REVEALED: Ojukwu's controversial Will

C M Y K

PAGE 2—SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012— PAGE 3

C M Y K

PAGE 4—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

Crisis brews between Abia communities over trespass

BY TONY NWANKWO

L

and speculators in Abam, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State have been warned to desist from further trespassing into lands belonging to Idima Ohaeke Abam or face the consequence.

The warning followed a claim

by Ndi Ememe Abam, a satellite community

From left: Nollywood Stars, Kate Henshaw,Saheed Balogun, Brand Manager Veleta Fruit Wine, Chioma Alonge and President Grand Touch Production,Chico Ejiro,at the Veleta/ Grand Touch Xmas Carol with Nollywood stars at Terra Kulture, Lagos. Photo By Diran Oshe.

allegedly founded by Eche Eme of Idima Abam.

Ndi Emeke now claim to share boundary with its landlord community of Idima Abam.

A statement by the Idima Abam Eze-Ogo-inCouncil, Chief Uduma Kalu, said Ndi Ememe community could not claim boundary with Idima as they represent a satellite community, founded by an Idima son.

According to the traditional ruler, “We own Ogo Eshien, we own Ududo, we own Orua Ukwu, Idima Abam owns all economic trees like oil palm trees that lie through that stretch from our community across Igwu River to Amaelu, and all in that axis pay homage and participate in traditional and political activities as satellite communities of Idima Abam.”.

Delta pleads on pipeline to Edo

D

ELTA State Government, yesterday told the people

of Idjerhe kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area to allow

SEPL AT Petroleum Development Company carry out the laying of its pipelines from the community to the Oben flow station, Edo State.

The people had demanded that a flow station be constructed in the area by the company before it could commence the laying of the pipeline from the oil field in the kingdom.

At a meeting between the state government, the company and leaders of the Idjerhe kingdom, the state Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Mr. Mofe Pirah, explained that SEPLAT already had two flow stations in Delta that were being utilized to full capacity and one other in Oben, a n e i g h b o u r i n g community in Edo State which was below 30% utilization.

New pageant debuts

E

reon Pageantry is to organize a new national pageant in June 2013.

According to Miss Mercy Elema, executive director of Ereon Pageantry, “It will be the first of its kind in Nigeria as nine beauty queen ambassadors would emerge for the final from the 36 states of Nigeria that would be contesting for the exalted crowns as preparations are already in top gear. The national pageantry will be in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs Abuja”.

The aim of the national pageant is to promote national values, African beauty and civilization.

In a related development, Miss Taiwo Samson has assumed office as deputy general manager of Ereon Pageantry while Miss Mabel Amu is the new social manager.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012 — PAGE 5

(a) Tom Bigger is my nephew to whom I devise and bequeath my interest at 56 Onwudiwe Street, Uwani, Enugu.

Ojukwu controversial will

6. Also in my will, in paragraph 13, I gave my interest in my mother ’s property at Thinker ’s Corner, Enugu,Enugu State, to my nephew Robert Bigger. (a) Robert Bigger is my nephew, to whom I gave all my interest in my mother ’s plot of land at Thinker Corner Enugu. That plot of land is registered as instrument No. 29 at page 29, in volume 478 of the land Registry, Enugu.

Continued from page 1 & Associates, is entitled, ‘Codicil, Varying, Revoking and Adding to my Will’, and dated, 16 December, 2009. The document was signed by the former Biafran warlord as the testator and two witnesses: Engr Mse Ezenuba and Sebastian Ray Afadi. It was the first codicil to the late Ikemba’s will dated 9 July 2005.

Paragraph 10 of the codicil states how Ojukwu envisaged that peace will reign among his brothers.

He also explained why one of his properties, Nnewi House, in Lagos should not be sold.

The Codicil: CODICIL DIM CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU-OJUKWU Prepared by Sir Emeka|Onyemelukwe (KGS) (JP) PP. Emeka Onyemelukwe & Associates Legal Practitioners 17 Kenyatta Street, Uwani, Enugu.

CODICIL, VARYING, REVOKING AND ADDING TO MY WILL I, DIM CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU, EZIGBO-GBURUGBURU, of NO. 7 Forest Crescent, GRA, Enugu, formerly residing at No. 4 Isiuzo Street, Independence Layout, Enugu, declares this to be a first codicil to my will which bears date, the 9th day of July 2005.

1. By my said will I gave absolutely to my wife Mrs. Bianca Odinaka Olivia Odumegwu Ojukwu, the real property, located at No. 7 Forest Crescent, GRA Enugu, Enugu State and property

From right, Defence Minister, Chief (Mrs) Olusola Obada; wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Comfort Ajimobi ; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; his State of Osun counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his deputy, Chief (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori and former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Niyi Adebayo, during the funeral service of Justice Kayode Eso at the Cathedral of Holy Trinity Church of Nigeria (Diocese of Ilesa South West, Ilesa. known as Plot No. 20 Cadastral B9, located in JABI DAM, Abuja and covered by Certificate of Occupancy NO. 4405.

1(a) I hereby declare that those two properties have since been transferred to my wife, Mrs. Bianca Odinaka Olivia Ojukwu, by a Deed of Gift (Gift inter vivos)) already registered.

2. In paragraph 5 of that will, I gave the property known as Jubilee Hotel on Jubilee Road, Zaria, Kaduna State to my daughter, Tenni Hamman. (a) I have since sold that property.

3. In paragraph 9, 10 and 11 of my will, I devised and bequeathed my one hector each out of my 6 (six) hecters of land, located at Umuezena, Umudim, Nnewi, to my son Nwachukwu, my daughters, Nmegha; Ebele; Chineme and two hecters to my wife, Bianca Odinaka Olivia Odumegwu Ojukwu.

SOLUTION

4. In view of the current problem in that parcel of land at Umuezena, Umudim, Nnewi, I direct that on resolution of the dispute between Obi Umezena and the Youths, what ever acreage or number of plots of land given to me shall be shared in

the same ratio used in my will.

5. By my said will, in paragraph 12, I gave and bequeathed my interest in my mother ’s property at Onwudiwe Street, Uwani, Enugu to my nephew Tom Bigger.

7. I gave all my moneys in my account in Zenith Bank of Nigeria Plc. Bourdillon Street, Ikoyi, Lagos and Diamond Bank of Nigeria Plc. Garden Avenue, Enugu to my wife, Mrs. Bianca Odinaka Olivia Odumegwu Ojukwu, for the up keep of our children and herself.

8.

LTD

OJUKWU TRANSPORT

I hereby direct that on my demise, my wife Mrs. Bianca Odinaka Olivia Odumegwu Ojukwu shall take over my seat on the board of Ojukwu Transport Ltd. She may nominate any person of her choice to represent her in her absence at board meetings.

9.

My wife, Bianca

Continues on page 6

THE BROMIDE OF THE WILL

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

Ojukwu controversial will Continued from page 5 Odinaka Olivia Odumegwu Ojukwu shall retain my interest at No. 29 Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos, which I fought hard to secure from the clutches of Lagos State Government.

10. I have thought about how peace shall endure within my

brothers on the Board of Ojukwu Transport Ltd. And I have come to the conclusion that the Real Estate properties and companies shares of Ojukwu Transport Ltd. Be shared, except NNEWI HOUSE, which shall remain, the legacy, binding us an generations to come.

This property at No. 1-3 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos, shall still be owned by Ojukwu Transport Ltd. However, I suggest that my half brothers agree on one Estate Agent, who shall manage the property.

Proceeds from that property shall be shared equally among the three sons of late Sir. L.P. Ojukwu yearly as a binding legacy for generations to come.

11. I hereby direct that on the sharing of

the Real Estate properties of Ojukwu Transport Ltd. The shares accruable to me shall be shared equally between my children from Late Njideka Odumegwu Ojukwu and the children of Mrs. Bianca Odinaka Olivia Odumegwu Ojukwu.

12. I also direct that my daughters, Ebele Odumegwu Ojukwu and Tenni Hamman, be given a share of the Real Estate properties

accruable to me.

13. I also demand that all the company shares owned by Ojukwu Transport Ltd. Be brought to a common pool and shared amongst the directors of the company.

14. I devise and bequeath my bungalow, at Abuja under Federal Housing Authority, HSE 41, 1st Avenue, 1(A) Road, Lugbe Estate, Abuja to my daughter Chineme.

She shall own the property exclusively.

15. I devise and bequeath to my son Okigbo Odumegwu Ojukwu, my plot of land known as plot 10, Block 1, Thinkers Corner Enugu. He shall hold and enjoy the land

exclusively.

16. In all other respects, I confirm my said will as modified by this Codicil.

IN WITNESS I have hereto set my hand this 16 th day of December, 2009.

Bishop Adewale counsel on security

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

T

HE Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev.

From left: Samson Opaleye, Marketing Intellegence Manager, Intercontinental Distillers, Tajudeen Adepetu of OnTV, Kingsley Anuebunwa, Brand Manager, Chelsea London Dry Gin, Innocent Oboh, Head of Marketing, Intercontinental Distillers, Nedu of Wazobia FM and Akintayo Akinseloyin, Brand Manager Teezers at the Intercontinental Distillers’ Jazz Nite with Yemi Sax, at Ember Creek, Lagos.

Mar tins

Adewale Martins, has appealed to Nigerians to use the spirit of the festive season to embrace peace and to devote the period to extra-ordinary prayers for the peace, security and prosperity of the country.

Speaking during a Christmas dinner and award night organised by Directorate of Social Communications of Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Martins advised Nigerians to avoid acrimony, bitterness, and conflicts and embrace unity and peaceful coexistence. He added that it will be a great value if Nigerians approached the new year with positive m i n d s e t .

“Nigerians should put behind them acrimony, bitterness, conflicts and disappointment that we have experienced this year so that we can approach the New Year with a positive mindset towards individual and country as a whole”, he said.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012 — PAGE 7

Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Ikotun, Chinwendu Iwuoha, explaining a point to the president, Isheri Platinum Lions Club, Mr Ladi Fagbemi; Eze Ndigbo of Alimosho, Lawrence Eze; and representative of Oba of Isheri, Chief Azeez Madamilola, among others, during a programme on EMBER months

From right: Former Chief of the General Staff (CGS) and the Baba Ijo, United African Methodist Evangelical Church, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd); Mr Olatubosun Ajibogun; and Evangelist Rabi Amusan, during a commendation service for Archbishop Patrick Olanrewaju Ajibogun at the Cathedral

Suicide bombers storm Kano *MTN, Airtel offices targetted; 2 killed

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD, KANO

C

oordinated suicide attacks on two telecommunication services provider, MTN and Airtel, in Kano early yesterday left the bombers dead and a civilian injured.

Affected are Airtel and MTN facilities that serve as switch stations cum offices both located in Bompai industrial area of Kano metropolis.

One of the suicide bombers hit the Airtel office in Kano around 8.45am, while the MTN switch office came under attack almost the same time.

It was not immediately clear how the bomber gained access into the heavily fortified Airtel headquarters which has been under protection of combat ready Joint Military Taskforce, JTF, officials over the past few months.

Spokesman for the JTF, Captain Ikediche Iweha, told Sunday Vanguard on phone that “ two suicide bombers died from the attacks while a generator operator attached to the Airtel facility is recuperating in hospital”.

But, Bayo Osho, the generator operator with Airtel, told reporters on his sick bed that two suicide bombers in two different vehicles attacked the Airtel facility, adding that one of the cars rammed into the building and paved the way for the second

one laden with explosives.

According to Osho, “the first car forced its way in and cleared the way for the second car laden with explosives”.

The victim pointed out that the driver of the second car immediately jumped out of his vehicle and engaged the security personnel and in minute “ what followed was loud bang that sent me on the floor ”.

However unconfirmed reports had it that one of the suicide bombers was

captured in the premises of the Airtel office. JTF spoksman Iweha refused to confirm or deny the arrest.

“Yes I can confirm to you we carried a raid at Tukuntawa and want to assure you that we are on top of the situation and there is nothing to worry about”, the JTF spokesman maintained.

Iweha explained that troops deployed to secure the MTN switch foiled the attack, adding that the explosion affected a car parked

Plateau education standard drops — ASUP

BY TAYE OBATERU

close to the scene.

Security sources however confided in Sunday Vanguard that four people died as a result of the blast at the MTN switch, stressing that “the blast affected occupants of a car parked within the vicinity of the incident.”

Sunday Vanguard also learnt that the Airtel facility blown up by the bomber is a switch that serves seven states in the North, while the MTN switch serves 13 states.

T

he Academic Staff Association of Polytechnics, ASUP, has accused Plateau State government of overseeing the decay of the state’s education sector through unpopular policies.ASUP National President, Comrade Chibuzor Asomugha, who stated this while addressing journalists in, the Plateau State capital, said the state had over the years experienced a steady drop in standard on different fronts. Asomugha, who led other leaders of ASUP on a solidarity visit to its members in Plateau State, regretted that, unlike in

ICPC warns ministers, DGs: Spend that money and go to jail

BY LEKAN BILESANMI

T

he Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has ordered Ministries, Departments And Agencies (MDAs) to return all unspent balances on personnel votes to the SubTreasury of the Federation not later than Monday, December 31, 2012, or face the law.

A release by the Commission’s chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta, also ordered the MDAs to submit the receipt and expenditure profiles of their personnel cost to the commission not later than January 31, 2013, using a template approved by the commission.

To

underscore the seriousness his commission attaches to the directives, the ICPC chairman stated that “letters have been sent to the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies for strict compliance and to note that any infraction will be prosecuted.” He also announced that the “Commission will commence verification for the returns made to the Sub-Treasury by February, 2013.” The full text of Mr. Ekpo Nta’s statement entitled, TREATMENT OF UNSPENT BALANCES OF 2012 PERSONNEL VOTES: “The Commission has carried out a pilot System Study and Review on the utilization

of the 2011 Personnel Vote of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Observable lapses were highlighted and discussed with the various MDAs. “The Commission will be carrying out another System Study and Review of the 2012 Personnel Vote to ensure total compliance with Section 16 of the Finance (Control and Management) Act, LFN, 1990 and the Financial Regulations regarding unspent balances in line with the AccountantGeneral of Nigeria’s Circular No. TRY/A5 & B5/2011 of 20th November, 2012.

“All MDAs are requested to submit the Receipt and Expenditure profiles

of their Personnel Cost to reach the Commission not later than January 31, 2013 using the approved template. For avoidance of doubt, Personnel Vote is for the payment of salaries and allowances for Government employees only. “All unspent balances should be returned to the SubTreasury of the Federation by 31st December, 2012.

“The Commission will commence verification of the returns made to the Sub-Treasur y by February, 2013. Letters have been sent to the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies for strict compliance and to note that any infraction will be prosecuted”.

other states where progress was being made, the state of education in the state had become a thing of concern. ”In 2011, we envisioned the collapse of education in Plateau State and warned that unless urgent steps were taken to address the deterioration, the state was in for the worst. The situation since then has continued to unveil gory pictures of systemic destruction of education in Plateau State,”he said. ”Government’s approach to events in the education sector has continued to infect her search for progress in the state, thus leaving on its tail huge deficits on the dreams of the founding fathers of the state and indeed the future of several generations of Plateau people”.

Elechi recalls suspended commissioners

BY PETER OKUTU

A

HEAD of the much speculated dissolution of the Ebonyi State Executive Council in January 2013, Governor Martin Elechi, at the weekend, recalled the three commissioners who were a month ago suspended for alleged improper dressing to a state banquet at the Government House Lodge, Abakaliki.

They are the AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Igwenyi; Commissioner for Works and Transport, Hon. Chukwuma Nwandugo; and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor.

PAGE 8—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

Abducted ex-gov’s-wife released, goes into hiding

BY OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

O

From left. Mr Fred Udueme, AGM, Brand, Vanguard Newspapers, Mrs Remi Diagbare, Editor Vanguard Allure and Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, Special Guest at the Vanguard Allure Wellness Seminar (WOW) 2012. Photo

by Oscar Ochiogu.

YO State Police command said yesterday that despite the release of the wife of the former Governor of old Western State, Brig. Gen. Oluwole Rotimi (rtd), late Friday, it would still ensure that the culprits, her abductors are arrested.

This came as the woman yesterday refused to grant journalists access into her expansive premises in Ibadan.

Mrs. Titilayo Oluwole

Eight mourners, two others killed in Bauchi auto crash

BY SUZAN EDEH

N

O fewer than ten persons, eight of them mourners, lost their lives while eight others sustained injuries in a motor accident along Bauchi-Gombe Road near Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State yesterday.

Acting Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mahmud Kachalla, said the accident occurred between Tsohuwar Gwaram village and Alkaleri town and it involved 18 people in a Golf car, a Honda car and one motorcycle.

Kachalla said,“ Among the 10 people that lost their lives were five adult females, three adult males, a boy and a girl. Out of the number, eight sus-

Ekanem, wife bag chieftancy titles

E

X-BANKER, journalist and Executive Secretary of Association of Nigerian Development Finance Institutions, Noah Ekanem, will on December 22 be conferred with honorary chieftancy title of OBONG UWANA 1 of Ibibioland by the Awa Clan of Traditional Chiefs in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

His wife, an insurance executive, Ifeoma, will also be honoured with a chieftancy title during the event which is scheduled to take place at the Awa Clan Council of Chiefs secretariat, Clan Heads Compound in Ikot Ese Ishiet.

tained injuries and they include five male adult, a female adult and two boys.”

He attributed the cause of the accident to over speeding and over loading, adding that the Golf car had eight people com-

ing from a condolence visit to Jigawa State and on their way to Alkaleri, they had a head-on collision with the Honda car.

The Commander said the FRSC personnel stationed in Alkaleri rescued the injured victims and

took them to Alkaleri General Hospital for treatment.

Kachalla advised motorists to always obey traffic regulations to reduce accident on the highways especially during this festive period when there is mass movement of people.

Mimiko’s wife seeks grassroots devt

BY DAYO JOHNSON Akure

T

HE wife of the Ondo State governor, Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko, charged government at all levels to focus their development drives on the rural communities to act as catalyst for the overall development of the country.

Mrs. Mimiko spoke at this year’s celebration of the International Rural Women’s Day where the Country Women Association of Nigeria (COWAN) honoured five eminent women who had played significant roles in the socio-economic development of their local communities.

The awardees include

the late Mrs. Ethel TemiwunmiAdebawo, mother of Sola Adebawo, Manager, Communications, Policy, Government and Public Affairs of American oil giant Chevron; and the late Chief Mrs. Comfort Adekunmi Adesida, the traditional head of women in Ondo Kingdom.

Others are Mrs. Felicia Olorundahunsi; Mrs. Grace Olasitimi Adeboye, the Iyalaje of Oke-Igbo; and Mrs. Oludiran Bosede Matilda.

The celebration coincided with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of COWAN, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has been in the vanguard of organizing and assisting rural

‘Okada riders protest illegal’

T

HE Joint Action Movement (JAM) has described recent protest of some commercial motorcyclists also referred to as Okada riders against the Lagos State Traffic Law as illegal.

The group, at rallies at Agege and Mile 12, over the weekend, warned the protesters that they were toying with contempt of court charges with their actions, noting that “the matter has been adjucat-

ed upon by a court of competent jurisdiction”.

Addressing the joint rallies, the national coordinator and general secretary of JAM, Messrs Kehinde Olaore and Kola Animasaun, respectively wondered “ why an aggrieved set of people, who approached the court for adjudication could thereafter engage in senseless protest after the case has been thrown out!”

women in entrepreneurship and providing revolving loans for them.

The founder and national coordinator of COWAN, septuagenarian Mrs. Bisi Ogunleye said the ceremony was organized to honour valor and diligence.

Rotimi, who was kidnapped, was said to have been found along the Lagos-Ijebu Ode Cross Road, near Ikorodu, Lagos State.

She was abducted by four gunmen within the premises of her company, OAK Enterprises, in Ibadan some days ago.

Before she was abducted, it was gathered that her workers protested against conditions of service after which some unknown gunmen drove into the premises of the company and whisked her away.

Her abductors demanded N200m ransom before

Four kidnapped Koreans set free; police arrest two suspects

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagoa

T

HE police in Bayelsa State have arrested two persons over their alleged involvement in the Monday kidnapping of four Koreans working with Hyundai Heavy Industries along with their two Nigerian counterparts in the waterways of Odioma in Brass local government area.

Though the embattled Koreans, J.S Chae, J.H Kim, K.H Kim and P.W Lee, spent five days in captivity before they were voluntarily released late Friday by their captors, their Nigerian counterparts were released few hours after their abduction.

Egypt’s vice president resigns

BY TONY NWANKWO with agency reports

T

HE political crisis that has engulfed Egypt has cost the country a high profile official with the decision of Vice President Mahmoud Mekki to throw in the towel. A story just coming in from Egypt says has resigned from his post effective today. Although no reason was given, analysts say it may not be unconnected with the combative style of President Mohamed Morsi which has led to problems with the judiciary and the legislature while also straining relations with the military. A statement announcing Mekki’s departure is expected to be issued shortly by a presidential spokesman.

A former senior judge, Mekki, 58, was appointed last August as Egypt’s first civilian vice-president since the country’s 1952

they released her. When Sunday Vanguard spoke with the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ayodeji Lanade, he confirmed her release.

Lanade said the Police got the signal that she was found between the boundary of Lagos and Ogun states.

According to him, “We learnt that she became conscious shortly after been released by her captors. She regained her consciousness and was crying. We gathered that she walked up to woman who told her where she was and called her relatives”.

revolution. Under a decree issued late September by Morsi, the vice president responsibilities include issuing decisions and taking necessary measures in the president’s absence, as well as access to draft bills and propositions put forward by concerned entities.

The two suspects, currently being held at the state police command in connection with the kidnap saga, are undergoing interrogation.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kingsley Omire, while handing over the released expatriates to the management of Hyundai Heavy Industries in Yenagoa yesterday, confirmed the arrest of two persons in connection with the incident.

He, however, confessed that the security agencies were not involved in the release of the four expatriates, as, according to him, the Koreans were voluntarily set free by their captors following a disagreement among them (kidnappers).

“The police and other security agencies had no hand in the release of the kidnapped Hyundai workers. From the brief given to me by one of the victims, there was a disagreement among the kidnappers; so they set the victims free on their own and dropped them off at Azikoro village after which we received a call on their release,” Omire said.

Queen Erediauwa identifies with the less privileged

A

S part of the activi ties marking the yuletide, wife of the Benin monarch, Queen Esther Omoye Erediauwa, has donated gift items estimated at over N1million to three orphanage homes in Benin City, just as she called for peace in the country.

The orphanage homes, including Amadin, Salvation and My Mummy or-

phanage, were presented with gifts items such as food and toiletries.

Coordinator of the Olohi Esther Erediauwa Foundation, Mrs. Nana Idabo Egbi, who spoke on behalf of the queen at the occasion, stressed the need for children particularly the less privileged to be catered for, adding that “it is nice to gladden the hearts of our children”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 9

"In some countries, I STRUGGLE to get victims; here they donate GENEROUSLY and ENDLESSLY!" All letters bearing writers' names and full addresses should be typed and forwarded to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, Kirikiri Canal, P. M. B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos.

E-mail: sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com

The return of Anenih to NPA Dear Sir, HE f o r m e r B o a r d o f t h e Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), under the chairmanship of Chief Tony Anenih, was inaugurated, on February 17, 2009, consequent upon the approval of the composition by the late President Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua. After about two years in the saddle, the Board was dissolved, along with others, by President Goodluck Jonathan.

But, on December 20, 2012, Jonathan announced a new Board and returned A n e n i h a s c h a i r m a n . Tw o o t h e r members of the former Board-Chief Austin Cosmos and Alhaji Aminu Babba Danagundi- were reappointed.

There is a good sense in these reappointments: it will allow for continuation of the process of reform that the former Board began before it was dissolved.

There is no doubt that the reasons Yar ’Adua appointed Anenih in 2009 must have remained the same reasons Jonathan has now reappointed him to lead the charge at the NPA: critical to his appointment was his wealth of experience that facilitated the Board’s job of sanitizing the chaotic state of the nation’s seaports.

Again, having delivered as Minister of Works and Housing from 1999 to 2002, coupled with the manner he oversaw the activities of the Board of Tr u s t e e s ( B o T ) o f t h e Pe o p l e s Democratic Party (PDP) from where he was abruptly shoved out in 2007 by Obasanjo, it was thus easy for the late Yar ’Adua to saddle him with the special assignment at the NPA. Anenih had also, over the years, demonstrated the discipline to drive any process or assignment given to him at any point in time, and this has not waned with the passage of time.

T

This disposition was greatly influenced by his illustrious career in the police where he retired as Commissioner before joining partisan politics.

Jonathan must have appreciated all of these in the reappointment of this p o l i t i c a l g l a d i a t o r. I t i s a l s o significant to place on record that this second missionary journey at the NPA will be aided by some new membersSenator Florence Ita-Giwa, Senator Lekan Mustapha and Hon. Hamza Dan Mahawi - who are profoundly and passionately committed to national development and will, therefore, use the platform of the NPA Board to contribute to it in concert with Anenih.

Jonathan has put together a formidable team of committed Nigerians with integrity to run the Board. Anenih is expected to re-enact in the new Board which would be inaugurated any moment from now the verve he brought in 2009 into the leadership of the dissolved Board. The Board had, in February of that year, two days after its inauguration, began immediate consultations with concessionaires, including AP Moller Maersk Group and Tin Can Island Container Terminal Limited.

The Board members had also undertaken an inspection visit to the wharf, in addition to holding a joint meeting with the then Acting Comptroller-General of Customs (specifically on February 20, 2009) at the end of which the NPA and the Nigeria Customs Service issued a joint press statement. The crux of the joint meeting was the admission that the task of lessening congestion at the Lagos ports was enormous and demanding.

Congestions provide them the opportunity to engage in shady deals

which are not possible under normal port operations. Such people have and will always do everything possible to sabotage any efforts aimed at decongesting the ports. It is against the background of this reality that the enormity and difficulty of the problems faced by successive NPA Boards and its Management should always be considered. However, the success recorded by the former Board within a short time should be appreciated.

But the legion of professional critics in Nigeria who assume the bully pulpit only when things go wrong, but find it difficult to mouth appreciation when

there are visible achievements, have acted true to type. None of them, who cried that the port congestion was about to cripple the nation’s economy, had considered it necessary to draw the attention of Nigerians to the disappearance of congestion at the ports.

The new Board is expected to build on the redemptive effort by the dissolved Board and the current administration to continue the process of sanitizing and repositioning the NPA as well as the administration of the nation’s ports. * HarunaIdris is resident in Apapa, Lagos.

A wake-up call on Nigerian youths!

Dear Sir,

Y

OUTHS in any society are very important, particularly as they make up 90% of the active work force. More often, youths are referred to as the future of any nation. It is therefore imperative to say that without the youths, a nation’s future is bleak and as good as forgone. It is nonetheless logical to say that while the youths remain the future of any nation, the values and ethos they court will ultimately determine the direction or course the nation is headed.

In other words, the values they court could either make or mar any nation.

Our value system as a nation is at lowest ebb, it is so debased that there is almost nothing to be proud of.

In every sphere of the Nigerian society there is evident shift to negative moral and ethical values. The

desecration of our sacred and hallowed traditions can be observed in the dwindling premium now placed on such values as integrity, hard work, service and selflessness in every sphere of our national life-be it public service, our private concerns, politics and religious institutions.

The truth remains that the collapse of public institutions in the country is indicative of the failure of leadership and the entire political system. It is indeed time for the youths of this country to take their future in their hands, and realize how important they are to decide the course the country should follow.

To put the nation on the path of progress youths must wake up and take the moment. They should hold our leaders accountable for their every action!

Ohwevwo Ufuoma Eugene

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012

Presidential airline enlarged

Nigerianosis -A common ailment We can’t look to the world to restore our worth; we’re here to restore our worth to the world. The world outside us can reflect our glory, but it cannot create it. It cannot crown us. Only God can crown us, and he already has.” ¯ Marianne Williamson HEN I set out to write, it was to define the malady or behaviours that seem to plague majority of Nigerians; Nigerianosis. Let me assure you that I made the term up but I,like many others, agree that if the condition did not exist, it would have to been coined by many Nigerians.

As you are aware,the daily grind in Nigeria

W

piles on physical and mental assaults on the Nigerian over time, be it the daily diet of gruesome news, insecurities, spates of kidnapping, multiple bereavements, physical, domestic and sexual abuse violence, fraud, wealth disparities, frustrations, inadequate health and social care, poverty, high costs of food, fuel subsidies, incompetent politicians, ill health, needless deaths, bad roads, traffic jams, malnutrition, lack of adequate energy, high cost of living, substandard existence, noise pollution, overcrowding, high unemployment, corruption, bribery and feelings of hopelessness and helplessness and so on.

Captain’s Soup to remote areas of Nigeria in order to please some politician or public official – at great expense to the rest of us.

Well, you voted for this nonsense. So enjoy it.

Comparatively, Obama, President of the USA, who is the Commander of the Armed Forces of the USA, cannot, and would not ask the Navy, the Air Force or the Marines, America, to release a helicopter to convey guests to the funeral ceremony

Obama cannot, and would not ask the Navy, the Air Force or the Marines, America, to release a helicopter to convey guests to the funeral ceremony of a cabinet Secretary or Adviser

,

of a cabinet Secretary or Adviser – because it is a strictly private affair. Military aircrafts are procured to handle the nation’s security affairs; not to convey public officials, with over-bloated egos to private functions. In fact, if Obama were to lose his senses as to order such a deployment of military aircraft, the Chief of Staff of that unit would have bluntly refused. If pressed further, he would have resigned his appointment. But, here,

fence of our territorial integrity, the better for all of us.

Reading the newspapers one would get the impression that a serious probe into the incident is underway. Anyone foolish enough to think that way should step up for the Unijankara ANNUAL FOOLS’ AWARD. Virtually, all the top officials of the National Assembly; governors who have not bought their own jets; top functionaries of the PDP, Ministers, Security

It renders the Nigerian mentally and physically unwell. Are you with me so far?

Good, ordinarily other people would have gone under and quickly.

No, not the Nigerian, he goes on and on regardless until his body and his spirit can take no more. His resilience is legendary but even so, it means that his life span is shortening drastically as a result.

Like in most black c o m m u n i t i e s , mental health problems remains

the lack of understanding of the root causes of mental illness; lack of financial support to get mental treatment; lack of social support. Nigerian mental illness is almost exclusively coped with through traditional medicine or spiritual practices. By now am sure many of you are recoiling and whispering “God forbid “or “it will never happen to me’’. The fact is one in four of us anywhere in the world will experience mental health problems at sometime during our life time.

So unless Nigerians are a different

,

W

confronted with the consequences of our majority decision. The crash of the Navy helicopter had revealed to us, at Unijankara, that while we were ahead of everybody else at recognizing the economically corrosive impact of the Presidential Airline, even we missed the point that the fleet might be more than ten.

Now, we know that it includes anything presumed to be airworthy apparently owned by the Federal government of Nigeria; but in reality, privatized by one individual, who can deploy them on errands as he wants. So Nigeria’s Presidential airline is actually larger than we thought and we would not know how big it is until an audit of Federally owned aircrafts is undertaken.

It is a pity that it has taken the death of some people, one of them not innocent, to reveal to all of us, perhaps, a serious crime that had gone unnoticed for so long. The Yoruba people have an adage for this, “Ojo gbogbo ni t’ole; ojo kan ni to ni’un” [everyday for the thief; one day for the owner]. One thing is certain; this is not the first time that military aircrafts would have been deployed to go and ferry birthday cakes, cows, and

,

“When all think alike; no one thinks very much”. Walter Lippmann, 1889-1974. (VANGUARD BOOK OF UOTATIONS p. 245).

HAT a coinci dence it has turned out to be. Just last week under the new addendum to my columns “CHIP SHOTS”, I made reference to the fact that the President of Nigeria had ten aircraft in his fleet; more than any other President in the world.

Bearing in mind that our country is ranked 39th in the world in terms of GDP, and one of the poorest on earth, when we take into account that 70 per cent of our people live below the global poverty line, Nigeria’s Presidential Airlines should enter into the Guinness Book of Records for presidential impunity.

At Unijankara, while sharing in the national anguish that President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, is our duly elected leader, we take solace in the fact that we warned Nigerians not to vote for him. Even highly intelligent people responded with the refrain, “I voted for Jonathan; not PDP” – as if it made any difference.

Now we all have him and like every decision made by human beings we are

the “public” officials go along; they willingly obey each and every unconstitutional instruction in what is supposed to be a republic of human beings but is more like a zoo of docile sheep.

Pictures in newspapers showed highly placed individuals shedding tears – crocodile tears. As Francis Bacon, 15611626, has warned us, “It is the wisdom of the crocodiles, that shed tears when they would devour”. It is very possible while “Fellow Nigerians” [read mugus] are being treated to an African Magic type production of tears, another aircraft is on its way to the location to retrieve cutlery left behind. The sooner we accept the fact that our military aircrafts are not meant solely for the de-

Our country has indeed failed us, our culture prevents us from accepting, that like physical ill health, we also can succumb to mental ill health

a taboo and those afflicted are stigmatised making it difficult to come forward to seek help or early intervention. There are several barriers to treatment for individual Nigerians which include

,

breed from the rest of the world then, some people in Nigeria are wallowing in serious denial. All the factors are there that will impact on one’s mental health as I already mentioned. So unless we

top brass etc have enjoyed the services of the Presidential Airline.

Nothing will come out of it.

