44 people slaughtered in Borno village

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44 people slaughtered in Borno village •As Boko Haram leaders call on field of ficers to embrace dialogue

BY NDAHI MARAMA, Maiduguri

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N yet another repris al attack by insurgents, some gunmen Tuesday night slaughtered no fewer than 44 people at Dumba village on the outskirts of Baga town, in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of the Security Challenge in the North yesterday displayed video recording of Shura members of the Boko Haram sect where they called on their field commanders to embrace the ceasefire being proposed by the government, saying that prophet Mohammed sanctions dialogue during Jihad.

Sources told our reporter yesterday that about 50 gunmen stormed Dumba village which is some kilometers away from Baga and slaughtered 44 people.

Many people were also said to have been injured

during the attack that lasted for hours.

It was gathered that the gunmen also set fire on some houses in the village.

Baga is about 157 kilometers away from Maiduguri, the State capital and an epicenter of the insurgency which had witnessed series of attacks through bombings and gunshots.

Our correspondent gathered that rescue workers have been mobilized to the area from Maiduguri with the aim of providing medical services to the surviving victims.

The assailants were said to have removed the two eyes of some of the victims while many others had their bodies decapitated.

A rescue worker told Journalists yesterday in Maiduguri that the village came under attack late Tuesday when some unknown gunmen stormed the settlement and killed many people when they were fast asleep. ‘’ As I’m speaking to you now, Red cross officials and the San Medicine Frontier

Vice President Namadi Sambo (r) shaking Kaduna State Governor, Ramalan Yero while the Borno State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha (l) and the Chairman, National Hajj Commission, Muhammad Musa Bello (2r) watched during a meeting at the State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida. are attending to the injured victims,” a rescue worker with a Federal Government agency who does not want to be named said.

According to him, the village has been deserted as the people are now taking refuge at the Baga Central Primary School.

A source with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) who confirmed

the incident to our reporter, said the agency has mobilized to the area to access the situation with a view to render humanitarian assistance to the injured victims and those who were psychologically traumatized in the attack.

According to him, the agency will on Saturday(today) set up a camp at the Baga Central Primary school for the dis-

placed victims.

On the ceasefire call by the leaders of Boko Haram on their field commanders, the video recording, according to the Chairman of Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of the Security Challenge in the North, Barrister Turaki Tanimu, was recorded two weeks ago in the detention facilities in Bauchi where

Anambra 2014: APC makes U- turn, decides to conduct primaries for Ngige, Ezemo for nearly one hour, said to collapse his structure very proud of Senator ambta State if he wins

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

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HE All Progres sives Congress, APC, has reversed its earlier decision to adopt Senator Chris Ngige as its governorship candidate for Anambra State, saying the party’s primaries would now be held on September 2, 2014 to pick the party ’s flag bearer for the November 16, 2013 election.

The decision came on the heels of the two leading contenders to the position – Ngige and Mr. Godwin Ezemo – organizing two parallel rallies in Awka yesterday.

While Ngige, led by the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Senator Annie Okonkwo held their rally at the Ammaus House, Ezemo had his outing at the Marble Arch Hotel in the town.

Both outings attracted large number of their supporters.

Okorocha, who spoke

the primaries was aimed at fulfilling all righteousness, expressing optimism that Ngige would emerge the APC flag bearer in the state.

According to him, Annie Okonkwo has agreed

into that of Ngige, adding that he (Okonkwo) has been chosen as the leader of Ngige’s Campaign Organization for the governorship election.

Okorocha said: “I am

Annie Okonkwo who I know, controls about 80 percent of the APC structure, but has agreed to step down for Ngige.

Though he had prepared a wonderful blueprint for the development of An-

Wike begins campaign to be Governor--Forum GDI The Rivers Peoples Forum (RPF) has dismissed claims

by Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike that his campaign posters were the handiwork of his d e t r a c t o r s .

President of the Forum, Charles Bekwele urged the public to disregard the Minister’s outcry stating that it is no surprise to Rivers people that Wike’s posters are in circulation because the Minister has always been campaigning to run for governorship of the state.

A statement by the President of RPF, Charles Bekwele stated that, “ In Rivers State, it is a known fact that Wike has been going around Local Government

Areas of the State every week to fuel his campaign for governorship under the guise of inaugurating his Grassroot Democratic Initiative (GDI) group. ”It is too belated for him to come out now and cry wolf over his campaign posters being fake because it is already clear to Rivers people and even the country that Wike is campaigning to be governor and he started a long time ago. ”Several times, the factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the State, Felix Obuah, loyalist to Wike, has openly said that he supports Wike for governor and Wike would be the next governor of Rivers state, even at the last

inauguration.

“At a time when the country’s education sector is in a state of comatose with the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the impending resumption of strike by their Polytechnic counterparts (ASUP), Wike is too busy campaigning to be governor of Rivers State, even when there is no vacancy yet. Instead of Nyesom Wike, a junior Minister to join the Minister of Education to tackle the problem, he is more interested in the local politics of Rivers State, going around the State week in, week out with his campaign for governorship in clear violation of INEC’s rule on 2015 campaigns.”

the race, he decided to step down for Senator Ngige because he knows that two of them cannot be governor at the same time.”

In his speech, Ngige said there is no more division in APC. His words: “There is no longer Annie Okonkwo group; there is no longer Ngige group and very soon, there won’t be Ezemo group.”

He said that if he returns to the Government House after the November 16 election, there would be free education and free health services in the state.

Elsewhere at Marble Arch Hotel, Ezemo insisted that there must be primaries for the aspirants, adding that he was prepared to work with whoever wins if he loses.

According to him, what he frowned at was imposition of a candidate on the people of Anambra State at a time APC was accusing other political parties of committing such offence.

the sect members whom he said, belonged to the highest decision- making body of the Boko Haram sect before their arrest by security forces in various locations across the country were kept.

Speaking on the development, Barrister Tanimu who was flanked by some members of the committee, said, the video clip is a recording of some members of the Jama’atul Ahli Sunnat Nida’atul Waljihad, (Boko Haram) , ‘ who sat down in Shura, the highest decision-making body and analyzed from purely Islamic perspective, taking into account the clear and unambiguous provisions of the Holy Qura’an and taking also into account, the teachings and fundamentally the practices of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on the issue of dialogue and peaceful reconciliation; strengthening submissions again with the works of other Islamic scholars globally who have had cause in their life times to also make research and come out with a lot of literature supporting the cause on dialogue and stating the parameters and conditions under which dialogue can take place.

The chairman said the committee was still making efforts towards meeting another set of senior leaders of the group, and a splinter group - Ansaru - even as he said he could not get confirmation from the military operatives in Borno state to confirm the death of the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.

Barrister Turaki admitted that there is no clear nexus between this Shura committee and the secondin-command with whom government reportedly secured an earlier peace deal, or with Shekau who is yet to be personally reached.

In the Video which was shown to Journalists, five members of the Shura committee of the sect who spoke in Hausa and Arabic enjoined their colleagues ‘on the field’ to embrace the dialogue being proposed by government as both prophet Mohammed and other Islamic scholars are in support of dialogue with infidels.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

Day 2 of NGE Conference in Asaba:

How Jonathan stopped politicians from hijacking subsidized fertilizers to farmers — Adesina • Sand was mixed with fertizliers’

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA, Asaba

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INISTER of Agri culture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, yesterday narrated how the present administration stopped politicians from hijacking subsidized fertilizers meant for genuine farmers, describing the high level of corruption devised by the politiciansturned farmers as incipient.

He stated this in a paper presented at the ongoing Nigerian Guild of Editors Conference holding in Asaba, Delta State, titled, ‘Agriculture: The Value Chain Road Map’ as contribution to the theme of the conference ‘Nigeria Beyond Oil: Role of the Editor’.

His words, “the backbone of any agricultural revolution is access of farmers to modern agricultural inputs, especially fertilizers and seeds.

For decades, successive governments in Nigeria procured and distributed fertilizers.

“The government system was corrupt and undermined the private sector. It did not deliver fertilizers to genuine farmers. Instead, rich and powerful political farmers hijacked the subsidized fertilizers. As a result, no more than 11% of all the farmers in the country got the fertilizers distributed by the government.

“Corruption was incipient, as sand was mixed with fertilizers and sold to government, payments were made for fertilizer not supplied, and

subsidized fertilizers were resold back to government, with a lot more sold off to the neighbouring countries.

“To put it bluntly: government was not subsidizing farmers; instead it was subsidizing corruption. Farmers’ powerlessness worsened as high quality seeds and fertilizers they need to raise their farm productivity were taken over by the elite, the rich and politically powerful. For the few fortunate farmers that got fertilizers, they often got them in bowls, like beggars. Farmers lost their dignity.

“But we have changed all that. Within the first 90 days of this administration, we ended the forty year-old fertilizer sector racket and corruption.

The old system of govern-

The Commandant, Nigerian Naval Engineering College,Ogorode - Sapele, Commodore A.A. Bellow-Odofin, center, in group photograph with some officers and 2013 graduands of the College, at the graduation ceremony of the College yesterday. Photo: By Godwin Oghre.

ment buying and selling fertilizers was scrapped, and all fertilizer companies were required to sell directly to farmers, not to government warehouses. We embarked on the

Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), which provides subsidized farm inputs directly to farmers.

To reach farmers directly with seeds and fertilizers, we developed the

Electronic Wallet System, which allows farmers to receive subsidized electronic vouchers for their seeds and fertilizers on their mobile phones.”

Fraudster clones FCT Minister’s phone, swindles him of N3m

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Muhammad, has fallen victim to a man, who specialises in cloning phone numbers and using same to commit large scale fraud in the process.

The Minister, according to security information, fell into the trap set for him by one Ibrahim Sabo Takat, who lives in Wuye District of the FCT, who used his phone number and gave instructions, as if the Min-

ister was the one doing so.

In particular, Takat succeeded in ordering the Chief of Staff to the Minister to pay the sum of N3 million into his own account domiciled with Diamond Bank with number 0011141544, posing as if the Minister was the one giving the order.

Unknown to the Chief of Staff, he quickly arranged and paid the amount into Takat’s account on Thursday, August 8, 2013 without suspecting any foul play.

Shortly after the amount hit the account, Takat

promptly withdrew it and disappeared into thin air.

But he ran out of luck shortly after when the Minister smelt a rat and reported the huge swindle to the security agencies, when he discovered that he did not issue any instruction to this Chief of Staff to pay the N3 million into the fraudster’s account.

The FCT Director of Security confirmed the arrest of Takat yesterday to journalists in Abuja and said that he would be charged after concluding investigations into the fraudulent act.

Alakija, daughter of late Ooni of Ife dies at 82

BY OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

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EJUMADE Alakija, the daughter of the late Ooni of Ife and Governor of Western Region, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, has died.

She was aged 82. Saturday Vanguard learnt Alakija who was the first female Head of Service in the Old Western region died at the Private Suite of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan yesterday.

It was further gathered that the on-going strike by health workers at the UCH worsened her health condition.She was the founder of the Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State and also the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health. While commiserat-

ing with the family of the deceased, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said Nigeria had

lost an icon and a matriarch who was one of those who moulded the Nigerian Civil Service, especially the Oyo State Civil Service, to the height it occupies.

Soludo loses bid to stop his disqualification

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HE quest by Prof.

Charles Soludo to become the candidate of The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), suffered a major set back with the dismissal of the case he filed at Abuja High Court 30, Jabi.

The Judge who presided over the matter, where Soludo was praying to be included in the APGA primaries taking place on Monday, Justice Peter P ,

agreed with the submissions of the lawyer to APGA, Barr Tochukwu Onwubufo(SAN), that order of Certiorari by which Soludo came is only applicable in judiciary and quasi judiciary matters and not in political matters. He also agreed that matters on who become a candidate is internal affairs of political parties.

Soludo was represented

by Barr Ikechukwu Ezechukwu ( SAN)

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013 — 7

Two Boko members Haram disguised as women killed

BY NDAHI MARAMA, Maiduguri

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WO Boko Haram suspects who disguised as women in order to escape the wrath of the Vigilante youths a.k.a Civilian JTF were yesterday in Jimtilo ward of Maiduguri Metropolis arrested by the volunteer youths before they were killed after being handed over to the Joint Military Task Force, JTF. Their corpses were later dumped in Hausari ward.

This was the second time suspected terrorists who disguised as women were arrested. The first one took place in Gwange Ward of the same Maiduguri Metropolis where about six Boko Haram suspects in female clothing armed with AK47 rifles were arrested and killed by the Task Force.

Our Correspondent gathered that the two suspects were on their way to Maiduguri to unleash terror attack, but luck ran out on them as they were intercepted by the vigilante youths at Jimtilo, which is about 8 kilomtres to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The suspects, aged 18 and 19 years wore pink brassiers and covered themselves with veils according to sources. They were on their way to Konduga Local Government area which was attacked last week where 43 people were killed in different mosques during early morning prayers.

On how they were identified as members of the sects, one of the vigilante youths who did not want his name mentioned in print for security reasons and was among those who arrested the suspects told our Correspondent that, “We thank

God (Allah) for giving us the wisdom and courage, but I want to tell you that we know most of the terrorists as we lived in the same ward/area with them before they fled to their camps in Sambisa Game Reserve Forests, Marte and Gwoza Mountains during the intensive military manhunt on them by the JTF”.

He said, most of the terrorists who fled to Sambisa and other camps are easy to be identified by even a common man on the

streets, as anyone will see how haggard they appeared physically, as most of them are under intense pressure that will not guarantee them food to eat.

Owing to lack of telecommunication services in Borno for

the past three months, the Military Spokesman, LtColonel Sagir Musa and the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin could not be reached for confirmation as at the time of filing in this report.

Lagos arrests 57 hoodlums in Oshodi

BY MONSUR OLOWOPEJO

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AGOS State gov ernment has arrested 57 suspected hoodlums in Oshodi axis of the state over alleged violation of the state environmental law.

Twenty of the hoodlums are aged between 14 and 17 while 35 others are adults.

They include Segun Akinlade, who was arrested last week and arraigned before the Special Offences Court Alausa and sentenced to 24 hours community service, but returned to the spot and was re-arrested.

Chairman of the Lagos Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences Unit, Chief Superintendent of Police, C SP, Bayo Sulaiman who led the enforcement team, explained that the underage suspects would first of all be taken to the family court and that after being convicted, would be taken to remand homes for proper rehabilitation.

Sulaiman emphasized “the state government was determined to rid the streets of hoodlums and it wouldn’t pardon children found during the raid. We will arrest them but we (taskforce)don’t jail children as it is speculated in some quarters.”

He lamented that underage children had continued to carry out nefarious activities in Oshodi, saying that they were being groomed by the adult touts to take over from them in the future.

The taskforce chairman debunked claims that the taskforce took some underage children to Badagry

Prison, saying such a thing never occurred as government always ensured that underage hoodlums were taken to the remand homes through the Office of Youth and Social Department.

Governor Musa Kwakwanso of Kano State responding to questions from Journalists on the National Census Figures after a closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

Court sentences three to death by hanging

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI, Ado-Ekiti

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N Ado Ekiti High Court has sentenced three men to death by hanging,just as the men

of the State Police Command have arrested one David Oloruntoba , 57, for allegedly defiling his 5-year old step d a u g h t e r .

The three men sentenced

to death for robbery were: Taiwo Hassan(39), Henry Okeke(30) and Oladimeji Olanrewaju(27) . The prosecuting Counsel , Mr. Oluwaseun Fasote, a Legal Officer in the office of

Insecurity: Presidential panel to meet tive ways to gainfully Yoruba leaders, Aug 30 move the nation forward.

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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O stem the tide of insecurity brewing in many parts of the country, the Presidential Committee on Insurgency and Conflict Resolutions will meet with Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) next week.

At the meeting, Yoruba

leaders and members of the panel will discuss the committee’s efforts and progress made so far.

Confirming the meeting, YUF Secretary-General, Senator Anthony Adefuye, said in a Statement that the gathering would also brainstorm on construc-

Before the meeting holding at Eko Hotel and Suites, the YUF would meet at the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s residence, Ikenne, Ogun State on August 29 to discuss the state of the nation and relevance of the Yoruba in the nation’s governance.

NN partners with world maritime stakeholders He noted that the to fight piracy taken to check excesses of African continent was

BY EVELYN USMAN

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RKED by the alarm ing insecurity in Africa’s maritime domain , the Nigerian Navy, NN, yesterday, disclosed its resolve to take the lead in the African continent to address the worrisome issue with a view to proffering means of building infrastructure and capacity towards combating the scourge.

Activities of pirates in the Gulf of Guinea as captured by a recent study of the advocacy group in June 2013, cost the world economy between 740m Dollars and 950 m Dollars last year,with indication of a possible rise this year, if proper measures were not

pirates in the region.

To this end, the Flag Officer Commanding ,FOC Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, disclosed that the Nigerian Navy was partnering with the International Quality and Productivity Centre,IQPC to organise a defense and security conference tagged Offshore Patrol Vessel Africa.

Briefing newsmen on the conference billed for August 27 to 29 in Lagos, Ibas explained that being the first of its kind in Africa, it would aim at addressing the teething insecurity issues as well as to examine the unique maritime insecurity challenges in African countries in the 21stt century.

increasingly witnessing progressive surge in offshore activities across the broad spectrum of maritime trade and business, thereby portraying an exciting market for the future. He however, expressed regrets that maritime insecurity and illegal activities in the maritime domain was threatening the continent’s potential.

“The magnitude of these threats is aptly captured by a study of the advocacy group tagged ‘Oceans beyond Piracy’ in June 2013 which estimated that piracy in the gulf of Guinea cost the world economy between $740 million and $950m last year and this cost is expected to rise this year”.

the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)had told the court that the convicts committed the offence on Dec.7,2010, along Ado-Afoa Road, in the Ado-Ekiti judicial division of Ekiti State.

The charge sheet preferred against them read thus: That you ,Taiwo Hassan, Henry Okeke and Oladimeji Olanrewaju on Dec.7,2010, along AdoAfao Road, in the Ado judicial Division conspired together to commit felony to wit: Armed Robbery. ”That you Taiwo Hassan, Henry Okeke and Olanrewaju on the same date place and time while armed with offensive weapon to wit: gun, robbed one Mr. Lateef Saka of his cell-phone, the sum of N360.00 and a Toyota Hummer bus with registration No XQ 987 BDG.” He further noted that the offences committed had contravened Sections: 6(B),1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms(Special Provisions) Act Cap R11 Volume 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. his Delivering judgment,the trial judge, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi, said the condemned culprits were guilty of the two-count charge leveled against them,and ordered that they should die by hanging. ”I have carefully consider the evidences before this court by the Department of P u b l i c Prosecution,(DPP),the prosecution and the defence counsels.”

8—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

First International commercial flight to land in Enugu today within the airport including the old terminal complex had been renovated.

The runway was expanded and extended to accommodate bigger passenger and cargo aircrafts that would patronize the airport.

The commencement of international flights from Enugu today is seen by the people of the South East as a great relief and they have continued to shower praises on President Jonathan for fulfilling his promise to give the zone the international

BY TONY EDIKE, Enugu

A

LL is now set for the arrival of the

first international commercial passenger flight at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, t o d a y .

The historic flight will be made by the Ethiopian Airlines which will now be the first international carrier to operate from Enugu.

The Enugu State Government has assured that adequate preparations have been made to ensure that the event described as a significant milestone in the economic life of the State and the entire South East, was successfully conducted.

Governor Sullivan Chime and his colleagues from the other states in the region as well as many important dignitaries from within and outside the country, will be on hand to receive the historic flight.

R-L: Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Special Duties ,Mallam Tijjani Yusuf (MON,OON) during the Wedding Fatiha between his daughter Hajiya Fatima and Alhaji Ismail Ahmed Inuwa held at the Emir’s Palace in Minna on Saturday

As expected, an atmosphere of excitement and jubilation now pervades Enugu and other States in the South East region as residents eagerly await the arrival of the aircraft.

An Enugu-based billionaire businessman,

Prince Engr. Arthur Eze, had on Tuesday flown into the Enugu airport in a private jet direct from Senegal, creating history as the first international flight that touched down at the upgraded airport.

President Goodluck

T

HE Joint Task Force codenamed Operation Pulo Shield has destroyed 48 illegal refinery camps in the Niger Delta in a renewed offensive against crude oil theft in the blighted region.

Also, 40 wooden boats known as ‘Cotonou boats’ used by the oil thieves were destroyed by the operatives of the Special Security Forces who also nabbed five suspects during the operation that lasted from 10-23 August.

Media Coordinator of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement issued in Yenagoa, also said its operatives deployed at Adamakiri scuttled an attempt by some unscrupulous persons to establish an illegal crude refining camp at Samkiri in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Lt. Col Nwachukwu said, “in Bayelsa State, troops of 343 Regiment and 5 Battalion of Sector 2 of the JTF deployed to patrol the water ways of Osiegbene Creek in Ekeremor, Brass and Southern Ijaw Local Govern-

ment Areas have stamped out 42 illegal oil distillery camps and scuttled 25 open wooden boats (Cotonou boats), used by oil thieves along Osiegbene, Yeregbene, Otui Lagosgbene and Oyeregbene communi-

ties in the aforementioned Local Government Areas. ”In a separate operation, troops of 3 and 19 Battalions covering the Sector 1 Area of responsibility of the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo

Jonathan gave approval

BY ONOZURE DANIA for the upgrading of the Akanu Ibiam Airport to N Ikeja Magis an international status Court, trate two years ago and laid yesterday, ordered that the foundation for the a 55- old woman, Rose construction of the interNwachuwku be renational wing early this m a n d e d in p o l i c e year. The project is custody for allegedly now on course while other existing g structures

A

Shield have clamped down six illegal refinery sites in Ajudaibo, Ogidigben and Madagho, Escravos in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state. ”During the clamp down operation, the troops re-

covered and scuttled 15 open wooden boats , 33 large tanks, 127 plastic drums and 16 pumping machines used for their illicit trade; 44 dug out pits used by oil thieves to store stolen crude oil were also sealed up”.

Five men docked for allegedly stealing N22m

BY ONOZURE DANIA

A

46- year- old man Meriga Isah and four others were yesterday arraigned before an

Ikeja Magistrate Court, for allegedly stealing the N22 million, belonging to MYCil Nigeria Ltd. The other suspects are Uzoma Aguasi 33, Obin-

na Kingsley 32, Shuiabu Abdulahi 28 and Danladi Yusuf 36.

The defendants, who are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and steal-

Babcock holds two-day management course

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A B C O C K Consulting, the Consultancy outfit of Babcock University, Ilishan – Remo, Ogun State holds a two – day Maritime Management Course in collaboration with Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association between August 29 and 30, 2013 at Babcock University.

According to the National President of Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Engr. Alalade

Mathew, the course is for the training of Merchant Mariners including, Ship Officers, Marine Pilots, Deck Officers and Managers in the Maritime and Offshore Industries.

He added that organizations having shipping department can nominate their staff for the course.

Alalade also stated that individuals interested in acquiring knowledge in Maritime Management can also register and participant in the course which according to him, will provide comprehensive

professional and educational training for participants for the development of maritime and other sectors of the economy based on maritime operations and logistics.

In a statement by the Chief Executive Officer of Babcock Consulting, Professor Dayo Alao on the course, Babcock University, one of the first ten top Universities will issue the participants highly rated and internationally recognized certificate at the end of the course.

Enugu state government said it plans to locate the Free Trade Zone at the Ninth Mile Corner near Enugu to make it accessible to all businessmen from different parts of the country.

55- yr-old woman remanded for running unlawful Orphanage

Crude oil theft:JTF destroys 48 illegal refinery sites in Niger Delta

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagoa

airport which Ndigbo had been agitating for since the end of the civil war.

M e a n w h i l e , Presidentt Jonathan has approved Enugu as a Free Trade Zone. He gave the approval during his last visit to Enugu where he flagged off the construction of the international wing of the Akanu Ibiam Airport.

ing, preferred against them by the Police, were docked before Magistrate Mrs Abimbola Komolafe.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Iranus Nnamonu, said that the defendants and others at large, committed the alleged crime on August 9, 2013 at about 7pm, at Apapa area of Lagos.

He said that the defendants conspired to steal 160 drums of chemicals belonging to MYCiL Nigeria Limited, valued at N 2 2 m i l l i o n .

The prosecutor said that the offence committed is punishable under section 409 and 285 of the criminal laws of Lagos Nigeria 2011.

However, when the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to the twocount charge against them.

running an unlawful Orphanage home.

Magistrate Mrs Eniola Fabamwo, ordered that she should be remanded till Monday when the case will be heard by the appropriate court.

The defendant who was arraigned before Magistrate Fabamwo, i s f a c i n g a single charge of unlawful orphanage,preferred against her by the Police.

The Police prosecut o r, ASP Barth Nwokoye, said that Nwachuwku committed the alleged offence between January 2011 and August 17, 2013 at 30/32, Prince Adebambo street, in Egbeda area of Lagos.

He told the court that the defendant being a person that was not authorised by the law to run an orphanage home, unlawfully acquired and had in her possession, 27 children of different ages.

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is punishable under section 183 of the child rights law of Lagos Nigeria 2007.

However, when the charge was read to the defendant, she pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate ordered that she be remanded in police cust o d y u n t i l Au g u s t 26,2013, for the appropriate court to handle it.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013 — 9

A week after registration, crisis rocks PDM •Oyedokun, Mahdi, Ararume, Dubem Onyia, others disown party Movement was secretly

BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

F

R-L: Chief Mrs Oluwasunmisola Adefuye and her husband, Senator Anthony Adefuye listening to Monsgnor Ola Somide of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland Lagos while others watch at Senator Adefuyes’s 69th birthday Thanksgiving Service at St Dennis Catholic Church, Akoka, Lagos.

ORMER Deputy Na tional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP P, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, ex- Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and zonal leaders of Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM yesterday disowned the body as a new party.

According to them, they remained members of PDM as a pressure group

within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and not as a political party.

This is coming barely a week after PDM was registered as a political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Rising from an expanded meeting held on Thursday in Abuja, the leaders and stakeholders of PDM under the chairmanship of Senator Abubakar Mahdi stressed that they were dismayed with the way and manner in which the

Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps parade ten suspected of the day, we are con- tinue in this. Also be- i n v e s t i g a t i o n s ” . he PMS vandals vinced that the appre- ing mindful of human

BY UJU MBANUSI

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EN suspected PMS smugglers were yesterday, paraded at the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps office Ikeja.

Information made available to news men at the parade revealed that the arrest was made in the early hours of yesterday August 23rd, 2013, based on a tip-off that some petrol stations in the Badagry, Owode and Seme border axis are notorious for accepting and selling vandalised PMS products to suspected smugglers.

Based on that, a suveillience was mounted resulting in the arrest of the vandals.

It was gathered that the suspects were apprehended in a petrol station identified as ‘Mega Fair Petrol Station’.

The State Commandant Adesuyi Clement Dayo, while addressing news men, stated that some of the ten apprehended suspects are workers at the said petrol station, some were at the station to buy fuel, while some were actually involved in the act. He assured that after thorough investigations, those found guilty will face the wrath of the l a w . ”This is a signal to the others, that the Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corps will not sit down and fold its

hands to see criminal activities that are destroying the nation.

Based on some transactions that occurred there in the early hours

hended suspects were indeed involved in the act. We still have so many of them out there, and we shall con-

right violations, the suspects will be charged to court as soon as our intelligence officers conclude

said.

Recovered in the raid were two petrol tankers and seven vehicles filled with gallons of PMS products.

NASS, FG urge ASUU to call off strike

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

S the industrial ac tion embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU,

enters it second month, the leadership of the National Assembly, NASS, and Federal Government, yesterday, appealed to the lectures to end the strike.

The NASS and FG made

the plea after a meeting with Pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of public universities in Abuja.

They pleaded that the FG has made offers and commitment to necessitate the

IGP eulogises Pa Odiase, composer of national anthem

BY UJU MBANUSI

T

HE Inspector-Gener al of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday, eulogised the late Benedict Odiase, composer of the country’s national anthem stating that his contributions would remain indelible in the history of Nigeria.

Abubakar , who stated this during the lying -instate of Odiase at the Police College, Ikeja, further stated that his commitment was worth emulating.

Represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of zone 2, Mamah Tsafe, he described the late Deputy Commissioner of Police’s death as a huge loss to the Force and Nigeria at large but was quick to assert that “ death is a debt every one must pay some day.

No one can add one minute to his life when

death comes. It is not only the family that had lost someone dear to them, the Force too is mourning him. We therefore, pray for the repose of his soul and the fortitude for the family members to bear the loss.

It was however ob-

served that aside Tsafe and the Commissioner of Police , Police College, senior police officers were absent at the occasion for reasons unknown.

But former Inspectors General of Police were present.

Empowerment: FG shares N2.8m The Minister of Women to 15 families Affairs, Hajia Zainab

T

HE Federal Govern ment, recently distributed the sum of N2.8m to 15 less privileged families in the society to ensure self-reliance.

Saturday Vanguard V gathered that an abandoned mother of quadruplet of three boys and a girl was given N200, 000, a lady with breast cancer received N500, 000, a mother of triplet was given N200, 000, while a young man with broken spinal cord got N450, 000 etc.

Maina who handed over the money to the beneficiaries in Abuja said their selection was devoid of ethnicity, to enable all Nigerians benefit from the dividend of democracy.

“My Ministry has the responsibilities for and takes great pride in providing the needed and focused leadership in the area of capacity building and strengthening the family institution to perform its statutory function of bringing up dutiful and responsible members.”

resumption of academic activities in the nation’s public universities.

According to Senate Chairman on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, “The Senate Committee has always sought the required fund for our nation’s universities. We plead with ASUU for immediate end of the strike. We want to plead with lecturers to be more sensitive to their scale of priorities especially in the area of education and timely implementations of agreements. The present ASUU strike must end. It is time for the nation to take the bull by the horn”.

Chairman House Committee on Education, Honourable Aminu Suleiman said, “I want to commend all those who have fought for the proper funding of our universities in the country.

The Federal Government have also taken position to identify the needs of all our Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education to stop this problem once and for all.

“It is gratifying to know that government has shifted grounds and it is also in our position to passionately appeal to the aggrieved members of ASUU in the interest of the system to also make concession so that students can resume school”.

converted into a political party against the original vision of its founding fathers.

The new party is being administered by an interim National Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim.

The position of the leaders of PDM was contained in a communiqué signed and issued at the end of the meeting by eight leaders, namely Senator Abubakar Mahdi (Chairman), Senator Ifeanyi Araraume (South-East leader), Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulkadir Mohammed (North-West leader), Chief Ejiofor Onyia (South/South leader), Kabiru Bawa (North-East), Dr. Bala Ahmed Tafida (North Central leader), Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Alhaji Shuaibu Abdullahi and Chief Oluponnle Ebo. The communiqué reads, “ An expanded meeting of the PDM (movement not party) was called on 22nd day of August, 2013 by the Chairman, Senator Abubakar Mahdi to brief members on the registration of the movement as a political party.

“In attendance were the secretary Chief Dubem Onyia, Director of Finance, Shuaib Abdullahi and Zonal Leaders of the movement.

“In their reaction, the Zonal Leaders observed with dismay the way and manner in which PDM was secretly converted into a political party against the original vision of its founding fathers.

“A situation where founding fathers, National Caucus, Zonal Leaders and StateManagementCommittees were not consulted is una c c e p t a b l e .

