NGF: Amaechi floors Jonathan

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NGF: Amaechi floors Jonathan •Thanks govs for re-electing him, pledges to work with Jonathan

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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HE Governor of Rivers State, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, CON, was yesterday reelected as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, NGF.“Amaechi, whose re-election was fiercely opposed by both President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, got 19 votes to beat his challenger, Jonah Jang of Plateau State who got 16 votes.

“The election held at the Rivers State Government House, Abuja in the evening.“In his acceptance speech, Amaechi said, ''Today our democracy was tested and proven. Democracy is about participation. The aim of democratic governance is for everyone to partake in winning.

Today the governors have spoken with one voice re-affirming our faith in democratic governance as the hope of Nigeria’s future. I

must thank my colleagues for their tenacity and determination to ensure the unity of the forum but more importantly of our nation. ''We remain committed to supporting our leader, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to realize the development dream of all Nigerians by reducing tension, uncertainty and insecurity in our beloved country. ''We want to pledge our steadfastness and resolve working alongside Mr. President to better the lives of our people as we render transparent and accountable stewardship. Finally •Gov. Rotimi our thanks go to all those who Amaechi have patiently endured these times especially our constituents and members of the Fourth Estate We promise that we will not of the Realm who have followed betray the confidence you have these elections with keen interest. reposed in us.''

...How Amaechi was re-elected •Scores 19 votes, Jang 16 •Jonathan’s camp kicks, requests recount •As Mimiko emerges as Vice Chairman

BY SONY DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH AND HENRY UMORU

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FTER many weeks of intrigues and horsetrading, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was re-elected as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, beating his lone rival, Jonah Jang of Plateau State.

It was even an anticlimax that Jang ended up as Amaechi’s sole challenger, having not been in the frame throughout the preparations for the tensed vote.

But Saturday Vanguard learnt that the failure of the series of meeting held to resolve the disagreement over who should challenge Amaechi from pro-Jonathan camp, paved the way for Amaechi’s victory.

The People’s Democratic Party had settled for Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State to run against Amaechi and made it clear to its campaign managers that the governor was its preferred candidate.

However, the Katsina state Governor, Ibrahim Shema, who insisted he had earlier been tipped by the Presidency

for the same contest, refused to step down for Yuguda.

Reliable sources confirmed to Saturday Vanguard that spirited efforts made to persuade Shema to see reasons and step down for Yuguda, failed even after the Northern Governors Forum and the PDP Governors Forum had met and pleaded with him.

Angered by the insistence of Shema to run, the NGF meeting, which met earlier at the Niger State Governor ’s Lodge in Asokoro, excused him and his Bauchi counterpart from the meeting and opted to push Jang to run.

It was gathered that upon their return to the meeting of the NGF, both Shema and Yuguda were asked to stand down and vote for Jang as the candidate of the north.

At the enlarged meeting of the PDPGF held at Akwa Ibom Governor ’s Lodge also in Asokoro, Jang was subsequently presented as the ‘anointed’ candidate of the party to confront Amaechi.

A source said that as soon as Yuguda was forced to leave the contest, it was all clear to them that Amaechi would beat Jang,who was not in the picture at all.

”Honestly, it was a big disappointment to see the way the whole game went because Jang was not in the frame and those who decided at the last minute to draft him into the contest should be made to explain what they wanted to achieve. ”What has happened now is a big slap to our own camp and it is a shame that things went that way because some people believe that they understand politics more than others,” the source said.

Announcing the results of the ballot, the DirectorGeneral, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Asishana Bayo Okauru disclosed that Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari of Zamfara was unanimously voted in as the Vice Chairman, following the withdrawal of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from the race.

All the 36 governors except that of Yobe State, Ibrahim Gaidam were present and the election was through secret ballot.

An elated Amaechi while accepting the outcome of the election, said there was no victor and no vanquished but thanked his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him.

Earlier before yesterday, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, said that the Presidency was interested in seeing another PDP governor take over from

Amaechi as the NGF chairman.

The presidency had accused Amaechi of opposing the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, even after the PDP had agreed on the matter.

On whether Jonathan would be ready to work with Amaechi if reelected, Gulak dismissed any talks of re-election saying it was alien to the forum.

Gulak said, “The fact that the President met with the PDP governors was an indication that he is united with the governors.

When has it become an aberration for him to meet the governors?

“It is not about removing Amaechi. Amaechi’s tenure as NGF chairman is ending this April, so nobody is talking about his removal. When Bukola Saraki’s tenure ended, he handed over to Amaechi. Since Amaechi’s tenure is ending too, he must hand over to somebody else.

“The President is interested in any PDP governor, not necessarily Shema, taking over from Amaechi at the expiration of his tenure. There is no reelection for Amaechi. His tenure has expired except if he wants to extend his tenure and there is no tenure elongation in the NGF.”

JONATHAN’S CAMP KICKS, REQUESTS RECOUNT

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

AU endorses Nigeria for UN non-permanent seat •As Jonathan arrives Ethiopia for AU meeting

BY BEN AGANDE, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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I G E R I A yesterday recorded a major diplomatic victory at the on going conference of the African Union, AU, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as her candidacy for the nonpermanent seat in the United Nations, UN, Security Council, was unanimously endorsed by member countries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, who briefed newsmen on the development in Addis Ababa said the endorsement by African ministers of Nigeria’s candidacy was a confirmation and endorsement of Nigeria’s track record of performance as far as international diplomacy was concerned.

The AU Ministers endorsement of Nigeria for the position is coming on the heels of similar support by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. The development means that the country would be the sole candidate from the continent in the election scheduled to hold in October this year.

According to Ashiru, the endorsement is a vital step in the country’s quest to be on the seat as it would now take its campaign to other regional groupings including America, Europe and Asia since it would require the support of two thirds of all UN members to be elected into the council.

“It’s like you have scored almost B+. It is just to add others to it,” he noted, adding that since Nigeria maintained cordial relations with most countries of the world, there wont be much problems securing the required two- thirds of members’ votes for the position.

Speaking on the significance of the endorsement, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martins Uhonmoibhi,

said it was compensation for the countr y ’s effort to promote world peace.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday arrived Addis Ababa for the 50th anniversary of the AU and the 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments.

Jonathan is expected to also meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and bilateral meetings with some presidents including Tomslav Nikolic (Serbia), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Muhammad Morsy (Egypt), Yahya Jameh (Gambia), Boni Yayi (Benin Rep-

aublic), and Muhammad Magariaf (Libya) The President would also meet with the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Helen Clark and the DirectorGeneral of the International Labour Organization, ILO, Guy Rider.

The 15th anniversary celebration of the AU which started as Organisation of African Unity, OAU, would be attended by the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and other past and present African leaders.

Gov. Obi with staff and students of Girls Secondary School, Oba yesterday

Makurdi High Court sentences man to death by hanging

BY PETER DURU, Makurdi

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middle aged man, Tersoo Terna, was at the weekend sentenced to death by hanging by a Makurdi High Court, for allegedly robbing a clergyman of his Toyota Hilux van at gun point.

At the trial, State prosecutor, Mrs. Jane Ewurum told the court that the suspect and three others who were at large conspired, attacked and robbed one Rev. Pastor Peter Zuana, the Secretary General of the NKST Synod, at Mkar in Gboko local government area of Benue state in May 2012.

She disclosed that the suspect was apprehended by the Police in Gboko after the robbery while his

accomplices escaped.

The prosecution witness called six co-witnesses, while the documents of the stolen vehicle was tendered in evidence.

Also tendered before the court as exhibit was a bag containing an expended bullet shell, four jean trousers, one singlet, a tooth brush and two identity cards which were all recovered from the suspect.

On his part, the convict called two witnesses which included his wife and brother who all gave evidence in defense.

Delivering judgement, the presiding Judge, Justice Ada Onum, observed that all evidences before him established a case of criminal conspiracy and theft against the suspect.

The judge snubbed the plea of leniency by the

counsel to the accused, Mrs Christie Umburga who had urged the court to tamper justice with

mercy.

In his judgment, Justice Onum observed that the evidences against the

accused outweighed his defense, he accordingly sentenced him to death by hanging.

Suspected human par ts dealers arrested area of the town and

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI, Ilorin

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WO suspected dealers in human parts have been arrested in Ilorin, capital of Kwara State by the state police command.

The suspects were

arrested Thursday for allegedly attempting to cart away parts of decomposed of corpses of people from their graves for sale to spiritualists.

Saturday Va n g u a r d reliably gathered that the suspects were caught by residents around Ajia compound in Gambari

Police, judiciary urged to be neutral in Rivers political crisis

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OUTHS of Rivers have enjoined the Police and the judiciary to be neutral in the political crisis rocking the State.

Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Comrade Kingsley Ibanichuka who made the appeal at a press briefing yesterday in Port Harcourt also cautioned youths in the state to resist politicians who may want to recruit them for political violence in the state.

“We call on Rivers youths to decline calls targeted at perpetrating violence by the political gladiators “ Continuing, the youths appealed to all parties in the political crisis to put the interest of the state first in all they do, adding that youths of Obio Akpor local

government area should shun any temptation to go violent over the political issues playing up around the local government and the council secretariat.

While urging governor Chibuike Amaechi not to be distracted by the political crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP the youths said they would continue to celebrate his achievement as governor.

“To our beloved governor, the gratitude of Rivers youths remains inestimably in your favour. The youth, the energy base of the Rivers state urge His Excellency, governor Amaechi not to lose focus to pursue his developmental strides and target programs for the state with renewed vigour and commitment”.

handed over to the police It was alleged that the suspects seized the opportunity of the ongoing road construction between Bolanta junction and Gambari road in the area to allegedly embark on the dastardly act.

The road construction reportedly affected some graves in Ajia compound which were said to have been exhumed by the suspects ostensibly for re-buried elsewhere.

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Olufemi Fabode confirmed the incident.

He however said the police were still investigating the matter since the two suspects feigned ignorance of the offence they allegedly committed.

One of the suspects was said to have been caught by residents of the area was allegedly carrying a bag containing human parts and clothes used in wrapping corpses.

According to police sources, one of the suspects whose name was given as Saka, who is in his early thirties reportedly sold second- hand clothes in the Bolanta area before abandoning the business and suddenly transformed as a Muslim cleric.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25 , 2013 — 7

Again, gunmen kill three in Borno

BY NDAHI MARAMA, Maiduguri

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ESPITE the emer gency rule and deployment of over 3000 troops in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, some gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram insurgents yesterday shot dead three people including a provision store dealer, Mr. Bitrus Kwaji and his son (name withheld), and another young beggar (almajiri) . The beggar was killed by a stray bullet at the Chescon area

of Federal Low Cost Houses in the metropolis.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the gunmen killed the provision shop owner and his son in his residence around 6:30pm, and fled without being arrested.

A neighbour and resident of the area who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons told Saturday Vanguard that, “the gunmen upon arriving at the residence of Mr. Bitrus asked a beggar (a boy) to enter the house and tell the deceased that

some people/customers were outside waiting to buy certain items from his store, but when Kwaji and his son were coming out together with the beggar, to attend to the supposed customers, they were all killed.’’

He also said that the store was located in front of his building.

Spokesman of the Joint Task Force, JTF, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa and the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin could not be reached for confirmation as at the time of going to press.

Rescued children & women taken hostage by Boko Haram at Sambisa Forest

Achebe: Anambra govt commends

Court to hear suit of Debe Ojukwu Jonathan, Mahama, others June 25

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FEDERAL High Court, Lagos on Friday fixed June 25 to hear an application filed by one Chief Debe Ojukwu, over alleged breach of his fundamental human rights.

The applicant who is the first son of Late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, had filed the suit on Oct. 5, 2012, seeking an order of court restraining 10 respondents, from threatening his life.

The respondents are: Prof. Joseph Ojukwu, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Lotanna Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu, Patrick Ojukwu, Patricia Ojukwu and Magaret Ojukwu.

Others are the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Muktar and Deputy Commissioner of Police Anambra State, Mr Mike Okoli.

Justice Okon Abang fixed the date for hearing Ojukwu’s application, after counsel representing second to eight respondent,

Mr G.N Uwechue (SAN), had orally applied to regularise his processes.

Uwechue informed the court that he had filed a counter affidavit and written address, in response to the applicant’s processes, which he said had been served on the applicant, and prayed the court to allow him make some amendment.

Abang granted the prayers of Uwechue, and adjourned the case for hearing of the applicant’s substantive application.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the applicant in his originating motion seeks a declaration that the flagrant threat to life by the respondents, amounted to a violation of his rights.

He avers that since his birth as first and eldest surviving son of the deceased, he had been poorly treated by his family. ”I was trained solely by my mother until I was compelled by circumstances, to join the Nige-

ria Police Force in 1976. ”I was doing so well in the Police Force, when the respondents, beckoned on me to come back and manage Ojukwu Transport Ltd, owned by Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu (now deceased).”

The applicant averred that he had managed the venture effectively with his expertise, until the death of his father, when things began to fall apart with him.

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HE Canadian Am bassador to Nigeria, Mr Chris Cooter, yesterday, described the developmental strides of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Edo state as monumental and urged other states in the country to emulate him.

Cooter spoke in Benin

members of the civil society organizations in Edo state at the head quarters of the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ). According to him, “I just came back from Onitsha for the burial of Chinua Achebe, a great Nigerian, a great African. In fact he received four Hononary doctorate degrees from Canadian Universities.

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TILL basking in the euphoria of the success of the burial of the literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe, the Anambra State government yesterday commended President Goodluck Jonathan and his Ghanaian counterpart, Dr. John Mahama and other people from all over the world for according the great writer a befit-

ting burial.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Joe Martins Uzodike said by his personal attendance and attracting another president and other dignitaries to the burial, President Jonathan had done Anambra State proud.