REPLIES 0805-204-5674: We deserve the insult even abuse. I was one of those foolish enough to vote for Jonathan not PDP.I have not stopped regretting.

BONNY. P.S. Dear Bonny, take heart 2015 will arrive soon enough. Then, it will be payback time.

Dele.

0803-696-7538: It’s a fact that the boy who walked bare-footed to school in a village called Otuoke then is now running Presidential Airlines..yet he keeps a fleet of jets and smiling while we senior citizens keep dying of hunger and penury.

P.S. Uncle, I warned the pensioners not to vote for GEJ but you all ignored me. Sir, pensioners who voted for Jonathan are reaping what they sowed. Pity. Dele.

ON ACHEBE It gives me great pain that despite the repeated statement that I don’t want to use this page to get into the Achebe/Awo dispute, people who I regard as intelligent still want to convince me that there are some “truths” known to them that I must read. I have read over thirty books on the civil war for God’s sake. Am I to spend the rest of my life on this one issue? Invariably, on both sides, they say nothing new or original and some of what they write are actually laughable. For the last time, please leave me out of your “truths”; have found ways to cope positively with what life throws at us, we are in a bad place psychologically. Something usually gives and that mainly impacts on our mental health. So how we cope with these everyday problems and issues depends on our

level of resilience. Some bounce back in no time, for others it takes a while and the rest if they do not get medical or psychological interventions, will deteriorate and unable to recover fully.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian health services are not geared up to deal with mental illnesses. We have only seven mental health hospitals.It works out at 1,092 beds that is 3.99 per 100,000 population, 8 psychiatrists 0.03 per 100,000, qualified yearly 320 nurses with at least 1 year training in mental health care.

So you see, we do have a problem, a serious problem and we need to address the issues.

How do you know there is a problem? There is no clear answer other than if your mental ill health is impacting on your daily life and you are finding it difficult

which are almost always half-truths or outright lies. Go and dispute your “truths” with someone else. Politeness ends here please.

YULETIDE GREETINGS As usual, I am lost for words at this time of the year. It seems like only yesterday when the year started and here we are just a few days to the end of it. We all deserve to thank the Almighty God for preserving our lives to the end of the year.

This had been the most traumatic year in Nigeria’s history; in some ways even surpassing the agonies of the Civil War, whose wounds have not been allowed to heal.

But, while the war ended in three years, the demons that we have unleashed this year will torment us for years to come.

For those in governments – Federal and States – irrespective of political party, this year challenges all of them to think anew about how to save our nation.

All of them, without exception should stop listening to the propaganda of their appointed officials. Neither the President, nor the Governors receives the truth and the whole truth from his close associates. That is a tragedy which will consume all of us eventually.

I thank our readers for their patronage. We don’t always agree; but we all want the best for Nigeria. Have a great Yuletide and we meet again, oddly enough, on New Year’s Day. enjoying your life, or no longer take pleasure in the company of your friends and families then you may need to seek medical help.

Prevention is definitely better than cure and has shown to hasten a better recovery.

Having a mental illness is like having a physical illness. And like physical illness, mental illness must be treated with appropriate treatment and care. With prompt response and understanding, one c an recover and live a full and useful life. I started off with the intent of looking at our general mental health status and tongue-in-cheek at te m p t e d t o e x p l a i n why some Nigerians behave the way that they do. In doing so I realise that our country has indeed failed us, our culture prevents us from accepting, that like physical ill health, we also can succumb to mental ill health.

Our leaders condone t h e s i l e n c e and perpetuate the prejudice and stigmatisation of those with mental health problems.

SUNDAY VANGUARD,DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 11

Christmas and cash-andcarry Christianity “pagan” origin of Christmas compromises the purported divinely-ordained superiority of Christianity over the socalled pagan religions and practices; it equally raises the question of the appropriate spiritual status of those beliefs and practices Christianity ab-

,

I

T is well-known to New Testament scholars that questions concerning the historical existence of the person named Jesus of Nazareth are far from settled. Still Christian religious apologists, from the Pope to pastors of Pentecostal churches, behave as if the gospels’ are true beyond reasonable doubt. A few Christian denominations do not celebrate the supposed birthday of Jesus on 25th of December.

For instance, Jehovah’s Witnesses insist, on the basis of their own interpretation of relevant biblical texts, that Jesus was probably born in October.

Aside from controversy about the actual birthday of Jesus, Christmas did not originate from Christianity. It was an extrapolation or adaptation of religious practices in Mediterranean and Persian communities, as the fledgling Christian sect tried to establish a foothold in the crumbling Roman Empire. Some Christians freely admit the unchristian origin of Christmas, but insist that it does not really matter since it is now widely accepted by an overwhelming majority of believers worldwide. The main problem here is that the

led to dissipation of the spiritual raison d’etre of Christmas. Presently, the event is so bastardised and commercialised to the extent that reckless indulgence in immorality has taken center stage. Church services, singing of Christmas hymns and token recog-

Over the centuries, the rise of capitalism and concomitant commercialisation of everything lead to dissipation of the spiritual raison d’etre of Christmas

sorbed from other faiths.

In The Holy Bible Jesus neither celebrated his birthday or recommended that it should be celebrated by his followers.

As I suggested before, adoption of 25th December was a desperate attempt by leaders of the upstart (Christian) religion to attract new converts from existing religions which celebrated the birth of various deities on that very day.

Over the centuries, the rise of capitalism and concomitant commercialisation of everything has

,

nition of the less privileged in the society are still part and parcel of Christmas. Also during the occasion, religious and political leaders throughout the world make ceremonial hypocritical speeches exhorting people to imbibe the lesson of Christ’s humble birth. Last year, President Goodluck Goodluck Jonathan attended the Holy Ghost Congress hosted by The Redeemed Christian Church of God. He looked somewhat pathetic and “unpresidential” while on his knees

World without end

T

HERE have been many doomsday prophesies over the course of my life and I am sure there were many before I was born.

Inevitably there will be many more, long after I am gone. There seems to be some collective awareness that the world will end; the differentials are the ways it could. I personally hold the view that the world ending is an individual thing; doomsday is the day you die or come to an awful end. I should mention that I believe in the rapture too and my preferred ending would be to ascend to heaven in the company of the saints and angels to be with The Lord. This year alone there has been at least two dates that some people were sure the world would end and they have been wrong. Their pre-

dictions have been taken seriously by some and most of us just carried on.

It’s not completely improbable that the world could end. After all there are weapons of mass destruction that could in minutes wipe out life in all its forms and there is enough evil in the world to end it.

Evolution in itself is a process of growth and continuous change; that could be seen as an indicator that an end is likely in some manner someday. The doomsday prophesies continue to thrive and I must admit that those who believe in them hold some fascination for me. They remind me of some Nigerian politicians; creatures of desperation; holding on to power and life at any cost. I watched many underground bunkers on television, built to sur-

vive nuclear, chemical and other cataclysmic explosions this week and I was fascinated as well as repulsed by the desperation and narrowmindedness of those who would live like rats on the remote possibility that they could survive the doom they dread. I can understand migration for reasons of war and carnage but why prepare to die when you could just live? A few months ago, a doomsday cult was discovered in Russia; they had lived underground for decades in an attempt to avoid the destruction predicted by the leader. There were young adults who had never seen the sun, young children forced to live like moles in a community that was so focussed on death, they forgot to live.

The above examples may be extreme and not apply to most people but at some time or another most of us

also explains the torpid exhortation that people “should wait upon the Lord and continue to pray for the leaders” (irrespective of the conduct of those leaders).

For cash-and-carry pastors radical positive transformation of the current unjust status quo should be discouraged because “it is well.” Nigerians are intoxicated by foreign religions and the festivities associated with them. Therefore, they should not complain about pastors who exultantly receive private jets as “gifts” in the midst of abject poverty, or condemn extreme monetization of religion. Metaphorically speaking, fraudulent clergymen and women are urinating on the heads of believers, and the latter happily accept it as showers of blessing.

So, Christians should see the current Yuletide period as an opportunity to reflect deeply on the ignoble role religion has played (and continues to play) in dehumanising people, and consider the possibility that pastors are exploiting the gullibility and existential fears of believers for selfenrichment. Going back to the issue of Christmas, I have stated already that the event is spiritually hollow, mainly due to malignant capitalism and increasing acquisitiveness among the populace. Consequently, it is not surprising that ritual killing, armed robbery, kidnapping, profiteering by business people, the worst forms of debauchery etc. escalate during yuletide.

For traders and transporters in Nigeria, Christmas is the “season,” that is, an opportunity to exploit customers. In addition, “men and women of God” collect huge tax-free tithes and expensive gifts from affluent church members, in the pretext that they are sowing

seeds for God to attract more blessings.

This Christmas, church leaders nationwide will receive money and gifts in billions of naira. Now, overemphasis on material possessions and wealth by the clergy completely negate the main thrust of Jesus’ life and teachings, as recorded in the gospels. In fact, there is no single unequivocal assertion of Jesus which supports the insane quest for material aggrandisement.

However, the gospels contain numerous passages where he vehemently condemned wealth and craving for material possessions. In Matthew 6:24, for example, Jesus made it explicitly clear that one cannot serve God and mammon (riches) at the same time. Again, in a parable (Luke 8:11) he affirmed that “The seed is the word of God.” But our pastors have a contrary view: they actively and repeatedly encourage their church members to “sow seeds” with money and expensive gifts. In a story about the widow’s mite (Mark 12:42) Jesus ignored those who gave big offerings, and commended a poor widow who generously gave the most from her extremely meager resources. In Matthew 6:19, Jesus advised his listeners not to accumulate wealth here on earth “where moth and dust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.”

He also disrupted business activities in the Jerusalem temple (Matthew 21:1213). There is no doubt about it: Jesus’ attitude to worldly possessions is completely different from the shameless, crude, and rampant exhibitionism celebrated by pastors nowadays. Christians, it is time to wake up from your dogmatic slumbers and face the truth!

have delayed living to focus on death, or a future that is at best uncertain.

There is a morbidity attached to death that gives it more power than it actually has. Jesus said it best when he said we need have no fear of those who can take life; he said we should fear Him who can take the soul as well. Whether we like it or not the cycle of life includes death and it goes on and on. Someone not too long ago said I was rock hard because I take matters of life very lightly; like death is no big deal. I don't agree that I am rock hard

to tragedy but I take my cue from the Jewish king David. He had fasted and pleaded for God to spare his son with Bathsheba but surprised everyone when he cleaned himself up and ate after the child died. He wasn't desperate!! He wasn't fighting an eventuality that was completely out of his control.

The year is about to end in just a few days and while we may not be having the Christmas of our fantasies, we can make it the best yet. You see desperation comes in many forms. Some people cling

theme for the month of gratitude and I am focussed on life and all the gifts attached. I am thankful for the life I have, for the world as is and even if it ends individually or collectively I would remain thankful. I would not hide in a bunker trying to outlive the world or live like death was a master. I end with a confession of faith I learnt as a young Christian and it is an emphatic answer to all prophesies, doomsday or otherwise.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit .. the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; AND THE LIFE EVERLASTING. Amen.

,

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

as Pastor Enoch Adeboye, general overseer of the church, stood over him and prayed.

A few days ago, Mr. President repeated the same charade, but Nigerians are yet to feel any positive impact of such religious solicitude on his style of governance.

Of course President Jonathan can worship as he pleases: the 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom of religion to every Nigerian citizen.

But as I suggested a moment ago, Jonathan’s public display of religious piety is not reflected in the quality of his leadership. The same conclusion applies to most political office holders in Nigeria today.

Moreover, I am not sure that Pastor Adeboye, mustered enough courage to tell his august visitor the truth concerning the sufferings and traumas our people are experiencing in the midst of plenty: most probably, he offered prayers asking God to protect the President from “the enemy,” from demonic forces responsible for the Scylla and Charybdis in his administration.

Some cash-and-carry pastors do not have the moral locus standi to criticise the President, governors, ministers, legislators, and prominent Nigerians in general because they themselves are equally guilty of avarice, debauchery and corruption. Indeed, well-known Christian and Muslim clerics are more interested in protecting the privileges they are enjoying from corrupt politicians and greedy business people than in speaking the truth.

That “unholy” alliance between the clergy and “oppressors” is partly responsible for the increasing pauperisation of Nigerians. It

The truth is that life by nature is terminal; every day you live is another step towards the grave. I made my peace with that a long time ago

but I do believe that death is not a big deal. The truth is that life by nature is terminal; every day you live is another step towards the grave. I made my peace with that a long time ago.

That mind-set makes living a lot more fun as I don't take anything for granted. I live like I am dying because I am; so are you! It’s very sad to lose people in their prime

,

to life, some to power, some to popularity and most to money. Accepting the reality of what you have and who you are with some grace could make this the best Christmas ever. Kicking unhealthy comparisons out the door is a great place to start. Stop dancing to other people's tunes. I am still much focussed on my

PAGE 12 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

Pro-govt crusaders: Patriots, sycophants or opportunists? game are also not restricted to the lowly paid. A large fraction of them is made up of the highly privileged including even senior citizens otherwise known as elder statesmen. Those in this group do not just abhor the criticisms of persons inauthority; they in addition find it expedient to ‘blast’ any critic in de-

,

I

N a typical Nigeri an State, whatever the Governor says is law. “His Excellency has said” is sufficient to get everyone from Deputy Governor to the lowest paid civil servant in the State to perform a particular act no matter how irrational the act may be. The same is true of the President at the national level. This aspect of sycophancy used to occur more among publicofficers who are anxious to either retain their positions or to attract more favours. In recent times however, it has become a game for all. During electioneering for instance, it gives leverage to those in authority as several citizens including traditional rulers, law enforcement agencies and contractors find it more rewarding to support the incumbent.

Another popular aspect of sycophancy is known as “eye service”. This refers to the doing of something not because it was directed by the ‘man in power’ but because the doers perceive their acts as likely to please His Excellency. Actors in this

While no less a personality in the person of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon described the criticism as ‘highly irresponsible’ other defenders argued that Obasanjo had no moral basis for his criticism. Some others even appeared piqued by the diction of the criticism. It is however not quite easy

Those who canvass their viewpoints are more useful to society and they should be encouraged to continue like Obasanjo who has affirmed that he will not stop criticizing government

fence ofthose in authority. The defending and blasting games are more intense if the critic himself had held high office in the past.

Thus, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently decried the unending Boko Haram saga and blamed it on government’s indecisiveness, he inadvertently invited ‘blastings’ from several quarters.

,

to know whether the defenders are sincere patriots, or playing the eye service game or indeed seeking to settle old scores. Rather, what is easy to observe is that theblastings tended to lose sight of some issues.

First, that every Nigerian is entitled to his opinion. According to the express wordings of Section 39(1) of our constitution, “every person is

Do they know it is Christmas? times were acute and exciting; full of robust and daring men, who gave the city of Lagos of the late 80s and the 90s the jazzy feel of something imminent, broken, and beautiful. The beauty was of the terrible sort, drawn mostly from the loud and raucous energy of the city.

Among the most vital developments in that period was what we now call “Nollywood” – the emergence of the new local film industry shot on cheap budgets but which soon blossomed into a billion dollar industry.

Adequate tribute has not been paid to the gritty and pioneering spirits that helped to launch the now ubiquitous “Nollywood” films; all kinds of experts now talk “Nollywood,” but it was a tradition built by a generation of then young Nigerian reporters who drew attention to a generation of actors who were then emerging from universities late in the 1980s.

The kernel of that movement came drawn mostly from actors trained at the University of Jos Theatre and the actors trained by

the late Ola Rotimi at the University of Port-Harcourt Theatre School, some of whose first real stage appearances were on Rotimi’s play, Hopes of the Living Dead, which had opened

,

T

ODAY, the solitude in me remembers Ogbonna Amadi and Sylva Eleanya, two former colleagues here in the Vanguard, whose deaths this passing year robbed the journalism profession in Nigeria of two of its most talented reporters and technicians of the newscraft. I had arrived the Vanguard to be Features Editor in January 1994 bristling with redesign ideas for the features at the Vanguard.

However, by a series of deft shuffling and reshuffling by then Editor, Frank Aigbogun, I ended up on the Sunday Vanguard, where I suppose I was to show my paces. Needless to say, that my first two weeks in the Vanguard felt like a hazing and I was levitating mostly. Ogbonna Amadi was one of the reporters who first warmed to me; he with my old pal, Yereba Kina, also in features were already establishing their names in the field as entertainment reporters – Ogbonna in Music and entertainment, Yereba in the movies as a film critic. The

Some of that soul and spirit departed from Lagos with Ogbonna’s death.

And so too with Sylva Eleanya, whom I called “Silver Shadow

,

and toured in 1986. But I digress a little. I did mean to say that those rookie actors who came on later to dominate the new thing called Nollywood had in their early film careers from the 1990s, the likes of Ogbon-

o one is expected to abuse the other.

Second, those who elect to defend the President probably forget quite often that the man has officials who are paid to do just that. There is indeed doubt if Doyin Okupe’s disposition especially his eloquence leaves any room for helpers in the business. Third, President Jonathan has himself proven that he understands the Nigeria of today better than both his critics and defenders.

He is fully aware of the implications of the Odi prescription as a son of the soil of the victims. The President confirmed this by the ease with which he articulately presented his reasons in his last media chat for not applying the option to Boko Haram. His reported directive to his aides not to attack his critics on the subject was also underscored by his open dec-

laration at the recently held Holy Ghost Congress of the Redeemed Christian Church of God that he would love to hear people’s criticisms of his government.

Here,President Jonathan deserves applause.

Another person who should be similarly applauded is former PresidentObasanjo who says his mind and hardly plays to the gallery.

Whether we like his mannerisms or not, he obviously often speaks for the voiceless. It was him many years back that helped the rest of us to tell the government of the day to prosecute ‘SAP with a human face’.

When he said that the Boko Haram issue should be summarily addressed he was again not saying anything new.

Many other leaders who would not say what would displease the government hold the same view. In fact, when some analysts including this columnist argued that dialogue was a better option than military forcefor handling Boko Haram, we were abused by opinion leaders who could not see why government should in their own words “dialogue with criminals”.

Meanwhile, such an intemperate posture to other people’s suggestions hasnot been able to bring to an end the avoidable continued killings in the land. For this reason, those who canvass their viewpoints are more useful to society and they should be en-

couraged to continue like Obasanjo who has affirmed that he will not stop criticizing government. But such critics mustnot like egoists who think they have a monopoly of knowledge expect thattheir opinions would be binding on government which in earnest has a pool of suggestions to consider. his was what helped this column to rationalize the issue of the President’s assets declaration. The point that the President should publicly do it had looked unassailable until someone educated us all that the mandate to disclose the President’s declaration was given by the constitution to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). A month ago, the Chairman of the CCB, Mr. Sam Saba at a public press conference admitted the failure of his Bureau to so act. He however revealed that the form which the disclosure is to takeis according to the constitution, to be prescribed by the National Assembly which is yet to do so.

With such exchange of ideas, democracy progressively directs attention to what is begging to be done and by whom.

Those who embrace AGIP- the unregistered political party of persons in support of any government in power - may in due course be persuaded to put the good of humanity in mind in their hustles by serving not as sycophants and opportunists but as patriots.

na Amadi and the also now late Yereba Kina in the Vanguard to thank for providing the powerful interrogatory searchlight and penetrating gaze that helped to establish them in the public consciousness. Without the works of these men, with a few others, I dare to say, there’d have been no Nollywood.

Ogbonna was particularly drawn to the music scene, and was complementing the work of Tony Okonedo, then the dean of the metro party circuit, to report the vibrant cultural energy of the city of Lagos. He brought into great relief, by his piquant style, the lives of those who became the new stars of that new horizon. Fiercely independent, and colorful, Ogbonna had a quick temper and something of an abrasive tongue.

He was fearless and he was blunt. But that was one of the things I loved about him: he had no time for cant, and he was a lively and convinced disputant who stood his ground on matters in which he felt strongly. He was also, well, clubbable. Ogbonna loved to see himself as an “Aba boy” – because he grew up in that city too- but he soon came to love Lagos even more fiercely; he thrived in this city; he gave it soul, and he gave it a dash of spirit.

Some of that soul and spirit departed from Lagos with Ogbonna’s death. And so too with Sylva Eleanya, whom I called “Silver Shadow.” It was always

quite a thing in those days to see Sports Editor Onochie Anibeze, Tony Ubani, and Sylva, the sports photographer work. They complemented each other well, I suspect because, as a photographer, Sylva Eleanya had much more than flair.

He had a clear, professional relationship with the camera, and he took some of the more astonishing shots on the sports pages in the Nigerian newspaper. I was dumbfounded by these deaths in this past year.

Every death is shocking certainly, and all good things must come to an end, and all that, but it was in the manner of the dying – the quick, surgical cut of these deaths – that was most shocking. It throws light once more, on the primitive state of Nigeria’s emergency care system.

Had there been better quality of public healthcare, particularly facilities to evacuate or transport patients to the Casualty wards quickly enough, and the presence of trained emergency care providers, these men might have had a slight window of opportunity to live.

Indeed that small, vital window is crucial, and often makes the difference between life and death. Betterstill, there ought be in the lessons of these deaths, the necessity for greater personal responsibility too – the need for regular annual medical checks; particularly to check the lipids and cholesterol levels; a lit-

tle more care with diet, regular exercises – all that good stuff. What shocks more certainly is the finality of it all; the reality that we now carry these faces only in memory, and that the fierce absence of their physical being tells on those who have shared in their lives up to this year: their children, their spouses; their mothers and fathers, their friends, lovers, peers – those who have been interconnected with them to the deep dance of life. The year is always a gaunt hole, swallowing the excess of life. Last week, it was the turn of two powerful men: Andrew Owoeye Azazi, former National Security Adviser to the president, and Patrick Yakowa, governor of Kaduna state. They went to the creeks to a burial and flew to their own demise. There is brewing controversy about those deaths now; hints of sabotage. But it is not my leave to delve into what all that means in this essay. I just want to leave a little thought to those who mourn them – their friends and families – to remember them, as we rush into the frenzy of Christmas; as we forget their faces and their footprints; as the year closes, and as we are drawn to this annual shebang called Christmas - to send good thoughts to those who will not be in the mood to celebrate Christmas this year.

But to those who can, we also say, Merry Christmas.

entitled to freedom of expression including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference”.

We must therefore as a free nation allow our citizens to say their minds freely.

In other words, if the controversial Odi prescription in the opinion of Obasanjo is the best way to deal with insurgency, he is free to say so. Those who hold a contrary opinion are also free to canvass it thereby creating ahealthy exchange of ideas on a subject.

N

T

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 13

PROLOGUE

On death row JIDE AJANI

W

hen will you die?

That is a question no man, or even woman, can or want to answer. Compound the issue: Where and how? Through who or what?

These are questions that never agitate the mind of any man, or woman because they evoke fear.

Death renders every effort to make it in life seemingly needless and futile.

Yet, men and women persist in the daily rat race of life.

Death is the ultimate leveler of men and women.

Christians believe in Jesus Christ who predicted his death and resurrection. He was nailed to the cross.

Still, every man and woman must answer the call. No one can avoid it.

Then if so, why should premium be placed on one life above the other?

Can one life be recreated while another cannot?

That is a question the Nigeria Governors' Forum, NGF, may have to answer.

In the wake of the air disaster that claimed the lives of six people including the late Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa, and former National Security Adviser, NSA, Andrew Owoye Azazi, the NGF came out to call for a private investigator. Meanwhile, earlier in the year when over a hundred lives were lost in another plane crash, the NGF did not call for a private investigator. On Saturday, September 26, 1992, about 166 people boarded a Hercules C-130 aircraft (over 100 of them military officers) at the military wing of the local airport in Lagos. A few minutes later, the plane crashed into the swamp of Ejigbo, a Lagos suburb.

20years after, nobody knows what happened that led to the crash of that plane; nor has the Federal Government of Nigeria, on whose duty tour the victims were, done anything meaningful for their families.

So, the question should be asked again: Is one life worth more than another?

That may not be the intendment of the NGF members. But it may also very well be - "one of our own is gone"; "there may be a cover up since it involves a Naval helicopter"; "it could be sabotage".

Conjectures all!

In all this, the operational phenomenon is death and it defines the ephemeral nature of life.

A state governor! A former NSA!!

Hmmm! Sad; so sad; so very sad.

No matter, death remains something intriguing.

First, if it was possible, nobody would want to die.

C M Y K

Yet, if you do not die, Heaven, that lovely place full of Grace, may not be attained - except, of course, you belong to the gang of men on the fringe who see suicide as the surest way to Heaven without remembering that if everyone were to make recourse to suicide, there would be no more life. For normal people, even with that promise of heavenly bliss nobody wants to die.

Okay, now, let us animate death.

Just visualize this: A middle-aged man, with no hair on his head, dressed in a black short sleeve shirt, with a black Bow-Tie, black suspenders and a three-piece suit, with a baton in hand, looking for whose head to break. If such a visage is that of death, every one who sees him would run for cover. This is not about might or raw power. It is about a phenomenon that is indecipherable. It surmounts comprehension.

It can not be understood.

Yakowa who was consoling the family of the Douglases just some minutes earlier was himself to go the way of Pa Douglas. He was buried in Kafanchan last Thursday.

Azazi who had gone to attend the funeral of the old Douglas would also be laid to rest soon.

So, who knows who's next? Nobody!

Just a little over an hour before the Dana Crash of last June, a passenger had been allegedly cheated by two Asians who shunted him aside to procure their boarding passes. The intending passenger raised a lot of hell at the Abuja airport but was

calmed by passengers of other airlines. Just about 50minutes into the Dana Flight to Lagos, it crashed, killing all on board. The disgruntled passenger was still waiting to board another flight that fateful Sunday afternoon when the sad news was flashed on the TV screens of the airport. He received confetti of well wishers; he was buffeted by other passengers who congratulated him for cheating death.

Could there have been anyone that day who could have prevented Yakowa and Azazi from boarding that Navy helicopter? The answer is no.

But if truth be told, who could have cheated a state governor or a former NSA out of boarding the helicopter?

That is the forceful pull of death.

Some would have looked at the helicopter as it took off that day and wished they could afford the luxury of or be in the powerful position of governor or former NSA and be on board with them. Such is the powerful pull of death.

Indeed, death is very powerful.

Interestingly, it is part of living because it concludes the cycle of life.

You are born and you die.

For, once you are born, you join the teeming billions of souls on death row. Fear not! It is inevitable. It will come. John Paul II died. He was the Catholic Pontiff - the Pope.

Just on the eve of Sani Abacha's death, two very prominent monarchs in Nigeria were to be dethroned the following day. But he died. MKO Abiola's insistence on claiming his mandate suffered a disclaimer in the

hands of death even before he could be granted freedom.

Idi Amin of Uganda, self-styled modern day Emperor Jean Bedel Bokassa of Central African Republic, Zia Ul-Haq of Pakistan, Felix Huppert Boughey of Ivory Coast, Mobutu Sesekuku Mbendu Wazabanga alias Mobutu Seseseko of Zaire, Nicolai Ceucescu of Romania, Hastings Kamuzu Banda of Malawi, in spite of all the powers they wielded as president, they all died.

Jesus Christ, the son of God as I believe him to be (but some don't) had to die for the sins of men before resurrecting.

As the nation mourns those who died penultimate Saturday, the lessons to learn are legion. How would you want to be remembered after dying?

Those who are pursuing 2015 or any political ambition or any thing for that matter should cast their minds back to those who wanted to be part of 2011 elections but who died before the hour. Umar Musa Yar'Adua died just about three years after being elected to become Nigeria's President and Commander-in-Chief.

At least, in this same country, a presidential candidate died just a few weeks before the presidential election.

The election continued despite him.

He was Pa Ade Adefarati.

So, what to do, live a life worthy to be remembered for good because, at some point, that inescapable leveler of men would come calling - because we are all on death row.

PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

L

ast Friday morning, President Jonathan Goodluck sat under a giant rotund canopy among some of Nigeria’s most important political leaders in the remote Fadadn Kagoma village, in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as part of record breaking crowd in the history of the village, for a grim event as Kaduna State first and only Christian to be elected governor, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, was being buried after 64 years on earth.

Yakowa was killed with five others penultimate Saturday when the Naval helicopter they were flying in crashed in Okoroba creek of Bayelsa State, as they were returning from the burial ceremony of Comrade Oronta Douglas' father - Oronto is an aide to President Jonathan Goodluck.

While many have propounded all kinds of conspiracy theories about the incident, even before the panel set up by the Presidency to find out what caused the accident, this is the second time a Christian governor from the North will be involved in a plane crash within two months.

Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba state crashed in a Cessna plane near Yola, Adamawa State, while personally piloting the aircraft. Suntai's razor thin escape from death with his three aides has generated anger and admonition from a section of the state who saw his penchant for flying himself as a dangerous hobby that should not be engaged in by a sitting governor.

There were also the governor's supporters who think that, as a pilot, the accident was like any other and should be seen as that. Yet, some people were said to have celebrated the near fatal crash, because his deputy, a Muslim, sworn in just two weeks after the removal of his erstwhile Christian deputy, would now become acting governor.

Sun atai is temporarily out of power as he recuperates.

That brings to two the number of Christian governors that have been put out of power from among the four of the 19 northern states.

Last week, Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue State cried out that there was a plot to kill him by the terror group, Boko Haram. He said it was part of a plot to eliminate Christians from being governors in the North.

“Going by security reports available to me, I may be attacked any day, anywhere, anytime and this is the reason I call on you Christians to pray for me and my family, “ Suswam told a congregation of NKSTA Church in Makurdi, the state capital.

This claim, however, should not hold steam, because the deputy governor of Benue State is also a Christian. It is also highly most improbable, based on religious consideration that a Muslim would ever become governor or deputy in Benue State, which population is overwhelmingly Christian.

Governor David Jang of Plateau State, clearly maligned, detested and accused

by Northern Muslims as a hater of Hausa/Fulani, and whose Berom people have been under perennial deadly siege by alleged Fulani gunmen, has severally alleged that his life was under threat.

Jang has been accused by Muslims in the state of genocide and for excluding them from power, a charge he and his followers strongly deny, accusing Muslims in the state of instigating violence C M Y K

Northern Christian Governors as endangered species . . . and the admonitions of Bishop Kukah

* The end ... The corpse of Gov Yakowa carried by undertakers

,

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

Going by security reports available to me, I may be attacked any day, anywhere, anytime and this is the reason I called on you Christians to pray for me and my family

,

on the Jos plateau.

Nasarawa State, with a clearly majority Christian population, has never produced a Christian governor. Successive elected governors of the state are Muslims to give credence to the claim that religion may not be such a factor after all in the state. Though many do not share this idea.

Niger State, which has an impressive Christian population, has not produced a Christian governor or deputy in the last two terms, as both governor and deputy are Muslims.

In Kwara and Kogi, where religion does not seem to be such an important factor than in other northern states, Muslims have continued to emerge as governors since 1979.

The non-Hausa/Fulani population of Adamwa State have always claimed that

the state is dominated by Christians, but Christians only succeeded in producing Mr. Bonny Haruna as governor in 1999, when Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, who was elected governor , dumped the seat to become the Vice President under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Haruna, who was Atiku's deputy, became governor and later contested and won a second term in 2003.

Rear Admiral Murtala Nyako, a Fulani, became governor of the state in very controversial circumstances in 2007.

He beat all the legal hurdles put up by his foes. His election was annulled by a tribunal and another election scheduled.

He won. His opponents cried foul again. In his bid to return for second tenure, he faced a daunting challenge, but again he won. The legal moves to remove him all suffered setbacks. Nyako, even among his Adamawa Muslims, agree that his government is very much unabashedly exclusive of even Muslims who are not Fulani.

It would seem that the Muslims of Northern Nigeria, even where they are not in majority, have the political deftness, strong will and the means to clinch power. Sometimes, it is by fate, like we now see in Taraba, a mainly Christian state.

In Northern Nigeria, the issue of religion seems to matter greatly on how the spoils and bounty of power are shared since the demise of the first republic in 1966 and the advent of military rule afterwards.

This was aptly put by Bishop Hassan

Mathew Kukah during his sermon at Yakowa funeral mass on Thursday, a gathering that had President Jonathan, the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, National Security Adviser and some of other Nigeria’s VIPs in attendance.

Speaking on the ascension of the deceased governor of Kaduna State to power, Kukah told the audience his summary of the struggle between the north and south of the state. “ It was historic at his swearing-in as the governor of Kaduna State. It was an event that was quite spectacular”, he noted. “ From the creation of the state in 1987, the northern ruling class, by a policy, seemed to have applied an invisible sign that read, ‘no vacancy, Christians need not apply in what later came to be know as Sir Ibrahim Kashim House’ (Kaduna Government House) to represent the state at the highest level”. “ Despite that fact that all states were open to Christian military officers, it was only Kaduna, and perhaps, Sokoto that were never governed by non-Muslims. “ This policy of non-inclusion against non-Muslims turned Kaduna into a political Mecca and laid the foundation for unnecessary and sad religious tension that has continued to bog the state down. That was why

Continues on page 14

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 15

Northern Christian Governors as endangered species Continued from page 14 a routine change from a deputy governor to a governor, that should be taken as given, had generated the kind of interest right across the country because first in history was attained”.

The bishop went on: " Mr Yakowa’s ascentsion to power bears little resemblance to Nelson Mandela whose ascension to power in South Africa in 1994 was a matter of international interest.

President Jonathan did for us what President De Klerk did to end apartheid in South Africa as with Mandela.