“The Zonal leaders therefore, resolved that they are also not part of the registered party as they remain members of PDM as a pressure group within PDP. “They wish to further reassure PDM members across the country that the vision of the founding fathers should not and would not be compromised without consultation and their consent.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is one of the leaders of the PDM had last stressed that he had no hands in the registration of the party and that he remained a member of the PDP P.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

Drug abuse

Is Marijuana harmful?

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

M

arijuana, ordinarily, is a weed. The dried leaves, flowering tops and stems, which can be used as a drug because of the curative properties are wrapped into cigarettees form and often smoked by people. Cannabis is the plant yielding the marijuana leaves.

It’s name is derived from Latin American Spanish.

Historically, Marijuana came into Nigeria after the first and second world wars when Nigerians were conscipted to fight on the sides of Britain. Some of the soldiers on their return from Burma and North African military campaigns brought the weeds home.

Initially, Marijuana had several local names apart from the popular one – Indian Hemp. It used to be called “Morocco,””Igboo,” “Ganja”, “Smoke”, “Grass”,”Weewee”, “Stone” etc.

Because of its attribution to “mental disorder”, the authorities criminalised the smoking of Marijuana as anyone found in possession of it, or caught smoking is liable to be sentenced to six months in prison without option of fine. That was the situation until the military intervention on January 15, 1966, when the army took over from elected civilian government.

However, it was the military government of Yakubu Gowon who changed the punishment for smoking and possessing Indian Hemp from six months to 10 years imprisonment, thus making people to be aware that Marijuana was dangerous and could be the cause of violent crimes in the society.

This led to the police getting more returns from those caught smoking the weed at different joints and homes across the country.

However when the Gowon regime was overthrown, the new military government of Maj-Gen Murtala Muhammed saw no reason for the long jail term for Indian hemp offences and therefore repelled that law, reverting the punishment to six months prison term. This was received by the people with a sigh of relief. The sentence for marijuana possession had remained soft and flexible till the coming of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, which introduced stiff penalties for offenders and other serious drugs like cocaine, heroin, etc.

Marijuana has been found not to be

harmful nor addictive and people need not be afraid of its usage, although it can make the smoker “high”, and operating in another thought-level.

There are research studies indicating the medicinal, herbal, healing and curative qualities of marijuana.

In some states in America, there is what is called “Medical

Marijuana”which could be legally used with doctor’s prescription.

Doctors can prescribe marijuana for some ailments like epilepsy which has no cure, except by marijuana.

Even children of two years and above are given “edible marijuana”for cure of epilepsy which has been very effective to control the frequent seizures. So the recreational and medic-

inal use of marijuana are now gaining ground in USA. Governor Christie of New Jersey is sending a bill to the state legislature to legalise use of marijuana for medical purposes. Edible marijuana administered to a 2-year old child suffering from epilepsy has worked perfectly well with the child fully cured and seizures reduced from 100 a day now to zero.

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

fects may be classified into physical, psychological and social.

Drug abuse is increasing among women

—Dr

Agbonile

By FLORENCE AMAGIYA

D

R . Imafidon Agbonile

graduated from the University of Benin in 1995 with the MBBS degree. His interest in human behaviour and motivation drew him to the field of mental health. In year 2000 after working as a medical officer in Abuja, Lagos and Benin; he joined the services of one of the nation’s first generation psychiatric facilities, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital (FNPH)Uselu, Benin City. He had his specialist training in Psychiatry at FNPH, Uselu and became a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians (FWACP). He was in charge of the Drug Dependence Unit of the hospital for many years and later moved to Child and Adolescent unit, as Consultant Psychiatrist. His special interest area is Drug and Child/ Adolescent Mental Health. Today, he is currently the Chairman of Uselu Unit and executive member of the Ugbowo Chapter of Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM, and a lecturer at Igbinedion University Okada; where he lectures on Mental Health in the College of Health Sciences. In this interview, he talks about hard drugs, abuse of drugs and drugs dependence.

Excerpts.

What is a Drug ?

The term ‘Drug’ has several definitions depending on the professional background of the author. However, in the medical community, a drug can be regarded as a substance with the potential to prevent/diagnose and treat diseases or to enhance physical or mental well being. Drugs can be naturally occurring or synthetic. A drug is ideally to be used for medicinal or licit purposes and not otherwise (or what is known as illicit use).

How can you describe hard drug?

A hard drug is a substance of abuse with a strong potential for inducing dependence (addiction) and is usually dangerous to the physical, mental and socio-economic health of the abuser. Examples of hard drugs are cocaine, heroin, marijuana, etc. Due to the fact that the term “Drug” is being used to refer to both medicinal and non medicinal use or abuse, drug dependence experts prefer to refer to drugs that are abused as “substances”. This is to differentiate between the licit or medicinal use of drugs from the illicit or illegal use or abuse of drugs. Another reason for the use of the term “substance abuse” is that not all substances being abused fit into the traditional definition of “Drugs”.

For example, people abuse chemical substances like some house paints, some types of

wood, gum/glue popularly called “evostic”. These substances are usually volatile solvents with a pungent smell.

They are abused via inhalation and have psychoactive (mind altering) effects.

How can drugs be abused?

Drug abuse has been defined in many ways, but a very simplified definition is: “The use of illegal drugs or the inappropriate use of legal drugs”.

What is the scope of problems in Nigeria from the usage of abused drugs?

There are widespread abuse of drugs across all age groups, gender and socio-economic class, but the worse cases are from adolescents and young people of 15-24 years old. We also have more males abusing drugs than females, but the gap is narrowing as more females abuse drugs these days. We have more people in the urban areas than in the rural areas abusing drugs. The most frequently abused substance is alcohol. And the most frequently abused illicit substance is cannabis (marijuana). Some other substances commonly abused in Nigeria

•Dr. Agbonile

time. The alcohol acts as a solvent, thus extracting the active ingredients from the cannabis. This is a particularly dangerous way of abusing cannabis because the active ingredients tend to be more concentrated. “Monketail” is popular with abusers because they are spared the telltale smell of cannabis on their breath and clothing which smoking causes. Lately, a trend among students is the abuse of codeine-based

There are widespread abuse of drugs across all age groups, gender and socio-economic class, but the worse cases are from adolescents and young people of 15-24 years old are: heroin, cocaine, amphetamine, hypnosedatives (especially valium, lexotan, ativan ), volatile solvents. A relatively common pattern of abuse is the use of pentazocin injection. This drug is a powerful but potentially additive analgesic which is used for severe pains resulting from conditions like sickle cell crisis, post surgical procedures, etc. Sicklers who “self medicate” are potential addicts to this drug. A peculiar pattern of use of cannabis (marijuana) is in the form known locally as “monkeytey” or “monkeytail”.

This is simply a concoction derived by soaking cannabis (marijuana) in local gin called “ogogoro” over a period of

cough syrups. Abusers purchase large quantities of cough syrups from patent medicine stores claiming that they are afflicted with cough related conditions. They often swallow the content of a bottle of cough syrup in one go!

What are the effects or consequences of substance abuse?

There are numerous effects of substance abuse, especially abuse off hard drugs such as

cocaine and heroin. Some substances can even change a person’s body and brain in ways that last long after the person has stopped taking them, maybe even permanently. The impact of substance abuse can be far-reaching, affecting almost every organ in the human body. The complications vary depending on the drug of abuse. These ef-

What are the physical effects?

It includes bloodshot eyes especially with marijuana. Yellow eyes (jaundice) may result from prolonged abuse of alcohol due to liver damage or liver failure.

Substance abuse can lead to abnormal heart rate and heart attacks. When one gets abused via injection; it can lead to collapsed veins and infection of the blood vessels a n d heart valves.

Abused substance s c a n compromise the immune (defense) system o f t h e body, leading to infections and diseases that would ordinarily not afflict the a b u s e r.

Substances like heroin can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

What are other physical signs you can see on someone abusing a drug?

There may be seizures (convulsions) with various body injuries; stroke and widespread brain damage that can lead to memory loss. Pregnant women may have premature delivery; “drunk baby” syndrome; birth defects in the new born baby and retarded children with poor academic performance. There can be deterioration of physical appearance, personal grooming habits, tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination.

Can there be any psychological effect?

Some of the psychological effects of the substances is on the brain, these include: craving for the substance, leading to tension and restlessness. There may be dependence (addiction) on the substance and paranoia (abuser may become inappropriately suspicious).This may lead to aggression and even violence. Substances can lead to a state of delirium characterized by altered consciousness.

It can lead to impaired judgment, impulsiveness and loss of self-control; anxiety disorders and major depressive illness. Abusers may have hallucinations i.e. may see things others cannot see or hear voices others cannot hear. This may progress to full blown psychotic disorders.

Is there a socio-economic effect on someone abusing a drug?

There are increased tendency to commit crimes such as stealing, mugging, burglary, armed robbery and homicides under the influence of these substances;loss of job due to low productivity at work resulting from the pre-eminence of the

use of the substance over normal duties and responsibilities; poor academic performance at school; dropouts/truancy by youths; expulsion by school authorities; broken relationships and marriages resulting from irrational behaviours such as wife battery; financial insolvency; repeated borrowing; sale of property; embezzlement and other vices. There are also destitution; street begging and prostitution; physical and sexual abuse of children by substance abusing parents.

What would you say are the causes of drug abuse?

Peer pressure; desire to experiment; personality problems such as low self esteem; family exposure – use of drugs by other members of family; parental deprivation; family discord; media advertizing; unemployment; under-employment; frustration, rapid urbanization leading to breakdown of social and family support; high risk jobs like working in breweries, Tobacco Company, bar attendants; drug availability and the so-called spillover effect of drug trafficking.

Is there a natural progression when it comes to the abuse of drugs?

There are usually four stages involved in developing drug dependence (addiction). The first stage is the stage of experimentation, the second stage is called the stage of more frequent use, the third stage is the stage of intense pre-occupation to experience the effects of the drug and the last but not the least is the stage of drug dependence (addiction).

How can you tell signs of drug abuse and drug dependence on someone?

There will be problems in relationships, such as fights with partner or family members or

the loss of old friends.

As for drug dependence; the patient develops drug tolerance; the need to use more of the drug to experience the same effects with smaller amounts; the need to take drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. If he stays too long without drugs, the abuser experiences symptoms such as nausea, restlessness, insomnia, depression, sweating, shaking, and anxiety. The abuser uses drugs more frequently than he planned or he uses more quantity than he planned. He may want to stop using, but feels powerless to do so. His life revolves around drug use.

He or she spends a lot of time using and thinking about drugs, figuring out how to get them, and recovering from the drug’s effects. He abandons activities he used to enjoy, such as hobbies, sports, and socializing, because of the drug use.

He’ll continue to use drugs, despite knowing its harmful effects, that it’s causing major problems in his life but he continues its abuse.

Although different drugs have different physical effects, the symptoms of dependence are the same no matter the substance. Other signs and symptoms of drug abuse are: neglecting responsibilities at school, work, or home (e.g. flunking classes, skipping work and neglecting children) because of drug use.

Read more on page 57

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013—11

Staggering rise of drug addiction

BY ADERONKE ADEYERI The youths of a nation have been described as the future leaders. Nigeria is a nation struggling to re-define her history. It is easy to assume that this struggle will only continue,if and only when the youths of Nigeria take on this responsibility.

A growing concern in the minds of socio-political analysts and trend observers however,has been the growing number of Nigerian youths that get attracted to and often times,remain stuck in the pool of hard drugs and substance abuse. The staggering rise and unbelievable silent acceptance of this trend makes one wonder if the visible effects are only seen as an indication of civilization, or as a backlash from the many societal problems which make the youths feel the need to show rebellion thereby bringing about an acceptance of their own awareness and what they think should be the in -thing.

The impact of drug abuse among Nigerian youths is a stigma of a morally bankrupt,decadent and wasted generation that must be revitalized and collectively sal-

vaged together in order to prevent the total loss of our societal values and ideals.

The nation cannot sit on the fence and pretend over the menace of drug abuse in the society. The various consequences of drug abuse or drug addiction are so devastating and very shameful to the extent that both national and international organizations all over the world are also worried about the spread of this scourge among Nigerian youths.

The question one needs to ask is, who is to be blamed

We cannot all sit on the fence and pretend over the menace of drug abuse that has eaten very deep into the fabric of our society for this irresponsiblity and its implication among the Nigerian youths?

Speaking on this issue with Saturday Vanguard, Pastor(Mrs) Taiwo Enioye, a Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church Of God expresses dismay over the scourge, blaming it on many factors.

What are the factors responsible for the increase in drug addiction among the Nigerian youths?

Drugs and addiction have negative effects on youths.

Youths are adolescents whose reasoning is quite different from that of an adult. Nowadays, many youths believe they know even more than adults . There are many factors responsible for drug addiction among our youths . Negative influence of peer groups. The company some youths keep lacks the fear of God and this can be traced to their background, thereby following the wrong path. Some youths even imitate their friends because they do not want to be referred to as an inferior.

Another factor is emotional imbalance. Presently in Nigeria, we have a large number of broken homes and this affects the child’s upbringing. Some parents are always at loggerhead with each other thereby neglecting their parental roles. Children from such homes can not share their problems with their parents . Hence, they are open to wrong advice outside their home. In most cases, they shift to taking of alcohol or hard drugs or even the combination of the two.

Again, the spiritual controls the physical. Some youths are under the attack of forces of darkness in order to divert their purpose in life and their God given talents.

How can drug abuse or addiction be eradicated among the youths of Nigeria?

Every society is the product of the different families that constitute it. To have a society free from drug addiction, parents should monitor their children right from their first day on earth and also monitor the friends they keep. Parents should ensure they train their wards in the ways of God and I know when they become youths, they would not depart from God’s purpose for their lives.

How can religious organizations help in curbing this situation?

Religious organizations should preach against it in every of their activities. They can also counsel and help parents facing challenges in one way or the other. Religious organizations can also build rehabilitation centers

just like the one established by the Redeemed Christian Church of God called Habitation of Hope. This is a home for drug addicts picked from different destinations and both their physical and spiritual challenges are attended to.

What can be done on the part of the government?

The government has a responsibility to counteract both drug trafficking and drug addiction.

The government should put in place open campaign rallies in public places like motor parks, National youth service corps, NYSC, universities and other institutions of learning because these are where youths populated.

Government agencies like the National Drug Law Enf o r c e m e n t Agency,NDLEA,National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, should increase the tempo of their effectiveness by investing even more on technological devices that can enhance its ability to detect hard drug traffickers or consumers to frustrate the use of hard drugs in the society.

The government can also introduce the campaign against the use of hard drugs into secondary school curriculum.

Are you saying one can find drug abusers or addicts in secondary school?

Yes, we have some in secondary schools. The youths need to be deeply indoctrinated with anti-drug messages. Drug addiction is a war the Nigerian society cannot afford to lose.

Facts about composition of Cannabis

BY IYABO AINA & OLAYINKA AJAYI

T

he Indian hemp plant from which cannabis drugs was grown more than 2,000 years

ago.

According to report ,Cannabis contains over 400 different chemicals, the main ingredient which affects the mind is THC ( Which is one of 483 known compounds in the plant, including at least 84 other cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol CBD, cannabinol CBN, tetrahydrocannabivarin THCV and cannabigerol CBG ). The amount of THC in the hemp plant determines the strength of the drug. The weather, soil and other factors determine the percentage of THC found in the plant. By using modern farming techniques, hemp growers have developed strains of cannabis which have higher levels of THC than in the past. THC levels averaged 1% in 1974 and 4% in 1994. In 2008, levels reached 9.6%, the highest ever since analysis of the drug began in the 1970s.

Following the excessive abuse of drugs by

youths world wide, Saturday Vanguard sought the views of those involved in cannabis smoking otherwise known as Marijuana .

John Osaige—Student It help me concentrate well People just condemn you because of what you do but as far as I’m concerned, Marijuana boost my sense of concentration .

Although , it’s derogatory to be seen by people smoking hemp, you cannot compare the advantages it has over stereotyping perception of people.

Sulaiman Oyekan —Bricklayer It gives me more energy at work I am not ashamed of taking Indian hemp because my work requires more strength to perform effectively and taking hemp helps me to work extra hours.

Although many people address you as a miscreant because you smoke or drink but as we speak , have I accused you in any negative way? Individuals are different, so I take it because of my work and not

for the fun of it .

Jimoh Adeshola —Trader To me it’s medicinal Cigar or hemp is not good for health but still one is better than the other.Hemp is medicinal because it’s a herb and sometimes people use it to cook . What is bad about it is that when you take it too much , it becomes bad habit. Even hemp helps someone to eat well. Any-time I smoke it, I eat very well . So I see nothing wrong in smoking cigar or hemp because it is also good for the body. It is when you take it too much that it becomes dangerous.

Yomi Makajola —Student Smoking keeps me company when I’m moody Smoking hemp is something I cannot do without because I am now used to it. It’s now part of me because I have been smoking it for a long time . Smoking marijuana is not dangerous and it does not kill as such . Even our fathers in those days used to smoke when they were alive and none of them died as a result of smoking .

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013 —13

SPECIAL PUBLICATION

A

INSTALLATION OF CHIEF IBE KACHIKWU Ph.D AS THE ODOGWU OF ONICHA UGBO

All hail the brave Warrior

S the 11th occupant of the office of the Odogwu of Onicha Ugbo, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu is stepping into the third most powerful traditional title in his birthplace, but most significantly, he has enunciated a vision to revitalize the socio-economic and political relevance of an institution that is steeped in its own history, tradition and functions.

The Vice Chairman and General Counsel of American oil giant, Exxon Mobil, Africa operations is stepping into the third most powerful traditional political institution in Onicha Ugbo Kingdom in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.

For instance, in the ancient times, the holder of the Odogwu title was the traditional war commander of the town as he leads the Ono-Otu warriors to the battle front.

Accordingly, the Odogwu executes the war plan of Onicha-Ugbo people. But in peace time, he administers his Ishiekpe village and that part of the town. The Odogwu assists the monarch in taking important decisions as a member of the Obi-in-Council, for the good governance and development of the entire town.

He also takes part in conflict resolutions and adjudication on all disputes that threatens the peace and security in the town or with its neighbouring villages, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence. His traditional greeting as the Odogwu is Abi. According to Iyase of Onicha Ugbo Chief Festus Mafiana,”the Odogwu is the Chief of Army or the OnoOtu. He ranks next to the Iyase in influence, authority and responsibility. Once a decision is made to wage a war against another town, it is the Odogwu that executes the war plan and reports on the progress of the war to the Iyase. The Odogwu is supported in the battle front by the Ozah, a title held by Chief Azubukwu Mosindi, since 1987.”

Dr. (Chief) Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu

O

nicha-Ugbo is a fast growing town located about 40 kilometers from Asaba on the Benin-Asaba Expressway in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. It has a population of about 35,000 inhabitants, although most of its people have migrated to big cities and outside the country, in search of better life. It is made up of four principal villages namely: Ogbe Obi, Ogbekenu, Ishiekpe and Umuolo. Agba which had existed as an autonomous community recently became integrated into Onicha-Ugbo as the fifth village.

In his book entitled: Onicha-Ugbo Through the Centuries Including The Authentic Origin of Umu-Eze Chime, the author, Dr. Chudi Okwechime asserted that: “the authentic history of Onicha Ugbo people is traced to the 1750 AD when Ovior, who became later known as Obior, left the Bini kingdom at the onset of a dispute with the then reigning Ogiso.

Political structure of Onicha Ugbo

T

he historical antecedents of Onicha Ugbo, means that its social and political institutions of the town were patterned after the ancient Bini kingdom. Even in modern times, functions and relevance of these institutions still remain the same.

Nevertheless, the changing times have led to various reforms and adaptations to suit the contemporary realities. At the apex of the political structure is the Agbogidi, the Obi, who must come from Ogbe-Obi. The Obi who is referred to as the Agbogidi, is both spiritual and temporal head of Onicha Ugbo. He is the custodian of the cultural heritage of the people and the head of the traditional political institution.

Next to the Obi is the Iyase, which is the second most powerful Ono-Otu title. The Iyase is both the administrative head of the Ono Otus as well as war commander in his domain and the entire town. Generally, the Iyase is regarded as the traditional Prime Minster.

Ogbekenu village produces the occupant of the Iyase whenever the stool is vacant and his traditional greeting is Ono-Owu.

The Function and Significance

T

he first Odogwu of Onicha-Ugbo was Ishaga who was from Idumu Azu and was actually chosen by the Oba of Benin way back to the 18thcentury. According to Mr. Chris Ibeaji, who has done a detailed re-

search on the Odogwuship, Ishaga “was a warrior per excellence” and the first Ono-Otu title chief in Onicha Ugbo. However, the creation of the office of the Iyase, as an Ono-Otu title, in line with the structure of influence of the ancient Benin kingdom, moved the position of the Odogwu one step backward and he became next to the Iyase and number three in the hierarchy, but with the exclusive mandate to function as the Chief of Army Staff and the war commander.

The title exclusively assigned to the Umu Nyemuah family in Ishiekpe village, the largest quarter in Onicha Ugbo. This gives the Odogwu a large constituency and sphere of influence.

After the Odogwu title, comes the Isama which goes to Ogbe Obi. The Ozah title is the fourth Ono-Otu title. It is the title reserved for the Umuolo village, which is the second smallest of the principal four villages of Onicha Ugbo.

There are other Olinzele titles namely: the Isama of Onicha Ugbo, held by Chief Edwin Uzoka, occupied

,

Onicha Ugbo through the Centuries:

Even before he became Isagba of the town, he singularly tarred the major road linking the town to the AsabaLagos express

,

by Okwelegwe of Onicha Ugbo, Chief Ebi Odeigha, the Uwolo of Onicha Ugbo, Chief Mathias Asielu, the Omu-designate, Anwuli Gbonoza, who is the Queen mother of the town.

The Obi in Council is the highest decision making body in Onicha-Ugbo and the Onishe is the most senior Ozo title holder while the Ozoma is the most senior member of the royal family in the Obi in Council.

The four Ono-Otu title holders and the 12 senior Ikpala ani constitute what is called the Obi-in-Council or Ndi Ime Ogwa Obi.

The Odogwuship & its History

A

s stated earlier, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu is the 11th Odogwu coming from the Umu Nyemuah family. The selection of occupants of the office has often

rotated between Idumu Azu, Idumu Ogbele, Ogbe Akwu and Idumu Diagbo Chief Ibe Kachikwu, who is the grandson of Kachikwu Ogah hails from Idumu Ogbele.

It must be noted that at the end of the tenure of Odogwu Ufoh, there was a dispute over who should succeed him.

While the Umu Nyemuah selected Kachikwu Ogah from Idimu Ogbele, some sections of Ishiekpe selected and supported Chief Charles Anazia.

This created a conflict because Chief Anazia was believed not to have been chalked neither was he given the privilege of going to the Monarch for the yearly Ina Aka which comes up during the Ogbanigbe festival. But this state of affair persisted until 1964, when Chief Kachikwu Ogah passed on and Justice Augustine Maidoh was selected to replace him in 1967.

Ibeaji who was initially showed interest in the Odogwu title, withdrew from the race “once Dr. Kachikwu was appeared on the scene because we are of the same lineage and Umu Nyemuah is homogenous; I had no reason to oppose his selection or emergence as the next Odogwu”. The quarters that have produced the Odogwu title holder are Idumu Ogbele, Idimu-Diagbo and Ogbeakwu”.

But the transformation of society from agrarian to modern society, there has been agitations for inclusiveness and integration in the process of governance in Ishiekpe village.

Consequently, there have been strong demands that the Umu Nyemuah should drop the hegemonic hold on the Odogwu title based historical antecedents.

Even after the initial feeling of disappointment, efforts have been made to reach the people of Ishiekpe and to set up a framework that will guide the process of selection of occupants of the title in future but more importantly to ensure that the entire Ishiekpe unites behind their new leader.

He said “I believe that things are working out fine and we work towards a peaceful tenure for the new Odogwu.

Ibeaji is one of the two persons that Dr. Kachikwu has nominated as his envoy, to see to the daily function of the office of the Odogwu especially representing him on social and cosmopolitan functions of the office the Obi-in council where I will be required to make my contribution. Dr. Kachikwu confirmed the assertion to Mr. Ibeaji that efforts have been made to reconcile all aggrieved persons, because we are one.

According to the Iyase, “the Odogwu title is not hereditary and there is no plan to shut out any section of Ishiekpe from occupying the office of Odogwu. Dr. Kachikwu himself acknowledged the fact that there are strong emotions and history associated with the title of Odogwu because for over 200 years, there has not been a formalized process of selecting occupants of the office. I quite agree with the fact that some people feel strongly that we must keep to history and I also see the point that people are making that having been part and parcel of the society; they should not be excluded from playing their role in the governance of Ishiekpe.

The choice of Dr. Kachikwu is popular one as he is seen by many as eminently qualified for the office.

According to the monarch, even before he became Isagba of the town, he singularly tarred the major road linking the town to the Asaba- Lagos express road.

Top among such gestures is offering scholarships to over 900 students, empowering young people with motor cycles and the elderly ones with bicycles”.

Abridged Profile

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riting has been his passion and at the age of 16, Ihe published his first work. He has written series of scholarly works. Dr. Kachikwu is a successful businessmen and blazed the trail in publication of true life romantic stories, with his his soft sell Hints magazine. According to him, “nothing gives me pleasure as being able to influence thoughts through my writings and contributions to debate”.

The father of six holds other distinguished awards and recognitions, including title of the Isagba of Umu Ezechime and the Gbadegun of Owo Kingdom in Ogun State. The Odogwu is another feather to his cap and from today, his official greetings becomes, Abi.

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013 —15

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

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SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013 —17

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SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 24, 2013—19

I don’t get hungry, when should I eat?

Aunty Julie, I grew up in UK before coming back to Nigeria over five years ago and for as long as I can remember, I’ve had a fairly low appetite. I love food : cooking it, eating it, savouring it but if it’s not in front of me, I can easily forget about it. In secondary school, it wasn’t uncommon for me to make it through a whole day without realizing I’d only had few slices of bread to eat. I’m living on my own now and cooking my own meals but without predetermined family meal times, I’m struggling with portion control and meal planning. So many resources say that I should just “trust my body” when it comes to my diet, but my body won’t tell me what it needs!

Some days, I feel like I’m packing too much food for lunch; other days, I completely forget about lunch altogether. How can I make sure I don’t accidentally become a chronic under eater or overcompensate and eat too much?

When and how much should I be eating?

Ronke, Lagos Dear Ronke, The fact that you love food makes your problem much easier to manage. It sounds like you’re losing track of your eating schedule now that you’re on your own, but there are lots of ways to work around this, especially because you like to

cook and eat! Establishing healthy habits takes time and effort, but practice makes perfect, and soon enough you’ll get into the swing of a healthy routine.

Planning your meals in advance, incorporating food into your daily activities, and sticking to a schedule will all help you get there.

A widely accepted general rule is to not eat if you’re not hungry.

However, not eating all day isn’t a particularly a healthy pattern.

Consuming too little food throughout the course of the day may result in shakiness, tiredness, and general mental cloudiness as well as nutritional deficiencies and immune system weakness. What to do? Incorporate a healthy breakfast into your morning routine to help get your metabolism going early in the day, which can help boost appetite later on and help you remember to eat. Although you may not feel hungry first thing in the morning, consider energizing your body with complex carbohydrates like

whole-grain cereals with milk, whole-wheat toast with peanut butter, or yogurt with nuts and fruit.

Once you’ve had your breakfast, you have a solid nutritional base to build off for the rest of the day. Try sticking to a schedule by eating at approximately the same times every day, whether you choose to eat three large or six small meals per day. Spread your meals apart, and set alarms if needed. When mealtime arrives, make sure to focus on your food, and avoid eating on the go or while watching a movie. Mindfulness will help you get into a routine.

Write down what and when you eat, and after a few days, check your menu for patterns. You might find that you tend to reach for sweet snacks around 3:00 p.m. for an afternoon pickme-up. Adjust your food choices and eating schedule according to your observations. Always

poor nutritional choices under pressure. Nutritious and yummy snack options include fresh fruits and dried fruits,carrots, low-fat yogurt, or multigrain crackers with sliced turkey, or a hard-boiled egg.

make sure to have healthy snacks on hand so you aren’t forced to make poo

Dear Kenneth, Getting over your shyness

is possible. At first you’re scared and then you are at peace. Just exercise your social skills and you will be fine.Try and find something you have in common and then talk about that. It’s much easier than trying to talk about something you don’t know about. If you like a girl, then she will appreciate the effort you make to talk to her and then the more you talk, the closer you will get. I hope this helps!

Always have something to say when you are around them. It doesn’t have to be the most refined statements that you have to make, but anything simple will start a conversation. If you’re not sure, ask every day

questions and you will get an answer. That may lead you to asking another question and you get another answer. Probably then, you too would be asked and you’d answer back.

By and by, you will realise that you are warm with this person or persons and the shyness will become history. Ladies want to break the ice as bad as you do.

Always remember this fact.

Once you realize that this is true, you won’t be so shy around them anymore and it’ll be just like talking to a guy friend. Anyway, once you’ve reached this stage, you can begin to subtly steer the conversation into the land of personal interests.

C O C K - T A L E S Three g gentlemen There were 3 men in a bar. One was Italian, one was French, and one was English. g They y began g talking, g and the Italian boasted that he had made love to his wife two times last night, g and that she had called him a fantastic lover in the morning. g The French man scoffed at this. He claimed he had made love to his wife 14 times last night, g and that she had said he was a wonderful husband in the morning. g They y both turned and asked the Englishman g about his experiance last night. p g He said he had made love to his wife jjust once. The other men asked what she had said in the morning.

The English man replied “Don’t stop.”

Better than divorce A married couple p are driving g along g a highg way y doing g sixty y mph, p the wife behind the wheel. Her husband suddenly y looks over at her and says, y “Honey, y I know we’ve been married for twenty years, but I want a divorce.”

C M Y K

My mum wants me to date a financially stable man Dear Julie, Good morning Aunty Julie,I met a guy recently who I like very well and he also likes me too.He has asked me to date him but I am still thinking about it because we just met.

Apart from that, my mother thinks I should date someone that is financially stable (he’s a corper and I am also a corper). I haven’t told her yet about the man.Aunty Julie,the man acts responsible and I also believe he has a bright future.Please advice me on what to do.Thank you.

Kelechi, Lagos Dear Kelechi Women really like men who are financially stable. Research shows that women are attracted to material wealth.

This doesn’t mean they’re superficial or material ! On the contrary, financial stability is a sign of security and commitment. Women also want their men to have certain traits like good judgement and sound decisions.

A man who makes sound decisions is more likely to be secure, successful, and responsible. Good judgment means he’s not prone to making rash decisions that jeopardize the family’s well-being. Women are attracted to curiosity and common sense, not necessarily higher education. Intelligence helps to build a successful relationship by improving communication, facilitating problem-solving, and keeping passion alive.

Women feel more secured and unified as a family when they’re with faithful men. Knowing of a partner ’s fidelity increases a woman’s self-confidence. Faithfulness allows a couple to become a unified, powerful duo. Fidelity shows women that they are valued and respected and that they can trust their men.

Please help me

I’m shy around girls Dear Julie, I read your column in Saturday Vanguard and I was hoping you would advise me on a problem. I am 25 years old and as long as I can remember, I’ve always been shy around girls though I’ve been able to have a relationship in the past. I can’t help but act funny but when I’m around girls, I begin to sweat. My hands begin to shake and this has prevented me from having a girl because they notice my nervousness and they lose interest.