He said: “Government appreciates what people did to give Achebe a befitting burial. We are appreciative of the work of the various committees,

both local and international, which ensured the success of the burial ceremony.

“The government of Anambra State is particularly grateful to all the people who paid condolences to Achebe, both in Nigeria and in foreign missions. Achebe was well celebrated abroad, Abuja , Enugu , Awka and Ogidi and we remain grateful to all the people that contributed.”

Police arraign more accused for Arepo pipeline vandalism petroleum products.

He told the court that the case to June 28 for tri-

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HE Police in Lagos on Friday arraigned four persons before a Federal High Court, for alleged pipeline vandalism and illegal possession of petroleum products. The accused, Rasaq Sofiu (32), Ahmed Bashorun (40), Nofiu Banjo (33) and Okonlawon Ojuleti (32) are standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, vandalism and unlawful possession of

Canadian Ambassador hails development in Edo City, while addressing And President Jonathan

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

and other world leaders were there and I was impressed with what President Jonathan said when he was talking about Chinua Achebe’s book, ‘There was a Country’. The President said there should be a country. And I was very happy because it shows Nigeria is determined and they need good governance that people will be proud of.’’

They all pleaded not guilty to the charge. The judge, Justice Mohammed idris however ordered the accused to be remanded at the Ikoyi prisons, and adjourned

al. The prosecutor Mr Justin Enang had told the court that the accused, all resident at the Ikorodu area of Lagos, committed the alleged offence on April 15.

the accused were apprehended by the police on the said day at Arepo at about 8am, with several gallons of petrol, allegedly obtained from a vandalised pipeline.

Obi gives N36m to Anambra hospitals, schools

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OVERNOR Peter Obi has distributed cheques totaling over sixteen million naira to fifty-two mission hospitals and health institutions across the State and another 20 Million Naira to two secondary schools recently returned to the Church.

Governor Obi who distributed the cheques at the Governor ’s Lodge said the empowerment was to further scale up effective service delivery in the health facilities.

The Governor noted that the State government had continued to be encouraged to invest

more in the partnership with the Church because of the outstanding results achieved so far, in various mission hospitals and schools, which others are now trying to emulate. He explained that the church has demonstrated clear commitment in delivering the desired goals with positive impact being felt across the State. The Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Owen Nwokolo, who received the cheque of 20 Million Naira for the continued rehabilitation of Girls’ Secondary School, Oba and Patterson Memorial Grammar School, Onit-

sha, commended Obi for being a man of action and not words.

Governor Obi urged the beneficiaries to assist government to generate necessary data for planning and execution of projects.

Representatives of some of the hospitals, Reverend Canon Samson Ikedimma and Reverend Sister MaryChukwuka Okoli while expressing gratitude to the Governor for the gesture, noted that his administration has remained people oriented and has continued to promote the health of the people.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

Ondo guber poll: S-Court dismisses Oke’s appeal against Mimiko

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

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HE Supreme Court, yesterday, dismissed an interlocutory appeal that was filed against Governor Olusegun Mimiko by the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last governorship election in the state, Chief Olusola Oke. In a judgement it delivered yesterday, the apex court, maintained that the appeal lacked merit, even as it upheld the earlier decision of both the election petition tribunal that sat in the state as well as that of the Court of Appeal, Akure.

Oke had challenged the outcome of the election, which returned the Labour Party candidate, Mimiko, at the election tribunal.

However, following the refusal of the tribunal to allow him to file additional evidence after all the parties had already concluded their pleadings, he went on appeal.

In his motion dated January 16, 2013, Oke,

argued that the evidence which were just released to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were not in his custody when he filed the petition. Besides, he contended that the evidence would enable the tribunal reach a fair and just decision in the case.

Nevertheless, in a ruling it delivered on February 4, the tribunal refused the motion on the ground that it sought to amend the substantive petition and introduce fresh facts.

The Court of Appeal, Akure, to which Oke later appealed, upheld the decision of the tribunal, and noted that “any amendment to the petition would, in the circumstance, be substantial as to over-reach the respondent.”

Dissatisfied with the verdicts, Oke appealed to the Supreme Court.

Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, in the lead judgment yesterday, held that Oke’s motion offended the provision of Paragraph 14(2)(a) and (b) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2010.

He held the provision prohibits an election tribunal from allowing any form of amendment after the expiration of the period within which to present an election petition.

“This is irrespective of the mode the petitioners/ applicants approached the court: whether for extension of time to do an act or for an amendment to the petition. The refusal of the application by the two courts (tribunal and Appeal Court) is justified. “Perhaps the only thing I may add is that the application placed before the tribunal was, an afterthought,” he said.

Flood control: Lagos threatens to remove telecom cables obstructing drainage channels ...summons mgt of 1004 Estate over environmental nuisance

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS state govern ment has warned managements of various Pri-

Principal-Girl pregnancy saga: School bundles girl for pregnancy test

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, Lokoja

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OLLOWING the al legation of Baptist High School Principal, Ekirin-Adde, Mr. Ajayi Ajibulu impregnating one of his students, the proprietor of the School, Baptist Church has dragged the girl in question to a government hospital for pregnancy test.

According to a report signed by the Pastor of the church, Rev. Samuel Osasona representing the Proprietor, Chief S. O Babalola, the Chairman, Education Committee of the community, the team also went to town to feel the pulse of the community over the ugly development.

The pregnancy test which was carried out at the Cottage Hospital, Ekirin-Adde signed by Dr M. Urdinaya, the medical officer of the hospital however indicated that the said girl is

no longer pregnant.

In a response letter by the medical officer dated 21st May, 2013 with title Re: Omojola Feyisayo, Female, 16 yrs read in part “With respect to the letter received from your office as regards the above named client, the pregnancy text was negative. As regard the 2nd subject, there is no way to determine if she aborted a pregnancy especially if it has been a while.

Consequently, she can undergo an abdominal ultra sound scan to determine the state of uterus and cervix”.

The pregnancy test according to the report was supervised by a member of the church; a pastor representing the community pastor; a member of the school staff representing the school community; and the mother of the child representing the family.

Navy destroys storage facilities used by crude oil thieves

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME, Port Harcourt

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EN of the Nigerian Navy have smashed several local tank farms used by crude oil thieves to store the illicit product at some creeks in Rivers state.

In a statement made available to news men in Port Harcourt, Spokesman, Navy Ship Pathfind-

Vice President Namadi Sambo flanked by Education Minister, Prof. Ruqqayat Rufai (3rd left) and the Chairman Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerijie while the Minister of State Education, Mr. Nyesom Wyke (2nd left); Chairman House Committee on Education, Hon. Aminu Suleiman (2nd right) and others joined during the public presentation of three Publications by the Federal Ministry of Education at the National Universities Commission Auditorium, Maitama, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida.

er, Lieutenant Sani Abdulsalam said the Navy had intensified patrol of water ways in the state as part of effort to rid the area of illegal bunkering activities.

While urging landlords to report illegal oil activities in their surroundings, the Navy vowed to destroy properties of landlords whose houses are used to store illegal crude.

vate Telecommunication Operators, PTOs, in the state to either relocate their installed cables found to be obstructing ongoing upgrading of drainage channels in the state or have them forcefully removed.

It also invited the management of 1004 Estate, on Victoria Island, to a meeting yesterday to explain why they built a structure on a major water channel as well as preventing officials of the state from performing routine deflooding project within the estate which could lead to heavy flooding situation in the entire

area.Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, handed out the warning during an ongoing inspection of drainage channels around Victoria Island as part of proactive measure in reducing and combating stormwater of the expected heavy rainfall this year.

Bello, while inspecting the ongoing maintenance of Saka Tinubu, Kofo Abayomi, Ozumba Mbadiwe among others, frowned at the inadequate capacity of the cross culvert on Saka Tinubu, which is highly constricted with various telecomm pipes and thereby ob-

structing smooth operation of the drainage project.

The commissioner who noted that earlier notification had been sent to various PTOs on the need to identify their cables and relocate them, threatened that, any further failure to heed to the directive, the state government would have no other choice order than removing them.

He therefore, appealed to the operators to ensure voluntary compliance rather than enforcement, saying tax payers’ money are been used to maintain public infrastructure.

Anambra lawmakers summon commissioner over alleged offensive comment

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

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HE Anambra State House of Assembly has summoned the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Joe Martins Uzodike to appear before it on Tuesday next week over alleged comments credited him about the lawmakers.

The comments were allegedly made by the commissioner following the attendance in Lagos by some of the lawmakers,

the wedding of the younger sister of Mr. Ifeanyi Uba, a governorship aspirant in the state.

Uzodike was quoted to have said: “I want to assure you that it is the constitutional right of any citizen to attend any function. You cannot punish any person for no offence and I want to tell you that nobody is contemplating such. Our governor is the last person to think in that direction.

“The House of Assembly is an autonomous body and you have just told me that 26 (members) went to

Lagos to eat rice and beans at the wedding of Ifeanyi Uba’s sister. What has that got to do with government?”

Following the publication of that interview in a national newspaper (not Vanguard), the state lawmakers summoned the commissioner to the House during which they allegedly threatened to remove him.

Apparently not satisfied with his explanations on the floor of the House, the lawmakers said he should appear before them again on Tuesday.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013 — 9

Cynthia Osokogu’s mouth was stuffed — Pathologist

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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HE Lagos State Chief Pathologist and Chief Examiner of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital LASUTH, Professor John Obafunwa, yesterday told an Ikeja High Court that the late Cynthia Osokogu’s mouth was stuffed with a black and yellow hair net, a white handkerchief and the attachment of the weave-on she fixed before her mouth was taped.

He said this while showing slides of the autopsy that was carried out on the late Cynthia from the beginning to the end of the procedure before Justice Olabisi Akinlade.

Obafunwa, who is a prosecution witness testifying in the ongoing trial of the suspected killers of Cynthia Osokogu said that the killers taped her from the mouth back to the neck area.

Cynthia, who was 24 years old was allegedly drugged and murdered in a hotel room last year July in Lagos by Okwumo Nwabufor and Olisaeloka

Ezike, who are facing charges bordering on conspiracy to commit murder, murder and felony.

Osita Orji, a Pharmacist who sold the Rophynol drug to the alleged murderers, is accused of reckless and negligent act while Nonso Ezike, who bought the deceased’s Blackberry phone, is charged with possession of stolen property.

The professor further stated that late Cynthia’s lungs were heavily engorged with blood weighing 400 and 500 grams rather than the normal 250-300gram, stating that there were also tiny beads on the surface, attributing it to blood accumulation called Pulmonary Oedema.

Obafunwa explained that there were also tiny beads in the lining of her voice box while the kidney when sliced had dark spots in some areas indicating a shut down of blood circulation due to shock.

According to him, the seven bruises on Cynthia’s thighs were suspected to be bite marks and when

Court grants former MD Bank PHB, his wife time to file their no-case application

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has granted a former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche and his wife, Elizabeth, an additional time to file their no-case submission applications concerning the charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC. Francis Atuche and his wife Elizabeth, are being prosecuted alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of Bank PHB, for allegedly stealing N25.7 billion belonging to the bank.

The Anti- graft agency had closed its case against the defendants on March 4, 2013, after calling 12 witnesses who gave oral evidence and issuing subpoenas to six other persons to present some documents which were admitted as exhibits by the court.

Atuche and the other defendants had insisted that the EFCC had failed to establish the charge leveled against them based on the testimonies of witnesses and exhibits before the court.

The presiding judge, Justice Lateefat Okunnu directed the defendants to file their no-case submission within 14 days.

During the hearing yesterday, counsel to Atuche and his wife, Chief Anthony Idigbe SAN, asked the court for an extension of time to file all the necessary processes.

He added that the delay was necessitated by the crash of his computer which resulted in the loss of valuable information relating to the matter.

The EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, who had earlier opposed the application, withdrew his objection and the request was granted by the judge.

the corpse was skinned, deep bruises, which couldn’t be seen on the skin were found on various parts of her leg.

The autopsy pictures revealed that Cyhthia’s hands were tied with tape and a chain covered with blue plastic wrap and

there were bruises at the back of her right hand and her mouth was disfigured.

The pathologist stated that Cynthia’s corpse

which was labelled unknown when it was brought in, only had an under shirt with pink stripes as clothing.

JAMB takes step against exam malpractices

BY OLA AJAYI Ibadan

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HE Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor ’Dibu Ojerinde yesterday explained that the use of Computer Based Testing in Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was aimed at

checking examination malpractices in Nigeria.

The don gave the reason while delivering a lecture entitled ‘Classical Test Theory (CTT) versus Item Response Theory (IRT): An evaluation of the comparability of item analysis results’ at the Institute of education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

He said: “I introduced Computed Based Testing (CBT) because I think we can curb examination malpractices”. Another reason for the initiative, according to him, was the need to go the way of the world. ”Everybody is going technological and if Nigeria decided not to join, I’m sorry we will be

Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun (left), explaining some points to one of the senior citizens, Pa Taibu Adeotun during the launching ceremony of Mrs. Amosun’s UPLIFTing the Aged Welfare ATM Card in Abeokuta...recently

left behind, so we should do CBT. It is the answer to exam malpractices,”he clarified.

Professor Ojerinde further said, “This year, we used 98 vehicles to carry question papers from Abuja to all parts of the country. Consider the danger, the risk, the life, enough is enough”.

He assured that the period of carrying question papers to centres from one end to another was over.

Ojerinde said, “In three minutes, we could send our questions from Abuja to wherever is going to be.

