmer

Jones.”

Wife: “No, I can’t marry anyone after you.”

Johnson: “But I want you to.”

Wife: “But why?”

Johnson: “Jones once cheated me in a horse deal!”

This wife is too jealous There was once a wife so jealous that when her husband came home one night and she couldn’t find hairs on his jackets she yelled at him, “Great, so now you’re cheating on me with a bald woman!”

The next night, when she didn’t smell any perfume, she yelled again by saying, “She’s not only bald, but she’s too cheap to buy any perfume!”

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23 23, 2013

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08052201257

Your partnership is the focus of your greatest success. The health, direction and progress of your partnership are where your greatest riches lie. When the fires of a money argument start to smolder, step aside and ask

If you're in love, beware of these pitfalls

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re you on the rocky road of love? Some of the deep potholes you encounter can cause a blowout. Careful driving with both eyes on the road will help you avoid the innumerable hazards that can wreck your precious bond. Relationships need attention and care, much like a car needs diesel or fuel, a tune-up and an oil change every 3,000 miles. On your journey of love, there are three most treacherous and common relationship pitfalls. Money, insecurity and fear of change are three demons that can spell doom for a relationship. Carefully examine each hot spot and create a set of affirmations that will keep your relationship humming. *Money is not the greatest hazard to your relationship that everyone believes it to be. Money just makes the easiest argument, guaranteed to put everyone at odds. Money casts a weird spell in very unpredictable ways. The people who have much money tend to be very worried about losing it. To those with little, money is a constant concern, pain and need. Money drives some people mad. It urges others to steal and kill. Some don’t have a care or worry about it.

But to many, money is a scapegoat, an excuse for many other issues and problems.

Money is always the easiest excuse.

Everyone uses it. Someone is either spending too much or too little.

Money is the easiest way to start an argument. When your boss yells at you for someone else’s mistake, you can work the hurt

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mate participates in activities and interests without you. However, partners must have their own identity respected and acknowledged.

Together, you share mutual interests.

Separately, you pursue your own.

You and your mate are two independent individuals who have partnered to pursue a common goal. “Happily ever after” needs definition. Ask, “Together, what does a happy life mean to you, me and us?” Create concrete goals. Love will never be far away. *When there is change in life,you

feelings out in the gym or you can go home and pick a fight with your mate.

Money causes mayhem. It is the easiest way to insult and anger the one you love. Our society places a great deal of importance and imagined power on money. Your wealth is your stature. In a relationship, money can easily corrupt your pure love. If we strip it naked, money is merely a unit of measure, an accounting tool. Money is a means of trade and exchange.

Money holds no value in the strength of your relationship. Money can never be a symbol of your romantic achievements.

Your partnership is the focus of your greatest success. The health, direction and progress of your partnership are where your greatest riches lie. When the fires of a money argument start to smolder, step aside and ask, “What is the underlying problem here? What are we really arguing about?” Arguments over money rarely have anything to

do with finances. What started your disagreement? Look for feelings of anger, resentment or failures with the zeal of a crime scene investigator.

Who knows? At the end of the day, you may discover that nothing is really amiss . *What is the difference between a relationship and a partnership? A relationship implies love and romance.

A partnership sounds more like a business deal, with roles and responsibilities carefully defined. You are seeking a healthy love with elements of both. A relationship is made up of You, Me and Us. Often times, love and emotion get tangled in mixed feelings and painful insecurities. In the workplace, none of that is tolerated. As a partner in love, you must balance yourself with heart and with your mind.

Living closely and intimately is a wonderful thing. But it must be managed. Insecurity can arise when your

He cheating on me sometimes is just plain longing for companionship or true love for my ex-boyfriend. I’ll be glad if you can Ques: I’m a 29help me with this. year-old single woman from the SouthThanks.

East.Fifteen months ago, I broke up with my Julia, Onitsha boyfriend because I found out that he was cheating on me. It was a very painful and Ans: He cheated on you ; you have forgiven him ; he has devastating experience. I’ve already forgiven another girlfriend now ; you still love him ; you believe him and wanted to forget all about him but I you’re destined for each other. It’s okay to forgive. It hastens can’t. Sometimes, I even hope that we'd be the healing process and frees your mind of undue stress. back together because I have this weird feeling And you’re able to love again. People make mistakes. If that we are destined for each other although your man’s case was a case of unintentional mistake, he he has another girlfriend now. But oftentimes, would repent and beg for forgiveness. Then attempt to make I’m happy and contented being single and it up to you by keeping straight going forward. The fact unattached. I’m just confused if what I feel that he now has a new girlfriend indicates that he’s no

seek stability, looking for the things that you can trust, count on and believe in. You expect the same from a relationship. As human beings, we naturally seek an order to our ever-changing world.

Stability is elusive to embrace.

Stability rarely exists.

By accepting the reality of our world and the need to embrace change, we create a greater worldview of life. It allows us to discern the difference between the things we can worry about and those that we should not bother about. What can you change? And what are the things over which you have no control? Everything changes. Accept change. It’s happening whether you like it or not. An appreciation of change will become the life force and strength of your love. True love is never easy.

Like all good things in life, your relationship needs attention and maintenance. Check the oil. Wash the car. Keep the air in your tires.

Hit the gas and let your love fly.

longer interested in you contrary to what he says.

Should you pursue the relationship further? In my candid opinion, no. Why? He is using you as a fall back position. If his current relationship turns out well, he will forget you. If things turn sour, he may come back on his knees begging you to accept him.

I’m pretty sure you don’t want to be second choice.

Even if he did come back, there is no guarantee that he won’t stray again when a prettier woman crosses his path. You deserve better. Of course, you can still love him. It’s almost impossible to throw away all your emotional investments in the relationship in a jiffy. That will be asking too much. You may continue to love him. But that in itself is not proof that you were destined to be together.

•Ibrahim, 35, based in Lagos, businessman, needs a businessman, needs a well-behaved lady of Muslim lady of 25-34years for a serious relationship on 30-40 for marriage on 08065746896 08146375498 •Samuel,from Delta state wants to meet a •Solomon, ND holder, businessman, based in Delta beautiful working class lady who can take State, tall and fair, wants to meet a God fearing lady of good care of him for marriage on 22-29 for a relationship that will lead to marriage on Onitsha Anambra State, wants a God-fearing and 0 8 0 7 2 2 4 3 3 1 7 wealthy lady of 18-25 for a relationship on 08065300395 •Emmanuel, male, 38, graduate, based in •Papa C, 57, self-employed, ,wants a financially 0 7 0 3 9 8 0 2 3 7 1 Port Harcourt, self-employed, needs a hardcomfortable lady of 44-55 years from the South-East •Chukwuemeka, 41, from Anambra State, working lady aged between 30-36, also without a child as wife on 08059482364 based in Port-Harcourt •Cherish, 34, from Edo State, based and marriage on Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want for working in Benin City, needs a decent young 07084319869 lady of 23-29 years from Bini or Kalabari for •Akin Olu, from Ekiti a decent relationship on 08135652564 Do you want to be linked?

State, , widower, wants Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting a decent lady for mar•Ismail, 37, based in Kaduna, desires a to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal informa- riage busty Muslim lady of 20-26 for marriage on on tion of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for 08031590030 07051863425 •Jim, male, from Akwa Ibom, based in

SATURDAY

Vanguard,NOVEMBER 23 23,, 2013—21

Should we rob the establishments blind as of right?

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C M Y K

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ecause the more we move them, the easier it becomes to make excuses without listening to our conscience, and without feeling guilty. And apart from the damage we do to ourselves in thinking this way, there is the harm we can do to others who copy our example. We may forget that handling millions, and certainly won’t go out of business for the sake of a few Naira. And what about personal letters which you put in to be stamped with the office post...? Well, the boss expects it, everyone does it. I’ve known good, normally honest people who think nothing of these “fiddles”. They forget that the issue isn’t whether the other people or company needs the money, but whether it is their right to have it.

“Things are not being helped by

judgement is uniformed, they will take their cue from what we do and say. There is no more potent way of giving children a pattern of behaviour than the example, which they see at home. There, they pick up ideals which colour their adult lives. We can’t expect them to accept ‘don’t do as I do, do as I say’. No amount of lecturing has been half the impact of one small example which can teach them more than a hundred lecturers could. If we fail to keep honour bright, we’ll continue to be in the wrong...”

I decided to print Anthony’s letter because there is a lot of food for thought in it. It is some weeks to the New Year when

When it comes to dealing with some hugely wealthy impersonal concern, we don’t see strict honesty in quite the same light

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children form the pattern of their behaviour by watching us, and that it is by this sphere of small examples that they’re most influenced.

“It’s the little, everyday decisions we take that matter, for while children’s

we resolve to do things that will improve our lives’.

Musing on the message of honesty in this letter might just be a good beginning.

social support and, when that partner has gone, they do less well. Women are more likely to have a network of people to talk to,” says Cowie. He explains the effects of heartbreak are complicated, and occur over time. “Human beings

release of two hormones - the ‘fight or flight hormone adrenaline which can increase heart rate, and the hormones cortisol which can damp the immune system.

His latest research has shown that those under stress have lower levels of the antibody immunoglobulin. A (Ig A), which we use to ward off invading microbes, such as cold germs. Acute stress can also interfere with the heart’s rhythm, leading to shortness of breath and palpitations and, in extreme cases, a heart attack.

Unhappiness can also lead to a rise in smoking or alcohol consumption levels increasing the risk of illness and accidental death. So, if love really does hurt this much, should we try to avoid it? ‘No’, says Cowie, *the heart responds beautifully to emotions.

Ho w yyou ou can die of a brok en hear How broken heartt

We all know that being in love puts a smile on one’s face and a spring in steps as well.

And we also know that when things go wrong, love hurts.

Scientists believe it’s really possible to die of a broken heart. In the 1960s, researchers found the first links between unhappiness and heart disease. A study of 4,500 men, published in the British Medical Journal in 1969, showed 40 per cent rise in deaths from all the men in the six months after bereavement. The most significant increase was in deaths from heart attacks.

The problem was that no one could explain why this was happening or measure the effects of this type of stress on the body. But, now chemical tests are being developed which show exactly how loneliness and

unhappiness can wreak havoc on our health. Cardiologist Martin Cowie, of the Royal Brampton Hospital in London, explains: “High levels of stress clamp down the immune system, such that the body is less equipped to fight disease. Individual organs, including the heart, will not

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re we becoming more likely to accept some form of cheating in our dayto-day lives without feeling dishonourable? We face so many temptations to bend the rules here and there. For example, just before I had that incident with my car, the roof of the factory of a friend was damaged by the storm and he faced a real test of honesty. He and I knew the whole roof needed repairing before the storm struck. If he boxed clever, he could get the insurance company to pay for a whole new roof and — that’s exactly what he did.

“Sad to say, I think that some of our backsliding in this country has to do with that root of all evil: money. And I’m sure that the reason we are inclined to find little cheating way acceptable is because our lives are increasingly involved with

the bare-faced robberies that go on, on a very alarming large scale in our various establishments. Majority of the rogues go unpunished.

In spite of this I’m convinced that we all know, in our hearts, what is strictly honourable and what is not and that we must draw the line and not move the goal posts any further to suit our purpose.

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nthony, who lives in Ikorodu, and has his office in Lagos, wrote in: “I commune daily from my home in the country to my job in Lagos and leave my car at a friend’s filling station. Thanks to the BRT buses, this has saved me lots of money and undue stress. The other day, I returned to Ikorodu late in the evening to find my car had been damaged: the front bumper was crumpled and one of the headlights smashed. Angrily, as I surveyed the damage which could in no way be called my fault, I reflected dismally that there were no witnesses as the filling station had closed for the day, and that I would be faced with paying a lot of money to repair the damage.

On my third party insurance cover, I was on my own.

“Then I saw, tucked almost out of sight behind the windscreen wiper, a little note which read: “Apologies for the damage, please contact me at...” followed by a name and an address. I contacted vast organizations like banks, the person, discovered he insurance companies, chain was a financially comfortable stores and so on. We might gentleman and he took full not dream of stealing a single responsibility for the damage kobo from a friend, or done by his driver. The cheating a neighbour, or matter was amicably settled. deceiving a child, but when I was amazed at such honesty. it comes to dealing with some The man could easily have hugely wealthy impersonal scampered, and left me with concern, we don’t see strict honesty in quite the same the bill. ”Later, I wondered whether light.

That shop assistant who I was right to be so surprised; gave you too much change by whether we are perhaps a little less scrupulous than we might mistake... well, that store is be in keeping honour bright.

The heart responds beautifully to emotions

function as well as if there are already problems, such as furring of the arteries, these may start to produce symptoms.

Much of the research, so far, has involved bereavement but we know that divorce and separation produce similar levels of stress.

Research also shows that women cope better. “Men tend to rely on their partners for

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need love and affection and when these needs are frustrated, it can be a major source of stress”, he says.

He ‘s found out that people suffering from relationship problems are more likely to pick up colds and flu. Why? the brain responds to severe stress as if dealing with a life-or-death emergency. It triggers the

ecently, I had cause to marvel as I wandered through the innards of a residential building constructed two decades earlier on the Lagos Mainland. Yes, the design of the house still held its own stylistically in comparison with more contemporary structures. And yes, the wood panelling, terrazzo tiling and other building materials used had proved admirably durable over the 20 years that had transpired since their first introduction to each other.

But the true source of my fascination was considerably less technical than these. Simply put — what I appreciated more than anything was my inability to identify a single line in the house that was crooked or a single curve that wasn’t smooth.

Granted that the owner of the house (who I am ... ehm ...somewhat familiar with) was legendary in his uncompromising quest for quality (which earned him the informal title of ‘Brigadier’ from his frequently chastised workmen). But it could be argued that in those days, that level of construction quality (or something approaching it) was the rule, rather than the exception.

As a people, we just had much lower thresholds then for tolerating mediocrity—particularly when it concerned something we were putting down our hard-earned money to pay for.

Compare that to the situation today.

Across the land from the least to the greatest, from church to airport, it appears there is no structure too modest or ostentatious, too sacrosanct or profane, to escape the curse of glaringly defective workmanship, to evade the accusing marks of a culture surrendered to compromise.

I honestly thought I had seen all the worst examples of shoddy construction until I happened to visit a client recently and was ushered into a meeting room to await my host. I cast a look

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he story of Hosea’s marriage to Gomer is one that gives a lot of men heartache; a story of an unfaithful wife— who always slept with other men. But God encouraged Hosea to marry his adulterous. That marriage tells a story; it is a metaphor for Israel’s unfaithfulness to God and God’s undying and unconditional love for his people. Abraham and Sarah’s marriage tells us stories of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises; even when man sometimes derails (Abraham fathered another child through Sarah’s maid, Hagar). The marriage also gives us an insight into why Abraham is today referred to as our father of faith.