Kenneth , Lagos

Prepare your healthy snacks and meals at night so you don’t forget to eat in the morning.

Lack of appetite is sometimes indicative of a medical condition.

So, try and make an appointment with your doctor.

Dear Julie, There was a girl that helped me when I had a problem with my company , so I proposed marriage to her afterwards and we got engaged but we started having a problem and I publicly cancelled the engagement. I had apologized to her for the shame and disgrace that I have caused her which she accepted but she told me that she is not interested in me again. I have done everything to please her but none has worked. Please what can I do to get her back because I still need her?

John, Delta Dear John, First of all, you’re only being selfish and immature. It’s your fault and you get angry at her. And you say you like her when obviously, all that you’re doing is hurting her. All you want is to get her attention. Period. If you really care about her, think about her feelings, and don’t force her to like you. Also, if you think you really like her, then why did you write those horrible things? Stop being selfish and start thinking about your actions. She’d be a saint if she would forgive someone who continuously hurt her, and if you really want her forgiveness, stop doing things that’ll hurt her.

Give her some space, and maybe sooner or later; she’ll try to forgive you. If not, accept it. Don’t force it on her or she’ll only hate you the more. Or worse, she’ll think you’re a stalker, because ladies tend to think like that when people do that.

Adam & Eve In the Garden of Eden, God called Adam to him and said, “Now I shall teach you how to kiss.”

“Lord, what is kiss?” asked Adam.

“I will show y you,” said God and taught g him all he

The wife says y nothing but slowly increases speed p to seventy y mph. p He then says, “I don’t want you to try to talk needed to know about kissing. Whereupon Adam me out of it, because I’ve been having an affair went to Eve and kissed her.

Then God called Adam back and said, “Now I with your best friend, and she’s a better lover than shall teach you y about intimacy.” y you are.”

“Lord, what is intimacy?” y asked Adam.

Again the wife stays quiet but speeds up as her “I will show y you,” said God and taught g him all he anger g increases. y Adam then went “I want the house,” he insists, p pressing g his luck. needed to know about intimacy. to Eve, but came back almost immediately... y Again g the wife speeds p up, p to eighty g y mph. p “Lord,” asked Adam, “what is headache?”

He says, y “I want the car, too,” but she just drives faster and faster.

By y now she’s up p to ninety y mph. p “All right,” g he Breaking g in says, y “I want the bank accounts, and all the credA man went to the police p station wishing g to speak p it cards, too.” The wife slowly starts to veer towith the burglar g who had broken into his house ward a bridge. g g before.

This makes him a bit nervous, so he says, “Isn’t the night “You’ll get your chance in court,” said the desk there anything y gy you want?” g The wife says, y “No, I’ve got g everything y g I need.” sergeant.

“No, no, no!” said the man. “I want to know how “Oh, really,” y he says, y “so what have you y got?” g g into the house without waking my wife. I`ve Right g before they y slam into the wall at a hun- he got dred mph, the wife smiles and says, “The air- been trying to do that for years!” bag.”

UGUST 24, 24, 2013 20—SATURDAY Vanguard, A AUGUST

Men have a “secret button” you can push that will make communicating with them almost effortless, even the emotionally distant men.

08052201257 anyagafu@yahoo.com

Are you involved with an emotionally-distant man?

I

s your man emotionally-distant?

You are not alone. Out there are a lot of women who simply cannot understand their men.

Men who pay attention and think about the feelings they have, why they have them, what they mean and how to talk about them are rare. And it’s even more unique and special for a man to pay attention to his

feelings in relationships with women and to be able to talk openly about them.

Women like to think that they’re special but men think differently.Men don’t communicate their feelings. It’s like they’re helpless morons when it comes to knowing and sharing how they feel with you.

And why do men react so weird when you want to talk about

things like issues, emotions, relationships, commitment, marriage?

The answer is pretty fascinating but has more than one simple dimension to it. Have you ever asked a man how he feels about you or your situation and then he starts acting all freaked out? He starts getting angry and frustrated and turns the conversation back on you with unrelated problems or issues. Well, you’ve run into a brick wall.

Guys have relationship communication problems and guess what, it’s your fault!

If you know men who can’t communicate a certain way, it’s up to you to find a better way.Then, once you can reach them, you can help them improve. As the saying goes, “Fool me once, shame

on you. Fool me twice , shame on me.”

So will you continue to bang your head against the brick wall? Shame on you!

Lots of women do bang their heads all their lives over and over in relationships until they ’ve become convinced that men are idiots and you can’t ever make things work. There’s a better way, but you’ll never figure things out just trying what makes sense to you.

Planning and approaching issues in your life just by what “makes sense” is not only naive, it’s honestly pretty stupid. How much thinking, planning, reading and learning have you done around the things that effect your relationships and your love life?

Men have a “secret button” you can push that will make communicating with them almost effortless. And if you learn what it is and how to use it, you’ll be able to get at what he really thinks and feels and teach him how to talk to and understand you. Let’s say you’re talking with a man you’re interested in and you want to take things to “the next level” but you don’t know how. And you’ve been waiting on him to talk to you or express his interest or love for a while. But he hasn’t done that, and you get a little disappointed and frustrated with things. So what do you do? Well, most women build up everything they’re thinking inside

until they have to let it out in one big emotional release. And guess what men see when this happens? Nothing. They don’t see how much you care or love them and how amazing it is that you want to be with them.

Instead of seeing the good and the positive intentions you have, they see intense negative emotions that they can’t understand.And men get scared of emotions that are really intense or that they don’t understand. Most of all, they just aren’t used to them. So when you share your feelings and want to know his feelings for you, he freaks out. He becomes the angry-frustratedscared guy. Most women do what makes sense in this situation - they push and encourage the man to talk, to get in touch with his feelings and to share her feelings. But men don’t see it as positive encouragement. They see it as you being “over-emotional” and pushy about the issue.

You’ve got to change your communication first in order to push his communication button.

It’s up to you to get a man’s fears and defenses out of the way so you can get to the bottom of things.

My wife is pregnant and it's affecting our sex life

M

y wife is preganant and it is affecting our sex life. She is irritable and doesn’t like me to touch her. I’m getting worried. Should I get my kicks outside?

Sunday, Ibadan Ans: A woman’s desire for sex during pregnancy can fluctuate month-to-month or trimester-to-trimester. During the first trimester; fatigue, vomiting and nausea may put a damper on sexual activity. By the second trimester, many women regain energy and feel more aroused due to physical changes such as full breasts, increased vaginal lubrication and increased blood flow to the pelvic region. Once the third trimester arrives, fatigue and body aches and pains may decrease her sexual desire.

Your wife may also experience an increased or decreased sex drive. In one respect, you may be aroused by her full breasts and round belly. On the other hand, you may feel anxious due to a fear

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of causing her discomfort, harming the foetus, or nervousness about becoming a parent.

Ask her to talk to you about her comfort level regarding the amount of sex she would like to have, the different positions she would like to try, and where she would like to be touched. Tell her about your preferences as well.

Sex during pregnancy does not harm the baby. Your male organ does not come into contact with the foetus during sex due to the mucus plug in the cervix and the muscles of the uterus. In addition, it is safe for a pregnant woman to reach orgasm.

Pregnancy can change your wife’s appetite for many of life’s simple pleasures, from making dinner to making love. How a woman feels about sex while pregnant depends on her individual feelings about sex, her partner’s feelings, and the physical and emotional changes of this particular pregnancy.

While pregnant, your wife will feel different about sex. For many women, and their partners, this difference is exciting.

Some women become aroused more easily, and climax more quickly, pleasurably, and frequently, and many men find their pregnant wives sexier than ever. Yet while some couples experience pregnancy as a peak erotic time in their married life, others experience a downturn in desire or satisfaction.

Most couples report both ups and downs. Fortunately, all of these feelings are normal. And the good news is a little knowledge helps most couples increase their sexual pleasure during these pregnancy months. Once you and your mate realize why sex is different during the nine months of pregnancy, you’ll find it easier to adjust to this biological fact of life. It is just one more season of your marriage that needs sensitive understanding.

In the early months; fatigue, along with nausea and fear of miscarriage, turns sex into an uncomfortable obligation for many women. In the second trimester; fatigue and

morning sickness usually lessens, the fear of miscarriage subsides as the statistical risk decreases, and many women show a surge in sexual desire.

It is not uncommon for men to enjoy the new erotic feelings of their mates; to feel that the sex they didn’t get earlier was worth waiting for.

The heightened sensitivity of the erogenous zones is so thrilling to many women that they experience more enthusiasm for sex during the middle months of pregnancy than at any time in their lives. Do not be surprised if in the final months, your wife is too large, too awkward, or too preoccupied with the coming birth to enjoy sex.

In the third trimester, as a ballooning abdomen literally comes between a woman and her partner, most women report that they focus more on becoming maternal rather than being sexual. Even if the body is willing, it is clumsy.

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S ATURDAY SATURDAY SATU

V d AUGUST G S 24 2 4 , 2013—21 20 3 2 2013 21 1 Vanguard g 24,

Will your man love you after you’ve survived breast cancer

B

AFFLED by the recent spate of deaths due to cancer, I asked a medical doctor friend why cancer had become so prevalent. “It’s been around for ages,” he told me, ‘people only call it by different names and some were comfortable referring to the ailment as due to supernatural forces rather than to a rational explanation.” In a country where most men are fixated on the boobs, what position does a breast-cancer survivor finds herself in her partner ’s affection? Does the “in sickness and in health” vow hold true here?

Franka, in her early 50s travelled abroad and decided to have a mamograph test. A routine examination she’d had a couple of times, she was gobsmacked when undressing part. He was visibly shocked but quickly got over the shock to offer the right sympathy. Needless to say, he never called again and I have enough dignity not to call him and ask him why ...”

Miriam, a breast cancersurvivor has this to say in her recent letter to me:”I had a mastectomy two years ago after I was diagnosed a breast cancer victim. Before then, I’d made plans with my husband to make the most of

,

the test revealed she had some cancerous cells in one of her breasts. She had to extend her holidays so she could have a mastectomy.

Thankfully, the cancer hadn’t spread and a few months later, she had reconstruction surgery on the affected breast.

“I was grateful I could now wear a proper bra and my health bounced back. In time I met an old friend who showed new interest in me.

As a mother of three adult children, this doesn’t happen often. After a few dates and some passionate necking, I came clear to him before we got to the

the rest of our years together. Our last child, we had four, had just finished her degree course and we decided to spend some money on our general well-being.We

enrolled in a gym near our house and revamped our wardrobe. Until cancer struck and I had to go through the trauma of getting well. My husband was quite supportive when I first had my operation. It was about this time too that we got delivery of the brand new car we’d promised each other as a treat. “Not long after, my husband, who was now amazingly fit (thanks to

,

He was visibly shocked but quickly got over the shock to offer the right sympathy

his stints at the gym) became distant. It was inevitable that he got himself a new girlfriend —he was quite open’ about this affair as he said being around an ailing partner made him feel stressed.If I were to be honest, I don’t blame him—my breasts are misshaped and I’ve put on a lot of weight due to my treatment. I feel really inadequate and, if it wasn’t for the children and grandchildren, God only knows what I would have resorted to.

Why I’m writing to you is to warn breast cancer sufferers like me who are heartbroken because their husbands have made them feel undesirable, unloved and worthless not to despair. In spite of their feeling themselves sinking in a sea of depression, they must not give up on themselves. They should be strong. They may not think they can make it through, but they can. My husband was self-obsessed, all that working out has made his ego bigger than his brain and his heart.

But my illness was not my making and I’m getting on with living a meaningful life.

“Sometimes, couples going through a traumatic phase may need to be apart to clear their heads and decide what they want in life. My husband may come to his senses and realize he’s made a huge mistake but, apart from what he decides to do, I’ve discovered there’s great power and value in picking up my life and doing what is best for the family. In spite of my eldest daughter urging me to move into her family’s guest room, I’ve stayed in the home I’ve put years of

my life into making. I’m quite determined not to allow someone else to control my fate. Just as I cannot control or make my husband leave his mistress and be the caring husband and father he once was…

When I showed this lady ’s letter to Florence, she told me she understood what Miriam was going through.

“After I had my operation”, she told me, “I went for counselling where patients were told they should spare a thought for their partners’ reaction. That it could be harrowing to watch a loved one’s character change due to an illness.

The personality they once knew and loved seem to belong to someone they don’t recognize.

One man confessed that everyone rang to find out how his wife was, which was understandable, but what about him? It’s so hard watching the person you’ve loved over the years fade away into ‘someone you can’t really relate to. “”’Anybody recovering from a major illness must start thinking about themselves.

If they make some time for themselves for a trip to the shops for instance, or to a cinema to meet a friend or family for a meal, they ’d feel the strength of life seeping back and this would change the way they feel about themselves.

Prolonged use of painkillers could increase heart risk H

C M Y K

other minor ailments.

They said a short course of tablets bought over the counter for a muscle sprain was unlikely to be hazardous.

The study pooled the findings from 639 trials involving over 353,000 people after numerous small trials showed a link between NSAIDs and heart sideeffects.

Study leader Professor Colin Baigent, of the Medical Research Council Clinical Trial Ser vice Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit at Oxford

,

igh doses of painkillers used by millions can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and heart failure, according to the largest study of its kind.

It confirmed a ‘small but significant’ extra risk of dying from heart problems after prolonged use.

The drugs, known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), include· ibuprofen and diclofenac, and also newer medication called coxibs. They are used by people with arthritis and other forms of chronic pain.

For every 1,000 people with a moderate risk of heart disease taking them for one year, three extra people would have an avoidable heart attack including one death.This is more than one-third above the normal risk if not taking the drugs. The study found naproxen was the safest NSAID. Researchers looked at the highest doses of painkillers prescribed by doctors, twice the daily amount recommended for headache and

are real but small, are worth it for them.’

At least several million people with arthritis take painkillers, including NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and coxibs. The research found for every 1,000 people with a moderate risk of heart disease having one year of treatment with high-dose diclofenac (l50mg daily) or ibuprofen (2400mg daily), about three would experience an avoidable heart attack, of which one would be

,

Arthritis experts stressed that the drugs brought relief to millions, with many unable to lead a normal life without them

University, said the results would help patients to balance the benefits and risks of using the drugs, and that they should not panic.

He said: ‘We’re talking about really low risks. The extra risk of a heart attack is very small.But if patients are worried they could talk to their doctors about it and they can consider if the risks, which

fatal.

In contrast, high doses of naproxen did not affect heart attack risk, said the study published in The Lancet medical journal.

However, like other NSAIDs it was linked with a doubling of heart failure risk and a two-to-fourfold higher risk of bleeding stomach

ulcers.

Arthritis experts stressed that the drugs brought relief to millions, with many unable to lead a normal life without them.

Professor Alan Silman of Arthritis Research UK said: ‘NSAIDs are a life-line for many millions of people with arthritis, and when used appropriately can be extremely effective in relieving pain.

‘Doctors are aware ofthe risks ofNSAIDs, and there has been a marked reduction in the use of diclofenac and a switch to naproxen in recent years.

‘For patients with arthritis, not smoking, a healthy diet and having their blood pressure checked regularly are moire important factors in reducing the risk of a heart attack (We would advise people with arthritis who are taking NSAIDs not to be unduly concerned by these latest findings and to seek the advice of their doctors.’

2 22 2 DA 22— SA ATURD U D AY A Y

Va d , AU G S 24, GUST 2 24 , 2013 20 3 UGUST anguard, g

T

Random things hydraulic pump of the trailer’s brakes…with the nozzle stuck up his ass…blowing hot pressured air…. Yes; he eventually exploded… right in front of people.

This is a true story.

Now, just imagine how many different, random, things that would have to align for someone to be shoved backwards at just the right angle,with just the right amount of force for the nozzle to pierce through clothing, parting through flesh to embed itself in the recesses of one’s anus? You see what I mean; home trouble!

Somebody from the village is definitely pursuing you! But they say that is life, random events and circumstances and how we react to them which eventually lead us

down the ‘checkered path of our mortal existence’.

Last week there was an account of one such bizarre incident in one of our local papers.It was the story of a young boy who used to reside somewhere in Lagos.

Going by the picture attached to the story, a good looking strapping young man. To make the story sweet he was a single father—this in itself is an aberration and says more about his character than any number of eulogies. He was a barber whose shop also doubled as his house where he lived with his daughter; the mother said to have absconded to parts unknown shortly after her birth. He was said to have kept his toddler

close, tending to her needs first before embarking on the business for the day.

On this fateful evening it is reported that he was in his shop tending to a customer, his daughter playing close by as usual, when

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here’s this show called, ‘ O N E THOUSAND WAYS TO DIE’ which is a chronicle of really bizarre ways that people come to their death.Some of the scenarios are so far out I had trouble believing the plausibility of many of the circumstances. But they were true stories, each one based on real life events;each one a chronology of a set of seemingly random, extremely bizarre circumstances that culminate in the subject’s demise.

Watching the show for the first time, being an African, (Nija for that matter!)

I was convinced that many of the subjects were suffering from ‘home trouble’. It must be.

How else can you explain a simple argument between two people standing beside a trailer degenerating into a mild scuffle, which in turn leads to someone being suddenly shoved backwards and that someone landing on the nozzle of the

officer was said to have shot him to death, pointblank…on the s p o t … w i t h o u t provocation… his dying words were that his neighbours should please not abandon his daughter and look after her till any relation of his came for her.

‘Just like that?!’ we would say. ‘How?!’‘ Ahh!!

Dem don do am strong ting from home!’ maybe.

Then maybe this is an African version of 1000 ways to die — a bizarre string of random events that eventually leads to the subject’s demise then again maybe not.

The back story as reported is that the MOPOL was on duty that

We have mad men running around in uniform (or not) brandishing weapons and literally handed licences to kill

a man,said to be a MOPOL officer attached to some check point close by (he was known to the residents there even though he was said to be in mufti at the time of this incidence) asked him to step out so he could speak to him, the young man obliged, stepped out, and the

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night at his post albeit in mufti and unfortunately, drunk. He was said to have stopped a passing vehicle and asked the occupants to come down and be searched.

According to the story the occupants of the vehicle were said to be uncomfortable with the officer and asked that he

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ersons with disability in Nigeria have been crying against their marginalization in the scheme of things, we have carried out peaceful demonstrations, picketed banks, got the senators to experience disability by convincing them to live a day on wheelchair while some were blind folded for the day. They went to work this way on that day and experienced albeit just a bit of how difficult it is to live with disability. We have used countless strategies to ensure that Persons with disability are given their rightful place in the society and their advantage of our huge rights protected, population, mobilize our w i t h o u t members, families and commensurate result. friends to give block votes The Association for to candidates for any C o m p r e h e n s i v e political office who has Empowerment of d e m o n s t r a t e d Nigerians with understanding of the Disability (ASCEND) plight of persons with has resolved to take disability and is prepared the bull by the horn by to carry them along if he/ ensuring that starting she wins the election. with the Anambra Has anyone wondered State 2013 why Nigerian society G u b e r n a t o r i a l remains largely election, that our votes inaccessible to persons and that of our families with disability, why and friends will decide Nigerians with disability who wins elections in remain the poorest , why this country at all there has not been any levels. person with disability elected or appointed into e can no longer any high political office in live at the Nigeria. Certainly, it is not fringes of the society, because we do not have we have concluded persons with disability that the only way to qualified to hold such stop the political offices. This can marginalization of only be attributed to the persons with disability stigmatization and in Nigeria with the discrimination persons attendant social, with disability suffer in economic and political this clime. The highest exclusion is to take political office a Nigerian

Nigerian disabled to take the Bull by the horn

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with Disability has held so far is senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which we are proud of, however this does not reflect our population which has been put at about 24 million, and the fact

the international day of persons with disability which is: “Break barriers and open doors: to realize an inclusive society for all”, ASCEND has resolved that henceforth, Persons

Members of the association will form a task force to ensure that people come out on the election day to vote for the endorsed candidate

that we have in abundance, qualified men and women with disability who can hold even the highest political office in Nigeria, more efficiently than our able bodied counterparts, as we have proven in sports.

Given the above scenario, and in line with 2013 theme for

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with disability will be counted in all elections in Nigeria. We will mobilize our members, families and friends to vote for credible candidates who are ready to give us our rightful place in his/her government or elected position.

Our strategy for achieving this objective is as follows: The

Comprehensive Empowerment of Nigerians with Disabilities (ASCEND) will endorse candidates for various elections and mobilize voters for such candidates. Before the endorsement, the Association will invite the candidates to address them.

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ased on the candidates’ presentations and their antecedents, the association will endorse a candidate and mobilize its membership, affiliates and friends, to campaign for the endorsed candidates.

We will start with Anambra State gubernatorial election and to this effect, The Anambra state chapter of ASCEND will endorse a gubernatorial candidate in the f o r t h c o m i n g

identify himself.To which he reportedly told them to wait, he went off and returned brandishing a gun, saying and Iquote: I will show you that I am from Plateau State where we kill people anyhow’.

The people in the car reportedly sped off. It was after this encounter that the MOPOL was said to have proceeded to the barbers shop where a young man’s life was cut short, without prior warning.

If this account is accurate then these are not a ‘random sequence of events’. We have mad men running around in uniform (or not) brandishing weapons and literally handed licences to kill. Beyond the aptitude and whatever other tests that are carried out during recruitment, are there any follow up evaluations?

Who’s keeping an eye on and monitoring the mental and emotional stability of these men that we entrust to maintain law and order and keep the peace? And while we’re asking questions who takes responsibility for that little girl and her terrible loss?

gubernatorial election in Anambra State and this will be followed by the endorsement of the national body of ASCEND. Press conference will be held to announce the endorsed candidate.

The Association will then campaign vigorously at rallies, road shows and media tours to promote a positive image and build favorable public opinion for the endorsed candidate.

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embers of the association will form a task force to ensure that people come out on the election day to vote for the endorsed candidate as well as stay back at various polling stations to protect their votes.

Finally, we wish to appeal to Anambrarians to give massive support to any candidate endorsed by our association.

Our process for the endorsement of a candidate which will be announced later, shall be transparent and credible, and will lead to the endorsement of a candidate who will take Anambra State to the next level.

UGUST 24, 24, 2013—23 SATURDAY Vanguard, A AUGUST their parents are alive, do they have siblings? If you don’t, know it might just be sex. * Doesn’t want to hear about your family and friends. Are you bummed out about your family and want to talk about it and they don’t want to hear about it. It could be just sex. *Phone conversations or text messages are only in a sexual nature. Some relationships are like this but others are Just Sex. *You only meet at places where sex can occur. Only going to their house/apartment or vice verse might just be sex. *No sleepovers. They come over briefly, have sex and then shortly, they want to go home or send you home. Oh yeah, it’s just sex. *You don’t eat together. Ever hear that old saying “a couple that eats together stays together ”. *They take a shower right after sex and send you on your way.

Normally you want to rest a bit and maybe talk. But when they all of a sudden, want you to leave, it’s probably just sex. *Never talk about life outside the bedroom. There are so many other things going on that you could talk

Signs it is just sex, not a relationship I

t’s common to hear friends talking about how they met a guy and had wonderful sex and then the guy only calls or comes by when he wants sex.

What you need to know is that what you had with him was a physical attraction that magnified feelings of a deeper nature. Now, get it clear that he is not a bad guy, for the most part, he was

simply thinking “it’s just sex, what’s the harm in that”. So here are some super signs to look for to see if it is just sex: *Every time you see each other, it’s only to have sex. So many women and men are having this type of relationship thinking that it’s more and it’s not. It’s just sex. *Only comes over at night. They call you around 10 pm or later, asking if you can come over or if they can come

over around midnight. A lot of people think “oh they are just really busy”. No, they are calling for a booty. It’s just sex. * Doesn’t want to go out anywhere with you. Yes, staying at home is nice sometimes but there is a whole world outside of the bedroom. It’s just sex he wants from you. * Never talks about family and friends. Think, do you even know if

Life as the other woman

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ove hurts, so they say, and never is that saying more appropriate than if you’re in love with a married man - or woman!

Loneliness, heartache and sadness doesn’t begin to cover what you’ll experience in your role as the other woman or man.

Whether you fell in love with the guy before discovering he was married, or you knew his marital status all along, get ready for a roller coaster ride of emotions and upset. You’ll hate him and love him, you’ll hate yourself and you’ll hate her. At the same time, you’ll know in your heart that things just aren’t right.

Think he’ll leave her for you? Think again!

Although some married men do leave their wives, and take up with the new woman, for the most part, the man is just playing around and will likely stay with his wife, paricularly if he has kids with her.

Some men get bored with the same woman and they have affair after affair, but when it’s said and done, he’ll generally go back home to his family.

One reason is that it’s easier to have affairs, then return to the wife, than it is to leave and start all over again. Another reason is that the man never intended to find another wife. They simply wanted to have other women but without the commitment.

Think he’ll be spending Christmas with you?

New Year’s? Not likely! Most married guys will attend functions and holidays with their wives and leave you at home alone, wishing you could see him. While he’s out hugging and kissing the wife, you’re at home hugging your pillow, and that’s not apt to change no matter which holiday it is.

Okay, he’ll probably be able to take you out every once in awhile, but don’t count on him spending the night, since his absense could be a red flag to wifey. He won’t want to risk that! He may be able to buy you an occasional gift, too, but trust me, the wife is getting an even better gift. Many cheating guys feel guilty and try to find peace with it by offering gifts to the wife.

And here’s an angle you may not have considered: if he’s cheating on his wife with you, maybe he’s cheating on you and the wife with someone else, maybe several others. Guys that cheat will grab a one-night-stand, if they can, then leave that person to see you, then the wife.

Don’t be surprised if you walk away from unprotected sex with this guy carrying a venereal disease or worse!

Expect many broken promises. The guy will promise to take you somewhere, then find out the wife made other plans, and cancel on you,

about. *You only have a cell phone or beeper number. It could be just sex. *When you talk, it’s only to setup a sex time, when to meet and you end up having sex. It’s just sex. *They avoid you in public. You see them and you know they saw you and they turn away. It’s Just Sex. *Only spends a couple of hours with you. Only spend enough time with you to have sex. Then it’s just sex.

not her. He’ll promise to make it up to you but, again, something comes up, and you’re left alone and crushed.

Make no mistake, she’ll always come first. He’ll even lie to you so you won’t think he’s spending the amount of time with her that he actually is. At the same time, he’s lying to her so she doesn’t think he’s spending time with someone else - you!

Speaking of lies, you’ll hear plenty. He’ll likely talk about her, telling you that she doesn’t love him, that he doesn’t love her, or that they’re separated or divorcing. He may tell you that she’s ill, won’t be intimate with him anymore, that she’s cheating on him or similar fabrications. Believe nothing.

Don’t think guys are the only ones out there cheating. Women are just as capable as men when it comes to sneaking around. Everything that goes for cheating men, and the women that love them, can be said about cheating women, and the men who love them.

If you’re beginning to have feelings for a married man, or you realize you’ve already fallen for him, try and get out of the relationship as quickly as possible. Do it for any number of reasons: because you don’t want to destroy a family, because you respect yourself more than that, or because you don’t want a relationship with a liar and a cheater. However you justify being with a married man, in your mind, it’s still wrong. Dump him and move on - you’ll be much happier in the long run run.

Ask the Sexpert I am a 24-year-old woman.

My breast-size is 42. My husband likes to fondle them. Of late, he has been fantasising about lactation. I want to keep my husband happy.

Tell him that lactation will occur only after the baby comes. But then, it will be reserved for the newcomer.

I am 31 years old. I usually use a condom during inter-

course. But recently, I had unprotected sex with a prostitute. My manhood started bleeding after the act, and hasn’t stopped since.

When I pulled my foreskin back, I saw blood was oozing from inside.

Are there any chances of me having contracted an STD? What made you lose your resolution to use a condom on all occasions? Stop handling the situation yourself and visit an andrologist/ urologist. It is probably a simple p tear at the jjoint between the

foreskin and penis.

I am a 24-year-old man with a strong sexual urge. I masturbate more than five times a week while watching porn on the internet. I know that masturbating this often is not good and I want to take control of this habit as I feel exhausted when I overdo it and also end up feeling low. What can I do about it?

You have the brakes in your hand.

Just stop looking at porn and make up your mind that masturbation will be enjoyed only when you are natu-

rally excited. Look elsewhere for a reason for your exhaustion — see a doctor. Start a fitness regimen.

I am a 30-year-old married man.

In the mornings, I experience a good erection, but that never happens when I want to have sex with my partner. Why does this happen?

Can any medicine cure this?

It is your mind that is working against you. Develop confidence in yourself. Stop comparing the erection in the morning and later in the day. Focus on giving her pleasure.

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his country today is awash with ill-feelings. The land crawls with bad faith. Anguish and bitterness compete for space, and our vision is blurred by bad faith in high places. Trust has retreated in shame and hope resides in vain yearnings. We live in a wilderness deprived of truth and in dire need of honour. The shards of our shattered values are scattered among the deteriorating structures of our social standards.

It is all in the open. Our politics is like a rehearsal for the Third World War; our economy struggles against an acceptable definition; our energy supply is a standing scandal; our tertiary educational system swoons in the arms of dismay; people in various communities are bedevilled by the absence of ordinary drinking water; men and women who have served their country at great sacrifice are left to crumble in long cues for their retirement benefits. But, in the midst of all these harrowing conditions in which old people face constant issues about enough to eat, and the young are daily frustrated by the paucity of labour opportunities those who are chosen to create avenues for a better existence are bloated with facilities which they have used their positions to acquire for themselves. And that is the rub.

As you can imagine, these elements who are relishing the vile gains of the putrid situation are the very people who are in the position to make a change. They can be trusted, naturally, not to shoot themselves in the foot. That is why they will cling to the advantages which derive from their positions as ministers, and commissioners, and legislators, and political •President Jonathan agents of all hues. And they will do anything but budge - willingly.

*one massive action *lagos is in yorubaland

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he towering strife in the political scene is the manifestation of the resistance to change. In the main outline, we see the contention between the firm establishment of the Peoples Democratic Party, the PDP, and the fresh emergence of the All Progressives Congress, the APe. The PDP declaims their rivals, as it were, to be birds of “different” feathers which cannot naturally come together in a united front. But then, it is all a matter of coalition, or rearrangement, which has consistently run like a thread through the fabric of our historical development in politics.

Political organizations have usually come together and broken apart in this country without any ideological base for disagreement or realignment. Even the PDP itself is little more than the rump of the defunct NRC, the National Republican Convention. As it turned out, unfortunately, its counterpart in the two-party structure designed by President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the Social Democratic Party, the SDP, disintegrated to the old pattern of the East-West dichotomy.

change; the other says the so-called opposition can’t create the change. And the rest is noise.

But the people cannot feed on political philosophy. They do not need the noise either.

They only crave for the delivery of a decent quality of life from those who presented themselves as able agents of progress. Now they are merely agents of self-interest. When they equate the rigours of politics to issues of life and death, they are not talking of politics per se, but about what they gain out of politicking. And, unfortunately, this starts from the top— as always. No incumbent president has ever lost an election at the polls, and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is not planning to blaze the trail in that direction.

He does not even need to fly a kite; we all know in what direction the wind is blowing.