"Kaduna State has very balanced population between the Hausa/Fulani Muslims of the North, and the rest native tribal groupings in the state who are mainly Christians. “ We no longer trust each other, only those who worship with us, feed like us and dress like us are those we trust.

“Those who project Islam as the basis for power have now created crisis that has threatened the foundation of our society, especially in Northern Nigeria.

A

nd that is hardly contestable, in view of the fact that virtu ally all religious inspired violence in post-colonial Northern Nigeria was started by a group of Muslims, in which Christians would, in most cases, react, and sometimes more violently where they have the numbers and will.

“I supposed that our society should be using men and women of integrity, as opposed to using religion as labels.

“Our project for building a one-just society is irreversible. I want to challenge all of us, to rise to the challenge of building one united country. A country of love. A country where indeed we are all God’s children. We must aspire to build a country where we see ourselves first as human beings who just happen to be Muslims or Christians by perhaps by birth”.

According to Kukah, Yakowa had opened the door and it would never be shut again to which the crowd thundered “AMEEEN!” He said further: “Because Mr Yakowa passed through politics in Kaduna State, politics would never ever be the same again. Indeed, many of us are now going to define politics in Kaduna,’ as politics before Yakowa, and politics after Yakowa’.

“And to you the people of Southern Kaduna, especially the youth, I encourage you to rise up. Fear is dead, and it will never return to our land again.

"Before Yakowa, you were poor, you were weak, you felt defeated, now after Yakowa, the world is yours to conquer.

Wake up, rise up, light up the candle because we have seen the light, and it is a star located in Southern Kaduna.

“Go forward, mix up with other young men and women across the North. Free yourself from the religious bigotry of your fathers. Dream big dreams, dream beautiful dreams, a wonderful, peaceful, just non-discriminatory, unselfish world lies ahead of you.

“Conquer fear, get a torch, march forward; whether you are Christopher or Mustapha, march on. Whether you are Mary or Maraimu, march ahead. Because this is why Yakowa died for all of you".

To the new governor of Kaduna State, C M Y K

The late Azazi Muktay Ramallan Yero, Kukah warned of the evil of the past and advised Yero thus: “To you the new governor sir, the world looks up to you, never to be seduced by the whispers of the wicked, whose selfish and devilish hold on power has held our society down. Do not be taken by the notion that Muslims again have taken the price which normally belongs to them.

“You have taken over the steering wheel, you must obey all the traffic signs, so that we can all arrive at our destination. Balancing our dreams together can make us one of the greatest states in Nigeria. “ Let us revise the ugly pernicious past which was constructed by men who have the hearts of apartheid. By pursuing the policy of exclusion, these men and women nearly destroyed the noble faith of Islam and the north that Sardauna dreamt of us. . . . “ “Other nations have achieved greatness by managing diversity. “ Those who sowed the seed of exclusion have abandoned the state.

“Some of them have fled the state and are living in other parts of the world, where they continue to live unproductive lifestyles, heating up the North where they pretend to represent the North an Islam.

“We must reverse this ugly trend and create a just society that belongs to the children of God. “ Now that the members of the socalled Kaduna Mafia, whose selfishness hindered the development of Kaduna in particular and the North in general, have either died or fled, Mr Yakowa’s ascent to power has broken the jinx. You can never attempt to return the jinx without breaking the bottle.

“Before Yakowa, Kaduna State was surviving on a single lung. Now that political surgery has corrected this anomaly, it is hoped that now we shall lay a successful foundation of ascension and transition to power and it will be clear to everybody that power would no longer be a monopoly of any exclusive group, whether on basis of ethnicity, on the basis of religion or on the basis of region, or on the basis of gender”.

As rash as Kukah sounded to Muslims who have had and are having a grab on power in Northern Nigeria, the

wider Muslim population has not benefited from the largesse from this monopoly. Apart from a few hangers on, who fight over crumbs from the masters’ tables, northerners remain among the most backward in the world, especially the Hausa/Fulani Muslim populated areas, according to human development index..

Every rational thinking northerner would not mind to be governed by anyone irrespective of religion or gender if such person improves his well-being. But the issue of faith in most part of the North usually forms the first line of thinking on who to vote for, before other considerations, especially where there is a good mix of Hausa/Fulani Muslims and non-Muslims.

The non-Kanuri minority tribes of Borno and Yobe States are wont to experience the same thing with other minority tribes of the North.

However in northern societies that are not Hausa/Fulani, but are Muslims or mixed, one's intrinsic qualities, or connections and wealth matter in ascension to power. Not really religion.

But with religion as a strong basis for negotiation and contest for power, the loss of two Christian governors is drawing strong sentiments among Christians.

In truth however, the emotions expressed by Christains in the North in support of one of their own to become governor does really translate to improved welfare, even to Christians. They have proven to be as disappointing as their long ruling Muslims counterparts.

Continues on page 15

CRASHES IN NIGERIA 1.November 20, 1969: Nigeria Airways BAC VC10 2.December 1988: Skypower Brandeironte aircraft 3.June 26, 1991; Okada Air BAC-111 4.February 24, 1991: British Helicopter 5.May 21, 1991: A Cessna Citation 550 6.June 26, 1991: Okada Air Bac-11 7.July 11, 1991: Nigeria Airways DC-8-61 *8.September 26, 1992: Nigerian Air Force A C-130 9.June 24, 1995: Harka Air Services Tupolev 34 10.November 13, 1995: Nigeria Airways Boeing 737-2F9 11.November 7, 1996: A Nigerian ADC (Aviation Development Corporation) Airline Boeing 727-231 12.January 31, 1997: SkyPower Express Airways Embraer 110PIA *13.September 12, 1997: A NAF Dornier 228-212 14.January 5, 2000: SkyPower Express Airways Bandeirante 110P1A 15.October 26, 2000: Dornier aircraft 16.May 4, 2002: EAS Airlines' BAC 1-11-500 17.November 30, 2003, a Cargo aircraft 18.March 6, 2004: An Aenail spray aircraft with registration number 5NBEF 19.July 26, 2004: Pan African Airlines' helicopter 20.December 29, 2004: A Boeing 727 of Chanchangi Airlines 21.December 29, 2004: A Kenya Airlines aircraft *22.January 28, 2005: A Nigeria Air Force fighter plane 23.February 25, 2005: ADC's B73 aircraft 24.March 27, 2005: A Boeing 737 of Bellview 25.June 11/12, 2005: Lagos: A Boeing 727-200 Aircraft 26.June 24, 2005: A Russian Aircraft belonging to Harka Air 27.July 6, 2005, Port Harcourt: an Air France A330 plane 28.July 23, 2005, a Lufthansa aircraft 29.October 22, 2005: A Bellview Airlines Boeing 737 30.December 10, 2005: A Sosoliso Airlines DC*31.September 17, 2006: A 18-seater Dornier 228 Air Force transport plane, carrying 12 Army Generals 32.October 29, 2006: Aviation Development Corporation Airline Boeing 737 33.November 10, 2006: OAS Service Helicopter 34.August 2, 2007: Bristow-owned helicopter 35.March 15, 2008: Beechcraft 1900D plane *36.March 14, 2012: A Helicopter belonging to the Joint Task Force (JTF) 37.June 3rd 2012-DANA Aircraft crash *38. December 15, 2012, Nigeria Navy Helicopter, crashed in Bayelsa State, killing six on board, including Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and Andrew Owoye Azazi, former NSA

*Six of the crashes involved military helicopters or airplanes

PAGE 16—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

That C-130 Crash; 20 Years After (1)

BY JIDE AJANI

H

e was a Squadron Leader, SL, in the Nigerian Air Force.

That fateful Saturday afternoon of September 26, 1992, he had driven in the company of his junior brother, from the Air Force Base, Ikeja, to the Military/VIP Wing of the local airport.

There, a Hercules C-130 air plane was waiting for its human cargo.

The signs were ominous.

This was a plane that was supposed to have taken off the previous day, a Friday.

But it had developed a fault and, therefore, could not fly.

By the following day, it was reportedly fixed and the intending passengers returned to the airport for their flight to Kaduna.

For the SL, his brother returned to the base with his car, in the hope that the benefactor of the family would fly and land safely in Kaduna.

Almost all of those on board were students of the Senior Course 15, of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, AFCSC, Jaji, Kaduna. The list included 104 Army officers, 17 Naval officers, 17 Airforce officers, eight foreign officers, 11 Nigerian Air Force crew and nine others.

There were a few civilians who had been caused to join the free flight which turned out to be a flight of death.

The flight finally took off at about 4:15pm.

The brother to the SL was just taking a stroll in the Base when he noticed people in groups discussing in hushed tones.

At a time when the Global System of Mobile telecommunication, GSM, had not made its entry into Nigeria, it was difficult to have access to information.

The young man moved closer to one of the groups to eves-drop on their conversation only to learn that there was a problem with the flight which had left the Lagos airport.

According to the brother last Friday (he refused to put his name in print because of the litigation being pursued

by Femi Falana, SAN), "I rushed to the Officers' Mess that afternoon but found the place deserted.

"Our mother was in Ibadan at that time and because my brother was the bread winner of the family and the first child and first son, nobody could immediately relay the message to her.

"The truth really was that even the military authorities did not have any information to volunteer. Nobody knew what had happened other than that the control tower lost communication with the plane.

"That was how it happened.

"Worse still, the military authorities could not locate the spot where the plane had crashed. Men of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, were the first to reach the spot of the crash and this was 24hours after it hap-

pened. The military team arrived another 24hours later.

"Because of what happened, when we eventually told our mother, she broke down and never recovered. We moved her from one hospital to the other in the forlorn hope that she would stabilize. She never did.

"She died six months later".

The story of this family typifies what other families whose member died in that crash went through.

Most of those who died were bread winners of their families.

Some of them had very bright career prospects ahead. It was during the military era and noth-

Northern Christian Governors as endangered species

ing could have stopped a few of them from becoming military administrators or board members of choice government agencies but death ended all that.

That Sunday, reports had it that only 27 bodies could be recovered.

72 hours later, 56 bodies were recovered only for all the bodies to be accounted for nine days later.

Continued from page 15 Though Yakowa is seen as an epitome of fairness, in pursuit of peace and development of Kaduna State, some Christians in the state feel that he marginalised them to please Muslims, a notion that has been tested and disproved after his death.

Whether Christian of Muslim, what should matter to Northerners is voting into government a person with the qualities that Kukah has enumerated, somebody who can take advantage of the huge resources in the North to improve the situation of the people.

IN PART TWO, YOU WILL READ ABOUT THE RESPONSE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY; THE EFFORTS MADE SO FAR TO GET COMPENSATION FOR OFFICERS AND MEN ON NATIONAL DUTY: AND HOW THEIR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ABANDONED EVER SINCE

C – 130 CRASH VICTIMS LIST 1: ARMY:-Lt Colonels 1. S.A. Onipede N/2888 2. A.J. Ibiyeye N/33300 3. J.A. Agber N/2712 4. B.A. Ibanga N/3315 5. J.O. Okafor N/2803 6. G.O. Ikoli N/5402 7. S.K. Aladesuyi N/3259 LIST 2: ARMY:- Majors 1. C.D. Nwambuowo N/5587 2. E. Ezenwa N/3039 3. M.H. Leramoh N/2889 4. S.O. Yawus N/5956 5. S.S. Agada N/5975 6. E.O. Amechi-Okoro N/5861 7. O.O. Mba N/5945 8. E.J. Onwe N/3196 9. S. Bature N/6085 10. T. Zubair N/5465 11. F.U. Bassey N/6018 12. O.G. Akise N/3207 13. J. Shija N/3217 14. A.B. Famowei N/5936 15. A.A. Itodo N/6043 16. J.O. Okobo N/6047 17. K.A. Opgwu N/6058 18. M.S. Dambata N/6063 19. P.S. Stephen N/3389 20. S.O. Amaga N/6095 21. C.U.M. La’ah N/6092 22. I.A. Abolade N/6102 23. W. Adaa N/6112 24. E.A. Ushibe N/6207 25. J. Ugo N/3356 26. S. Abubakar N/3459 27. G. Josiah N/4362 28. Y. Aliyu N/3471 29. G. Ismaila N/3474 30. M.I. Ukeh N/3191 31. S.A. Jibunoh N/6173 32. I.U. Odache N/3482 33. I.E. Mauzu N/6181 34. P.O. Bamidele N/6185 35. I.D. Nock N/6187 36. D.S. Oyelola N/6186 37. L. Nyanayo N/6192 38. N. Obie N/6195 39. R.N. Nwankwo N/6197 40. C.T. Akpe N/6208 41. R. Okeowo N/6291 42. R.A. Olufe N/6292 43. E. Egoro N/3423 44. A.G. Jegede N/3443 45. A.H. Dombe N/3477

46. P. Yaro N/3488 47. A.Y. Abbas N/4221 48. C.O. Egharevba N/4222 49. F. Ogbebor N/5460 50. B.A. Anebi N/5461 51. G.O. Oyefi N/5467 52. I.K. Nwuke N/5470 53. V.S. Kure N/5483 54. J.A. Tokula N/5484 55. T. Abina N/5486 56. B. Kadiri N/5489 57. C. Mungu N/5502 58. A.N. Ebiringa N/5506 59. O.A. Ogunaike N/6032 60. B.B. Sadiq N/4028 61. S.O Gbenro N/4646 62. T.I. Adahada N/4747 63. C.E. Ogben N/5102 64. O. Babalola N/5115 65. E.W. Ekanem N/5474 66. C.T. Arowololu N/3216 67. M.S.Ogbeha 68. I.J.Raiya 69. D.O.Okoroji 70. M.A.Agoyi 71. V.U.Mukoro 72. A.E.Mshelia 73. J.A.Audu 74. S.A.Oisamoye 75. A. Bala 76. M.A.D.Badamasi 77. E. Ukagha 78. K.E.Osula 79. N.A.Kajero 80. B. Daranijo 81. M.O.Ajibola 82. U.A.M.Balami 83. S. Omakwu 84. A.O.Obiora 85. A.A.Kawonta 86. C. Otti 87. O.O.Olusanya 88. O.J.Mbaka 89. P. Iyayi 90. T.O.Ogunjobi 91. G.N.Nze 92. H. Onwuegbunam 93. M.A. Pindar 95. O. Adebayo 96. B.O. Potsha LIST 3: ARMY:- SGT 1. M. Bahagoo LIST 4: ARMY:- CIVILIAN

STAFF 1. O.B. Oshoodi – MOD 2. M.A. Abu (Mrs) – MOD 3. A. Okpe – Reporter.

LIST 5: AIR FORCE 1. Wg. Comdr. J.P. Alabesunu 2. Wg. Comdr. A.S. Mamadi 3. Sgn. Ldr. J.A. Adeiza 4. Flt. Lt. S.O. Adamu 5. WO. M.J. Wakala 6. P.S. Tarfa Saidu 7. WO. M.J. Datong 8. Sgt. A. Soyemi 9. Sgn. Ldr. Okon Okon Effiong 10. John Husainu Tela *11. K. Odubanjo 12. F.O. Akede 13. Habu Saidu 14. A. Duson 15. T.A. Clement 16. R.O. Yusuf 17. S.O. Oyerinde 18. N.O. Alege 19. M.T. Njidda 20. J.K. Osho 21. E.O. Ikwue 22. M.M. Gumel 23. A.A. Ndule 24. E.J. Ekpong 25. A.O. Atteh 26. O.Jaja (VideoCameraman) LIST 6: NAVY 1. Lt. Cdr. E. Obelen 2. K.A. Fauka Bello 3. S.O. Odusola 4. O. Shiejir 5. E.J. Gabriel 6. A.O. Ojekunle 7. K.O. Igwara 8. A.O.G. Aboruwa 9. S. Lasisi 10. A.A. Amaino 11. E.N. Okafor 12. T. Awoniyi 13. P. Asoro 14. P.N. Amangbo 15. O.O. Onabolu 16. J.O. Omokhuale 17. C.O. Ochigbono TOTAL: 146

SUNDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012— PAGE 17

Nobody can stop us from questioning President Jonathan —Mohammed, Reps spokesman

Mohammed...in the House, it is business unusual

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

Z

akari Mohammed is the Chair man, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs. In this chat, Mohammed speaks on the activities of the 7th Assembly. He also gives an insight into the frosty relationship between Mr President and the Green Chamber. Excerpts: How do you assess the 7th Assembly in the last 12 months of Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal leadership?

The 7th Assembly came to restore the hopes and aspirations of all Nigerians and we proved this point in January when we convened a plenary on a Sunday to quickly address the almost state of anarchy during the protest against the sudden withdrawal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

This development gave rise to the constitution of an adhoc committee on fuel subsidy monitoring regime that exposed the shoddy deals in that sector of our economy. Also, one glaring fact Nigerians must have realized by now is that this Assembly did not come with a barren mind.

We came with a strong resolute via the 7th Assembly Legislative Agenda to make laws that would promote Nigerians.

Input into constitution We did not stop our campaign of ensuring Nigerians are freed from the shackles of poverty. That is why when the Central Bank of Nigeria wanted to introduce the N5000 note, we halted it immediately it was made public. The CBN had told us that a cashless economy was in vogue, but the sudden intro-

duction of the N5000 note ran contrary to that policy and we stopped it because we knew it was not sustainable. The House took all these issues with all seriousness because we are equally accountable to those who sent us to represent them here and anything that runs foul of the rule of law had to be checkmated.

Also, for the first time in the history of this democracy, we took the issue of constitution review to the grassroots where all stakeholders made input into our constitution. This marked a watershed in the annals of constitution amendment in Nigeria. The 360 constituencies in the country had a feel of it and issues like state police, insecurity,abrogation of state INEC, autonomy of state assemblies, autonomy of local government areas, state

stepped in to ensure that 100 percent implementation is attainable to serve as basis for the 2013 budget. The House also strengthened its oversight function as all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government were made to stand on their feet. We made sure it was not business-as-usual. Rather, we focused on business unusual to achieve results from the MDAs. The Committee on Public Accounts this year alone treated the Auditor General’s annual reports in the last four years.

The House did all of these despite the limitations that faced us particularly when we had to slash our earnings by over 63percent. We went on a self-cleansing mission to send a message to all and sundry that we are here to work. This has given rise to different insinuations from several quarters that the House is broke. But we are not complaining, rather we have made laws for the betterment of Nigerians. Remember that we swore to on oath to protect the interest of all Nigerians. This oath of allegiance is the bond we have with our constituents.

The House would do anything to ensure that we do not derail in carrying out our primary function of making popular laws. This year, we embarked on a nationwide oversight tour of all Federal Government projects. This tour of opened our eyes to so many things that are not being properly done. As you aware also, it was the first of its kind to the extent that journalists were incorpo-

We are equally accountable to our constituents and we can never allow Project Nigeria to fail, there is need for us to synergise to allow Project Nigeria to survive. We have a right to ask Mr President questions on behalf of our constituents

C M Y K

creation, our educational system, empowerment of women and other various national issues were exhaustively discussed. We equally made it clear that the issue of referendum for now cannot be discussed because we have the National Assembly that is constitutionally empowered to carry out legislative functions. As you know there is no document in this world that is perfect, all we can do is to periodically review it.

Business unusual There is also the issue of the 2012 budget that was abysmally implemented, we

rated into it for proper reportage.

Do you think the Tambuwal Legislative Agenda is still very much on course?

It has not derailed, rather, it is waxing stronger on a daily basis. It is the social contract we signed with the people of Nigeria. Tambuwal has done everything possible to live above board.

He has exhibited exemplary leadership.

Our legislative agenda is like the Bible and the Koran, we religiously follow it.

The House adhoc committee report

on fuel subsidy did not portray the 7 th Assembly in good light. What really happened?

You do not have to be told, the House committee report exposed the illegalities in that sector perpetuated by a selected few to the admiration of all Nigerians. You also know that we went a step further by ensuring that the erring officer at a time was suspended pending when investigations into the allegations are cleared by the House committee in charge of such matters. And you also know that there were a lot of under table dealings that the report exposed. But like I said earlier , there are people out there that do not want this report to see the light at day. The House made all the necessary background that led to the whole noise. Look at what is happening to the Ribadu-led committee report; is it not generating the same reactions today? Both reports are pointers to the fact that all is not well with the sector and we cannot be cowed by cheap blackmail from those who have plundered our country.

At a time, the House invited President Goodluck Jonathan to come and brief legislators on how he is handling security in Nigeria, but, till date, the president has ignored the invitation. How does the House take it?

The president of the United States every now and then briefs the Congress on key issues, ours should not be an exception. We are equally accountable to our constituents and we can never allow Project Nigeria to fail, there is need for us to synergise to allow Project Nigeria to survive. We have a right to ask Mr President questions on behalf of our constituents.

Mind you we did not summon him, we simply invited him to come and rub minds with us and give account of what has been happening to security in the country. The whole essence of his invitation is to see how we can collaborate with him to ensure that the lives of Nigerians and our properties are secure. For instance, when he (president) requested for soldiers to help during the Edo State election, we supported him despite the fact that some of our members kicked against the deployment of soldiers to the state.

We had no option but to throw our weight behind him because lives and properties are involved.

PAGE 18—SUNDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012

E X C L U S I V E :

The kidnap syndicate in Delta

BY EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, South-South

K

IDNAPPING (read man-stealing) has metamorphosed into such a very big industry in Delta State that it currently has a loose association, comprising graduates and undergraduates with an organized set-up and leadership.

Our investigations showed that it is no longer a case of the moneymaking kidnappers abducting and looking for where to hide their captives from security agents. There are four major departments in the industry. The first is the abduction squad, which kidnaps victims.

The second is the transportation/receiver unit, which is in-charge of shepherding the victims to secret locations and keeping them in hideouts.

The third group is the negotiation department, which negotiates ransom with relations of victims and others; the fourth is the security department. The duty of the fourth group is to provide round-theclock security in the dens and other hideaways where victims are kept until ransom is paid for their release. All these groups are armed.

An insider confided in Sunday Vanguard that the kingpin of the kidnapping syndicate at the moment in Delta State is one Kelvin from Kokori, Ethiope-East Local Government Area.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, confirmed the restricted information in an interview in Asaba on Tuesday, saying, “Kelvin is the most dangerous kidnapper in Delta State and we are looking for him”.

Aduba said Kelvin was training kidnappers and was recruiting graduates and undergraduates, as well as Okada (motorcycle) riders into his underworld team.

The commissioner asserted that the kingpin has so many kidnap gangs and the Gov Emmanuel Delta State Commissioner of police have been finding it Uduaghan Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba difficult to track him, while practically all Okada men in that axis are his inforonly seize footballers, the former chair of the mants. judges, teachers, lawyers, defunct Delta Waterways It was alleged that journalists, they abduct Security Committee, DWSC, Kelvin’s parents know children for ransom.

Warri, Chief Ayiri Emami, at about the involvement of One of the governors, who Ubeji area is scaring kidnaptheir son in kidnapping , as saw the dangerous trend pers from using Jeddo as an they reside in the same early in the day was Dr. operational base. neighbourhood, but, Emmanuel Uduaghan. He because of the modus quickly set up the defunct operandi and influence of How it started DWSC on assumption of the syndicate, it has been Kidnapping as an industry office to tackle the menace, very difficult for the police to is a new development in the which was principally make a breakthrough, as state. As a weapon in the committed on the waterways. information always leaked Niger-Delta struggle, it was However, the kidnappers information on imminent introduced by militants, who shifted base from the creek to crackdown to him. kidnapped foreign nationals land, which is outside the Kidnapping nerve center to draw attention to the mandate of the committee.

Our findings corroborated plight of the people of the The DWSC was quietly by a dependable source region. It was supported dissolved and a joint force of showed that the operational because the purpose was not soldiers, police, navy and headquarters of the kidnapself-centered. Unfortunately, other security services, put ping industry in the state some criminals in the strugin place to battle kidnappers now is Kokori. Victims gle veered into commercial on land. abducted from several parts kidnapping, that is kidnapThe battle has not been of the state are whisked ping for money. They kideasy, as the kidnappers there for the next stage of napped both expatriates and developped sophisticated the business. blacks, including politicians ways of carrying out their Other alleged hot dens of and the affluent. People did operations whenever security kidnappers are Ekampreme, not raise eyebrows, as they operatives inched closer.

Agbarho and Ovwian, all in even said it was good for the the Delta Central Senatorial victims. Now, kidnappers not This, probably, explains why the police have not been able District. The presence of C M Y K

to catch Kelvin, the alleged most dangerous kidnapper in the state, even when they know his base to be Kokori.

Top officials Some top officials, within and outside government, are said to be involved in the kidnapping industry because they make money from it.

These persons have their gangs and act as intermediaries between government and kidnappers when the demand for ransom is placed. Politicians even use kidnappers against themselves. The officials involved will not want the industry to fold up because it is their major source of income.

What goes for them is that because of their status in the society, people do not easily suspect that it is their line of business and they get patronage from government unsuspectingly.

They join in the search for kidnappers whenever they are invited, but they know what they are benefitting.

Smaller gangs Besides Kelvin, there are smaller gangs of kidnappers scattered in Delta, but they are not structured. Sometimes, one or two bad boys agree to kidnap one or two persons and make money and they put their plan into action.

There is also a kidnap gang in the state suspected to be led by the younger brother of an ex-militant leader shot dead by the Joint Task Force in Bayelsa State, in the first quarter of this year. The gang is still operates on the waterways of the state and was alleged to have kidnapped the two Lebanese workers of Setraco

Construction Company, recently, at Gbaregolor in Ughelli South Local Government Area.

Up till date, the gang that kidnapped the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Hope Eghagha, and kept him for up to three weeks in their custody after killing his police orderly and injuring his driver, has not been identified, but it is believed to be led by one Bukumo and David.

Kidnap leaders in detention However, the police have arrested some of those who initiated profit-making kidnapping on land in Delta.

A number of them are currently on remand in the prisons for different offences.

What is happening, nevertheless, is that that while they are incarcerated, their boys are carrying on, and under a new structure with Kelvin as godfather.

One of those detained, according to sources, is Rufus, alias Infinity. He is in detention in the Federal Prisons, Okere, near Warri, and was alleged to be the leader of the kidnap gang that struck in Kaduna, Abuja, Kogi and other states. The gang whisked their victims to Delta State and hid them in a privately owned hotel, from where they called their families, demanded and obtained ransoms in naira and dollars.

That time, they kidnapped outside the state and brought their victims to the state for ransom. Infinity’s boys are believed to be still intact and carrying on with the business even though he is in detention.

C M Y K

SUNDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012—PAGE 19

Army officer, oil union officials fingered in kidnap/tanker hijacks Police, military disagree on culpability of corporal

BY EMMA AMAIZE,

Regional Editor, South-South

A

syndicate specializing in hijacking loaded petroleum products in Delta State, kidnapping owners/drivers of affected trucks and holding them hostage until the products are illegitimately sold have been exposed by the police.

The gang, which allegedly parades a serving soldier and five officials of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, as the operators have been in the money-spinning business for more than one year, until recently when men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, burst it.

Information revealed that the syndicate owned a master key with which they steal vehicles and the members were hibernating in Ughelli, Agbarho, Effurun and Orerokpe, all in Delta State.

The notorious gang had made life agonizing on the Ughelli/Warri and Warri-Abraka-Agbor highways uncomfortable for tanker drivers.

They used signposts to flag down tanker drivers because they were aware of the rules guiding NUPENG, which makes it mandatory for the drivers to stop for checks, while the involvement of the army officer in the syndicate makes buyers in Benin City to think that the business was legal.

Luck, however, ran out of them when the SARS received information about their escapades and arrested one of them, identified as Kelly, who, on interrogation, spilled the beans. Police detectives trailed and later seized other members of the gang, including Shedrack, Austin, Uruemu, Odafe and the army officer.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, confirmed the bursting of the kidnapping/tanker hijack gang, “The gang members under interrogation confessed and named a serving army corporal and one Mamus, now at large, supplying arms to the gang”, Aduba said.

“Items recovered from them include one red Volkswagon Vento car and another blue Volkswagon Vento car, which the gang used for operation,” he added.

Resume of gang members Kelly: Investigations showed that Kelly, from Agbarho in Ughelli North local government area, is, according to security sources, a truck driver.

*Soldier among kidnappers?

...Oil union officials in kidnapping web

He was attached to the monitoring team of NUPENG and assigned the responsibility of checking products diversion and hoarding in filling stations, but stopped working with the team in January when he found the kidnapping/hijacking business to be more profitable. He was residing in Orerorokpe when the business started.

Shedrack : Sources say he hails from Agbarho and is a driver by profession. Austin: He is said to be an indigene of Effurun in Ughelli South local government and was said to be a house painter.

Uruemu: The suspect is allegedly from Eku in Ughelli South local government and is a dealer in petroleum products. Kelly, sources said, used to be his driver.

Odafe : He is allegedly from Ekwere in Agbarho and holds

an Ordinary National Diploma in civil engineering.

John: He is identified as an army corporal attached to the 3 Battalion, Effurun. This army officer was alleged to be supplying arms to the gang and initiated people into the gang.

Escapades A source familiar with the exploits of the syndicate said that, sometime, last year, Kelly, Shedrack, John, Odafe and one Ojo ambushed a tanker loaded with kerosene at Oha old Bridge. The army officer, who, reportedly, wore his army uniform, ordered the vehicle to stop and, when it did, the driver and conducted were abducted and he (the army officer) drove the vehicle to Benin City in company of Kelly.

The “hostage” was allegedly ordered into Ojo’s car on

that day while Sunday Vanguard was informed that the syndicate sold the product in Benin City. They drove the tanker back to and parked it along Eku/Sapele Road.

After that, they brought out the driver and his conductor and dropped them very close to the tanker on the said road.

Investigations carried out by the police showed the product was sold to one Gabi and Godspower and trans-loaded into another tanker in a compound in Benin City. Odafe admitted to the police that he got N75,000 from this operation.

Master key Sunday Vanguard was told that, on a certain day, four members of the gang were returning from Lagos for an operation with the army corporal when they ran out of fuel and the corporal left and came back later with one of the members in a Camry car.

When asked how they got the vehicle, he said somebody gave him a master key with with they opened the vehicle.

Kelly also admitted to police detectives that he once stole a Camry car at Orerokpe and sold, to a car dealer in Benin City.

More exploits We also gathered that sometime, this year, Kelly, Austin and Timothy hijacked a truck and sold the product in Benin City at N65 per liter. One of them got N35,000 as his share from the operation.

In addition, the gang hijacked another tanker at Koko junction and took the driver to a bush before Shedrack, Timothy and Kelly drove the vehicle to Benin City to sell the product. The operation yielded N30,000 each to the syndicate.

Hullabaloo The army corporal was said

to have admitted membership of the gang to the police, but a top army officer told Sunday Vanguard that the police was telling a cock and bull story.

He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the 3 Battalion, Effurun, had since arrested the army personnel that was mentioned, he is languishing in cell since the allegation was made against him”.

“However, when the police came with other suspects that were arrested, he was paraded and they could not identify him. They were saying that person that was their accomplice had a tribal mark, but the soldier in question does not have a tribal mark. You see, there is doubt as to his culpability and we do not want to punish an innocent person wrongly.”

The officer explained that the army authorities would not cover any personnel involved in shady practices, hence the soldier that accusing finger was pointed at was arrested, but the allegation has not been proved. A senior police officer, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard on the development, said, “Whoever spoke to you on the army side is standing the truth on the head. The army corporal was identified by members of the syndicate as their member, he is the one that was bringing guns and he facilitated their operation with his army uniform.

“It is because he is in uniform that the syndicate found it very easy to carry out their nefarious activities until they were caught. The army said they were carrying out orderly room trial and the suspects in our custody identified the soldier. We have asked them to hand him over to us for prosecution, but they are still holding on to him.

“How can they say that there is doubt when he (suspect) admitted to the police that he went to Orerokpe to meet Kelly for the Orerokpe truck hijack. He was the one that took the truck loaded with diesel to Benin City, after which he was given N120,000.

“He also admitted going to Benin City with the other suspects, but denied stealing any of the two Camry cars from Orerokpe and Benin City and disposing them in Benin City”.

NUPENG validates existence of gang Investigations also showed that the police visited NUPENG office in Ekpan, near Warri, where officials confirmed that several tankers were hijacked and drivers taken hostage and robbed by an unknown gang.

Following the revelations, the police were able to obtain some case files concerning a number of hijack incidents from the Divisional Police Officers in Isiokolo and Abraka, which revealed the owners of two of the trucks stolen to be Messrs. Emmanuel Nwafor and Ndukwe A.U. Ndukwe.

The cost of the stolen kerosene was put at N2.8 million, but the owners of the diesel products could not be located.

PAGE 20—SUNDAY VANGUARD,DECEMBER 23, 2012

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

Peace: The thorns in our flesh View-Point M

C M Y K

ERRY Christmas in advance’ is the salutation that ends most conversations these days as the Christian world prepares to mark the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Yes, that word ‘Peace’ is much cherished by most human beings and most countries. One of the reasons the United Nations Organization was to promote peace among nations, and within nations.

Still, peace seems elusive, as there are conflicts in almost every region, and every country in the world. Our country is not left out this, even though many Nigerians are peace-loving and they do want peace with which to carry on with their lives.