Isaac’s marriage to Rebecca reminds us that marriage is a tripartite union with God as the nexus... (Genesis 24:1214) as confirmed in Proverbs 19:14.

Houses and wealth can be inherited from parents, but only the Lord can give a sensible wife.

Basically, every marriage tells a story; the question is what story is your marriage telling? Is it a story of a good marriage or a bad one? like Hosea’s—a metaphor? Is God using your marriage to prepare you for an assignment unknown to you? Is God trying to increase your wisdom, to help others, by finding a solution to that difficult spouse or troubled child or is your marriage one huge fraud meant to deceive people, seemingly happy outside, but boiling inside?Is functioning well?

When we talk about the story your marriage tells, we are not talking of the made up story you tell to deceive the world, but the real story of your marriage. Made up stories linger only for a while... like a pack of cards it will collapse someday. It is stupid making up stories to please the world.

Marriage, as an institution, should

Mind your lineguage around the room and my jaw slowly dropped entirely of its own volition. You couldn’t have seen worse interior finishing if you had paid your staunchest adversary a hefty sum to inflict it;the quality bordered on diabolical. I gaped at door and window frames with shapes I last saw in my secondary school geometry textbook (e.g. parallelogram, trapezium, etc).

The floor surface at first glance appeared to slope downwards for no apparent reason until closer

prime business district on the Island.

Obviously they do not own the building but they are invariably paying mega naira for the dubious privilege of their tenancy there and it baffles me why they would accept to do that. Just as I had frequently wondered in times past at the puzzling complacency with which not-a-few house owners accepted the structural atrocities meted out to their dream projects by cavalier contractors.

Didn’t the wanton waste of their hardearned funds mean anything to them?

Then I realized that perhaps therein

Let’s renovate the house called Nigeria

inspection revealed that it was an illusion created by the anomaly of the left and right sides of the room’s walls inexplicably being of diverging heights. As for the wall plastering? Well, it was — to put it mildly— turbulent.

Now if this office was some dingy branch or regional outpost of a one-man outfit situated in one of the city’s typically sprawling and overpopulated commercial areas, one could perhaps understand the setting’s aesthetic lapses, if not excuse them. But this was the head office of a very recognizable brand located in a

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lay the problem. I was generalizing about the source of their income in a system riddled with acts of illicit opportunism. It is reasonable to assume that a healthy proportion of the funds that drive construction activity in this land were by no means fertilized by blood, sweat and tears.

And as the saying goes —Easy come, easy go. Wealth acquired by dishonesty can never be the strongest proponent of accountability; it simply doesn’t have the power to attract it (in fact, it actually only thrives in its absence). So when it receives a shoddy response to its demands, it simply shrugs its shoulders and moves on to the next

What ssttor our marriage ttell? ell? oryy does yyour not have room for make up to please the people. Remember when you had your wedding amidst crowd who came to rejoice with you. When the celebration was over and it was time to retire to the room, how many guests followed you? In my case, as in all the cases I know, it was only my wife and I. It is that lonely and personal. Why bother about other

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Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

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go through the daily motions of matrimony, including parenthood, the story of your marriage begins to evolve. That story is not make belief, it is rather the sum total of the consequences of your actions and inactions.

Sometimes the defining moment of your story can be surmounting challenges that crippled other marriages; it can be taking in your

Marriage is primarily a union between a man and woman; it needs constant attention and nourishment, if not decay will set in

people’s opinions.

So why do you think you need to deceive people that you have a “perfect” marriage, spending all your time and energy to perpetrate this lie; meanwhile, the odour oozing out of your marriage is contrary. Marriage is primarily a union between a man and woman; it needs constant attention and nourishment, if not decay will set in. As the union grows in age and number, new challenges will arise,and you need to face these challenges and surmount them. As you sincerely

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unmarried pregnant teenage daughter and tending her until she delivers, instead of sending her far away to live with a relative or secretly aborting the pregnancy because it is a shame to you as the senior pastor, general overseer, elder, respected member or knight of the church or because it is demeaning to your socio-economic status.

Happily your story is not like your finger prints or your DNA which are unchangeable. You can change your story for the better. May be all you need to do is to reorder your

outlet for squandering.

But unfortunately it leaves behind a legacy of compromise that is carried over by the building contractors to their next customer. Who shouts himself hoarse at their laxity until a resigned comment of ‘Don’t mind them — that’s how all of them are!’ from a similarlytreated colleague subdues him to a state of reluctant acceptance of the ‘inevitable’.

And the contractors move on. And the toxic cycle that actually started from the society’s sin of omission in appropriately addressing the impunity of corruption in its midst continues. You reap what you sow.

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nd every time we sit in a building and gaze at the crooked lines of its finishing, it’s as though God were reminding us that our ways as a people are far from straight and we need to sort ourselves out. The iniquity that we have consciously or unconsciously chosen to allow to live amongst us has found physical expression in our homes and offices as a wordless testament to our moral condition.

Because the implications of our continued negligence go far beyond the superficial eyesore of errant craftsmanship. They eat into the fabric of our daily endeavour in several critical sectors ... wrenching our planes out of the skies, somersaulting our vehicles on the express-ways, scuttling our ferries on the seas, collapsing our buildings on the innocent, exposing our most vulnerable to epidemics. Leaving a trail of needless and entirely avoidable disasters and desolation in their wake.

Let’s renovate the house called Nigeria.

But to do so sustainably, let’s ‘make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet.’ Then we would have a building that would not only stand the test of time, but would also be easy on the eye.

I never did like geometry very much, anyway. priorities and put family first instead of career or financial pursuits. That way, spouse and children will take their rightful place in your life. Or maybe, what you need is an attitudinal change towards your spouse and children. Rather than see them as liabilities and drain pipes begin to see them as assets and blessings.

Sometimes we create problems where none exists. Oh! you have been sulking because all your children are girls. Congratulations, you should be grateful you have kids; what about those who do not have any? Wait a minute, the legendary former American President, Bill Clinton, has only one child, a daughter!

Sometimes kicking out a bad habit is all you need to change your story. That alcoholism that has prevented you from being a responsible spouse and parent, is it not time to stop it? That chronic gambling that has prevented you from meeting your financial obligations to your family; can you not summon the will power and put a stop to it? Yes, you can. Just take your case to God in prayers for forgiveness and healing. You can change your story for the better for your sake, your family’s and the larger society.

Perhaps changing our individual stories for the better is one of the challenges Nigerians need to surmount to realise its full potentials: everybody, or at least a lot of us, from the mightiest to the lowliest, making efforts to change our story for the better so that we all churn out better products (children) that constitute the larger society. All those in authority today and in the past are products of families. Is it not possible that our leadership problems started from the family unit? What about the kidnappers, armed robbers, fraudsters, rapists and other deviants? If so, I think it is time we, as individuals, make efforts to remove that speck from our eyes so that we can sufficiently see to clear the log we see in the eyes of our neighbours.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, NO VEMBER 23, 2013—23 NOVEMBER

24—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

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en and women are both human, and while some men may express their love in ways that seem strange, women do too. It’s more about the individuals and their connection than gender roles. Here’s how the formulas for flirtation and intimacy break down.

Flirting = Interest + Intention The whole purpose of flirtation is to let someone know that you have some interest in them. Perhaps, you are just interested in a date, perhaps you are overwhelmed with lust, or perhaps you are madly in love. However,telling someone you like them is a very scary and vulnerable thing to do because you run the risk of rejection.

Flirtation is a way to protect yourself and give the other person a polite way to say “no thanks” with some of the pain of rejection mitigated by the fact that you were “just flirting.” Even better, if the feeling is reciprocated, it can become a game, with the two people edging closer to expressing those raw feelings for each other.

However, because it’s intentionally vague, it’s easy for flirtation to be misunderstood or for politeness to be taken as flirtation when it’s not intended that way. Especially in Western culture, where men are discouraged from being “in touch” with their feelings, you may have to be especially overt about letting them know how you feel.

•Touch: Reaching out to squeeze his arm, his hand, or just naturally taking his arm as you walk can be a clear way of showing your interest in a man. Touching his hair playfully or just spontaneously hugging him also can give him a good idea.

•Suggestive comments: If you’re looking for a more physical romantic relationship, dropping hints about kissing, snuggling, and other intimate physical connections can also let him know where your interests lie.

•Eye contact and smile: The combination of a full-on gaze with a genuine smile is a great way to simply let a man know that you enjoy his company. The saying “the eyes are the window to the soul” is very apt, and the longer you hold a gaze, the more you’re moving beyond flirtation and into inti-

How your best friend is influencing your love relationship

Flir ting and intimacy

macy.

Intimacy = Attention + Vulnerability When flirting, you can keep your guard up because there is always the element of deniability, of saying “Oh, I was just playing around.” On the other hand, learning how to flirt and be intimate with a man requires the leap of faith and the establishment of trust between people. It also requires a level of attention unusual in the hectic pace of everyday life.

When you are being intimate with a man, you and he are shutting out the rest of the world as much as possible and focusing on each other.The

XPERT E S E H T K AS

intensity of this experience can be quite overwhelming, especially for anyone who is not used to it or who has been hurt by it in the past.

•Tell him. You don’t have to be poetic or give fancy gifts to be intimate. In fact, those things can get in the way. Use simple words to tell him how you feel about him.

•Watch for the cues. At the same time, don’t expect that he’s going to reply to your expression of love in sonnet form.

It may be as subtle as a smile, or perhaps he’s unable to find the words and reaches out to take your hand instead. Make sure you’re taking this as they’re intended - loving ges-

A

best friend can be a wonderful support to

tures - and realize they are a way of communicating.

•Give it time. One thing that is needed when trying to establish intimacy is the element of time. Relax into a loving touch like a hug and just be there together, paying attention to all the things about this person that make you feel loved and loving. You don’t have to be constantly doing something.

Whether you’re flirting or trying to create the ultimate romantic connection, the most powerful tools you can use are authenticity and sincerity. Be yourself, because when you reach those intimate moments, that’s the person the man you love wants to see.

You are a sexually uneducated man. Please do not buy a papaya or any other fruit because none will help.

Instead, please educate yourself on how to make love, I am a 22-year-old woman. Two years ago, I had how to wear a condom, and other such matters. sex with my boyfriend. We eventually broke up. I am getting married in two months. I don’t want I am 34 years old and my wife is 30. We have two to tell my fiancé about my past. Is surgery a safe kids. Before marriage, I had sex with my friends, way to repair my hymen or is an artificial virgin- neighbours and aunts. Even after marriage, I had ity kit a better option? Which is more affordable safe sex with my friend whenever I got a chance. and safer? Please help?

But I also have sex with my wife on alternate days.

I am hearing of an artificial virginity kit for the first Every day, I feel an irresistible urge to have sex. I time. Please send me a description of the same. I also watch porn and masturbate regularly. Why is don’t know the cost but I am sure it will be much this happening to me? less expensive than a hymen repair.

Probably a psychiatrist could help you with an answer. Since you now have a permanent partner, try to I am a 21-year-old man. If my partner eats pa- avoid the occasional fling. I suggest you see a spepaya after sex, can she get pregnant?

a relationship, or she can consistently undermine the relationship’s overall health and many best friends fall somewhere in between.

The perspective of a best friend There’s a special place in each woman’s heart for her best friend. A best friend is a confidant, a supporter and a buddy through good and bad times. A best friend is also an influencer of your life and relationships, because she has invested her time, energy and care in your life. As a result, she’s bound to have an opinion about your choices.

So how can you know if your bestie is influencing your relationship in a good way or a bad way?

Your best friend influences your insight Best friends usually have a wealth of opinions about romantic partners. Insight isn’t a bad thing. The insight of a loving friend can prevent you from diving head first into a bad marriage, or it could protect you from a pattern of negative thinking that derails a good marriage. So how do you know if your best friend’s insight is accurate and beneficial to both you and the relationship?

•Do other wise people share her insight? Surround yourself with wise people and listen to them, too. If your best friend thinks you should dump your boyfriend, but other wise people are telling you to wait, consider waiting.

•Are her thoughts and feelings outliers? If she consistently shares thoughts and feelings that seem very different from what others think and feel, don’t accept her insight at face value.

•How does she view men and relationships? This is important. Even the best friend in the world may have skewed views of how men are supposed to behave in a relationship, and what a relationship should look like in practice. Listen to what she says about men and relationships in general to determine if she’s a credible source of insight.

cialist.

My wife is 30 years old and I am 32. We have been married for nine years and have a child.

We have a good sex life. She works in a school and has friends aged 23-45 years. I know most of them. Of late, while having sex she wants me to fantasise about any of her friends — this turns her on, she behaves as if I am having sex with her friend and we both enjoy the act.

Every time we have sex, it is always a different friend of hers. Is this normal? Do all women think this way?

There are many ways of enjoying a sexual episode and this fantasy is common among women.

So long as it is not translated into action, there is no harm.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013—25

BY IYABO AINA

Danny Bonaduce D

Lois Lane L

ois is an award-winning journalist and a reporter for the Metropolis newspaper, the Daily Planet.

Lois Lane shared the screen with Christopher Reeve in four Superman movies. She dated big like Richard Pryor and Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. A 1990 auto accident left her bankrupt, but bipolar disorder turned out to be her kryptonite. The actress, 63, now lives in Montana and reportedly has been free of manic episodes for years.

• Lois Lane

Once top celebrities who ended up on the streets

anny Bonaduce is a TV personality and actor who most viewers will remember from the show ‘’The Partridge Family’’. Child star Danny Bonaduce suffered from alcohol and drug addictions before becoming homeless as an adult ‘’The Partridge Family ‘’ show made Bonaduce a household name, but the actor later became known for his stints in rehab, which eventually led to his experience with homelessness as an adult.

He is now a drive-time DJ on WSYP in Philadelphia and has recently remarried .

Brett Butler

Sometimes people make fortunes only to lose them later for all sorts of reasons.

Here are list of once top celebrities who ended up on the streets. Also these fallen stars fell further becoming homeless and desperate , as all the trappings of a once-lush life disappeared .

Willie Aames W

illie Aames is best known for playing the dreamy Tommy Bradford in “Eight is Enough” and Buddy Lembeck in “Charles in Charge ‘’ . Aames was making $1 million a year at the peak of the 1979-1984 ABC family dramedy, playing a teenager . Low self-esteem was the least of the actor’s problems after his second big series, Charles in Charge (1984-1990) ended. He filed for bankruptcy, saw his car repossessed, and could no longer pay medical bills for his seriously ill wife.

He joined the ranks of the homeless, sleeping in parking garages and parks while trying to secure odd jobs.

•Brett Butler

Natasha Lyonne C M Y K

Golden-Globe nominated actress Brett Butler battled drug addiction and ended up in a homeless shelter.