The proliferation of Governors’ forums was a device to create an elbow room to manoeuvre situations for the support of GEl 15; the grounding of the Rivers State government

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No incumbent president has ever lost an election at the polls, and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is not planning to blaze the trail in that direction

aircraft was a clear attempt at embarrassing the governor whose alleged inclination towards a presidential ambition was not deemed conducive to the open aspiration of Aso Rock; the upheaval in the Rivers State legislature was a blatant design to weaken the political base of the Rivers State Governor. The ambition of staying in Aso Rock guides, and sometimes seems to mislead, the Presidency ’s contemplation of every consideration. The Presidency has assumed the nature of a citadel of acerbic repartee with the “opposition” (meaning: any source of an opinion that does not appear totally committed to the idea of President Jonathan succeeding himself) Even a cultured mind within the “Rock”, from whom a note of sophistication might have been expected has not withdrawn from the

However, it is now becoming clearer every day that the IBB formula would have worked.He had expatiated on the theme of a consolidated political configuration at that time by sensitising the polity to the fact that there was no clean-cut difference in the outlook of the various groups in the country which were summarised as “progressives” and “conservatives” beyond leanings of “a little to the right”, and “a little to the left”. And that is true today as it was then, over thirty years ago. With the approach of the 2015 elections casting a dark shadow on almost all considerations of our political life, there is still not much to choose between the PDP and the APC in the way of a distinctly articulated sustained mud-slinging match of those who might be said to be in their element in such political philosophy. One says there must be an endeavour. As for the medical practitioner

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Nigerians used to be able to stand up for their right

who has reduced himself to the mean measure of a clown, his contributions to political discourse reveal a preference for the bludgeon in situations that deserve the passage of a rapier. They must now defend the President’s wife against even the flimsiest criticism. In any case, could Dame Patience have calmly stood by whilst the political storm was mounting with her husband at the centre? Do those who criticise that deserve a reply?

But, if it has to be repeated, our economy keeps staggering like a drunken sailor: we are not in debt but owing so much, and still borrowing. We cannot afford the sum of 92 million naira for the recovery of our decaying university system, which is virtually crumbling before our eyes; but we have enough to save supposedly from the overflow of revenues. We acknowledge the fact that our oil wealth is being siphoned through crooked deals by billionaire thieves, but we must remove a questionable subsidy when it is clear that what is being stolen would more than accounted for the so-called subsidy. We do not have to add the perennial issue of security in a country whose citizens in one area appear to be under a siege of terrorism.

Our patched-up roads eagerly await the rains to show up the shoddy work we have been wasting billions on.

While we proclaim the advent of a better supply of electricity, we cannot hide the evident fact that there is a steady decline in our generation capacity. The prices of our staple foods are rising. House rents are going up in the cities. And our young men and women still are shouting for jobs, jobs, jobs!

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hat is the backdrop against which selfinterest and personal ambition clamour for supremacy. But the people are the architects of their own fate. They have to do something for the amelioration of their condition. The government, for me, have shown very clearly that they do not deserve my respect as a citizen of this country. We must make them turn around to consider the destiny of the people who put them there.

The academic staffs of our universities are on another of their token strikes, for that is what it would turn out to be if they once again recoil from fighting to the end. Their fight should be the spearhead of a demand, a massive demand, by the populace. We should all arise in their support which, after all, is for our future.

Nigerians used to be able to stand up for their right. As far back as 1929, some 84 years ago, Ibo women in Aba staged a massive confrontation against the colonial government over their resentment against a measure of taxation. Several of them lost their lives. But that did not deter the fighting spirit of Nigerians as a people. I grew up in the thrilling age of industrial disputes, the major and most successful being the general strike of 1945. In the

mines, on the railway tracks, and in the offices, men and women threw down their axes and spades, their pens and pencils, and took to the streets asking for the response of government to the rising cost of living. What they wanted was called “Cost Of Living Allowance” —COLA. It was under the regime of the white man,but the Nigerians got their dues. There were no epileptic “ warning” strikes in those days. A strike was called for an objective properly considered, and it duly achieved its purpose.

If the Nigerian Labour Congress has become bourgeoisified, Nigerians are the losers. This nation needs massive action, and only the NLC can marshal it’ A statement like “Lagos is no man’s land” can only be made by a man looking for trouble.

And, as Fela would say, “He go get him own.” I never thought very highly of the man, anyway; he always impressed me as a good candidate for “The Village Headmaster ”. He usually presented the image of an unenlightened citizen who needed to be gently made aware of his surroundings ... personification of the “Cavaliera Rusticana”, a proper bushman.

Granted that the Lagos State Governor,Babatunde Fashola, committed a faux pas in the removal of some destitute elements from his state to their assumed state of origin— which I cannot defend and won’t even try to — I find it most immature to employ the merit or demerit of the action as an implement to cause a widespread ire against one section of the nation against another.

It is provocative and basically untrue that the Thos contribute no less than sixtyfive percent to the wealth of Lagos State; but even if that were so it does not relate in any positive way to the subject on the floor, to wit, the congregation of destitute elements in Lagos State from other states. Does the contribution of any percentage to the development of an area warrant the swamping of the same place with undesirable people from anywhere? An aspect of this issue that is glossed over by those whose aim is to make capital out of it, is that the exercise was not limited to Anambra State alone, but also involved people from even Yoruba areas.

The government of Fashola epitomises the open generosity of Y oruba people to strangers in their midst. Instances need not be mentioned. They are legion. Lagos is a Y oruba town. Anybody who needs yet to be convinced about the friendliness of Lagosians needs an urgent visit to a psychiatrist. Anyone who is made to compare the hospitality of Tho people with that of the Yoruba only needs to live in Iboland to regain his sanity. I lived there. I enjoyed the warmth and companionship of a friendly people, throughout my sojourn. Enugu, as many of my friends would testify, is still my favourite city - after Lagos, of course. All the same, I do’ find some aberrant behaviour in some Ibos, especially once they are out of their land. They are the type who would say “Lagos is no man’s land.” And they will find trouble.

S ATURDAY Y V d , AUGUST 24, 24 , 2013—25 2013 25 5 SATURDAY SATU Vanguard Vanguard, g

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T was a languid Sunday; one of those days that seemed to stretch and I was at a loose end. So I decided to spend some quality time with a mentor. Only he had a prior appointment and wouldn’t be home.

He then asked me if I could join him and his ‘date’ at Freedom Park for 6pm.

At the mention of the name, my mind went to Ojota where the fuel subsidy rallies took place last year. I was therefore surprised to learn that Freedom Park is on the island.

‘Do you remember the old prison on Broad Street? He asked. ‘Yes, I do but can’t remember where it is anymore’, I replied. To his chuckle, I retorted that it was before my time, besides, visiting prisons should not be anybody’s favourite past time.

Any way, Broad Street prison was one of the prisons where Chief Obafemi Awolowo was held during his treasonable felony ordeal. It has now been turned into a park by the Fashola administration. I was greeted with a few surprises when I stepped into the park. First, I had no idea that this kind of space existed in the heart of Lagos.

Second, the ambience threw me. It was not an open space like the ones at Oshodi and Ojota.

It was not all brick and mortar either. It had a museum, an art gallery, a few offices and restaurants.

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t also managed to retain some of the cells where famous—an infamous—people spent a part of their lives. Yet you had a feeling of space; joyous, exhilarating space.

awson was in one of the committees looking for ways of improving Lagos as a City. He did a design that did not see the light of day for years until a chance meeting with one of Governor Fashola’s Special Assistants brought the design back into focus. He subsequently had a meeting with Fashola who liked the idea and rest as they say, is history. This idea was to keep as much of the history of the prison as possible while opening it up—hence the retention of certain relics of the old prison.

Given its location and size, it is

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ow the place wears a new, serene look. To achieve this, some buildings were brought down and people flushed out. The breaking of eggs to make an omelette…

Obalende bridge was another notorious spot until it was cleaned up recently. Many regular users of the place have since heaved a sigh of relief.* But what happened to the urchins and area boys that populated— and terrorised the place?

Obviously they had to make way. The breaking of eggs….

What brings all these up is the noise that attended the Lagos State Government decision to demolish houses in Badia in its attempt to clean up the place. Many of the ‘do goody’ voices describing the exercise as insensitive, have never been near the place and can’t imagine how people p there are living in the 21st century.

I went to Badia once and vowed not to go there again.

To bring the place up to scratch will involve many tough decisions. But remember, eggs will have to be broken to make an omelette.

Festac Town was a lovely place in the early 80s.It was a model town; the pride of Nigeria and black Africa. It used to be lovely after the rains because of the clean streets and clean, fresh air. Now each rain brings untold horrors because the drainage is gone along with the roads. In fact, who ever attended Festac 77 would weep to see what the place has become. But then, this is what happens when leaders look the other way and refuse to take tough decisions.

It would be easier and more politically expedient for Fashola to quietly make his money and look the other way as many of his colleagues are doing.

Instead, he made the harder choice; to clean up Lagos and make it safe. In the process, a few eggs will have to be cracked.

I thank those who commented on last week’s article— both the positive and negative ones, including those who found ethnic bias where there was none.

I still insist that Lagos needs help in accommodating people streaming in every day if it is not to become a slum and a haven for robbers. Other states have to do more to stem urban migration and defuse ethnicity.

Now each rain brings u n t o l d horrors because the drainage is gone along with the roads

A usually claustrophobic prison atmosphere had been freed, literally and figuratively!

Fittingly, Dejumo Lewis of the Old Village Headmaster, was said to be celebrating his 70th on that day and old tunes filled the evening air.I saw Ted Mukoro, Bayo Awala and Tunde Oloyede from afar. These were consummate artistes of the 70s and their presence at the park completed a picture in my mind.

Fortunately, the architect who designed the park was walking past and my mentor’s guest beckoned to him.

He turned out to be Theo Lawson, my junior in the ‘good old school’, so I was able to enjoy a brief ‘history’ of the park.

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obvious the place would have been inhabited by the many who sought an abode as they tried to eke out a living.

These people would have had to be flushed out for this place of beauty to emerge. But then, whoever heard of an omelette that didn’t involve the breaking of eggs?

I lived in Festac Town for almost 30years and it was my lot—or ordeal— to pass through Oshodi twice a day. I heard, witnessed and was a victim, of terrible things along the Oshodi axis. I was attacked and shot by armed robbers in Oshodi about 10 years ago. A friend, a medical doctor, was shot and attacked about the same time in about the same place.

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Believe that He is o you know that so many people D claim to come to God, asking for one thing or the other without receiving their

desires? The question one may ask is why is this so? After all God says He is who He says He is and would do what He says He would do. Why then do I not have my answers or miracles. Beloved, know for a surety that God cannot lie. It is absolutely impossible for God to lie. It is not in His nature and character. You see, even if God tries to lie He cannot. God is not a man that He should lie nor the son of man that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19). God is a God of integrity and is always faithful.

The truth and the question therefore is, how did you or how do you approach God? Did you or do you approach Him in fear,

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Breaking a few eggs to make Omelette

ing is impossible with Him. What is impossible with man is possible with God. For with God all things are possible to him that believeth. You must believe that God is everything He says and nothing less.

Not only should you believe that He is but that He is a rewarder. Your case is not hopeless because there is no hopeless situation with God and it is definitely not too late. People thought it was already late in Lazarus case, but God proved them wrong.

This same God shall prove all of your enemies wrong in Jesus name, amen.

Let’s conclude by looking at two people in the bible who operated Heb. 11:6. First is the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:25-34. For twelve years this woman had being bleeding with no solution in sight. She had being to doctors but instead of getting better she grew worse.

doubt, unbelief or in faith?

But then she heard of Jesus being the miracle This is what determines the kind of result that you reworker and she made up ceive from God. her mind to go to Jesus.

People thought it She said to herself, if only The Bible says in Heb. 11:6, that “but without faith was already late I can but touch the helm it is impossible to please in Lazarus case, of His garment I know that Him: For he that cometh to I shall be made whole. Here God must believe that He is, but God proved you can see that she beand that He is a rewarder of lieved that He is a healer them that diligently seek them wrong. This and miracle worker. She Him”. From this text, you can same God shall had no doubt or unbelief. see that it takes faith to She had faith. Know that please God. What is faith? A prove all of your this woman had never had simple definition is, faith is enemies wrong in an encounter with Jesus acting upon that which you before yet she believed believe. Until you act upon Jesus name and acted on what she that which you believe you heard. Was she rewarded? are not operating in faith.

Yes. She was made whole completely. Her Look again g at what ppart of the text says. “He that cometh to God must faith was rewarded. believe that He is”. What do you believe The second person was the centurion that God is? Now I am not talking about who came to Jesus on behalf of his serwhat your pastor or a Christian brother or vant in Matt 8:5-13. The centurion requestsister said or preached to you. I am asking ed that Jesus should heal his servant. you, what do you believe that God is? Is Jesus accepted to go with him to his He your miracle worker, your healer, pro- house. The centurion said to Jesus, you vider, etc? It is important that you catch a don’t need to go to my house just speak personal revelation for yourself. People al- the word and I know that my servant shall ways manifest victories in life the moment be healed because I know that you are a they have a revelation. Remember in the man of authority. Again you can see that gospels, Jesus Christ asked His disciples, this man came to Him believing that He is who do men say that I am? While they tried and that He is a rewarder. What was the to give various answers, Jesus turned and result? The centurion’s servant was asked them who do you say that I am? Pe- healed. Note that in the two cases Jesus ter answered and said thou art the Christ said that their faith that they acted upon the son of the living God. was responsible for their miracles. They Beloved don’t approach God as though both came believing that God is who He God is a man that is limited. Know that noth- says He is and would do what He says He would do.

Believe that God is your healer, provider, refuge, strength, prosperer, deliverer, etc. Don’t permit fear, doubt and unbelief into your life. Resist them by turning to God’s word and act upon the word that will manifest your desired breakthroughs. Come to Him believing that He is. God bless you mightily.

Have you given your life to Jesus? If not, please pray this prayer. Father, I come to you as I am. I invite Jesus into my life to be my personal Lord and Saviour.

Wash me cleanse with the blood of Jesus and empower me with the power of your Holy Spirit.

Thank you Father for saving my soul and making me your child.

,

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

Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C 1011711622.

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

2 26 6 SA DA Y 26— S ATURD U DA AY

Va anguard, d , AU UGUST G S 2 GUST 24 24,, 20 2013 3 gua g d,

(Text Only)

The Locust

Main Benefits:

T

he Locust brings elasticity to the cervical (upper back) region, and strength to the lower back, but it is important to stretch the chin as far forwards as possible if these benefits are to be gained. When you first attempt the Locust, you may be dismayed to find that your feet rise only slightly from the floor.

Do not be discouraged. This will improve rapidly with practice and time.

Technique

L

ie flat on the floor with face downwards and keep the hands by the side of the body with the fingers clenched into fists.

Rest the chin on the ground by raising the head. Inhale and stiffen the body by pressing the fists against the floor.

Slowly raise the legs as

high as possible. Keep the legs in a straight line, while the two thighs, knees and ankles touch each other. The weight of the legs must fall on the body and hands. Contract the muscles of the buttocks, stretch the muscles of the thighs and further extend the position of the legs. Retain the posture for

a few seconds in the beginning and gradually increase the duration. Concentrate on the upper portion of the body, i.e. above the waist. Slowly lower the legs to the floor and simultaneously exhale. Relax with normal breathing.

Repeat the posture two or three times. Relax in Makarasana.

Yoga Classes

@ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

C M Y K

Benefits:

T

he practice of this Asana fenders the spine supple and elastic. It relieves back-ache or strain on the reli spine caused aused by the t hard work, etc. It also tones up the muscles uscles at the t back and the intestinal organs in the abab dominal region and relieves pain in the lumbar and sacral regions.

Above all, it aids digestion and relieves gastric troubles.

S ATURD SA U DAY

Va d, AUGUST 24, 2013—27 anguard g

Doris began to find it very difficult to sleep without thinking of Jack because he was her first love

Love amidst tears

BY ANOZIE EGOLE

D

oris sat quietly in the ETF auditorium, chatting with friends and course mates as they waited for the next

lecture which was supposed to be, ACC 101 (Basic Accounting). A young, handsome and gentle-looking man, Jack, clad in white shirt on blue jeans approached her. She already had the premonition of what the dude had in mind even before approaching her. She felt that her prayers of finding a loving, caring and handsome guy to love have been answered. Little did she know she was going in for something more than she bargained. Even before she wrote her Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam, she has heard several stories of cult-related activities involving guys in higher institutions that she got scared whenever any guy approached her in school. She had this impression that for someone to be a cultist, the person must be far from being an ordinary human being. She imagined cultists as haggard and unkempt human beings,not knowing that the young, handsome and responsible looking guy whom she admired was an executioner of one of the dreaded cult groups in the institution. She was ignorant of the fact that some top members of these groups could look so responsible that you could swear they cannot hurt a fly.

At the sight of this guy who was one out of the many that had approached her since she entered the institution about a month ago, she vividly remembered the advice given to her by her parents and loved ones to always stay away from guys especially as a fresher. Many thoughts started going through her mind. Could this guy be real ?

Could he be trying to deceive her and reap where he did not sow?

Could this be that famous October rush, when the older students rush first year girls?

These were some of the questions Doris was battling to answer but the answers seemed to be very far.

She knew she was thinking all these about the guy because she was already having feeling for him.

But as a young girl who would not want to appear so cheap, she snubbed the guy and politely cautioned him never to come near her again. But it seemed as if all the warning fell on deaf ears as Jack persuaded her the more.

The first set of guys who came before Jack to ask Doris out were disencouraged by the way she snubbed them and they never bothered coming back but Jack knew what he wanted and was not swayed by the initial gra-gra (IGG) from Doris. Instead, he kept coming with more gifts which made the young girl to think again.

Few weeks after they started their relationship, the situation assumed a drastic dimension. Doris was no longer herself. She kept asking and talking about Jack without letting him know about this.

Jack was the topic of discussion among her friends almost on daily basis. At one occasion, a discussion ensued between her and her friends and Jack was the topic of the discussion.

“Tracy, are you sure that Jack really loves me or he wants to break my heart?” Doris asked her friend Tracy. “ Well, if you ask me, I would say that he really cares. I mean, he has shown beyond every reasonable doubt that he cares. He calls you almost on a daily basis. He buys you gifts and many other things”. “ But is that love, does that show that he really loves me? Every other good friend can do that. I don’t think there is anything special about that,” Tracy responded.

“I think you should give him the opportunit. Assumption is not good. It is so unfair for you to sit here and assume he doesn’t love you,” Tracy answered her.

Doris reluctantly and smartly changed the topic to avoid becom-

ing more emotional. She started talking about the last lecture they had.

The relationship got deeper everyday. Doris now found it very difficult to sleep without thinking about Jack because he was her first love. On Fridays, they had a joint class in Economics and she had been stretching her neck, searching for where Jack was sitting.

Fortunately,Jack walked straight to her and pleaded to sit next to her which she grudgingly accepted though she was longing for that. Doris enjoyed that lecture so much that she wished it didn't end.

By the time the semester examination was kicking off, Doris and Jack had become an item. Doris and friends kept going for night classes as they were all making good efforts to pass their exams. It was an opportunity for Jack to prove what he felt for Doris. He was always there for her, giving her all the necessary attention that she needed during that period.

He kept coming and advising her on what to read, being an older student in the institution. It was at this point that Doris felt that she had gotten the right person. Indeed, Jack really gave Doris the care and protection that she needed during and after the examinations.

T

hey attended several birthday parties together. But some-

thing unusual happened when they attended Juliet’s birthday.

Juliet was another friend of Doris.

Jack who was used to staying with her always on such occasions had disappeared into thin air. His phone was switched off. After fruitless attempts to locate him, he surfaced from no where in drunken stupor, stinking of cigarette.When Doris tried to ask where he was coming from, he shouted at her to keep quiet, telling her that she had no right to monitor him. Doris cried home heartbroken.

When Jack recovered from his drunken state, he went to Doris, knelt and apologized for every-

thing. He even tried to shed crocodile tears. Considering the love she had for him and her tender-heartedness, she forgave him with tears running down her face. They continued as if nothing happened, with her friends advising that conflictc will always come in every relationship.

The rosy relationship which they had enjoyed for more than one year started having problems the day Doris requested financial assistance from Jack to enable her buy a textbook. She got the embarrassment of her life that she nearly regretted getting admitted into the school. “ I am not your father,” Jack had retorted, “ so you should not expect me to take up your financial burden. I am a student like you who receive pocket-money from my parents as you do from yours.

Please, don't ask me for that kind of money again. You can go and get it elsewhere”.

When Doris tried to ask him why he was talking to her like that, she received the beating of her life with wounds all over her body. Doris couldn't believe what was happening to their relationship. It was not up to a week that they settled the first quarrel they had. This was indeed, love amidst tears. She found it so difficult to believe and she cried throughout the day. Shortly after, Jack pleaded for forgiveness and she decided to go on with the relationship but vowed never to ask Jack for any favour again. The relationship started moving smoothly again with Doris making little or no demands. It didn't just stop there. Jack now converted Doris into a punching bag. He’d lock his doors and beat her up after which, they would settle and continue the relationship. It now became a normal thing for Doris to be battered every week. She began to see it as a normal thing that must come up in every relationship.

The scenario continued until they graduated. After their graduation, Jack started practicing his law profession while Doris was still searching for a job. At this stage, the drama became upgraded. At each fight, she made sure she damaged properties worth thousands of naira in other to make Jack feel bad but, it didn’t stop there. It got to a stage that they started constituting nuisance to the entire neighbourhood, to the extent that at one occasion, the landlord threatened to serve them quit notice but that didn't stop them.

The funny part of their story was that they continued like that until they got married and suddenly, the whole drama stopped.

The cat and rat relationship turned to bread and butter. In fact, theirs became one of the celebrated marriages in their neighbourhood. Their landlord was so shocked at the turn of events and couldn't believe that the couple could live peacefully.

28—SATURDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

08056180112

Making babies today, later or never?

I

N 1998, when Ada, a brilliant lawyer, tied the nuptial knot with Ike, a top executive in a successful insurance establishment, she was 34, and he 36. Both were high achievers in their chosen professions, and like most married couples, had hopes of starting a family right after marriage.

But after trying on their own without success for almost two years, they contacted all the doctors they knew to see if there was a problem. The doctors carried out all the standard tests, from blood tests to make sure Ada’s hormones were all in line to analysis of Ike’s sperms. Everything turned out normal.

The couple was referred to renowned gynaecologists who re-did all the tests and also performed more complicated tests such as a hystosalpingogram (HSG), which is a special test done to find out if a woman’s fallopian tubes are clear. Again everything was normal.

They were urged to take a break from work and just let •Children are the joy of marriage “things” happen naturally, so in June 2002 the couple took time off work and travelled to grandchild for her husband’s family. On the other hand, they Europe. were devastated.

Christmas is always the most ver the next month, Ada tried to forget the difficult time of the year for sadness deep inside of her infertile couples, and the heart. She very much wanted Christmas of 2004 was the to have children, and was hardest for Ada and Ike. Their hoping the vacation in Europe beautiful niece, Uzoma, was would be the solution. But her born April 2005. Incidentally, expectation that relaxation it was Uzoma’s birth that really while on a nice holiday is a gave the couple the courage to good way to help a woman continue seeking help.

In June 2005, a friend of achieve pregnancy was dashed. The holiday did not do Ada’s saw a newspaper advertisement for an the trick.

O

Month after month she would cry when her period arrived and she wondered if she and Ike would ever be parents

,

Back home, the couple didn’t go back to the gynaecologist they had seen initially since there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with either one of them, but perhaps the real reason was that Ada and Ike just didn’t want to face the reality that we were infertile.

Month after month she would cry when her period arrived and she wondered if she and Ike would ever be parents.

On Christmas Day, 2004, Ada got to know her brother-inlaw’s wife was expecting their first child after barely six months of marriage. On one hand, she and Ike were thrilled for the new parents and the family, as this would be the first

,

infertility support group in Lagos and told her about it.

Ada and Ike were resident in Enugu, but they wrote to the group and were invited to a meeting. They travelled to Lagos for the first meeting and had opportunity to hear the head of the local fertility clinic speak, but more importantly, they got to meet other people like themselves.

E

very fortnight, they travelled down to Lagos and by the third meeting, it was time to share their own story and hear others’ journeys through infertility.

As Ada confessed later, it felt

•Jinx of infertility broken ... so good to finally be among people who understood their feelings. It helped make the frustration of not knowing why they couldn’t conceive more bearable.

After consultations, doctors at the clinic suggested intrauterine insemination (IUI). Very simply put, the idea was to take Ike’s sperm and place it directly into Ada’s cervix at the most opportune time of the month (which was determined through ovulation predictor kits).

The couple was so excited.

But after two unsuccessful IUIs, Ada changed to using

injectable fertility drugs. She still did not get pregnant.

Then the doctor suggested they moved onto In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

In August 2005 they went through their first and last IVF cycle. Ada confessed she was terrified and believed Ike was too, although he did not show it.. If this didn’t work, they believed they would have reached the end of the road for having their own biological child.

Although adoption always remained an option, they wanted to try everything possible to have their own child.

Going through IVF is really a stressful experience. Ada honestly made it clear she had never been so stressed out in her entire life. Ike probably held the same view. However, the couple was lucky in that they had made some good friends through the support group, and that were able to stay in touch with them via e-mail, and telephone.

At the end of it all, Ada produced 13 embryos that were usable. The fertility experts at the clinic transferred the best two into her uterus. Ada would always remember lying on her back after the embryo transfer, with her husband by her side. She would never forget saying to him how she hoped the next time she’d be in that “position” it would be during labour.

On September 7, 2005, she did a home pregnancy test and to her complete amazement the test came out positive. After using so many home pregnancy tests she couldn’t believe she finally got a positive result.

The following day a blood test confirmed the results.

Several weeks later the couple learned that both embryos implanted. She was expecting twins!

T

o this day there is still no clue as to why Ada and Ike couldn’t get pregnant on their own or with the IUIs. Their twins, Chike and Chidi, were born 10 weeks early on March 2, 2006. Both were in excellent health. They grew up as normal, happy, healthy infants, and Ada and Ike got immense pleasure being parents.

The couple remains grateful every day for the miracle of their twins. Ada, who waited almost eight years for arrival of her sons, never stopped saying how thankful she is to have had the patience and good fortune to be so well rewarded. Through sharing her story, she hopes, in her own small way, she would be helping other couples break the jinx of infertility by encouraging them to keep hope alive, irrespective of the odds.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013 — 29

08116759764 anozieegole@yahoo.com

Tiwa Savage, fiance TeeBillz set to wed

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

M

avin records’ songstress,Tiwa Savage and her fiance, Tee Billz have finally picked a date for their white wedding.

The couple will be having their traditional marriage on the 23rd of November, in Lagos, while their white wedding will hold early next year*(February)in Maldive Islands, an island nation in the Indian ocean. Last weekend, Tiwa and TeeBillz attended Davido’s younger sister’s wedding as

a couple, and next thing, the songstress took to Twitter where she tweeted about their being together.

Matinee gathered that the couple’s fans are not happy at the moment following their plans to travel to India for their white wedding.

Already, the wedding has become the talk of the town.Many are positing that it will be the best wedding in history. One however wonders whether it will beat the record set by Tuface and Annie when they wedded in Dubai.

Ef ops ““A A new Le vel” Efee Nathan dr drops Level” Although this is not her first album, Efe Nathan is gearing up to become a force to reckon with, in the nation’s gospel music industry with the release of her new album, “The new Dawn.”

Efe is reintroducing herself into the mainstream gospel music world. This talented singer who debuted in the indsutr with her album titled, “Rock with me” in 2004, wants to prove to her numerous fans that her missing in the music scene all these years is in the bid to give to them the satisfaction that they crave for. The Delta State born music minister, who also runs a programme, “Women in Worship” said, the anointing-laced album was borne out of God’s call as she was inspired by the Holy Spirit before she entered the studio to record the album. “I promise my numerous fans more anointinglaced albums in time to come,” she said.

Interestingly, the album contains 14 tracks, with “We Worship as the hit track.

Lolo of W azobia FM debunks Wazobia marriage cr ash rumour crash O

motunde Adebowale a.k.a “Lolo 1” might not be in her best mood at the moment, following the way rumours are being peddled on the interinter net about her marriage.

A few days back, news broke out that the marriage of a popular OAP, Lolo 1 of Wazobia FM has crashed irretrievably. It was reported that the highly revered broadcaster’s hubby, Mr. Adebowale, abandoned her and their four children weeks back. But sexy Lolo, has decided to clear the dust on the issue.

She disclosed that anything that has to do with her marital life is her private business and does not concern anybody. She described the news as “a figment of people’s imagination and a rumour. “ I have four kids; please the people spreading this rumour

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should not scatter my marriage. My husband is out of Lagos g for work and he won’t be happy hearing anything of such. Marriages have challenges alright but mine is okay. I don’t want to even fuel this rumour because I don’t want my husband to be upset. You can take it to the bank that I am still married,” she stated.

Lolo

Tiwa and TeeBillz

Cr Craay’s Far arout outee out T

ake it or leave it, with his latest release, “Faroute”, this scintillating singer, Cray, will be writing his name boldly in the Nigerian music industry.

The Afro-pop/ high life music which is already enjoying a massive airplay just barely one month since its release, is loved by many, both young and old as it gets you dancing whenever it is played. Being a lover of good music, the talented singer also plays, piano,guitar, bass guitar and also was a member of his church choir where he developed his music a l prowe s s .

C r a y went for the music talent hunt organized

by Nigerian Brewe r i e s c a l l e d “ S t a r q u e s t ”

where he proved that he knows his onions when it comes to music. The Delta State born singer, who is signed to SQN record label, promised his teaming fans a good music ahead and preparations are on high gear for the video of “Faroute” which will soon be released. “ My single, Faroute, talks about merriment, bliss, happiness, ambiance, joy and a lot more. It is intended to awaken your spirit no matter the mood you are.

I promised my f a n s m a n y m o r e good music ahead” he said.

Cray

30 — Vanguard, SARTURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013

My most embarrassing moments as TV presenter

and actress — Dumas

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oselyn Dumas is one of the most sought after Ghanaian TV presenters and actresses. She has won multiple awards, including 2010/2011 0 TV Personality of the Year and was also adjudged the hottest Ghanaian celebrity in 2012 by 4syte TV. Joselyn produced and presented the popular Ghanaian Entertainment TV Show, Rythymz. She also starred in the movies, Perfect Picture, Adams Apples and A Sting in a Tale. Recently, she was named by iFactoryLive Africa, a global distribution, production and talent management company as the new host of its wave-making TV series, “@ Home With...” which was formerly hosted by popular TV presenter, Michelle Attoh. In this engaging interview, she tells Showtime Celebrity whatt she intends to do with the show. She also recounts the story of her journey into broadcasting and explains why she’s more into television than acting.

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU to boost my career. I have hosted local TV shows I th thin ink in k I ha have ve a nat atur ural ur al tal alen ent. en t. Ev Ever ery er ry d da a ay, I and I’m known across the regions of Ghana and I’m wake ke up, I tha han nk k God od forr tha hat. I hav aven en en’t ’t gone to scho sc hoo oll to ac acqu qu quir ire fo form rmal al tra rain inin ing, g, but it ccomes still known till date. But I think, it was time for me he role you played in the film, “Adams to go global and take a step further. The opportunity natu na tu tura ra rall lly ll y to me. I was bor orn nw wiith th a ta allen entt. t Apples” portrayed you as a tough-talking, called and I grabbed it. sophisticated woman. Is that what you represent in What Wh at at’s ’s the dur urat at atio io ion n of thi hiss sh show ow ow?? real life?