We’re going to do it in UK, Jedda and anywhere throughout the world. I’ve not seen any other examination body in Africa that has done what we have done in JAMB on CBT.” He admonished that attention should be focused on development of the child instead of the examination adding, “let us now look at the kids who are doing the examination and let us measure their abilities rather than measuring the ability of the test.”

Amosun’s wife gives 500 ATM cards to senior citizens W IFE of the Governor of Ogun State Mrs. Olufunso Amosun through her UPLIFTing the Aged Welfare Cards has given out 500 free ATMs to senior citizens drawn from across the 20 Local Government areas of the state as part of her desire to offer a helping hand to the elderly people who due to old age could not fend for themselves again.

Speaking during the launching ceremony of the UPLIFTing the Aged Welfare (ATM) Cards at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto in Abeokuta, Mrs. Amosun said the cards would hasten and reduce the rigour and other challenges encountered during the distribution of food and commodities to the aged scattered across the length and breadth of Ogun State.

She explained that the Welfare Card, which was

donated by Ecobank Plc, was a continuation of the her UPLIFTing the Aged welfare package designed to make life more comfort-

able for the senior citizens in the state, saying the enlisted aged people could now access their monthly stipends through the Welfare Cards to purchase

their food and other commodities without having to come down to Abeokuta or workers travelling hundreds of kilometres to distribute those items.

Police foil lynching of Delta community chairman been lynched. ought to take a bigger

BY GODWIN OGHRE Sapele

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T was pandemonium in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, as police in the area led by the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Kenneth Akubue, battled for over five hours yesterday to quell a crisis by over 500 women and youths of Ajekimoni community, led by their Vice Chairman, Mr Francis Ikoyo, in which their community chairman, Mr. Sam Kekakpor, would have

The rioting women and youths have accused the chairman of embezzling the community funds to the tune of over N10m, which they alleged was made available to the community by an oil prospecting company in the area, and which they said was meant to be shared among the executives and women of the community.

The Vice chairman who led the rampaging youths and women, said the chairman has refused to carry him along on how the community fund should be shared, adding that he

chunk of the money since he needed to buy a car with it.

When Saturday Vanguard contacted the embattled chairman, he refuted the allegations saying that he fell out with his vice when he told him that the community fund was meant for developmental projects and not for sharing, adding that his vice rebuffed him and subsequently instigated the youths and women against him with the view of taking his life so that his Vice can become the chairman.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

Ayodele Omosuyi Natural Clinic is in Okigwe, Imo State. Nurse Blessing who is now at large was the source of the General overseer of Christ Salvation Ministry, Owerri, Precious Ogbonna,whose five out of the seven babies, the DNA test sponsored by Vanguard proved the acclaimed mother wrong.

According to neighbours, no one has seen Nurse Blessing since the last two years and the apartment has been rented out by her Abuja based husband.

BABY FACTORY:

Operators go into hiding •The lies and deceits of pregnancies in maternity homes

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

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visit to some communities in Rivers, Abia and Imo states will reveal the existence of certain Maternity homes and Child care centres. Many of them without sign posts and behind tall gates and high fenced walls carry out the illicit business of child trafficking unhindered and smile to their various banks.

They also keep teenage girls and allow their sons or male syndicate to impregnate them. They provide antenatal care through their registered maternity homes for the girls and after the gestation period, sell the fruits of labour to desperate childless couples for between N450,00 to N500,000.

They get more when a barren woman is made to go through a make-believe pregnancy and fabricated delivery.

Under that system, only a DNA test will reveal the fraudulent arrangement perpetrated by these Maternity home operators. The Precious Ogbonna story and recently, that of the America bound couple, Mr and Mrs Adenuga Shoyibo who claimed they are the parents of five-month-old set of twins said to have been delivered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State were disproved by a DNA test. Other revelations made by the several impregnated girls rescued from maternity homes in Aba, Port Harcourt and Imo state recently also lend credence to this unwholesome practice.

Following a raid on a few of these homes recently by security personnel, some of the popular ones have gone into hiding and their homes under lock

The clinic is popular for its activities as neighbours on the Afam street disclosed that people come from far and near for child births. Unlike what is common to all the clinics, Ogechi Clinic has a sign post but directing to no where in particular and key, while a few others still operate under the guise of legal maternity homes.

When Saturday Vanguard visited some of these areas recently, those who had signposts directing to their homes have removed them while a few others still carry out their clandestine activities.

Helen Maternity, Rukpukwu, PH On Denis street, about three minutes-walk from the Rukpukwu juction, Port-Harcourt, Rivers state, is Helen Maternity home. No number was

printed on the wall, but baby seekers will nerver miss their way. Behind the narrow tall gate and high fenced walls which take away the prying eyes of the public and law enforcement agents, all manner of absurdities take place.

Like a model of most maternity homes, the first flat is used for this trade while the other bungalow about 50 metres from the clinic is the residence of the operator of this clinic.

While waiting for the fair complexioned woman who speaks Yoruba fluently, Saturday Vanguard engaged a woman in discusion and the revelation was startling. She disclosed that she had been barren for several 18 years before she met Nurse Helen who administered natural medicine on her and a few months after she had a baby. She disclosed that her first baby died six months after but she returned to the clinic again and God gave her a set of twins. Two years after she is hoping to get another baby. On the bills, she said it depends on the agreement reached with Nurse Helen, adding that she parted with huge sums of money. “I don’t mind what I pay, the important thing is that I get what I want, You just ask your wife to come and leave the rest for Nurse Helen. It is possible,” she advised.

Nurse Blessing, PH On Ohonda close in Rukpakulusi, Nurse Blessing was popular. Many in the neighbourhood knew her as an auxiliary nurse. She was said to have received her training from the popular Madam Ayodele Omosuyi who is regarded as Patron of the illicit trade.

Rose Natural Clinic Saturday Vanguard had earlier visited Rose Natural Clinic, on Afam Street, Heritage Junction, to confirm a related story. The home which was a beehive of activities mainly during the weekends is presently deserted. Except for the other unit of flat in the compound, nothing seems to be going on there. Neighbours around noted that the operator of home, Madam Rose has not been seen for quite some time. Others maintained that it may not be unconnected with the recent raid of maternity homes by the police where phantom baby deliveries take place.

Neighbours confirmed that in recent times, only few female visitors suspected to be baby seekers visit the home unlike what it used to be. Rose carried her business from this place.

Ogechi Natuaral Clinic The clinic is popular for its activities as neighbours on the Afam street disclosed that people come from far and near for child births. Unlike what is common to all the clinics, Ogechi Clinic has a sign post but directing to no where in particular.

In a tall fenced bungalow apartment, Ogechi’s clinic, with many young ladies around could deliver babies to new clients in a few weeks.

According to an unsuspecting source, she has a large network of sources which readily deliver for her.

Her charges range between N1.2million to N1.5million for twins and N750, 000 for a male child and takes a little less for female child. A native hinted Saturday Vanguard that people come there with posh cars. She was also said to have been trained by Ayodele Omosuyi Natural Clinic in Okigwe. Another source said that Ogechi is so tough that she will not deliver her clients of babies if all bills are not settled even after the delivery date, yet she could deliver any client of babies within three months if the cash is available.

Ayodele Omosuyi, Okigwe After the police raided the Ayodele Omosuyi Natural Clinic in Ugwuaku, Okigwe, Imo State recently, the ever busy place and a meeting point for desperate habitue is under lock and key.

The commercial motorcycle operators in the area were ready to give information. One disclosed that since after the police raided the place, and the release of the owner of the home, activites have shifted to another place. Another maintained that, before the raid, the security agencies were not unaware of the deal going on in the home, adding that some people saw it as a way of helping those who could not have babies of their own on the one hand and those who out of circumstances do not want the babies on

Continues on page 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013----11

Continued from page 10 the other .

Mrs Ayodele Omosuyi is a middle aged woman. She is popularly referred to as Iyawo, and is said to be influential in the rural community of Ugwuaku. She is also regarded as the big-fish in the business having trained quite a lot of young women in the trade.

Sources said she charges between N1million and N1.8million for a baby and a set of twins respectively. Our Okada sources maintained that pastors, clergymen and women, people from far and near, in posh cars before now visited the home.

The investigations showed that child trafficking and selling of babies are on the rise, and the traffickers hide under the cloak of native maternity operations to arrange babies for baby seekers while young women, who found a solution ground for unwanted babies, dump them in the clinics for onward sale or birth arrangement to desperate women.

Recently, the law enforcement agents last December raided the Omosuyi Natural clinic with officials of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) after a tip-off. While Nurse Blessing is still nursing the ache caused by her deal with Precious, several others still operate unhindered with several kids being transferred to desperate women.

Nnenna Motherless Babies Home An orphanage allegedly owned by Nnenna Mba, and two men - Mba Agbai and Chinwoke Mba; located at Umuozu, Osisioma Local Government area of Abia state is another baby factory centre. A source said it was initially set up with the view to giving shelter and care to abandoned and motherless babies, but it has since metamophorsed into a camp where young girls are assembled and put in the family way and the fruits of their labour are sold to desperate habitue.

We gathered that the home was raided last month with about 32 pregnant teenagers rescued, but sources privy to activities in the home said the clandestine operation still goes on.

Ahamefula Motherless Babies Home Madam One Thousand as she is popularly called owns the Ahamefula Motherless Babies Home, located at Umuaka in Njaba Council Area of the state. It is also known for keeping vulnerable girls who are put in the family way by their boy friends. Sources said she has a network of associates especially laboratory technicians. It was revealed that if any girl tests positive for pregnancy, the laboratory technician working for Madam One Thousand would refer the girl to the home and the baby is delivered after nine months. Interestingly,stamping her feet in the business, she was said to also have a maternity home where victims are taken to be delivered of their babies.

Recently, the home was raided by security operatives and nine girls were said to have been rescued from the home. A neighbour, who volunteered information on condition of anonymity, said: “All we saw were people coming to buy water but we began to express worry when we noticed flashy cars coming to the place at night.”

Meanwhile, a few days ago, the chairman of the State Council of Tra-

BABY FACTORY: OPERATORS GO INTO HIDING ditional Rulers, HRH Eze Samuel Ohiri banished Madam One Thousand from the state. The monarch stated that the action of the woman desecrated the norms and customs of the land, adding that trafficking of babies and ritual killings are forbidden in Igbo land and attributed the rising cases of these crimes and others to disrespect of Igbo customs and traditions.

Comfort Orphanage Home The arrest of operators of Ahamefula Motherless Babies Home last week has also triggered the raid of another baby factory at Umuokoro Umuguma in Owerri West LGA of the state, named Comfort Orphanage Home, a few days, ago by men of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps. It was further gathered that the said operators use

another racketeer in the child selling syndicate, Ekene Orphanage and Maternity Centre, Ogbosisi, Umuguma, where pregnant women in their care go for antenatal to deliver the babies.

We gathered that before the raid, baby seekers thronged the homes to buy children. The place is deserted at the moment.

How they get babies for sale M

any of these homes habour several teenage girls and engage their male syndicate to put them in the family way. After deliveries of babies by the teenage girls, which take place in their maternity homes, they surreptitiously arrange baby seekers who have been put on queue for deliveries into labour and thus the habitue gets a baby or twins as the case

may be. The sum of N750,000 and N1.5miilion is charged for a baby and a set of twins respectively while about N50,000 or a little more is given to the teenage girl who actually delivered the baby as a parting gift. Such a girl can be re-engaged for another round of nine-month-deal.

Apart from engaging teenage girls who deliver babies, some of these

Mr & Mrs Adenuga Soyibo

homes encourage girls with unwanted pregnancies through their laboratory technicians and doctors spread accros the country. One of the girls apprehended recently disclosed that she was referred to the home by a doctor in Lagos after she confessed she did not want the pregnancy.

Precious Ogbonna

The lies and deceits of pregnancies in maternity homes

I

nvestigations revealed that these clinics admin ister certain substances on the patients that cause a temporary movement in the stomach and to make the client believe that pregnancy has occurred and of course a baby is kicking. Most times according to our checks, it happened once or twice depending on the volume of the substance administered. The client is warned not to go to any hospital or undergo ultra-sound or any sort of test for a certain period.

Thereafter, a delivery date is given to the client. The date is not necessarily the nine-month gestation period but according to the desire of the client and how quickly is able to complete the payment for the fabricated delivery. The client could have a baby after a three to four-month period depending on the agreement reached. It could also stretch beyond nine months if the client was not able to pay the bill. Again, for those who desire to feed their babies, a tablet called Mutlin is administered a week or two before the expected delivery. This according to our source, will prepare the client for the task of breastfeeding with ease. She also added that this will convince anyone in doubt of the delivery. In fact, our unsuspecting source advised the reporter to immediately procure the tablet and let his wife take two, three times daily for two weeks while assuring the reporter that the family will have a baby in the next one month.

Further investigations revealed that at the time of ‘delivery,’ another substance is administered on the woman, which causes uneasiness; a false impression of labour. At this point, nobody is allowed into the delivery room, not even the husband or any female

member of the family. This also happened during an encounter with Rose Maternity home in Obigbo where Precious Ogbonna got baby number 8.

During the Precious Ogbonna concocted delivery, inspite of the curiosity and prior arrangement, to have a woman by her side throughout the whole exercise, it was rebuffed. People were only called in to see the baby after it was arranged. In fact, a colleague stated that the blood all over the baby was not fresh and what was called a placenta never looked like a real one. The arrangement is near perfect that the client would swear with everything on earth that she delivered the baby. But for DNA test , there would not have been any bubble burst. It was the DNA test that proved Precious Ogbonna wrong inspite of her claims that she delivered the eight babies under two years.