Butler Brett found her rise to stardom in the ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire, but during the show, she battled a recurring drug addiction and spent time in rehab.

After Grace was cancelled in 1998, Butler moved out of L.A. and onto a farm in Georgia where she lived with 15 pets. When the money ran out, she turned to a homeless shelter for cover.

Tylor Armstrong •Willie Aames

Natasha Lyonne

A

•Danny Bonaduce

fter a couple of arrests followed by a hospitalization, actress Natasha Lyonne found herself living on the streets , as the offbeat charms she displayed in the first two American Pie films and Slums of Beverly Hills were forgotten when she went missing in the summer of 2005 . In the 90’s, Lyonne was all over the screen in But I’m a Cheerleader, Slums of Beverly Hills, and American Pie. But her promising career was “derailed” after a series of encounters with the law in 2001. She was arrested for a DUI , charged with mischief, trespass, and harassment of a neighbor.

Lyonne was eventually evicted from a friend’s townhouse, and ended up living on the streets.

Since then, Lyonne has tried to revitalized her acting career.

She’s recently played an alleged rape victim in an episode of Law and Order .

T

ylor is an American television personality and philanthropist , and best known for her role on the reality show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

But recently , the top screen personality who have been living in the lap of luxury while filming ‘’The Real Housewives ‘’ of Beverly Hills, has find herself without a place to call home. Taylor Armstrong was kicked out of her L.A. home when her landlord decided to sell it.

•Tylor Armstrong

26 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013—27

28 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013 — 29

30— SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

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Napoli eyeing Sagna in January

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espite recently signing Anthony Reveillere on a free transfer, it appears as though Rafa Benitez wants to secure another defensive reinforcement when the transfer window reopens. Reports that the Azzurri will look to acquire the Frenchman by tempting the Gunners with a reduced fee given that the 30-year-old’s contract expires next June. With a contract extension unlikely to be signed, it’s believed Arsenal would accept a deal rather than risking losing him for nothing. Sagna has been with Arsenal since signing from Auxerre from 2007 for a fee of €9 million euros. He has gone on to make 252 in all competitions for the London club.

Tott enham ottenham place £6.5m on Defoe T

ottenham Hotspur have put a £6.5.million valuation on Jermain Defoe after interest from rival London clubs in the striker. West Ham United have joined Queens Park Rangers in trying to take advantage of Defoe’s need for regular football to increase his chance of being selected

by England for the World Cup finals this summer. Tottenham were unable to find a replacement for Defoe in the summer, preventing him from leaving when he had two years left on his Hernández. West Ham deal, but have since shown interest also considered Defoe at in Alexandre Pato and Javier the time.

Chelsea, City keep tap on Pogba's contract

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uventus’ midfielder Paul Pogba’s contract talks have been a big talking point in recent weeks and it seems as though the contract saga has taken another twist. Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola, is aware of the attention his client is getting from big clubs all over Europe and particularly from the cash rich English Premier League, has decided to up the ante and demand a hefty wage of 4 million pounds a year for Pogba, should Juventus wish to tie his future down to the club.

While it is no secret that the Juventus management values Pogba highly, it remains to be seen if the club can hold off strong pressure from English clubs such as Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, who are all willing to splash the cash for the player.

Although the French midfielder is contracted until 2016 with Juventus, there is increasing fear in Juve camp of losing the 20 year old to money pressure. Pogba’s agent Raiola seems to have taken advantage of the demand to ask for a higher wage for his client.

Mourinho will not let Courtois join Barcelona

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ose Mourinho is not willing to let Chelsea sell Thibaut Courtois to Barcelona. The Portuguese newspaper claims Mourinho views Courtois as the ideal long-term replacement for Petr Cech - and will not, under any circumstance, allow Courtois to replace Victor Valdes at the Nou Camp.

Utd ready to sign Ever Banega for £20m

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ANCHESTER UNITED are poised to sign Valencia ace Ever Banega in the summer. The 25-yearold Argentina playmaker wants to leave and Valencia have finally bowed to his demands. They insist he can't go in January but are willing to sanction a deal to sell

him at the end of the season.United scouts have watched Banega three times in recent weeks. He has a £50m release clause in his contract.

Arsenal and Liverpool keen Konstantinos Mitroglou

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ccording to reports , both clubs Arsenal and Liverpool are keen on Olympiacos hitman Konstantinos Mitroglou. The 25-year

old has been in scintillating form this term, finding the back of the net 17 times in 15 appearances.

However, there are as many as four other teams interested in Mitroglou’s services including the likes of Borussia Dortmund.

Poyet threatens to leave Sunderland over transfers

S

underland manager Gus Poyet has revealed he will walk away from the club if his input on January's transfer

targets is ignored.

The 45-year-old joined the Black Cats in October, with the club rooted to the foot of the Premier League table.

Subsequently recording two wins and two losses during his brief tenure, fans have been enthused by the improvement in performance.

Wolfsburg To Chelsea:

Sell Us De Bruyne

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ermans want talented Belgian in January. A senior member of the back room staff at Bundesliga side Wolfsburg has confirmed that the club will be making a bid for outcasted Chelsea midfielder Kevin De Bruyne in the new year.The 22-year-old has been largely tipped to make a loan move

away from the club in order to keep a hold of his place in the Belgium squad ahead of next year ’s World Cup in Brazil.

TV Presenter presents her forecast nude

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£6m Onazi welcomes Liverpool move 20 year old Nigerian international midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has reportedly expressed his desire to play for Premier League giants Liverpool, according to reports. Onazi his impressed in the Italian Serie A with Lazio and has made steady progress at the club since joining in 2011. Onazi has managed 44 appearances for Lazio since 2011.

illions of viewers were on edge as they tuned in to see whether Doria Tillier presented her Canal+ weather forecast NAKED, as she promised.

The French stunner vowed to take her clothes off should France pull off a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down against Ukraine in their playoff match.

They did that - winning 3-0 at the Stade de

France - and Tillier didn't disappoint, giving a bare, yet professional performance in front of the television cameras.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013—31

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

07032769933

West Ham considering Forlan bid

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est Ham United are keen on signing Diego Forlan in a bid to ease their striker woes.

The 34 year old currently plying his trade in Brazil with Internacional, where he has scored twentytwo goals in fifty-four appearances since signing from Inter

United stars with their wives out in force to attend club's bash

Milan last summer.

Manager Sam Allardyce is desperate to bring in a more firepower during January, after admitting to missing out on four forward targets during the summer.

Carvalho moves a step closer to Man United

W

illiam Carvalho’s proposed move to Manchester United has taken a step forward as his current club Sporting are looking to secure full

ownership of the player.

Carvalho has been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent months and Portuguese based Record believe that a deal could now be closer than ever before, as originally spotted by Sport Witness.

Van Persie and Bouchra

Lindegaard and Beqiri

Phil Jones and his partner Kaya Hall

Evra with wife Sandra

Ibrahim off to Malaga gyptian giant E Zamalek have given their starlet Mohamed Ibrahim the green light to move to the Spanish side Malaga for a six month loan.

Malaga wanted the service of the 21 year old player last summer but Zamalek head coach Helmy Tolan refused to let him go.

"The board held a meeting in the last few days and signed the formal approval to let Ibrahim go. We now await the Malaga delegation to visit Cairo and to end the deal."

Premier league duo battle for £17m-rated Koke

B

oth Liverpool and Manchester United are set to go head to head with Barcelona in the race to sign coveted Atletico de

Madrid midfield player Koke when the winter transfer window opens again for business in the new year.

However, all three sides will first need to meet the full £17 million value of the buyout clause in Koke’s current contract at the Vincente Calderon, which runs until June 30 2018.

Ramires shrugs off Real Madrid, Barca rumours

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amires insists he's happy at Chelsea.

The Brazil midfielder has been linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"I am under contract with Chelsea and my attention resides solely in keeping on doing the good job done at the club.

"We played our last friendly of the year [for Brazil] and now I am focusing again on

Carrick, Lisa

W

Cleverley and his Vidic and wife Ana girlfriend Dorset

hen Manchester United win trophies and individual honours alike, they tend to do it in style.And things were no different at Old Trafford as players and staff attended a UNICEF gala dinner. The club recently renewed their deal with the charity, after forming a successful partnership over the last 13 years.

The gala had auctions which were bid-only, and had several entertainment packages in place. It is held every year and is always a star-studded event, with this year's being no different. Gold packages for the gala were sold out quickly, despite costing £2,250 (plus VAT), and included a red carpet arrival, drinks reception, three course meal and commemorative programme.

There were still a deal on sale as the event took place - the platinum package - which gave you champagne VIP drinks reception in the club museum, priority seating next to the players, a complimentary bottle of wine on top of the aforementioned privileges.Some of the auctions included signed shirts from Pele and Lionel Messi, as

Simunic charged by Fifa after 'leading fans in a pro-Nazi chant'

C

Chelsea until the next national team call-ups.

roatia de fender Josip Simunic has been charged by Fifa after appearing to lead fans in a chant with pro-Nazi connotations. Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings against the 35-year-old after he began chants – that reportedly have associations with Croatia's former pro-Nazi Ustashas regime – with home fans following the 2-0 win over Iceland that saw Croatia qualify for the World Cup.

Fletcher and Hayley

well as a training session with coach and former player Phil Neville. The gala dinner raised more than £200,000 for UNICEF. Patrice Evra told the club's website: 'The new players at the club and the young lads have to understand this isn't just a normal dinner.

'It's important. It's important for the children and for many people. I think UNICEF is just the best partnership for helping people around the world.'

The majority of the first-team squad have just got back into training at the club after their respective friendlies and World Cup play-offs. United's fortunes have been improving in recent weeks, after slumping to their worst start in Premier League history. David Moyes, who was also in attendance, will be preparing his side to visit Wales to play Cardiff on tomorrow sunday

Chelsea prepare audacious Falcao bid

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helsea are preparing a January bid for Radamel Falcao, just months after his high profile move to AS Moanco.

The Blues missed out on the Colombian forward in the summer, who moved to Ligue 1 for over £50million.But Jose Mourinho is already preparing a move for Falcao, who scored 52 goals in the last two seasons for Atletico Madrid.

32—SA TURD AY 32—SATURD TURDA

C M Y K

Vanguard,NO VEMBER 23 anguard,NOVEMBER 23,, 2013

SATURDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 23, 2013—33

Every year, Elizabeth Waldorf brand has a time to make women aware of cancer and the harsh reality of its existence. We hand out gifts and create platforms for affected women to share their stories in order to make other women aware of the scourge How exactly did you get here?

I had stint in banking, ECO Bank precisely. I had also worked as Human Resources Manager at a consulting firm and at a telecoms firm. At a point, I realized there was no way I could handle my business (Elizabeth Waldorf) and still work 9 to 5. I had to focus more on my business to take it to the global scene.

What was the experience the first day you tried to make a dress?

I’ve been designing as a teenager and that’s where it all started. I woke up one morning and I realized this is what I love to do and I knew there was nothing else I’d rather do than fashion designs. So, I went through a lot of books, processes and all the prerequisites to be a great person at what I do.

It’s like being a basket ball player, talent is not enough until you practice and spend hours honing your skill. The first time I had to piece materials together, it was totally by hand. I sew a dress for my sister and it was rough around the edges but we got the basic idea and it was exciting and tacky at the same time. At least, my joy was that we got the design come to life.

How have you fared since you floated your label?

I’ve been designing for fifteen years, but Elizabeth Waldorf brand is just three years old. We’ve fared pretty well as a matter of fact. We started in our little world, so to speak and with time, a lot of people have become aware of the brand.

In January 2012, you showcased your winter/ autumn collection dubbed ‘Structure, Lace, Romance’, but there was no follow up to this in 2013, what informed the hiatus?

Well, we just released the collection which is in store already. We’re retailing it at The Library, a luxury store tucked inside the Silverbird Galleria, Abuja. It’s very exciting and we should have an in-store launch sometime this month.

Can you describe in details what your sub-labels are?

Elizabeth Waldorf has Le Petit for kids; Elizabeth Waldorf 21 for socialites who are vibrant and young but want some element of luxury;we have the Elizabeth Waldorf Limited Edition which is the high end category and we have Elizabeth Waldorf Africa which is for women with African sense of fashion. So, we go around Africa to

How my fashion label put smiles on faces of women with cancer — Jane Ole Jane Ole is a woman of many ‘faces’. And for those who know her worth, Elizabeth Waldorf is a designing label capable of leaving you breathless.

Aside that, her label has made it a point of duty to put smiles on faces of cancer patients through yearly gifts. For this young and talented lady who dumped her juicy bank job for a call to humanity, she is worth celebrating. Read on

BY IYABO AINA source for accessories to make the garments. The brand extensions are; Elizabeth Waldorf Bridals, Elizabeth Waldorf Lifestyle, Elizabeth Waldorf Made to Measure, Elizabeth Waldorf Bespoke and Elizabeth Waldorf Premium Bespoke.

In lifestyle, we have throw pillows, aprons and all sorts of exciting things you’d love. We just started Elizabeth Waldorf about two years ago and it’s for the woman who appreciates luxury during her big day.

These elements make it open for all women irrespective of class to come in and get something really good for themselves.

H

ow do you source your fabrics?

We source them from around the world, Milan, Paris, Dubai, London, Africa and so on. Recently, I’ve been excited about somewhere in Africa which I like to keep under wrap at the moment, but you find that reflect in some of the collections. We’re a global brand and that’s why we fuse stuffs around the world together.

What were your parents’ reactions when you started the business especially as they knew you were not doing badly in the corporate world?

Truly, I find a lot of young entrepreneurs say that, ‘oh, when I wanted to start my business, my parents never like the idea’, but I’ve been very fortunate because they’ve been extremely supportive from the start. My mom had some experience with food management and

stuffs that have to do with fashion, so, I think that may have contributed to why it came easy for me. My parents have been extremely supportive, in all sincerity.

When you handled your first major job, how did you feel?

It was a wedding and I was nervous.

That actually happened way before the brand kicked off. It was a friend’s wedding and I was contracted to make the bride’s maids dresses and at that time, we were just starting as a brand. I remember that I was just boosting my inner courage that, ‘ok Jane, you can do this’.

So, I called my team together and we did something amazing and that was the point where I realized that this is something I could really do. That was four years ago.

Aside fashion, what other things excite you about life?

I love food and I really love to cook. I look forward to the Sunday dinner with my family every time. I might just have something to do with food along the line because I’m still an entrepreneur at the end of the day.

I’m excited about travels. I

realized that the more you travel, the more you’re aware of other cultures and this is what I would love to do more as I go along my life. I love Paris and Italy but I’d really love to spend a lot of time in Paris.

I’m looking forward to that.

How about your awareness campaign on cancer among women?

Every year, Elizabeth Waldorf brand has a time to make women aware of cancer and the harsh reality of its existence. We hand out gifts and create platforms for affected women to share their stories in order to make other women aware of the scourge.