Michelle Attoh was formerly hosting the show. Do I ha have ve finis ishe hed he d my y firstt two sea easo sons so ns an nd d I’m Unfortunately, I’m not like the roles I play in you intend to match the record she set over the abou o out ut to co om mm me enc nce th the n ne ew se seas a ason son. I w will be movies. years? comi co comi ming ng to Ni Nige geri ria a to int nter er ervi rview w a lott of sstttars.

Michelle is an amazing TV presenter who has her Whil Wh ile e gro rowi wing up, I wat atch ched ed Omo moto tola to la on TV. I How would you describe your experience while own unique personality just as I do. We are two have ha ve alw lway ayss ad ay admi mire mi red re d th the e li like kess off Gen ke enev ev vieve, starring in the series? different individuals with different gifts. I didn’t Rams msey ms ey y Nou ouah ah, W Wiizk zkid id.. I’ I’m m loo ooki king ki ng for orrward to It was good.I challenged myself to get into the inte in terv te rvie rv iewi ie wing wi ng th thes ese es e st star ars. ar s. I wil illl al also so int nte erview e feel challenged, instead I felt that Michelle came on character of Jennifer Adams at a time.I think every board and did an amazing job. I can’t afford to fail, I so socc cc ccer err sta tars rs in Gh Ghan ana. an a. Dur urin ing tth he fi firs rstt sseason, I rs woman has that part of her that always want to inte in terv te rvie rv iewe ie wed we d su succ cces cc essf es sfful Afrrican anss in dia iasp sp pora scream out and be heard. This is because of the fact have to come and do the best I can.

I do similar stuff on the local TV, but it is something who ar wh are e do doin ing po posi siti tive thi hing ngss w ng wiith th the hem mselves that our culture do not allow her to do so. Rather, it of a magazine talk show. I have a co-host, but this over ov er the here re. makes the woman to respect the man who is the time around, it’s just me . I’m prepared, everyday is head of the house. I had to play that character any a learning process for me. I watch myself on my Two Tw o se seas ason as onss do on down wn the lin ine, you mus ustt h have woman cannot only look at, and admire but also, local TV production in Ghana, and I know what I lear le arnt ar ntt a lott of th thin ings gs?? meditate about . can do to excel on any TV show I’m hosting again.

I ha have lea earn rntt so mu rn much ch dur urin ing tth he fi firs rstt ttw rs wo w I also do a lot of research, I watched Michelle Attoh seas as ason on ons. s. I hav ave e in inte terv rv rvie iewe wed d for orme me merr A Allex ex xander You are the new host of iFactoryLive’ s TV and also any other TV presenter that I know. The and an d Ke Kemi mi Kin ing, a ma ak ke up art rtis ist ex extr tratr aseries, @ Home with. Are you making your debut most important thing is that I prepared myself by ordi or ordi dina nair na ire fr from Nig iger eria ia. Sh She’ e’ss Om e’ Omot otol ola’ a’ss make as host of a TV show? bringing myself on the show. I’m just the crazyup art rtis iste te.. E Ed dd dy y Cad add dy y, fr from Con ongo go wh ho has I started my career with a TV show. I have always loving person on the show. And once you are like done ne so m mu ucch h for or him imse self se lff in L Lo ond ndo on n. I h have been on television. Acting is something I stumbled that, it’s an easy connection with your guest. That’s also al so int nter er ervi rview ewed ed Dav avid id Ajala la,, a Ni Nige g geri eri rian an based into along the line. But you have to be a good actor what I do. I’m funny as well as crazy in a good before you can be a good TV presenter. The two in Lon in ondo don, Akint ntun unde un de an nd Jimi professions go hand in hand.

Akin Ak inbo bola la, al all Ni Nige geri rian anss who have don ha one e so muc uch h th thin ngs for How did you get the offer? them th emse em selv se lves in Lo Lond ndon on.. T The list God has been so good to me is end ndle less ss.. ss coupled with the fact that I have had an amazing journey so far.

Is thi hiss pa part rtt of wh what att you w wanted When I started presenting TV to do in lif ife? e? shows, it happened. I auditioned When I lef Wh eft ft th the e Un Unit it ited ed S States, I for the first time, and the told my fr to frie ie iend nd ndss th that att I wa as going producer was impressed with to A f fr r i ic c a to b ecom ec om ome e a star st ar ar. r .

T Th h ey y s a ai i d to me, it’s m way. I try not to have an interview with my guests. a al l l ab a b out ou t th t h e came ca mera me ra, ra , b bu u t I repl re p l ie i e d d, , i it t ’s not n my performance. That was how I started presenting Instead, I’d have conversations with them. We talk a ab b out ou t th t h e came ca mera me ras. ra s.

I t hink hi n k , I came ca me o n bo oard at a a popular entertainment TV show on GTV called about a lot of things such as world peace, fashion, time whe ti hen tth he fa face of en ente te tert rt rtai ainm nmen en entt in in Africa A Rythmz. I produced and hosted the show for about health related issues and business. It’s just me and wass ch chan angi ging ng,, an and d I wa want nted nt ed to be be par art rt o of that one year. my friends sitting out there, chatting and having revo re volu vo luttiion on.. So, I sur urfa face ced d att the he rig ight ht tim me, not Later, I was hand picked by another local station, nice time. That’s what the show is all about. I’m to b ecom ec om ome e a star st ar b ecau ec au ause se o f t th h e gl g l it i t z and an d GHone to host their flagship show, which I’m still bringing in the other side of my personality that glam gl amou ou ourr bu but im impo port rt rtan an antl tly, to be beco come me a sstttar in hosting till date before I was introduced to people haven’t seen in the past. My fans always term rm rms s of o f g ood oo d cont co nt nten en ent. t.

T his hi s i is s w h ha at I w wa anted to a iFactoryLive through a friend of mine. I had this see me as Jennifer Adams. do in li do life fe. I th than ank k Go God, d, my dr drea eams ms are coming crazy ideas concerning what I wanted to do in true. terms of TV show, and I was told that iFactoryLive Between acting and broadcasting, which one would tr is where I need to go because the best of African you say is more fulfilling to you?

How Ho w luc ucra ra rati tive is th this is pro roje ject ct?? stars come from the platform. The company has Definitely, broadcasting takes much of my time. In My y m um s aid ai d some so meth me thin th ing in g to me, and I w will not produced some of the continent’s most talked about acting, the script comes as when it comes. But with forg fo r g et t i t.

S he s aid, ai d, when wh en y ou a re d oing oi n g shows including Jim Iyke’s Unscripted, Omotola, TV productions, you are signed on for a year or some so meth me thin th ing in g yo you u lo love ve,, it ve it’s ’s nott the eff ffor orrt y yo ou put o The Real Me, Making Of Mogul, Pamper Your seasons. For instance, my show back in Ghana, in t hat ha t matt ma tt tter er ers. s.

W heth he th ther er r t he p a ay y w orth or r t th iit or not Mum, Cooking With... and the @Home with Channel O’s ‘O News Live” , is live everyday, from is irr rrel elev el evan ev antt be an beca caus ca use us e off one ne’s ’s lov ove e fo forr tth h he job.

Franchise. I’m like a new addition to the family.

Monday to Thursday. I was confined to a place in To be ho hone nest st,, tth st he lu lucr crat ativ at ive pa part rtt of tth hiiss prroject is I was told that iFactoryLive has a franchise, a TV London for about two months when we shot two that th at,, I lo love doi oing ng wha hat I’ I’m m do doin ing. g. I lov ove e talking Talk show that Michelle Attoh has hosted for five seasons. So, that took all my time. Broadcasting, I to p eopl eo p l e, t ryin ry i n g to f in i n d out ou t t th h e sali sa lien li ent en t tthings seasons and she brought her personality to drive would say is more fulfilling to me. abou ab outt th them . Bel eliie eve it orr not ot,, I le lear arn n so much the show. You are not only taking over from her, but ever ev ever ery ry da day on thi hiss ssh how ow. w. you are also going to start the franchise again, Did you set out to become a broadcaster? bringing your own personality to the table, and I have always had this interest in broadcasting.

The Th e fi firs rs rstt da day y you you fa yo face ce ced d th the e ca came me mera ra ra,, what was doing similar stuff like interviewing different Acting is something I stumbled into. But while the th e expe ex p peri e r i ence en ce l i ik k e e? ? personalities across the globe. That’s how it started. growing up, I wanted to become a pilot, a lawyer I wa wass so nerrvous butt the he pro rodu duct ctio ion hou ou use I’m surrounded with very good people in the and a doctor. I wanted to be everything as a child. t th h at t I w as w orki or king ki ng w i it t h t th h en, en , made ma d e i t ea e asy a for industry. They have helped me a lot because I Yet, I was active in my school drama. I used to mime me, me , incl in clud cl udin ud ing in g the th e peop pe ople op le a roun ro und un d me. me .

T Th hey h didn’t have anyone who was managing my affairs. and dance while I was in school. real re al ally ly y enc ncou ou oura ra rage ged me and gav ave e me a ch hance to It just happened and I felt it was a packaging from e ex exce x cel. ce l .

B ut t I m ust us t conf co n f ess es s t th h at t t h he e f ir i r st d a ay I God because the show was what I needed at a time Were you born with a silver spoon? faced face ced ce ed the the camera, came ca mera me era a I was was very very y nervous. nerrvo ouss

T

I had this crazy ideas concerning what I waanted to do in terms of TV show, and I was told thaat iFactoryLive is where I need to go because th he best of African stars come from the platform

C M Y K

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013 — 31

What would you say is your most embarrassing moment?

I remember when I first started my career in broadcasting. I had a lot of bad press because I was new and people thought I couldn’t do it. I was too young. One day, I went to work and one of the newspapers had a beautiful picture of me at the back page where I was smiling, with the bold caption “Joselyn Dumas is not cut out for this job.”

After reading the story, I went to the ladies and cried out my eyes. Initially, the production house wanted to hide the paper from me. The writer of the story indicted me, saying I was too young to present a TV show. He maintained that the platform was too big for me and all that. He gave a whole lot of reasons I shouldn’t be allowed to host the show.

It was so embarrassing to me because my friends were going to read the same story and would probably develop negative opinion about me.

Notwithstanding, the good thing about the writeup was the fact that it made me to sit up. I was challenged by the negative story into being the best I could be. I think in the beginning, I was just breezing through. But I sat back and encouraged myself that I can prove everybody wrong, including the writer of the story. So, I started carrying out more research and watching veteran TV presenters like Oprah Winfrey. That’s how I learnt on the job.

Fortunately, the guy who wrote that story is one of my best friends today. ou didn’t consider falling while on Y stage with Denrele as embarrassing too?

I don’t want to talk about it. That was very embarrassing to me. Denrele dared me to wear his boots. He took off his gigantic boots and dared me to wear, the boots which I did. He asked me to walk and dance while wearing the boots. That was too bad. Personally, I can’t dance, talkless of when I’m wearing a 12- inch block boots. It was as if I was carrying two bags of cement on my feet. But when it happened, I didn’t want to stand up. I wanted to remain on the floor until the show ended. But fortunately, Denrele came to my rescue as he pulled me up. You know Denrele knows how to make things light given a bad situation. He made a fun of it and pulled me up. I don’t know what would have happened to me if he didn’t come to my rescue. It was very embarrassing to me.

How do you feel when you look back from where you started?

Tremendous growth. I had an amazing support from my management. Whenever I travel to London, I’m not there only to shoot series, but also, to undergo some training. I have taken some courses in broadcasting. Actually, I just enrolled with Al Jazeera to do some courses in journalism.

Hopefully, I will get it. Anything that will help me improve on my career, my management will be there to encourage me. I have really grown in terms of hosting TV shows and also, being in front of the camera as an actress. Everyday is a learning process for me. I always think of what I can do better than yesterday.

You are wearing an engagement ring. Are you engaged?

I’m not engaged.

But you are in love?

I’m very happy with the way I am.

How do you handle your male fans?

I have the most amazing fans both on Twitter, f facebook and other social media. Sometimes, somebody could tweet something about me and my fans would start responding to the tweet on my behalf. I am a very lucky person.

Will you marry your fan?

I have my kind of man. If the fan meets the criteria I am looking for, why not. He must be ambitious, hardworking and result-driven. If he possesses all these qualities, every other thing will fall in place. I am attracted to somebody who wants the best in life. In addition, he must be tall, dark and handsome.

Joseyln n Dumas

Are you part of the soft-porn movies that are thriving in the Ghanaian film industry?

Ghanaian movies express emotions in different ways. I’m not aware of the soft-porn thing that you say is thriving in the Ghanaian movie industry.

C M Y K

32 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013 — 33

3 34 4 S ATURD DA 34— SA U D A AY Y

C M Y K

Va anguard, d , AU G S 24, GUST 2 24 , 2013 20 3 UGUST gua g d,

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013—35

i i l i 670@ y h yyemisisuleiman670@yahoo.com m

Vintage, vivacious and versatile

By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

V

intage, vivid, vivacious and versatile, are the words that best describe Ma’am all in one debut collection. The definition collection is a breath of fresh air from Novelty Nigerian design label Ma’am. According to the designer, the pieces are aimed at women whose style transcends the ordinary and who are not afraid to push the boundaries of fashion..

The clothing g label has successfully produced a collecction that fuses European aesthetics with an African flair. With an ethos to make wearable and affordable pieces for the young ger generation; while maintaining their dedication to keen and unwavering atte ention to details.

The new colle ection unveils flowing gown, short leath her skirt, a vintage black chiffon n dress and more, the collection uses min nimum pieces to create the maximum loo ok.

Shopping Soiree & Exhibition

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ith a love for fashion and all things exquisite, Nigerian, based accessories brand, Nichole By Haguanna and Shoe retailer, Labelle are having an exhibition and shopping soiree. Haguanna will showcase and retail handmade bags, necklaces and bibs while Labelle will be showcasing and retailing classy and trendy shoes from international premier designer and high-street brands on Sunday at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki Expressway, Lagos from noon.

Guests will be treated to a range of shoes from Labelle, featuring international premium brands such as Jimmy Choo, Dior, Stella Mc-

C Cartney, Charlotte Olympia, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Giuseppe P Zanotti and a selection of high Z sttreet brands. The exhibition would give fashion conscious w women a networking opportuw nity as well as availability to n purchase luxury items that are guaranteed to revamp style i n s t a n t l y .

Creative Director, Nichole By C Haguanna, Aisha Ugah IgH binovia has worked tirelessly to o make her bags and jewelle ery unique with a delicate atte ention to detail, intricate mate erials and unseasoned style.

Handbags, leathers goods and H bold necklace accessories are in ntricately cut out from real crrocodile, alligator, buffalo, calf an nd snake skin.

They are further embellished T with swarovski crystals, corals, w p earls and precious stones.

Labelle is owned by Erica IfeL ka who has been into makeup an nd hair business for four years an nd has widened her horizons.

3 36 6 S ATURD DA 36— SA U D A AY Y

C M Y K

Va anguard, d , AU G S 24, GUST 2 24 , 2013 20 3 UGUST gua g d,

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013—37

People thought I was crazy to open a vegetarian restuarant —Jimo Hakim Jimo is the founder of Veggie Victory, a resturant in Lagos. He is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk. He speaks on his vegetarian lifestyle.

TIT BITS

First Global Conference on Yam holds in Ghana he first globa g T conference on yams to ‘harness y

l

research innovations to unleash the potential of yam’ p y has been billed to take offf in Ghana next month.

The event which will bring g scientists working g on all disciplines p on y yams, p policy y makers, donors, traders and business leaders will p provide a platform p for consultation and development p of a g global strategy gy for improving p g the yam y sector based on g genetic enhancement, climate change, g as well as industrial p potential off yam and improved y p market access.

According g to International Institute off Tropical p Agriculture g ((IITA), ) the recent innovations on yam y improvement has identip fied the need for development p and g global alliances among African countries.

Tell us about yourself?

I have been a vegetarian for fifteen years. I was always looking for good food to eat. So, I decided to open a vegetarian restaurant. I wanted to be my number one customer.

I was eating lots of suya. And at that time, there were lots of problems associated with fish production and I do not want to be involved in that.

Whenever, I am exposed to other foods, it was like a contamination to my body system. But, when I became a vegetarian, my problems were over. I felt lighter.

What really connected you to vegetarian foods?

It was a process. My first one year was to reduce consumption of meat at the university. But, when I returned home, it was difficult to maintain the

status quo. But, at a point, I opened up on my new way of life.

I was inspired by few things.

When there was food crisis or contamination, I realised the need to take up the new life.

Tell us about Veggie Victory It all started in May this year.

People thought, I was crazy to open a vegetarian restaurant but I knew that people would prefer to have an alternative. People are tired of eating the same food and they feel they are not eating healthy.

How would you advise an individual who wants to become a vegetarian?

Think about their health anmd pick up a healthy lifestyle. There are lots of problems associated to bad eating habit including diabetes, obesity. All these are directly connected to food.

Everybody should eat healthy to sustain their lives.

•Hakim Jimo...I have been a vegetarian for fifteen years

TUMMY ZONE 4 KIDS AND TEENS

Helping your kids eat healthier H

ealthy eating can stabilise children’s energy, sharpen their minds, and even out their moods.

While peer pressure and TV commercials for junk food can make getting kids to eat well seem impossible, there are steps parents can take to instill healthy eating habits without turning mealtimes into a battle zone.

By encouraging healthy eating habits now, you can make a huge impact on your children’s lifelong relationship with food and give them the best opportunity to grow into healthy, confident adults.

Today's MENU

Banana virus puts Nigerian farmers on alert

N

igerian farmers have been alerted to watch out for banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) – a disease that cuts fruit production up to 90 percent in just three years.

As the disease spreads in the West African region, agricultural workers have been advised to take caution against transporting infected plant materials to yet uninfected areas.

The disease holds the potential to jeopardize smallholder banana production and threaten food security throughout the region, explained P Lava Kumar, Head of the Germplasm Health Unit at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

Spice up your kids’ meal with soybeans S

oybeans, properly cooked can be used to replace a variety of beans, lentils, and even grains.

Drain the soybeans from the water they have been soaked in, and place them in a large pot. Place the pot over high heat, and bring the water to a boil.

During this process, the hulls of the soybeans will fall off. Use a large slotted spoon to carefully remove these hulls from the water. Once the water has come to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and continue cooking the beans for two to three hours.

You will need to monitor the soybeans on a regular basis to remove any additional hulls

which have fallen off, and to stir the beans.

Once the soybeans are tender, remove them from the heat source. Allow them to cool to room temperature, skimming off any hulls which may remain at the top of the water. Drain the water from the soybeans.

Once the soybeans have been rehydrated, dehulled, and cooled, you are ready to use them in your favorite recipes. Add them to chili, soups, and even side dishes for a healthy, delicious meal. The soybeans should be added relatively late in the cooking process of these items, as overcooking can result in excessively soggy soybeans.

C M Y K

38 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

How I survived cancer — Vast of singing group, Bracket

By SAM ANOKAM

A

ter seven months of undergoing treatment for Lymphoma, a type of cancer of the blood, in Platinum Medical Centre, Wellington , London , Nwachukwu Ozioko, popularly known as Vast of the singing group, Bracket is back. He returned to the country last week and was treated to a grand reception by his friends. In this interview,Vast who is still recuperating recounts how he battled with the deadly disease and came out alive.

How did it happen?

I don’t know what to say, but first of all, I want to give thanks to God. I was very sick. Before I went to the hospital, I attended a couple of shows. I wondered how I was able to perform at the shows because I was seriously ill.My partner, Obumneme Ali a.k.a Smash and I had series of shows and in a situation where payment has been made, I had no option than to grace the stage.

We decided to round off our shows late last year in order to enable me take care of my health in 2013.

But unfortunately, up till January, this year, we were still going for concerts. We even had to travel to Australia to stage a concert.

Then, I was visiting one of the hospitals in Lagos, and that was where I was diagnosed. They carried out all the medical examinations, and when the results came out, the Haematologist advised me to seek for further treatment abroad.

If you have travelled to America or any Schengen country within two years, you can apply for a Priority Visa and we were qualified to do

I was diagnosed of suffering from blood cancer. After everything, they started with the treatment they called ‘Bone Marrow’. It wasn’t an easy one, it was very difficult.

I thought I would loose all the blood in my body but thank God I survived it.

After a week, I started having complications, I had to return to the hospital to have blood transfusion after which I felt better. We spent a lot of money. At a point, I was hopeless and was only praying to God for His mercies. the second After chemotherapy, I started exercising because the doctor advised me to do regular exercise. However, it was after the third chemotherapy that the pictures I took while in the hospital leaked. By then, I was already bouncing back to life because I passed through the valley of the shadow of death. After the fourth chemotherapy, we shot a video, ‘Temperature’ in London . I didn’t even know I could do that. I initially thought the cycle would be six but before the fifth

,,

What kept me going was God. Before I went for the treatment, I saw myself dying slowly. We got the visa and contacted the Medical Doctor that attended to us. It was no doubt the handiwork of God.

so. We applied and within four days, the visa came out.

We met a friend in the UK who introduced us to his brother who is a Medical Doctor.He assisted us and we met a Haematologist who advised that I should re-run all the tests again. The only thing we didn’t do was the surgery which I did back home before

chemotherapy, the doctor informed us that it was going to be eight. I got confused at that point and even doubted what they were doing. I thought they just wanted to milk me because it was expensive. My manager, partner and Chief Executive Office however encouraged me to complete the treatment.

Nwac Nw achu ac hukw hu kwu kw u Oz Ozio ioko io ko (Va Vast st)) st I was only going to the hospital, then to the gymnasium and back to the house. After the seventh chemo, I was told to do a Lumber Punch- they would have to inject my spine. It was done after the fifth chemo and it was very painful. I thought I would be paralysed. I was told the Lumber Punch was necessary to prevent the disease from getting to the brain. At that point, our account was almost in the red.

Luckily, a friend known as Ugonna came to London during my third chemo and was moved when he heard that we had accommodation problem. He later gave us some money to look for one.

Ugonna was the only person that assisted me financially apart from the prayers and encouragement of my fans and the media. I did the Lumber Punch and lost a lot of blood.

Two days after, I went to get another chemo. When one undergoes chemo, it kills both the good and the bad cells and flushes out all the blood in your system. So, you have to be refreshing. Imagine losing so much blood after the Lumber Punch and after the chemo. I was almost a dead person.My colour overnight.

I remembered what the doctor told me that cancer is not the problem but the treatment.

After a week and a half, I started exercising, taking juice and everything that would help build my blood

again. I was finally cleared from the hospital and I thank God for His mercies. A lot of people came to our house to rejoice with us when we returned to the country during the week. I want to thank them. The likes of P-Square, Jimmy Jatt, Dammy Krane, KCee, Chidinma, Illbliss, JMartins and many others.

What kind of cancer did you have?

I had Lymphoma. It is a blood cancer. When I asked the doctor what could the cancer of the blood, he said, nobody knows the cause for now. According to him, it's like a situation where a dark complexion couple making a baby and the baby turns out to be an albino and if you are asked to explain why, you cannot tell.

I must say that when I was hospitalised, my partner was doing a good job. He would call the producer and they would make a beat and send it to me. He even made the chorus. I picked one of the songs when I came back and hit the studio. We did one of the tracks, it was fantastic. We did another song and it was good as well, all within two days.

During the seven months of your ordeal, what kept you going?

What kept me going was God. Before I went for the treatment, I saw myself dying

slowly. We got the visa and contacted the Medical Doctor that attended to us. It was no doubt the handiwork of God. This doctor handles only cancer related cases.My family, my manager, partner and CEO were there for me.

We travelled together. They made sure I was well taken care of, while my ordeal lasted.

Interestingly, when the picture I took while in the hospital leaked, I was reading the outpour of love, prayers and soothing words from my fans. Some of them even said, they would die if I die. Then the press guys were there for me. They were keeping tabs of my progress and informing my fans duly. All of these, did a whole lot in keeping me going. That's why I got the courage and I know that it has always been God, my family, the media and my fans.

What have you learnt from your experience?

I learnt that life is very precious. No matter what you do and wherever you are, don’t look down on anybody because you don’t know who will help you tomorrow.

Another thing is that you don’t have to be scared of death. You have to face the challenge.

Live a normal life. If you are scared of death, you will die.

At a point, when I got very scared, the sickness came in full force, but when I started picking courage, it subsided and I recovered.

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013—39

Women should insist on their rights-Onyeka

By ANOZIE EGOLE

O

nyeka Onwenu is one of the personalities to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry. Recently, she was unveiled as one of the judges in the ongoing Glo-X judges and her judgment in the show has shown that she is an icon in the field. In this revealing interview, she talks about her challenges, passion for music, among other issues.

O

nyeka Onwenu has been a house-hold name in the Nigerian enindustry, tertainment what is the secret?

The “secret” is no secret at all. It’s all God’s grace. I have found that when you locate yourself in Him Who is the Author and Finisher, there is no limit as to what you can do.

How did you come about being one of the Glo X- factor judges and what has the experience been?

Rapid Blue, the producers of Glo X Factor sought me out and we came to an agreement. I am not a Glo Ambassador and I do not have a contract with Glo. The experience has been interesting, challenging at times, because of the time we put in, but mostly enriching. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment, to be able to mentor young artistes and watch them grow right before your eyes.

From acting to music, why the diversion?

I started out as a Television journalist with NTA before I released my first Album in 1981.

Acting came much later. None of it is a diversion. I am blessed with many talents and I explore and use most, to the glory of God. For quite a long time now, you have not been seen on the big screen (acting), where have you been?

I am choosy as to what roles I accept, for professional and

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that were opposites of who I was in real life. I had to completely leave myself out of them.

You dedicated the proceed you made from the sale of your CD plate, The Legend Reloaded d to Church building, would you say you are very close to God? I strive to be closer to God every day. It’s my life’s work.

What prompted the title of your album, The Legend Reloaded?

It was Obi Asika who gave it that title. You would have to asked him this question.

Aside you music career which is what you give most attention now, what else do you do?

I am a mother and a business woman as well. One has to have multiple streams of income.

How did your appointment as the Chairperson of the Imo State Council of Arts and Culture come about and how do you combine that with your music career?

For eight years, between the year 2002 and 2010, I vied for the Chairmanship of my LGA, Ideato North, in Imo State. I did not succeed because there was no level-playing field. The powers that were did not want someone like me who would display integrity, prevent them from stealing the LG funds and get the job of development done. It was a trying time but also of learning and

Early marriage is wrong in every way. It has disastrous implications for the development of our country. Consider the fact that a vast number of Nigerian women are kept away from education, they remain at the poverty level, disenfranchised and unable to contribute to the development of their communities and country.

C M Y K

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financial reasons. You should, however expect to see me in the soon to be released Half Of A Yellow Sun. In one of the contests in the Glo X Factor competition,you wept, does it mean you are that emotional?

All artistes are emotional. As a creative person, I am affected by things around me.

You have featured in some movies now, which one would you say is most challenging and why?

I would say Conspiracy 1 and 2, as well as Women’s Cot and of course Half Of A Yellow Sun. These were challenging roles where I had to play characters

service to my people at so many levels.

My appointment as Chairman of Imo State Council For Arts and Culture (ISCAC) by Dr Ikedi Ohakim, Governor at the time was well received by the people and the Board that I chaired gave a good account of itself. In fact, we turned the place around, renovated it and made it a profitable venture. We developed a blue print which was copied by others. I am very proud of what we did there. I left there in 2011, after two fruitful years.

What is your evolution into the entertainment world like?

This is too general a question. I would answer by say-

Onyeka Onwenu ing that it started in 1981, when reality shows did not exist and division of labour, generally was minimal. You had to do most things by and for yourself. I wrote my own songs after my first album and managed myself mostly. I did my own costumes and makeup. After my 2nd Album, I financed and promoted my own recordings. It was not easy but we did what we had to do and kept going.

We fought the pirates and fought for copyright dues. We sacrificed for the union (PMAN) and ensured that artistes were given respect and honour in Nigeria.

What would you say is the worst thing that has happened to you?

The worst thing that ever happened to me, no doubt was the death of my beloved father, Hon. D.K Onwenu, at age 40, from a car accident. He was on his way back from Aba to Port Harcourt, from a meeting with the Union of Teachers there. Papa was a member of the Federal House, the first Arondizuogu man to attain that position. He was a brilliant and charismatic orator, a graduate of Fourah Bay University, Sierra Leone as well as the University of Durham, England. My dad loved me to dis-

traction. I remember him well and I still miss him.

What do you think about this child marriage approved by the senate?

Child marriage is wrong in every way. It has disastrous implications for the development of our country. Consider the fact that a vast number of Nigerian women are kept away from education, they remain at the poverty level, disenfranchised and unable to contribute to the development of their communities and country. Their children go through the same cycle of lack, ignorance and abject poverty. This affects us all in Niger i a .

At your leisure time, what do you like doing?

At my leisure time, I relax and watch TV. I am also an avid gardner and I love cooking.

There are several cases of domestic violence in the country which sometimes, result in divorce especially in the entertainment industry, what do you think is the cause and the way forward?

Domestic violence is bad, very bad indeed. Women are getting killed and maimed inside their homes and it affects a large number of the womenfolk.

Many never report it because

they are ashamed and they are financially dependent on the man. This is why it is important for women to get education. You do not have to accept domestic violence. A woman should know her rights as a human being and insist on t h e m .

What make-up can you not do without?

Eyeliner.

Some ladies say it is difficult to find an ideal man for marriage, what do you have to say about that?

Nothing.

What does love mean to you?

God is love. Loving Him with all your heart and loving your neighbour is the greatest commandment He gave man. Love means everything to me.

What are you missing most about your mother?

I still miss my mother’s wahala. She was my “mate” and colleague. I reminded her of herself in many ways and sometimes we agreed to disagree. We had great respect for one another and I took good care of her, just like my father would have done if he were alive. She trusted me.

40 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013

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Ephraim Oseji 08023542350

R i Russian World W ld Champions kiss on podium as gay protest

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ussian 4x400m women’s champions all shared kisses on the podium when celebrating their gold medal at the just concluded World Athletics Championships in Moscow.

Controversy has surrounded the event since pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbeyava supported Russia’s new anti-gay law.

The kisses between the runners appears to have violated a new Russia law passed in June, banning gay and lesbian ‘propoganda’.

It comes after Isinbeyava stated she was against the promotion of gay rights, after a Swedish athlete posted a photo of her rainbow painted fingernails on Instagram.

Isinbayeva came out to clarify her comments, and said she doesn’t discriminate against gays and lesbians.

Southgate named England Under 21 coach

Man United close In on £77m Ronaldo deal zAs Bale looks set for 94m Madrid move

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eal Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo could be set to make a sensational return to his old club Manchester United, after it emerged that he has become unsettled

by Gareth Bale’s arrival at the Bernabeu.With Bale’s £94million world record move from Tottenham all but confirmed, inevitable question marks will be raised over Ronaldo’s role in the team, as the Welshman is arguably competing for the same position in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting eleven.The summer-long saga surrounding Bale has coincided with Ronaldo’s future at the club coming under further scrutiny, with United linked on a few occasions with attempting to bring him back to the club, whilst big-spending French giants PSG and Monaco have also shown a strong interest in the 28-year-old.