Just a couple of weeks back, a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Adenuga Shoyibo who claimed they are the parents of five-month-old twins were at the United States of America’s embassy to obtain visa for the twins but their request was turned down after the report of a DNA test ordered by the embassy showed that the couple were not the biological parents of the twins as claimed. The couple got the twins from Helen Okoro Maternity home a few months ago in Port Harcourt after paying N1.8million for the set of twins.

Just as Mrs Shoyibo had sworn that she was pregnant and delivered of the set of twins, so are several other desperate baby seekers who patronise maternity homes in Port Harcourt, Aba, Imo and other areas.

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

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am not sufficiently grounded in the Catholic traditions to under stand why the month of May is devoted to Mary, the virgin mother of Christ. It could be because the first two alphabets of the name and the month are the same and they therefore sound alike. It could be more. I hope someday, to know more about this (Fr Kukah where are you?)

What I do know however, is that every year, over six million pilgrims – the number is heightened in May – throng to Lourdes, France to pay homage to the Virgin Mary. In 1858, the Virgin Mary appeared to a poor shepherd in a grotto in France. During those apparitions —18 in all — certain messages were passed through this girl to her community and the world. And through her, miracles were performed; the most notable of which was the healing water that sprang up where she was told to dig. A whole industry has developed around this healing water creating employment and tourist money to France.

This person, Bernadette, whose message created this industry, lived and died poor. She could have lifted her family members up financially from abject poverty had she capitalised on the fame that the apparitions and their miracles brought her.

She could have tapped from the adulations and financial offerings of the faithful. She could have sold items relating to the apparitions such as pieces of her clothes (she was not short of offers). In short, she could have become a spiritual superstar, with more claims to that nomenclature than our modern day spiritual superstars.

project their public persona using Jesus as a prop? People who revel in their healing and prophetic power forgetting that these are gifts from God and not testimonies to holiness?

When I think of the celebrity lifestyles of our men of God – designer suits, armoured cars, flamboyant entries into churches and gatherings, posters round the cities – my mind goes back to those who brought Christianity to West Africa in the first instance and the humble and often perilous lives they led (one was reportedly killed when a bottle was grinded and put in his food). Yet they were able to build churches,schools and hospitals from next to nothing.

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ast month, two majestic churches were declared open amid characteristic pomp and pageantry with the very influential men in the society attending either or both. Figures running into billions were mentioned as the sums that completed the buildings. These also joined a few other edifices that had been erected by other churches to sit thousands of worshippers. These men of God must be elated that they had put up structures befitting the ‘status’ of God; much like King Solomon who built for God in the Bible.

But what happened to the temple of gold and cedar

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The lesson about her life was the way she deflected attention from h e r s e l f , choosing to decrease so that the work of God could increase

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ut she steadfastly refused all gifts and money, insisting that her family do the same. Many people, including bishops and lay worshippers wanted her to touch their rosaries.

Many wanted to touch her clothes or simply to sit where she sat at church.

But she refused to be part of this preferring to downplay her celebrity status. And as soon as the apparitions were declared authentic in 1862, she quickly slipped out of limelight. Four years later, she joined a convent and went through the discipline and anonymity of that institution. When she was about to die, all she requested for was a crucifix; she wanted to fix her eyes on Jesus. All other things were unnecessary.

The lesson about her life was the way she deflected attention from herself, choosing to decrease so that the work of God could increase. She did not want any interest in her to becloud people’s understanding of how God wanted to work in their lives. She also wanted to live and serve God without any fuss or attention.

How does that compare with the people of God today who thrive on image and public acclaim? People who C M Y K

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that Solomon built? And what happened in the latter days of King Solomon himself?

A place I stay in Sutton, England, has about five churches within a two hundred meter radius – all sparsely populated now even on Sundays.

There must have been a need for these churches at some point in time. What happened to that need?

May we not forget when we are erecting these superlative, multilevel edifices that the ark of God was just as effective in a tent as it was in the temple if not more so; that Bethel, where Jacob met with God, was a deserted bush; ditto where Moses encountered God. Also my earlier story of Bernadette, the poor daughter of a miller who encountered Mary, happened in a grotto and not a cathedral, not even a chapel. The message is that God visits –and dwells –where there are piety, sincerity of heart and humility of soul.

For our churches not to become like the church in Laodicea, or in contemporary times, the churches in Europe where tepid, and watered down messages spew forth, they will need a spiritual revival like in the days of the Pentecost that will strip off ego, ostentation, hypocrisy and feeding off the flesh and replace them with humility, spiritual and heaven bound activities. Maybe then, God would be pleased to visit and dwell in those architectural masterpieces.

After all, a house is not a home until someone lives there. The hood does not a monk make.

God will help you G od said in Gen 2:18, “it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him”. Everything that is missing in your life, God will help to put in place for you. Because God knows all things, He knows what is best for you. Whatever is lacking that is relevant to your destiny fulfillment; He will help you with it.

Adam was not the one that identified the need; God identified it and did something about it. Before this year will be over God will help you out of the place of hopelessness. Don’t quit or surrender, help is on its way. There are more glorious paths ahead of you. Your best days are still ahead.

Despite all that David passed through in life, he never gave up. He had multiple reasons to quit but instead he pressed on knowing full well that God will fulfill His plan for his life. He did not trust in his own ability nor in men because he knew that the arm of flesh will fail him, for by strength shall no man prevail. He always trusted God to help him out in every situation. Read what he said in Ps. 121:1-3. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber ”. When he confronted goliath, he trusted in God’s help for victory and God helped him to defeat goliath. He was constantly looking up to God for help.

No matter the goliath confronting you right now in the form of huge debts, marital challenges, children hooked in drugs, joblessness etc, know that the goliath is and or are surmountable. It is time to look up to God who created the heavens and the earth to help you.

Abraham and Sarah his wife were old and the womb of Sarah was dead. There was no hope of the promised child coming forth. Their situation was very hard. It appears as if there was no way out. But then God said in Gen. 18:14, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?

At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son”. God was saying then and He is saying to you now that nothing is impossible with Him. He helped Sarah to conceive and gave her strength to deliver at old age.

Know that what God did for Sarah, He can and will do for you. He is not a respecter of persons. He will help you to conceive and deliver the long awaited promise and blessing. Believe me, God will help you.

Heb 13:6 says, “so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me”.

Remember what goliath was doing to the children of Isreal? He was putting fear into them to demoralize them and make them defenseless so that he can defeat them. But then the devil is a liar.

God has not given to you the spirit of fear, but the Spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind. The threat of goliath appeared real only to those that believe

in it. You can be like David and declare against every challenge confronting you that the Lord is your helper.

Do you feel lonely, afraid, burned out, cheated, confused, depressed, hateful, overwhelmed, purposeless, tired, weak and tormented? Well know that there is the God that created the heavens and the earth. He wants to help you overcome all of these and more. He has made you an overcomer and more than conqueror. He causes you to triumph always through His son Jesus Christ and by the power of His Holy Spirit. Of a truth, He will help you in every area of your life.

Remember, He said, He will never leave you nor forsake you till the end of the age. God cannot be with you and not help you. Turn to Him that can help you. Stop trusting in chariots and horses like pharaoh did and

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May, Mary and a house for God

Adam was not the one that identified the need; God identified it and did something about it

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ended up drowning in the red sea and start trusting in the name of the Lord, God Almighty that can never fail, and see Him help you to divide every red sea in your life so that you can have access to the better side of life. Trust Him, God can never disappoint you.

God bless and help you and our great nation Nigeria.

Do you want to experience fulfillment of promises of God in your life? The starting point is you receiving Jesus Christ in your life as Lord and Saviour, if you have not already done so. Pray this simple prayer. Father, you said that whosoever shall call on the name of Jesus, shall be saved. I call on the name Jesus. Thank you for saving me and giving me the gift of eternal life.

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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. E-mail: 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.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

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14 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

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SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013—15

PHOTO NEWS

Funeral service for Late Dame Merry Oritsetimeyin Funeral service in honour of Late Dame Merry Oritsetimeyin Ehanire was held at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, G.R.A, Benin City, Edo State, yesterday. Photos by Barnabas Uzosike

A cross section of children of Late Mrs Dame Merry Ehanire

Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker ,House of Representatives having a handshake with Sen. Isaiah,left.

Chief Igbinedion and his wife

L-R: Sen. David Mark, Sen. Isaiah Baramu and Chief Tony Anenih, PDP Board of Trustees Chairman

L-R:Sen. Tunde Ogbeha; Gov. Adams Oshiomhole and Senate President David Mark.

R-L: Gen T.Y Danjuma (rtd) with wife, Senator Daisy and others

L-R: Justice Peter Isibor, President Customary Court of Appeal, Edo State and Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Cromwell Idahosa

Mark, Oshiomhole, Tambuwal, others grace Daisy Danjuma’s mother's burial in Benin

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM Benin City

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OVERNOR Adams Oshi omhole of Edo state, senate President, Senator David Mark, Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday, led other Nigerians to attend the burial ceremony of the

mother of Senator Daisy Danjuma, Dame Merry Oritsetimeyin Ehanire in Benin City.

Other dignitaries at the ceremony include the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Gen.TY Danjuma, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Be-

nin (UNIBEN), Prof.Osayuki Oshodin, Hon.Rasaq BelloOsagie, members of the Edo state Executive Council and traditional rulers from the three senatorial districts of the state.

The remains of the deceased was committed to mother earth at the early hours of yesterday after family members fulfilled the normal burial rites.

A service of songs was held

in her honour at her residence in GRA on Thursday, where various speakers at the event including Governor Adams Oshiomhole eulogized her virtues as a mother who has contributed in no small measure to the growth of the society and the South South in particular.

Speaking at the church service which held at the Our Saviour Anglican Church Be-

nin City, Bishop Peter Imasuen pointed out the contributions of the Ehanire family to the growth of Edo state and Nigeria at large and noted that “such achievements would not have been possible without the discipline which our mother and sister instilled on her children and that was why we are proud to have Daisy and others today doing well in their various endeavours”.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

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re we then at war? Can we admit it at last? The proclamation that slapped a state of emergency on three States —Yobe, Adamawa and Bornu — would seem to suggest that much especially from the ‘launching of all-out hostilities on certain areas of the region. It did not appear that we were really sure of what was going on these past three to four years during which we had borne the scourge of the Boko Haram. Some of course called it “terrorism” which is, in fact, a measure of war. Others described it as “insurgency”, which is also a vibrant variant of warfare. But call it what you may, whenever a group takes up arms and uses them to harm and destroy the life and welfare of another group with the set purpose of eliminating it or subjugating it, the situation is one of war.

Of course, that is an ugly word, a word associated with horror and darkness, brutality and wickedness, and which no one with any sense of decency wishes to be linked with. And so we seem to have been fighting shy of it. Only one voice was raised in pertly identifying it for what it was.

After one of the brazen attacks of the Boko Haram, the Senate President, David Mark, once could not help blurting out: “This is war !” His distinguished audience mostly pretended not to appreciate the gravity of his words. The situation was adopted as an inadvertent development and that tone was laid to rest. Not many other instances of the truth being allowed to show its naked face could be cited afterwards.

*this is war

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•Brigadier General Chris Olukolade.

Director of Defence Information offence. They pleaded not guilty to any crime. But the President bore that humiliation just as he shrugged off the insult of the demand that he should change his religion. While some of us wondered who really was the guilty party, anyway — the men who were creating massive mayhem, or the man whose position as the leader of the victims made him to bear the brunt of the atrocities?

But some of those who have always held back the

But women are swift conduits of information even in times of war.

They are not all harmless

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has been consistently awarded by many people it is, and will ever be, to his credit that he refused to be made to eat humble pie at a table with those he rightly referred to as “ghosts”. *Yet other pacifists proffered a virtual capitulation ploy clothed in the dazzling hue of “amnesty”, for people who themselves declared that they did not deserve such humanitarian consideration, since forgiveness had no place where there had been no

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mighty hand of the government with their “ode to dialogue” or “hymns of amnesty” may have meant well after all. I wonder, though, if they had lost any of their sons to a sudden, senseless murderous attack from nowhere; or witnessed the anguish of an inconsolable daughter at the vicious hands of a rapist; or the stifled cry of a child in the last throes of strangulation. This is what has been happening. And it

is war.

And let us face it. Every war is a “crime against humanity”. No war is won with fancy gloves.

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oldiers are trained to kill by not being killed.

We should not condone extreme cruelty in a situation that rides, in itself, on extreme prejudice, but that is difficult. It is therefore not very realistic to make flaring headlines out of the fact that populations are being displaced. That is an aspect of a war situation that can only be minimized by firm control. In the same vein, one feels left in a snit by the hypocrites in the United States whose first reaction about the present situation in Nigeria is comingled with strident warnings about “crimes against humanity.” They can be assured that we shall not attain the dizzying heights of Hiroshima and Nagasaki before this campaign is over. It has to be sharp and short.

In any case, the human rights aspects and civil rights protection of the situation have been properly taken care of by the Senate. The Upper House has applied checks and balances that

hat is why one is nonplussed at the reported release of some imprisoned members of the Boko Haram. A case may be made for some of the womenfolk who might not be fully involved in the fighting. But women are swift conduits of information even in times of war. They are not all harmless. With regard to the men, however, we find it difficult to subscribe to such an openended gesture. These are warriors who are committed to a cause and, as we know,

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convenient consensus of mild reactions to the fiery situation was welcome to mask the flames, with all kinds of meetings of security officials, following other harrowing destructions of lives, and then properly rounded off by “condemnations” of the “dastardly” acts whose “perpetrators” would be “fished out and made to face the full rigour of the law”. And then would start another woeful cycle of destruction, bombings and killings, followed by some skirmishes in which the “enemy” did not always come out second best.