Two years ago, we gave out Swarovski crystal necklace which is another brand we work with. And last year, we

gave out to the winner, a limited edition dress embellished with precious stones.

How did you do it ?

We told women to help one woman who inspires them and they shared the stories with us.The best story won the necklace.

It’s our corporate social responsibility to our community to make women know about the disease.

You’re elegant, vivacious, enterprising and single, are you in any relationship?

My world is one so private, do you mind?

So, what do you want in the man that will be yours?

I desire an intelligent, hardworking, Godfearing man who supports my dream all the way.

Which of the celebrities would you say have a near-perfect lifestyle?

That’s difficult to answer, but I’d say I like the personal style of Olivia Parlemo , Tina Craig, Victoria Beckham & Miroslava Duma.

If you would flip through the phone of any star, who would that be?

Anna Wintour.

Who in the world would you like to dine with?

Mr Valentino What outfit would you never be caught in?

Grunge boots and a body con micro mini skirt.

What do you crave for all the time?

I mostly crave for food. I love my dessert and seafood (love prawns!). Lifestyle wise, I’m a fragrance junkie so I can’t do without my scented candles especially at the office.

Who is Jane Ole? Jane Ole is a fashion designer. I love my art and my work for Elizabeth Waldorf. I’m a bit of a workaholic. I believe in dreaming and working hard.

I’m a woman who isn’t afraid of failure but my ultimate goal like any focused entrepreneur is success. I hate mediocrity and I believe in putting in a 101% always. I love family and God above all.

34—SATURDAY

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

08056180112

Your skin is window to your health

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Since the skin plays such an important role in protecting the body, you should keep it as healthy as you can

cancer.

Y

Leg plaque: Red on edge, gold in center Doctors call it necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. As the name suggests, it’s a distinctive sign of diabetes, but it is rare. It can first appear as a dull, reddish colored patch but then become shinier with a distinct border. Sometimes the affected skin may crack and become itchy or painful.

our skin can be a window to your underlying health. Almost every health condition translates to the skin. When your skin talks you need to listen. Many underlying health conditions— some very serious—first appear as skin problems. The skin is the organ that comes into contact with the rest of the world. It holds body fluids in, preventing and keeps harmful microbes out—without it, we would get infections.

Why healthy skin is important The skin is full of nerve endings that help you feel things like heat, cold, and pain. If you couldn’t feel these things, you could get badly hurt and not even know it! Since the skin plays such an important role in protecting the body, you should keep it as healthy as you can. This will help you keep from getting sick or having damage to your bones, muscles, and internal organs. Here are common skin problems and how to cope with them.

•Observing the skin is vital venous insufficiency.

Once blood flows down to your legs, your veins have to pump it back up to your body’s core.

Veins that are not working properly struggle to transport blood against gravity, so the blood collects in the lower legs, causing redness and swelling. A variety of conditions may be the cause. Make an appointment with an internist to begin pinpointing the problem.

What your skin is trying to tell you When your epidermis is showing—and it’s trying to tell you something.

When something isn’t functioning well on the inside, the clues start appearing on the outside. Give yourself a quick check for these surprising signs.

Wrinkles If you have many deep wrinkles, it could mean a heightened risk for bone fractures. If you have velvety, brownish-grey patches of skin, it could mean diabetes. This kind of discoloration commonly appears, increases and folds around the groin, underarms, and the neck; it can be an early warning sign for type 2 diabetes—a disease that can involve elevated levels of the hormone insulin.

Dull, dry skin If you have dull, dry skin, it could mean a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids that are famous for their health perks: They support brain function, reduce inflammation, and can help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. A deficiency can slow the natural exfoliation cycle, resulting in

,

Butterfly rash A butterfly rash across the face is often the first sign of lupus. But don’t jump to conclusions. It could be rosacea, it could be contact d e r m a t i t i s .

Unfortunately, sometimes it is a sign of lupus.

•Keep your skin as healthy as possible dryness—even dandruff. The best way to get omega-3s is from your diet. Eat plenty of salmon, sardines, flaxseeds, walnuts, and soybeans, all of which are rich in fatty acids.

Intense itchiness If you have intense

itchiness, it could mean Hodgkin’s or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Severe, persistent itchiness— triggered by an overabundance of abnormal cells circulating in the bloodstream—can be a very early sign of these two types of cancer. If you have discoloration or swelling of your lower legs, it could mean

Velvet plaques Velvety plaques in the neck and/or armpit suggest diabetes. This condition — acanthosis nigricans — could be benign or be caused by obesity. But it is very often a sign of diabetes.

In rare cases acanthosis nigricans occurring in other places, such the hands or lips, may indicate an internal

Itchy, violet bumps on wrist Lichen planus is a rash made up of reddish-purple, flat-topped bumps that may itch like crazy. It usually appears on the wrists or ankles, but may be in the mouth or on the lower back, neck, legs, and genitals. The cause isn’t known, but if you have it, you may need to get liver tests. It could be linked to having hepatitis C. Flesh coloured, orange-peel patches on back Shagreen patches are flesh-colored lesions on the lower back that have the texture of an orange peel.

They often occur with other skin signs: red or brown acne-like bumps spreading across the cheeks and nose; and ash-leaf spots of underpigmented skin, most often on the trunk, that are oval at one end and pointy at the other. These are signs of a rare genetic disease called tuberous sclerosis that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and other vital organs.

Scaly rash on buttocks, red tongue Fortunately, this is pretty rare. It’s a red, scaly rash, sometimes with small erosions of the skin, more often seen in elderly patients. It tends to start in the fold of the buttocks or palms but can be elsewhere on the body. A bright red, painful tongue is common.

The condition usually signals a pancreatic tumour.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013—35

08116759764 anozieegole@yahoo.com

Daddy Showkey is back again!

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emember Daddy Showkey? The ghetto solider who is popular in Nigeria for ghetto anthems “Diana and Somebody Call my Name.” He is back and better. In a recent event on the Lagos island, Showkey mounted the stage to do what he knows how to do best.

It was a pleasant surprise for his fans to watch him perform again after missing his stagecraft and dancing steps. It was as if people have been longing to see him gyrate again, and he did not disappoint.

As he sang his popular track, “Somebody call my Name”every guests at the event took to the floor and danced away stress.

*Louis

Eno Louis returns

*Showkey

Onye Ozi to visit the cinema soon

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fter years of staying off the studio since the release of his debut singles, “Move and Hot love”in 1982, the Edo State born hip hop singer, who also combines, guitarist and drummer, Eno Louis has put plans in motion to remix of his hit tracks.

The tracks which was only released in Nigeria, has attracted international recognition and had

By ANOZIE EGOLE

Metro park launches crystal lounge

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fter the huge statement he made with blockbuster movies, “Last Flight to Abuja” and “Anchor Baby ”, Obi Emelonye has concluded plans to release his latest film, “Onye Ozi” into the market. The film, subtitled in English is an Igbo film. It tells the story of Metumaribe (Okey Bakassi) who just arrived London with high expectations and a two-year plan to return to Nigeria as a rich man.

However, life in London with his new wife Mkpurunma (Ngozi Igwebike) is not going as planned.

On a fateful night, TJ, an old English man (Stephen Moriaty), was shot by some masked men at a party organised to welcome Metu to London. As party goers run away, Metu attempts to help the man. The dying man squeezes an envelope and a bunch of keys into Metu’s hand and whispers a message as he takes his last breath. Starring in the films are the likes of Okey Bakassi, Ngozi Igwebuike, Stephen Moriaty, among others.

gone viral online as it was recently released in far away London by Honest Jones records.

The tracks has been enjoying massive airplay in recent time especially, outside the shores of Nigeria.

“I am so excited for what is happening, I look forward to working with some bigger artistes in the industry,”he said.

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Obi Emelonye

elebrity hangout, Metro Park on Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA is re-launching with its state-of-the art club and lounge called ‘Crystal Lounge.

The new lounge, according to Adetola Adegbayi, Club Manager, will be opening with a 3-day special opening events on Wednesday, November 27, through Saturday, November 30.

Adegbayi said, the lounge is bringing something refreshing and uniquely different from the regular clubbing experience in Lagos. ”Metro Park has always been renowned for style and classy ambience, but with the coming of Crystal Lounge, we planned to redefine people’s relaxation experience.

Trust me, we are bringing what the public has never witness before,” said Adegbayi popularly known as Candy Daddy..

He explained that the lounge has lined up series of entertaining special programmes for their die-hard patrons and other fun seekers.

36 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

2face inspires Fire of Zamani, Ice Prince opens up

HOTFLASHES!

By Juliet Ebirim

...Launches album today

BY SAM ANOKAM

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RONTLINE rapper, Ice Prince Zamani is one artiste who has been consistent in his style of music since he arrived the Nigerian entertainment scene.

As a result, he has been churning out hit singles after hit singles making him a force to reckon with, as far as the nation’s music industry is concerned. The ‘Aboki’ crooner is gearing up today to officially launch his second studio work, Fire of Zamani.

According to him, “ Fire of Zamani is my second studio album and it dropped on teh 11th of November. It’s available right now and it’s an 18- track album produced by Chopsticks, Don Jazzy.”

The album featured the likes of Rubby, MI, Jesse Jangz, Whizkid, Sunny Neji, Jeremiah Gyang, Sound Sultan, DJ, Caise, Morell, DJ Edu, Wale, among other musicians.

He also disclosed what informed the title of his album, saying “I heard Fire of Zamani from one of Tuface’s songs.

I cannot remember that particular song. He wasn’t talking about me but he was singing something totally different. I got inspired by that.”

The event, holding at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, according to the sensational rapper, will feature top musicians like Olumide, MI, Nigerian American rapper, Wale, British rapper, Chipmunk, Yung L, Burna Boy, among others.

“This concert will launch the album. It is being put together by Chocolate City and Kilimanjaro Entertainment. I have support from my colleagues like Burna Boy, Jeremiah Gyang, Sunny Neji, Wale, DJ Caise, among others.”

D’Banj

I wish I had a private jet – D’banj

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Ice prince

Utomi, Onyeka, others shine at NEBA 2013 IT was the gathering of captains of industry, entertainers and politicians at the maiden edition of Nigeria Elite Business Awards (NEBA).

The event, which held recently at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, had in attendance Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investments, Prof. Pat Utomi, Mazi Sam Ohu abun wa, Ony eka Onwenu, several corporate players as well as members of the diplomatic community.

NEB A Cha irma n, Maz i Ohuabunwa, while speaking at the event which was anchored by Nneota Egbe, stated that the award recognizes the fact that leadership was a huge challenge in both the public and private sectors, hence the need to reward excellence, integrity and hard work.

According to him, “NEBA is rewa rdin g outs tand ing companies and individuals that have shown great character. We are celebrating the

very best of Nigerian business culture. We have so much to celebrate in this country, especially in the business community.”

Interestingly, the winners in the keenly contested award cat-

egories were: Otunba Subomi Balogun, founder, FCMB (Life Time Achievement Award), In-

surance Company of the Year (Mansard), Shipping and Maritime Company of the Year (Delmas), Food and Beverage Company of the Year (Nestle Nigeria Plc), Cons umer Elec troni cs Bran d (Sam sung ), Telec oms Comp any of the Year (MTN ), Bank of the Year (First Bank) and Oil and Gas Company of the Year (Total Plc).

OP Nigerian musician, Dapo Oyebanjo popularly known as D’banj is nursing dreams of acquiring a private jet to enable him move around easily, as well as meet up with important appointments.

The ‘ Koko Master’ was trapped in South Africa where he performed last Saturday and so could not return to the country to attend Peter Okoye’s wedding.

He lamented via his Twitter handle that he wouldn’t have missed the wedding of his dear friend if he owned a private jet. “ This is the time I really wished I had that jet. I swear, whoever said it (having a private jet) was a luxury, lied. It’s a necessity and God will do it, ” He tweeted.

Pregnant Kaffy dances at Peter’s wedding Highly talented dancer, Kafayat Shafau-Ameh a.k.a Kaffy has shown that her passion for music has not waned.

Despite being heavy with her pregnancy, she took to the floor to display her dancing skills at Peter Okoye’s wedding held last Sunday, in Lagos.

During a rendition of P-Square’s hot single, ‘Personally’, Kaffy still displayed the agility and flexibility she had as a single girl. She surprised everyone with the way she twisted, turned and kicked. And she did all these with a pair of high heeled shoes on!

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

— 37

Waje, Omawumi, others thrill fans

•Kate and Genevieve

...as Dstv unveils “Explorer”

By ANOZIE EGOLE

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PETER OKOYE’S WEDDING:

Genevieve Nnaji, Kate Henshaw snub each other

By JULIET EBIRIM

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he age-long feud between A-list actresses, Genevieve Nnaji and Kate Henshaw has not died down as it found its way into the venue of Peter Okoye and Lola Omotayo’s traditional wedding last Sunday.

It was gathered that the two superstars were

seated on the same table. But somehow they managed to avoid each other and did not even acknowledge the presence of each other.

The two ladies have been fighting a cold war for a long time now, and the beef seems not to be in a hurry to end. The bone of contention is yet to be ascertained, but reports said, they have always given each other the cold shoulder each time they meet at social functions.

Christy Essien-Igbokwe resurrects in new songs

By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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igeria’s Lady of Songs; Christy Essien Igokwe who died few years ago resurrected last Sunday, at the Intercontinental Hotels, Lagos, when her family launched her 11th and final album, in a manner that relived memories of her lifetime.

Present at the event, were the legends in the nation’s entertainment industry. Also, Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State and his Akwa-Ibom State counterpart sent representatives.

Special Guests at the event included Onyeka Onwenu, Sonny Irabor, Timi Dakolo, Niyola, Yemi Alade among others.

In her opening speech, Onyeka Onwenu described late Christy as “an amazing woman, a colleague and a friend. Make no mistake, we were competitiors but it brought out the best in us.”

The event had dance performances to songs of the late legend and stage performances of one of her most popular works on TV – New Masquerade by PAWS. A fashion show showcasing clothes worn by the Late Lady of Songs on stage was part of the activities for

the night as well musical performances by Timi Dakolo, Yemi Alade, Victor Essien (Sleeky) and The Soul Train band.

Before her death, the singer of the classic ‘Seun rere’ hoped to release her album and had recorded the songs a dream her children and family are now bringing to life alongside her greatest hits.

The new album ‘All of a Sudden” was launched along with her greatest hits the Christy Essien Igbokwe Memorial Foundation; thus celebrating her art, her style and her heart.

t was fun all the way as all roads led to the Conventional Center, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island last Sunday when Multichoice Nigeria held its gala night to mark its 20 years of providing first class service to Nigerian in particular and African at large.