Despite scoring a phenomenal 201 goals

Liverpool make new £6m bid for IIori L

iverpool have returned with an improved offer for highly rated Sporting Lisbon defender Tiago Ilori. Reds head coach Brendan Rodgers is currently in the middle of a mini defensive crisis at the back at Anfield after only one game of the new Premier League season.

At present, the Northern Irishman is without the services of central defender Sebastian Coastes, who damaged ligaments in his right knee playing for Uruguay in Japan last week, ruling the player out for six months.

Alongside side Coates’s long-term injury, Rodgers is also having to contend with knocks to centre-backs Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, while the Slovakia international is wanted by former Reds boss Rafa Benitez at Napoli.

And with England international Martin Kelly still some short of regaining full fitness following his own long injury layoff last season with a serious knee problem.

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ormer England de fender Gareth Southgate has been appointed as the new coach of the England Under-21 team on a three-year contract, the Football Association announced.

Southgate succeeds Stuart Pearce, whose contract was not renewed after England crashed out of the E u r o p e a n Championships in Israel in June after three consecutive defeats.

Anelka to quit after the death of agent

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YSTERY sur rounds whether Nicolas Anelka will play for West Brom again after he was given permission by the club to miss today ’s game at Everton.Anelka was granted compassionate leave after the death of one of his agents, Eric Manasse. But there are reports that Anelka, 34, has emptied his locker and could have quit football.

Boss Steve Clarke, meanwhile, has signed winger Scott Sinclair, 24, on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

in 200 appearances for the Spanish giants, Ronaldo has stalled on signing a new contract with the club, and it has been hinted that he is unhappy with how publicly Real have pursued Bale this summer, as well as his move breaking the world record for highest transfer fee, which Ronaldo set in 2009 when he left United for £80million.

Ronaldo would still no doubt be an expensive purchase, and it seems that a bid of £77million might be enough for United to land the Portuguese international, in what would represent a dream signing for new manager David Moyes in his first summer at the club.

Messi injury concern for Barcelona

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ionel Messi has a thigh injury and is struggling to make Barcelona's clash with Malaga. Messi was substituted at halftime in Barca's draw at Atletico Madrid in the first-leg of the Supa Copa. Scans confirm bruising to Messi's left thigh and he is a doubt for the Malaga clash.

Ephraim in training with Wolves

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PR winger Hogan Ephraim is training with League One side Wolves with a view to earning a contract at Molineux.

The 25-year-old has been told that he is not part of Harry Redknapp's plans for the current Championship campaign having failed to feature since the former Tottenham boss took charge in November.

Barcelona sign Cit Cityy starlet

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anchester City playmaker Denis Suarez has returned to Spain after agreeing terms with Barcelona.

Suarez was signed from Celta Vigo in May 2011, but only made two appearances for the Citizens during his time at the club. The 19-year-old made was a regular for City's elite development squad and made his first-team debut when he came off the bench in a League Cup victory over Wolves in October 2011.

Newcastle eyeing move For Andre Ayew

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ewcastle United are eye ing Olympique Marseille winger Andre Ayew. Ayew has been linked with Liverpool, Inter Milan and Napoli this summer despite Marseille insisting that the player is not for sale. But reports in France now suggest that Newcastle hope to entice Ayew to England before the end of the transfer window. Toon chiefs hope a bid of £8.5m may be sufficient to bring the Ghana international to St James’ Park.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013 —41

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Ephraim Oseji 08023542350

Arsenal willing to make Benzema best paid player

Flamini set to return to Arsenal on a free transfer!

Arsene Wenger’s intensive 12-day recruitment drive appears set to start with a deal for Mathieu Flamini, five years after he quit Arsenal for AC Milan.

The Italian club released the 29-year-old midfielder at the end of the season and he has been training with Wenger’s squad for the last two weeks.

The Arsenal manager has been impressed enough with his condition to offer him a contract and Flamini has agreed to a return despite interest from other clubs.

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rsenal are ready to break the bank to land Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

It is understood the Gunners have sounded out the Spanish giants over a move for the 25-year-old and have indicated they would be prepared to offer £40million.

According to reports, Benzema is the highest paid French sports star, earning 8.5m euros (£7.26m) before tax. That equates to around £140,000 a week and it is believed the Gunners have sought to assure him that there will be no need to take a pay cut to move to London.

The top rate of income tax in Spain currently stands at 52 per cent, meaning Arsenal could offer to match Benzema’s current wage but in reality that would equate to a pay rise given the 50 per cent threshold in the United Kingdom. Arsenal’s current highest earners are believed to be Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott on around £100,000 a week with Lukas Podolski among a group of players just below that figure.

Galatasaray battle Napoli for Mikel

West Brom seal loan deal for Man City winger

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alatasaray have reportedly made a bid of £10million for Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, Napoli are also monitoring his situation. The Nigerian international has been at Stamford Bridge for almost his entire senior career, having joined the club in controversial circumstances in 2006 afterr supposedly agreeing to join Manchesterr United.

Mikel has gone on to become a key player for the Blues, but manager Jose Mourinho is seemingly on the lookout

Toottenham tt h P p £5m Prepare £5m SSwoopp ffor N Nedelev d l v

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ottenham Hotspur are set to continue their extraordinary recent spending spree by buying Botev Plovdiv attacking midfield player Todor Nedelev for £5 million this summer. The north London club are on the verge of finally announcing the world-record transfer of playmaker Gareth Bale to Spanish giants Real Madrid for a whopping £103m, with that deal expected to be wrapped up by the end of this week.

Abramovich rumbles Spurs hopes for Willian

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helsea have moved to wreck Tottenham's plans to sign Anzhi star Willian. Roman Abramovich has personally launched a stunning bid to derail Tottenham’s plans for replacing Gareth Bale.

Billionaire Chelsea owner Abramovich phoned fellow Russian oligarch Suleyman Kerimov, owner of Anzhi Makhachkala, to offer him £32million for Spurs target Willian.

Russian duo turned down bid to sign Pandev

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oran Pandev NapoliLokomotiv Moscow and Rubin Kazan have seen their attempts to sign Napoli forward Goran Pandev turned down ahead of the start of the Serie A season.

The 30-year-old is set to take up a key role in new coach Rafa Benitez’s puzzle for the Azzurri’s new season but has drawn interest from the Russian duo Reports that Moscow and Rubin made an enquiry into Pandev’s availability, but the Partenopei turned down the request and indicated they are not interested in letting the former Inter striker go. Pandev was a key figure for the Azzurri last season as he scored six goals.

Benfica interested in QPR stopper Cesar

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enfica are the latest club to show interest in QPR goalkeeper Julio Cesar. The Portuguese are seeking a number one after being rebuffed in a bid for Celtic’s Fraser Forster. Cesar’s agent Josias Cardoso said: ‘Everything can be done by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, QPR have revived their £5million bid to sign Blackpool winger Matt Phillips. The 22-year-old Scot is still facing five weeks out with a broken arm.

Fellaini wants to quit Everton for United

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arouane Fellaini wants to quit Everton for Manchester United before his price tag gets even higher next year.

The Belgium midfielder is currently valued at more than £23million by Everton, who rejected a joint bid for Fellaini and Leighton Baines of £28m at the start of the week.

With Everton unwilling to sell to their old manager David Moyes.

Scott Sinclair has signed a one-year loan deal with the Baggies and will look to get playing regular firstteam football after a period on the sidelines.

West Brom have confirmed that they have captured Manchester City winger Scott Sinclair on a year-long loan, with the option to buy the attacker next summer.

Photo Journalist gang-raped In Mumbai A photo journalist in her early 20s was gang-raped in the Indian city of Mumbai, police said y e s t e r d a y, e v o k i n g comparisons to a similar assault in New Delhi in December that led to nationwide protests and a revision of the country's rape laws. The attack took place in an abandoned textile mill in Lower Parel, a former industrial district that is now one of the city's fastest-growing neighbourhoods of luxury apartments, malls and bars. The woman was out on assignment with a male colleague.

42—VANGUARD, SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013

Passion and creativity also does wonders, plus I am a God-lover, so I put Him first in every job I handle. God has never failed me

Empowered women are the best — Bee Azubike

By FLORENCE AMAGIYA

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ee Azubike started out as an entertain ment writer but presently works as a PR consultant and freelance writer.

As a child, she spent a lot of time drawing and even though that talent is gone, she’s still an avid lover of the arts and is currently on the team of the monthly performing arts event, TARUWA. Bee is crazy about her creator; the Almighty God. She is presently lost in Nora Ephron’s world, through the book ‘I Feel Bad About My Neck’.

In this interview, she talks about her inspiration, writing as a career, the challenges of being a female PR person, her work with J’odie in her hit song ‘Kuchi Kuchi’ and business in general.

INSPIRATION AND DRIVE I have always loved writing as I was an entertainment staff writer with an entertainment oufit which has a print publication. I did not leave writing because l still write press releases for clients, website content, press features and basically everything that your client wants you to communicate.

I would say that I went deeper into writing. I have always

been passionate about positive projects. I am a very passionate person and see myself as a ‘goal-keeper’, helping people achieve their goals. Whenever I am approached with an idea or vision, I run with it like it’s my mine, so long as I believe in it. So that’s what inspires me; the desire to see positive projects and big dreams become reality. I believe in what Daniel Boorstin said, he was an American historian(1914- 2004); he said

My biggest advice to female entrepreneurs is “We are not the weaker sex, so don’t believe that! We are strong and created to be the support system

that “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations officers.”

I learnt a long time ago that real leaders are the ones who serve, so I am the sort of person who inspite of owning a company, would literally take off my suit and get my hands in mud to achieve a goal. A client once said to me “oh my God Bee, you’re so much more than public relations”, so the Goal-keeper tag stems from realizing that I always set out to handle PR for clients but end up doing much more; this was how my outfit ‘The GoalKeeper Company’ came to be. We say ‘what are your goals? Tell us, we keep you scoring!’

CHALLENGES There are quite a number of challenges, but I will say that the biggest is funding. There are so many things you want to achieve as a PR person; so many ideas you have for clients, but there’s only so much you can do without a budget.

Something else that bothers me, especially because I work with the media a lot, is their very unprofessional approach.

I really wish that the media could understand their role as influencers and be more

passionate about their jobs instead of being money-driven.

What can I say? Challenge is a key concept in my field, and it’s helped achieve a lot in the projects I’ve been involved in. Passion and creativity also does wonders, plus I am a God-lover, so I put Him first in every job I handle. He has never failed me.

GENDER AND SEXUAL HARRASSMENT I honestly do not think that being female affects much in public relations; what matters most in this field are relationships, drive, communication skills and favour. I believe that sexual advances will always be made no matter what field you find yourself, but how you dress, speak and comport yourself determines how you are perceived and treated.

JODIE’s ‘ Kuchi Kuchi’ Working with Miss Joy Odiete(JODIE)was a great experience. We worked as family and nothing beats that teamwork and relationship.

What I saw was a really talented young lady with a vision, so I ran with that. Of course, the media was really helpful, and God as well, as it was apparent His grace and

favour was with us the whole time.

FUTURE PLANS FOR THIS BRAND We are planning a regional relevance and global significance. I have great plans.

Sometimes my dreams scare me [laughs]. I cannot really talk about these plans yet, all I can say is there’s a lot going on in the works. I don’t work with musicians alone; I’ve worked with children’s brand, a production company, theatre productions, and other projects. In fact, I’m not limited to PR as I’m also into TV production as well writing, editing and general content provision.

ADVICE FOR FEMALE ENTERPRENEURS My biggest advice to female entrepreneurs is “We are not the weaker sex, so don’t believe that! We are strong and created to be the support system. Don’t let yourself be seen as a sex object, you are way bigger than that. Define your goals; Aim, Shoot, and then Score!’ I see myself as a successful woman; one with a sound spiritual life, excelling in career, running a flourishing home, and being a blessing to this generation through ground-breaking projects.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013—43

A man’s destination in life should be strategically chosen — Olusope O

lukayode Olusope isNigeria’s foremost Brands and Communications Strategist with experience spanning over 15 years in frontline Advertising Agencies in Nigeria. In this interview with OLAYINKA AJAYI , he speaks on how his artistic acumen spurred him into brand management and how he intends to impact brand managers and unemployed graduates with the knowledge brand of strategic management which will help in re-branding Nigeria.

Excerpts:

Your background I was born in Ile-Ife, Osun State and was privileged to graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University OAU, where I studied Dramatic Arts under the tutelage of renowned authorities like Ola Rotimi and others in 1991. Early in life, I discovered I am artistic in nature. I could draw, write, sing and speak eloquently. So, I found drama as a course where all of these talents are embedded. into Venturing communications industry After trying a few stints, I considered where my talent would be best put into use. I love to communicate to people and when you communicate, you use all manner of communication tools to pass your message to your target audience effectively. That was how I found my place in marketing communications. So, to better equip myself in the industry, I did a Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication in University of Lagos( UNILAG), and did several courses both at home and abroad, including Miami Ad School.

Experience in marketing communications My experience in marketing communications has spanned over 15 years. I started marketing communications from Haniel, a Below-the-line (BTL) Agency which specialises in design and print under Mr. Tunji Aboderin.

The first client account I ever handled in the Agency was Shell

Petroleum. We were working for Schlumberger, Access Bank and so on. I also worked with Comex Advertising where I was exposed to automobile advertising, working on Hyundai, and other brands. I moved from there to Rosabel,and it was there I had my first big challenge in Advertising when I was placed in charge of Globacom brand. It was my team that helped reposition the Glo brand through the “Rule Your World” platform. If you can remember, Globacom launched itself with the “Glo with pride.” It was facing virulent competition with global brands on the communication front. However, the brand was already trying to expand to other African countries, and it needed to present itself as an empowering brand, rather than a local champion. I was later appointed as Account Director for UBA and Coca-Cola (CCNL) on

Olukayode Olusope communications,I worked on virtually over 30 brands. Today, I am very happy and fulfilled for whatever little contribution I have made to the society through my career. chosen

creative but are struggling to be discovered and groomed in brand building career. They are our ambassadors, and the operators of the coming explosion and revolution of Nigeria’s brands.

The Knowhouse initiative The Knowhouse came as a need for the development of not just

Affecting lives The Knowhouse started this initiative four years ago and we have been very passionate about impacting lives by inviting renown frontline brand, creative and business managers to impact participants with experiential know-how in brand management.

We have gone to the extent of training young people for free.

We are aware there are over 22 million unemployed graduates and many of them are unemployable because they lack practical skills to add value to their employers. So, we don’t only train them, we also ensure they get internships with agencies and companies where they get exposed to vital experience that will give them cutting edge advantage over their equals while instilling in them skills and confidence to operate effectively in the industry. So far, we have trained 36 and 35 of them already are gainfully employed while the only one remaining has already started his own consulting firm. At The Knowhouse, we believe that marketing communication is the life blood of commerce and commerce is the blood of the nation.Communications therefore is the life blood of the nation. If you would agree with me, America is ahead of the world basically because of branding. Their film and media industries sold America to us, telling us what they

Moreover, we are problem solvers; we look beyond problems to see solutions to the numerous problems of brands. We are poised to breed solution providers. Every problem is an opportunity to shine when you are a solution provider which we did interesting campaigns. I later left Rosabel and moved to LTC/JWT as the Director for New Business. It was challenging in the sense that we were handling several pitches while developing strategies to improve our clients’ brands. That was the period the agency won the pitch for “Good People, Great Nation” rebranding project. I had to travel to Abuja with my Managing Director, Mr Victor Edegbe, to present it at Aso Rock.

Lowe Lintas came calling and I was appointed the Director of Strategy and New Business.

Summarily, in the course of my stint on advertising and

brand managers but allied professionals involved in the craft.

Either public relations consultancies, experiential marketing agencies in the digital, all of us are in one business which is brand building. We appreciate the brand building industry in Nigeria, but there are rooms for lots of improvement. And the biggest room lies in the axis of learning and development.

Nigerian youths craving for employment The Knowhouse is not exclusively for brand professionals but also for Nigerian youths who are very vibrant and

can do. Why can’t our industries do the same? Nations are projected through their brands.

We cannot afford to remain in our backyard servicing the needs of Nigerians. Nigerian brands need to become global and to become global, we need knowledge and resources. This is the rationale behind the Knowhouse, creating new breeds of brand wizards to create a better world.

There is going to be an economic revolution in Nigeria that will bring prosperity but it will not come until Nigerian brands come of age and begin to spread their tentacles around the globe and become the toast of mankind, taking their place in the comity of nations.

Achieving this dream We have already started through programmes meant to enhance learning and development of young people. They come in for 12 sessions of intensive training in strategy. We are also introducing corporate career coaching specifically for brand managers and account managers. We want to appreciate the 26 MDs of different companies who have facilitated programmes.

Challenges The Knowhouse itself is a response to challenges being faced by brands, the challenge to develop people. The need for people to realize that they need constant training for them to develop and keep abreast of their chosen career is another challenge but we are dealing with these challenges as they come.

4 44 4 SATURDAY 44—SATURDAY SATU

V d , AUGUST G S 24, 2 24 , 2013 20 3 Vanguard, g

Creativity oils ingenuity

Faith Int. Including great acts Tu Face, Dbanj, Don Jazz, AY, Ali Baba, Yaw, KC to name but a few.

...Think big, start b dia small and grow —OOgbemudia ggbemudia

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enry Ogbemudia with a stage name ‘XSOD Brown’ is multi-talented and he specializes in anchoring corporate events and executive mirror painting.

The self acclaimed Executive Finest Comedian (EFCC) and the special adviser to the president of the federal republic on humor matters believes that arts is making a huge difference in our society. Excerpts:

P

lease tell us about you ur background I am from Edo State, Nhu ude Local Government area of Benin city. I was born in Bauchi State into a Christtian family as the 6th of 8 children. I began my educational journey in Sanya Grammar School where I had both my Primary and Secondary School educa ation, thereafter, I proceeded to the University of Lagos where I am presently Studying Business Administration. I am a devout Christian, and I am equally associated with several religious and philanthropic organizations. I am single but not searching.I started my painting career in 2004 and later diversified into comedy professionally after being exposed to the money making aspect of the talking business

by Emeka Smith.

and since then the rest is history. I love mirror painting because of its uniqueness, originality, style and class. Mirror painting is something you can’t find anywhere in the world except in Nigeria and I am one of the originators. I usually give an example when I am talking about the uniqueness of mirror painting. If you have a plastic cup and a glass cup in your house.

Which will you prefer? You’ll certainly choose the glass cup over the plastic cup because it’ss unique and expensive. I it d o n ’ t believe

You are also in comedy, could you tell us about this and how you are thriving in the industry.

Through comedy I have not only traveled to over 10 states in Nigeria but I’ve been privileged to mount the stage of almost all the biggest comedy evenst in Nigeria along side one of the brightest stars in the nation and continent including AY Live, Stand Up Nig geria, Night Of A Thousand La aughs etc.

Apart from emerging second rumour up in AY O Open Mic National Comedy Challenge, I have anchored ttop – events like MTN End Of T The Year Party Cassie Grou up.

Recently, I also an nchored the wedding of Goverrnor Chibuike Amechi’s younger brother.

More also by leverraging on comedy I have been able to custtomize mirro or portraits for h high profile perrsonalities lik ke Senator Le eye Imoke, Governor of G C Cross R River; G Governor Mimiko of Ondo State, Dele Mamodu, Bishop Oyedebo of Living

Like other businesses, lack of access to sophisticated machines that will make mirror painting easier.The cost of advertisement on the right platform which is best used by the premium target audience of work. Getting an art gallery to display my work in the right environment.

Again, people have not started “appreciating it” that is paying for the correct value.

In what way are you giving back to the society?

What else? Rib-cracking Jokes... I have a non-ticketed gospel comedy platform called Laugh Bus Stop where I bring top comedians and resource persons to

Do you think your skills are marketable internationally?

Let me ask first this rhetorical question: which do you prefer, good quality or bad quality? I bet you have good quality; good clothes, shoes, cars, furniture, food and accommodation. The same thing applies to mirror painting. It is of superior quality, style and class compared to oil and other forms of painting. It serves a dual purpose too; you can use it as an art work to beautify your home, office and business environment and at the same time use it as mirror to check yourself up after dressing. You can still use mirror painting to tell stories and share the corporate vision, mission and objectives of your organization with your target and fence. You can also use it to do partitioning that will

You can also use it to do partitioning that will inspire your staff to produce more results entertain and empower young people, thus channeling their energy and focus forwards a better future.

Any advice for other young Nigerians who want to tow your line of business?

Don’t wait for what your country will do for you to move forward, always look for what you can do to move your country forward. Look for a need & meet it. There’s nothing in this world that is unachievable. There’s no such thing as lack of resources, but only lack of resourcefulness.

Like my “Oga at the top”, Victor Gotevbe, would say

inspire your staff to produce more results. I see the possibilities of walking into firms in countries like America, France, China and so on. I also see my name inscribed in the portraits of their countries’ presidents rather than the regular photography we usually see.

Finally, with regards to the market ability aspect of mirror painting, I see the prospect of mass producing and selling the portraits of presidents, governors and celebrities world wide. To achieve this, I hope to stage art exhibitions in different countries to further promote, sell and internationalize the work and brand.

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE

DIFFERENCE

MRA/IofC organizes Trust Building Forum

What has been your greatest motivation in life?

God through the agency of the Holy Spirit has been and will always be my motivation. Also, the burning passion to turn sorrow into laughter by es sharing rib-cracking joke that deliver the solutionss to people’s problems..

What makes you stand out in the creative arts?

The reason I do creative art is because mirror painting is the only tool through which I believe I can showcase th he beauty of life. Also, I wan nted to make a difference, rath her than do oil painting on orted canvass and wood, I reso to mirror painting. Havin ng reached that conclusion, I met a pastor friend who fed my desires with the basics cs

in having it cheap. This is one of the factors I considered before going into it.

For an emerging entrepreneur like yourself, what challenges do you face doing business in Nigeria?

“think big, start small and grow fast”.

OR AL re ar m am en M monthly forum at its t/I ni tia tiv es of Ch an ge Ikoyi centre last Satu Th e fo ru m rd

Ogbemudia

ho st ed its ay, August 17, 2013. fo cu se d on th e Po we r of Tr us t Bu ild in g professionals in att wi concentrates on Youtendance. Mr. Oluyinka Adeoti, a voluth se ve ra l h De ve lop me nt an d direct mentoring an nteer who the tool of speech to d who uses sp ea k to mixed audiences wi mood led the session th preferred informa cre ati ve ly. l M r.

Ad Section of the Unite eoti also works with meeting realizing thd States Consulate. Participants came the Travel including the relationat the glue that holds all relationships out of the trust is based on integship between; the leader and the led istogether— trust, and The movement has rity. sc he du led free trainings on Proje on September 21 an ct Man Management guru (Ed 28, 2018 which will be anchored by agement yit a Project ay o Og unmola) and Informa on a later date. Mea tion Management nw hi le, Sa tu rd ay , Au centre as it is being set aside for MRA/Io gust 31 will hold at the Ikoyi fC Volunteers’ day.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013 — 45

Mr Mr.. President is doing well ffor or the countr countryy

... on Jonathan’s administration

By FLORENCE AMAGIYA Year, 2015 is around the corner, and the nation’s political climate is already gearing up for another round of politicking. New political parties are being registered as the previous ones are currently restrategising, all in the bid to hold on to power. However, by way of appraising the performan nce of the present administration, our team sought the opinions of the enterta ainers on the issue.

Geraldine Obi, Actress

H

is Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan is doing well for our country. He is a man that believes in the change. He is a man of few words as his action speaks louder than his voice. They said that a man who never makes mistake is a man who never does anything. But faith and patience were the secrets of past champions because if you can find a path with no obstacles it probably means that, that path doesn’t lead to anywhere.

Jonathan is one of the best Presidents that have ruled this country. I am scoring him 80%.

Fuel subsidy removal, a wrong timing! g Kenneth Chukwu, Actor

I

am going to score President Goodluck Jonathan 60%; over 100 not because he has fulfilled all his promises to Nigerians. But because it is obvious he is genuine. His major set back was the fuel subsidy removal. He may have meant well for Nigerians, but the masses didn’t see it that way as they revolted against the removal.

Honestly, if Mr. President had been advised properly, he wouldn’t have done so, at that point in time.

Another major set back is the emergence of Boko Haram sect and the insecurity challenges in the country. Mr. President P is surrounded with the best brains that this country has ever produced. His goal is to make Nigeria a better place to live in. What can we say? He is only a human being and he can also make mistakes. Let us hope and pray for a better tomorrow.

I don’t think the present administration is a bad one. Mr. President presents the picture of

someone who is genuine and hon nest.

The only problem we have in this country is that we have bad eggs in government and they say one bad eg gg spoils the bunch. So ,what we are experiencing in this country is as a result of the bad persons in Mr. President’s cabinet.

Everyone is thinking about himselff instead of thinking of ways to make Nigeria a better place to live in. They are thinking of their immediate families and their pockets. But one thing we should all remember is that; you cannot enjoy your wealth in an impoverish environment. It is better for everyone to be at peace or else, your own business won’t even flourish.

Insecurity, a major setback Oge Nwuba,

Being a President isn’t W easy at all!

Actress

Biola Ige, Actress

I

think Mr. President has done well so far. He cannot do more than what he’s doing right now. As a human being, you can’t claim to know it all, you can only try your best. Even if you put another person in the same position; he might not perform better than Mr. President.

But that will not solve the problems facing this country. Mr. President is doing all he can and you know if he wants to take another way in dealing with some of the issues we have in Nigeria, so many lives may be affected negatively. All we can do for him is to continue offering prayer to God to give him the strength to weather the storm and bring us to their promise land land.

C M Y K

ell, President luck Jonathan obviously has great plans for this country.

But there had been a lot of national distractions: insecurity poses a serious threat to his administration. As a human being, these challenges can be said to have slowed down the pace of his progress. But it can’t be argued that the President has the best interest of the country at heart. I will score him 55 percent.

46 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

Biola Ige heartbroken after mum’s death I feel like a fish out of water without my mum

BY AYO ONIKOYI

M

ulti-talented Nollywood beauty, Biola Ige, hasn’t been a happy person since losing her mother to the cold hands of death about a month ago. The Osun Stateborn actress is still mourning and it doesn’t look like anything, work or not, will interest her for sometime.

Even though her mother had been ill and in and out of hospital for the past two years, her death, according to Biola, is still a shock and a loss too difficult for the entire family to bear. But the death seemed a more trying experience for Biola who is the last child of five children by her mother. Her four sibling, two men and two women are married and living with their separate families but Biola being the only unmarried one depends entirely on the care of her deceased mother. “ I was away in Ghana, shooting, when my sister called me to tell me our mother could not walk any more as a result of swollen legs arising from complications from diabetes and hypertension. Then, she later had stroke and when we thought she would pull through I got a call again that she had passed away” she said.

For Biola, it was as if the world had come to an end. She said, she could not make sense of what she was told.

Immediately, she had to drop what she was doing and travelled back home.

“Recounting how she died, my elder sister told me she called her on phone and started mentioning each one of us by name and prayed for us. Then she asked her to take care of all of us” How she will miss her mum I am going to miss her support, her prayer and her presence. My mum had always been there for me . Right from my childhood we had been very close. Even during the time I was very sick, she was up and doing, trying to see how she could help.

Knowing that she was there and alive, with me in prayers was a source of strength for me. Now that she’s no more I feel like a fish out of water. The thought that she is gone hasn’t really sunk in well because I can’t just believe she is gone.

It is just unacceptable to go on without her. Because she was the closest person to me. Every now and then, even when we were not together, we talked on phone almost everyday. I could not do two days without talking to her.

Like yesterday, I was just going through my phone and I saw the last recharge card I sent to her.

Immediately, my mood changed and my day was spoiled completely.

Right now, I don’t even know who to call, who to talk to. I am not even C M Y K

close to my siblings the way I was close to her. Now I know I have to adjust to life without her. I will really miss her.

Memorable moment share with her A month before she died I went home and I was with her. Then she was telling me she wanted to start another business and we discussed the type of business she wanted to do at length. Then she was teasing me that I should settle down and bring a boy home to her. Then I was telling her that all these Lagos boys if they are not bisexual they are gigolos. She was like; oh my God, please take your time and I said now you understand what we are facing in Lagos. That was one of the last beautiful moments I shared with her. It was not the discussion that mattered but the

closeness that we shared.

With her, I could discuss any topic under the sun and at the end of the day, all she would do was advise me the way to go The two weeks she never spent with me And the most painful thing is that when I travelled I had promised her when I come back she would come and spend two weeks with me.

Though she doesn’t like Lagos but she enjoyed being with me. Even though I was busy I was always thinking of the two weeks we would share together but I never knew I would never come back to see her alive again.

Heavily pregnant Ruth Kadiri in Matters Arising S tar actress, Ruth Kadiri is pregnant.

This discovery was made known in a new flick entitled, Matters Arising where she played the role of a pregnant woman.

On her new role, the excited actress who also wrote the script said: “ ‘Matters Arising’ ex-rays issues in polygamy. It tells the story of a young man who got married to two women. The second wife embraced Christ, which becomes a problem in the home as her new found faith poses a serious challenge to her marriage and by extension, a test of her faith and then, the story begins to unravel,” Ruth narrated.

Continuing, the actress added: “I have never been pregnant before but I had to bury myself in that character by studying and mimicking what pregnant women do. It was quite challenging.”

*Ruth

*Biola Ige

CENSORSHIP:

Lagos reads riot act tto o ffilm ilm mak er maker erss

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

I

n a renewed effort to fully implement its mandate as a regulatory agency, the Management of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board LSFVCB, has commenced the monitoring cum classification of artistic works including musicals as well as registration of associations and practitioners in the entertainment industry.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Mr. Bamidele Balogun, who disclosed this development at the weekend, during a meeting with some stakeholders, explained that it had become imperative for the board to commence the monitoring cum classification of the films that are produced and exhibited within the state .

‘Some people have openly expressed their misgivings about the quality of the content and production of the films being exhibited within the state and as a body set up to regulate the activities of the practitioners in the film and music sector, it behooves on us to address those issues so that things should be done properly,’he stated.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013 — 47

A

fter 91 days of unstoppable fun and drama, the stage is set again to crown a winner as the grand finale of the Big Brother Africa-The Chase reality TV show holds this Sunday, in South Africa.

Two Nigeria’s representatives, Beverley and Melvin are among the five Housemates who will be contending for the USD300,000 prize money.

Beverley and Melvin made it to the final after Ethiopia’s Bimp and South Africa’s Angelo were evicted during last Sunday’s live eviction show. Their departure leaves Beverley, Melvin, Cleo, Dillish and Elikem in contention for the USD300 000 prize. This year’s edition has been punctuated with lots of intrigues, drama and sex. Nonetheless, it has been fun all the way.

Some viewers have opined that the battle is between Melvin and Cleo, while many others tipped Melvin or Beverly. However, as it stands, it could be anyone’s money.

South Africa’s Angelo became the 22nd housemate to be evicted, bringing an end to the final couple in the House - Bengelo. It has been an unpredictable season with some of the promising characters and entertaining personalities crashing out of the game before they could say BBA. Meanwhile, with the intrigues that pervade the show this year, whoever wins tomorrow will evoke no reaction. Africa seems to be rooting for Melvin or Elikem . The end will definitely justify the means!

BBA: Who wins USD300,000 prize money?