Some would have made the President sue for peace under the ruse of “dialogue”, but throughout the strife this nation has had to face so far, and despite the low marks he

prohibit any tendencies to dictatorial control during the emergency period by protecting all democratic structures which must be left in place to function according to the spirit and letter of their institution. .The House of Representatives has also firmly re-established its position as a law-making body of ‘paramount status by demanding that the governors of the states and chairmen of the local governments should be “in charge of the general administration” in the states affected.

on whose advice this decision rests cannot furnish any sensible reason for it. They may claim to know what is hidden from the rest of us to come to an apparently cheerless initiative like that, which takes little of a war situation into consideration.

The measure, we are assured, is in line with “Presidential magnanimity”, but who is impressed?

Who is appreciative of such a gesture? Those who even nonchalantly shun the offer of an amnesty? We are talking here about human lives, about security in the community and about resultant social progress— and some people think they can float all of that on some kind of “magnanimity”? One wonders how much input the members of the JTF, the men who put their lives on the line, were asked to offer. Though professionally isolated from political decisions, they are the actors on the terrain and a vibrant arm of the security here. It is not clear that they were considered for any role in the decision.

This is war. It ought to be total in its operational commitment. You cannot pummel a man’s body while massaging his back. The rules

The JTF must not relent in its swift and steady swoop on the marauders until they are squelched

many of them are committed to the death. One would find it extremely unlikely that they would not make straight for their weapons the moment they are set free.

One would imagine that it would be a celebration as they rejoined their units. In fact, there are reports that the routed elements of the Boko Haram troops are regrouping in parts of the Adamawa mountains, And there are also reports of sabotage among the federal troops, I mean, the war is not ended. The Joint Military Force has done credit to themselves and this nation, but how far have we gone in eliminating the menace of the Boko Haram from our midst? Not until this campaign started did many of us realise that the Boko Haram had even carved out an enclave for itself where a foreign flag had been implanted on Nigerian soil. It was that rooted. The Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation

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of engagement already put in place are adequate and will be effective in taking care of a humane conduct of the conflict.

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here will always be complaint on both sides, of course, but we must trust our forces to be a disciplined body of armed men. We cannot afford to be too mild, for we are face-toface with a foe that will not walk away, but must be driven— chased — away. We are no longer offending anyone by linking them to the religion under whose aegis they profess to commit these atrocities. Even the religion, Islam, openly forbids their methods of operation. It should not all be strange to us. This country witnessed the exploits of Maitatsene and brought them down. The JTF must not relent in its swift and steady swoop on the marauders until they are squelched.

TIme out.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013 — 17

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18—SATURDAY VANGUARD,MAY 25, 2013

He’s very jealous, how can I get him back?

Dear Julie, dated a guy for two years. We recently

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broke up and it’s tearing me up inside. I love him a lot but everytime we got into an argument, I would tell him that I’m leaving.

Eventually he got tired of me saying this and he helped me move. How can I get him back? I left several large items at his home and I have been over there three nights a week since we broke up. Do I continue this cycle in hopes that we will get back together or do I leave him alone? He only calls me maybe twice a week. I normally call him.

He’s very jealous and still says things that let me know he cares but we are still not together like I want. Please help.

Stella Bob-Manuel , Sapele Hello Bob-Manuel, Don’t just resign yourself to wait or leave. Be proactive and communicate on a real deep and meaningful level, and then see what his response is. Take responsibility for your part in what happened. Suggest remedial measures you commit to take. Ask if he is willing to

reconcile with you and give that a shot.

Take responsibility for your part in what happened and do not refer to what you think his part in it was. Stay focused on being honest about yourself.

Many couples fall in love, but split up later because they end up blowing it and do not have the right tools to deal with problems and they never open themselves up to learn what they need to know in order to overcome a problem.

So instead of consciously seeking out and learning the right means to work through issues, things get undealt with and turn into longterm grudges and stuckness. And a marriage seems to get permanently cemented into unhappiness and unfulfillment , tragically unnecessary and quite a waste of good heart and loving potential, simply be-

cause people don’t know the right strategies to get through their issues.

We know all this from personal experience.

In a real sense, we are all taught to think and feel about love in a way that leads us to fail in longterm relationships.

That’s why our divorce rate is sky high, and so many couples are far less happy than they could be.

I feel jealous around his ex...

Dear Julie,

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y boyfriend who is now my fiancee of two years is the love of my life and after some time, I accepted he loves me just as much.

It took me so long to believe he loved me because of his exgirlfriend whom he was with for five years. They are no more together. Whenever I was out with him and she was at the same gig or party, he would always stare at her or go over to where she was standing even if she was with her new man. It really did my head in and so, I continued to ask him why he was doing

it. He said he had no feelings for her and they were ‘just friends’. Now every thing is alright in that department as he has proven to me he loves me now in so many ways and I trust him. The problem is the ex; she bitches about me and I even got turned down from a job because she works in the same company, but it’s not that, it’s just I am so jealous of her: she’s pretty, has nice clothes, a good job and she is so confident. I always compare myself to her and copy her. I can’t help it, I just want her to be jealous of me for a change. I don’t think I am ugly or a bad person. So, what is happening to me? HELP! Monica, Lagos Dear Monica, The issue here is how you feel about you. That is the entire issue. See it in that light, and you can begin to solve it.

The solution will not be found in your fiancee’s love. Nor will it be found anywhere outside of yourself. It will not be found in looking at what the ex is saying or doing. It is strictly

between you and yourself.

The only way I know to change one’s relationship with oneself is to find a mentor who can guide you to make new connections in your internal landscape , connections where you can form stronger bonds of self-love with those parts of yourself that feel insecure.

The mental mechanism of making comparisons between yourself and the ex is a product of your own mental - emotional patterns. These patterns live inside of you, inside of your head. Again, the solution is to change those patterns within yourself, and there is no better way than to find a good mentor to help you.

Your problem is a very common one, and with good guidance, you can change your inner worldview. This, in turn, will make everything work better on the outside.

I always find that once a woman makes that shift inside where she learns to connect up her love with those parts of her that need it , everything gets better on the outside — relationships, career, everything.

My partner slams doors and twists whatever I say Aunty Julie, y partner and I have been togeth er for six years.

Over the last year, I have started to feel that I have to tip-toe all the time and be so aware of what I say. A comment I might make about a TV programme or a friend can all of the sudden be blown out of context. He is a ‘devil’s advocate’ and will twist and turn whatever I say. He will slam doors, and mutter and behave in a mentally violent way .

I have explained how frightened this makes me feel, but this only seems to make things worse. I have also tried to confront him and take a dis-

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cussion, but again my words gets twisted, and I end up feeling lower than low. I have tried to say ‘sorry I said that, I did’t mean it like that’, or ‘I didn’t mean it so seriously, it was just a comment’ but this just makes him more furious.

Please help me, as I love this man more than anything.

Bashirat, Lagos Dear Bashirat, It sounds more like you are only one of two people. Are trying to do something better and different and he is resisting as it were? This is a sad indication to me that you do not really have a two-way interest in change and improvement;

that you are acting like the sole agent of positive change, and he is trying to keep things the same, unconsciously destructive, and in his control.

Your attempts to discuss this with him to some extent , to tell him how you feel , are being met with further destructive behaviour on his part. He gets outraged and defensive, and acts this out by attacking you for mentioning anything — as if it is your job to pretend you have no feelings or at least not talk about them if you do. This is not partnership. This is unhealthy.

Anyway, it is the fear of

the other partner which allows the angry, controlling partner to keep acting out their destructive behaviour with no idea that they are risking the relationship and destroying it. When such a partner suddenly loses the relationship, they always say the same thing. It just happened out of the blue.

And they cannot understand why their partner is not willing to ‘work on it’ now that it is over.

Accept him fully as he is, incapable of changing and love him exactly as he is.

Work on your own self-esteem independent of the relationship. Build a life for yourself outside the relationship. Eventually you will

probably be fed by outside friendships, not romances, just genuine supportive people in your life. And you will grow, your self-esteem will improve. Then you will probably leave, because the relationship no longer is the source of what makes you feel good about yourself, or he will leave out of jealousy.

Put an ultimatum before him , one last chance , to participate in positive change or lose you. If he says no, blows up, does the same old pattern, then you know for sure he is absolutely incapable of change and so you do one main important thing. Move on.

C O C K - T A L E S The millionaire A woman was telling her friend: “It is I who made my husband a millionaire.”

“And what was he before you married him?” the friend asked. The woman replied, “A multi-millionaire.”

Wrong man At a cocktail party, one woman said to C M Y K

another, “Aren’t you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?” The other replied, “Yes, I am. I married the wrong man.”

Marriage cost A little boy asked his father, “Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?” And the father replied, “I don’t know son, I’m still paying for it.”

Happiness When a newly married man looks happy, we know why. But when a ten-year married man looks happy, we wonder why.

Classified A man inserted an ‘ad’ in the classified : “Wife wanted”. The next day, he received hundreds of letters. They all said the same thing “You can have mine.”

SATURDAY Vanguard MAY 25, 2013—19

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A few hours into the party, the seemingly love-birds were still going at it as if they were on stage. Then this sprawling man came in, looking a bit lost. “May I help you?” asked the celebrant. “Yes,” boomed the man for all to hear. I’ve come to collect my wife.”

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Once in a while, love rats get their just deserts!

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AGOS is definitely an exciting place,” said this charm ing lady I once sat next to at a birthday bash. “My hus band has just been transferred to Lagos from the Abeokuta branch of his office and I dreaded the things that could happen to my social life in Lagos. I needn’t have worried,”she said enthusiastically. “Before now, outings in our former station had been strictly for couples. Single girls seldom show up at social functions alone and whenever we had tiffs, my husband would rather dig his feet in the living room and than take me to a function that I had spent weeks planning and looking forward to as a sort of punishment. ‘It, therefore, came as a breath of fresh air when we moved back to Lagos and discovered that not only did ladies saunter in and out of heavy parties in each other’s company, they always outnumbered and outsprayed the men and stayed as late as they wished without worrying their pretty heads about how their— husbands felt. For all you know, such’ husbands’ are either non-existent or are out with other interesting ‘“discoveries’.

No matter what criticisms you have against this type of freedom, it is still good for the female psyche. You go out to let off steam and not necessarily to be mischievous as most men want to believe.

“The fun of going out on your own or with your friends is to flirt with the opposite sex when the Opportunity arises”, declared Gladys, a business woman who’s been married for years but prefers to go out alone. When it is a family affair though, her better half rears his useful head. “My family is comfortable,” she continued, “so food and booze are never the consideration when I go out. My friends enjoy healthy gossip and we revel in that.

Also, we meet a lot of interesting men who have successfully jettisoned their wives or partners and we all get together to ones you tuck into a corner ‘rap’. The men say a lot of that only you have access to. rubbish they dare not reWho knows what could depeat in the presence of velop from such cards? their wives and we tease them endlessly on how uch ADC-less outings relaxed they are away could go awfully wrong from their matrimonial at times though. At a retireshackles. ment party sometimes ago, a “My husband wouldn’t socialite and multimillionaire even think of me talking came in and saw this lady in such a brazen way. I’m radiating charm, elegance always on my best and rare beauty. He was behaviour when he is knocked for six. He arranged around and this could be to be seated near his object quite a yawn. What man of fancy. The gods were on in his right senses would his side too — PHCN had just flirt with a lady who has a done its stuff and Sir Galahad scowling partner, what we sat, looking at the girl, engit 0151—ls referred to as thralled. Once in a while, as an ADC, by her side when he whispered sweet nothings there are other intelligent, to her, he mopped sweat from attractive and fancy-free her lovely face. He even hiwomen to talk to? And you jacked another lady’s hand never know who you run fan for the lucky girl’s beninto. Most of the business efit. What a good diversion cards we get are promptly from the unease PHCN had thrown out of the car wincaused! Most eyes were on dows on the way home or the couple, wondering where conveniently left at the all these would lead to. party. The few interesting

Most eyes were on the couple, wondering where all these would lead to

jewel being whisked away by her rightful owner. For a moment, you could hear a pin drop. Then some of the men who’d been green with envy; started crackling and sniggering, their wives became a bit more relaxed and slightly sympathetic towards the poor Romeo who didn’t know where to put his face. ‘What a fortune man’ he grudgingly admitted, “in my days, no man walked away with a lady I was talking to, be he her husband or father!” One thing you don’t assume, when you run into unaccompanied women at pal1ies is that they live alone. This was a lesson Larry, an older member of the bench learnt to his chagrin. “She never gave me the impression that she was a third

Once in a while, as he whispered sweet nothings to her, he mopped sweat from her lovely face

Of course, the wife heard the determined ring in her husband’s voice and shot out from her seat. You guessed right — it was’ Juliet’, the man had come for. Romeo’s face was comical as he watched his

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‘ wife’ living on the largesse of her ’ husband’ when I met her at a cocktail party.” He said of his recent experience from his latest ‘find’. “‘When she told me she didn’t

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have transport, I almost did a happy jig.

Naturally, I offered her a lift and saw her to her door. Unfortunately, her ‘husband’ had already let himself in.

H e was livid when e saw me and because I was a bit tipsy, my reflexes were not as sharp as they used to be. Before I could gather my wits about me, he pounced on me and was really pummeling me. ‘By the time I’m through with you’ he threatened, ‘ you will never go after another man’s wife again’. The blows continued to fall.