Not only that the event was intended to celebrate Multichoice at 20, it was also used to unveil the company’s latest decoder called, “Explorer ”. The show was filled with excitement as the guests had enough to eat and to drink.

Hosted by our own, OAP personality, Ik Osakioduwa, the show kicked off at about, 8pm with a brief stage performance headlined by Crown Troup dancers in a magnetic dance drama depicting the inception of MultiChoice Nigeria till •2face date. The journey started during Babangida’s regime in 1993, the year MultiChoice began its quest for licensing. The story of what happened in the event will not be complete if a mention was not made to electrifying stage performance by the Benue state born Hip hop star, 2Face Idibia. The singer who mounted the stage after Waje had performed performed his hit track, “African Queen” •Omawumi were he had a minor back up from Waje. Omawumi opened the floor for stage performance as she was the first artiste to perform.

Among other artistes that greased the event were, Seyi Shay, Omawumi, 2face, Waje, Oge Okoye, Funke Akidele, Chinedu Ikediezwe, among others.

The climax of the event could be said to be when a new DSTV decoder, “Explorer” was unveiled.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Adewunmi Ogunsanya showed appreciation to everybody present for bringing their time out to come and witness the occasion.

cert n o c t s la b s a m X r fo O’jez warms up National Stadium located within the

t, t, O’jez Restauran e this year ’s edition ELEBRITY hangou gos, has set in motion plans to mak ly enjoying some nt , La complex, Surulere a huge success. The outfit is curre Indian national. t, an as is Bl o as wh er Xm ag at the of the O’jez patriate man id in a statement th fusion of a new ex facelift with the in fficer of O’jez, Joseph Odobeatu sa is always better than the Chief Executive O s that the O’jez Xmas Blast concert every year, we beat our re at celebrity outfit ensu is is the eight edition. “We ensure th is year.” th Th . e on tim iti on ed n us io io at ar loyal prev y of rewarding our why we began prep past records, that is d that the annual concert is just a wa ision, DVDs, generators, Odobeatu disclose shower them with gifts such as Telev arles Inojie will handle y we Ch clientele “that is wh gerators.” Nollywood comedy star C Shakara and Elder O, fri M re u, d en an El -up comic t of the micro wave ost exciting segmen at night while stand proceedings for th l the crowd with funny jokes. The m t is scheduled to hold ril en will take turns to th kids dancing competition. The ev e th be d ul night wo cember 25. immediately after De

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38 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

y e s m a R Nouah’s drama

Inside story of AFRIFF 2013 Kate Henshaw is the best dancer at AFRIFF

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AMSEY Nouah arrived Calabar, few days to end the festival. But the impression everybody had was that he had been around before the event.

Looking fresh and fabulous, Ramsey who recently stage a comeback to acting after featuring in Kenneth Gyang’s directed, “Confusion Na Wa’, probably thought that he was on a movie set when on two different occasions he sprang surprises.

The first surprise was when he was called upon to present an award to Uche Jombo, during the closing ceremony.

While he was nowhere to be found, Ramsey later surfaced and surprisingly, stormed the stage after the prize had been presented to Uche Jombo. He grabbed the microphone and muttered some words, before hugging the actress ceaselessly. The second surprise, however, was when he threw caution to the wind as he backed Rita Dominic like a baby, while other entertainers looked on. For me, it was a happy re-union with his colleagues and he was not taking chances to express it.

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ULTRY actress, Kate Henshaw is not known to be a professional dancer. But at the just concluded 3rd edition of the Africa International Film Festival,AFRIFF, she emerged the best dancer to the surprise of everyone.

Perhaps, on the third day of the festival, following a dancing competition that preceded the ‘all-night party’, which saw all the A-list stars taking to the floor to show off some insane break dancing skills, the actress demonstrated an unequal dancing skill.

Mid-way into the party, the sum of N60,000 was to be won by anybody that would beat Kate Henshaw in an informal dancing competition. As a result, five young ladies in the early twenties who got some skills dashed out, but they were no match for Kate’s break dance moves.

At the end of the show, Kate was adjudged the best dancer, as she walked away with the sum of N60,000, which she shared among the dancers.

•Kate

Chioma Ude:

‘Why Half of a Yellow Sun was dropped’

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hose who thronged the FilmHouse, viewing centre, in Calabar to see the screen adaptation of the award winning novel by Nigerian born author, Chimamanda Adichie, which was initially billed to make its African debut at AFRIFF, were disappointed when South Africa’s controversial film, “Of Good Report” was C M Y K

screened at the opening of the festival.

Before the festival kicked off, the executive producers had announced their decision to withdraw the film from showing at the festival. A decision that shocked the festival Directors. But as expalined by the founder and CEO of AFRIFF, Ms Chioma Ude,“Half of a Yellow Sun” was withdrawn from the programme after she saw the film at the Toronto Film festi-

val, and felt that it wasn’t much of a war story as widely publicised."

According to her, “We deliberated over three movies to screen at the festival.

But I was very sentimental about “Half of Yellow Sun” because my parents told me so much about the civil war. So, when I attended the Toronto Film Festival which held recently, I saw the film, and it wasn’t much of a war story, rather it was a love story. So, when I returned to the country and I replaced the film with South Africa's film, “Of Good Report.”

AFRIFF boss, however, put the record straight, explaining that the film was withdrawn not because of the inability of the organisers to meet the demands of the producers. “Yewande said to me, I have three sponsors that want to give me N50 million to do an exclusive viewing. I said go ahead.”

Omotola, Funke Akindele, Ibinabo missing at AFRIFF

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OME of Nollywood big names such as Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Funke Akindele and President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Ibinabo Fiberesima were conspicuously missing at the festival.

But in their absence, the up and coming actresses such as Linda Ejiofor who had her break in Rita Dominic’s “The Meeting”, Uru Eke, Lilian Esoro, OC Ukeje, Bhaira Mcwizu, Mary Uranta, Moses

Inwang, Ihuoma Nwigwe, KC Ejelonu and many others who know how to turn on the charm in front of cameras took the centre stage. Their graceful presence were felt at every nook and cranny of the festival. But it was fun all the way for the emerging stars.

Hollywood representatives, Lynn Whitefield who was one of the festival ambassadors, Vanessa Williams, Nigerian born Ngoli Okafor all had fun, and agreed that the art of film making had come to stay in Africa.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013 — 39

Day Amaechi hosted BON award nominees

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elf-acclaimed Port Harcourt’s first son, Duncan Mighty had a date with Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State last Sunday, when the former stampeded the latter, into dancing to the rhythm of his music.

Duncan Mighty was performing at the special dinner organised by the governor in honour of the nominees of this year’s edition of the Best of Nollywood awards which is billed to hold on the 30th of this month in Asaba. Mid-way into his electrifying performance, the self-acclaimed Port-Harcourt first son dramatically made his way to where Amaechi was sitting, and consequently demanded

to have the embattled governor take to the floor. But he wouldn’t, except he plays his favourite song, “ PortHarcourt first Son.”And when Duncan Mighty eventually played the song, heaven was let loose as the governor suddenly took to the floor and started digging it out like home boy. Thunderous ovation, however, greeted his amazing dance steps.

Nollywood stars who graced the dinner which held at the Banquet hall, Government House, were Segun Arinze, Alex Ekubo, Basorge Tariah Jr, Ik Ogbonna, Moji Olaiya, Fathia Balogun, Belinda Effah, Adaora Ukoh, Doris Simeon, Ademola Muyiwa, Fathia

Balogun, Foluke Daramola, Omoni Oboli, Charles Novia, Biodun Okeowo, Mimi Orjiekwe, Moses Ewang and many others.

In his speech, Seun Oloketuyi, BON Chief Executive thanked Governor Amaechi for hosting the nominees, saying the gesture wouldn’t have been possible if the governor did not believe in the industry.

“This nominees’ dinner is a worthy initiative that would not have happened if Governor Amaechi does not believe in Nollywood. And Nollywood would never forget all that you are doing behind the scene to ensure that this industry gets bigger and better,” he stated.

Frills as Obehi Inojie celebrates bir thday

C M Y K

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he fast rising Beverly Naya landed herself the role of Yaya on the primetime televi sion series on DSTV-Tinsel. According to Beverly:” “I was in the states shooting a TV series when I was contacted about a screen test for the role of Yaya, fortunately my return date back to Lagos was in a week so as soon as I got back, I auditioned. I was delighted when I got the role, Yaya really is a fantastic character to play. So far it has been nothing but a lovely journey working with the Tinsel cast and crew, they’re very welcoming and professional. I’m also happy that I can now be seen not just in Nigeria but around Africa too, that’s a beautiful blessing.”

Beverly Naya burst into the limelight with the movie ‘The actress’ which was co produced by her mom and Lancelot Imaseun. She has been going stronger ever since.

Wale Adenuga Produc

tions bags NTA

awar d

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OVEMBER 12, will remain in delible in the mind of wife of popular comic actor, Charles Inojie, Obehi as she not only added another year to her age but celebrated it with style.

Held at the Chinese section of Ojez restaurant in Surulere, Obehi decided to make her day memorable by making it an all ladies affair. She invited wives of some movie actors as they wine, dined and had fun all through the special occasion. They also smiled home with gifts.

Asked why she made it an all ladies affair, beautiful Obehi said: “ It’s been a while since I last had a special birthday like this. I want to make it memorable and I thank my sisters who left their busy schedules to honour me. I specially thank my husband who made it possible.”

Beverly Naya lands a role in Tinsel

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•Obehi and friends cuting the birthday cake

A LE A tions (WAP) was de nu ga P ro du c recently award by the N igerian Televisi honoured with an on Authority (N at the 2013 editi TA on Night which took of NTA Business Dinner/Aw ) ard pl ac e on Th ur sd ber, 2013 at the ay, 14th Novem Federal Palace H The “Top Busine ss Partner ” awar otel, V.I. ognition of the im d was given in re grammes Supers mense popularity of WAP’s TV Pr cto ochannel wapTV ry and ThisLife; and WAP’s ca , among numer ble ous Advertisers millions of View and er According to Wal s across Nigeria. e Adenuga Jnr., ful to all the Adve “We are truly grat rti agement who ha sers, Viewers and the NTA Maneve port our different continued to believe in, and su pis yet to come.” projects for over 10 years. Our be st

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

Weekend Treat Sweet ikokore, your weekend delight

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kokore is a special delicacy peculiar to the Ijebus of the western part of Nigeria. The meal is so special that it can be eaten alone but the Ijebus eat it with cold eba.

08111813025

Recipe Water yam Smoked fish Dry fish Fresh fish

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Beef and liver

By ADERONKE ADEYERI

Ponmo

he charming mother of two, Iyabo Ojo is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk.

The Nollywood actress who hails from Ogun state explains the secret of her good looks,saying, creating time to look good is one of the most enjoyable moment of her life. Enjoy it.

As a actress, how do you unwind?

My schedule is so tight but I still create time to cook for my kids. I do some other activities including dancing just to keep body and soul together. My kids also join in the fun. Despite my time limit, I make sure, I don’t miss out when it comes to cooking for my family. I enjoy cooking against all odds.

What is your favorite food?

Rice and dodo. But as someone who hails from Ogun state, our staple food is Ikokore. This particular

Palm oil Salt Ground pepper Spices Preparations Clean and cut the fishes and meat into pieces. Peel the skin off the yams and wash them afterwards. Use the grater or food processor to grate the yams into a mush. After this, bring water to boil, then add blended pepper,fish, ponmo, beef, and liver.

food is peculiar to the Ijebus. The main ingredient for this food is water yam and it can be prepared in different ways but must be very rich.

To what would you attribute your good looks?

Looking good is part of life. It is important to create time for one to look good. As a matter of fact, I take a glass of water in the morning to flush my body system, then I eat my breakfast afterwards.

Your best fruit?

I like to eat grapes and this I developed from my tender age.

Was there a time you played some pranks?

A time-table was already planned so, playing pranks wouldn’t have made any difference.

Were you allowed to cook for the rest of the family as a child?

I learnt cooking at the age of 13. As the first grand daughter, I stayed with my paternal grandmother who taught me how to cook. So, I spent most of my teenage years in the kitchen.

While the content is boiling, cut grated yam into the pot in balls (like you are frying tiny puffs),then add seasoning and salt to taste. Leave for twenty minutes.

Then, turn down the heat and add your palm oil. Let the palm oil cook until the fresh taste disappears. Your ikokore is ready.

Nutritional values of turmeric

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urmeric is one of the most researched plants in existence today.

Research has revealed that it has over six hundred preventive and therapeutic applications as well as one hundred and seventy five distinct beneficial physiological effects.

Anti-inflammatory agent: Turmeric is a bright yellow spice and a powerful medicine which serves as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of conditions, including flatulence, jaundice, menstrual difficulties, bloody urine, hemorrhage, toothache, bruises, chest pain, and colic.

Relief for rheumatoid arthritis: As an antioxidant, it neutralises free radicals, chemicals that can travel through the body and cause great amounts of damage to healthy cells and cell membranes.

Cancer prevention: It helps the body to destroy mutated cancer cells, so they cannot spread through the body and cause more harm.

Inhibits cancer cell growth and metastases: Epidemiological studies have linked the frequent use of turmeric to lower rates of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer as well as prevent tumours from forming.

Dining out with

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Grape Juice

rapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making wine, jam, juice, jelly, grape seed extract, raisins, vinegar and grape seed oil.

TummyZone 4 Kid & Teen fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself.

Helping children fight Cholera continues from last week Take care of the child’s food Cook food well (especially seafood), keep it covered, eat it hot, and peel fruits and vegetables. Be sure to cook shellfish (like crabs and crayfish) until they are very hot all the way through. Avoid raw foods other than

Clean up safely: In the kitchen and in places where the family bathes and washes clothes, wash yourself, your children, diapers, and clothes, 30 meters away from drinking water sources.

Vaccines: Access vaccines that are suitable for treating cholera. Because the vaccine is a two dose vaccine, multiple weeks can elapse before persons receiving the vaccine are protected.

Therefore, vaccination should not replace standard prevention and control measures.

C M Y K

The woman with a ffive-s ive-s ive-sttone leg S

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013—41

omali mother’s limb ballooned because of elephantiasis— but neighbours think she’s possessed by the devil. Sadia Abdinur, 35, is immobile and unable to feed her children. Her leg swelled because the drainage passages in it became blocked by a parasitic worm. She could develop a fatal infection at any time if she is not treated. British surgeon Nigel Standfield has now offered to carry out lifesaving surgery for free, so a charity is raising money to fly Sadia to the UK.

‘What 'll happen to them when I 'm gone?’

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eartbreak of devoted aunt who cares for disfigured man blessed by the Pope and his sister who is blighted by same disease.