Waje, Lepacious Bose, other therss in Turnel

By ANOZIE EGOLE

S

tarring the likes of Waje, Femi Jacobs, Patrick Doyle, Nse- Etm, Lepacious Bose among others, Turnel is gearing up to hit the market.

Produced by two sisters, Jumoke Olatunde and Morenike Erinle, the inspirational movie tells the story of a handsome and promising pastor, who overcame many temptations especially, from the opposite sex he encountered in the course of his pastoral work and at the end, he finds redemption in God. According to Jumoke, who is the script writer, they faced a lot of challenges

while producing the film. She mentioned funding as part of the challenges they encountered, adding that as new producers, their father who also featured in the film was their major sponsor. “ It is not as if we don’t have any money with us at all, we did the much we could and our Dad who believed in what we can do, helped us a lot as far as funding the movie is concerned.

We had to buy two cars and collided them just to ensure that the accident scene looks real. After which we sold the two cars off,” Jumoke said.

Funk e unke Akindele disowns fake facebook account S

tar of Jenifa, and recently y divorced actress, Funke e Akindele has disowned a fake e facebook account which is being used d by some imopstors to defraud d unsuspecting individuals and fans.

Akindele made this ugly y development known through herr management company, Tofarati Ige e of Entertainment Media Limited, during the week.

A statement made available to HVP P reads thus: “The attention of the e management of star actress, Funke e Akindele, has been drawn to the e fraudulent act by some criminalss who had opened a fake Facebook k account in her name to extortt unsuspecting individuals and fans.””

“The criminals had used Funke e Akindele’s name to open the accountt and demanded for payment from m unsuspecting members of the publicc to participate in movie productionss and promotional campaign with h offers of a wide range of prizess including Laptops, TV sets and otherr consumer products.” ‘’We wish to state that the actress, who has a genuine account, will nott demand money from anyone to take e part in her movie productions or to o run her school. Bonafide students off the school pay only to the school’ss account and not her personall account.”

Middlewood gets under way underw

..as film makers gather in Jos

T

he birth of “Middlewood” seems certain baring any circumstances as filmmakers gathered in Jos, Plateau State for a One-day Interactive Forum, last week . Venue was the main auditorium of the National Film Institute (NFI).

Speakers, especially filmmakers who spoke during the period the forum lasted, and those who attended the post interactive meeting called by the stakeholders, where unanimous on the need of the zone to have its own identity. The Nigerian Film Corporation did not attend the post interactive meeting.

The interactive forum held at the instance of The Nigerian Film Corporation, was to apprise stakeholders within the Central Zone of the country of how best the NFC intends to engage individuals, organizations, and

government agencies in her drive to provide the road map for the sustainable development of the film sector nationwide.

The forum witnessed an impressive turnout of film makers who had arrived the venue hours before the commencement of the event.Top government functionaries, media, theatre and film practitioners also attend the forum.

Dr. Danjuma Dadu, NFC’s Managing Director/Chief Executive set the ball rolling when he noted in his welcome address that building an enviable film industry for Nigeria should be a collective endeavor and also requires diligent and pragmatic policy making mechanism which all should subscribe to.

Dadu spoke extensively on the gains and challenges he met on ground and his vision to drive the Nigerian Film industry to greater heights as the helmsman of the apex film agency in the country saddled with the responsibility of creating the desired signpost for the industry.

C M Y K

48—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

BY IYABO AINA

Wentworth Miller declares he is gay

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he good looking star who has featured in a number of projects including Resident Evil, Afterlife and House, and in the hit series Prison Break is said to have written a letter which was published on GL AAD’s website. In the letter, the star explained how the country’s anti-gay laws had made him decline an invitation to attend a Russian film festival.

According to Wentworth in his letter: “Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes. However, as a gay man, I must decline. I am deeply

troubled by the current attitude towards and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government.”

The actor adds: “The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.

Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I’ll be free to make a different choice’’.

Probably wondering how secret admirers would feel about this.

...as Dominic Purcell under investigation for hit-and-run P

rison Break star Dominic Purcell was under investigation on Monday following an alleged hit-andrun incident in Venice, California, involving his girlfriend AnnaLynne McCord.

The 43-year-old Australian actor and McCord were leaving the 18for18 Summer Soiree event honoring the Somaly Mam Foundation on Sunday night when the incident allegedly occurred.

‘We had a report of a possible hit-and-run investigation that was related to that and it’s still being investigated,’ said Sgt. Brian Gura of the Los Angeles Police Department on Monday.

Under investigation: A hitand-run report filed against Dominic Purcell was being investigated on Monday after the actor allegedly struck a man while driving a truck with girlfriend AnnaLynne McCord in the passenger seat.

McCord parachuted out of an airplane on Saturday in Santa Barbara to help raise funds for the annual 18for18 campaign to combat sex trafficking.

The 90210 star and her boyfriend attended the 18for18 party on Sunday on trendy Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice and AnnaLynne was sitting in the passenger seat when the alleged hit-and-run occurred.

Shane Filan to release new single

F

ormer Westlife member Shane Filan is making a comeback as a solo artist 15 years after the boyband was formed.

Recently , we learnt he is set to release his debut solo single titled ‘’Everything To Me’’ on 25 August.

Also, the 34-year Shane Filan said, “Working on solo material is something I had always dreamed of doing, and I’m incredibly happy with the results . ‘’Everything To Me’’

is a very personal song to me lyrically, it is such an upbeat and optimistic record, perfect for the summer.”

Westlife bid a fond farewell to their fans in June 2012 with a goodbye tour. He was forced to file for bankruptcy at around the same time.

The Irish singer fell victim to the property crisis and was left unable to pay his debts. However, a year later, the popstar and father-of-three is back with his new single .

Kelly Clarkson shares romantic engagement photo

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ride-to-be Kelly Clarkson delighted fans when she shared a second engage ment photo of her and her fiance Brandon Black stock.

Kelly Clarkson who is known as ‘’ Because of You’’ singer and her talent manager/ fiance are pictured in a romantic embrace, standing under a brick archway surrounded by leaves.

Also, the former American Idol winner has opened up about adjusting to her new role as soon to be stepmother to Brandon’s young child r e n .

Kelly and Brandon are set to tie the knot on 20 October 2013, and the ceremony will be officiated by The Voice Judge and country music singer Blake Shelton. “It’s two months away. It’s end of October,” she said. “I’m so over it. It’s so overwhelming. We’re just doing a lot of touring for the wedding and the Christmas album, so I’m over the wedding part.”

Kelly posted her first engagement photo last month in which she looked equally as stunning. The snapshot shows the pop singer modeling an extravagant wedding dress and leaning back against a window, reading a book in a library.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013—49

0 8116 759 97 59 9 08 081 6759 759

A woman who was happy to lose her leg ost young women could imagine few things worse than being told doctors were going to cut off one of their legs.

M But Sun Jingjing, from Anyang city in China, was more than happy when medics broke the news to her two months ago. The grindingly poor 22-year-old was struck down by congenital angiolipoma in her right leg at birth which made it swell to the size of her entire torso.

As the tumour grew, so too did her pain with blisters covering her leg as it dragged along the floor whenever she walked. To make matters worse for Sun, her father died of kidney failure 12 years ago, and her mother is suffering from terminal esophageal cancer.

'My mother lives a very difficult life,' she added. 'She is in almost constant pain but never complains. Instead she looks after me and I look after her. 'Even in my darkest moments she encourages me to be strong and to survive. My leg may have now gone, but my mother's cancer will not go away. Although all I want is to find a cure for her. 'If there is an afterlife, I hope to be with her again.'

Jackson's glove bought with dirty money by Equatorial Guinea President’s son Obiang Mangue, the U.S.

T

he late singer’s glove was allegedly bought with dirty money by Equatorial Guinea President’s son Teodoro Nguema

claims. Assets worth about $71 million were seized in April 2011 from Obiang, who owns a fleet of RollsRoyces, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, as well as $38 million private jet and

$30 million Malibu mansion.

U.S. government fights to stop a gemencrusted glove worn

by Michael Jackson from falling into the hands of the playboy son of an African dictator. More than 70 per cent of Equatorial Guinea’s population

lives in poverty, but President Obiang and those closely associated with him have amassed huge fortunes through corruption, the U.S. claims.

According to the lawsuit, Obiang, who was appointed forestry minister by his father, ‘amassed over $300

million in net worth, all while earning an income of less than $100,000 per year as an unelected public official appointed by his father,’ Sky News reported.

The lawsuit lists assets he is said to own in the U.S. which, as well as Jackson’s glove, include seven life-size statues of the singer in a collection worth $494,000.

Russian vodka boycotted by bars across the globe amid outrage over Putin's controversial 'gay propaganda' law

He told me he could go all night reat-grandmother becomes the 16th wom G an to accuse San Diego mayor of sexual harassment. Peggy Shannon, 67, works part-

B

ar owners outraged by Putin’s new ‘gay propaganda’ law are clearing their shelves of Russsian vodka in protest. London nightspots including G-A-Y have stoppe ed selling the booze in a show of support for the LGBT community in R Russia—where displays of ‘non-traditional sexual behaviour’ in public orr in front of under-18s are now prohibited by law.

The law —which also alllows the government to detain tourists and foreign nationals they suspectt of being homosexual—has seen the global gay community begin to lose its taste for Russia’s national drink.

time at the Senior Citizens Service Desk in the lobby of the City Administration Building. Shannon claimed in a press conference that San Diego Mayor Bob Filner once grabbed her and kissed her.

She says he also once told her he could ‘go eight hours’ in an apparent reference to sex.

Shannon is the 16th woman to make sexual harassment claims against Filner, 70, in the last month.

A

Bearded lady

bearded mother-of-two who hid under a niqab to stop her children from being bullied over her goatee has revealed her face to the public for the first time in 19 years. Indonesian Agustina Dorman, 38, began sprouting thick facial hair after the birth of her first child when she was just 25. Ever since she has hidden her face under a traditional Muslim niqab whenever outside in Penaga village, Indonesia, to prevent her children from being bullied. But Agustina has decided to ditch the clothing and accept her condition —regardless of the stares and unwanted attention she now attracts.

Angry ex-wife pays divorce settlement in COINS mixed with rice and beans

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ell hath no fury like a woman scorned—especially when she is armed with loose change and a few plastic containers.

When faced with a court order to pay her ex-husband $50.12 as part of a divorce settlement, the aggrieved spouse ponied up the money in pennies delivered in Tupperware filled with rice and beans. To add insult to injury, the unnamed woman wrote her husband a stinging farewell note. ‘Andy, Here’s forty seven dollars and twelve cents in pennies,’ the missive read. ‘The other three dollars paid for the containers that I used. Receipt is included if you want to return them... ‘Oh! one last thing, I added beans and rice to remind you that you married a beaner). I hope you have a fab life! I know mines 20x better without you in it!’ Photos of the coins divided into three plastic containers were posted by the husband, identified only as Andy from Omaha, Nebraska.

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013 —51

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

C M Y K

54— Vanguard,

SATURDAY AUGUST 24, 2013

A-P-P-R-E-H-E-N-D-E-D…

Fake military man that terrorized neighbours in Lagos

•Ifeanyi Ofoegbu, the suspect

By UJU MBANUSI

A

25-year-old man, Ifeanyi Ofoegbu, was recently arrested by the Police in Bariga,Lagos, for parading himself as a military man and terrorizing his neighbourhood.

It was gathered that the suspect who hails from Anambra State, moved into an apartment in a compound at No. 9, Shokunbi-Bariga, a few years back, and started trading in second–hand clothes which he brought from Cotonou,Benin Republic and sells them at Yaba market, Warri, Delta State and Benin in Edo State.

Neighbourhood terror According to one of his neighbours who agreed to speak with Crime Guard d on condition of anonymity, the suspect was a well behaved young man, who showed respect to everyone. This endeared him to his neighbours. But sometime in 2011, his neighbours noticed a dramatic negative change in his character.The once

a dored Ifeanyi, suddenly became Ifeanyi the neighborhood dreaded.

“When Ifeanyi moved into this compound a couple of years ago, other neighbours referred n to o him as my son, and tha at was how I took inte erest in him. We all adm mired him because of his rrespectful character; he played with the child dren and bought gifts for them. There was neve er a dull moment in the compound when ever he w was around. About two y years ago, we noticed a sud dden change in his chara acter.

“He e became violent and fough ht any body that he thoug ght provoked him.

Even the children in the neigh hbourhood were not spared. H He beats children and waits fo for their parents or guardian and would be ready to fight anybody with bottle or any dangerous object. He boasted that nothing would happen to him, as he was a military man.

“This baffled us, because we did not know when he joined the army. We knew him as a second-hand clothes dealer who shuttled between Cotonou and Nigeria. He also stopped his trading at that point. Most times when he wanted to make trouble, he would put on a military uniform and would intimidate and assault people. The Landlord invited his elder brother on several occasions to caution him, but his efforts were futile. At one instance, Ifeanyi chased his elder brother out of the compound, warning him not to ever come advising him again...”stated the elderly man.

Arrest Crime Guard gathered that the incident that led to his arrest was based on a clash with the Landlord of the house and other tenants over the disconnection of electricity in their apartment on the 15th of August, 2013. Before then, the suspect had allegedly attacked some children playing near a fish pond in the

compound. He reportedly told the landlord that if he failed to call the children to order, he would snuff life out of them and dump their bodies in the pond.

According to another neighbour who also spoke on condition of anonymity, “On the 14th of August 2013, a neighbour moved out of the compound and in the process of removing his air conditioner, disconnected some of the electrical wires.

This affected some of the rooms as they had to go without light until it was re-connected. The next day, being the 15th of August, Ifeanyi returned from where ever he went to and, instead of cooperating with the Landlord and tenants to find a solution to the development, he went to the circuit and removed the fuss, thereby disconnecting the whole occupants of the building.. Knowing who he was, some of us pleaded with him, but he would not listen.

“This prompted the Landlord to call in the Police. When the

Police arrived, he went and put on his military uniform.

He refused to re-connect the wire when the Police asked him to do so, nor go to the station with the Police, claiming that as a military man, he can not answer to any other authority except his Commandant. He also refused to show an identity card to buttress his claims. The Police left after ordering him to report to the station in two hours. He went there and claimed he was a private in the military attached to Ikorodu division, but dispatched to Somolu/Bariga area to help maintain peace and order.

The DPO then placed a call across to the Commandant at the water side, who said he does not have any body that goes by that name among his men. After some insistence on the phone with the Military officer that he was attached to his Command, the officer drove down to the Police station to see things for himself. In fact, there was jubilation in the

neighbourhood after he was arrested by the police, “he said.

Drama Crime Guard d gathered that there was mild drama at the Bariga Police station when the water side Military Commandant got to the station and was confronted with an unknown face. Seeing that his game was up, the culprit gave in and confessed that he was not in the Military. This made the DPO to order his immediate arrest and detention.

The culprit, thereafter, led some Police men to his abode where various ATM cards belonging to other individuals and some military camouflage uniforms and some parks of India hemp were recovered.

The case has since been charged to court and he was subsequently sentenced to prison after he pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him.

Crisis rocks family over burial,

...police quiz family head, others

BY OKONKWO EZE,ONITSHA

D

eep crisis is tearing apart the family of Chinwuba from Umubele village, Awka in Anambra State, following a misunderstanding which arose after some members of the family exhumed the corpse of one of their sons, Dr. Sunday Chinwuba who died in far away United States of America (USA).

The late Dr. Sunday Chinwuba had died in his Maryland residence few months ago and the US authorities flew his corpse back to Nigeria and handed it over to his immediate elder brother, Mr. Goddy Chinwuba together with all necessary documents relating to the transfer of his corpse.

Sources said on receiving the corpse and the documents with which it was transferred from

•Hired youths exhuming the corpse Maryland to Nigeria, the bereaved elder brother, Goddy immediately arranged the burial of the remains without consultations and mutual agreement with other members of the family.

Exhumation It was gathered that after all the arrangements, Goddy removed the corpse from Regina Caeli Hospital

Mortuary, Awka, where it was initially deposited and buried it in the family compound there in Awka. But few days after the burial, the head of the family, Dr. Aneze Chinwuba and other members of the family who claimed that they were not consulted before the burial, rallied round, exhumed the corpse and re-deposited it at an unknown place, pending when another formal burial would be carried out, after proper arrangement.

Vanguard, SATURDAY AUGUST 24, 2013

— 55

Garland for a super cop ...As CP Manko bags prestigious Good security award

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE AND LILIAN AMALU

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his year’s Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria, CLASFON, national conference turned out to be one of the best in recent times going by the dignitaries that were honoured.In fact,the choice of recipients of the awards has so far turned out to be outstanding in view of the achievements recorded by the recipients in their respective endevours.

Topping the list are achievers like Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola;former NBA President, Chief Wole Olanipekun;Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Uriel Palti; and Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umaru Manko,amongst others.

Particularly outstanding is the recognition given to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Umaru Manko for his untiring efforts in curbing crime in the state. Going by the unassailable records created by the police boss since he assumed office two years ago, there is no gainsaying the fact that members of the fellowship have taken the bull by the horn by the honour bestowed on Umaru Manko.

Coming at a time when many other interest groups are clamouring to recognize the enviable records created by the police boss, members of the fellowship have shown that there is need to give

•CP Manko honour to whom it is due.

CP Manko, according to records, has distinguished himself as a versatile and dedicated officer while discharging his duties since he resumed office as the police boss in Lagos State.

Available records show that Manko, did not just succeed in preventing and reducing crime in the State, he also succeeded in curbing major crimes in the state as well as arresting many notorious armed robbers, kidnappers,

fraudsters and other criminals who have been terrorizing Lagos and other states in the country. achievements These include the arrest of a deadly 14-man armed robbery gang who specialized in killing policemen and snatching their rifles within Lagos and Ogun states. Police recovered a total of nine police AK 47 rifles, two English pump action pistols, 37 magazines fully loaded with 30 rounds

of ammunition and two cans filled with 750 rounds of 7.36mm live ammunition each. Eight vehicles were also recovered from them.

Prior to that, CP Manko coordinated the arrest of a notorious arms dealer in the country, Tochukwu Nweke, who supplies arms and ammunition to major deadly gangs in the country.

Fourteen Ak-47 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun, GPMG, 125 magazines, loaded with 6,672 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, four GPMG chain bullets with 100 rounds of live ammunition fully loaded, and 180 rounds of 9 mm live ammunition, were recovered from the suspect. At the end of 2012, the Lagos State Police Command succeeded in arresting a total of 569 suspected armed robbers, while 140 of the dare-devils died during encounters with the police within that period.

Three hundred and seventy one arms, including 39 AK47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Gun, GPMG, one rocket launcher and two rockets, 26,058 ammunition, 12 dynamites and 954 vehicles were recovered under the same period.

In 2013, under Manko’s watch, the command rounded up the gang of hoodlums that kidnapped the mother of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, Prof. Kamene Okonjo, in Delta State. They received a ransom of N13million. A

exhumation of deceased member

The source further hinted that when Goddy Chinwuba,who conducted the first burial discovered that the corpse had been exhumed, he called in the Police from the state command who invited Aneze Chinwuba and five other members of the family for interrogation over their role in exhumation of the corpse.

Claims and counter-claims Confirming the incident, Mr Goddy

Chinwuba told Crime Guard d that the deceased only son, Master Chinwuba had authorized him in writing to bury the corpse without consulting the family head, Dr. Aneze Chinwuba and other elder brothers due to a lingering dispute in the family. But in his reaction, the eldest son of the Chinwuba family, Dr. Aneze Chinwuba

claimed that he exhumed the corpse of the deceased because Goddy Chinwuba, his younger brother, had no right to effect a burial of their brother, without his consent or knowledge.

According to him, “Goddy, my younger brother has no authority to bury our younger brother without my knowledge, consent and the participation of other members of the family.

I am the head of this family and the custom and tradition of Awka do not permit any other family member to single-handedly bury the corpse without reference to other members of the family and myself in particular as the head of the family,” Dr. Chinwuba further stated that the deceased, Sunday Chinwuba had no son, adding that his eldest daughter, Nneka Chidoka authorized the Chairman of the village meeting, Arch Ifejika to take possession of their late father’s corpse on arrival in Awka pending full burial arrangement.

Reacting to the development, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Emeka Chukwuemeka (DSP), told Crime Guard that although he was not yet aware of the incident, he would make necessary inquiries from some police formations to find out the actual position on the matter.

gang of armed robbers that robbed the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja and carted away N700million after killing two police officers, were also rounded up. The command also brought down a gang of notorious kidnappers headed by one Benjamin Osinachi, a.k.a.China, killing seven of them while two were arrested . The gang kidnapped Ejigbo Local Council Development Area boss, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, two months ago and fled. The Police boss with his able operatives swung into action and permeated all the neighbouring countries and fished out the hoodlums.

Consequently, the vicious criminals arrested and made to confess their criminal exploits.

In August 2013, Manko, in his effort to restore peace and security to Lagos State, sent operatives of the Special AntiRobbery Robbery, SARS, led

by SP Abba Kyari, in pursuit of the most dangerous robbery kingpin in Lagos and the Southwest, Abiodun Ogunjobi, AKA, Godogodo, who had killed over 50 policemen in the past 15 years and also coordinated major bank robberies within the region. On the orders of the CP, SARS operatives trailed Godogodo to his mansion at Egbeda area of Ibadan, and arrested him, recovering two Ak47 rifles and 10 Ak 47 magazines loaded with 300 rounds of live ammunition.

The arrest of Godogodo who is considered the most dangerous armed robber in recent times was greeted with surprise as a rare feat within the police authorities and the public.

CP Manko has also made good his avowed commitment towards ensuring that human rights as enunciated by the InspectorGeneral of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, was respected. He also recorded a rare feat as the first Commissioner of Police in the state to organize a luncheon for suspects inside the cell of the Special AntiRobbery squad, SARS, Ikeja.

That feat so much endeared him to the inmates,and one of the notorious suspects promised to turn a new leaf...

At the end of the event which took place at the Orchad Hotels and Events Center, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, observers openly expressed the opinion that the sky is the limit of the amiable Police boss in spite of his natural inclination to remain low-keyed in his professional feats, not withstanding also, his royal background.

56—SATURDAY

UGUST 24 4, 2013 Vanguard, A AUGUST UGUS

Kachikwu qualified to be the Odogwu — Chief Mosindi C

hief Cyprian Azubukwu Mos indi is the Ozah of Onicha Ugbo and a member of the inner caucus of the Obi-in-council of Onicha-Ugbo town in Aniocha North local government of Delta State. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard, Chief Mosindi provides insight into the political and cultural significance of the Odogwu traditional title in the political structure in one of the prominent towns in the larger Eze Chime Kingdom.

By HUGO ODIOGOR What is your background?

My name is Cyprian Azubukwu Mosindi. I am privileged to be the Ozah of Onicha-Ugbo which is produced by the Umuolo village in Onicha-Ugbo. I took my title in 1987. I am one of the caucus members of the Onotu in council; I am a member of the Onotu-in-Council of Onicha Ugbo.

What is the function of the Ono otu

in council in the political administration of Onicha-Ugbo?

What is its political significance today?

The primary responsibility of the Ono -Otu in council is the internal security of the town. They are the military arm of Onicha Ugbo. We have been in a core kingship situation, the military or the coercive arm of state is a very key factor, in the management of the total environment because in those days when the king spoke his orders must be carried out, there was no room for a second thought.

It is our duty to enforce the order of the king or execute the laws as they are decreed by the king. Over time,

however, as modern society evolve, our roles have continued to modify but it remains as military force even though we do not have the arms and armoury of modern army, equipped to fight wars. So our roles have been modified, but just like any military institution, our role is to ensure internal security, ensure protection of our people and to ensure the honourable living of our people, because that is part of protection.

Our role is to protect the monarchy, that is the position of the king and also to protect the incumbent monarch, because there is a difference between the monarchy and the monarch. The monarch, is the position occupant and our role is to ensure that anything that borders on peace and war, that Onicha Ugbo is safe and secured.

Then if we cast our minds back into

We have been in a kingship situation and in a core kingship situation, the military or the coercive arm of state is a very key factor, in the management of the total environment the old, the Iyase of the town will not go to war, it is the Odogwu and the Ozah that go to the battle field, that is why you have the statement.

“Ozah Zado Odogwu” So up till now,

we have this principal role, that if the town is under siege, it is our role to restore normalcy, to make sure that there is peace and security.

If you look at it from the angle of the modern state, the military cannot be pushed away.

What is your view on the controversy that marked his selection as the Odogwu?

Let me make my view on this, well the Ndi Ono-Otu are regarded as the Olinzele Ani – title holders of the land, it is the entire land or town that owns them even though they are selected by the various villages.

For example, the Iyase is produced

by Ogbekenu, this Odogwu is produced by Ishiekpe, the Ozah is produced by Umuolo and the Isama is produced by Ogbe-Obi. So it is the duty of the villages to produce their representatives. We have two classes of chiefs in Onicha-Ugbo.

The ones sent by the land as the representatives of the major villages, and the ones nominated by the Obi. Odogwu and the three others fall into the category of Olinzele Ani, they are the chiefs sent by the town to govern with the Obi as members of the Obiin-Council. Now each village has a responsibility to nominate its own candidate and present to the Obi and Ono-Otu in council. It is the duty of the village to determine who the various constituent quarters should participate in the selection of their representative.

They set their own criteria, the other villages do not interfere in the choice of the Olinzele Ani by the various quarters, you can look at the quarters

that we have unfortunately, it seems that Ishiekpe did not evolve a strategy of succession or that they did not organise themselves properly, to ensure rancour free selection of its candidates, whenever the Odogwu stool is vacant, because if you come to Umuolo, we know the next family the Ozah title will pass on to when my time is done. So we know, it is not subject to debate.

What it means is that Ishiekpe did not organise itself ab-initio on the succession arrangement. So when there is no such clear cut process of selection whenever there is vacancy in the Odogwu stool, every quarter wants to take its claim, which is what results in conflict.

The people of Umuoshomi made their claim Umu Nyemuah claimed that it was theirs and other people will never have it etc.

There was when the controversy broke out, we recogised that it is only Ishiekpe that can produce the Odogwu when some people came to lobby me, I told them that there is no way I can vote on the issue, I told them that there was no point coming to lobby me because my vote on that issue is zero.

I am from Umuolo and I have nothing whatsoever to do to advance their cause. *It is entirely on Ishiekpe affair.

Our laws made it clear that it is Ishiekpe and not Izu-ani that should select an Odogwu, so we rejected that arrangement. If they produce two persons and we take one, it means that the ultimate choice was not made by the people of Ishiekpe.

It means that the Obi has made a choice of Ishiekpe people, which is not permitted to do. So we objected to that and thank God it worked out.

Road sector revolution that saves lives, checks insecurity

By AFOLABI POPOOLA

A

road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, paved or otherwise improved to allow traveling through motor vehicle or horse as in the precolonial times. Roads that are available for use by the public may be referred to as public roads or highways.

But nowadays, the private sectors are beginning to take interest in the construction of roads and that explains the proliferation of many state of the art roads in developed countries including some developing ones in Africa.

Most roads being constructed by the private sectors serve the purpose of traveling and tourist attractions at the same time.But roads are best enjoyed when they satisfy the safety condition of the users through adequate maintenance in accordance with expected service life or design life.

Maintenance is considered in the whole life cost of the road with service at 10, 20 or 30 year milestones. When a road pavement fails before its intended design life, the owner may have excessive repair and rehabilitation costs. Some asphalt pavements are designed as perpetual pavements with an expected structural life in excess of 50 years.

But in Nigeria these varied conditions have not

been met until 2011 when the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan took it upon itself to transform the ugly trend.Only in the colonial times were some of these technical natures of roads ever given attention. Since the military years in the history of Nigeria until recently, what was paramount and which became the determining factor in road constructions were the amount of money accruable to private pockets.

That accounts for the reason why many roads like the Benin-Ore-Shagamu road remained in permanent bad condition for a very long time.

No one took into cognizance the import of the quality or effect on the motoring public.

For many years the Benin-Ore-Shagamu road was haphazardly repaired and for that reason,it never served the purpose until the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan intervened to give it a deserving technical attention.Road transportation is the most preferred mode of transportation in Nigeria, as it estimates for 98.5% of the nation’s passengers and freight services.

Different adjectives like bad, death-trap, valleys of death, impassable, potholes, have been variously associated with roads in Nigeria in the past.

Because of the importance of roads to our economy, hoodlums took advantage of its previously ugly trend to frequently lay ambush to collect millions of naira from businessmen,

many of them who are traders going to purchase their goods. Thousands of them have lost their lives between the early nineties and until 2011 when confidence in road transportation resumed.

The axis between Mokwa and Jebba was one notorious point for armed banditry because the road was previously in horrible condition as motorists have to slow down and sometimes park their vehicles. One cannot forget the Enugu-Port Harcourt road which was regularly used by traders, especially those going to Port Harcourt or returning to Aba. The Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomosho road is another good story of the current administration’s position on transformation.

In the past, the road used to be one single lane which saw high volume of traffic from Lagos and South-West moving in droves to the North even at night just like in the daytime.

About ten years ago, a student once described this road as the busiest in Africa. Bandits as well took advantage of this flourish to unleash mayhem on the innocent motorists.

With the dualization of an alternative Ibadan-OyoOgbomosho road, with two sections already in use, robbers who wish to mount road blocks mostly do so at their own peril as traffic is fast and security conveniently patrolling both ways. The Lokoja axis off the th Abuja-Lokoja-Okene and Abuja-Lokoja-Obollo Afor-9th Mile has its own story of frequent attacks because of the bad condition especially between 1999 and 2011. Because these roads were in very deplorable condition, security operatives had tough times checking the excesses of hoodlums. Today, it is doubtful whether Nigerians realize how much contribution the new condition of roads have helped the fight against crime by the security agencies.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013—57

Marijuana: A smoker’s experience

BY ANOZIE EGOLE

U

nknown to people, there are many hid den nutritional values in the mostly condemned Marijuana. While majority condemn its intake, many youths see that as the only source of inspiration with many nutritional values.

For a 24 year old Nathaniel , an undergraduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, who is in Lagos because of the ongoing ASUU strike, he started smoking Marijuana at the age of 20 when he gained admission into the higher institution. His first experience when he smoked it still remains evergreen in his memory, that he felt he can never be normal again.

“The first day I smoked Igboo is one of the days I cannot forget in a hurry. I had a friend, who is an addict in smoking. So, one day when we hung out with some friends, after drinking, he brought the wrap and told me that if I take this, it will clear the alcohol I took and it will make me look and appear very smart. So, after much conviction, I decided to try it. I first drew the first smoke inside, they clapped for me and said that was the way to do it, that I should take it gradually. I never knew when I finished almost one wrap alone. When I was

done with that, it was obvious to me that I was in for a big trouble. It was as if they added an extra flesh on one side of my skull. My skull was going towards one direction.

I felt as if there was gutter all over the road and I started leaping. My friends started laughing but when they noticed the thing was getting out of hand, they grabbed me, sat me down in one place and prepared a very big bowl of garri without sugar for me.

After drinking the garri, I was still hungry. I felt very weak and slept off and woke up in the middle of the night. When I woke up the next day, I was feeling very hungry as if I had been starving for more than one week. I ate like never

them to believe that, he felt so comported and understood everything he read whenever he smoked.