That was the system my generation and several after me, were born into. For decades, many cities and towns were cosmopolitan and ethnic/religious groups interacted without any clash or rancour. You were free to go live even in the most remote village anywhere in the country, and ply whatever trade you were engaged in. Unless you were a particularly troublesome person, you could live there with your family, and establish your roots there; learning and imbibing the language and culture of your hosts. There wasn’t much money in the system then, and there were criminal activities of course, but not on the scale they are now, because we were not yet consumed with selfishness, greed, and the get-rich-quickly-by-any-means attitude. We still had respect for the human life.

Things began to fall apart in the midsixties and this led to the civil war which unsettled the majority of the people.

When it ended, peace began to return gradually and you could still go live anywhere in the country, but that trust that we had in one another was wearing away, and there were areas where you couldn’t feel totally safe. Life was still bearably peaceful till the turn of the century, but we could all sense that peace is going downhill, and this isn’t due solely to clashes and unrest.

Something that has been threatening peace in this country for quite some time now, is the violence unleashed on us by all categories of people in uniform. I don’t know what it is that turns seemingly reasonable citizens into tyrants once they’re in uniform. Being a government uniformed person seems to give the impunity to rough-handle fellow Nigerians.

The other week, there was a very heavy traffic build-up on the Illupeju side of the Apapa/Oshodi expressway, due to a trailer that had fallen on its side and blocked two lanes. It was one of those frustrating situations when you hardly move at all, and it was a survival of the fittest. As we stood still, suddenly there was this high-pitched siren behind us.

In no time, some uniformed officials jumped down from a pilot vehicle and began to hit viciously at vehicles with the butt of their guns and heavy sticks, telling motorists to make way for their convoy of vehicles. The fact that the road was jammed-packed with vehicles and there was no room to make way didn’t stop their unreasonable violence.

They dented several vehicles severely, including the one I was in, and somehow forced a path for their ‘oga’, and the fleet of vehicles accompanying him.

vehicles. That isn’t fair at all.

The other environmental Saturday, a relation of mine arrived at the MM International airport at 4.30 am. His driver was already there to take him to his residence in Ikoyi. They got to the foot of the

3rd Mainland bridge at Oworonshoki at 6 am. They were stopped by two LASTMA officials who told them that there was an accident on the bridge and they should wait for them to receive an all-clear signal from their colleagues on the scene of the accident before continuing their journey. My relation reminded them when it was six-thirty that they would have to leave in order to be off the road by 7am.

The officials assured them that they won’t be arrested because their officials would know that the accident was responsible for their presence on the road. Just before 7 am, two LASTMA officials came up from nowhere to ‘arrest’ my relation and his driver for violating the environmental sanitation law. Frantically my relation looked round for those who had asked them not to proceed on the bridge. They had quietly vanished. Their explanation about an accident on the bridge was not believed, and they were carted off.

You can imagine the rest. What a pity! These unholy acts attract evil to a nation, and we all suffer.

The relevant arms of government should call their officials to order.

They can’t pretend they’re unaware of all these high-handedness.

The various uniformed people should be ordered to stop unjust harassment and arrest of citizens. Our human rights should be respected.

The way things are, it’s like we’re sitting on a volcano that can erupt at any time. With the frequent unrest in the country, escalated criminal activities, high unemployment, poor business, and high costs of living, care has to be taken that things don’t get totally out of control.

We can’t afford another war. Desperate people can be pushed to desperate reactions.

Our rulers should do more to protect citizens and improve the quality of our lives. We deserve a better life than the one we’re exposed to at the moment. The stress from all angles is getting too much.

Helen Ovbiagele Woman Editor

Our rulers should do more to protect citizens and improve the quality of our lives. We deserve a better life than the one we’re exposed to at the moment. The stress from all angles is getting too much When their back-up van came up, they jumped into it and left.

The drivers of the affected vehicles were too numbed by the incident to react in any way. What could they have done? They just sat in their vehicles until the mayhem was over. What a country! I couldn’t understand why those officers had to destroy citizens’ vehicles to make way for their boss, when the motorists had not deliberately blocked the road. The violence was pointless. They weren’t on a battle field.

With such incidents frequently reported by the media, one expected the ‘oga’ they were making way for to warn them against using violence. Whoever it was just sat in the darkened vehicle looking on. As it were, we had all wound up our windows and locked our doors because hoodlums were all over the place, waiting to pounce on motorists. Fear was on every face as we waited for the traffic to move.

That violence in a time of peace was unnecessary and it could have led to an unrest had the motorists protested, because the hoodlums would have used the occasion to start robbing and beating up motorists. Violence would have spread to nearby Anthony Village and Gbagada, down to Ikorodu road, with looting and burning. Thank God those motorists stayed calm. They would have to look for money to repair the damage done to their

(07036819426)

Runway to Red Carpet Maria Sharapova in Tanya Taylor Spring

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 21

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

(07036819426)

When you cage children, they abuse freedom—Chineze, youth counsellor

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA A mother of five, three of whom are undergraduates, Mrs.Chineze Ajoku, believes that children are more likely to turn out right if given some measure of freedom while growing up. The Head of Youth Department of the Roses Ministry, a faith-based non-profit organization, she spoke exclusively to Vista Woman during a recent annual youth seminar put together by the Roses Ministry in Lagos. A graduate of English Language with a Diploma in Secretarial Administration, Mrs.Chimezie Ajoku is the MD/CEO of Cinet Bridal in Lagos.

S

OME parents claim it’s always diffi cult to understand young people; what has been your own experience?

It’s not easy working with youths, but for me, it has been interesting because I’m a very friendly person. I have four teenagers, and I’m very close to them. We mix freely, dance, sing, joke, and do all sorts of things. Before you can penetrate the lives of young people, the truth is, you have to be their friend. So, they get close to me naturally. That’s why I always encourage mothers to get close to their children because that’s the only time they can know about their problems. You can’t know someone’s problems when you’re so distant. I have a set of twin boys in the university; one is a member of a musical group and the other is a footballer playing defence.

I give them all the moral support instead of preventing them from honing their skills. In the same way, I make sure they are serious with their academics! I’m able to guide them this way because they are free with me and I know their activities at almost every point. If I were the sort of parent that would warn them against their talents, they would always sneak out without my knowledge! I remember when they had to attend a party organized by their mates after their graduation from secondary school. I allowed them and directed one of their aunts whose house was nearer the venue to go pick them after the party. To be sure they were all together, I would talk to the aunt on phone and then tell her to give the phone to them. Most times, when you fail to give such freedom to young people, when they enter university or go far away from you, they will engage in all sorts of things because they never had the exposure! When you’re too strict with children, they some tend to behave like late Michael Jackson; when they are old, they will go back to those things they could not do when they were young. So, you allow them go into every crucial stage so that they don’t miss out. My own parents were liberal and they always trusted me. Still, I didn’t go haywire. When you cage children too much, they tend to misbehave when they are given the slightest freedom. My 19 year old daughter who’s in the university once put the picture of her male friend on her Black Berry profile. I also use a BB because of my kids, so, when I saw the picture, I made a joke about it, that sent her a signal to remove the picture! You see, I had to do that sensibly and like a friend, instead of trying

eral background and it did not ruin me. Instead, it made me a better person.

Allowing your child to attend parties does not mean the child is being spoilt.

Attending parties does not even mean a child keeps an intimate boyfriend or girlfriend. Ideally, girls should have friends that are boys and boys too should have female friends so they are all able to understand one another. When I was growing up, we had family friends and every now and then, we had parties! I transfer these to my children because I feel it is a fair way of raising children.

I lost my mum at the age of 14, but I still remember vividly all the vital things she taught me because we were very close. The popular writer, Ben Carson, expatiated this in one of his books where he talked about the upbringing he got from his mother.

What informed the theme of this annual youth seminar?

The main theme is “The Challenges of Growing Up”, and we know there are lots of challenges associated with growing up. Like I said, I have four teenagers at home, and I know what it means to be a teenage. Each year, The Roses Ministry designs subthemes. The sub-theme for 2010 was on sexually transmitted diseases because we observed that too many Mrs.Chimezie Ajoku....You can’t know someone’s problems when you’re so distant. young people sleep around without taking precautions! The Mass Medical Mission collaborated with us on that. Last year, we talked about abortion because we also observed a high prevalence. This year, we’re looking at peer pressure, dating, alcohol abuse, and others. We had to also talk to them about alcohol because alcohol abuse and smoking start from teenage years and could best be addressed at that stage. We got a doctor who is also a pastor to give a talk on these; teaching them both medically and spiritually.

Background My father was a medical doctor who had his own hospital, so, I have some measure of understanding about STDs and other health hazards because I had the interest. I studied English Language and also got a diploma in Secretarial Adminplinarians and dictators to get the best istration. From my knowledge, I teach my to be a dictator. children as best as I could, and also try But do you know that many out of their child? to extend this knowledge to other young It depends on upbringing.

People parents are of the school of thought that they must be disci- have different backgrounds. I had a lib- people through the Roses Ministry.

Most times, when you fail to give such freedom to young people, when they enter university or go far away from you, they will engage in all sorts of things because they never had the exposure!

C M Y K

PAGE 22—SUNDAY VANGUARD , DECEMBER 23, 2012

Should I marry him now?

Dear Rebecca

I

am 25 and in my second year in the university. I hope to get married soon. I would have loved to graduate first before getting married but the guy who has proposed to me says he can’t wait. My parents have accepted him and he is saying we should get married this year. He is in his midthirties. Aunty, he met me as a virgin and I’m still one. He has promised not to have sex with me until we are married. I feel it won’t be easy to get married while in school.

The demands will be too much.

Please, I need your advice.

Suzanne, Enugu State.

REPL Y REPLY

T

here is not mention of affection or love either on your side or the man’s, in your letter. I know that at 25, there could be anxiety for a girl to get married, and it seems wise to grab a marriage proposal and get married, but are you sure you and this man are well-suited to be man and wife?

Could it be that you got carried way with this decision because your parents find him suitable? Marriage is a tough business which gathers problems along the way , so it is important to go into it with a clear head and with eye wide open, and with as few problems as possible. Is the man your ideal man ? Would you be proud of him as your husband and father of your children? Are you able to speak your mind to each other, or, does he make decisions concerning you both, without asking your view? Does he feel you’re too young and inexperienced for him to have meaningful discussions with?

Does he prefer to plan with your parents? At 25, you are a woman and your view should be sought by the man in your life, particularly the man who want to marry you. If communication between you were alright, it would not have been necessary for you to write to ask for advice as to whether you would be able to cope well with your studies when you marry. This is something both of you would have sat down to thrash out in a heart-toheart talk. You would tell him your fear, and both of you would arrive at a

compromise. I suppose he doesn’t want the wedding postponed till you leave the university, as he would be close to forty then and that sounds old to him.

Yes , marriage could disturb your studies as sexual intercourse would normally take place as you would be husband and wife then, and might get pregnant. It would be ridiculous to insist on remaining a virgin if you are married. In our culture ,a bride is expected to get pregnant immediately after the wedding.

The strain and stress of studies may cause a delay and you both would begin to panic and this would affect your studies.

On the other hand, pregnancy could be very inconvenient when combined with academic work and you might give birth at a crucial time, like during examination period’ A way out of this could be for the man to use the condom to prevent pregnancy until you leave the university, but would he agree to this, and would his people understand?

The two of you are the main actors, so , try to iron things out. If you’re not used to doing this yet, confide your fears to your mum and she could speak to him.

However, my strong advice is that you should thoroughly study and understand the man who is dating you for marriage, to find out if he’s the one for you.

Look at the totality of his person. Do you like what you see on the exterior that is, his appearance, cleanliness, the way he moves and speaks, his character, and does he respect you and your people? Do you respect him and his people? Would you like to be part of his family? Is he kind, responsible, patient, tolerant, courteous, and with a good sense of humour.

Can you bear his touch?

If he meets 80% of what you want in a man, accept him, and try to adjust to the 20% imperfection. While our parents may advise us in our choice of a marital partner, accept only who you feel is right for you., and not go by what your parents say is best for you. After all, you’re the one who will live with the man, not your parents.

The ideal thing is to prayerfully ask God to direct the right man to marry you to you, at His own time. If after much prayer your heart chooses this man, then accept his proposal of marriage, and discuss when the wedding can conveniently hold without adversely affecting your studies.

I love both of them Dear Rebecca

I

am a 24 year old un dergraduate and I am in love with two men who are both 28 years old. I met the first man when I was 20 and he de-flowered me. All along, he has been nice until recently when he started beating me. He drinks alcohol, wants sex all the time and gets angry easily. He believes in charms and has chosen not to work. He never attended a secondary school and he’s always talking of traveling out of the country. I sincerely love him but I don’t like the way he behaves . The other man is a schoolmate . We are

both in the same higher institution . He is a quiet person. He seems promising and talks about our education and future . He wants to meet my parents and tell them he wants to marry me but I have been preventing him from doing so, though I love him. I want to settle down as soon as possible.

Aunty, what should I do?

Who should I marry?

Patience, Kano.

REPL Y REPLY

S

HELVE all talk of marriage at present. At 24, there is no need to be

anxious to settle down in marriage . Girls marry in their thirties these days , and by the grace of God , they have children and keep a happ y home. I

know that many girls think it is nice to wed as soon as they leave the university , but it is best to seek the face of God in this and let him choose a partner for you.

A common reason for marriage break up is that the participants do not take the trouble to study and understand each other . Some girls just want to bear ‘Mrs’ at all costs and they plunge into a marriage without a proper knowledge of who they are taking on and what they are in for.

When they discover the

I want to change her preference!

Dear Rebecca

I

am 21 years old and in love with an immature lesbian.

She didn’t want to tell me but anyway, I got to know. Forget how I came to know. At a point , she wanted to tell me but decided not to, thinking that it will change my love for her. To me, it makes no difference; lesbian or not.

Aunty, how do I change her beyond any sexual leaning she may have? I believe you can help me.

Simon, Asaba.

REPL Y REPLY

I

don’t know about the girl being imma ture, but you sound terribly immature, arrogant and annoying, yourself! If you would

not disclose how you came to the conclusion that she is a lesbian, and an immature one, then why did you write to ask for advice? You said you want to change her to make her know that you love her whether she’s a lesbian or not. I know you are young and perhaps do not know how to express yourself well, but you have to be careful about the words you use . Lesbianism is a stigma in our society, so if you call someone a lesbian and cannot prove that she is one, she can sue you in court for slander and defamation of character.

She can claim a lot of money as damages from you, saying that you have ruined her love life, and her life, by saying that that she prefers women to men in romantic relationships. She would say she may end

up as a spinster because you labelled her lesbian , and that even her friends do not want associate with her any more, and this has affected her work life and health.

More , and more Nigerians are becoming aware of their rights and claiming them. There are lawyers who are human rights activists, who may readily take up the case free of charge to prove a point, and to attract publicity.

If you’re dating someone whose ways you don’t agree with, then end the relationship.

It’s not possible to change another human being, unless the Holy Spirit of God steps in and changes the person’s heart concerning that issue.

true situation , they get out, disrupting the lives of the children in the marriage . Now, no matter how much you think you love the first man, you shouldn’t marry him.

He was nice when he was still hopeful of a rosy future abroad like many young people, but as he gets older, despair and frustration set in as he cannot achieve his aim.

Hoping to go abroad is not a career and he is not getting any younger, and besides, he has no job. I’m sure, deep down, he wishes he had paid more attention to his educational career and gone on to the university . Seeing you making progress in your educational career makes him more frustrated , hence his aggression towards you in beating you up, and making incessant demands for sex. He wants to humiliate you so that he can feel in control. Poor man’ quietly see less and less of him until the relationship fizzles out.

Don’t go to him again or he might beat you to death in his drunken anger. If he is threatening you, report him to his parents and his friends who I’m sure know you.

You’re probably clinging to him because he deflowered you and he knows that you had not slept around, but you have to be realistic. It would be disastrous if you marry a non-performer. Your life would be hell. After leaving him, don’t flaunt the other man around.

Spend more time studying him. Look beyond him and his quietness. How are his people? Would you like to become a part of his family?

Is he kind, considerate , patient, responsible, and with a sense of h u m o r ?

To be quite frank, if your desire is to get married soon, perhaps as soon as you leave the university, I don’t think this man will be ready to marry you then. Unless his parents are wealthy, I don’t see how he can marry you soon, because he’s still studying, and he needs to finish, do youth service, get a job and save up for a place of his own, before thinking of settling down.

Even if you find him your ideal man to marry, can you wait that long? Is there a guarantee that he will marry you at the end of the day. Won’t he consider you too old for him then?

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

SUNDAY Vanguard , DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 23

Sex Education: Does it need the shock factor?

P

ARENTS giving their young chil dren sex education has been the brunt of so many hilarious jokes.

Portrayed mostly as bumbling parents they stumble on stories about the birds and the bees that most often, it the kids who put their parents out of their misery by telling them the facts that often get stuck in the parents throats!

A few months ago ‘Layo, a retired military officer was relaxing at home when her daughter dropped by with her two daughters begging ‘Layo to keep an eye on her grand daughters for the whilst Yvonne the daughter attended a crucial business meeting.

‘I’d already planned what I wanted to do for the evening ‘Layo told me, •gand that included watching a romantic soft porn movie that I recently brought back, and giving myself a whopping orgasm in the process. I wasn’t pleased to see Yvonne to be honest.

Lately, because I just retired from public service sort of assumed I would be sitting at home trying to kill time. She seems to always want one favour or the other. I looked at my grand-daughters after she’d left. They ’re both 11 and nine and at this day and age, they must have heard about sex. So

I slot in my soft porn with their eyes glued to the screen. They seemed to find it fascinating so I relaxed.

“The film was still on when their mother came in, saw what was on telly and nearly had a heart attack! ‘What the heck is going on mum?’, she shrieked. ‘The girls are just babies, how could you make them watch this filth?’ I saw red! I reminded her that at their age, I’d already tried to tell her what sexual intercourse entailed, and if I still remembered, she told me snootily that they’d already been taught at the fancy school we sent her to. So why was she now bursting her veins over a mere soft porn? She would have happily thumped me if she could get away with it. That would put paid to her bringing the kids for me to baby-sit.

“I believe today’s parents have all the help they need in educating their children about sex.

I wasn’t that lucky. I attended an all-girls primary and secondary Catholic schools. There were three of us and we all had a very strict upbringing. We were not allowed to go out with the opposite sex until we got to the University (which was okay, since I did not like the boys in

other secondary schools).

Mom never really spoke about sex, except negatively. We did have a semblance of sex education in the secondary school I attended. By my Mom’s theory, sex was what you only did if you were married, and only with your husband, when he wanted it. It actually sounded dirty the way she described it. Well, fortunately for my only sister, she was a virgin when she got married.

She was the ‘good girl’.

I, not sorry to say, lost my virginity when I was in year one at the university to someone I thought I was in love with.

“Whilst snooping around my things at home, mom discovered some condoms and was

quite infuriated. She advised I had better fake being a virgin if I wanted a good man, or my husband might think that I was a loose girl. So, year after year, date after date, I faked being a virgin until when I was 21 and decided the hell with virginity. If a guy could fool around, why couldn’t I? I decided there and then my mom was wrong as every man didn’t think the same way she did.

My mother also tried to instil her ideas on masturbation and oral sex in me. Her idea was pure and simple - only prostitutes did those things!

“As a result, every time I did masturbate, I would feel very guilty, and swear that that was the last time I would ever do it. But it felt so good, es-

pecially when a friend hinted my mom’s back massager could help.

Even though it took some time to slowly get over the guilt whenever I had sex or masturbated, it wasn’t until when I met the man that I was to marry that I finally realise\hat all of it was all right, that there was not a thing wrong with sex or fantasies. At first I did feel awkward telling him anything, but with his encouragement, understanding and ability to help me explore new subjects, I have come a long way ...

“When I lost my husband ten years ago, I really missed the sex, but thanks to his liberal attitude towards sex, I resorted to masturbation

after discovering most men I dated after his death were rubbish! I guess that our upbringing really can have traumatic effects on our lives.

All that we need to do is to take that first step and really be ourselves.

Women are human and have sexual feelings too.

Don’t let any man ever fool you otherwise - we need our sexual gratification too!”

Emma, a father of three thought the best way to teach his ten-year old son about sex was to try and bond with him. •gOn Saturday morning when I wanted to have my bath, realised my son wanted to have one too,” he said. •gSo I took him to the bathroom with me, took his pyjamas off before taking off my clothes. His eyes became rounded as he stared at my willie. All of a sudden, he rushed out of the door, yelling to his mom that a bad black spider was attacking my willie!

It took a lot of explaining to assure him that what he just witnessed was normal and that when he got older, he would experience the same thing!”

I guess the best way to tell your children about the ‘birds and the bees’ is when they ’re good and ready. But how do you know when they really are?!

08052201867(Text Only) File name: Sunday 1 Date: 14/12/2012.

Solution to excess body fat at Yuletide

F

AT is a necessary component of the human organism.

It serves as a source of energy; you need it to

maintain proper body heat when the surrounding atmosphere takes a dip in temperature; it serves as a carrier of Vitamin A, D, E and K and it is also a source of energy.

It is the excess of fat that is dangerous. With too much of fat there obtains the situation where there is not enough skin area for the body to regain its optimum temperature when there has been some vigorous activity.

The fatter the person the quicker it takes for the body ’s temperature to rise and the longer it takes it to cool off.

While the lean individual can race up a flight of stairs with very little effort, the same activity at the same pace

C M Y K

will almost kill a fat person.

A fat person pants too quickly in the body’s attempt to maintain the correct body heat.

The action of the lungs is tied to that of the heart. When you have to breathe faster, the heart naturally beats faster. Too fast a heart rate, and the heart itself is denied of enough oxygenated blood for its own upkeep.

The picture is clearer now as to why the fatter the person, the worse a state his heart will be in.

Now, you think you need to cut down on the amount of fat you’re carrying around. Good.

But the problem must be approached with caution. You must have a weight loss programme that your body can tolerate. Too great a pace and the attendant exhaustion might discourage you from trying anymore.

The sensible thing to do

is to modify the diet and introduce the kind of regimen that the body can take and not leave you feeling totally wiped out, as it were.

As far as diet goes, I favour a breakfast of fruit and a lunch and dinner that has a lot of vegetables.

Fruit being predigested, leaves very little residue in the system.

When you eat fruit, you save enough energy, that way your body has enough power of its own to start dealing with all the toxins that have come about on account of an improper eating pattern.

The practice of deep breathing will enable you cut down on a runaway appetite.

When the appetite is unbridled, you can almost eat or feast to death. Come to think of it the human being is about the only animal on earth that does not wait

to be hungry before eating. Little wonder, we seem to be the only creatures with a weight problem. Animals fare much better as regards food.

They only seem to have problems when we domesticate them, turn them into pets. That way we spoil them and soon they become affected with all kinds of conditions.

We should heed Hippocrates advice that our food should be our medicine.

So, you have resolved to deal with your excess fat. In that case, here are some exercises that will really help you achieve your goals of a sleek and efficient machinery of a body.

The Triangle:

Technique: Standing with feet about 3 feet apart, bend the left knee to the same level with your hip. Keep the right leg straight with the foot

placed horizontally to the left foot which is facing leftward. Leave the left hand open and placed next to the left foot. Straighten the right hand and bring it down so that your bicep touches lightly your right ear. Stay in the posture for some 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Benefits: The triangle posture firms the thighs.

It reduces fat on the sides and upper arms The Single Leg Raise: Technique: Lying flat on your belly, place the hands by your side. With your chin on the floor, raise up the left leg to an angle of about 90 degrees from the floor.

Hold the posture for about 10 - 15 seconds.

Change legs and repeat.

Benefits: This posture tones up the muscle of the legs. It firms the buttocks by reducing excess fat.

* The triangle posture

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

P AGE 24 —SUNDAY Vanguard , DECEMBER 23 , 2012

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

Just how much emotional stability can a soul-mate provide?

T

HE word ‘soulmate’ sel dom cropped into conversation some 15 years ago. If it did, it was in. romantic novels or deeply emotional romantic films.

Today the term is freely used by a lot of ‘modern’ lovers. “Single women worry there is something wrong with them because they can’t find their soulmate,” observes a relationship expert, “and married women question whether one nasty argument means her husband isn’t her soul-mate after all. But what does the term really mean and why does my heart sink every time I hear it?”P According to the myth, soul mates not only have a deep connection, but love and accept everything about each other.

Being soul-mates with someone implies you have similar tastes and interests, and love doing everything together. In fact, the connection is so profound that all differences simply fall away.

So there’s no need for arguments because each partner ‘gets’ the other.

How wrong can you get?!

Two years ago, Richard, in his forties, met his mistress at a conference. According to him: “We were on the same wave length, she understands me and my work. Meanwhile, my wife would hardly notice me when I came home or would ask: ‘How did it go?,’ but not listen to my answer. In contrast, I could talk to my lover about anything for hours and she’d care passionately about the details. I can’t put it any other way - we were soulmates and our love could not be denied.”

Their romance was allconsuming that in the end Richard and his mistress left their partners, they thought they were setting off on a new life

together - a life full of wonderful discoveries.

Only, a few months later, Richard, now a shamed man, returned to his wife.

“My lover was not like I’d imagined but, more importantly, I discovered that I only knew part of her - what she was like away from responsibilities and children.”

Richard was lucky to have a wife who realised it would be foolish to shut her doors to reconciliation because of her husband’s stupidity - her marriage meant a lot to her, so she took him back. But she’s been left devastated and bewildered by her husband’s infidelity.

Yvonne, 39, and her husband, Godwin who is four years older, have two children, a successful business they run together and, in many ways, have much to be thankful for. Yet they’ve confessed to feeling dissatisfied with each other.

They never seem to argue, in keeping with the soul-mates ethos. Explains Godwin: “We’ve agreed on most things because we have the same values.” Yet experts agree it is not possible for two people to live in complete harmony without one or both of them rationalising away their differences (‘it doesn’t really matter’), detaching (‘ we’ll agree to differ ’), or avoiding conflict (‘anything for a quiet life’). Although this works in the short term, eventually all feelings are switched off - not just the negative ones.

“In effect, arguing too little is as dangerous as arguing too much. A good row clears the air, but it goes against the idea of soul-mates, so people bite back their frustrations - not only to prove that they are still soul-mates but also because they’re sure their partner will eventually

Y

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

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

To the 26 Angels at Newtown United States Each time I have to write notes on this issues my

realise what they are really feeling, without them saying it. As no one is a mind-reader - however much they love someone - this stores up resentments for the future. In addition, the pressure to be everything to each other begins to rob people of their individual identify.

The relationship expert observes that: “Being different should also be regarded as an asset - not a problem - as each partner can bring complimentary skills. It is not just the havoc caused by the myth of soul-mates that makes me angry, but how it obscures the real ingredients for a successful long-term partnership. So instead of worrying about the heady connections with scrcalled soul-mate, people should focus on what really counts.

“Top on the list are good relationship skills. I believe these are: managing to argue while being respectful of each other ’s opinions and finding a compromise; being open and upfront about

feetings; and listening without interrupting or making assumptions.

Couples also need distance as well as closeness to keep the sexual spark alive. Time apart, separate interests and knowing there is always something more to discover about your partner promotes intrigue, excitement and desire ... “ Why Men Take More Pain Than Women!

It is a debate that can prove rather agonising for everyone involved.

Men have long claimed that their pain threshold is higher than women’s, while women cite child birth as proof the opposite is true. Now, scientists have claimed to have found the answer once and for all. It seems men can tolerate more pain than women and are less likely to let on that they are suffering because they want to appear macho.

According to researchers from Leeds Metro-

deepest heart grieve, when I heard about the shooting and saw the pictures of those kids my heart dropped. I wonder what their families are going through right now.But I pray God grant you the grace to bear, we share in this moment of sadness together.

Our heart share your cry in a month that brings great joy. May these Angels live to rest in the peace and smile only heaven gives.

Obazee Omoruyi Victor d4greatness@yahoo.com 07031338939

Dear Loveth

My heart has been a traveler in the desert of life, searching for the oasis that will quench this thirst for true love. This search can’t be an illusion. I have come across some wells, but they couldn’t satisfy the thirst-they all dried up.

politan University, gender stereotypes mean men tend to act stoically when they are hurt, whereas women show more sensitivity. Pain scientist Dr. Osama Tashani, who recruited 200 British and Libyan volunteers for the study said: “Traditionally, high levels of stoicism are associated with men and high levels of sensitivity are associated with women. Some ethnic groups are described as more stoic, while others are viewed as more free in expressing their pain behaviour. We did not detect differences in pain unpleasantness.”

Dr. Tashani monitored sensitivity, endurance and willingness to report pain, and found that men had higher pain thresholds and reported less pain intensity than women, irrespective of their nationality. The British volunteers could not endure as much pain as Libyan participants but were more willing to report it. However, reac-

tions based on gender stereotypes were more pronounced in Libya than the UK, suggesting gender and culture both play a part in how we cope with discomforts. Those who took part in the twoyear study were put through two pain-inducing procedures. In one, they were jabbed in the hand with a 1 cm-wide blunt tip, while in the other, they had to hold their hand above their head while a cuff was applied to restrict blood flow.

However, according to another study, making them sit a maths test could have been just as effective. Researchers at the University of Chicago have found that ‘maths anxiety ’ - where someone is scared of maths regardless of their ability can cause physical pain.

The study discovered that those who experience the highest levels of anxiety at the mere anticipation of maths test also show increased activity in regions of the brain linked with pain sensation. And the higher the anxiety, the higher the neutral activity detected.

Natural Ability? (Humour) A donkey and a chicken are in a field when the donkey falls down a hole. The chicken dashes to a BMW, ties a rope to the front and drops the other . “” end down the hole, then jumps into the car to pull the donkey out.

The following week, they’re in the same field when the chicken falls down the same hole. He tells the donkey to get the BMW, but instead the donkey simply walks over and drops his willie in the hole to help the chicken climb out. The moral of this tale? If you’re hung like a donkey, you don’t need a BMW to pull a chick!

I am still searching for that oasis. It is not an illusion, because I am a believer and I will surely find it to replace you.

Henry Onos, 08186384582. dfavored1302@gmail.com

No definition

Love, a fruit without a definite taste: sometimes so bitter to taste at times sweeter than honey most times taste sour often times, a mixture of sweet and bitter all the times, new experiences to taste

Sylvester Anaba VENIX: 08032275666

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 25

‘How herdsmen raped bride, killed 21’ *Residents recount horrifying moments with assailants

BY DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

F

or allegedly refusing some herdsmen the usage of their farmlands to graze their herds, no fewer than 21 people of Ketuland in Yewa North local government area of Ogun State were slaughtered while women, young and old, including a bride, were allegedly raped. Among those allegedly killed were five members of a family.

Some Ketuland residents stated these while narrating their ordeal in the hands of the herdsmen who, according to them, always lurked at the border areas close to their community at the approach of the dry season. They feared the same thing might happen this year unless urgent steps were taken to stop the herdsmen. Their spokesmen accused the state government of ignoring their cries for help, saying, in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, that government seemed to value the herds more than human lives.

The spokesman told the story of a bride who was raped about 24 hours after she wedded on her way to fetch water from a river in the communit y .

The spokesman, Lasisi Adewole, who represented the leadership of socio-cultural groups, which included Ketu Advancement Front, Ketu Alliance and Ketu People’s Assembly, claimed that no fewer than 21 people have been killed since 2000 when the herdsmen first invaded their farmlands.

C M Y K

Adewole and three farmers in the area: Phillip Akanan from Owode-Ketu, Amosu Olofinjin and Akinola Tunde from AgbonOjodu, said they were fed up with the annual killings of their people by the marauding herdsmen.

They insisted that unless Ogun State government and security agencies took urgent steps, more lives would be wasted this dry season.

“Many of our sons and daughters have been gruesomely murdered in a manner that appears as if we don’t have government. Our brilliant ones including our wives have been raped, assaulted. How would you feel if I mention your wife’s name as one of those that have been raped by the cattle rearers? Many of our wives and daughters who have been raped were taken to hospital in Abeokuta, the state capital,” they said. “We are losing people as well as being prevented from doing what we know how to do best because of the grazing of our farms by the herdsmen’s cattle. With the

Herdsmen... as death merchants

*Lasisi Adewole...SOS to govt terrible experience of the raping of our daughters and ones, including the bride, our communities are no longer safe.

“In a matter of days, they will enter the country through our communities and destroy our farmlands with the indiscriminate grazing of their cattle.

We are helpless and that’s why we are appealing to the state government to urgently checkmate them.” Displaying the gory pictures of some of the victims, Adewole alleged that Ogun State government and the police had been footdrag-

Herdsmen... lurking at the border

ging on the killings and rape and even took sides with the herdsmen whenever they attempted to protect themselves against their onslaught”. According to Adewole, recently, they received calls from some of the herdsmen who threatened to enter their communities from Republic of Benin.

“It is against this backdrop that we want to draw the attention of the world to the failure of our government to guarantee our security as demanded of her by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The herdsmen may make good their threat having been receiving protection from our government,” he added. “The result of this will be a repeat of what we have been experiencing in the past eleven years: murder of innocent people, robbery at gun point, raping of both young and old, especially children of school age, attack on our villages in the dead of the night, arson, destruction of farm produce and forced closure of schools.

“We have taken time to once again chronicle our plight and anguish to further underscore the fact that it is the Ketu peo-

ple who bear the brunt of the avoidable Ketu/ herdsmen crisis and not any other people.”

The people demanded the execution of a 2007 Ilaro High Court judgment which barred the herdsmen from grazing their cattle in the area and the payment of compensation to the victims of past attacks by Ogun State government and the Yewa North Local Government.