Vinicio Riva, 53, suffers from the genetic disease neorofibromatosis. His aunt Caterina Lotto fears he and his sister Morena will have to live in a care home when she dies as there will be no one to look after them. The pair have learning difficulties and do not leave the house without her. Condition has left him covered from head-to-toe in noncontagious growths. Earlier this month Pope Francis embraced and kissed him in Rome audience. Images of the touching moment the Pontiff held him seen around the world.

The brother and sister both have learning difficulties as a result of their condition and live together in a council apartment in Isola Vicentina, a suburb of Vicenza. Mrs Lotto, 68, has cared for them since and travelled with Mr Riva to the Vatican where he met the Pope.

08 116759 759 081 6759759

The girl with no vagina

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eenager can’t have sex or babies due to rare condition that left her without reproductive organs (and she didn’t find out until she was 17).

Jacqui Beck was diagnosed after telling her GP she had not started periods. Tests revealed she had MRKH, a condition affecting one in 5,000 women.

While she has ovaries, she has no womb, cervix or vaginal opening. Where her vagina should be, there is an indent, making it appear normal. Sufferers

appear completely normal externally—which means it is often not discovered until a woman tries to have sex, or has not had her period. She is now undergoing treatment to enable her to have sex in the future. Says she has now come to terms with her condition and wants to speak about it to raise awareness.

Focusing on her treatment, Miss Beck was

admitted to the Queen Charlotte and Chelsea Hospital in London, which specialises in the condition.

The thinnest girl in the oman, world24,

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weighs 4st 3lb, and has to eat every 20 minutes because of rare medical condition.

It just 5ft 2" tall and weighing in at 4st 3lb, Lizzie Velasquez, appears worryingly thin at first glance.

But her tiny frame wasn’t caused by an eating disorder.

Instead, it is the result of a syndrome so rare that it is shared by just two other people.Her condition means that try as she might, Lizzie, from Austin in Texas, finds it impossible to gain weight or store fat, and as a result, she’s forced to eat up to 60 small meals a day. Despite the challenges, the courageous 24-year-old insists she wouldn’t change a thing about herself and, instead, throws herself into her work as a motivational speaker and anti-bullying campaigner.Speaking in TLC documentary, Body Bizarre, Lizzie, who was tormented by school bullies and has endured vile abuse online, said she had no intention of attempting to ‘fit in’.

42—SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

The beautiful ones have done it again

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ones Usen, a popular broadcaster with the FRCN at a time, and self styled ‘man with the golden voice’ called the golden eaglets the beautiful ones after their exploits of 1985 in far away Asia. Those young boys dazzled and glittered in China and made our heads swell with pride as they delighted the world with skilful and purposeful football. In celebrating our moments of euphoria, Jones had declared ‘the beautiful ones have now been born’.

It was the maiden edition of a tournament that has since discovered many football super stars. It was also our first exploit on the international stage and it was a performance that stunned the whole world especially the sponsors who did not expect an African country to win and wondered how they would recoup their sponsorship funds.

For us as Nigerians and Africans, it was a beautiful moment as everybody thought we had entered the world stage. And Pele, the same acclaimed Pele, endorsed the boys when he said they would rule the world if they could be kept together for a few years to mature as a unit.

But what happened after the euphoria? The vultures took over- in the name of greed, ethnicity, selfcentredness and bad administration.

Everybody, including those who had never succeeded in anything in their lives, had an opinion. By the time the

under -17 boys had become under 21, it was a different team; infused and diffused by additions and subtractions that were based on everything but merit.

The result was that we lost all the good things that should have accrued to Nigeria as a result of that groundbreaking feat.

Prodigies have to be handled well, or they will self destruct which is what happened when many of these boys signed all kinds of one sided agreements with clubs that exploited rather than nurtured them.

Many say the reason we did not benefit was because the boys were closer to 25 than 17. But that, even if it was true, was only half of the story.

Whoever said 23, 24 year olds can not be kept together and nurtured both mentally and technically?

What is worse is that we had two other opportunities to get it right and build on the foundation of our young talents.

Each time we have short changed ourselves. Will we be fourth time lucky?

I was initially apathetic about the present crop of boys and did not start watching them until after their first game. I was impressed as anybody who knows a thing or two about football would be. These boys were strong, quick and very mobile. In addition, they had the technical awareness that was not very common in Nigeria agegrade teams. I was pleased to note that they hardly lost their shape throughout

the competition even when the wing backs surged forward or they had to sit back to soak some pressure. That first encounter with Sweden was as much a tribute to their mental strength and belief as it was to their physical fitness and skill.

I believe we not only have gifted eaglets on our hands, but technically proficient ones. Whoever nurtured their ‘can do’ spirit did a good job and the technical crew led by Manu Garba should be commended.

But gold as we all know, will lose its lustre if it is not burnished regularly.

We can not therefore afford to do business as usual with these young boys or we will under achieve with them again. We have to think up a plan that keeps them motivated and encouraged while keeping their feet firmly on the ground. They must also be made to play together often.

First, giving under 17s money (yes, they do look their age for a change) is ill advised. I can understand it in a country that has become so monetised; but I do not advise it. A new reward system must be developed. Second, the foreign scouts are out and certain names are already being linked to some big clubs. It won’t be the first time; and we know what happened in the past. So their progress must be monitored and the terms of contract must be checked by people who know about these things. These boys must not be thrown to the wolves. Third, their egos and psyche must be managed well so they can develop into technically well rounded players. The example of Rafael

Nadal, the current number one tennis player in the world, and a child prodigy in his on right, should be a case study. When he won his first three trophies as a teenager, his uncle and coach refused any form of family celebration as he did not want success to get into his head so early in life.

Our boys are not super stars yet, not even close. They should not be so treated. Fourth, the powerful owners of our football academies must not be allowed to diffuse the team indiscriminately.

Already, one ‘honourable member’ has said the boys must not be allowed to graduate into under 20 automatically. I don’t think that is a helpful suggestion. If you can not motivate and encourage at this stage, then leave well alone.

We have gold nuggets in our hands. But we need to do the needful to make them glow. It is after the hard work that makes these boys to be physically, mentally and technically ready for the 2018 World Cup must have been done that we can truly say ‘the beautiful ones have finally been born’.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013— 43

C M Y K

44 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23 23, 2013—45

46 — Saturday

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

Confusion envelopes Enugu .as irate youths raze police post,11 houses, and property worth millions of naira

By CHINENYE OZOR, Nsukka

I

•The burnt houses

,

rate youths, in their numbers, last Friday, unleashed mayhem in Abbi community, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu State by burning down a police post, 11 houses and other valuable property of a popular native doctor in the area.

Crime Guard gathered that the alleged arsonists, armed with gallons of fuel and other dangerous objects rented the air at the community and razed down the houses belonging to Emmanuel Udoji, a native doctor in the area.

The simmering difference in the community had lingered for quite sometime till last Friday when the irate youths threw the entire Abbi community into anarchy and confusion, chanting deadly songs, threatening to wipe out the native doctor and his family.

It was learnt that trouble started when the police post was to be commissioned together with the inauguration of a neighbourhood watch in the community, an action the alleged arsonists saw as a game plan by the native doctor to control the community, and vowed to resist at all cost.

An eyewitness said that during the attack, hell was let loose as indigenes and inhabitants of the community scampered for safety. The native doctor and members of his family narrowly escaped death in the hands of the raging irate youths.

When Crime Guard traced the native doctor to his hide out, he lamented the fate that befell him, members of his family and the entire community. According to him, “What actually happened was that armed robbers were disturbing people along Nrobo-Abbi road for a very long time, I made efforts to set up a police duty post and neighborhood watch to checkmate the robbers in the community.Before I embarked on the projects, I consulted the traditional

What I now see was youths in their numbers with gallons of fuel and other dangerous objects pulling down my estate of 11 houses and setting them ablaze

ruler of Ezikolo HRH. Igwe Isaac Odoakpa and the town union of the community, everybody gave approval to the projects. The police duty post has the community approval. If I was not serious, why did they not stop me when the police post was being constructed. The next thing was that the Vice -Chairman,

,

Uzo-Uwani Local Government Council, Mr. Maxwell Odoakpa,who incidentally is the son of the traditional ruler of Ezikolo in Abbi community misinformed the Chairman of the Council, Mr. Onwubuya Cornell that the police duty post was aimed to intimidate and harass people.

“I was made to understand

that the Chairman allegedly instructed that the police post be shut down. What I now saw was youths in their numbers with gallons of fuel and other dangerous objects pulling down my estate of 11 houses and setting them ablaze. They ransacked my residence, carted away cash and other valuable property worth millions of naira. My offense was that I built a police duty post and set up police assisted neighbourhood watch for the community,” he explained.

In a petition addressed to Enugu State Commissioner of Police by the counsel to the native doctor, F.J. Nwodo, dated November 16, 2013, they alleged that Igwe Isaac Odoakpa, his son Maxwell

Odoakpa who is also the Vice -Chairman of Uzo-Uwani LGA and 15 others together with the Chairman, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Council, held a meeting and conspired to kill the native doctor and set his houses ablaze.

T

he petition stated that the gruesome attack was because Uzo-Uwani Council Chief was wrongly informed that the native doctor attracted police duty post and organized neighbourhood watch to his own advantage, thereby usurping some powers of the chairman of the council.

Contacted on mobile phone, the Chairman Uzo-Uwani Local Government Council,

Electrician, 42, in Police net for raping

By IFEANYI

T

OKOLIE

he police in Lagos State have arrested a 42-year-old electrician, Taiwo Bakare, who they alleged specialized in defiling and sexually harassing little girls at Igando area of the state. Crime Guard gathered that Bakare met his waterloo after he allegedly raped a 10-year-old primary school girl in his apartment at No. 45, Unity Street, Igando.

It was further gathered that the victim (name withheld) who resides in the same street fell prey to Bakare’s ambush on Sunday, September 10, 2013, after he accosted her at her mother’s shop and lured her to his apartment where he had canal knowledge of her. The little girl was said to have felt excruciating pain after the sexual intercourse and her mother who wasn’t at home when she was raped later noticed what was happening and asked her daughter. She revealed details of how she was raped to her

and she(mother) swiftly ran to the police at Igando and reported the matter.

Crime Guard also learnt that policemen from Igando led by the Divisional Police Officer, Ben Osuji, a Chief Superintendent of Police, stormed Bakare’s apartment in search of him. After a long search, they found him hiding inside a pit close to a canal beside is apartment.

Meanwhile, the victim who spoke with Crime Guard while the police was searching for Bakare narrated how it happened. “ I was in my mother’s shop when he came in and said he wanted to buy a can of milk, I told him the price and gave him one can and demanded for my money and he refused to pay me.

All my pleas for him to pay me fell on deaf ears. Rather, he insisted that he was going to go away with the milk and I refused. After a hot argument, he said he has some money in his house and I should follow him to get my money. On getting to his house, I stood by his door and he asked me to come inside but I

Taiwo Bakare, the suspect

refused. Then, he went inside and acted as if he was getting my money but when he came out, he stretched his hand and

Saturday Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013 — 47

Community

H-E-A-R-T-L-E-S-S

Housewife bathes maid,14,with hot water in Lagos

By EVELYN USMAN

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•CP Enugu State, Adamu

Mr. Onwubuya Cornell claimed he was yet to be informed of any development in Abbi community as the chief security officer of the area.

“How can I fuel crisis in an area I am the chief security officer. My Vice Chairman is from Abbi community and knows everything about the crisis in that community,” he noted. He explained also that there was a land dispute in which Nrobo people, a neighbouring community to Abbi,claimed was being encroached upon by the erection of the police duty post.

When contacted also, the Vice Chairman, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Council, Mr. Maxwell Odoakpa said that neither the council nor

Abbi community instigated the crisis, explaining that Nrobo community alleged that the police post was a trespass on their land. He noted that one Simon who lives in Ghana admitted before Enugu State Commissioner of Police that he was the person that set the police post ablaze, threatening to do more if the native doctor fails to stay away from his land.

“As I speak with you, the said Simon is being detained at Enugu for arson.”

Contacted on phone, Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amarizu said he was yet to be briefed on the alleged arson at Abbi community, promising to furnish journalists with the information as soon as he received it.

he Police in Lagos have arrested a woman for allegedly pouring hot water on her teenage sister over her inability to sell the pawpaw given to her to hawk. The victim identified as Chidimma, is currently writhing in excruciating pains as a result of the burns she sustained from the hot water attack.

Crime Guard gathered that trouble started for the teenager after she returned to her sister’s abode at Orisubare street, Shasha,Lagos with her tray of pawpaw.

Out of anger, the 28-year-old woman, said to be head of the women’s wing in her church allegedly poured hot water which was in a bowl on the teenager, accusing her of deliberately refusing to sell the fruit.

Apparently feeling remorseful, the housewife reportedly invited a nurse to be treating the teenager at home.

The bubble, however, burst after a curious resident who requested to know the cause of the injury on the teenager ’s back, reported the incident to policemen in Idimu area of Lagos, consequent upon which the house wife, identified as Mrs Uzoma was arrested.

The teenager in her statement at the station accused her sister of threatening her earlier. According to her, “ before leaving the house that fateful day, she warned me to finish everything or else she would deal with me if I came home without making reasonable sales. I prayed before going out because I did not want to get into trouble. Unfortunately, I could not make good sales because it rained. When I got home, she accused me of playing and in the process, poured hot water on me as I made to escape. Had I faced her, it would

•Chidimma have poured on my face,” However on her part, Mrs Uzoma told the police that the act was not deliberate, blaming it on the devil.

In an emotion-laden tone, she explained to people around that she brought the teenager from the village with the intention of assisting her with her education. She added that she usually gave her pawpaw to hawk to assist the family stating that her education was also being sponsored with the proceeds from the pawpaw. Police sources at Idimu told Crime Guard that the case had been charged to court, Tuesday.

Awards for Lagos P olice Boss—Manko Police

10-yr-old girl in Lagos gripped my mouth and prevented me from screaming. He threw me on his bed and pulled off my pants before he started having canal knowledge of me. I screamed but no one came in to help me. I told my mother about it when I got home.”

While being whisked away by the police after his arrest, the suspect, Bakare, who was weeping profusely told Crime Guard, “ I am a 42 year -old man and I am married with four children, my last child is a girl and she is also 10 years but she and her mother lives in Abuja. I am the owner of my building and this small girl, pointing at the victim, lives on the same street with me and I usually

go to her mother’s shop to buy grocery items but I don’t know what came over me today when I saw her.I took her home, I pulled off her pants and also threw her on my bed and I attempted to have sex with her but my penis could not enter her vagina because it was tight, so I rubbed oil on her laps and inserted my penis in between her laps. I didn’t have sex with her, “ he lamented.

Some residents of the area described Bakare as a serial rapist who specialized in defiling little girls. They also said many other parents had refused reporting their case to the police when their wards were raped by him for fear of stigmatization.