“It was not easy making my parents see reasons why they should allow me smoke, though I never did that in their presence. For me to read and understand well, I must smoke. Even when I want to go in for any examination, I must smoke so that I will remember all that I have read and be able to put them together well. I am in my third year now and I made good grade. So, smoking has never stopped me from reading and passing my examinations. If I am about to write an exam and I have not smoked, I’d feel I have

I never knew when I finished almost one wrap alone. When I was done with that, it was obvious to me that I was in for a big trouble. It was as if they added an extra flesh on one side of my skull before and I slept off again.

When I woke up, I was very happy. Everything around me made me laugh. Even when you cursed me, I would laugh over it,” he recalled.

According to Nathaniel, though his parents were seriously against his consumption of Marijuana, he made

not read. So I don't seem to believe it when people say that Marijuana is not good for health. But if you know it does not work for you, stop smoking it,” Nathaniel advised.

As against the belief of most people that Marijuana is very bad to health, Peter,

has a point to prove. To Peter, the best medicine a depressed man who lost appetite could take is Marijuana.

He is one of the people that used to believe that Marijuana is not good until he confirmed from a medical practitioner that most sleeping drugs that also boost appetite are produced with a higher percentage of that. “ I strongly disagree that Marijuana makes people mad, it is all lies. If you take it the first two to three times and you cannot stand it, I will advise you to quit. It is very good and highly medicinal. I started smoking at a very tender age and up till now, I am still intact, I am even better than some people that do not take it. Whenever I want to be in my best mood, I normally go for that. I talk less when I smoke and I think more. You can’t say I have quarrelled with you after smoking, why would you not want me to smoke since it is good for my own health?, ” he said.

Peter also insists that as far as he is concerned, he doesn't think anything can make him not to do his thing.

While some seem to applaud this weed, Kunle, a graduate of Lagos State University, LASU, has a different side to this story. He strongly believes that behind every big crime committed in an area, you’d find out that most perpetrators of the crime are Marijuana smok-

ers and in most cases, they smoked before executing their crime. In his words, “ Why would a normal man tell me that Marijuana is good for health when most criminals are smokers of marijuana. Though I have not tasted that before , I know and people around me know that Igboo inspires people to think about crime, it has no positive inspiration,” Kunle cautioned.

According to Kunle, if there is a way to stamp out the intake of this weed, we are going to find out that there will be higher rate of responsible youths.

“Many youths are out of school because they joined their friends in taking what they know is not good for their health. Generally, smoking is not good for health. I have this young and vibrant dude in my village, he is one of the boys I respected so much.

But, where is he today? He now walks about the village mad, no thanks to Marijuana. When he started this earlier, everybody in the village were against that.He was warned to desist from it, but youthful exuberance led him to that. Now he has ruined his future. I will advise youths to stay away from that. It has no nutritional value. Anybody that says Igboo is good for health is a liar. Parents should warn their children to desist from this act.”

58—SATURDAY

UGUST 24 4, 2013 Vanguard, A AUGUST UGUS

Cheers as international flights resume at Enugu Airport

BY JUDITH UFFORD

W

ith the commence ment of flight opera tions by the Ethiopian Airlines at the recently upgraded Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu today, businessmen and other travellers from all the states of the South East as well as Edo and Delta now have the option of making their international travels through Enugu, rather than far away Lagos and Abuja airports as has previously been the case. This much was the position canvassed by the General Manager, Corporate Communication, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Yakubu Dati, while reacting to questions on the development. According to him, the operation of Ethiopian Airlines into Enugu will be the satisfaction of an enduring call from the people of the South East who have for many years clamoured for an international airport for the zone, which they believe will reinforce the resourcefulness of the people, who are known for their entrepreneurship and trade.

Continuing, he noted that, henceforth, businessmen and other travellers from Enugu, Aba, Abakaliki, Onitsha, Owerri, Umuahia and as far as Asaba and Benin will be saved the distress of travelling for hours to Lagos and Abuja to board international flights, trips that are sometimes fraught with problems, including dangers on the road as they fight for time to catch their flights to international destinations.

“Many of the passengers have lost their goods on transit as they convey them from these cities to their final destinations on their arrival from their overseas trips,” he said.

Dati who went at length to explain the level of work done at both the domestic and international airports noted thus: “The Jonathan administration has fulfilled its promise of giving every part of the country equal opportunity to develop and realise its dreams. Few months ago, the President unveiled the domestic terminal at the airport and also laid foundation for the building of international terminal, which work is in progress.” He went down memory lane to disclose that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu was designed and built by former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme at the age of 26, adding that it is historical that his vision of many years ago is now being fulfilled.

“This Minister of Aviation has shown her determination to actualise the goals of the aviation master plan which the Jonathan administration has pegged its transformation agenda which objectives include giving every

The Jonathan administration has fulfilled its promise of giving every part of the country equal opportunity to develop and realise its dreams part of the country and every citizen the opportunity to grow to his full potential. With the international flight operations at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, a novel opportunity has been given to the people of the South East zone to expand their business horizon without stress and the inconveniences of having to travel far to board inter-

national flights,” he said.

This same optimism was also shared by former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani.

According to him, it’s a new chapter of social and economic development not just for the state but for the entire South east region. Nnamani who would not hide his pleasure at what has happened said thus:

“This is a milestone for Enugu and we cannot down play it. Remember that Enugu was the capital of the old Eastern Region. So this development would open up not just Enugu but other surrounding areas.”

Commending the efforts of the Aviation Minister, he said: “This project had been in the budget of several administrations. I commend the Jonathan administration for making this a reality and the Aviation Minister for bringing to pass the dream of several administrations. Planning is good but when it’s not funded, it remains just that planning. It’s a good development indeed,” he noted again as he rang off.

For Mr. Clement Udegbe, a Lagos based lawyer, the idea and action is very welcome. And

like Oliver Twist, he asked for more. “It remains to give the South East zone a seaport that is worth their while, and Rail linkage to all state capitals in the South east. I don’t fly always because of costs. I am more on the road, and the roads are a big challenge”.

Travel expert, Ikechi Uko described the operation of international flights from Enugu airport as opening up a business hub which was latent in the past and predicted that other airlines from the Middle East and Africa would soon start operation from Enugu, thereby making the Coal City a sub-hub for international commercial flights for business. So, as operations begin today, the months ahead would tell if there would be continued songs of joy.

And Enugu goes International H

BY CHUKWUDI ACHIFE

istory of great proportions, will be made today (Saturday, 24th August, 2013) in Enugu when the first International passenger flight (courtesy of Ethiopian Airlines), touches down in the newly upgraded and outfitted Akanu Ibiam International Airport. The event will certainly go down as one of the most significant in the history of the entire south east region since after the civil war. The journey to tomorrow’s event, has indeed been a long and arduous one. The uprgading of the Enugu Airport to international status had constituted one of the most persistent and strident agitations of south easterners over the past four decades. Unfortunately, successive federal administrations had paid either deaf ears or lip service to the demand, preferring instead to play politics with and around it despite the glaring fact the airport is generally acknowledged as the fourth busiest airport in Nigeria after Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja and Port Harcourt International Airport. The fact that the Enugu was the capital of the region which houses the biggest commercial centres in the country such as Onitsha, Aba and Nnewi with businessmen from the

area constituting the majority of international travellers annually, seemed not to make any difference to the powers that were.

Light however finally appeared at the end of the tunnell when, following a visit by Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and his then brother Governors of the other South East states to canvass the matter along with other need of the region, late President Yar’adua approved the upgrading of the airport to international status and promptly included it in the budget for that year before sending it to the National Assembly for approval.

When President Goodluck Jonathan assumed the office following the death of Yar’adua, the Governors again visited him and sought his support for the full implementation of the project. The President not only offered them his firm promise followed up his words with concrete action that soon culminated in his commissioning of a new runway at the airport designed to accomodate bigger aircraft.

It was during this ceremony that the President and caused the name of the airport to be changed to Akanu Ibiam International Airport. The development expectedly, earned him effusive praises from south easterners around the world Continues on page p g 60

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013—59

BY JOE OBI

D

uring my campaign for election as Presi dent in 2011, one of the promises I made to Nigerians was to bring about transformation of the national economy. This promise is being delivered in the South East Geopolitical Zone through, amongst other key interventions; the transformational work going on not only here at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, but also at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri”, President Jonathan declared on Saturday, May 18, 2013 during the Foundation Laying/Commissioning Ceremony of the remodeled Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Indeed, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda is getting full expression in the Aviation sector not only in the renewal of airport infrastructure, especially Terminal rehabilitation and upgrade, but also very poignantly for the people of the South East, as the first international flight operated by Ethiopian Airlines lands at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu today, August 24, 2013.

For the people of the landlocked region and it’s environs stretching to the South South and parts of the Middle Belt, it has been a long dream come true; almost like a Long Walk To Freedom. Although the Enugu airport had in fact borne the name ‘International’ since it was officially so designated on December 17, 2010 by then Acting President Jonathan, all hope of actually playing host to international flights had remained forlorn for the people of the regionuntil today, that is!

When the President rolled out his Transformation Agenda with promises of a new dawn, a lot of hopes were expectedly raised. Now those hopes have crystalized into reality for people from the South East zone who were assured that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, would truly answer its name in the lifetime of the Jonathan Presidency. This is concrete proof that this President keeps promises once they are made.

This historic international flight, perhaps the first since after the Civil War, is both symbolic and revolutionary. It symbolizes the end of an era where an entire region was almost shut out from the rest of the world, literally speaking, to one where the same enclave is now open to a new and exciting world of endless possibilities. According to President Jonathan, “the

Jonathan: Promise fulfilled as historic International Flight lands in Enugu base as possible, increases the speed of your transactions by reducing the time you spend traveling to and from there. The same applies to goods procured abroad and air-freighted into the country for business purposes. The more directly imported goods can be air-freighted to the region for its businessmen and women, the faster their goods and products can get to the market”.

T

President Jonathan South East Region of Nigeria, with this international airport, can confidently say to the world ‘ we are open for business’! The region and it’s environs is indeed open for business. This inaugural flight is equally revolutionary as this singular development will certainly change the way of life of the inhabitants of the region, forever.

Before now, anyone residing in the zone and hoping to embark on international trip to other African, Asian, European and American countries had to suffer the agony of traveling to either Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja or Kano not out of choice but compulsion, to catch a flight. President Jonathan lamented this much at the same occasion when he

Princess Stella Oduah stated thus: ”There was a very good reason for the decision to confer international status on this airport. As I am sure you all know, Enugu is the gateway to the South East Region, the home of entrepreneurship in Nigeria. With such a large number of enterprising people with a huge propensity to travel both within and outside the country pursuing various business interests, people of this region have always had to travel first, either to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja or Kano in order to be able to travel out of the country on business trips. ” As business people, speed and time are of the essence.

Thus the ability to travel directly to your destination abroad or as directly from your

he President could not have said it more succinctly. Interestingly, all this lamentation and agony is over. Ethiopian airlines, taking full advantage of world-class infrastructure at the airport, has banished all that agony and misery to the trash can of history as a whole new experience unfolds.

For a people known for their industry and enterprise, the opportunities which this international airport offer for the socio-economic development of the region are huge and boundless. With a large population of international businessmen and entrepreneurs, the zone could not have asked for anything better. Gone are the days when businessmen from the zone would endlessly agonize how; having cargoed or ferried their goods from far-flung parts of the globe to either Lagos or Abuja, would face the fresh Herculean task of clearing and moving them, mostly by road to the South East. Additional expense had been incurred, goods and lives even lost in

this highly perilous journey from Lagos and Abuja to the east. With Ethiopian airlines now offering direct international flights from Enugu to almost any destination in the globe, the world is truly in the pocket of the South East.

A new dawn is here. The world has in fact come to the east!

That is not all, neither is it even scratching the surface.

The multiplier effect of the value chain that would be created as businesses spring up in and around the airport and the city of Enugu beats every imagination. The commercial offerings would not only boost the economy of the zone but also create thousands of jobs.

The hospitality industry in the area is sure to witness a resurgence and boom. Commerce, which is the major preoccupation of the peoples of this zone would begin to boom as the Onitsha and Ariaria International market, Aba begin to play host not only to the local folks, but also to a wider international business community. This is also not talking about the huge opportunity for easy export of manufactured and agricultural goods. The local manufacturer in the remotest part of Aba and Nnewi and the rural farmer in Arochukwu would be exposed to the international markets as flights take off and land in Enugu from all corners of the globe. The possibilities are indeed endless, with the airport amongst the 13 also designated as perishable cargo airports in the countr y.

The vision of Mr President could not have seen the light of day without the drive and boundless energy of the Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah. Under her watch, the entire aviation sector in Nigeria has been transformed from the once neglected, rustic and decrepit landscape to sprawling, edifying and dignifying architectural show-pieces that compare favourably with airport terminals anywhere in the world. But as Oduah has consistently maintained, what we are witnessing today in Enugu is just the beginning; more and more landmarks are underway. From what we have seen so far, we have no reason to doubt her.

For Ethiopian airlines that placed the bet on Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu, we can only wish it to fly higher. Surely, it won’t be long before other international airlines followed the Ethiopian example. For now, we cannot but agree with Mr President that the South East region is indeed “Open to the world for Business”.

Joe Obi, SA (Media) to the Hon. Minister of Aviation A

60—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

Chime salutes Jonathan as inaugural flight takes off

T

he city of Enugu is agog over the com mencement of commercial flight operations by Ethiopian Airlines today. Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime will lead other dignitaries and passengers that will be part of the historic inaugural flight out of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport en route Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

In commemoration of this unique breakthrough, different sizes of billboards and other signages erected by the Enugu State Government and other corporate bodies dot some strategic places in the Coal City, from the airport to the imposing Polo Park Shopping Mall. No less than three dance groups have been selected by the government to add colour to the event. It has been all tributes both for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the airline, just as the ecstasy of the people of the South-East has been overwhelming.

The airline is also upbeat about the prospects of this venture. “For us, we’re happy to make this inaugural flight,” says Mr. Solomon Yadeta, the Ethiopian Airlines’ general manager in Nigeria. “We’re also pleased with the interest already shown by the people and with the support we are getting from the Enugu State government.

“As an airline, we have a long tradition of quality service delivery and we hope to sustain our reputation as the most competitive and leading aviation group not just in Africa but in other climes.”

Also, Governor Chime could not conceal his elation when he spoke with some journalists on the significance of to-

feel,” Uchenna Eze, an Enugu-based importer told this paper. “It is unbelievable that one can now leave his house and in ten minutes, you’re airborne to Asia, Europe or other parts of Africa. We thank the President, the South-East Governors Forum and other people who made this possible.”

How it all began

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development when his government single-handedly rehabilitated the access and internal roads in the airport. But he disagrees, saying that “we did the roads as part of our urban road rehabilitation projects.”

For the people reputed for their entrepreneurial spirit, there could not have been a more appropriate time for the commencement of such international flights out of Igboland. From Onitsha to Aba and Nnewi, the business hubs in the region, it has been jubilations over the development. Today, businessmen and other travellers cannot yet come to terms with the reality that they now have the opportunity to fly to other shores without first going to Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt.

“You don’t know how we

he journey to what is being celebrated today began during the reign of late President Umaru Yar ’Adua. Governor Chime had mooted the idea of upgrading of the airport in a meeting of the South-East Governors Forum. The governors tabled this request when they paid a solidarity visit to the Villa.

When President Jonathan assumed duties following the death of Yar’Adua, the governors and other Igbo leaders visited him and tabled the same demand among other ones like the second Niger Bridge. The President gave them a firm promise which he followed up with the award of contract for the upgrading of the runway and the remodeling of the existing airport.

Only in May, this year, Jonathan was in Enugu not just to commission the remodeled airport with a wing for international flight operations, he also laid the foundation stone for the building of the international wing.

As the aircraft takes off from Enugu today, the entire SouthEast is in a state of frenzy. But what cannot be denied is that those who will travel through the Coal City will benefit from the transformation which Chime has brought upon the city and the state.

work of roads complete with street lights, traffic lights, pedestrian walkways and an effective drainage system. He also created an efficient public transportation and waste disposal system and an effective fire service among many other things etc-all reminiscent of cities in the advanced countries of the world.

Earlier in May this year, President Jonathan answered yet another prayer of the Chime administration when he announced his approval for the establishment of the Enugu Free Trade Zone. The President incidentally, made the announcement during his visit to Enugu to perform the ground breaking ceremony of the international wing of the

Akanu Ibiam airport.

All these, coupled with the location of one of the largest shopping malls in the country in the city, the steady influx of foreign investors and the rapid development of a modern hospitality and tourismindustry, have in no small way, come to confirm Enugu’s modernity and international appeal. It is certianly evident that the city has been set on firm and irreversible course to reclaim its previous status as a leader among contemporaries and the people of the state and indeed of the entire South East, could not be more thankful.

Achife is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sullivan Chime

Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu state (right) with President Jonathan when he commissioned the expanded runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. day’s flight. “Without doubt, I’ll be in that flight as it makes that historic departure from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport,” the governor said. “I won’t mince words in confirming to you that we are, as a people, grateful to the airline that blazed this trail. I hope that other airlines will follow suit.

“On behalf of the government and good people of this State and indeed, the entire South-East geo-political zone, I want to express our profound gratitude to Mr. President, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his wonderful efforts that culminated in this inaugural flight. Our people will remain indebted to him for this show of love.

“As you may be aware of, Mr. President did not just ensure the completion of the remod-

eling of the airport but also laid the foundation stone for the construction of the international wing at the airport.

We do not lose sight of the fact that he has given approval for a Free Trade Zone in Enugu, the first in the entire SouthEast zone.

“I also want to thank our sister and daughter, Princess Stella Oduah, the Honourable Minister of Aviation for her steadfastness in making sure that this day became a reality.

We are also grateful to our dear wife, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke and Mrs. Fidelia Njeze for their roles at the beginning of our quest to have the airport upgraded and to see commercial international flights commence operations,” Chime concluded.

Indeed, it seemed as if Chime had long foreseen this

And Enugu goes International Continus from on page 58 who understood that their situation was about to experience a radically positive change.

The then Minister of Aviation Mrs Fidelia Njeze, who had brilliantly superintended the early phases of the project, while highlighting the obvious advantages accruable from the new status of the airport correctly observed that a large proportion of businesses in the region were “of international proportions’’. She had pointed out and aquite rightly, that with the new development, international travellers from Enugu and neighbouring states would no longer have to endure the added cost and hardship of going to Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja in

order to travel. Fully aware of the enormous economic and social benefits the completion of the project will bring to the entire region and Enugu in particular, Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime had quickly moved to mobilize and supply all the support necessary to bring the project to a speedy fruition. The Governor instantly rehabilitated both the access and internal roads of the airport thus giving it the required initial facelift.

Along with his colleagues in the other Governors of the South east states, Chime had also helped to keep up the pressure for the timely completionn of the project.

Mention must also be made of the zeal and unbri-

dled energy deployed by the current Minister of Aviation Princess Stella Odua, in ensuring that the project became a reality.

The activation of the international arm and service of the airport, has indeed become another very important step towards the full modernisation nay, internationalization of the once sleepy city of Enugu.

Governor Chime had set the stage for this with the unbelievable transformation he had brought to the city and other parts of the state. Apart from creating a safe and secure environment for all residents, the had embarked on a massive infrastructual development of the state resulting in the construction of an impressive net-

SATURDAY

PHOTO NEWS

Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013—61

9TH NIGERIAN GUILD OF EDITORS CONFERENCE IN ASABA, DELTA STATE

From left:Alhaji Isa Ismaila Futua; Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka and Publisher of Thisday Newspapers, Chief Nduka Obaigbena during the opening ceremony .

Photo: Henry Unini and Nath Onojake

From left: Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba; Peter Obi of Anambra State and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

From left: Publisher of Thisday Newspapers, Chief Nduka Obaigbena, Dr. Tony Iredia and Mr John Momoh.

L-R: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan g (left); the President, Nigerian g Guild of Editors (NGE), Femi Adesina (middle) and Information Commissioner , Delta State ,Chike Ogeah C M Y K

From left: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Prof. Sylvester Monye and Commissioner for Information, Barr. Chike Ogeah on arrival at the opening ceremony.

From right; g Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan g of Delta State, Former Governor of Ogun g State, Chief Segun g Osoba and Chairman of Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede .

From left: Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina ; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State

L-R: Senator Anyim Pius Anyim , Secretary to the Federal Government; Gov. Uduaghan, Prof.Amos Utuama,Deputy Gov. Delta State and Mr Femi Adesina, President, Nigerian Guild Of Editors.

L-R: Governor Uduaghan g of Delta State, Mr. Adesina (middle) ( ) and Commissioner for Information, Barr.

Chike Ogeah.

62—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

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SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013—63

Afrobasket 2013 Diary:

Shame on our leaders

BY PATRICK OMORODION, Abidjan

Mikel set for Chelsea bow ...Gala, Napoli wave offers

S

UPER Eagles mid fielder, John Obi Mikel could be on his way to Turkey, to team up with former Chelsea club mate Didier Drogba at Galatasaray before the end of summer transfer window.

Galatasaray tabled a bid of 10m pounds (about N2.5m) for Mikel and it was gathered that Chelsea was considering it even as Brazilian international Willian is been expected to arrive Stamford Bridge.

Mikel has not featured for Chelsea under Jose Mourinho this season and this has fueled speculations that he will be allowed to leave the club to make room for incoming Willian who is also a midfielder.

Napoli of Italy are also interested in signing Mikel and the Super Eagles play-maker will likely choose where he

•Mikel will be guarantee of regular football.

Turkey is already home to top Nigeria footballers like Joseph Yobo, Emmanuel Emenike, Mike Eneramo and lately defender Godfrey Oboabona who was revealed during the week by Caykur Rizespor.

Meanwhile, Mourinho has quashed rumours Juan Mata could be de-

parting Chelsea this summer as he admitted that Mikel and others could be leaving. But the Chelsea boss has again stated Mata will remain part of his plans.

“He is a player we all like, he is a player we want to keep. We want more quality in the team, not less,’ Mourinho said.

‘Juan is not a player we want to lose.’

A

s I write this fellow Nigerians, I have spent three days in Abidjan and that means 72 hours. And in those long hours, light has not blinked in the Ibis Hotel abode of the Nigerian basketball delegation.

No buzzing of generators anywhere near the area.

Some people may say that the hotel is in the highbrow area of Abidjan but I beg to disagree that it has nothing to do about the steady power supply here. Recently I was at the Eko Hotel and Suites for an event and in a space of two short hours, light went out twice, in Victoria Island, not in Ajegunle mind you. The fact is that Ivorian leaders are just better managers than our leaders who have enormous resources, far much than their Ivorian counterparts have, but yet don’t know what to do with it except siphon it into their private bank accounts.

We say we are giants of Africa, yet our smaller brothers all over Africa manage their small resources better than we do. Yes you could say there is corruption everywhere in Africa but I make bold to say that ours is of monumental proportion and nobody

cares. The people are helpless but can’t they really do something?

Remember Russia just made it a crime for any public officer or his relation to own a foreign bank account in their bid to check official corruption. And the very day it was announced, a junior minister whose wife had one, had to resign from the cabinet.

Can that ever happen in Nigeria where public officers celebrate their

first one billion Naira with private jets that dot all the airports in the country? Go to the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport and see how Nigerians are competing to park their private jets. And this is in a country that can’t boast of steady power supply for three consecutive hours, at least in Lagos where I reside.

It is really a big shame to our leaders.

Drama in the Lift A

t the Ibis Hotel where the Nigerian team are lodged, six other teams are here.

They are Egypt, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Central Africa Republic, Mozambique and Mali who are incidentally Nigeria’s only group mate in the same hotel.

The hotel has three Lifts with one reserved for the workers of the hotel who visit each of the floors regularly to ensure that everything works well for the teams. Each of these Lifts is supposed to take eight persons or carry loads not more than 630kg.

That means that each of these eight persons shouldn’t weigh more than 79 kg approximately. But on this day, four Nigerians including myself had entered one of the Lifts but suddenly

two Egyptian players sauntered in, making us six which was not more than the stipulated requirement.

As one of us pushed the button to get going down, the Lift jerked and started making a funny noise. The two Egyptians looked at each other and decided to step out, since they joined last and pronto, the lift started moving down.

These Egyptians were really massive and tall.

The lift in which Olumide Oyedeji, one of the tallest Nigerian players stood without bending, these Egyptians bowed a little to be able to fit in.

From my calculation, both of them could have had a combined weight of more than 320kg, more than what we the four Nigerians weighed for the Lift to scream.

Globacom League:

Amoo wants players airlifted for away matches

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unshine Stars FC of Akure head coach, Fatai Amoo has suggested to the League Management Company (LMC), to partner with the operators of various domestic airlines in the country, to airlift clubs and their players to the nearest airport to their away match venues.

Amoo said in a chat with NAN that this was to ease the stress and risk the various clubs experienced while traveling by road to honour their away matches in the league.

The coach, speaking on the backdrop of the participating clubs’ poor performances in away matches of the league, noted that traveling long distance by road was

stressful and contributed to most away losses.

He said that the LMC could liaise with the local airliners for low charges from the various clubs, saying many of the clubs were not properly funded.

“Even if the clubs are to wear the airline company’s logo on their jerseys, then that’s not a problem, it can be arranged.

“I’m appealing to the LMC to please partner with some local airlines for the sake of away matches. Sometimes these players are stressed from travelling to really far states to play.

“And this adds to the woeful outcome of our away games. You find that when we have

impeccable home matches, the clubs usually go for stressful away matches and lose,” he said.

According to him, the players after long distance of road journey need enough rest before their match to ensure stiffer competition in the Globacom Premier League.

•Amoo

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SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 24, 2013

EAGLES’ BONUS ROW:

Panel recommendations will be implemented — Abdullahi recommendations made mark in Abuja while reby the panel that investi-

By OKEY NDIRIBE, gated the Super Eagles Abuja bonus row in Namibia will

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER SHOCKER:

S

PORTS Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi has stated that the

be implement to the fullest.

Abdullahi made the re-

Saintfiet accuses Keshi of racism … makes complaint to FIFA

BY BEN EFE and agency reports

T

HE mind games between Coach Stephen Keshi and his Malawian counterpart, Tom Saintfeit ahead of the World Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles and the Flames of Malawi, took a new dimension yesterday when Saintfeit accused Keshi of racism.

Saintfiet argued that Keshi by calling him a ‘’White dude”, has made racial remarks, which the world soccer governing body frowns at. The Belgianborn coach claims to have instructed his lawyers to make a formal complaint to FIFA. He was employed by Malawi Football Association in their desperate bid to turn the tide against Nigeria in the group E World Cup qualification table.

Saintfiet was employed by the Nigeria Football Federation as technical director, but his coming to Nigeria was scuttled by Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi and he sees victory against Nigeria as a sweet revenge for him.

“It is unacceptable that any person says these words - it is clear racism. It is 100% sure that my lawyers will lodge a complaint with Fifa,” Saintfiet told BBC Keshi who was reacting to Saintfiet’s call for the September 7 match to be moved from Calabar, because of fear of terror attacks, was quoted as saying on Vox Africa Sports360: “If he wants to talk to Fifa, he should go back to Belgium. He is not an African person, he is a white dude, he should go back to Belgium.

“I have never used any words like these to any coach. He has no right, who is he?

“All other countries play in Calabar.

Calabar is one of the safest places in Nigeria... He is mad. I wish I could say it to his face.”

Belgian Saintfiet told local media at the time that he was concerned about security because he claims “the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office says it is a no-travel area”.

“Keshi’s words create hate and ag-

gression, and creates a risk ahead of the match in Calabar,” Saintfiet added. “These comments are unacceptable and I am very sad about them.

“I will not say any bad words about Mr Keshi, nor Nigeria - I only spoke about moving the game.

“If Fifa takes racism seriously, then you have to take it seriously in both directions. If a European said something of this nature about an African, you would have a huge problem.

“I am against racism in all directions.”

Keshi said yesterday that he viewed all the noise been made by Saintfiet as a distraction, adding that he will do all his talking in the pitch. But media officer of the Super Eagles, Ben Alaiya dismissed the accusations.

“Keshi is not a racist.

How can he be when he played most of his football in Europe particulary Belgium where he was captain of Anderlecht, he was also captain of Cheleroi.

“Saintfient is just playing mind games, because he knows that the Eagles will beat Malawi anytime and anywhere.”

ceiving the report of the panel he set up last July to probe the bonus row between Super Eagles players and the management of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after the team played a 2014 world cup qualification match in Namibia last June.

“The row over match bonuses has gone on for years but it is time it is stopped. This is because no other country has been embarrassed over match bonuses like Nigeria. We want to be the generation that sat down and said enough is enough. I believe that in future people would look back at this time as the turning point as far as the issue of match bonus is concerned.”

Abdullahi thanked members of the Committee which was led by Segun Adeniyi, former Special Adviser to late President Umar Yar’Adua for a job well done.

The panel had been set up following a sharp disagreement between the players and the management of NFF over slashing of the players’ match bonuses from $10,000 per win, to $5,000 and $2500 for a draw.

In his own remarks at the occasion, Adeniyi identified mutual distrust by the parties concerned; indiscipline on the part of players and the lack of leadership qualities by those who were in charge of the players affairs at the time as factors responsible for the incident.

He expressed regret that bonus payment had over the years been mismanaged by all the parties involved thereby resulting in avoidable crisis that have on different occasions dented the image of n the nation.

RESULTS FULL FORCE... Super Eagles’ Ogenyi Onazi fights for the ball with Malian Momo Sisoko during the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

TODAY’S MATCHES EPL Fulham v Arsenal 12.45 pm Everton v West W Brom 3.00pm Hull v Norwich 3.00pm Newcastle v West Ham 3.00pm Southampton v Sunderland 3.00pm Stoke v Crystal Palace 3.00pm Aston Villa v Liverpool 5.30pm BUNDESLIGA Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia 12.30 pm Bayern Munich v Nurnberg 12.30pm Hannover 96 v Schalke 04 12.30pm Mainz v VfL Wolfsburg 12.30pm Hoffenheim v SC Freiburg 12.30 Hertha Berlin v Hamburg SV 3.30 pm

Afrobasketball Nigeria — 93 Congo — 75

CROSS WORD PUZZLE

Across 1 Colombian Capital City – (6) 4 Country in Africa – (5) 7 Former Italian Currency – (4) 8 Kenya “Harambee Stars” Striker, Kepha – (6) 9 Tunisian Currency Unit – (7) 10 Former Cuba National President, Fidel – (6) 12 L.G.A. in Zamfara State – (8) 16 Super Eagles Full-back a n d S u n s h i n e St a r s D e fender, Geoffrey – (8) 19 Igbo Girl’s Name – (6) 21 Delta Central District Senator, Pius Akpor – (8) 22 Austrian Capital City – (6) 23 Kaduna State Commissioner for Lands & Survey, Ibrahim – (4) 24 L.G.A in Lagos State – (5) 25 Former Ivory-Coast “El-

ephants” National Coach, Humberto – (6) Down 1 Former France “Les Bleus” Coach, Laurent – (5) 2 Ivory-Coast President, Alassane – (8) 3 L.G.A in Lagos State – (8) 4 Greek Goddess – (6) 5 Heartland FC Goalkeeper, Daniel – (6) 11 Clerk of The National Assembly, Nasir – (4) 13 Chelsea Fullback, Branislav – (8) 14 Ondo State Secretary to the State Government, Honourable Isaac – (8) 16 Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Kayode – (6) 17 Lobi Stars Goalkeeper, Moses – (6) 18 L.G.A in Osun State – (6) 20 Former Bayelsa United Coach, Karika – (5)

SOLUTION on page 25

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