They also called for investigation of the alleged extra-judicial killing of a Junior Secondary School 3 student of Area Community High School, Ibeku by the police. Reacting to the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said the Ketu people were only crying wolf.

He said: “The police could only ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order rather than stopping the herdsmen from coming into the area. They should not drag the police into the matter. “The state government and the House of Assembly have set up a committee on the matter.

We are only waiting for the outcome of the exercise”. Also, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, said the problem between the Ketu people and the herdsmen had been a recurrent one since the past 15 years. Adeoluwa said the state government had set up a committee comprising the Ketu people, the herdsmen and government officials to tackle the problem. “These are unfair allegations. Recently, I held a meeting with them. The 30 villages in Ketu and the herdsmen too were represented. We’ve told the herdsmen to hold on, that we have set minimum standards for them.”

PAGE 26—SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012

Uduaghan flaunts model schools in Delta out.

BY EMMA AMAIZE

Finger print

Regional Editor, South South

D

18,000 classrooms

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the government has rehabilitated over 60 schools and about 18,000 classroom blocks in more than 1,000 schools across the state.

Tukur came and saw

National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who commissioned the newly reconstructed GRA Model Primary School, Asaba, some months ago, was full of praises for the governor for what he was doing on educational infrastructures in the state.

His words, “I commend this vision, diligence and dedication to the growth and well-being of the people. This will create a strong platform for children C M Y K

He disclosed that in the G.R.A Model Primary School, Asaba, a clock-in device for finger print detection was installed to monitor the movement of students and teachers, explaining that the device was put in place to ensure the safety of children.

“Security is everyone’s priority and the safety of our children cannot be over emphasized. This device will help act as our eyes within the school premises to avoid unnecessary problems”, Uduaghan added.

N6.93 bn for schools’ renovation in 2013

In his 2013 budget proposal, the governor highlighted the state government’s investments in education when he said, “Government will continue to give priority to education in the state.

We are investing heavily in infrastructure upgrade and modernization of our public schools for our children. Teaching and non-teaching staff facilities are also being upgraded. So far, about eighteen thousand classrooms have been built, renovated or upgraded. In the coming year, we will do more.

“In the 2013 fiscal year, government intends to increase the tempo of work on the various education projects. In this connection, the sum of N6.93bn is being budgeted for primary and secondary schools infrastructure project and N2.0bn(two billion naira) for the on- going four new polytechnics in the state. We shall also complete all on-going projects in our university campuses”. to excel academically.” He said that with the efforts of the governor, Delta was not just opening its doors for international investors but was also heading for greater heights socially and economically. Speaking on that occasion, Uduaghan said, “ I believe that every child in this great state deserves the best education has to offer and rehabilitating schools across the state and building new classroom blocks were a small step towards achieving this mission”. The governor stated that schools in the state were being rehabilitated not only to meet international standards but also to create a conducive environment where effective learning was carried

What you cannot deny Uduaghan

,

ATELINE: Wednesday, No vember 28. Governor Emman uel Uduaghan of Delta State took the visiting members of the Capital Market Committee, led by the Director General of the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC, Mrs. Arumah Otteh, who were on a retreat in Warri, on tour of some on- going and completed projects in the oil city of Warri.

There were several projects visited, but the ones that caught the attention of the committee members were the remodeled primary and post-primary schools. They saw the Cavergina Primary School, Warri and Alderstown School of the Physically Challenged, roads under construction and the Central Hospital Maternal & Children Centre, MCC, Warri, due for completion in April 2013.

That the committee members were impressed was palpable for it was written on their faces. Otteh, who verbalized it, said, “This morning, we have toured a number of the roads that are being dualized in Warri and we know that parts of the fund were being used for such projects. Also, we saw a lot of model primary schools. We are particularly impressed with the efforts the governor has concentrated in these schools. Not just the schools, but one of the things that we are particular about is broadening participation of the economy”.

The governor earlier spoke on the facilities in the schools. He explained, “ We have a minimum standard for our schools; there are toilets, water, football pitch, libraries, laboratories and ICT, recreational infrastructures as well as special training for our teachers.

“We used to have up to about 180 students in a class, but the new standard is 40 per class. We hope that in two years, we would have overcome the congestion. Motivation for teachers is on, there is a special training for them too.”

No matter how you hate Uduaghan, one thing you cannot take away from him in 2012 is the rehabilitated primary and secondary schools in the state

,

Were roads in Delta State to have been expansively reconstructed and constructed as he had uncompromisingly renovated the primary and secondary schools , the governor would, unquestionably have stolen the hearts of Deltans in the outgoing year.

However, no matter how you hate Uduaghan, one thing you cannot take away from him in 2012 is the refashioned primary and secondary schools in the state. The touch is splendid and one that every Deltan is proud of, as you criss-cross the 25 local government areas of the state.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012 — 27

C M Y K

28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012

Ikeddy, his sister Mrs. Chinenye Anekwe (extreme left) and her children, Mrs. Ahuchaogu, Chuks, Raymond Okeke (MSc Branding), Acharaugo and Adaora

Ikeddy Isiguzo bags MSc (Media Enterprise)

Ikeddy with his wife, Acharaugo Chioma Isiguzo (right), friends Chuks Nwagbara, Adaora Mbanugo; Ikeddy's sister Mrs. Augustine Ahuchaogu (left) and Osezua Ogbidi, who represented his father Willy Ogbidi, a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations

AT the 9th Convocation of the Pan-African University, Lagos, held on 1 December 2012, at its Ajah Campus, Lagos, Ikeddy Isiguzo, Chairman, Vanguard Editorial Board, graduated with MSc (Media Enterprise). Photos from the event Tony Onyima (MSc Media Enterprise), MD of The Sun, Prof Albert Alos former Vice Chancellor, PanAfrican University and Ikeddy Uffot Essien (MSc Branding) of Zenith Bank and Ikeddy

Ikeddy receiving his certificate from Prof. Juan M. Elegido, Vice Chancellor of Pan-African University, Lagos

From left Prof Emevwo Biakolo, Dean, School of Media and Communication, SMC, of Pan-African University, Oge Udeagha (MSc Branding) of First Bank and Class President of MSc 2012, Dr Issa Momoh of SMC and Ikeddy

From right, Babatunde Lasaki (MSc Branding) of First Bank, Ikeddy and Cally Ikpe (MSc Creative Writing) of Nigerian Music Video Awards

Kolade Belo @ 70

I

t was a celebration of reunion as the Belo family came together to mark the 70th birthday of the Chairman of Bellavista , Olatunde Kolade Belo. The birthday party was held at Western Hotel , Ikeja, Lagos.

It was a surprise party orchestrated by the celebrant’s siblings but it caught the mood of the birthday boy who expressed joy for the love and attention given him by family and friends who turned up in good numbers

Mr Olatunji Kolade Belo cutting his birthday cake

The celebrant with family members

Celebrant,Mr Olatunji Kolade Belo, with his nieces,Miss Jadesola Belo,(right), Mrs Adetoun Morohunfola and Mrs Olubunmi Adewusi.

Celebrant, wife, Herrietta with their children Bosun and Yinka

SUNDAY, Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012—29

Lush-plush wedding of Ogunmekan’s daughter

C

hief Olayinka Ogunmekan, the P r e s i d e n t , Nigerian-Swedish Chambers of Commerce, is a man who has always done his things in style and when his daughter, Olatokunbo Olufunke decided to tie the nuptials , the respected businessman simply wouldn’t let his foot off the gas and those that witnessed the blissful day had more than a whiff of splendour, class and panache.

Olatokunbo Olafunke and Adebowale Emmanuel, son of Otunba Emmanuel Olaide Ogunwo, took their oaths at Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Yaba, From left: Mrs. Tokunbo Edun,groom's mother, Otunba Laide Ogunwo, Lagos on 15th of December. groom's father, Chief [Mrs] Christie Ogunmekan, bride's mother and Chief Photos by Bunmi Azzez Olayinka Ogunmekan, bride's father

L-R:Mr. Tunde Ogunmekan, Justice Bisi Ogunmekan and Mr. Kayode Ogunmekan

From left: Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Alake of Egbaland, Aare Biola Salau, Dr. Kola Aliu and Chief S.A. Jimoh

Adewale Ogunwo and his wife, former Olatokunbo Olufunke Ogunmekan

Okolugbo opens edifice, thanks God on his 40th birthday

Sir Ken Okolugbo on Sunday November 18, 2012 organised a thanksgiving service at Anglican Church, Obiaruku over his 40th birthday celebration and official opening of his country home also at Obiaruku.

From right, Lady Uzoamaka, Sir Kenny Okolugbo, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, Rt. Rev. David Obiosa, Mrs. Chinoye Daphey, Venerable Nwajiobi and two other priest

The Abebe traditional wedding in Abuja

T

Isiame Wilfred Abebe with his bride, former Miss Ene Patience Ameh flanked by his mum, Mrs. Edugie Abebe (r) and the mother of the bride, Mrs. Ameh

The bride, Miss Eneh Abebe (l) in a photograph with her mother, Mrs. Ameh and her sisters

he Abebe family and the Ameh family are two families that parade power, panache and pizazz, so when their children, Ene Patience Ameh and Isiame Wilfred Abebe decided to formalise their relationship in a matrimonial engagement the two families came through for them as they spared no expense in giving them a union to remember.

Their traditional marriage held at Life Camp, Abuja on December 13, 2012 and it was an affair that was underscored by pomp and pageantry. Photos by Abayomi Adeshida

R-L: Father ofthe groom, Chief Silva Ameh; Lt. Gen. Theophelus Danjuma; his wife, Senator Daisy Danjuma; groom's mum, Mrs. Edugie Abebe (r) and bride's mum, Mrs. Ameh

From left: Hon. Victor Ochie, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Sir Kenny Okolugbo; Commissioner, Ndokwa Nation Board of DESOPADEC, Lady Uzomaka Okolugbo, Mrs Dora Akpotowho

Esther weds Daniel

T

he wedding between Mr Daniel Alaba and former Miss Esther Olabisi took place on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Open Heaven Parish, Egbeda, Lagos.

Mr Alaba Daniel and his hearthrob, Esther Alaba.

PAGE 30—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012,

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012,PAGE 31

PAGE 32—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

Economy in 2012: The gains and challenges *800 firms close shop due to harsh climate

witnessed tremendous improvements until the Dana plane crash of June, which claimed over 153 lives. Some experts said the sector is suffering from policies inconsistency and lack of proper plan to enhance rapid development.

However, the sector may soon experience greater efficiency, as one of the leading airlines in the world, British Airways, has indicated interest to assist Nigeria in developing the industry. The company will partner with the Nigerian government to reposition the sector .

BY UDEME CLEMENT

2

President Goodluck Jonathan the year began with a sudden increase in the pump price of fuel from N65 per litre to N150 and subsequently N97 after a nationwide strike and protests

by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which compelled government to reconsider its position. The new fuel price regime paved the way for a probe into the activities of oil marketers in the country, which yielded subsidy scam, which is still lingering.

Also, the Petroleum Industrial Bill (PIB) designed to streamline operations in the sector to ensure a level playing ground for International Oil Companies as well as local firms has been in the National Assembly since 2008 without any positive outcome. The bill has not been passed into law notwithstanding the fact that the petroleum minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, said that the revised version of the bill was sent the National Assembly for consideration.

The banking industry The banking sector experienced some reforms ranging from merger of some banks to the removal of N100 charge on the use of Automated Teller Machines (ATM). Some of the reforms in the sector include, cashless policy, which limits the level of withdrawal by individuals to N500.000 and corporate body to N3million, attempt by the Central Bank of Nigeria to introduce N5000 bank note, and currency restructuring.

For instance, in first quarter of 2012, Access Bank Plc and Intercontinental fused into one entity, Ecobank acquired Oceanic Bank, Spring Bank became Enterprise Bank Limited, First City Monument Bank acquired FinBank, Bank PHB became Keystone Bank Limited, Afribank became Mainstreet Bank Limited, Sterling Bank acquired Equitorial Trust Bank while Union Bank of Nigeria is now owned by African Capital Alliance Consortium.

Manufacturing sector Economic experts say the manufacturing sector contributes only 5 per cent to

Lamido Sanusi

Okonjo-Iweala

the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) recently said no fewer than 800 companies in Nigeria closed shop between 2009 and 2011 mainly due to harsh operating business environment.

According to the president of NACCIMA, Dr. Herbert Ajayi.

“More than half of the surviving firms had been classified as ailing, which

thriving, manufacturing contribute as much as between 35 and 40 per cent to the GDP. For instance, in Malaysia, the manufacturing sector contributess about 45 per cent to the GDP. Our manufacturing sector must function optimally to generate more jobs if we are to realise the Vision 2020 target.

“At present, about 30million youths are unemployed in Nigeria . The economy is growing at almost 8 per cent,

,

012 witnessed remarked changes in various sectors of the economy, especially the banking industry. While government tried to map out new strategies to reposition the economy for greater growth, experts are of the opinion that government needs a pragmatic approach to actualise the transformation of the economy.Sunday Business takes a look at the activities in the various sectors during the outgoing year.

The energy sector The electricity generating capacity stands at between 4,200 and 5,000 mega watts (MW), even as government stressed that with the effort of the Nigeria Independent Power Projects (NIPP), commissioned in phases across the country, power generation will hit7,000 MW by the first quarter of 2013.

Government emphasised that with gas production in excess of 500 standards cubic feet, more modules from the NIPP plants will be able to provide electricity to the national grid, such that many communities can enjoy uninterrupted power supply of 16 hours per day and more.

Economic experts are of the opinion that Nigeria needs electricity generation capacity of about 35,000 MW by the year 2020 for domestic and industrial consumption. A lecturer in Economics Department, Lagos State University (LASU), who spoke with Sunday Business under anonymity, explained, “ Nigeria has a population of over N160million people. So we need about 35,000MW of electricity generation to achieve Vision 20:2020. For instance, South Africa has about 40,000MW electricity generation with a population of only 50 million and Brazil has 100,000MW with a population of just 192 million.

It means we have a long way to go in tackling the power crisis. There must be significant investment in rural electrification programmes to fast track expansion of transmission and distribution lines to rural areas in the country.”

Also, Sunday Business learnt that government has concluded plans to disburse N170 billion to workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to cover their gratuities as well as pension as agreed by government and representatives of labour unions in the PHCN, for the transfer of ownership of the parastatal to successor companies.

The downstream sector/ Petroleum Industry Bill The oil and gas sector of the economy has been in the news throughout 2012. For instance,

Though increasing unemployment rate is a global phenomenon, we must tackle it in Nigeria .

The inflation rate is 12.8 per cent

poses a serious threat to the survival of the manufacturing industry in the country.

Capacity utilisation in industries hovered around 30 per cent and 45 per cent on the average, with 100 per cent overhead costs. Political and economic factors contribute greatly to the decline in the manufacturing sectors. For instance, poor infrastructure and epileptic power supply are also key impediments to the industry. The industry as a whole operates on more than 70 per cent of energy it generates, using generators and operating these generators greatly increases the cost of manufacturing goods in Nigeria . Other factors include increase in the prices of petroleum products used by industries, multiple taxation, unabated smuggling and inadequate access to finance, both local and abroad”.

Data obtained from the office of the Director General, West African Institute of Financial and Economic Management, stated, “In developed countries where the real sectors are

,

but we still have rising level of poverty of about 70 per cent.

The rate of unemployment stands at about 24 per cent, which is about 35 percent among the youths. Though increasing unemployment rate is a global phenomenon, we must tackle it in Nigeria . The inflation rate is 12.8 per cent.

So what we are experiencing as economic growth rate is only marginal increase. Every year, government prepares the entire budget depending on income from crude oil. So, the economy is still heavily dependent on oil, while the manufacturing sector, which has the potentials to create jobs and generate more revenue, is not given the required attention. The rate of unemployment is growing faster than the growth of the economy. Increase in rural unemployment is also disturbing”.

Aviation sector he sector under the supervision of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)

T

Agriculture/ Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) he agric sector witnessed some improvement during the year. For instance, the sector, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), contributed N2.9 billion to GDP in the second quarter of 2012. The revenue accounted for about 41 percent of the oil-rich nation’s total GDP for the quarter. Aside from that, under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), government is implementing a new fertilizer programme whereby government will withdraw from fertilizer distribution to the development of the private sector to take on these functions to enhance development.

In the same vein, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, according to experts, contribute nearly half of the GDP and accounts for over 25 percent of employment in the country. Also, the recent release from the Enterprise Baseline Survey 2012 stated that there are 17 million Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria , employing 32.41 million persons and making a contribution of about 46.54 per cent to the GDP. Also, the CBN has been in the forefront of building a synergy between the financial and real sector of the economy in order to enhance accessibility to capital for operators of SMEs in the country. The initiative is to ensure that the operators of SMEs have access to low cost funds to boost their operations and for start-ups to enhance expansion of smaller units of businesses across the country.

This will bring about long-term benefit of boosting domestic production capacity for local manufacturers, such that they are able to carry out operations with reduced cost. In April 2009, the CBN created N200 billion Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme to stimulate growth in the SMEs sub-sector, with subsequent approval of N500 billion intervention fund in 2010 for the manufacturing industry.

T

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 33

How we are reviving SMEs in Bayelsa, by Eradiri

,

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

B

AYELSA State could best be described as civil service state which internally generated revenue is nothing to write home about, but the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson, conscious of the role played by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the growth of any economy established this unit of government to revive the sector in the state where everything in the predominantly riverine state revolves around the Government House.

In this interview, Mr. Jasper Eradiri, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Small and Medium Enterprises, explains efforts to revitalize the ailing sector and diversify the economy of the state to make room for more revenue for government.

Wealth creation Our mandate is to create wealth, entrepreneur capacity building, generate employment and also help increase the internally generated revenue of the state.

As you can see, these are all sequentially related. One bridges the other and, since we came on stream, we have taken different measures to change the orientation and the scene we came to meet.

It is sad that almost all products and services in Bayelsa State are at their lowest level of production. I was appointed on May 30, 2012 and, from June 1, we rolled out our plan of action and the timeline. One of the first things we did was to call a town hall meeting and we included what we called business management organisations such as the Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME),we also called the Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASI), we called SMEDAN trainees, Bayelsa State chapter, the YOU WIN awardees forum, Yenagoa Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture.

We called them to discuss the issues of SMEs in Bayelsa State, the approaches and strategies to improve the situation we met. Thereafter, we had a follow up meeting to enable them make inputs into our plan of action for 2012.

Specifically, in August, we looked at the scenario concerning the SMEs in Bayelsa State. How can we help them when we don’t know what they do, we don’t know where they are, we don’t what

If we don’t get empowered with knowledge in best global practice, it means we may be missing it somewhere

Governor Seriake Dickson kind of need that is required for them? This is because we have a way of thinking; we have the ‘3 C’ approach which is concept, capacity and capital. If you give people the right concept or vision, you have given them capacity which is training them. We are certain if we give them capital which is support at this time, the money will go down well, they will use it constructively, but if they don’t have any of these and you give them capital, that will be waste. So, basically, thinking along those lines, we felt we should have a database and the governor graciously approved that the exercise be carried out. So, from August 9, the collation of the SMEs was carried out hitch free. We were able to get as far as Akassa, Ekeremor at one end and Brass, we touched everybody. By the time we gave the report to the governor, he said, `don’t close it; keep it open because certain people will still come’. So we created an area called special area for those not captured in the various LGAs, we felt when they come we will slot them there.

What was the exercise precisely for?

You identify the SMEs and know what they want and the next line will now be to conduct a need assessment. Some people may require equipment, others may need raw cash and others could also need training; diverse SMEs will have diverse needs and so having this in mind, we felt we should approach it in this manner and to God be the glory.

I have done a lot of travels and this is because the governor felt we need to be exposed to the best global practice. I came back and have given my report to the governor. We are following through on this. What we can tell our people is that we have investors coming from Asia and they are coming to Africa.

Our SMEs stand to gain a lot from this. In a nutshell, we

have done a lot of networking worldwide and we have partnered different institutions locally and internationally and all these are good for the state.

Back home we have had series of workshop and symposium with stakeholders in the state. We have also interacted with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. So, this is bringing seriousness to SMEs in Bayelsa State.

Is the agreement entered into with Bank of Industry on SME under your purview?

Yes, Friday December 7 was a memorable day for all of us.

The Bank of Industry officially received N1bn support, partnership support from the state government in which they as well are to bring in their counterpart fund of N1bn, so we can clearly say there is N2bn for SME support in Bayelsa State. To demonstrate the seriousness of government, the governor

,

inaugurated a committee headed by the commissioner for Science Technology that will develop and administer the strategy to disburse the fund and how to support SME. All these investment trips trying to promote Bayelsa, to the ordinary person out there you are spending a lot of money which should have been ploughed in the state for them to see what is happening. How do you convince the ordinary man on the street that this will translate in the next three months into something good and something better?

If we don’t get empowered with knowledge in best global practice, it means we may be missing it somewhere. You will also agree with me that the idea is to be exposed to global best practice. It will also help you work either by synergy or work by new technique. I will give you example, something called venture capitalism. This is to saywith or without the

government, BOI, we have worked with different institutionsworldwide to say Bayelsa has potentials, come to Bayelsa, we have select certain people you buy into their businesses, they have potentials but they don’t have capital. You buy into their business, work out relationship with them, you have a ratio.

Now, this is a transaction that is outside government. These things are operating worldwide. If we didn’t go out, we wouldn’t know this. Now we came with a Special Purpose Vehicle, SPV, to say let’s have a company, a platform called the Bayelsa Trading Company.

Government is looking at a seeming independent platform that would interface with the grassroots and they buy from them the problem of distributing; that way you have taken the risk for the people at the grassroots. There is also development and technique that we implement to help the process of development of SMEs. Could you please tell us how many active SMEs are there in Bayelsa State and how many we are expecting in the next 2 years as part of ongoing effort to revive this sector and how many jobs will be generated?

I will start with the bottom.

Jobs that will be created from the SME sector; a working figure of 2000 jobs minimum is expected but this is being very modest because there is a framework we have put before the governor. We believe that by the time other MDAs buy into it, it means that the number will spiral. So what we are saying clearly is that the next time frame work of 24 months going by that framework we will be able to generate a minimum of 2000 jobs.

We have done our home work. The governor told us to open up the space. We have got some new inflow. It is a data base we will continue to update them.

Apapa Port concessionaire wins safety award

BY UDEME CLEMENT

A

Marketing and Technical Assistant Director of UniCem, Mr. Vipul Agrawal presenting an award of appreciation to a customer, during the end year party organized by the company for its customers.

PM Ter minals Apapa, one of the biggest container terminals in West Africa, has won the Safety Awards for demonstrating consistent safety leadership in a challenging environment, at the 2012 Global Leadership Conference of the company, held in Rotterdam .

The company came ahead of other finalists including APM Terminals Bahrain and Laem Chabang , Thailand to clinch the coveted award.

The managing director of APM Terminals Apapa, Mr. Dallas Hampton, who received the award on behalf of the company, said that even before it was a requirement, Apapa had mandated its senior management team to perform at least 50 safe behaviour observations per year.

PAGE 34—SUNDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012

Why democracy may not enthrone a God-fearing leader, by Gov. Raji Fashola *’My generation has moved on regarding Achebe/Awolowo controversy’ *Explains how Lagos used data for good governance

A

FRICA Rising – That is the headline of (last week’s) cov er of Time Magazine. It is for me an appropriate place to start my discussion on the theme “Governance, Security and Peace in Africa”; and, if I might say so at the onset, it is a somewhat misleading if not patronizing headline.

I say this because students of world history will know that the story of our planet is one of the rise and fall of civilisations and empires.

Civilisations and empires have thrived and floundered on the basis of the challenges of their time, when they peak or fall; and what men or women do or fail to do.

And I propose to discuss this in some fuller detail as I deal with the subject of institutions.

But I must emphasize that Greece, which is one of Europe’s poorest and highly indebted nations today, was once at the zenith of human civilisation.

The heart of the Roman Empire, which gave the world one of its most enduring legacies of law, was situated in what is modern day Italy and is currently a struggling economy.

But we have not heard the last of Italy or Greece. In the way that Germany rose from the ruins of two World Wars to become Europe’s super power house today, we have seen the renaissance of a Ming Dynasty that took almost 5,000 years to re-discover herself in the renaissance of China.

Africa’s Renaissance

So contrary to a rising Africa, I see the renaissance of a region that once boasted the amazing engineering feats of the Egyptian pyramids when there were no super cranes and a place where Timbuktu, in modern day Mali, was once the place to be for science, mathematics and learning.

Africa is not rising; it is experiencing a renaissance again.

The sustainability will be determined by what men and women do or fail to do.

This is the platform from which I propose to address my sub-theme of “Regime Change, Ethno-Religious Insurgency and State-craft in the 21st Century with my focus on West Africa.

Let me start by submitting that I have read enough history and seen a lot of conflict in almost five decades on earth to come to the clear conclusion, that all conflicts are fuelled by the desire

Gov Fashola....

It is by making this kind of resolve that we can gain from that conflict and use the lessons to surmount the challenges that stand in the way of our journey to the promise of our nation

for dominance, territorial control, economic benefit for self or allies.

I am convinced that in whatever garment these conflicts are dressed, whether ethnic or religious, those cloaks are only designed to whip up a sense of identity and support towards a cause they often may not understand.

Abundance of Human and Natural Resources in West Africa

West Africa, as the name suggests, is a sub region of Africa that has 16 (Sixteen) countries who are independent nations, collectively they have a population of approximately 300,000,000 (Three Hundred Million) people whose lands are blessed with all types of natural resources such as

oil, gas, coffee, cocoa, timber, gold, to mention a few and access to water especially the Atlantic Ocean.

It is important to mention this so that there is clarity about abundance of human and natural resources.

Some of the oldest and foremost learning institutions such as the Fourah Bay College and the many learning centres such as in Old Timbuktu are located in this region.

In the last few decades, they formed an economic block, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for short, almost like the European Union to deepen economic trade.

The Tragedy of West Africa But ironically, this region has, until recently, made global headlines for the wrong reasons. Apart from hunger and poverty experienced by a people so blessed; and I am not happy to say this, peacekeeping operations have consumed several millions of dollars as perhaps the only successes that can come out of a region of such vast resources. These are peacekeeping missions to end the mindless slaughter of innocent men, women and children who have been victims of mindless orgies of violence in the pursuit of crass and brazen ambition under the guise of attempted governance.

Sierra Leone and Liberia once very free, peaceful and historic settlements for their roles in the end of the TransAtlantic slave trade and the redevelopment of the African human capital through education, have lost their innocence forever.

While the healing process and rebuilding continues at a pace that encourages hope, there are scars that will never go away. My own country Nigeria faced a bloody civil war about which I will say a word or two, Ivory

Coast was not spared; neither was Ghana, in the mindless toppling of regime after regime in the 1980s and several execution of leaders and the displacement of millions of citizens who became refugees outside their homeland. Yes, many Ghanian professionals became shoemakers, drivers, odd job men and women in my own country when I was a teenager because their country failed them.

All these are now in the past.

The old Gold Coast of Africa is back.

The Ashanti Dynasty is not rising. It is experiencing a renaissance. What lies at the heart of all these conflicts for me is a difficult question; and from here I have to be careful what I say so that I am not misunderstood. Before the colonization of Africa in the late 19th Century, many of these nations were several kingdoms with kings and emperors. We must remember that succession was by conquest and it is possible to rationalize what we have today on that basis.

The Hope Democracy Brings

Democracy has survived many ages.

The Agrarian Age, the Industrial Age and it has merged with other philosophies like capitalism and moved into the age of information technology and now globalization.

It faces perhaps its biggest threat yet by the effects of technology and globalization which both test the limits of freedom. The success or otherwise of this model of governance has been the Achilles heel of the political stability of West Africa.

It is possible to argue that the African concept of communal existence, sharing and conciliation were shaken to their foundations by the winnertakes-all that elections produce in a democratic setting. While I may be wrong, and I hope that I am, it is a study that I hope will be undertaken.

Those who are products of ancestors who ruled as kings and emperors may seem somewhat perplexed that they cannot share the Court of a successful winner after an election; and must therefore accept the economically unrewarding role of opposition, at least until the next elections are called.

Really and truly, all human endeavor and conflict about a better life, but the irony is that the concept of a better life is itself amorphous and difficult to define.

One might wonder for example why the people of the Western economies with all their infrastructure and progress, which are many miles ahead of what you will find in many parts of Africa, are still agitating for a better life.

Happily for me, I am able to say that inspite of the difficulties, many parts of West Africa are democratizing and, with that, political stability is emerging and we are seeing development.

Sierra Leone just conducted peaceful

Continues on page 35 C M Y K

SUNDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 35

‘How Lagos used data for good governance’ Continued from page 34 elections for the second time after many years of conflict.

The evidence of political stability stares every person in face as one witnesses the block by block rebuilding of a once peaceful country whose infrastructure was ravaged by conflict induced by regime change.

The question therefore is this:- In the light of the progress being witnessed in many parts of democratizing West Africa, is democracy the answer or the missing link to unlocking the vast opportunities in West Africa.

Yes, democracy will, on the basis of the available evidence of what has been done under it, be critical to achieving the goal. On its own, it will not suffice to solve the problem.

The Creeping Danger of Fundamentalism

Inspite of democratic structures in Mali, and with only a few months to general elections, a few people still ganged up to seize power, with an official statement that they wanted to change things. The question on everyone’s lips was: why not wait for the general elections that were so close; to effect the change by the ballot?

The answer may be long in coming.

In some parts of West Africa, political change, and possibly the quest for a better life, has acquired a new image. It is now anchored on Islam, by the group now classified as the AlQaeda in the Maghreb.

As we speak, the West African nations are contributing troops to go into Mali in a coalition to dislodge them because of the political danger they pose to the entire region.

But beyond guns and live ammunition, their pursuit for power is fired by a stronger ammunition, one which does not attack the body but instead strikes the mind. Religion.

This will be difficult to defend against or to attack.

Its range is limitless, its fuel supply is not science; on the contrary, it is passion driven by unquestioning faith.

That fuel rarely runs out of supply and it does not tolerate reason but commands only unquestioning faith and belief. This is the newest and biggest threat and it is on both sides of the 2 (two) popular religions, Christianity and Islam, both of which incidentally and interestingly owe their origins to the same region, the Middle East.

Perhaps the closest in history to what we experience today are the ecclesiastical wars in advent of Christianity. It is against the background of these complexities that I intend to examine the role of statecraft in the 21st Century.

The Role of Statecraft

For my definition of ‘statecraft’, I choose “the art of conducting the affairs of state or conducting government affairs”.

I think it is fair to say that, at whatever level one is involved, it is not an easy affair. Whether you are a President, Prime Minister, State Governor, City Mayor or whatever designation you operate at, the problems are the same.

It is about humanity. understanding and Protecting people, semanagement are a sine curing your environqua non to successful ment, saving lives and statecraft in the 21st providing economic opCentury. portunities which, in In the last five and a simple words, mean half years that I have jobs, providing educaspent in office, I have tion, healthcare, propaid unrelenting attentecting rights and so on tion to data. The imand so forth. What difportance coincides with fers is the complexity the cliché that you canof the same problem, not manage a thing, if from place to place, you cannot measure it. depending on the levA few quick examples el of development or will suffice to demonlack of it. strate the point.

The accepted global model for conducting Security these affairs, which is On assumption of ofdemocracy, has been fice in 2007, the first tested, but is now, in inquiry I made was my view, technologicalabout the number of ly challenged.

Policemen in the State By this I mean that that was available to with globalization, help me protect the many more people are 17,552,000 people that involved in the process our 2006 headcount and they influence deshowed that we had livcision making for good ing in Lagos. or bad.

Over the years, data What newspapers management has becould by editorial decicome invaluable in our sion delay or refuse to crime prevention stratpublish while a deciegy and has made our sion of Government is state easily the safest under consideration is Gov Fashola)... Political in the Country. now instantly available change has acquired a new We are able to monion the social media image tor trends by analysing without any considerreports at monthly seation for its possible curity meetings which adverse or beneficial I chair and, by so doeffect. Very recently, I ing, we deploy the nectold my colleagues that essary logistics, either this is not a good time of more men, more pato be a leader, although trol vehicles, more I have always asked boats, more communimyself if there was ever cation equipment or a time in human histoextra hours or a combiry that it was good to nation of any of them lead. as the crime data reThat is why I salute ports suggest. the leaders of many centuries past, espeRevenue cially those of the early In order to raise mon20th Century who led ey to fund our obligaour world through tions, I sought to know many technological how many properties breakthroughs such as we had registered on electricity, the teleour data base and phone, the airplane found out that we had and protected our planet amidst the registered only 26,000 (Twenty Six threat of two world wars.

Thousand). We invested in the propI draw a lot of inspiration from their erty enumeration exercise and today courage and refusal to give up. we have registered 640,000 (Six HunThis is the least that is expected of dred Forty Thousand) and still countevery leader today in any part of the ing. Of course I need not say that reworld if we are to save this planet from ceipts from Property taxes jumped in peril. many folds.

This is the challenge of statecraft.

I also sought to know how many citRegrettably, democracy does not con- izens were issued with tax cards as cern itself about this. It is only con- proof of payment of personal income cerned about the emergence of the tax, and I was told it was only 500,000 leader by popular mandate in an open (Five Hundred Thousand). process.

We embarked on massive tax awareDemocracy does not guarantee that ness campaigns and invested in printthe leader will be competent as we have ing and issuance of tax cards and toseen in some jurisdictions. It makes day we have 2,530,744 (Two Million, no guarantee that he will be compas- Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand, sionate or God-fearing or that he will Seven Hundred and Forty Four) tax be passionate about the job. payers on our data base.