•Lagos State Police Commissioner,Umar Manko,was recently honoured in South Africa by Security Watch Africa as the Most Outstanding Crime bursting police chief in Africa.He also earned his command’s Most Proactive Police Command in Africa at Indaba Hotel,Conference Centre and Spa,Fourways,Johannesburg.CP Manko (R) receiving the award from the National Security Advisor to the Republic of Ghana,Rtd. Brig.Gen.Joseph Nunoo Mensah.

48—SATURDAY

T

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

The Machunga-Marinho wedding

wo families, The Machungas from Plateau State and the Marinho, from Lagos State, known for their panache, class and clout became one when their children tied the nuptial knot last Saturday.

Aishatu Machunga and heart-throb, Olaolu Marinho took their matrimonial oaths at the Catholic Church of the Assumption, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos before a high-power congregation including family and friends.

Photos Diran Oshe

The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Tajudeen Ajibola Disu with his wife, Dr Folashade Disu

Fidelity Bank’s ‘Helping Hand’ project in Asaba L- R: Mrs Lois Laraba Machunga , bride's mum , Couple, Mr & Mrs Antonio Olaolu Marinho and Mrs Grace Ebunoluwa Marinho, groom's mother.

L- R: Mrs Helen Dabup, Mr Nuhu Machunga, Joy Machunga and bride's mother, Mrs Lois Laraba Machunga.

L-R: Mrs Angela Emuwa and Ms Titi Jolaoso, Financial Controller, Vanguard Media Ltd

L-R: Engr. Muhammad Daggash and Mrs Lois Laraba Machunga, bride's mother.

Delta S tat eP eace Legend A ward 20 13 Stat tate Peace Aw 201 DELTA State Peace Legend Award organised by Top Entertainment Company, held Last weekend in Warri with many organisations smiling home with different categories of honours. AJ Fast Food Restaurant, bagged the ‘Best Fast Food Restaurant of the Year while the award of Excellence on Peace Matters went to Mr. Godspower Tonome. Photos

by Akpokona Omafuire

Mr. Ahmed Z., CEO, AJ Takeaway Fast Food/Restaurant, Warri, displaying his award.

THE Fidelity Bank’s ‘Helping Hand’ project (In aid of destitute) made a stop in Asaba on Thursday with presentation of a car gift to Pro Labore Dei International Home. Photos by Nath Onojake

Mr. Charles Okoro, GM, South,Fidelity Bank, presenting car gift to Sister Stella Moris, Chief Co-Ordinator, Pro Labore Dei Int’l, with Mrs Anyanwu-Egbom, Branch Head, Fidelity Bank, Asaba,Mrs Betty Efekodah, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Mr.Chike Ogeah, Commissioner of Information.

Mr. Godspower Tonome (middle), Winner of award of ‘Excellence in Peace Matters’ in Delta State flanked by friends.

R-L: Mrs Augusta Anyanwu-Egbom,Sister Stella Moris, Mr.Ihnatius Aigbokhede, Regional Manager, Midwest Region, and Mr Charles Okoro.

Staff of AJ Takeaway/Restaurants, Warri displaying the award as the 'Best Fast Food of the Year 2013'

Management and staff of Fidelity Bank with Children of the Home and staff of Pro Labore Dei

SATURDAY

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23,, 2013—49

Continued from page 14

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wambu said: “We in spected all the sensi tive and non sensitive materials in INEC office and monitored the distribution of the materials to the local governments, polling units and points respectively. The election took place in all the 21 local government areas of the state except in few areas where election commenced late due to logistic problems in terms of distribution and late arrival of materials. Security was tight across the state and there were no incidences of violence reported. We hereby advise all the candidates to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and sense of maturity as election is not a do or die affair because in every contest, a winner will emerge.”

Also, the transition Monitoring Group, TMG, which monitored the election with over 400 observers said it met international standards, adding that those who were calling for total cancellation were not being sincere.

The traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Gibson Nwosu, while reacting on the election said the result of the election represented the wish of the people and urged the contestants to realize that only one person would be governor at a time. To Obi Gibson Nwosu, the Anambra governorship election was one of the most peaceful election he had witnessed.

The monarch said: “Since I ascended the throne, I had seen many elections, but I had never come across any of them that was so peaceful. I sent my grand child to go and find out the situation at the center where I was to vote and she came back at 9am to tell me that people were already being accredited. I went and I was accredited. When it was past 12 noon, I went and voted. Many people were there and they graciously allowed me to vote. My grand child was there till the counting and recording and she told me that everything went on well.There were no cases of thuggery. The police who were stationed in the place were very peaceful and it shows that Nigeria has come of age.” He advised the politicians to take things easy so that the state can move forward.

Intrigues,propaganda trail poll Apparently seeing that the media propaganda they adopted was not achieving the desired result, the candidates chose another option which was to arrange for demonstrators to come to Awka for a show. Hundreds of women from various parts of the state, led by notable female politicians, were seen heading to the state office of INEC and protesting the conduct of Anambra governorship poll.

While some of the women who embarked on the protest earlier had a field day, the second batch had a rough deal in the hands of security operatives who perhaps wondered why they were disturbing the peaceful atmosphere existing in the state since the election was held. As they attempted to force themselves into the INEC office, they were dispersed with teargas canisters by the police attached to the commission.

Their leader, Mrs. Tina Akonobi, a known politician, said that they were at the commission’s office to “mourn for the disaster, destruction, doom, robbery and fraud that took place on the Nov. 16”,

,,

the election did not succeed.

The INEC accredited agents, at a news conference in Awka yesterday, said that from what they observed, those calling for the cancellation of the result of the election do not mean well for the country’s democracy.

The five organizations that addressed a press conference in the Anambra State capital were Independent Election Observers, Voter Awareness Initiative, Transparency Center Network, Justice and Equity and Center LSD. Spokesman of the group, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu said from their observation, the Anambra election complied with internationally accepted standards and best practices.

Jega for the doom that is impending because this is what will happen in 2015,” she said.

According to her, the Saturday election has created a situation where brothers fear brothers, saying that it was a sign of socio-political divide to come among the people. As the women left Awka, the APC candidate, Ngige assembled reporters where he accused the state government of using students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and posing them as members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, for the purpose of working as ad hoc staff for INEC.

W

orried by this allega tion, members of An ambra Intellectuals Forum, AIF, an organization comprising lecturers and senior officials on non teaching staff in all tertiary institutions in the state told Saturday Vanguard that such a statement was capable of causing disunity in the state.

Chairman of AIF, Professor Edmund Egboh said the allegation was unfounded because the students have been on holiday following the strike

INEC knew all the ad hoc staff it recruited for the election and definitely they were not students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University as alleged by one of the candidates that contested the election and we were therefore taken aback when the allegation was made

adding, “The election was a sham aimed at insulting the integrity, intelligence and intellectual ability of the people of the state and Nigeria in general.: She said further: “INEC brought a fraudulent register three days to election where they removed names of voters whose names start with the letter ‘O” like Okonkwo and Okeke at Idemili. They brought fraudulent people to conduct election here; it was a scam and destruction of a generation and Igbo land. We are calling for the cancellation and resignation of Prof. Attahiru

by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, arguing that the allegation was aimed at undermining the integrity of Nigerian students.

Egboh, who spoke in company of other officials of the forum, namely, Dr. Williams Obiozo, Dr. Chinedu Onyeizugbe, Dr, Jude Okafor and Mr. Vincent Agbara said the allegation was that the students were used for the election to favour Dr. Nkem Okeke who is a lecturer in Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the running mate to the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Willie

Oboano.

Egboh said: “We were surprised that a section of the media could be used to make this allegation because we do not believe that students could be used for such hatchet job.

Though one of us, Dr. Nkem Okeke, is the running mate to Chief Willie Obiano of APGA, there was nothing to suggest in any way that members of AIF worked for him during the election.It was indeed because Dr. Okeke was involved in the election that informed the decision of INEC to use lecturers from the University of Calabar as returning officers in the local government areas and its vice chancellor as the state collation officer.

“Besides, INEC knew all the ad hoc staff it recruited for the election and definitely they were not students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University as alleged by one of the candidates that contested the election and we were therefore taken aback when the allegation was made.Nigerian students have been on strike and could not have been mobilized as a body to be involved in election matters. We see the allegation as a way to undermine the integrity of members of the academia and Nigerian students.

As far as AIF is concerned, the November 16, 2013 election was peaceful, free, fair and devoid of any primordial sentiments.

“Members of AIF are still wondering why the APC candidate, Senator Chris Ngige, should make that kind of allegation against students, knowing that it was not true.”

“We plead with politicians to weigh their statements properly before dishing them out to the public so as not to overheat the nation’s polity.”

Respect the choice of Anambra People – Candidates, party chairmen The governorship of PPA, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo was the first contestant to express satisfaction with the conduct and outcome of the governorship election in areas where the exercise had been concluded.

Speaking to journalists at his country home, Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area, Mr. Ezeemo said he was also in full support of supplementary election in areas declared inconclusive. He called on those threatening thunder and brimstone because they lost election to respect the will of the people, even, when, according to him, some were influenced with money.

Mr Ezeemo said the conduct of the election was a remarkable improvement on previous elections and noted that INEC demonstrated genuine commitment to deliver free and fair election, telling hos colleagues that people of the state have made their choice and enjoined those calling for cancellation of the entire exercise to respect the mandate of the electorate. Condemning those sponsoring any form of protest against the election, Ezeemo said it was not what Anambra needed at this point in time and called on the people of the State to shun external influence that are interested in destabilizing the State.

Just like Ezeemo, twelve other candidates who contested the governorship election jointly endorsed the result of the poll, saying the conduct of a staff of INEC, who exhibited acts of misconduct in one local government area of the state during the election, should not be a basis for wholesale condemnation of the commission.

The candidates were Mr. Tony Anene of ACPN, Dr. Webstar Okonkwo of NCP, Prince Leaonard Uchendu of NNPP, Mr. Godson Okoye of UDP, Chief Basil Onuorah of SDP and Chief Denis Oguguo of KOWA Party. Others are Pastor Benjamin Okafor of MPPP, Chief Anayo Arinze of ADC, ,r. Basil Iwoba of PPN, Chief Chuka Nwankwo of ACCORD, Chief Patrick Ibeziako of APA and Professor Ben Akanegbu of UPP. Their spokesman, Mr. Godson Okoye said that as flag bearers of the various political parties, they had agents at the polling units across the state who filed reports to them at the end of the election, adding that having studies the reports, they were satisfied that the election was largely peaceful, free and fair.

The statement read on behalf of Okoye said: “A situation where the election is inconclusive is not in the best corporate interest of Anambra State and we make bold to say that no person or party, no matter how highly placed, should be above the collective interest of the people of Anambra State.

We use this opportunity to call on those from outside the state who want to cry louder than the bereaved, to restrain themselves from whipping up unnecessary sentiments and allow the people of Anambra State to try and solve their problems and move on for there has not been any record of Anambra people meddling in the internal affairs of other states of the federation.”

50—SATURDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

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arrister Christian Wogu Esq.is a Principal Counsel at Shechinah Law House; the president of Shechinah Business School and an author. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard Business, he reveals how government’s inability to set standards in the Nigerian system has created avenue for privatisation, thereby increasing the rate of unemployment, insecurity, criminality etc. Excerpts: Shechinah Business school, what gap did it come to fill in the Nigerian economy?

Christian Nwogu is a trained lawyer and practicing lawyer. Now within the context of the Nigerian economy, you ask yourself what are the prevalent challenges, or what is even one challenge that if it is solved today a lot of things will come together. If you ask ten people this question they would give you ten different answers. People are saying it is corruption, yes it is a challenge but for me, the challenge I feel that is monstrous which I intend to describe as pandemic is the challenge of unemployment. So, Shechinah Business school is a corporate systems institution. Most business schools in the economy including academic schools deal with management, they want to breed managers and very few persons are addressing their minds to business ownership and the reason has made it that foreigners have now dominated our economy because they are basically those that apply their minds to ownership, owning businesses. Somehow we are satisfied with being employed, managing and so most of the business schools in the system address issues about management; strategic management, information management and several types of management. But Shechinah business school was born to address the issue of real business ownership, breed corporate giants, breed multi-nationals from the grassroots.

Youth unemployment, insecurity are on the rise, and there are resources to curb these menace, why are we not getting results?

Youth unemployment is big in this country because of colossal wastage. You can’t image how Nigeria wastes manpower in this country. I will tell you in my take why there is not only youth unemployment, but unemployment across board. It’s more lamentable because youths are involved and when youths are involved you are destroying tomorrow.

Incidentally, I have always held this opinion without apology. I think that our oil is causing the unemployment. If we didn’t have oil, government would need people to work, it has to rely on internally generated revenue.

Government will be pushed to think. But because we have oil, the proceeds that come from oil everyday and every month allocations are given to state governments, local governments and these allocations disguise as earnings, even for the banks, insurance

companies and everybody is just having money that has not been really worked for. That is why it is called natural resources. That being the case, things work, government runs because there is oil money. Banks run because there is oil money. So, there is no incentive to drive the economy and get human beings to begin to function. Now it is a big challenge because we are wasting manpower and it’s going into fraud, kidnapping, criminality, prostitution etc. because we are not engaging hands and if you don’t engage the people that should earn to handle their responsibility, the result is what we are seeing today, because the people must earn. If most criminals were engaged properly it would have reduced the number of criminals, even though it is not an excuse for crime but these things run in counterparts. You must do your part as a pressman, I do my part and everybody does his or her part so that things can be reduced to margin.

Now government is handing over some national projects like PHCN and others into private management, does it mean that government can’t deliver results despite being in control of oil proceeds and other national revenue generation. Must we privatise before things work out in this country?

Thank you profoundly for this question. In my take privatisation is another way government has shown that they don’t have the capacity to even be in government in the first place. If you like, call it privatisation, commercialisation or concenssionairing, it is another way whoever that is in government is saying in the first place, I lack capacity to even have come into government. Let’s agree that those sectors privatised are not working, are they the only things that are not working in Nigeria. The legislative arms, are they working? Should we sell them because they are not working? Should we sell the judiciary because cases are being piled up? Should we sell the police because people are complaining of road block issues? Should we sell the presidency because parties and people have is-

Privatisation is not the solution, govt should rise to its responsibility— WOGU sues with it? No! You don’t begin to sell tomorrow today just because something is not working. It’s not working because manpower is not doing what it should do. It’s not working because people that earn salaries every month come to work one or two days in that whole month, and when they come to work in that one or two days in that month, they use out of the eight hours if at all they spend three hours in the work place and of the three hours they spend two and half hours seeing home video. That is why it is not working. Why don’t we ask ourselves why is it not working while in other countries it is Wogu: We should working. So, the people day. that would buy, if they buy and have the same way of resourcing the economy, their workers don’t come to work, and when they come, they pay much attention seeing home video, will it work? it will not work. I think that government should govern. What I understand government to be in Nigeria is that everything about government has come down to be one thing, sharing of oil money. Somehow, that has become the understanding of what government in Nigeria should be, sharing of oil money.