‘Hey, man you’ve got it all wrong,’. I tried to explain, but he wouldn’t listen. I had no choice but to defend myself “Minutes later, when I staggered downstairs, my driver who was already relaxed expecting a long wait, took one look at my tattered agbada and hurriedly stal1ed the car without saying a word. You win some and you lose some, but no man wants to be surprised!

If we’d had one or two outings, the bashing I got that night might be worth the bother! But to have to go through that baptism of fire for committing no offence really, rankled!” h

Six things you can put into your mouth - to gi ve you a b oo st! giv boo oos

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utrition experts believe that stimulating your tongue and lips with these treats will up the levels of the body’s feel-good chemical, serotonin.

1. Chocolate: Who doesn’t feel a buzz after eating a chocolate?

Oysters, brazil nuts and frankfurter sausages are rich sources.It’s supposed to improve your sex life too 2. Your lover’s tongue: A passionate kiss can instantly melt away stress.

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3. Alcohol:Small amounts give you a lift.

But too much will have

the opposite effect.

4. Zinc:An essential element in our diets. Oysters, brazil nuts and frankfurter sausages are rich sources.It’s supposed to improve your sex life too.

5. Curry:Not to everyone’s taste, but it does give you a delicious tingling sensation

around the lips and tongue.

6. St. John’s Wort: A herbal remedy to beat the blues. It doesn’t work immediately but will help to increase serotonin levels in the longer term.

Avoid this if you’re taking the Pill or other medication.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25 25, 2013 ary had been married to Jim for 12 years when she discovered a necklace in his jacket pocket. She was surprised at first, but put it away and forgot about it. Several months later, Jim asked if she had found a necklace and described the one she had stumbled upon months earlier. Jim told Mary that he had found it at work the day before and needed to return it to office security.

Now Mary became alarmed. Not only was Jim carrying around a woman’s necklace, but he was lying to her as well. She then remembered seeing an odd telephone number appearing repeatedly on his cellphone. She also noted that their usual pattern of intimacy had ceased around the time she found the necklace. Jim said he was tired from working overtime at the office.

Mary became hostile toward Jim, but never addressed his lying, nor did she approach him with her suspicions about an affair. Instead, she showed her disapproval through her behaviour, alternating between emotional distance and irritability.

As Mary’s anger grew, Jim began to justify the affair in his own mind. He reasoned that he was entitled to the affair, since Mary had been treating him in a cold, hostile manner. 'Mary has been shutting me out', he explained and, indeed, she had.

Mary’s response is fairly typical. IniThis pattern continued for several tially, she denied the problem, overmonths until, one day, Mary received looking obvious clues that something a phone call from the distraught hus- was wrong in her marriage. band of the woman with whom Jim Spouses in denial, like Mary ofwas having an affair. By that time, ten remain aware of the indiscretion Mary and Jim were barely speaking on another level and, in response, to one another. Their emotional hostil- may behave in a cold, angry manner. ity was apparent to their two young Some by-pass the denial stage and daughters, who had become disrup- become enraged or depressed upon tive at home. discovering the affair. Others enter a The discovery of an affair is often a state of shock, finding it difficult to traumatic, stressful experience, and follow a daily routine. Their concen-

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Is your guy betraying you?

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’ ve been living with a guy for about three years. I have been with him in a relationship for almost two years.

His wife and mother of his kids died three years ago but from what his side of the family told me and what the kids told me, they never had to do anything anyway.They have no chores or repercussions ever! The house is disgusting. I'll clean for hours and by the time they get home, you wouldn’t even know that I did. His son is failing in school but yet, can sit on the computer all weekend instead of doing his work. His daughter is terribly spoiled and is becoming more nasty by the day. Her grandparents on her dad’s side are growing more concerned by the day as I

tration may become poor, and they often forget what they are doing in the middle of a task. They may head to the market and wind up at the bank.

Sleep and appetite changes are common. Some people become ravenous and others lose the desire to eat much of anything.

As the shock wears off, obsessive ruminating about the details of the affair may begin. The betraying partner and others may find listening to this repeated recitation of facts and

conjectures grueling. Suspicions are heightened and the betrayed partner often demands a full itinerary of their spouse’s daily activities. There may also be bouts of crying as the full weight of the betrayal is experienced.

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f course, the marital partners are not the only ones to suffer. As can be seen in the case of Jim and Mary, affairs affect every member of the family, including the children.

About 30 percent of those who experience a marital crisis of this type become clinically depressed. Symptoms of depression include the loss of interest and pleasure in life along with several of the following symptoms: irritability, sadness, bouts of crying, as well as changes in appetite, sleep patterns, and activity levels. Problems with concentration are frequently reported, along with feelings of guilt and worthlessness. Decision-making can become impaired. Suicidal ideas or thoughts can arise and are reasons to seek help at once. The severity of the depression and its duration must also be considered.

Most affairs happen when there have been problems in the marriage for some time. Most couples will make some attempts to improve the situation on their own, since it is very difficult to maintain a hostile atmosphere for long, either beginning the reconciliatory process or initiating plans to live separately. In many cases, however, outside intervention is necessary.

Mary had to undergo counseling and through it, she was able to achieve personal stability .

Jim and Mary waited until they were on the brink of divorce and their children were affected before seeking help. It would have been wiser to seek help earlier. If you or a person you love is being affected by an affair, seek counseling.

Am I wrong to give up on my guy and his three kids? am. But they run this house and since he doesn’t want them disciplined, I have pretty much removed myself from everything. I’ve become depressed and only really see my boyfriend when he comes to bed. He wants me to care for them but there will be no discipline. They have no respect for me because of that. I have a 14 yr old son who has been through a lot. He does not live with us. My guy’s oldest child is begging for normalcy . I feel so bad for these kids.

And it’s what’s causing tension between their father and I. He gets defensive if I bring it up. I love him so much. He’s 41, I’m 32. We’ve both been through a lot but even if I was an

*Femi, 40, single, Yoruba, graduate, divorcee with two male children,resident in Ibadan, is searching for a seriousminded lady who is elegant and from any part of the world for a relationship that would lead to marriage on 08034019208 08068747575

outside party, I'd still want the kids to get help. I don’t know where else to turn. Please help.

Benita, Port-Harcourt Ans: Dump this ungrateful guy! And because of his poor parenting and ungrateful attitude, his children have learned it as well.

So, it is time to dump this ungrateful, disrespectful, advantage-taking bunch. You can’t help people who don’t want help. It is unfortunate, but he’s not going to change, nor does he want your help in the matter. All the help he wants from you is to

be his maid.

If you stay, shut up about it because you’ve chosen to stay

and can’t complain and thereby get what you deserve. Yeah, you love him but he certainly isn’t treating you with love.

And only when you know you deserve better will you get out of this dead-end relationship.

Hell, he hasn’t even married you, yet the way he treats you says it all. Plus, I bet the kids have told him he better not since they have nothing but disgust for you. Don't put up with this garbage or crappy relationship.

Ogun-State, single, wants to meet a certified professional lady of above 35 years who is also single on 08164178084 •Henry, male, from Anambra, based in Abuja, graduate, fair, is searching for a lady of 23-31 who also lives and works in Abuja on 08033723650

*Uli,33, from Yala, Cross-River State,wants a wealthy •Segun, 38,businessman,graduate, resident at Ifo, lady, preferably a divorcee or a widow of 18-38 on 08121444610 Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want •Murphy, 34, from Edo State, Christian, lives and works in Lagos, needs a Godfearing tall, slim lady for a marriage-bound Do you want to be linked? relationship on 07030842596 Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting •Onyemaechi, from Ebonyi State, wants to to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal informameet a Godly lady of 20-30 who is employed tion of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for and from Delta or Edo State for marriage on

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•Vincent,male, 32, from the South-East, employed, needs a working class lady from the South-East of 23-25 for relationship on 08099138605

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013—21

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IRST comes love, then comes marriage, then come a few years of satisfying sexuality.

Then the sex slows and sometimes even stops. Your husband turns away from you in bed. You lie next to him, wanting him still, wondering if this is normal. Time passes. Other men tempt you. You consider leaving, but you choose to stay. He is still your best friend, and in most ways the relationship works. But are you happy?

There are more sexless marriages than we think, and many of them are happy. You may be in one of them.

And it may be okay.

“But wait!” you might be thinking.

“Isn’t intimacy a barometer of a healthy relationship?” Well, it may be somewhat heretical for a sex and relationships expert to say this, but…no, not necessarily.

Psychologists and sex therapists talk to people about their lives. The message has always been that when couples don’t see eye to eye about their sex life, it can lead to problems. It’s important to talk about any disconnect, and whether you both want to make creating sexual passion a priority. However, the only thing people find more shameful than talking about their intimacy life is admitting they don’t have one at all and that they’re fine with it. But here’s a new message: For some couples, intimacy is not important and they should stop worrying about it.

apist. It’s important for both of you to realize that it will be difficult to rekindle passion after a long time without it but it can be done. You can start by committing to your sexual life the same way that you would a hobby, and make time to make love.

Sometimes, the answer can

Is a sexless marriage okay?

What’s “normal?

Sexless marriage has no single definition. Some experts define “sexless” as falling “anywhere between having no sex at all, to fewer than 10 sexual encounters per year. Researchers estimate that 10 to 20 percent of marriages are completely sexless. In truth, it’s difficult to estimate exactly how many happy low- or no-sex relationships are out there because as sex therapists point out, experts hear only from dissatisfied people. There have been couples of all ages who haven’t had sex in a year, several years or even decades.

Let’s face it. We are in a culture where we want it all and we want it now : love, sex, great kids, meaningful work and a body that stays firm forever. Society nags us with sexualized imagery, subconsciously convincing us that everyone else is doing it like rabbits and we are failures if we are not. But wait a minute. Historically, intimacy was a game for the young: The purpose was procreation and recreation, and it was eventually replaced by other activities

as we got older. It is actually normal for love-making to become less important to a relationship over time.

The couples who seek help for a sexless marriage believe they want sexual passion together. But some of them seek passion only because they believe they are “supposed to” want it. So, if you have little or no sex in your marriage, do you even want to do something about it?

Maybe not. There are couples who are relieved to be told that their low level of sexual activity together may not indicate any problem.

Married or single, some people just have a low sex drive and they may wish to change it, or they may be at ease with it. But is low sex drive a psychological disorder that needs to be fixed?

Hypoactive low sexual desire is a disorder. However, according to experts this should be seen as a disorder only if it is causing distress or dysfunction. In other words, if your low desire doesn’t trouble you, and you are single or partnered with someone who is okay with

ASK THE SEXPERT Will unprotected sex lead to pregnancy?

My wife and I are both 55 years old. She is currently going through menopause, and no longer enjoys sex with a condom.

Will unprotected sex at this stage lead to pregnancy? She hasn’t undergone any operation.

No, there is no way of her getting pregnant without a condom, as she no longer menstruates. But please remember that you need to do indulge in foreplay for a longer period of time, so as to get her excited and lubricated. Also, use a lubricant like hair oil.

I’m losing my sex drive

I am 49 years old. I feel I am losing my sex drive. My manhood isn’t stiff enough during intercourse. Please suggest some tablet or anything that could help me get

C M Y K

it, you don’t have a problem. Most people who forgo love-making still have typical and healthy human needs for touch, cuddling and intimate emotional connection. They just don’t equate sex with happiness. If your marriage lacks sex, you fall into one of three categories.

* Both of you want intimacy back in the relationship

If you both want sex to be part of your relationship again, you can reawaken passion with the help of a ther-

be an easy one and sometimes it can take a year of explorations for you to get the passion back.

* Only one of you misses having intimacy

Even if you are content with your sexless marriage, it’s important that you clarify that your spouse feels the same way. Broach the topic gently. Once you have acknowledged the elephant in the room and if you are both willing to keep things as they are, the elephant can stay, and even be befriended. While one of you might miss sex sometimes, you also realize that you gain many things from your marriage. In other words, having sex and having a great relationship do not need to go together, and you may choose little or no sex as a trade-off for an otherwise deeply fulfilling partnership. If, however, one of you admits that you would like more intimate contact, you need to figure out whether you can meet that need in ways other than sexual. For example, do you seek connection and physical pleasure?

There are sexless couples who gave each other massages as a way to physically connect.

* Both of you are fine with being sexless

If the sexless state of your marriage is not a big deal for either of you, you fall into the third category. Your previous level of sex drive may have waned naturally, or perhaps you never were sexually motivated by your spouse. After all, people marry for multiple and complex reasons, not just for sex. In the end, love is a very personal thing. All that really matters is that you are both happy, whether you are passionately hot, gently warm, or snuggly and sexless.

Things e o do in front evver eryy guy is afraid tto of his woman some wives don’t care about farting It had been listed that things such as farting or taking a dump is quite amusing and definitely rang a bunch of true points from experience. That experience had been the lot of many marriages though

the desired stiffness and retain it.

After 40, erections are never as strong as two years before. Indulge in foreplay. Get yourself a medical check up. Try Vigomax Forte, one tablet, twice a day, for a month. Take it on an empty stomach with milk or water. If you do not get the desired result after the medication, see a sexologist .

I ‘ve grown wider

I am 40 years old and I have two daughters. My husband is amazing but the problem is that he wants to have sex twice or thrice a week. I don’t like having it as often.

Also, I have noticed that my vagina has grown wider due to many years of sex . Is that the reason why I don’t enjoy sex ? What can I do to tighten it to make sex pleasurable?

Visit a gynaecologist to confirm your doubts. You may be suggested a vagina-tightening operation.

Meanwhile, learn kegel exercises by looking them up on the internet, as they will exercise the muscles around your vagina.

or burping which many happen to enjoy.