In a technologically-driven world, This accounts in part for why we are where the primary objective of state- the only state that may survive withcraft centres around the human civili- out oil proceeds, because about 70% of zation, data possession, processing, our annual expenditure comes from

Democracy does not guarantee that the leader will be competent as we have seen in some jurisdictions. It makes no guarantee that he will be compassionate or God fearing or that he will be passionate about the job

internally generated funds We also conducted a registration of existing businesses in the State and our version of the Lagos Yellow pages, a directory of small businesses, shows that we have 158,720 (One Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty) businesses in our State as at 2011 with significant increases expected in 2012.

Traffic Management

When we resolved to clean up Oshodi, a very congested part of Lagos that prevented access and thoroughfare through Agege Motor Road because street traders had taken over the road, our first task was to enumerate the number of street traders in order to plan their re-settlement.

Their new market is now finished and awaiting hand over.

Subsequent to the clean-up, our monitoring and data collection revealed that it was a well-considered effort and money wisely spent because:Speed survey shows that the average speed within the vicinity (Agege Motor Road) had increased by 300% from 10km/hr measured while developing the Strategic Transport Master Plan in 2008 to an average of 40km/hr in spite of increased traffic flow arising from traffic diverting (to Agege Motor Road) from Ikorodu Road and Apapa-Oworonsoki expressway. The fact that vehicles now have effective use of 2 clear traffic lanes is a contributory factor to this development.

Travel condition has also improved along Ikorodu Road where traffic volumes have reduced by 4% as Agege Motor Road now serves as an effective alternative for north to south movements in Mainland Lagos. Traffic speeds have consequently increased by 10%. Overall, our data analysis showed that the Oshodi clean- up measures will lead to travel time savings of 252 million hours, equivalent to 112,500 man-years savings leading to productivity gains in the Lagos Economy. Indeed the traffic improvements translate to an annual benefit within the Oshodi vicinity of around N10b.

The wider benefit to the Lagos Economy is far bigger and could reach N120 billion. As a result of the increase in travel speed from an average of 10km/ hr to 40km/hr, the amount of carbon emitted by vehicles has reduced by 48% to 76g/km. The noise level has also decreased from 73.73 dBA recorded in 2008 to an average of 65 dBA. This is a reduction of 12% in noise pollution.

The cost of developing other measures such as building a 1km bridge to bypass the troubled area of Oshodi and to achieve the result currently being experienced now in Oshodi will cost the Government N16.6 billion as opposed to under N300 million spent on relocating the traders and mobilizing enforcement to ensure the area remains clear. This leaves a surplus of just over N16.3 billion for more pressing infrastructure needs of the State.

Since August 2012 when we introduced a new traffic law to increase safety and reduce road traffic accidents, I was recently able to report to citizens the results of our monitoring

Continues on page 36

PAGE 36—SUNDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012

Continued from page 35 of the impact of the implementation of the law as follows: From the 25 General hospitals, the reports of accidents from motorcycles dropped from 646 to 525 cases in September; an 18.73% reduction, while deaths recorded between the same period dropped from 14 to 8, a 42.86% reduction. In terms of the impact of the law and our advocacy on healthcare, our recent monitoring and evaluation assessment report reveals that:a. 65% of people sampled after the law want to reduce alcohol intake as against 30% before; b. 93% now want to reduce drugs as against 71% before the law; c. 77% are now convinced that alcohol is a danger to them and their passengers if they drink and drive, as against 10% before the law; and only 4% now say they can still able to purchase alcohol within the motor park after the law, as against 58% before the law.

Budget

Similarly, we have taken data and budget statistics very seriously as our critical tool for planning and service delivery. We hold quarterly budget sessions year on year, we monitor performance vigorously and we have never performed below 70% of our budget commitments even though this is below our target of 90%.

Education

Data has proved quite useful in education management, just as in other sectors.

Although we started an emergency school repair and construction programme, data collection has helped us identify areas of more classroom needs and this has helped us allocate resources more judiciously. It has helped us to remain focused on the long gestation that education renaissance requires because we are seeing consistent upward results in the performance of students in their final examinations as a result of our many initiatives. For example, the final West Africa Examinations Council secondary school leaving results showed that 7% of students passed with 5 credits in one sitting with English and Mathematics in 2007. The result went up to 11% in 2008, 18% in 2009, 21% in 2010, and dropped to 19% in 2011. Our detail analysis of data of students performances at monthly education meetings that l inaugurated in 2011, and which I chair, resulted in the deployment of a cocktail of solutions, such as younger teachers, review of class promotion grades, involvement of parents, injection of funds and extra lessons. Perhaps at this point it will be remiss of me and dangerously ominous not to take a position about the still raging controversy back home, at least by the accounts in the local papers as of last weekend.

On THERE WAS A COUNTRY

My host, Professor Chinua Achebe, had chosen to document his account of an indelible personal experience in a new book titled, “There was a country – a personal history of Biafra”. It received and continues to receive mixed and in some cases hostile reception. In fact, some commentators suggested that the work had contributed to restoring old tensions and brewing new hostilities, prefacing pos-

Achebe/Awolowo controversy: ‘My own generation has moved on’ I checked the local sible inter-ethnic connews online and flict. Wherever your saw that things personal view may lie, were no longer at we cannot but obease back home in serve, from the tone of Nigeria. the commentary, that Some leaders of our national governmy ethnic group ments continue to fail had very strong us in the crucial duty views about parts of of being repositories the book. of information, data, Professor Achebe records and archives is from the Igbo as historical records ethnic group. As are indispensable you can also extools for policy develpect, there were opment. spirited responses Certainly, the disfrom leaders of course would have opinion from his been richer, less acriethnic group. monious and not preMy thoughts destined for tension if were to write to Proinstitutional national fessor Achebe to archiving and infordecline the invitamation disclosure was tion and proffer responsibly dissome excuse. I charged by the Federwonder if it crossed al Government of NiGov Fashola... his mind to find a geria. reason to ask me I am sure there are not to bother to other examples across come. the West African subBut I resolved that region. States must a commitment I had begin to see the conmade in honour to nection between inattend was more formation manageimportant than ment and inter-reliwhat anybody gious, ethnic and secmight say or feel. tional tension across Those were the valAfrica. ues on which I was That publication has raised. put me in some diffiMore importantly, cult straits and I will explain. this was a generaI speak here today tional disagreenot in person but by ment between the virtue of my office as principal parties of Governor of Lagos the events that took State. place when I was The invitation from barely four years Professor Chinua old.

Achebe to me is thereAs I said, the fore an honour to the management of the people of Lagos and, National Archives on their behalf, I thank and the publication him. My first invitaof what really haption was actually to pened at that time speak here in Decemwill certainly help ber 2011 but previous to ensure that nocommitments made body creates his that impossible. own facts.

When I suggested to But beyond that, Professor Achebe that my own generation I will write the speech has moved on. We and have somebody see our country difdeliver it, he was emferently. It also phatic in saying that seems to me that, he would rather wait for a year until many years after the conflict, some of the principal actors in the conflict such 2012.

Sometime early this year, I wrote to as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Yoruconfirm my acceptance and my atten- ba leader, and Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu had decided to move on. dance.

This was what Ojukwu said when I am Yoruba and interestingly a product of his seminal work, “Things fall Chief Awolowo passed on in the late Apart”, as a student of literature in a 1980s:- “the best President that Nigeria never had”.

Nigerian Secondary School.

It might interest you to also know that You cannot imagine my excitement as I prepared for this occasion some- one of the active military leaders of the time in August this year, when I heard time, a Yoruba General, did not object of his new book. I ordered a copy on- to his daughter subsequently marryline and requested that it be delivered ing an Igbo man.

My own aunt, a Yoruba Muslim, had to me in London in October whilst I a son for an Igbo Christian man and was attending an event there.

I was halfway through the book when he is as much my cousin as the others

Interestingly, it is only in Yoruba land, and I stand to be corrected, where the problem of abandoned properties did not afflict the Igbos.They returned back after the war to rightfully claim properties they had deserted in flight in the aftermath of the crisis

are. Today, the story of our progress in Lagos State cannot be complete without acknowledging the role of Ben Akabueze, an Igbo man from Anambra State, who has been my Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning for the last 5 (Five) years.

Interestingly, it is only in Yoruba land, and I stand to be corrected, where the problem of abandoned properties did not afflict the Igbos.

They returned back after the war to rightfully claim properties they had deserted in flight in the aftermath of the crisis.

It is instructive to also re-call that, when Lagos State Military Government, many decades after the war, tried to expropriate Ojukwu’s property in Lagos, it was a Yoruba lawyer who prosecuted the case successfully on his behalf.

In my own home, Ojukwu was most welcome. He and my uncle started primary school the same day and remained lifelong friends until he passed on.

It was therefore a duty to honour him as I did at his funeral when I said:“Ikemba, as he was fondly called ,was an illustrious Nigerian, a dogged fighter and an accomplished individual, whose footprints and legacies on Nigeria’s political landscape have earned him a secure place in its Hall of Fame”. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I hope I speak for my generation if I say we understand how difficult things were at the time.

We salute the men and women who kept our nation together, especially those who paid the supreme price to do so.

The only way we can honour their memory is not to re-open the old wounds, but to resolve that never again will our people’s blood be spilled by their own people in order to harness the diversity of our people and make our union more perfect.

It is by making this kind of resolve that we can gain from that conflict and use the lessons to surmount the challenges that stand in the way of our journey to the promise of our nation.

This is why I have inaugurated the bi-enniel Kuramo conference that seeks to provoke the formulation of a new globlal legal order which, in my view, will unlock the closed doors inhibit the progress of the African Continent.

One of its recent gains is the inauguration of the Lagos Court of Arbitration which will help keep arbitration business and practice in Africa instead of exporting them to Europe.

The Kuramo conference also seeks to repartriate Africa’s stolen wealth back home, develop a global standard for environmental clean up after oil spillages, reduce the proliferation of small arms amongst many other objectives that I think are laudable.

These for me must be some of the utilitarian values and pre-requisites of Statecraft in the 21st Century in Nigeria, West Africa and every part of the civilized world.

Being the keynote speech at the 2012 Achebe Colloquium on Africa held at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island USA on Friday December 7, 2012 delivered by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, on The Role of Statecraft in the African Renaissance amidst Regime Change and Ethno-Religious Insurgency – A West African Case Study.

PAGE 37—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

C M Y K

PAGE 38—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 39

C M Y K

PAGE 40—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 41

C M Y K

PAGE 42 — SUNDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012

ONE YEAR AFTER, MADALLA WORSHIPPERS RELIVE BLACK XMAS

I nearly went mad after losing husband, three children – Victim *The scars linger, survivors allege poor treatment by hospitals

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

LMOST one year ago, Christmas celebrations were brought to an abrupt end when terrorists forced their way into the premises of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Suleja, Niger State, blew up the church and killed many worshippers.

Hell was let loose at about 7:30 a.m. on December 25, 2011 as worshippers prepared for Morning Mass. No fewer than 40 people died and scores others seriously wounded in the attack.

Although the incident has come and gone with numerous others trailing it nationwide, the attack on the church is still very fresh in the minds of the bereaved, while the scars on victims will perpetually bring to agonizing memory the grisly attack; especially as another Christmas beckons.

Recently, the church held Holy EuchaThe scene of the Madalla bomb blast rist Mass to celebrate and pray for quick recovery of those that survived and they shall not be through my waist and ran through my shoulder crossing my chest. The iron the homb blast that rendered many forgotten”.

A victim of the blast in hospital people orphaned, widowed, jobless, At the service that was there for a month, while my musand traumatized. saw the survivors cle was cut off. My whole body was Speaking at the mass, the Parish going home with paralyzed, but, by the grace of God, I Priest, Rev. Father Isaac Achi, said it some clothing and started recovering at the hospital. I am was organized to pray for the departfood items as part of still recuperating.

“I am battling with neuropathy. My ed souls, rapid recovery as well as the support from the comfort of those who were not only church, Sunday Van- body produces some kind of burning injured, but also traumatized as a reguard observed that sensations and, when I sit down too sult of the attack. “Here we are to pray some of them could much, I find it difficult to bend my for comfort, pray for our lives, we pray not take part in the waist. I cannot move freely. Sometimes, God to grant eternal mercy to the demarch by the congre- when I wake up in the morning, it will parted souls. We also came to pray for gation to the memo- jerk; as I sit down now, if I want to those who were injured, so many were rial cemetery within move, I have to move with caution; if hospitalized, we want to pray to God the church premises not, one of my legs will drift.

“My job has since been affected. I for healing, pray for those that were in honour of the denot injured, but traumatized as result ceased-victims as a am the Director of Vital Industrial Elecof the attack”, he noted. result of severe inju- trical Production, I do electrical works, but this thing has affected me such that After a minute silence in honour of ry. the departed souls,. Achi told the conWith the yuletide I can not do my work anymore. See gregation that though it was painful approaching, major- my fingers, my hand cannot open to lose loved ones, death is temporal; ity of people in the again, neither can it close. It is very saying eternity is what people should area called on government and well- stiff. I had to employ the service of build first by holding firmly to their meaning Nigerians to take a cue from another person to be doing my work faith in Jesus Christ. their experience of last Christmas and for me whenever I get work. This has The cleric added, “We lost our relabe proactive on the growing insecuri- become a serious concern for me.

“And the way they handle the victives, parents, children, friends, but we ty in the country, to forestall recurrence tims at the hospital is not encouraging need to understand that there is resof the ugly incident. urrection. By the virtue of our faith, Some of the survivors relived their when you go for check-up there. The we know that our people are being givexperience of the black Christmas to doctors should know the pains we are passing through. They will give you en a place to sit by God’s side. They Sunday Vanguard. were killed in the course of service; Mr. Vitalis Ugokwe, a member of the appointment for three months. Our but you and I are not being put to Madalla Catholic Church, said he was check-up should be consistent, if they shame; it is a way to tell the whole sitting inside the canopy with his en- want people like us (victims) to surworld that we still exist and we are not tire family when the unfortunate inci- vive the trauma. Although they attend ashamed of Jesus Christ. dent happened. “I found myself on the to us, the process is not encouraging.

“It is too slow for a person suffering “We pray God who had called them ground. I was in coma but immedito himself to let their death be a blessately I regained consciousness, I to be put on three months check-up. ing to us. I am sure a time to immorshouted Jesus! Then, I began to see They gave us November 15, 2012. On talize all those who died in the face blood, dead bodies and everywhere getting there, we couldn’t meet the doctor. The process should be unique of terrorism on Christians in the counbadly shattered. try will come and here may be the cen“At the hospital, it was found that a that will guarantee my co-survivors tre. They were killed because of faith three-centimeter iron had pierced Continues on page 43

,

C M Y K

“And the way they handle the victims at the hospital is not encouraging when you go for check-up there.

The doctors should know the pains we are feeling

,

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 43

Continued from page 42 and I adequate treatment”.

In an emotionally laden voice, Emmanuel Obiukwu, who lost four children, could barely control his tears.

“Life remains as it is. It is God that has kept us because I don’t know where to start from. Will I start from that horrific Christmas day or this present time? The fact is that it is not easy for me and my wife, but, with God, everything is possible; we are managing; I am not moved”.

Speaking on his disposition to the church after the tragedy, Obiukwu said, “Since the incident happened, I have not, for once, stopped coming to church. “If I stay at home, will it bring back all my four children? If I stay at home, what will I be doing? If I die while in the house, I think that will be the worst thing to happen to me. It is better I die because of my faith and even in the church. If I die in the church, I am happy because the day that incident happened, it was God that saved me; not because of my wisdom.

I was with them in the church, but God allowed them to die and left me and my wife.

“My wife spent three months in hospital before she got herself back and my surviving daughter was admitted.

If God didn’t want it to happen, He would have stopped the bomber on the road. So, I cannot tell anybody not to go to church because of bomb attack. If you die in the church as a result of your faith, thank God; that is the best”.

A

nother member of the church, Mrs. Chioma Dike, who lost her husband and three children, narrated her trial. She said: “That fateful day was the Christmas day my lovely lhusband went to church with my five children: three boys and two girls. I was at home around 6 a.m. preparing Christmas meal, with the intention that when they came back, I would go for the second Mass at 8:15a.m; which is conducted in Hausa.

“So around 8 o’clock when I was fetching water from the well, I heard a loud bang which I had never heard before. I felt the effect of the sound right in my chest. I started shouting “my daddy!!!”, “Oh my five children!!!” I looked in our church direction; I saw smoke, dust, fire billowing.

I collapsed.

“I knew something disastrous had occurred on the church premises where the whole of my family was. People began to pour water on me. I couldn’t talk, neither could I breath. Shortly thereafter, I was rushed to hospital. Throughout that day, I was not conscious of where I was and what was happening to me.

“Immediately I regained consciousness, I asked about my husband; I told everyone around that I wanted to

*St Theresa’s Church in ruins after attack

Scars of black Christmas linger, survivors allege poor treatment by hospitals speak with my husband and my children. By that time, I was just like a mad woman. The medical officials were administering drugs and drip on me so that my blood pressure would come down. Later, I realized that my husband and three of my children were no more, while the remaining two sustained various degrees of injury.

One had nail inside his skull. The nail is there till now and the legs of the other got burnt completely.

“Since that time, I have not been myself. Even as I am speaking with

you can see, I still have pains as a result of the injuries I sustained from the incident. My two legs got burnt.

The first leg broke while the second leg was seriously fractured. I have spent a lot of money from my own purse because on the 10th of March, 2012, they sent me out of the hospital that I should go home. They said I was healed. By that time, my legs were still in bandage. I had to engage a private nurse to come to my house to treat me.

“But now, I feel better; but I am still having serious pains because the in-

as adhoc staff. But, as a result of the number of days I spent in hospital, my employment was terminated”.

Sunday Vanguard sought from the Parish Priest, Achi, to what level the church was affected? He said, “There is hope; we are not in any way discouraged in the sense that it is a thing that definitely has an end. It can’t continue forever. Even if it continues for life, God in heaven is the Master; he knows how to look after his flock.

So, there is hope that, very soon, with time, God has his own time for them to withdraw all their arms and they will be looking for a way out.

“Some people in town relocated.

Definitely, it affected not only the Catholic Church, but the entire Christian community. Some Muslims also moved out of the community; especially Muslims who were not Hausa. They packed out; they were afraid that something might happen and they would be the target.

“People should understand that period of Christmas is the period of peace and it is that peace we want to reign in our country. All those who are trying to disturb the peace of this country should find a way to allow peace to take over”.

On security, the priest continued, “Security is not government responsibility alone, it is everybody’s business. Nigerians should be vigilant. If you notice any strange movement around you, alert security agents who are expected to be up and doing.

“They should not play over security and should know that they are the first target. They should always be on alert.

Everyone should go about their lawful businesses in good spirit and show love to one another.”

According to the cleric, a total of 44 people died in the December 25, 2011 blast, 26 from the church.

My wife spent three months in hospital before she got herself back and my surviving daughter was admitted. If God didn’t want it to happen, He would have stopped the bomber on the road

C M Y K

you now, I am having chest pain. And, whenever I remember my lovely husband and children, I become sleepless; I will be restless. Sometimes, I behave like a mad woman. I cannot eat. I am on BP drugs to help restore my deteriorating health”.

On his own part, Mr. Sunday Onoja, 50, recalled, “The impact of the blast is still obvious around here. As

ner wound has not healed yet. All that I need now is assistance because I continue to spend money. I am appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to come to my aid”.

Mr. Chuwkwu Uche, a casual worker with a phone company, told Sunday Vanguard that he lost his job as a result of the fracture he had on his legs. “I work with a phone company

PAGE 44 --- SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

Global peace: Adeboye wants UN to implement its resolution

BY SAM EYOBOKA

I

N his quest for global peace, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Tuesday played host to the first International Conference on the Establishment of the Conflict Mediation Commission, where he reiterated his call for a global enforcement of the various United Nations resolutions on the advancement of the culture of peace.

He apologized on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan who was unavoidably absent, saying that the president had to excuse himself as a result of the happenings in the country, apparently referring to the loss of the Kaduna State governor and four others in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa State last Saturday.

Emphasizing the need for the UN to implement its resolutions in the effort to achieve world peace, Pastor Adeboye, also reiterated his call for the inclusion of a global network of spiritual leaders, academicians and government officials to fight intolerance, racism, terrorism and violence at all levels.

In his opening remarks at the forum made up of religious leaders drawn from the three major religions of the world--Christianity, Judaism and Islam---and handful of academicians and politicians which took place at the Youth Centre of the Redemption Camp on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Pastor Adeboye said “as religious leaders, parliamentarians and scholars, it is incumbent upon us to act to implement these UN resolutions on the ground and to assure that they come to life in the framework of conflict resolution and the prevention of conflicts wherever possible.

“It is our duty as clergy who lead the moral compass for our flocks, as parliamentarians who legislate for our countries and as scholars who are charged with educating our youth and citizens--to make sure that we inspire, legislate and teach the culture of peace to cease current conflicts from erupting,” he stated, noting that the preamble

R-L: General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Conference of European Rabbis, Mr. Philip Carmel, Chief Rabbi of Geneva, Dr. Izhak Dayan and Special Adviser to CAN President on AntiTerrorism, Rev. Ladi Thompson during the first International Conference on the Establishment of the United Nations Conflict Mediation Commission, held on Tuesday at Youth Centre of RCCG, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. PHOTO: KEHINDE GBADAMOSI. of the UNESCO constitution declares that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.”

Adeboye explained that the initiative which he had muted earlier at the UN is aimed at the construction of the ‘defences of peace in the minds of men’ by creating a culture of peace as called for in numerous UN resolutions, arguing that a culture of peace is a way to live together which requires “non-violence, tolerance and solidarity while acknowledging and respecting variety of traditions. This is the challenge before us all. This was the plank of President Goodluck Jonathan’s address to the General Assembly of the UN last

year when he proposed the establishment of a Conflict Mediation Commission."

He noted that it was time for the voice of religious leaders, academicians, politicians and other stakeholders to resound at the UN, stressing that he had first advocated the advancement of world peace at the UN in June 2011 in partnership with Knesset Rabbi Zeev, Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics.

Also speaking, the National President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor who was represented by his special adviser on Anti-terrorism, Rev. Ladi Thompson, hailed the initiative, adding that the gesture will also have

certain consequences “because the official inclusion of religious leadership at the diplomatic lexicon where concepts and terminologies hitherto limited to the religious world will come into play. Every religion has within its framework an existing peacekeeping and conflict mediation arsenal with expressions that have to be tempered for the understanding of academics.”

Dr. Tunji Braithwaite in his brief contribution, opined that the world is now seeking peace because because at the inception of the UN, those who drafted its constitution chose to remove God from the document, pointing out that so long as man will not obey the basic divine law of doing unto others what we want

Bayelsa Crash: CAN calls for probe ...says outcome must be made public

A

BUJA--THE President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has urged the Federal Government to ensure that the investigation into last Saturday's helicopter crash in Bayelsa was thorough, reports JOSEPH ERUNKE. The CAN president said he was worried at the frequency of air mishaps in Nigeria, the latest of which was last Saturday's crash.

Pastor Oritsejafor who issued a statement Wednesday, in Abuja, through his Special Assistant on Me-

dia and Public Affairs, Mr. Kenny Ashaka, commiserating with the families of those who lost their loved ones, regretted that Nigeria has lost many lives in recent times through air mishaps.

The CAN president said he backed the Federal Government, the Nigerian Navy and the Senate’s plan to investigate the mishap just as he expressed satisfaction with the decision of the Governors' Forum to engage a consultant to serve as an observer in the investiga-

Continued on Page 45

them to do unto us, there will be conflicts and wars. Similarly, he said he was yet to see any religion promoting bellicosity or wars just as he gave thumbs down for the Nigerian constitution, saying that it was forced on us by the military and in that state it is difficult to have peace. “Without God and justice there cannot be peace. That is one sure way, we can mediate and enthrone peace in the world,” he enthused.

The Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Mustafa Ceric defined Islam to mean peaceful submission to God which presupposes that you cannot force somebody to become a Muslim because that would be forced submission to God and God will not accept that type of submission. He went further to say that a Muslim therefore must be a man of truth and what that means is that Islam stands for peace.

The international director of the conference of European Rabbis, Rabbi Philip Carmel, who spoke on ‘The rise of fundamentalism; challenges and resolutions panel’, is of the view that fundamentalism is often twisted to suit personal purposes and therefore twist their religion to

achieve their own purpose.

On his part, the vice chancellor of the Redeemers University, Prof.

Debo Adeyewa who was represented by Prof.

Ahmed Yerima, said education or educational institutions can enthrone the culture of peace by teaching, incorporating moral rectitude so that research efforts will not just be on ordinary social matters but a major course in the institutions.

The Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh who was represented by Bishop Theologian of the Communion, Prof. Dapo Asaju informed the gathering that there are already two Nigerian universities which have changed their department of religious studies to that religious studies and peace resolutions.

He quoted two Nigerian nationalist leaders, Nnamdi Azikiwe and the Ahmadu Bello, arguing over governance in the newly independent Nigeria. While Azikiwe advised his northern colleague: “Let us forget our differences”, Bello retorted, “No, let us not forget our differences but recognize and discuss them; that way we can know how to deal with each other.”

Okotie's church donates N5m to charities

T

HE Household of God Church, Oregun, La gos donated a total of N5 million to its KARIS award winner and four other charitable organizations at its GRACE 2012 programme in Lagos.

Pastor of the church, Rev. Chris Okotie handed out a N1 million cheque to Mrs. Victoria Audu, wife of the posthumous KARIS award winner, late Prof.

Ishaya Audu.

Four other charities, Pacelli School for the Blind And Partially Sighted, Strong Tower Mission, Spinal Cord Injuries Association and the Sunshine Foundation got N1 million donation each, up from N500,000.

It was a star-studded affair as top movie stars, politicians and other celebrities graced the event. The array of Christmas lights that adorned the trees on the well paved street in front of the church added colour to the night.

Becky Oyibo emerged the new Queen Esther, in a Bible costume pageant that was the highlight of a fun filled night where Rev. Okotie also thrilled guests with a 5-star live performance of his self composed gospel music.

GRACE 2012 has come and gone, leaving visitors a great night to remember.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 45

Truth & Light Bible School hold convocation

T

THE CONSOLATIONS OF CHRIST WHEN Christians preach the false prosperity gospel, their focus is on this life. They talk of Christ becoming poor that Christians may become rich.” (II Corinthians 8:9). B u t the true gospel is not about poor Christians becoming rich in this life.

It is about rich Christians becoming poor.

Neither is the gospel about this world but about the kingdom of God. It is about the great reward God has prepared in heaven for the redeemed as consolation for accepting the vicissitudes of this life.

(Matthew 5:11-12).

The choices are straight-forward. Our consolation can be in heaven or it can be on earth? There is no room for double-mindedness.

(James 1:7-8). If we want to be consoled now, we are going to be dispossessed later. If we gain this life, we will lose the life to come. (Matthew 16:25-26).

Role reversal

J

esus presents this kingdom dynamic in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man lived sumptuously on earth, while Lazarus lived in penury. However, there was a reversal of fortune when they died. The rich man ended up in a place of torment, while Lazarus ended up in Abraham’s bosom; a place of felicity.

Did the rich man come to such a terrible end because he was a bad man on earth? Jesus never said anything like that. We are not told he abused Lazarus, or that he did him any harm.

But he clearly had no concern for him and disregarded him. Abraham simply told him he ended up in a place of torment because he was rich on earth: “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.’” (Luke 16:25).

The rich man already got what he wanted. He had big houses, good food, expensive cars, lovely clothes, and high

The true gospel is about rich Christians becoming poor in this life social status. He was complete in them. But he discovered in death that his comforts were gone for the ages of the ages; whereas the joys of poor Lazarus just commenced. How much better, therefore, is poverty in this life, with the friendship of God, than riches, with all that the world can bestow? And how foolish it is to seek our chief pleasures in this life of merely 80 to 100 years?

The rich man became a beggar in death. He begs for mercy for his wayward brothers. He begs for water. But he who denied Lazarus a crumb in life is now denied a drop of water in death. James warns: “there will be no mercy to those who have shown no mercy.”

(James 2:13). The day is coming when those who now despise the poor would gladly receive kindness from them.

Jesus says: “Ask and it shall be given you.”

(Matthew 7:7). However, the time is coming when men will ask until they are blue in the face and it shall not be given to them.

That is the message that pastors have been careful to hide from Christians. According to Jesus, there will be a reversal of fortune in the life to come. Therefore, he declares: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”

(Luke 6:20-21). At the same time, he says: “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.”

(Luke 6:24-25).

Those who are rich in this life will be distressed in the ages to come, while those who are distressed now will

be comforted. That is the consolation of Christ: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” (Psalm 126:5).

Death, the leveller

I

n life, many bad things happen to the poor from which the rich are exempted. But death is the equaliser. In spite of his wealth, the rich man could not escape the fate of the poor man. He also died. But the beggar was the first to die.

As a rule, the rich live longer. They eat better food, live in more sanitary conditions and have better access to good medical facilities. Nevertheless, they also die in the end. Indeed, it is advantageous to the poor for their miserable life to be brought to a speedy end. Thus, Isaiah says: “The good men perish; the godly die before their time, and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from evil days ahead.

For the godly who die shall rest in peace.”

(Isaiah 57:1-2).

Jesus gave no indication that poor Lazarus was buried. They probably just dumped his body somewhere. He died and people forgot about him. It was good riddance to bad rubbish. But when the rich man died, he was buried. He lay in state, with a train of mourners all around him. They probably put him in a Mercedes-Benz coffin. His obituary was carried in all the national dailies. Everyone who was anyone was at his burial. An orator was there to sing his praises. A monument was probably erected over his grave. How ironic that the man whose life was thus celebrated was at that very moment in torment for his self-centred life.

On the other hand,

angels carried dead Lazarus with pomp and circumstance to A b r a h a m ’ s bosom. While alive, his body was covered with sores; but in death he was without spot or wrinkle. Though poor in life, he was now rich in death. The misery of the formerly rich man was aggravated by his knowledge of the new felicity of Lazarus. Thus, Jesus said to the Jews who were enriched by the gospel: “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.” (Luke 13:28).

Life lessons

W

hat lessons are we to draw from this? Men of the world have their portion in this life. (Psalm 17:14). The poor will be consoled in the world to come. Thus, the men in the Hebrew “Hall of Faith” despised the good things of this world: “They desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrew 11: 16). Christians need to tell God emphatically we don’t want to receive our consolation here and now. We want it in heaven. “He that believes shall not make haste.” (Isaiah 28:16).

Living in luxury while unmindful of the distresses of the poor and the afflicted is very provoking to God. He says in Amos: “Woe to you who lie on beds of ivory, stretch out on your couches, eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall; who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, and invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; who drink wine from bowls, and anoint yourselves with the best ointments, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.”

(Amos 6:3-6).

RUTH & Light School of Theology, OlodiApapa, Lagos recently held its sixth convocation with the graduation of 58 students, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. Speaking at the occasion, rector/founder, Rev. Williams Ovuoduo said the interdenominational school has been in the vanguard of training Christian leaders to become vessels of honour for the end time harvest.

“We have graduated students who have been making impact in their various locations,” he said.

Rev. Ovuoduo urged the graduands to be ambassadors of Christ by spreading the gospel, adding that the world will judge Christendom through their conducts and exploits.

Continuing, he said “You have received truth and light of the gospel, go ahead and impart your generation for Christ and withstand the devices of the wicked one in the world. You are no more inferior and ignorant, you have received understanding. I wish you the best in your calling.”

One of the graduating students, Mr. Oghenekaro Friday, appreciated the school management for imparting knowledge and exposing the students to various theological teachings which, he said, have equipped and prepared them for the works of the Lord.

TAC Special Marshal Unit is 3

T

HE Apostolic Church, Lagos Western and Northern Areas LAWNA, Special Marshal Unit 92, Ojota Command has been urged to reduce road traffic accidents to the barest minimum especially as this year's festive season apporahes, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. The Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Ojota Unit, Mr. Leye Adegboyega gave the advice during its third anniversary, official decoration of grand patron, award and fund raising of LAWNA, Special Marshal, Unit 92 Rs2.17 Ojota Command at The Apostolic Church headquarters, Ketu, Lagos.

Urging the special marshals to improve safety, Adegboyega said road safety is a collective responsibility of individuals that require the attention of all and sundry in the society and therefore should not be left for the Corps.

Further he said: “Let’s use this medium to reflect on our performance and adjust where necessary so as to meet with the onerous task of safety on our roads. Although there is a reduction in the fatality rate on our roads, I think we can still come up with measures that can further reduce road traffic crashes in totality.”

Makinde in Umuahia for special church dedication

P

RELATE, Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Sunday Ola Makinde, will on Saturday dedicate St. John’s Methodist Church, Umukabia-Okpuala, Umuahia North LGA, Abia State.

The newly constructed and fully furnished church, with capacity for 1,000 worshippers has an underground for Sunday School and an overflow on the upper gallery.

The church was built and donated by renowned publisher and philanthropist, Chief Ikechi Emenike, in memory of his late father, Pa Emenike Uwagbama. The dedication service will also double as a memorial thanksgiving service marking oneyear remembrance of the late patriarch who incidentally was the first Choir Master of St John’s Methodist Church in 1940.