Therefore, people don’t want to sit down and pick the right command, make the right sacrifices, wake up early and sit behind their tables at 8 a.m, then put in the number of

Gre elv et Catalogue; a good Greyy V Velv elve business for Nigerian designers he first of its kind in the launch of our A/W’13 Cata- into what’s to come with our logue. We’re constantly striving extended range in the online T Nigerian retail space, Grey Velvet, unveils its premier to delight our customers with store, launching at the end of fashion catalogue exposing its customers to the current collections of premium brand Nigerian designers. Each piece in the Grey Velvet catalogue highlights the talent available in the Nigerian fashion business, exposing the customers to a renewed world of possibilities, buying “Nigerian” and the designers the exposure and custom they have worked hard to earn.

Spokesperson for Grey Velvet, Bidemi Zakariyau, said: “We are very excited about the

good quality clothes and accessories from the best premium fashion brands the nation has.

The designers, some whom are relatively unknown, are providing great pieces at affordable prices, and the demand for their pieces is on the rise both locally and internationally. The catalogue was produced to showcase the current pieces in a more traditional way, giving the shoppers the opportunity to see what’s available without having to travel to the stores first, as well as get a sneak peak

the month.“At this point, we’re focused on creating a more comfortable and stress-free shopping experience for our customers and we’re very excited to see how they respond”.

“Once again, Grey Velvet is leading the pack in embracing their customers in a strategic, well-invested way, which we expect will reward, entertain and engage customers. So join Grey Velvet in the appreciation of Nigerian talent as they open our minds (and our wardrobes) to the opportunity to buy and enjoy “Nigerian”.

L-R: Sister Bright Okorie, Exco Member; Executive Director Oak of Joy Women and children Empowerment initiative, Rev Victoria Ejim; Director Oasis of Love Barrister, Mrs. Joy Ezeigbo and Mrs. Rachael Ojukwu at the one day empowerment session with widows and needs organized

by Oasis of Love in Collaboration with OAK OF joy women and children empowerment initiative (OJWOCEN) held recently in Lagos.

not sell our tomorrow tohours required of them. Why will it not work? Discipline those that need to be disciplined, and things would work. It’s working in other places and our leaders travel to those places and see it’s working. They are not spirits but humans like us. We have sold so much and this sale incidentally is not only things we own in Nigeria even most of the property in overseas. I don’t know who gave this idea and where it is coming from. Now have Nigeria become better since we started selling.

Dufil rebrands, engages kiddies with ‘Indomitables TTeam’ eam’ pr omo promo

I

n the run-up to Yuletide, Du fil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Nigeria’s preferred noodles brand, Indomie Instant Noodles, is set to keep its teeming young consumers engaged with the ongoing ‘Indomitables Team’ promo which reintroduces the brand’s famous Indomitables characters.

The promo, which has seen the company rebranding its popular 70gram Indomie Chicken Pack, requires that consumers aged 15 and below collect a total of 16 magnetic stickers of the Indomitable heroes in varying poses and flash the number in each of them to qualify for a lucky draw. After the promo, five successful children will get to be part of the Indomitables animation series on TV. “We value our esteemed consumers, most of whom are kids. So this is a way of giving them something extra special that will not only keep them excited but also engaged during the holiday season and even beyond,” explained Mr. Deepak Singhal, CEO, Dufil Prima Foods Plc. As a way of creating more excitement around the promo and strengthening the association

between Indomie noodles and the Indomitables characters, Singhal also disclosed that Indomitables magnets would be included in every 70gram Indomie pack for the exciting promo, which is already witnessing impressive participation among target consumers.

“In all, there are 16 magnets of the five heroes. Each hero strikes a different pose in three magnets and one magnet features all of them together. The kids have to collect all of them and flash the number in each to enter the lucky draw. 5 lucky winners will get to be part of the Indomitables animation series on TV,” he said.

Meanwhile, the revolutionary ‘Indomitables Team’ promo is not restricted to Lagos, but includes several other states in the Federation where Indomie has remained a household name over the years.

“Fliers, posters and cut-outs of Indomitables characters extend beyond Lagos. As we speak, school sampling teams have already been activated so kids out there can understand the promo mechanism,” disclosed Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, Publicity Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013—51

52—SATURDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

5 Premier League clubs for Sapele Unity Cup

F

IVE Glo Premier League clubs namely Enyimba, Rangers, Warri Wolves, Bayelsa United and Dolphins are expected to take part in the Sapele Unity Cup

Club licensing to determine League kick-off date—Irabor C

HAIRMAN of the L e a g u e Management Company (LMC), Hon. Nduka Irabor has declared that the implementation of the Club Licensing Regulations will determine the kick-off of the 2013/14 season.

Irabor was special guest at the event which held at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja and chose the opportunity of his address to illuminate on the Club Licensing Regulations which he said will complete the restructuring process of the Premier League.

While commending the organizers of the event for the effort to institute an incentive for outstanding performance in the league, the LMC Chairman lamented that the football industry as represented by the players has been the least rewarding compared to other sectors of the sports and entertainment industry.

On the start date for the new season, Irabor explained that it has been put on hold pending the completion of the Club Licensing. “Club licensing is very fundamental to the restructuring process and we will have to finish with it before announcing a kick-off date for the new season. We are very hopeful that when it is released by the NFF, the clubs will work hard to meet the requirements within the stipulated time.

This is not likely to be any time before the end of the African Nations Championship for domestic Leagues (CHAN)” The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had notified member federations in a circular issued in September and setting a December 31 deadline for completion of the club licensing process required for clubs to be eligible to participate in all continental club competitions.

“I am privy to the extensive work done so far by the NFF and in a matter of days, the licensing regulation will be released and there are lots of benefits it offers to the league, clubs and

which runs from November 26- 30 at the Sapele Stadium as part of a preseason tournament for the start of the new season.

Other three teams that will also be part of the soccer fiesta in Sapele are Coliphen Sports Academy, Atete FC and Ejele Academy.

According to the organiser and project manager of the Unity Cup, Joe Cole, the competition is aimed at making sure the clubs are in a good state of mind before the new season starts.

“The tournament is aimed at exposing the teams to grass-root competitions so that they could see some players they can recruit for next

season.

“There are three amateur teams in the competition. These five Premier League teams will surely see some players from there.

“The competition will also help the teams to ascertain how ready they are for the start of a new season especially Enyimba, Bayelsa and Warri Wolves who will play in the continent next year”.

Joe Cole who is a former captain of Dolphins said the competition will be sponsored by Honourable Micheal Diden, a commissioner with the DESOPADEC. Enyimba emerged winners of the first edition of the tournament last season.

Quadrangular Games: Fashola to declare Games open

BY JACOB AJOM

O

•Irabor football business. Only those clubs that meet the requirement will participate in the League when it eventually kicks-off ”, Irabor stated. He said the LMC would love to have all 20 clubs meet the

requirement but insisted that “there is nothing that says it must be 20 clubs and we cannot start the league until this process of licensing is completed”.

On the requirements for the licensing, Irabor

clarified that Clubs are expected to amongst other criteria provide a bank guarantee as an indication that they have the financial means to meet their obligations for the season.

VER 200 competitors are expected to take part in the 2013 Quadrangular Games beginning Sunday, November 24, at the Apapa Club, Lagos. Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola is expected to declare the Games open.

Ten sports, namely Tennis, Squash, Darts, Snooker, Draught, Scrabble, Ayo, 3-A-Side football, Table Tennis and Tug of War. Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Emmanuel Ibru said the quadrangular games involves four social clubs in Lagos namely Ikoyi Club, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Lagos Country Club and Apapa Club which is hosting this year ’s edition.

The defending champions

...adidas congratulates Super Eagles S

UPER Eagles sponsors adidas have congratulated the team for qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Senior Business Development Manager, adidas, South Africa, Astruds Meintjes congratulated the team in Lagos during the formal launch of the company ’s operations and also in celebration of its one year anniversary in Nigeria.

On behalf of adidas, I congratulate Nigerians, the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi and the whole team for qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.” Meintjes explained that the brand has enjoyed unrivalled success in the country due to its strategic partnership with the Super Eagles.

“All this, shows the excellent value that we are creating by consistently pursuing our strategic business plan to

grow the brand in emerging markets like Nigeria”, added Meintjes. “Undoubtedly, we have learnt valuable lessons that will be beneficial to our consumers as we expand our stores to Lekki and Kano in December, and the rest of the country’s major cities in due course”, she said.

“I must also congratulate the Super Eagles for putting up a convincing display today and earned for the country well deserved fifth FIFA World Cup qualifications. Meintjes stated. Earlier in his welcome remarks, Managing Director of Mopheth Sport Nigeria Limited, Adekunle Oyegade shared his delight at Mopheth Sport’s partnership with the adidas global brand that is associated with excel-lence, innovation, quality, passion and

perform-ance. “adidas is an aspirational brand and our presence in the Nigerian market is to fulfill the aspiration of the Nigerian consumers’

quest for authentic and quality products. Our experience in the last one year has been exciting and encoura-ging,” he stated.

*Gov Fashola SAN of the games are Ikoyi Club “We (Apapa Club) are hosting this year and we plan to make it a memorable event,” Ibru said, pointing out that the essence of the games “is to foster unity among clubs in Lagos. It also engenders connectivity and bring us to relax under a common roof.”

Ibru assured the participants of the readiness of the host club to present the “best games ever.”

“We assure our guest clubs of a very entertaining and competitive games. We are going to spoil our guests and ensure they have a fun-filled week.”

CELEBRATION... Super Eagles celebrating after winning the Nations Cup in South Africa. They also became the first African side to pick a 2014 World Cup ticket. Sports wear company and Eagles sponsor, adidas has commended the team for qualifying for the Mundial.

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SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013

World Cup: Be worthy Ambassadors, Hayatou charges African 5 C AF President, Issa Hayatou has congratulated the five African teams who picked tickets for the FIFA World Cup

holding in the summer of 2014 at the conclusion of the final play-off decided last weekend and Tuesday even as he charged

CHECKED....

Super Eagles defender Azubuike Egwuekwe (right) attempts to block Italy ’s maverick attacker, Mario Balatelli’s cross in front of the Eagles’ goal during the friendly match in London on Monday.

The match ended 2-2.

Photo: Courtesy AFP.

Brazil 2014: Eagles not yet a perfect team — Ibru

BY JACOB AJOM

T

HE performance of Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi came under scrutiny from a former board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Emmanuel Ibru in Lagos.

His verdict? He scored Keshi 60 out of a hundred.

“Sixty per cent of the job on the team has been done, but a critical 40% needs to be done before the World Cup,” Ibru told Vanguard Sports in his office Thursday.

“He (Keshi), himself will admit that there is still a lot of work to be done but one thing going for him is that Nigeria is blessed with an abundance of talents, despite the prevalence of poor administration.”

On the positive side, Ibru said Keshi has been able to turn around the fortunes of the country’s football within such a short time. “Keshi has been able to achieve three major things within his nearly two years of being in charge. He won

*Admits Keshi’s done well

the Africa Cup of Nations, qualified for the World Cup and for the first time qualified Nigeria for CHAN. These are no mean feats.

Similarly, he said Keshi’s tenure has seen to the return of confidence in the Nigeria Premier League players as their likes have taken permanent shirts in the Eagles first team.

“Some of them like Godfrey Oboabona, Sunday Mba, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Francis James, among others have shown that they too have the quality to compete among the best in the world. Keshi has raised the profile of home-based players like never before.”

He also praised the team for the resilience exhibited against the Azzuris of Italy last Monday in England. “In terms of fighting spirit, I score them high as they were not intimidated and they got a very good result. “But in terms of technicalities, I observed

we played in fits, as we were blowing hot and cold. For long periods we were outplayed.

There is still a lot of work to be done. We must not bask in the euphoria of the 2-2 result and gloss

over what needs to be done,” he warned.

“To win the World Cup, the team has to show enough tactical discipline and consistency.

There is still work to be done,” Ibru stressed.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 Super Eagles Right-back and Celtic FC Defender, Efe – (7) 5 L.G.A in Yobe State – (5) 8 Beverage – (3) 9 Oyo State Governor, Abiola – (7) 10 Former Heartland FC Coach, Ndubuisi – (5) 11 Worry – (3) 12 L.G.A in Oyo State – (7) 16 L.G.A in Katsina State – (5) 17 State in Nigeria Known as the “Sunshine State”? – (4) 19 Mongolia Currency – (6) 22 Former Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Mr. John – (6) 25 Sea Vessel – (4) 27 Delta State Capital – (5) 28 L.G.A in Adamawa State – (7) 32 Prosecute – (3) 33 Ondo State Capital – (5) 34 Director-General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Olusegun – (7) 35 African Waterbuck – (3) 36 L.G.A in Niger State – (5) 37 L.G.A in Lagos State – (7) Down 1 Special Adviser to the President

on Media & Publicity, Mr. Reuben – (5) 2 Oman Currency – (5) 3 Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun – (5) 4 L.G.A in Akwa-Ibom State – (6) 5 Thailand Capital City – (7) 6 Country in Africa – (7) 7 Assistant Director-General, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Lance – (7) 13 Former Sports Minister, Adamu Isa – (3) 14 Equipment – (3) 15 Sporting Event – (4) 18 General manager, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu – (6) 19 Swaziland – (7) 20 President, National Olympics Committee, Sani – (7) 21 Former MD, NNPC, Mr. Gaius – (7) 23 Colour – (3) 24 Asian Ox – (3) 26 Super Eagles Striker and Newcastle United Forward, Shola – (6) 29 Egyptian Capital City – (5) 30 African Deciduous Tree – (5) 31 Former Super Eagles Coach, Shuaibu – (5)

them to be worthy ambassadors of the continent.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles were the first team to pick a ticket after they handed Ethiopia a 2-0 defeat at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar last Saturday.

Others who also qualified are Algeria at the expense of Burkina Faso, Cameroon who dumped Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire who dismissed Senegal and Ghana who shocked Africa’s most successful Nations Cup side, Egypt.

“On my behalf, the CAF Executive Committee and African football family, I congratulate the five National Associations - Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire Ghana and Nigeria for qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014,” said Hayatou.

Whilst applauding the high level of performance exhibited during the qualifying phase, the CAF President has also tasked the qualified teams to work hard and be worthy ambassadors of the continent at the final tournament.

Meanwhile, the final draw for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014, will be held at Costa do Sauípe Resort, Mata de São João in Bahia on December 6, 2013.

•Issa Hayatou

Today’s matches Everton Arsenal Fulham Hull City Newcastle Stoke City West Ham 1

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