There are some things that men are afraid to do in front of women such as:

Troll around on Facebook

This one is equal for both sexes. While many couples freely go on Facebook in front of each other, there’s always that one profile you see that makes you think “why are they talking to this person?” Facebook is one of the largest causes for divorce these days, so there’s definitely reason for concern.

Show that they are in real pain

Lifting boxes. Lifting groceries. Any kind of lifting. Any kind of sport. Any kind of anything. If a man smashes an arm against a table and is writhing in pain, a 100% of the time, they don’t let on how much it really hurts. It’s just their nature.

Cry

It’s sad but it’s true. While some men don’t have any reservations about crying in front of their wives, others would rather avoid it. The plain and simple reason is that they want to be her protector and that involves being strong.

Crying generally means weakness for most men. Although that’s not true, men would rather not shed tears in front of a lady.

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Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

he most important intervention in empowering people with disability is the provision of appropriate mobility aids and appliances. By so doing, they are equipped, encouraged and well motivated to ‘test the waters of life’.

This gesture bolsters their self esteem, and a sense of ‘I can be’ belief is born in them. Not only are they able to move about more freely and independently, they are also well integrated into the fabric of society and are made more socially, economically and politically relevant to themselves, their families and the society .

It is always a commendable gesture for non government organizations to invest in the lives of the disabled. It is an investment because, by empowering these persons with disabilities, meaning is given to their lives, and they are able to find their place in the society and also contribute their quota to the process of nation building.

O

ur door at MAARDEC (Mobility Aid and Appliances Research and Development Centre) is always open to partner with any and all such bodies, who believe in the enormous potentials that can be harnessed by empowering and mainstreaming persons with disabilities in society.

This well underpins our mission statement/corporate and organizational objective, which is to empower people with disabilities, through the provision of innovative and affordable mobility aids and appliances and complimentary services, to ensure that they are socially, economically and politically

crutches, and 120 walking frames; and the following states have been penciled down for these mobility aids and appliances in this first phase: Abia, Nasarawa, Edo, Akwa-Ibom, and Ondo States. Other states will be covered in the subsequent phases. In this revived partnership, MAARDEC will seek for counterpart funding from beneficiary states or other stake holders to cover the following: 1)Cost of clearing and transportation of the container of mobility aids to our storage.

A strat egic par tner ship re viv ed strategic partner tnership reviv vived relevant in the society.

It is often said; there is ability in disability. Hence the theme of one of our reach-out programmes sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) Charities tagged “celebrating ability in disability” where one thousand wheelchairs were procured and

,

22—SATURDAY

It is often said; there is ability in disability

distributed free to indigent Nigerians with disabilities across Nigeria.

T

and FCT Abuja where they were distributed to the beneficiaries from various parts of the country.

MAARDEC also organized workshops, awareness campaigns and seminars prior to the presentation of the wheelchairs, and most importantly, professionals from MAARDEC were on hand to ensure

he wheelchairs were imported into the country by the LDS Charities, and they also funded the clearing of the wheelchairs from the ports while MAARDEC took care of all other logistics such as: haulage of the consignments from the port to our storage, and from our storage to the venues in Lagos, Imo, Anambra

,

that the wheelchairs were properly fitted to those who needed them according to the WHO and USAID guidelines.

This very important partnership which ran from 2005 to 2007 has now been revived and revitalized this year, with 845 (eight hundred and forty five) mobility aids and appliances, comprising; 245 wheelchairs, 280 pairs of armpit crutches, 200 pairs of elbow

The Headstand T

he Headstand, one of the most potent postures, is often referred to as the “King of the Asanas” because of its manifold mental and physical benefits.

Many rightly see it as a panacea for all human ailments. If you have only a short time for practice, and want to maximize the benefits, do the Headstand.

In this inverted position, at least 90 per cent of the body weight should rest on the elbow. Hardly any pressure should be taken by the head or neck.

Technique: To perform the head-stand, sirshasana in sanskirt, get on your knees, interlacing the fingers, place the hands on the floor in front of you. Lean forward and place the head on the floor and supporting its back with the interlaced fingers. With the help of the feet raise the hips up in the air. Now, raise the feet and bend the knees until stillness is obtained standing on the head. Straighten the legs rather slowly until the whole body is in a straight vertical line.

Benefits: •Gives the heart a well deserved rest, as gravity helps to return venous blood to the heart.

• Regular practice helps to strengthen the respiratory system and the circulation, keeping them flexible and slowing down the rate of breathing and the heartbeat when at rest, • The body is generally enhanced by the deep breathing and the brain, spine, and entire nervous system receive a rich supply of nutrients. This refreshes and rejuvenates the entire body.

Yoga Classes @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos. 9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

C M Y K

2) Cost of transportation of the mobility aids from our storage to the states for distribution.

3) Logistics for the selection of the beneficiaries.

4) Logistics for distribution in the states, including per diem for the participating professionals.

5) Publicity for the project.

There is a world of difference to be made by empowering persons with disabilities, for they are laden with immense potentials that if properly harnessed, would contribute significantly to the growth of the economy and ultimately to national development. We at MAARDEC would like to use this medium to thank the Latter Day Saints Charities and all other partners and sponsors who have supported our course and helped us keep the dream of empowering persons with disabilities in Nigeria .

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013—23

A

Fortunately, not all lumps are cancerous

lump is one of the common signs of breast cancer.

Fortunately, not all lumps are cancer, but all lumps do need to be evaluated. A woman must watch for any changes in how your breasts look or feel. The most common benign lumps are cysts, fluidfilled sacs, lumpy areas of tenderness that often occur when your period is about to start, and fibroadenomas, which feel like firm nodules but usually aren’t painful.

Any of these following signs are significant: a change in the shape or size of the breast; an area that feels thick; a dimpled or puckered appearance to the skin; an itchy, scaly area; nipple discharge; pain in one spot; swelling or redness of the breast; or an inverted (pulled inward) nipple, if it has never appeared that way before.

Antiperspirants and deodorants

Family history

Simply being a woman is the main risk factor for

•Examination of breast cancer rates among women who had surgery that blocked lymph drainage from breast tissue... developing breast cancer.

About 70 to 80 percent of women who get breast cancer don’t have a family history. For women who do have a family history, it’s not a given fact you’ll develop breast cancer. But you need to assess your individual risks.

This information could save your life

This information may save your life I

t’s very scary when you find out you have breast cancer. You may have found a lump or had an abnormal mammogram and then a biopsy.

Remember that breast cancer is not a medical emergency — a few extra days to ensure that you get the right information and treatment won’t harm you.

Understand your choices and don’t get rushed into a decision you don’t feel comfortable about. Find the best option for your C M Y K

own individual situation. Seek a second opinion.

Find a doctor who works in a team — a surgeon, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist with networks with a cancer centre.

The team should work closely with other specialists, such as a plastic surgeon and a geneticist, and have access to expert nurses and other allied health staff.

African women

While breast cancer is actually less common in Africans than whites, it’s also more deadly.

Evidence suggests that among African women younger than age 40, the incidence of breast cancer is higher than in

,

There are claims that chemicals in toiletries are absorbed through the skin and can interfere with lymph circulation, causing toxins to build up in the breast and result in cancer. There’s absolutely no science behind this claim as several studies have failed to establish a link between breast cancer and antiperspirant and deodorant use.

cancer,” says the American Cancer Society’s Gansler.

“Patients may have died soon afterwards, and some people mistakenly assumed that surgery caused the cancer to spread, when the spread had actually occurred before the operation.

older women

While risk does increase with age, breast cancer can occur at any age. Get clinical exams when you have gynecological check ups, starting at age 20. From age 40 onward, get an exam every year, as well as an annual mammogram.

Under-wire bras

For women who do have a family history, it’s not a given fact you’ll develop breast cancer

whites, and often the tumors are more aggressive. There are also more biologically aggressive tumours and more advanced stages when diagnosed among African women.

Biopsy

This idea may have originated when screening methods and imaging tests weren’t as advanced as they are today. “Years ago, exploratory surgery was common and often found advanced

Small women

,

breasted

Risk isn’t related to breast size or volume at all. Large-breasted women don’t have a greater risk of developing breast cancer.

One important note: While breast size doesn’t affect risk, body size does. Being overweight is linked to a higher risk of developing breast cancer, so try to maintain a healthy weight throughout your lifetime.

Younger versus

Widely-circulated Internet warnings say some bras block lymph flow and prevent the elimination of toxins. But there’s no credible evidence behind this one. Examination of breast cancer rates among women who had surgery that blocked lymph drainage from breast tissue, showed no noticeable increase in breast cancer rates, meaning it’s unlikely that wearing a bra with its minimal (if any) disruption of lymph flow would do so either.

Mammograms

Mammograms are about 80 to 90 percent effective at detecting breast cancer in the earliest stages when it’s easier to treat. But they’re not perfect. Know what’s normal for your breasts. If you find something that makes you uncomfortable, even if you’ve had a normal mammogram recently, see your doctor immediately.

24—SATURDAY VANGUARD, MAY 25, 2013

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013—25

Kinabuti’s 2013 collection @ the Milan week in Lagos F

rench Cognac house Martell, officially launched its prestige range in Lagos, Nigeria with a spectacular event. They proudly captivated fashion

lovers in Lagos by sponsoring its ubber exclusive and stylish fashion show tagged “Milan Fashion Week” which Featured Kinabuti’s 2013 Collection tagged:”Vlisco

Carnival in the Desert”. The event was graciously hosted by the Consular General of Italy in Nigeria, the Honrable Kinabuti Stefano De Leo. contemporary 2013 collection

Kinabuti-Ankara mini with matching boot design2013 collection

Kinabut off shoulder maxi2013 collection

Vlisco Launches Hommage a l’Ar l’Artt Collection With Moms

BY OSCAR OCHIOGU Moms Media, a public relation and marketing consultancy with specialties in understanding the diverse segments of women’s market and Vlisco, a brand that loves and encourages women, are organizing a fashion show tagged “Fashion Show Against Maternal Mortality”.

The event will hold on

Kinabuti 2013 collection

Kinabuti -Ankara floor length 2013 collection

Sunday, 26th May, 2013 at the Four Point by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The fashion show is to create more awareness on rising maternal mortality in Nigeria.

It will feature celebrity moms, moms in business and career moms who will step out as models and walk the runway to express their support for the war against maternal mortality. .

Kinabuti-Ankara mini with matching boot design2013 collection Vlisco-Abimbola Chinemere,Ibunkunoluwa Okonkwo and Adaeze Alilonu

Zaron holds hunger free day

BY PAMELA OGBORO

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eading make-up brand, Zaron Cosmetics Limited, held its first ever ZARON FREE HUNGER DAY at Makoko, Yaba in Lagos State on April 26, 2013. The special one-day event was part of Zaron’s

efforts to give back to society and to celebrate life and the people of Nigeria.

Zaron Cosmetics Limited is respected for its dedication towards improving quality of life. The company does this through the development, marketing, distribution and sale of valuable lifestyle

Workers from the Zaron group C M Y K

products.

The imagination and care for deprived communities by its management led to a successful free hunger day; people were taken care of and fed in the midst of music, gifts and entertainment. It was, indeed, a pleasurable day for the Makoko community.

Children at the event

Children satuting the Zaron cosmetics effort

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

Late Barrister’s London promoter sues Alagbada, Buhari Oloto for N50m

Late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

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ondon based Nigerian music promoter and socialite, Ademola Adegboyega Otolowo,a.k.a Baba has dragged music marketer, Lati Alagbada, and Sikiru Ayinde Barrister ’s former friend, Alhaji Buhari Oloto, to court in a N50million suit for disrupting the sales

of the late fuji maestro’s last album.

In a case filed by his lawyer, Barrister Olawale Balogun of Olawale Balogun and Company, at the Ikeja High Court, Lagos, Otolowo is claiming damages against Alagbada and Oloto, for “disrupting the sales” of Barrister ’s last album titled, ‘ Barrister ’s Last Messages’

D’banj plans to shut down Lagos with another 5-star concert M

ultiple award winning entertainer, D’banj has put plans in motion to shut Lagos down with another fivestar concert, featuring live appearances from some of the finest stars from the continent and beyond as he marks his 33rd birthday anniversary in grand style.

The MOBO and BET-winning hit-maker says, he’s throwing a big, spectacular gig, at Eko Hotel in Lagos, on Sunday, June 23, to launch the debut

•D’banj

DKM album, and celebrate his recent achievements with friends and fans in Nigeria.

The hugely anticipated concert will coincide with D’Banj’s 33rd birthday, and he said, last weekend that fans can expect to catch electrifying performances from him and his friends, including Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 2face Idibia, 2Chainz(USA), Olamide and other local and international

and for “ wrongful and illegal detention, inhuman and degrading treatment, molestation, embarrassment and traumatisation” of his appointed marketer; Hammed Adepoju and Azeez Adisa, an Ilorinbased fuji artiste who allegedly sang in the album.

According to him, contrary to rumours being peddled, he has the right to release the album in Nigeria and abroad; and he disclaimed the notion that it was banned.

“I took them to court because they cannot tarnish my image and expect to go scot-free. As a very close friend of Barrister, I was with him on his sick bed in London and we had a lot of discussions bordering on his life experiences before he died. At a point, he had the premonition of his death and

big names.

The big-budget concert will also feature DB Records acts KaySwitch, JSol, JSleek and others. ’It’ll be my first time in Nigeria and I can’t wait’, 2Chainz says in a video drop released

by D’Banj. ‘My birthday is in September but I’ll act like it’s my birthday’, he adds jokingly. The rapper is mostly known worldwide for his mega hit ‘Birthday S o n g ’ The June 23rd concert, D’Banj says, will be the first in a series of DKM concerts to be staged in collaboration with Ndani TV in Lagos and other parts of the world.