Oritsejafor calls for probe Continued from Page 44 tion.

"All hands must be on deck because Nigeria cannot afford to lose highly placed government officials, other categories of the Nigerians," the statement said, adding "the investigations must involve aircraft investigation specialists in order to ensure that such panels come up with recommendations that would forestall future occurrences and avert rumour being peddled.

"This time, the outcome of such investigations must be made public and their recommendations implemented after due process must have been followed", the statement added.

PAGE 46 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

DERIVATION WARS

Sen. Anietie Okon takes on Governor Kwankwaso O

false. Everybody knows that the terms and conditions of the earliest oil prospecting concessions involved no federal funding; not even in kind by way of r u d i m e n t a r y infrastructure. Which is why the likes of Shell had to build roads, bridges and jetties to get to where the oil could be drilled. Besides, even if federal funding had been involved, the South-South contributed its fair share to the federal purse. Never a resource-poor region, the country earned as much from the palm produce (oil and kernel), timber, rubber, cocoa and marine produce of the SouthSouth as it did fr om

RDINARILY, we would ignore Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso’s latest outburst to the effect that states in the South-South receive more from the Federation Account than their counterparts in the North and therefore are becoming wealthier in the face of a North that is fast descending into penury. The man’s obsessive preoccupation with the distribution of federally-collected revenues and the derivation funds that go to oil-bearing states of the SouthSouth is well-known.

Governor Kwankwaso’s position on derivation But these are no longer ordinary times for Nigeria. And, his unhealthy fixation with the oil wealth of the South-South notwithstanding, Dr Kwankwaso is no ordinary Nigerian.

In addition to being an educated man, he is a two-time governor of an important state in Nigeria and has served variously as a member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a Federal Parliamentarian an d Minister of Defence! If left unchallenged (at every turn, whenever he voices it), his prejudice against the SouthSouth might confuse less-exposed Nigerians who could then be tempted to accept his faulty and ahistorical postulations as gospel truth. It may even be the case that Dr Kwankwaso, who should know better, is hoping for precisely such an outcome; deploying the timehonoured propaganda tactic that a false or irrational argument, if proclaimed loudly and often enough, can begin to take on the ring of truth and reason.

More funds allocated to the S/South States? No Governor Kwankwaso needs to be told if he does not know, or reminded in the event that his memory has failed him, that states in the South-South have not been allocated more funds than their Northern counterparts out of the random favouritism or magnanimity of a benevolent father-figure living somewhere in the arid emptiness of Kano State. Rather, what the SouthSouth states receive derives legitimately from the resource that is exploited at great discomfort to their citizens within their territories. More to the point, South-South states share of federally-collected revenues is MANDATED by the supreme law of the land; the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Why and how this simple fact has failed to sink home in certain quarters of Nigeria is a testimony to greed-induced obduracy.

13% devrivation not responsible for backwardness of the North And just how much is the revenue that the Kwankwasos of this world; the Junaid Mohammeds and Babangida Aliyus are bellyaching about? Thirteen per cent. A mere, insignificant 13 per cent of the revenue that is obtained by a supposedly federal Nigeria from the South-South states is now being held responsible for the backwardness of Northern states! If ever a dog had to be given a bad name in order to draw and quarter it, this clearly is it.

Why was there no significant development in the North before derivation?

The one question that Northern

Senator Aniete Okon.... The Kwankwosos of the North still see themselves as lords and masters of Nigeria leaders who carry on like Dr whatever the North had to offer. We have Kwankwaso have consistently failed to also heard the even more laughable address is why the North did not argument that the oil wealth of the Southrecord any significant developmental South came from the flora and fauna of lead over the South-South or even the the North that died years ago and were rest of the country, in the years when swept down to the south and deposited oil-bearing states were not getting 13 there as crude oil! In response to which per cent from the Federation Account. the South-South could argue that such After all, of the 52 years that Nigeria flora and fauna would not have lived in has functioned as an independent the North in the first place if the moisturepolitical entity, the South-South has laden winds from the South had not made received 13 per cent derivation funds their existence possible. only for barely 9; not even a quarter of Why bullying will not work All of which go to show clearly that the Kano State governor and many others who think like him do not believe that they owe the country a sensible argument (even though none exists) to justify the abrogation of the current revenue allocation arrangements. Having decided that they want, or should have, what the Constitution and nature have given to the South-South, Northern leaders of their ilk have decided, like the schoolyard bully, to go all out and take it; fact, logic and reason be damned! People like Kwankwaso are probably entitled to indulge in the favourite pastime of dreaming about getting their grasping hands on the 13 per cent derivation funds of South-South States.

What they are NOT entitled to; what we must quickly and firmly disabuse their the period. Besides, before there was minds of, is that they can bully the rest of oil in significant volumes, there had the country into returning to the dark, been cotton, groundnut, tin, columbite, unjust past when the insult of the wholesale hides and skins, etc. and the North deprivation of the South-South was heaped received, NOT 13 per cent, but 50 per on the injury of our oil-polluted land.

Of course, the typical bully is not given cent of revenue therefrom! The illogicality of the Kwankwaso position to much introspection. So it may well be that it is the payment of 13 percent as that the Northern leaders who want to get derivation revenue to South-South their hands on the oil wealth of the Southstates that has underdeveloped the South, by any means possible, have not thought long and hard about the North, never fails to astound. consequences and timing of their Pass the test of fairness and reason manouvres and utterances. They would be Precisely because they are the well-advised to do so. The heydays of unfortunate outcome of befuddled feudalism are long gone. The South-South thinking, all the arguments that will resist, and, in fact, repel any attempt Northern leaders have advanced to to foist an inequitable revenue allocation justify their attempt to deny due formula on Nigeria. recompense to oil-bearing The injustice from Kano communities have failed the simple Is it not ironic that the Governor of Kano tests of reason and fairness. The country has been told that since the State is a leader of the “reverse 13 per funding of early oil exploration in cent” movement? Perhaps the man has yet Nigeria came from federally-sourced to hear of the adage that those who live in revenues, the North must hold a glass houses should be careful with stones. perpetual lien on all subsequent oil The truth is that if any state in Nigeria revenues. But this claim is patently does not deserve what it gets from the Federation Account, that state is Kano.

,

What the SouthSouth states receive derives legitimately from the resource that is exploited at great discomfort to their citizens within their territories

,

Nigerians, including Kwankwaso himself, know that the population claims of Kano State (and the reason it was allocated the highest number of local government areas in the country) are bogus in their entirety – a consequence of the arbitrariness of military junta regimes. Yet its alleged high population and huge number of local government areas form the bases for the monies that go to Kano State from the general pool. The rest of the country and the South-South in particular have so far elected to overlook the gross injustice of this underserved preferment. Maybe it is because Kano State, even the entire North, has been allowed to get away with their decidedly bogus population claims that the likes of Dr Kwankwaso have been emboldened to set their sights on the patrimony of the South-South. Sooner or later, the truth will be out about Kano and other states whose population claims defy every verifiable demographic tendency.

The South-South will not accept any constitutional amendment and/or other legislation that does not address this injustice.

The point has been made elsewhere and at various times, but bears repeating here, that, not too long ago, the revenue-sharing formula between the federating units of this country was 50 per cent. If, at 56, Governor Kwankwaso can feign ignorance of this elementary fact of Nigerian history, surely he is sufficiently educated to have read it up? People of the South-South know well enough that the reason 50 per cent derivation formula was satisfactory to his predecessors in Northern leadership whereas a mere 13 per cent is now verboten to Kwankwaso’s generation is to be found in the fact of crude oil and its current prevalence in the South-South. Time was when even customs duties were duly paid to the federating units to which the imported items were consigned. Northern leaders of the time vigorously defended their region’s right to 50 per cent of whatever the country earned from their territory. It is nothing if not a sign of the indolence of the current crop of Northern leadership that their predatory sights have refused to focus on the vast, untapped wealth begging to be exploited in their own backyard. Thank goodness there are still people like Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State in the North who have stoutly defended resource control by local communities and states and the urgent need to look beyond oil to more creative solutions to the problem of Nigerian underdevelopment.

Unfortunately, the Kwankwosos of the North still see themselves as lords and masters of Nigeria and the oil wealth of the South-South as theirs to plunder as of right. To them, the events of the last 20 years did not happen; the North, they are wont to believe, continue to exercise a veto over the fate of Nigeria in general and South-South in particular. Nothing else explains the arrogance and insensitivity with which they have taken to approaching issues that border on national cohesion.

50% Derivation is non-negotiable They are welcome to their illusions. For us in the South-South, the word needs to go out. The bad old days of unmitigated oppression of oil-bearing states and communities are gone, and gone for good.

A return to true federalism and 50 per cent revenue allocation formula remain nonnegotiable conditions for our long-term participation in the Nigerian project. We are not, have never been and have had good cause not to be, desperate to be part of Nigeria. So until our minimum conditions are met, our belief in Nigeria must remain tenuous, at best. To paraphrase Marx, we have nothing to lose but exploitative ties to a national contraption dominated by a myopic elite that have stubbornly refused to be dragged into the 21st century.

NEXT: HOW TO DEVELOP THE NORTH AND STEM ROILLING POVERTY.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 47 chimeena@yahoo.com 08026350360

A scene from the stage play OU are staging a play this season, what is this about and where are you staging it?

‘Mad King of Ijudiya,’ is an adaptation of the Christmas story and is a really exciting play that features a rich blend of folklore, traditional dance and music that naturally transports the audience to a typical African village setting. The story is about an awed King King Ero ba ni’se, the great King of Ijudiya, who in the discovery of a rival within his territory, ‘flips his lid’ completely and goes to an outrageous extent to prove that he is the one ordained by the gods to rule.

Even more annoying to the King is the discovery that the new entrant on the scene is a mere child. In order to eliminate the encroachment on his sovereignty by this rather strange opposition, Ero ba ni’se tries by all means to get him out of the way.The play will be showing at the Agip Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan from Saturday 29 th to Sunday 30thDecember 2012.

Is there truly a Town called Ijudiya? What is Ijudiya like?

Ijudiya is a make-belief province and like Nigeria, held to ransom by various systems Leaders -in their ‘self-seeking’ at times become tyrants; this cuts across religious, political, traditional leaders and at times, ‘captains’ of industry ; Followers- either too timid to demand good leadership or totally blinded by tribal, religious, class divides or any other factors that make them myopic thereby preventing them from seeing the ‘big picture’ and this relegates them to living in conditions that are less than what God has ordained; Syco-

The Making of King Ijudiya, an adapted Christmas Story A

yo Jaiyesimi is the writer of Mad King of Ijudiya, a stage play expected to flag off at the Muson Centre, Lagos next week. In this interview with Vanguard, the playwright shares her experience about how she realised this seemingly theatrical accomplishment.

phants- who constantly attach themselves to the King’s courtyard, gleaning off the power, fame and enrichment, forgetting their mandates of service, empowerment and protection of their people; Oracles– represented in the greatness of our ‘intellect’‘culture’and ‘values’. Our Intellect-Nigerians are brilliant and all over the world have contributed to the development of countries that they find themselves, proffering solutions and distinguishing themselves in those locations but this very often is a stumbling block back home in our motherland. The intellectual laurels become battlefields – battles for individual recognition pulling down teamwork and passion to elevate others, big-talk-nowalk, cruel criticism – without trying to ‘build our bits of the broken bridges.

Your previous stage play, The Five Maids of Fadaka’ was terrific! Tell us about it…

The Five Maids of Fadaka was a really successful theatre outing and had really good

,

Y

rich heritage we have as a nation and flaunt the diversities that we have, which if pulled together, makes us a truly unique nation. I am PROUDLY NIGERIAN!

N

The Mad King of Ijudiya is a highly entertaining drama piece, mixed with dance and folklore

,

reviews. Apart from the values and lessons woven into my stories, I ‘show off ’ the

igeria is really blessed when it comes to the performing arts and literature. Our folklore, our literature, our dance, our drama are not only very colourful, but also very expressive. The Mad King of Ijudiya captures all this and I am sure you will agree that this message is apt, considering what we are going through as a nation.

What do you do for a living? Are you a Performing Artiste? Where did you get your inspiration?

I am a Human Resource Practitioner and Chartered

Accountant, with varied work experience in the Public Service, Consulting and the Financial Services Industry.

As part of my contribution to community, myself and other professionals with the same vision and passion set up the Societal Positive Impact Initiative(SPIIN). SPIIN has organs through which we try to make an impact on society and one of them is the Thespian Family Theatre. Other organs include a Youth Resource Centre and OMF Foundation for Asthma. The Chairman of SPIIN, Mr. Clement Baiye and 11 other senior professionals form the nucleus of SPIIN. I am passionate about youth mentoring and change. I am also an avid lover of contemporary and theatre arts, and I have been able to express my love for the arts through the THESPIAN Family Theatre. The Mad King of Ijudiya, as with most of my plays such as the Five Maids of Fadaka, Okunrin Ogun and Siddon de Look, is a highly entertaining drama piece, mixed with dance and folklore. Tunji Sotimirin, lecturer in the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos and a very popular name in the world of Creative Arts had directed two of my plays.

Tunji is a very popular face on stage and Nigerian television programmes. This production is however being directed by Abiola Segun Williams, a popular face on the TV Soap Opera ‘Tinsel’.

Where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration comes from what I believe in. I believe that Man is a product of his own thoughts and aspirations’ – Proverbs 22:9. we believe in is therefore very important. Our parents shaped our beliefs with folklore and stories and for many of us it helped develop our values.

Ndokwa Vanguard holds 7th anniversary

D

ELTA State community based newspaper, Ndokwa Vanguard will on December 26 hold her 7th year anniversary at Benvo Twins Hotel, Kwale.

The event will be chaired by pharmacist Paul Osogbue Enebeli,President General,Ndokwa National Union, while Honourable, Ochor C. Ochor,Transition Chairman,Ukwuani local

Government serves as chief host of the occasion.

Highlight of the event according to a release signed

by Alaska Ekele,the publisher/ Editor- in- Chief of the paper include; presentation of a personality centred book titled, ‘’Ndokwa Torchbearers, Intelligent Investigation Report of part of Aboh Division,by Captain J.S Miller (1931) and presentation of

awards to friends, sons and daughters of Ndokwa land.

Among the recipients of the award, are Dr. Austin Atimo Odili, Chief Godwill Obielum, Sir Dele Omenogor, Chief Benson Ogwu, Hon Friday Osanebi, Barr. Chidi Egwuenu and Chief (Mrs) Edwina Egwuanumku. Other are Chief Chux Mogbolu, Faze, late Ubulu, Chief D.F.O. Amudo, A.O. Abimbola among others.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

When Culture home fetes children in Lagos

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

CUL TURE CULTURE

W “

E believe in the use of our culture to address issues that have left us divided, and because our prosperity as individuals and country lies in the values that we inculcate in our children, issues relating to the appreciation and respect for our cultural diversity and other values such as ethnic and religious tolerance are best inculcated in children when they are young”.

Those were the words of the Director General of Centre for Black Arts And Civilization (CBAAC), Prof Tunde Babawale which heralded several exhilarating performances by school children at the CBAAC annual Children’s festival held last week at the National Stadium, Lagos.

The festival with theme, “Beauty in Our Diversity:Celebrating Creativity”, had in attendance dignitaries such as John Ufot, Director of Culture who represented Minister for Culture, Chief Eden Duke; Artistic Director of National Troupe of Nigeria, Martin Adaji; Senior Cultural Affairs officer of the US Consulate, Bene Uche; US Public Diplomacy Officer, Rhonda Watson and Chief Oprah Benson the ‘ yeye oge’ of Lagos who chaired the occasion.

Schools in attendance were New Era School, Holy Child College, Fidel Madonna College of Excellence, Nigerian Navy College, Rolex Comprehensive College, Awodiora secondary school, YABATECH Staff College, Unique High School, Mbari Mbayo Secondary School, Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Solid Rock School and Ewutuntun Senior Grammar School.

T

he festival kick-started with an opening music by Jimi Solanke’s band which was followed by a performance by legendary theatre group. Their performances lighted the entire main exhibition hall of the National Theartre and set the stage for excellent performances by the competing schools.

In line with the festival theme, “Beauty in Our Diversity:Celebrating Creativity”, both the Art exhibition and cultural dance competition had all the competing schools, showcase diverse cultural outfits, dance, songs and different forms of the people's identity during

Fidel madonna college of excellence performing at the festival photo by Prisca Sam-Duru coronations and marriages.

Ewutuntun Secondary School opened the floor with their performance which represented the cultures of the

Yoruba people. It was an amazing display of exquisite dance with the combination of acrobatic displays which blew the minds of the audi-

ence. And just when the audience thought they had seen the best of the festival, Fidel Madonna College of Excellence stormed the stage

with a colourful dance drama entitled,” The Coronation of the Oba of Benin”. Their coordination and synchronization perfectly interpreted the title of their performance which was more than wonderful and to crown it all, they looked radiant in their glamorous traditional costumes which added to the ambience of the celebration.

At the end of the competition, it was Rolex Comprehensive College that carried the day while Fidel Madonna College of Excellence and Ewutuntun Senior Grammar School came second and third respectively.

The Art exhibition which featured paintings, drawings in diverse media had Nigerian Navy Secondary School emerge winner, while Solid Rock School and Stadium Secondary School took second and third positions respectively.

Memo to God's servants BYJAPHET

ALAKAM

BOOK REVIEW

I

T was Apostle Paul who foresaw what was going to happen in the future when he warned his son in the lord, Timothy in 11Tim. 3; 1-5, “that in the last days perilous times will come... ”And a critical look at what is going on in many churches all over the world, especially in Nigeria today confirms the fulfillment of that prophecy as many churches have now been turned into business centers and every Tom, Dick and Harry are into the business, little wonder there is proliferation of churches all over the cities. For example there is hardly any street in the cities that you will pass without having two to three churches.

But the great question that have been on the lips of many is why is it that despite the number of churches in the country, the crime rate is increasing by the day and the answer boils down to the fact that many of of them (servants of God) have failed in their pastoral responsibility to keep the gospel pure and free from false teachings rather they are only there to serve their belly.

The rot in the body of Christ, especially the attitude of many servants of God has become so worrisome to the extent that many have vowed not to go to church again. Though many servants of God are comfortable with the development as they are smiling to banks every day, but one man who is not comfortable with that is Archbishop John Amara Maduka,

a servant of God himself and the General Overseer of First African Gospel Mission and as a response to the ugly development he came out with a new book that seeks to call the servants of God to order titled Critical Essays for God’s Servants.

Coming at a time when many Criti servants of Serv cal Essa God need a Ano ants; J.Ays for G critical Nig inted Pu Madu od’s eria ; 201 blishers ka; approach , 2; P P. 12 Aba, to their noble 3. profession, the author who has seen it all having worked in the secular world as a teacher and in God’s vineyard as a minister for over three decades in the 22 chapter book aptly address some of the evils and misconduct of many servants of God and proffers some useful solution on the way out.

In chapter one, titled Calling, the author talks about the need for servants of God to know why they are in the profession. Here, the seasoned servant of God points out that many people have left the track because they are not called by God rather they are just into the ministry for their own selfish gain. According to him, if God calls someone, He directs the person to know why he is called and gives him the grace to do the work very well. From chapters two downwards, the author highlights some of the issues that hinder the ministry of many servants of God like their insincere relationship with God, the source of their power, their

relationship with their wives, fellow ministers and other church members.

He did not end it there, he also listed some other issues like A minister and his temper, preachers who do not listen to other preachers message, pride, unforgiving spirit among ministers of God, ministers attitude to some influential people or money bags in the church, ministers who build churches and not the members, postings and transfer of church workers, conventions, seminars and crusades, their attitude towards them and others.

The author also looks at the role of other workers in the ministry like the elders, Ushers or wardens, Deacons/ Deaconesses, pay masters in the church and call for the need for division of labour among them so that all will work harmoniously for the progress of the work of God. Laced with some poetic verses, the author with the use of true life stories and experiences highlights most of the evils that has stood as the rock of Gibratar in the life of many servants of God and calls for a rethink. Noting that servants of God as leaders should lead by example, they must follow the truth and put it into practice. They should understand that they are not God, so they are bond to make mistakes so whenever they do, they should humbly accept their wrongs and submit themselves to God so that He will forgive and accept them back.

Written in very simple English for easy understanding, the book Critical Essays for God’s Servants is a well researched manual that tends to fill some of the missing links in the life of many servants of God. It is indeed another valuable contribution to all Christians especially servants God, so I recommend to to all.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER, 23, 2012,PAGE 49

H

i

readers, in March 2010, we received an invite from a couple in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria to attend their wedding. They wished that we could be a part of their celebration because they had met through the help of the page. Though we could not attend, we were very happy to share in their joy and to know that the purpose of writing this is not lost.

We are aware that this couple’s story is not an isolated one. Just as we want to know about your challenges, we would also love to share in joys. So, if you have found your spouse or girlfriend through this link, or your request for sponsorship or networking has been successful, please share your story with us. You can be assured that we will celebrate you with style. Looking forward to read from you. Do have a lovely Sunday!

Networking/ Sponsorship Searching Female •A family, who was involved in the recent Delta state flood, are homeless and needs financial assistance, call pastor Ezekiel.08057849513 •Alex, 18, needs a kind hearted person to help in sponsoring her school, by paying her fees. 08103548390

•Sarah, 23, busty, needs a hot and dynamic man, for a romantic relationship.

08165741029 •Pat, 23, romantic, needs a

needs a God fearing and employed man, for a relationship that will lead to marriage.

08102362446

Searching Male

•A clean guy, reside in Lagos needs a pretty fair, intelligent and God fearing girl a NIgerian or American for a relationship, 08022503211 •Arinze, decent and cute, needs a beautiful and rich lady that resides in either Enugu or Anambra, for Marriage.

07031999879 •Ike, 35, needs a responsible lady, aged 28-34, for marriage.08060362124, 08081739992 •John, 36, needs a nice and employed lady, for a serious relationship, aged 25-32.

07033225295 •Og, 29, resides in Delta state, needs a beautiful and humble

Links

•Someone, wants link up Osaruwese Confidence, they lost contact since 2007.

07067775115 •Olalere Ashiru, from Ibadan Oyo state, wants to link up with Barrister Shadiyat, she from Kaduna state, but resides in Warri Delta state, her last phone no is 08052161384, I can be reach on this no.

07055964592 •Lawrence, wishes to link up with Itoro, a student in the early 90s of Holy Child secondary school Calabar.

08134742943

Friends Searching Female

•Nora, 19, resides in Benin, needs male and female friends who knows what life is all about.08063341246 Smile, resides in Delta state and needs a serious male female friend, who has idea and connection on real business.

0 8 1 0 2 3 1 8 6 0 0 w w w. g e t inspiredtips.blogspot.com

Searching Male

•Young, needs friends male and female, aged 30-50.

08136627922 •Tome, 18, chocolate in complexion, from Delta state, needs female friends, aged 16-20, for friendship.

08160402835 •Theophilus, 23, resides in Lagos, needs female friends from anywhere in Nigeria for friendship.08098739295, 07031651786 •Patrick, needs foreign and Nigerian, friends.

08036784783

Lovers

very responsible and serious man for a fun filled relationship. 08165741029 •Annabelle, 24, busty, needs a man, for a relationship.

07051441915 •Titi, 32, a nurse, needs a man, who is a graduate and employed, for marriage.

08186170618, 07057258486 •Nancy, needs a man who is ready to settle down.

08166245147 •Bb, 28, 5.5ft, tall, busty, sexy, chubby pretty, a graduate and resides in Abuja, needs a rich, presentable and financially ok man, to take care of her, for a relationship, aged 32-60. 07032384080 •A lady, 45, resides in Delta state, employed and needs a humble, God fearing man, who is employed, aged 50-55 for marriage.08039096626 •Mercy, 24, needs a man for a romantic relationship.

08165741029 •Zainab, 30, a trader, needs a responsible man, for marriage.08087189479 •Vera, 25 and busty, needs a sexually active man.

08068684663 •Ella, 20, attractive and beautiful, needs a financially buoyant guy, for a love affair. 08154884237 •Beauty, 25, pretty and busty,

DISCLAIMER!

lady, with high libido, aged 21 and above, for a relationship. 08069796112 •Edwards, 38, a business man, resides in Abuja, needs a God fearing and employed or business lady, aged 30, for a serious relationship.07088113896 •James, 19, from Anamabra state, needs a charming girl, for serious relationship, aged 19-23. 07065966673 •Doyin, 35, needs a good and employed lady, for relationship, for marriage, either in Nigeria or Abroad.

08060731057, 08138876440 •Dayo, 44, tall, handsome, dark in complexion and employed, needs a God fearing lady aged 35- 45, for a good relationship, that can lead to marriage.08036191497, 08120639342 •Dessy, 35, 6.2ft tall, fair in complexion, a Christian and a graduate, from Anambra state, but resides in Lagos, needs a lady.08034550849 •Prince, 25, a student needs a pretty lady in Sagamu, for a serious relationship.

08164627192 •Victor, 19, needs a girl, aged 17-20, for a serious relationship.08131033343, 08134192025 •Desmond, from Ph, needs a

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

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

girl, from either Ph or Delta state, aged 20 and above, who is sexy, for a relationship.

08073220658 •A guy, 27, from Delta state, needs a girl, for a relationship, that will lead to marriage, not a game player. 07035553586 •Vincent, 23, tall, light in complexion, slim and from Abia state, but resides in Lagos state, needs a caring and intelligent girl, aged 1724. 07030778275 •Ade, 32, dark in complexion, average height, a student and resides in Lagos, needs a pretty lady, aged 21-35.

08187204375, 08131087320 •KC, handsome and educated, needs a lady that is rich or that has a good job and living comfortably, for a serious relationship, aged 20-28 for marriage.08123497495, 08033234183 •A guy, needs a lady, who is down to earth and God fearing for a serious relationship, aged 20-29.08085837772 •David, 34, a businessman, in Delta state, needs a lady, for an intimate relationship.

07087800555 •Cento, needs a God fearing lady, that resides in either Warri or Ughelli for real relationship.07060618152 •James, tall and handsome, needs a mature lady, aged 3550, who is wealthy, loving, caring and generous, for a relationship.08063757361 •Victor, 30, needs a lady that is Uruhobo by tribe, from Delta state, who is ready for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage.08032487267 •Chike, 22, tall and cute, a student, from Anambra state, needs a lady, aged 18-21, for a relationship.07060985294 •Kelly, 30, needs a fair in complexion lady, for a relationship that can lead to marriage aged 27-30.08067959682 •Nd, resides in Delta state, needs a God fearing lady, for a relationship that will be based on love.08037425331 or email me on richieken@ymail. com •Richmond, from Imo state needs an employed lady, for a serious relationship.

08068286468 •Uyi, 27, slim, tall, resides in Benin, needs a girl, aged 2026 for a serious relationship.

08022940078, 07052611436 •Kachi, from Enugu needs a romantic woman that will take care of him.07085106380 •Stephen, 23, from Bayelsa state and a student, needs a lady that can help him, for a relationship.08060255536

Sugar Cares Searching Female

•Sophie, 23, pretty, busty and an undergraduate, needs a kind and generous sugar daddy that can take care of her.

08137140059 •Karien, needs a sugar daddy, who is employed in any oil company, who can take good care of her.08123411084

Searching Male

A guy, 30, handsome and needs a sugar mummy, who will take care of him, aged 4555. 08076648782,08131884461 Cross, from Benin, needs a sugar mummy, from Benin.08074896696,07036841795 •Joe, 24, slim, chocolate in complexion, average height, needs a pretty, lady, for a serious relationship. 08155066867

•Omo, a graduate and resides in Benin, needs a sugar mummy, aged 29 and above.

08154552626 • Ada,25, tall, a graduate, beautiful, sexy, busty, with nice shape and hips needs a mature man who can keep his words and integrity for a serious relationship.08082979464 •Michael, 31, needs a sugar mummy, who is pretty, romantic and financially ok, aged 4065.07083114167 •John, 30, form Delta state, needs a sugar mummy, aged 40-45, who is rich and beautiful. 07035848212 •Benson, needs a kind and caring sugar mummy.

08189317481 •Bob, 25, tall and fun to be with, needs a sugar mummy, who resides in Delta state.

08135759833 •Sunday, resides in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy.

08170057455, 07085738894 •Elvis, from Delta state, needs a sugar mummy that can take care of him. 07031994257, 08164925072 •Joseph, 39, tall, handsome, dark in complexion and caring, needs a caring, loving and rich sugar mummy, for relationship.07032793984 •Tunde, 33, resides in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy.

08061130906 or sirphillip1love@yahoo.com •Joe, 23, average height, intelligent, good looking, caring and understanding, needs a sugar mummy, who will take care of him and also show him love.07030427407 •Best, 24, from Benin, needs a sugar mummy, from Benin.

07053370521 •Jay jay, 30, tall, handsome, sexy and romantic, needs a sugar mummy that can take care of him. 07038578603 •Daniel, 20, from Delta state, needs a sugar mummy that can take care of him, aged 3550 for a serious relationship.

08066806049 •A guy, resides in Abuja, needs a sugar mummy, for financial assistance.

07067317780 •Sam, 25, handsome, honest, resides in Ph, needs a sugar mummy, for a relationship.

08134852702, 08135998969 •Jamal, needs a sugar mummy, that is loving and caring.

07060982862 •Kelvin, 30, tall, handsome, employed and from Benin, needs a sugar mummy.

08067648509 •David, 30, tall, fair in complexion and romantic, needs a sugar mummy that resides in Abuja for a serious relationship.08093282578, 08064910624 •Ope, 38, slim, tall, fair in complexion, handsome, romantic, loving, caring, humble and a graduate, needs an accommodating sugar mummy.

07032503816 •Shegun, 26, tall, dark in complexion, handsome, intelligent, gentle and resides in Warri, needs an attractive and caring sugar mummy, for a relationship. 08127536175, 07087264597 •Sanya, 35, 6.2ft tall, cute, fair in complexion, a Yoruba and resides in Lagos, needs a sexy and beautiful, sugar mummy, for discreet, relationship.

08189091014,08073135586 •Od, average height, dark in complexion, handsome, from Edo state, needs a nice, sexy, sugar mummy of any age.

08122636262

PAGE 50—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

How anger got Akpabio into trouble in Kenya

BY JACKSON UDOM VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The secret behind a governor’s performance

G

OVERNOR of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, may have finally landed himself in trouble.

Like the proverbial mouth that bit more than it could chew, Akpabio, who has been at the helms of affairs at the 25-yearold state known as “The Land of Promise”, has fulfilled the words of the song of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti about a man who went to wake trouble from its sleep and must ‘get palaver.’

Through his anger, he has courted trouble and would have to manage the situation in order to remain ahead of the leadership pack in Nigeria today, as he already is.

He has brought ‘trouble’ to himself by allowing his anger, an anger he has harboured since 2007 when he was first elected governor, to have the best of him but this time around at the international fo-

rum.

Akpabio, who spoke in Nairobi after being honoured by the Millennium Excellence Foundation with the Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize 2012 in the area of Sustainable Development in Africa, exposed the reason for his matchless success in transforming Akwa Ibom State and that was when the trouble started.

Mounting the rostrum to answer questions on the secret behind his success in the oil rich state, Akpabio simply said “Anger”. It was a response that elicited spontaneous reaction from the audience and Akpabio, known for passion for his people and why he has done so much in less than six years, used the audience reaction to roll out what caused the anger and how far the anger in him had gone in turning around for good the fortune of his people. At the end of the five minutes pre-investiture interview, it was obvious that the governor had courted more trouble for himself as he became the doyen of investors who had throng the venue of the award to see the man from Nigeria who has been widely reported to have turned a mere pedestrian state in Nigeria to a destination in just five years.

There and then, it was from

one engagement to the other.

Akpabio made no mistake in telling African leaders that the honor done him was an indication that more Nigerian

,

VIEWPOINT

The governor, in a move that shocked bookmakers, said anger pushed him to achieve all he had done in Akwa Ibom State as a governor and it was at that point that he became the toast of the conference

,

leaders and his fellow governors would be honored outside the shores of Nigeria for their selfless service.

“This award by the Millennium Excellence Foundation is an indication that other Nigerian leaders and governors who have the genuine interest of their people at heart

would be recognised. I cherish this award and I dedicate this to Nigerians. It is a proof that government is working in Akwa Ibom State, nay Nigeria,” Akpabio said, but before that could be applauded, he threw up a theory that was novel to hundreds of leaders and captains of industry in attendance.

A theory which hypothesis he had tested and had succeeded in turning to a law; that anger could be good for positive development; that anger could transform a locality, a state, a country; that anger could touch lives and build human capacity; that anger could change the history and lives of a people positively.

The governor, in a move that shocked bookmakers, said anger pushed him to achieve all he had done in Akwa Ibom State as a governor and it was at that point that he became the toast of the conference and a cynosure of governance in Nigeria.

On why he was able to achieve all that he had done as a governor, Akpabio said “anger has made me to achieve what I have done so far. I will hereby recommend positive anger to African leaders so that we can move away from this present position we

are to an advantaged one in the committee of nations.”

Speaking further, the governor said: “The condition I met my state when I assumed office in 2007 caused a great anger in me and that led to what has been widely recognised as uncommon transformation in my state where we declared free and compulsory education from primary to secondary school levels, free heath care for children from five years and below, free medical treatment for pregnant women and the aged.

We have also been able to put in place an international airport and independent power plant to ensure that we have uninterrupted power supply to boost large and small scale business outfits in the state.”

Right from the end of the programme in Nairobi, it had become clear that Akpabio’s anger has achieved more than developing his state, it has opened him up to more meetings and demands but he is up to the task, for the same anger which has driven him to enviable heights in transforming the state has also brought him honour across the world.

Udom is Special Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Media.

ity, restraint, tolerance, mercy and the fear of God in the conduct of our affairs. It can only be made manifest when we stand up and fight a g a i n s t evil, tyranny, injustice, indeceny, bad governance, the abuse of power, political persecution and sheer wickedness.

Our dream can only be brought to reality when love is the motivating factor in all that we do. The Lord commands us to love our neighbour as we do ourselves. That is the cornerstone and the foundation of our faith and it is in that faith and that resolve that our hope for a better and greater Nigeria lies. I have a dream that Nigeria will be what God wants her to be, a great and powerful nation that is dedicated to the Living God and that will act as a shining example and a beacon of light for all to see.

I assure you that despite the dashed hopes and unbearable suffering of millions of our people over the last 52 years, our dream still lives and the Lord shall not forsake us. Our land and our

people may seem blighted, in despair, depressed, repressed and confused. It may appear as if there is no hope for a better tomorrow and that nothing will ever change. It may seem as if the Lord has forgotten us and it may appear that our story is one of recurrent failure and shattered dreams. Yet this is not so. I have come here today to tell you that, despite all we see and hear, it is not over for us as a people and as a nation.

I have come here today to tell you that we as a people have a date with destiny. I have come here today to tell you that Nigeria and the Nigerian dream lives on and that it shall be made manifest for all to see in the fullness of time. I therefore urge you to be strong, to hold your heads up high, to be proud of who and what you are and to stand firm. The vision is for an appointed time. Though it may tarry it shall not prove false.

God bless you and God bless Nigeria.

Concluded *Fani-Kayode was a minister of aviation

Joy comes in the morning (2)

BY FEMI FANI-KAYODE VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF A dream that Nigeria will overcome her challenges

Y

ET there is still hope as long as we have faith.

That hope and faith is our blessed assurance and it lives in our minds and hearts. We know that the Lord will fix it. We know that He is ‘’more than able’’. We know that He is a man of war whom none can resist and we know that He restores, redeems and rebuilds even the most broken and wretched walls. Dr. Martin Luther King jnr., after delivering his celebrated and inspiring ’’I have a dream’’ speech, was felled by an assassin’s bullet on April 4, 1968. To those that killed him, his dream died with him. Yet they were wrong. They did not know that great dreams, once birthed, never die. That is why the Word of God said ‘’if the princes of this world had known they would not have

crucified the Lord of Glory’’.

If those that murdered Jesus, and the devil that inspired them to do it, had known that He would honour His word and rise up three days later they would not have crucified him. They persecuted Him, they humiliated Him, they beat Him, they tortured Him, they spat on Him

,

VIEWPOINT

death. This is indeed the stuff of which dreams are made. Great things are birthed in great dreams and if you dare to dream nothing is impossible.

I have a dream for Nigeria.

I have a dream that one day Nigerians will see themselves as Nigerians before anything else and they will not

Our dream can only be brought to reality when love is the motivating factor in all that we do. The Lord commands us to love our neighbour as we do ourselves

and they killed Him yet they could not kill His dream or abort His mission. His dream lived on and became a reality for all mankind to see. It was the same with Martin Luther King. They killed him but his mission had already been achieved and his vision came to pass 45 years after his sacrificial and selfless

,

regard their country and its people as a collection of strange bed-fellows that do not love or trust one another. Yet this dream can only be fulfilled when those amongst us that call ourselves leaders preach, practice and display d i s c i p l i n e , temperance, holiness, moral-

Contribution of not more than 800 words should be sent to sundayvanguard@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 51

VIEWPOINT

BY GBOYEGA AMOBOYE

The difference between two facilities in two LGAs.

J

UST like twins, the FESTAC Town in Amuwo-Odofin Local Govern ment Area of Lagos State and Gowon Estate in Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area are children of the same parents - founded by the government of the war-time Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, preparatory to the Black Festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC, held in 1977.

Houses in the two estates were allocated to Nigerians on owner-occupier basis after FESTAC 77, through a popular and transparent ballot system.

However, the two estates, masterpiece and model in terms of infrastructure that met international standards, have today become very unidentical in terms of maintenance. Easily the Federal Government could be held responsible for their maintenance as that, abinitio, is the essence of establishing the Federal Housing Authority, FHA, that built the estates. Both estates as at now can be said to be in need of more attention from FHA though FESTAC Town can be said to be far in a more presentable state than Gowon Estate. Gowon Estate has largely become a potential grave, with a collapsed infrastructure – roads, sewages, buildings and environmental degradation.

If the FESTAC Town is much better in maintenance than the latter, it’s because of the extra efforts of the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Chairman, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, who, since he assumed office three years ago, has made “operation rescue the estate” his watch word. As attested to by the president of the Festac Town Residents Association, Comrade Jola

Between Festac Town and Gowon Estate Ogunlusi, at a Town Hall meeting recently: “Festac Town would have become a wonder estate today if previous administrations of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government had done a quarter of what Comrade Ayodele Adewale has done since he came to office three years

,

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The time, therefore, has come for peer review mechanism at the grassroots whereby local governments’ chairmen could be exchanging visits to learn from each other

,

ago”. He said the pro-activeness of the chairman has saved the estate from flooding. Ogunlusi, a former Secretary-General of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), also told the visiting Minister of Housing, Mrs. Amma Pepple, in August 2012, about the “tire-

less efforts of the Adewale-led administration, in infrastructural rehabilitation of FESTAC Town”.

A survey of infrastructure in the FESTAC Town by this writer confirmed a road rehabilitation work that has been going on there through the direct labor unit of the local government.

Also, the failed portions along 2nd Avenue by Agboju market and the third gate have, recently, been rehabilitated with interlocks. If there is any area where Adewale has excelled, it is in the area of environmental development. Speaking at the Town Hall meeting, the chairman appealed for the cooperation of residents and visitors to the town in sustaining its environmental development.

It is therefore not a surprise that the Amuwo Odofin LGA chairman was a guest speaker at the swearing-in of Ogun State local government chairmen, in Abeokuta in August 2012. In his lecture, he said that the feat recorded by his administration on environmental sustainability was through advocacy and enforcement.

In acknowledgement of his dynamism, Adewale has been receiving awards for excellence. For instance he carted away three awards recently as the outstanding Local Government Chairman in primary health care, environment and empowerment at a ceremony, “grassroots achievers awards”, organized by Celebrity International Magazine, at 10 Degrees, Ikeja. He also received “The Most Environmen-

tal Friendly Local Government Chairman award”, given by the Lagos State Governor ’s Office, Correspondents Association.

The essence of this write- up however is not to praise Comrade Ayodele Adewale or to condemn his counterpart anywhere in the country but to point out that there is much all the 774 local governments can do to help their own people. I do not know much about other local governments but in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government, there is a 24hrs medical services at primary health centers together with free drugs for ages 0-16 and 60-above. Schools are being rehabilitated together with provision of basic infrastructure just as free books are given to pupils, as attested to by the headmaster, Central Primary School, FESTAC Town, Rev. Mrs. Tinu Ogundiyi, at the Town Hall meeting.

The time, therefore, has come for peer review mechanism at the grassroots whereby local governments’ chairmen could be exchanging visits to learn from each other.

Under the peer review mechanism, the chairman of Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area, under whose jurisdiction, Gowon Estate falls, for instance, could learn a lesson or two from Amuwo-Odofin that may help to improve on the deplorable state of the estate. * Amoboye, a journalist, lives in FESTAC Town, Lagos {7 th Ave, U Close, Blk3). (08037043074)

Enebeli: A fortuitous meeting ing for a T.V programme and that he would bring it up with her to see if there was an opening.

The next day, a Sunday, I had stepped outside my house when I spotted him approaching; so I said to him: “What the hell are you doing on my street?

BY MIKE ANGERE

TRIBUTE IN BRIEF But for the late actor, I may not have been writing.

I

am surely becoming acquainted with grief. Barely a month ago, I did a tribute to Remi Lagos, who, I said, was introduced to me by Enebeli Elebuwa. It was a rude shock when all the newspapers in Lagos came up with the story of his demise in faraway India.But for Enebeli, I probably would not have been here at the Vanguard;. he was the contact man in getting me the job. Here is how: I had gone to the National Theatre for a T.V programme with musicians playing and the best carting away a huge radio/cassete player.

It was a weekly affair, but when it got to the week of my participation,. the new director of programmes called it off. The excuse was that it was costing N.T.A too much money. My connection with Enebeli was that he had picked up my guitar while I had gone for the shert call of nature. Not seeing my guitar where I had left it, I started yelling, “Who has taken my guitar?”.

When he eventually showed up with it, I took one look at him and screamed,

Late Mr. Enebeli Elebuwa “Hey man, your belly is too big!” and I proceeded to show him some moves to help him bring his girth down. He recognised that what I was taking him through were yoga postures. And he said he had a book on Yoga, but just couldn’t seem to do any of the postures. As good fortune would have it, he did not live too far from my home.

Therefore I made it a sacrifice to go to his house and teach him the postures properly. His two lovely daughters both joined in.

T

his we did every Saturday morn ing. About a month down the line, I said to him that I could write for a newspaper on the subject of exercise, with a bais for Yoga as I had learned from my Yoga teacher back in Accra, Ghana.At this, Enebeli said there was a lady from a publishing house com-

,

TRIBUTE

My eternal gratitude to Enebeli for helping me get a job that has been of immense satisfaction to me personally and has enabled me to bring so much succour to countless people

,

He replied: “You remember the talk about your writing for a newspaper?

Now you would have to go to Vanguard and ask for one Remi Bello (now Remi Diagbare). He told me Vanguard might be interested in my services.

So the following day, I managed to locate Vanguard with the help of one

chap hawking sachets of water.At the Vanguard, I was told by the chief security officer that the person I was asking after was not around. So I said I would come back the next day then to see if I could meet with her. I had not taken 100 metres walk away when the same man hollered out to me to come back. When I did, he said to me: “That is the lady you asked after”. And I said to him that I saw that face on my way out, but not knowing her, I walked past her.

T

hat was when the lady, Remi, then said: “Are you the Yoga guy?”

I replied in the affirmative. She invited me to her office, where I said besides writing, I would require pictures to serve as illustrations for the postures.At this, she said there wasn’t a problem as there was a photo department in the house. I begun work immidiately, and my first publication, a forthnight later, was on the 11th of November 1995. It has been seventen years ago, but the memory of it all is stuck in my brain.My eternal gratitude to Enebeli for helping me get a job that has been of immense satisfaction to me personally and has enabled me to bring so much succour to countless people.Everyone who has benefited from my column, from my colleagues to readers, should join me in saying. “adieu Enebeli’. My sympathy goes to the family he left behind. I will always remember him as a great friend.

PAGE 52—SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

T

C M Y K

Chief Ikoh is the head of Mezie Obodo, a socio-political group in the SouthEast. In this interview, he describes the moves being made to reconcile former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu and the incumbent, Chief Theodore Orji, as a development that would uplift the state. He also calls on the National Assembly to create an additional state in the South-East. Excerpts:

*Chief Ikoh....The constitution should give full autonomy to the local government.

Kalu-Theodore Orji Controversy: We know those misleading Abia gov — Ikoh offence when you borrow to put into your pocket. I have refrained from joining issues with the governor on his performance for the time being. I give him another year to see what he could do before I would start pointing out issues again.

Even as you have refrained from commenting on the activities of the governor, civil servants in the state are complaining of salary arrears?

I have relations in Abia civil service who are owed three, four month salary arrears. It boils down to the focus and style

,

HE frosty relationship be tween the former Abia governor, Orji Kalu, and the incumbent, Theodore Orji, is believed not to be in the best interest of the state. What is your position on it?

I have been a very strong advocate of reconciliation between the two foremost citizens of the state. One of the traits of a good leader is the capacity to reconcile with those that offended you in the time past. We should borrow a leaf from God, whose attributes include forgiveness and reconciliation. The former governor led the people of Abia and the present is leading the people of the state. This means the former governor was at a time leading the present and the present is now leading the former. Reconciliation is the key word. There is a game being played at the state at the moment by government functionaries. The government functionaries make merchandise of every speech or move the former governor makes, they begin to run errand for Gov. Orji for their personal pockets to show their loyalty. They believe the more they attack Kalu, the closer they get to Gov. Orji, that is chidish.

The governor should be wary of people making money from him from these issues. The spirit of reconciliation should pervade Abia. For the sake of unity and progress, the two foremost citizens of the state should reconcile if there is anything between them. Publicly, they have not told us there is any issue between them but from the body language and insinuation of their aides, you will know there is no love lost between them.

They should sheath their swords and forget what might have happened in time past. We should have a think-tank comprising past governors of the state, past council chairmen, former ministries etc to chart the way forward for Abia. We should not be politicking; this is the time to build.

What is your assessment of the incumbent Abia governor?

I have stopped assessing Governor T.A. Orji as well as comparing him with other governors based on people’s opinions because there is confusion when you hear the complaints of Abia people against the governor bordering on nonperformance and the response of the governor.

In the same vein, the governor has, at different fora in Lagos, debunked those allegations. He has told us his limitations and the reasons for his poor performance, including his resolve not to borrow money to execute projects.

However, from my perspective, I look at governance as complete business; if you want to borrow; borrow and justify it in terms of provision of quality governance. It doesn’t make sence if you don’t want to borrow to impact on the lives of people. If you have to borrow to make the people see the dividends of democracy then borrow reasonably to improve the people’s lot and when the time comes the people will pay the debt. You are not borrowing for yourself; you are borrowing for the entire state. It becomes an

demoralizes them, leading to reduction in productivity and loss of confidence in their employer.

Mezie Obodo is the largest socio-political group in Abia and, to an extent, in SouthEast. What do we expect from it in 2015?

I don’t know how long I will continue to deny the assumption that Mezie Obodo is not a political group. It is not my personal brain child. I only played a role in its formation. It is a social interest group that is trying to help and complement

Somebody who will position Abia and make it a model for other states to copy will come on board.

That is our vision and aspiration

of governance of the governor.

I don’t see reasons after subjecting workers to clocking system, at the end of the month you don’t pay them. It is inhuman and, biblically, it is wrong as a labourer is worthy of his wages at the end of the month, If you don’t pay workers it

,

government efforts in the environment we are operating. It is made of people from different classes and political affiliations.

People who are gainfully employed constitute members of Mezie Obodo. We do social activities not political. However, if they want me to push the

frontier forward, I will say, in 2015, the group will play a role that no political organisation or structure has ever played. Our interest is that the next governor of Abia State and some other states in South East will come from the Mezie Obodo structure. By then, from a social interest group, we could assume a political position and, from any political party, we could push a candidate that will bring the dream and aspirations of Abia and other states in the South-East people to bear.

Somebody who will position Abia and make it a model for other states to copy will come on board. That is our vision and aspiration. Mezie Obodo will bring sunshine back to Abia and the people will see light and appreciate the essence of governance. In this vein, we will play a major role in 2015 in Abia and in the South-East, but, at the moment, we are not into politics, we don’t want to engage in any political activity. We have people from PDP, APGA, PPA, ACN and CPC and other political parties in Mezie Obodo. It is a rainbow organisation comprising people who share aspiration of what a community should be; how people should be helped and assisted.

It is the largest social group in Abia State and, in fact, east of the Niger.

The Igbo say 2015 is their

turn to produce the president.

Do you share this aspiration?

Igbo’s turn to rule the country has been since yesterday, not even today, not even 2015. That is, it is long over due. We have people to occupy the position.

We have the talent and we are enterprising enough to steer the ship of the nation. In 2015 when Igbo man will be in Aso Rock, that is when Nigeria will experience growth, innovation, direction and purposeful governance. It must be somebody who has the qualities and attributes of the Igbo man. It is high time we came up with platform to steer the ship of this nation to its destiny.

The National Assembly is amending the Nigeria Constitution. What are your expectations?

I expect a true constitution that will operate in its letter and spirit, devoid of ambiguity. I expect a constitution that will address the imbalance among the regions especially the creation of additional states for all the regions to have equal number of states. The South East obviously should have additional state(s) no matter how it is done. Do the right thing now matter how it is arrived at. We should at the end have a constitution that has the imprint from the people and not made by a certain class of the society.

The constitution should give full autonomy to the local government; a local government system whose finances should not be controlled by state government. A council system that would operate from the center to bring down governmental impact to the lowest rung of the society is the type of constitution that should be in place.

Presently, the governors are running the councils as their private estates. To me, local government does not exist. No opposition party wins a council election just because a governor conducts the election and puts the people he wants in order to control the councils’ funds.

Former Governor Orji Kalu has come up with NjikoIgbo towards Igbo 2015 project. Do you buy into it against your own group?

It is a welcome development.

The group is the coming together of the Igbo. One thing about Kalu is that he is very intelligent, hard working and visionary, and he will stop at nothing to make sure he gets what he wants. He is somebody who shares the pains and joy of people. We in Mezie Obodo will not waste time to align with such organisation that is intended to improve the lives of the people.

We will join forces with him to make sure the aspiration of the people is achieved in the Nigeria Project.

Kalu has been very upbeat in political activities and that is a good signal especially in Abia State that will show those who roughshod the people in the last election that it is not going to be easy for them in 2015. The electoral fraud or heist of 2011 will never happen again .In 2015, people will vote and their vote counted. What happened in Imo State in 2011 will replicate in Abia in 2015.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012, PAGE 53

C M Y K

PAGE 54 -- SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 23, 2012

YSFON pledges support for its Lagos chapter

N

ATIONAL President of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna has ad-

Ameobi celebrates Eagles call-up with a goal er, Davide Santon.

S

TRIKER, Shola Ameobi celebrated his call up into the Nigeria’s provisional squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations by scoring the winner for Newcastle United in the club’s 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers in the Barclays English Premier League yesterday.

The forward, who is third-choice striker at the club behind Demba Ba

and Papiss Demba Cisse, came on as a 61st minute substitute for Cisse to telling effect by grabbing the plaudits 10 minutes from time.

The big striker produced a touch of class by curling a fantastic left-foot finish past the QPR goalkeeper, Robert Green into the bottom right after cutting in from the right wing following a superb pass from Italian defend-

Ameobi has made just 11 appearances for Newcastle in the Premier League this season and Saturday’s goal against QPR was his first of the season.

Ameobi’s exploits would no doubt please the head coach of the Nigerian national team, Stephen Keshi who included the 31-year-old in his provisional squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

vised the new executives of the Lagos State chapter of the Federation to do everything within their powers to re-position Lagos YSFON even as he promised the support of the national body to the new board.

He gave the advice during the inauguration of the new Lagos YSFON board held at the Bourdillion court Estate, Chevron Road, Lekki, Lagos.

He said that the entire executive committee of the Federation was happy to be associated with progressive people who are willing to invest time and resources to the development of sports in the country, noting that the new board has what it takes to succeed in making Lagos YSFON regain

its position as the number one grassroots sport development agency in the country.

“The National Executive Committee of YSFON took into cognizance the contributions of all the new board members towards grassroots sport development in the country before appointing

them as new executives of Lagos YSFON. “We also picked people who we think will bring their wealth of experience and contact for the development of sports in Nigeria and I have no doubt in my mind that with the new team, sport in Lagos will achieve greater height.

I must fight for a shirt, Akpeyi vows

S

UPER Eagles’ goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi has said he is prepared to fight his way to the 2013 Afcon in South Africa.

Akpeyi is among the four goalkeepers named by manager, Stephen Keshi on Friday in the 32-

man provisional list for final camping in Faro, Portugal.

Others are Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim. It is believed that one goalkeeper will drop from the final list of 23 players for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Akpeyi said he is dead serious to prove bookmakers wrong by nipping a shirt in the 2013 Afcon squad.

“I’m fully ready for the task ahead and I’m determined to give 110% to ensure I grab a shirt in the Afcon squad.”

“People are already thinking I’m the next goalkeeper to leave the camp. I’m not discouraged or disturbed but challenged to fight the good fight while leaving judgement to the coaches.

CFA partners Vitesse FC to train 40 coaches

C

OWBELL Football Academy (CFA) and Soya, a Hollandbased non-governmental organisation under the umbrella of Free-Kicks have entered into partnership with Vitesse Arnhem FC of Holland to train about 400 coaches in Nigeria in the next three years.

Vitesse Arnhem FC is a Dutch Division 1 Club which is currently topping the league in Holland.

Mr. Godwin Dudu-Orumen, the Rector of the CFA disclosed this in Lagos during the week at the National Institute of Sports at the training of 60 coaches and 400 youth footballers by Dutch youth football coaches under the free-kicks initiative.

“Nigerian football needs a revolution and that revolution we have decided to take on with CFA. We have identified poor coaching as a major problem of football in Nigeria. We want to train 400 coaches in the next three years who will in turn train about 6,000 footballers across the country,” Dudu-Orumen said.

The rector explained that the trained coaches would thereafter bring their experiences to bear on 400 footballers in two pitches: National Institute of Sports football pitch and the main bowl football pitch.

Copa Lagos’ success thrills Adamu, Ali Baba T

HE 2012 edition of the just-concluded Copa Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament has come and gone; but some football enthusiasts will continue to relish their experiences at the Eko Atlantic beach.

The fans that thronged the venue of the tournament described it as a world-class event which kept them enthralled from the beginning to the end. In addition to the actual football matches which featured Nigeria, Lebanon, Portugal and Argentina; the Copa Lagos organisers thought it fit to spice the tournament with a bit of show business.

At match intervals, bikini-clad damsels enter-

tained fans with their well choreographed routines which left many of the fans drooling and asking for more. This was an initiative that Samson Adamu, Managing Director of Kinetic Sports, organisers of the tournament, said was necessary to make the 2012 edition better.

“Kinetic Sports is a company that organises beach soccer every year.

We learnt from our mistakes last year and this year, we have tried to improve: that’s what we modestly tried to do. Last year, we were rookies in it but this year, we are getting better. It still has a long way to go but this is a very long way from what last year was,” he

said.

When asked why the company’s emphasis was on beach soccer events, Adamu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it accommodated all the things they did. “It’s another form of football, its sports and enter-tainment and we have what it takes to make it work for us,” Adamu said.

Sharing the same view with Adamu was ace comedian, Ali Baba, who urged other entrepreneurs in the country to join hands in enlarging the scope of the Copa Lagos tournament.

However, several sponsors were part of the success story, Adamu added. One of such is First City Monument Bank (FCMB), a wholesale banking group with a niche retail banking franchise and one of Nigeria’s leading comprehensive financial services providers.

The others include Eko Atlantic being developed as new home to 250,000 people and the workplace of another 150,000 and the Balmoral which has been hosting and managing events on behalf of governments, companies, organisations and individuals since 2005.

VINTAGE OKOCHA... Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha exhibiting his dexterity during Celebrity match at the just concluded Copa Lagos Beach tournament.

Olympian Ossai sighs about Delta’s poor outing at Eko 2012 … finds consolation in newly wedded wife

C

OMMONWEALTH and Africa Games boxing medalist, Christopher Ossai has lamented Delta State’s poor outing in boxing at the just concluded National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012.

The former Olympian is the chief coach of the Delta boxing team that won two silver and four bronze medals at the fiesta and according to him that was not what they set out to achieve, however he stated he and his wards are going back home to train harder to top the boxing medals table at the next edition of the festival to

be staged in Calabar.

“I belive the next edition in Calabar belongs to us. We have learnt from our mistakes in Lagos,” said Ossai.

But Ossai found happiness in his newly wedded wife, former Miss Joyce Arubi.

This is the tonic Ossai needs to get his boxers in top condition for future competitions.

The revered two-time Olympian, took his heartthrob to the altar for their eagerly awaited union, which was solemnized at the Victory International Family Assemblies Church, Asaba.

The marriage ended

•Ossai with wife nine years of grief and loneliness for Ossai who had lost his first wife and mother of five tragically in 2003.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012 — 55

Will they give Irabor a free hand?

M

Y journalism role model, Nduka Irabor, a man of many parts, has once again come to the front bunner of football after six years since he attempted to help the country right the wrongs surrounding the game in our dear country.

In 2005, those who thought they owned football in Nigeria and should decide who sits at its helm, felt dissatisfied with Kano-born Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, a man they could not hold any charge of corruption against and sought to truncate his ‘reign’.

The czar ruining Nigeria’s football at the time used then minister, Samaila Sambawa to thwart the efforts of Irabor, who organised a flawless election that returned Galadima as chairman but Irabor, known for his fortrightness stood his ground and his committee stated thus: “There was also proof that a quorum was formed before the election. The election was devoid of irregularities as alleged. It was based on this that all the allegations were all dismissed,” said the committee.

The leeches feeding fat on Nigeria’s football went to town, discrediting Galadima and the Irabor election before FIFA and the Federal government and ever since, Nigeria’s football has gone through one crisis or the other.

The latest is the Nigeria Premier League, NPL where Davidson Owumi was wrongfully removed as chairman of the Board and Rumson Baribote, who at the time of the mago mago election that brought him into ofice, was not a member of a Premier side as his club, Bayelsa United Football Club of Yenagoa, had been demoted to the lower division, so he had no constituency but the powers that be allowed it go.

Under Baribote, the NPL has been anything but well managed and the league is the worst for it.

Ironically those (Club Chairman who claim they are owners) who shouted crucify Owumi, Baribote is our man, have come together to sweep away Baribote with the same broom they used against Owumi.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF which stokes the fire of discord in the NPL masterfully organised Owumi’s removal and has constituted an interim management committee as approved by its congress which held in Port Harcourt last week.

Incidentally Irabor, whose effort the same cabal did not recognise in the 2006 election which gave Alhaji Galadima a second term, has been called upon to help put the NPL house in good order. The question is, will his effort be accepted this time around for the good of our league. I have my fears because, like they say, a leopard does not change its skin.

On the committee with Irabor are Nwankwo Kanu whose name opens doors in Nigeria, the reason he may have been included, not necessarily because of his administrative acumen. Mallam

Salisu Abubakar, another known name in football especially in the league, is also on board but he has been part of the NPL, for good or bad in the past.

Shehu Dikko is another controversial name on board whose role in the inconclusive sponsorship deal that shook the foundation of the NPL cannot be ignored. His inclusion does not therefore elicit any cause for hope.

Former sportscaster, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf was part of Globacom, which was accused of not meeting its part of the sponsorship deal.

Though the company also accused the NPL of not helping it get its sponsorship mileage by its poor organisation of the league. So what new thing can Sarafa-Yusuf bring to the table?

Much is not known of the other nominees’ involvement in the past crisis of the NPL so they can be given a benefit of the doubt but for Tunji Babalola, who served and is still serving as the interim secretary general of the NPL, he is part of the rot that the NPL is today, so no knew thing is expected from him.

That Irabor will do a good job is not contestable but the fear is the leeches know what they want and if Irabor’s style does not meet with their planned agenda, his effort, will like before, be thwarted and another square peg will be forced into NPL’s round hole and the circus show will continue to take our football further down the drain.

CAF award: Drogba robbed?

S

ince the days when Super Eagles midfield maestro, Austin Jay Jay Okocha lost the Glo-CAF Africa Footballer of the year award to Moroccan, Mustafa Hadji, Nigerians have payed little respect to the award which has now been consistently awarded on sentiments by head coaches or technical directors of countries affiliated to the CAF. In 1998, Okocha shown like a million stars in Nigeria’s woeful outing at the France’98 World Cup and did pretty well with PSG in the French Ligue 1 and deserved to be named the continent’s best but alas, Hadji whose country, Morocco was beaten by South Africa in the final got the award.

Again in 2012, which African player, playing at home, Europe or any part of the world did better than Didier Drogba for club and country?

That Ivory Coast got to the 2012 Africa Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea/Gabon final was mainly due to Drogba’s role as a motivator.

He crowned his effort in the year under review by almost singlehandedly giving Chelsea their most cherished trophy ever, UEFA Champions League crown despite all the odds. Yet some group of coaches and technical directors sat somewhere and gave Yaya Toure the nod instead. What manner of judgement? The creased face of Drogba during the award ceremony told the story. That is despite his compatriot winning it. Methinks Dragba was robbed, pure and simple.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 23, 2012

Results Wigan Man City Newcastle Southampton Tottenham West Brom West Ham Liverpool

0 1 1 0 0 2 1 4

Arsenal Reading QPR Sunderland Stoke City Norwich Everton Fulham

1 0 0 1 0 1 2 0

Keshi’s Eagles are dangerous, says Zambia coach

Z

AMBIA coach Herve Renard has described coach Stephen Keshi Eagles to the 2013 Nations Cup as a hungry bunch who will be out to make up for Nigeria’s absence in 2012.

The French born coach who was speaking in a FIFA.com interview submitted that Group C looks complicated and his focus will be to emerge from that group as all the teams are equally dangerous.

“Our focus is on the first round, because what awaits us looks complicated. “ Nigeria, with Stephen Keshi, have just completed a very successful 2012. The Nigerians were absent last year, and they will want to mark their return.

“I am wary of Ethiopia, who eliminated Benin and Sudan, and is a tough team to move.

But our two main rivals are Burkina Faso, who in Alain Traore and Jonathan Pitroipa have very good individual players,” said the coach.

He argued that Zambia’s win of the 2012 Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea was not a fluke.

“Zambia for nearly 20 years have been consistently competitive in Africa. They have been regularly present in the finals, often reaching the second round. But our victory probably surprised a lot of people because few expected we would go all the way. I knew we could do something.”

Zambia will open their SA 2013 account with Ethiopia, while Nigeria will tackle Burkina Faso on January 21.

ENERGETIC... Super Eagles forward, Ike Uche exerting his muscles in an aerial ball during a match. Zambia coach, Herve Renard has dubbed him and other Eagles players as dangerous to play against.

Eagles list: Adepoju, Howard rate Keshi’s selection high •As Onigbinde dismisses critics STORIES BY BEN EFE

S

TEPHEN Keshi’s 32 man tentative list for the Nations Cup 2013 is generating discussions after top strikers Obafemi Martins and Osaze Peter Odemwingie were overlooked.

But two former ex-international Franklin Howard and Mutiu Adepoju have given pass marks

to coach Keshi even as they expressed surprise at the dropping of Obafemi and Osaze, two players who are currently in top form for their various clubs.

“I don’t know why he dropped those two. But he must have his reasons. However, I believe that he has enough fire power to carry the team to the final of the Nations Cup. As for

ACROSS 1. Nigerian state (5) 3. African river (7) 7. Near-extinct animal (5) 8. Roof part (5) 9. Greek alphabet (3) 10. Supplement (3) 12. Widespread (4) 14. Replies (7) 17. Let (5) 19. Limbo (3) 20. Donkey (3) 21. Cots (4) 24. Pitcher (4) 26. Reverential fear (3) 27. Goal (3) 28. Peruses (5) 30. Sure (7) 34. Eleven (4) 35. Flying mammal (3) 37. Unwell (3) 38. Hausa boy’s name (5) 39. .Possessor (5) 40. Wearing away (7) 41. Commonplace (5)

DOWN 1. Prevents (6) 2. Church part (4) 3. Queen Amina’s old city (5) 4. Anchors (5) 5. Bird of prey (5) 6. Notions (5 11. Niger-Delta tribe (8) 13. Zealous (5) 15. Nigerian state (8) 16. Bar (3) 18. Vital liquld (5) 21. Animal (5) 22. Therefore (2) 23. Exist (2) 25. Misery (3) 29. Polluted (6) 30. Earnestly wish for (5) 31. Wireless (5) 32. Excuse (5) 33. Synthetic fabric (5) 36. Pie (4)

SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE

5

Taye Taiwo, I don’t think he will be missed, there are capable replacements. I have faith in Keshi that after the camping in Faro, Portugal he will give us a very good team from the home based and foreign based players,” said Howard, a former teammate of Keshi during their Flying Eagles days.

Also speaking was former Eagles attacking midfielder Mutiu Adepoju. He submitted that Keshi has his reasons for dropping the top players.

“There will always be issues whenever a coach releases his team list. Keshi cannot be faulted, we can only wait and see what he will come out with after the camping in Portugal,” said Adepoju, who also played with Keshi in the Super Eagles.

Keshi had revealed that Osaze was not willing to play for Nigeria, but the West Brom goal hero denied. He stated that he was ready to lace the boots for the Eagles. It was gathered that his poor relationships with previous coaches of the national team might have been responsible for his omission. Obafemi, despite a good run of form for

Levante, failed to impress the coach in their friendly against Venezuela.

On some criticisms that greeted the provisional list, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde argued that anyone who is not in Keshi’s mind cannot justifiably criticise him on the players he invited or ignored.

“Anyone who does not have possession of the tactics, pattern and strategy of Keshi does not have the justification to criticise him over this list,” Onigbinde told supersport.com He equally dismissed insinuations that the Illah-born gaffer may have been pressurised to invite some players, adding that, “Even at club level, coaches face this kind of pressure so you can imagine the kind of pressure they will face at international level.

“When I was coach of Shooting Stars, I had a list of ‘political players’ but when they proved themselves, I drafted them into the main side. If they didn’t, they never played.

“Yes, there are pressures as a coach but it is left to the coach to decide how best to deal with such pressures.”

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa.

Advert Dept: :01- 7924470; Hotline: 01- 4707189; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail website: sundayvanguard@yahoo.com, editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com. Advert:advert@vanguardngr.com.

Internet: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: JIDE AJANI. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.