‘We’ve done it all over the world, with the support of our fans everywhere’, said D’banj who performed with Snoop Lion at the MTV All Stars Concert in Durban over the weekend, in South Africa. ‘I know Nigerians have been yearning, and I can’t wait for June 23 to bring Lagos alive and treat my friends to all the new stuff we’ve been working on.’

he insisted on giving a lot of revelations out to his fans in an album as his last message.

That is basically what the album contains and he gave me the right to release it before he passed on,” he said, in a statement made available to Showtime.

He traced the beginning of his relationship with Barrister to when they were children, and maintained that they were very close until his death.

“Barrister and I grew up together in Iwo and I can categorically say that we started a business

relationship together in 1990.

I promoted him severally in the UK and he used to stay at my place in London whenever he was around.”

Otolowo has lived in the UK, building an impressive reputation as a quintessential gentleman and controlling an awe-inspiring portfolio in the entertainment sector with his penchant for investing in the promotion of artistes of African descent, including international event headliners like Koffi Olomide, Awilo Logomba and late Chief Sikiru Ayinde Barrister.

MTN project fame season 6 auditions begin

By IYABO AINA

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frica’s most productive musical reality TV show, MTN Project Fame season six is set to hit the airwaves soon as auditions for the show begin today.

Kicking-off in Monrovia, before moving on to Accra, Freetown and then Nigeria, the audition train will end up in Lagos, in June.

In addition, MTN, the leading telecommunications network provider in the continent, has put in so much effort to make sure each of the audition cities has a taste of stardom as arrangements have been made to hold an ‘All-Stars Concert’, prior to the auditions.

Remarkably, under six years, the musical talent reality show has been the most productive, especially to participants who made it to stardom. The most recent were ‘Kukere’ crooner , Iyanya Mbuk, Praiz who has re-invented the passion for Rhythm and Blues in Africa as well as Chidinma, who just won the KORA Award for Best Female West Africa act and Kesse, who is doing so well in Ghana.

This season, the entire West African sub-region will have the opportunity to see these stars perform in the most thrilling concerts that are expected to inspire and entertain other aspiring talents and all fun-seekers in the sub region.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

•King Sunny Ade

Forbes set to celebrate Jonathan, King Sunny Ade, Onyeka Onwenu, others

•Onyeka Onwenu

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eading lights in media, entertainment, business, innovation, politics and the economy in Nigeria and Africa at large have been earmarked for honour and celebration at a soon coming

event which has been described by analysts and industry watchers as potentially one of the biggest and most prestigious events in Africa in the year 2013.

The landmark event is the launch of EbonyLife TV, Africa’s first global black entertainment channel which is scheduled to hold on Sunday, June 30, in Lagos. A major highlight of the launch

will be the celebration of important personalities who have and continue to have significant influence on the media, entertainment, business, political and economic landscapes of the African continent.

The awards, coming after months of intense research and a thorough verification exercise by Forbes, are being awarded by EbonyLife TV and will be presented by none other than Mr. Steve Forbes of Forbes Media, world renowned establishment which has become an insignia of distinction across the world for recognizing worthy business decision-makers, investors and progressive

individuals for making real impact around the world by stimulating business growth, spearheading innovation, creating employment and influencing great change in the economy of the world, or of their nation.

Among the recipients are President Goodluck Jonathan, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, President Jacob Zuma of the Republic of South Africa and President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda. While Nigerian leader is being honoured for his administration’s support to the nation’s media and e n t e r t a i n m e n t i n d u s t r y, Ghanaian President is being honoured for presiding over a country that is selected as one of the best business friendly countries. Other a w a r d e e s i n c l u d e , To p e Shonubi, Tonye Cole and Ade Odunsi: founders of Sahara Energy Resources Limited for their contribution to the Nigerian O i l a n d G a s i n d u s t r y, Isabel Dos Santos, for being the richest woman in Africa, UzoamakaMaduka, To y i n O d u t o l a , v e t e r a n actress Joke Silva, King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, OnyekaOnwenu, Sir Victor Olaiya, Innocent (Tuface) Idibia and Deola Sagoe.

J.Martins drags Basketmouth, others to studio

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

H

•J.Martins

ighlife guru, J.Martins seems to be on the move again, as he has succeeded in dragging the likes of Comedian, Basketmouth into the studio with him.

J.Martins is on his way to dropping two mind-blowing singles. The first single titled, Touching Body, is a comic song . He explained that the production of the song stemmed from popular demand by his Francophone friends. It will be a collaboration between himself and DJ Arafat.

Nkoli is another song that is popularly on a higher demand by fans. “There’s another song from my last album which is called, Nkoli.

Many people showed a lot of interest in the song when it was dropped, and the clamour for the video became intense.

Now, there’s a remix of the song. But we’ll be releasing the audio first”, he hinted.

Touching Body is relatively a club banger and Nkoli remix, a love song featuring MI, rave of the moment, Phyno and amazingly, Basket Mouth. Nkoli is rendered in smooth and soothing Igbo lyrics but with conjecture of

mesmeric raps from two of industry’s front-liners.

Speaking on the singles, J Martins said, “two audios are coming out this month, thereafter a video will follow

suit in June. Of course, we will shoot part of the video in Lagos and we’re also going to shoot in the United States.

I’m bent on giving my fans something unique.”

Psquare

— 27

Chief Ejike Edom

Zaboom target celebrities for first anniversary

By WILLIAM JIMOH

Z

aboom Chinese Cuisine and bar said, it has concluded plans to bring together celebrities from the movie, music and media industries as part of activities lined-up for the first year anniversary of the hangout.

Addressing journalists last weekend, in Lagos, the Chairman/CEO of the restaurant, Chief Ejike Edom said, the event will hold on the 1st of June, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, where the celebrities will perform to the delight of both customers of the bar and their fans.

“Zaboom was set up in response to President Goodluck Jonathan’s call on all Nigerians in diaspora to come home and invest in the country. This is my own contribution to better the fortune of the good people of this county,” said Chief Edom.

•Savage

Tuface, PSquare,19 others headline Star trek 2013

By CHARLES MGBOLU & OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

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rganisers of the annual music tour, Star trek which shuttles artistes at the top of the chain to several cities in the country has announced the 22 artistes that will be performing on this year’s tour.

2face Idibia, D’banj and Psquare lead the pack of super acts which includes Ice Prince, M.I; rappers Mr Raw, Naeto C, Phyno and Olamide.

Others are Timaya, Sound Sultan, Wande Coal, Obesere, Dr Sid, J Martins, KCee, Tiwa Savage, Seyi Shey, Yinka Best, Kas and Star Quest past winners Juke Box, Da Beatz and Crystalz.

The artistes were unveiled last Wednesday, at Rhapsodys Lounge, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The 10 weeks concert will hold in 10 venues including Lagos, Aba, Enugu, Abeokuta, Lokoja, Nnewi, Asaba.

Festac Town takes the lead

on the 8th of June, Lokoja June 15, Owerri June 22, Enugu June 29, Aba July 7, Nnewi July 13, Asaba July 20, Abeokuta July 27, Agege Aug 03, with the climax of the show holding at Victoria Island on August 10.

Marketing Director, Nigerian Beweries,Mr. Walter Drenth said, the experience of witnessing Star Trek every year has been a fantastic one.

He expressed optimism that this year ’s concert will be even bigger and better.

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

If you don’t have reason for waking up, sleeping becomes interesting — Linus Okorie

that have invested in the leadership capital of their young people.

Therefore, we must as a nation get our leadership right: we need good leaders and leaders for good.

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he advancement of any people or any nation undoubtedly depends largely on ethical leadership. Linus Okorie (a.k.a. Mr. Leadership), president of Guardian of the Nation International (GOTNI) is a young Nigerian that is very passionate about effective leadership. Linus is famous for saying: If you don’t have a reason for waking up, sleeping becomes interesting.Therefore, through a good mix of hard work and smart work, he has grown his organization into an inspiring and enviable one that is already setting the pace for leaders and leaders in the making.

He told his story to Youthful Vibes in Lagos during his media campaign. Excerpts.

many more.

What makes me thick.

My early understanding about what leadership is about in my thinking, laid a strong foundation in my pursuit in life. I had an experience with God early in life and that has kept me focused, consistent, visionary about my idea of being one of those that will help transform our country. My networking capacity has been of great use having had the opportunity of investing directly in the lives of over 40,000 Nigerians.

M

y simple background I was born in Cameron, in a little town called Kumba, South West province. I had my primary education in the same town, I have always been known from that school age as a boy with the appetite for organization, always appointed head of the class, with the job descriptions of writing the names of noise makers. My family owned a small business and struggled to make those businesses work.

I lost my dad when I was in Jss3 and before my father died, one of the last comments he left for my mum was to make sure that I go through school and amount to something. I had already been sent to Nigeria, where I passed the gifted children exam to be admitted at one of the model schools, Government Secondary School Owerri and later on became one of the senior prefects of the school that is

Linus Okorie

I have always seen myself as someone with a great call to share leadership knowledge with millions of people in my generation and generations to come.

My thinking is that leadership affects all segments of the economy now over 75years old. With little or no money, my mum worked so hard and was there every point of the way to ensure I passed through school successfully. Along my path, I was fortunate to meet distinguished Nigerians who encouraged me as well in my

journey to higher education at the Imo State University, where I became the student union president.Dr Chris Asoluka, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa OFR, Dr Ndi Onuekwusi, Eng Charles Okoro, Mr Gamaliel Onosode OFR, Prof. Pat Utomi and

My passion for Leadership For 16years of my life I have been committed to the business of growing leadership capital skills of Nigerians. I have always seen myself as someone with a great call to share leadership knowledge with millions of people in my generation and generations to come. My thinking is that leadership affects all segments of the economy. The lack of leadership values in our nation has brought us poverty, shame and disgrace.

So I vowed to do everything in my power to ensure that the next generation of leaders, will be prepared enough and with great leadership skills help to make our nation work.

The kind of leadership needed in Nigeria We need a leadership that is selfless, visionary with a strong commitment for the concept of the common good.

Nations that have made progress have been nations

About my organization Guardians of the N a t i o n International (GOTNI) is a leadership development organization committed to the grooming of leaders in all sectors of the economy at the heart of our work is the commitment to see a huge advocacy for a new kind of leadership that will impact the common good. We have 15 brands that are taking care of various segments of the youth population from community based youths to the youths in higher institutions and to the ones serving our nation through the NYSC project and many more.

My present assignment Currently on the 14 th and 15 th of June 2013 one thousand of the very best of young Nigerians from all sectors of the economy, from across the nation and in Diaspora, will gather at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja for a two day leadership conference with Prof. John Adair, the professor of leadership in the world and the chairman of the United Nations Leadership Systems to chart a course for our great nation, Nigeria. All young Nigerians who think they are making a difference can apply, by sending their CVs and letter intent to gotning@gmail.com.

Advice My advice to young people will be for us to rise up and invest in our leadership capital, dare to make a difference and synergize with other change agents to change the conversations in the public space from doom and gloom, to hope and the possibilities that lie ahead.

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

JAMES ONYEBUCHI LAGOS STATE

J

ames Onyebuchi is a creative and resourceful entrepreneur who solves footwear problems.

A business Administration undegraduate of Lagos State University who has also undergone various ICT, Leadership, and Entrepreneurial programmes.

James is currently serving as the Director of Operations at Ojames footwears enterprise.

Ojames Footwears solves footwear problems and has helped to raise footwear solution providers among Nigerian youths with the belief that the purpose of footwear is to protect,

complement and preserve the human feet.

Ojames Footwears has set standards in shoe making education, volunteerism in skill acquisition and vocational training around Nigeria.

James is working towards establishing a footwear Academy in Nigeria With his quest and desire to affect lives positively through his footwear industry, he came up with a charitable

•James

Onyebuchi

initiative called ‘’Ability In Disability’’ (AID Initiative).

An NGO that has a vision to train and empower people with disabilities on skill acquisition and Entrepreneurship with its main focus on footwear.

He has an optimistic approach to life, and he likes to work with people who love to win. He says: “If I cannot find any of them, I look for people who hate to fail.”

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I prefer dating white guys to Nigerian men — Cynthia Agholor

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ynthia Agholor will tell anyone who cares to listen that she has been having a won derful ime in Nollywood even though she started acting as a child many years ago. What has not been kind to her, as Cynthia is certain to tell you, is the media who have continued to spread negative stories about her.

Beautiful, busty and brainy, Cythia is a simple woman who will rather have a glass of wine instead of going all the way even with the man of her dream, out of wedlock. In this chat with Showtime Celebruity, she opens up on variety of scandals trailing her career and why she prefers dating a white guy to a blackman.

By AYO ONIKOYI

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here did you grow up and what was it like growing up?

I grew up here in Lagos at Ebute Metta. Though I can’t speak Yoruba fluently but I understand the language. I didn’t get to mingle freely with Yoruba people because we lived on Herbert Macaulay Road where we don’t have many Yorubas.

I attended St. Jude Primary and Secondary Schools, in Ebute Metta. During my Secondary school days, I travelled to Aba to sojourn briefly with my aunty. I sat for my JSCE in Aba before returned to Lagos for my SSCE. Within this period I have been into acting. Then as a child I was in “Tales By Moonlight”, “Kiddies Vision 101”. I have been doing all these kiddies stuffs with NTA since my Primary School days. The only period I had a break from acting was when I went to Aba to stay with my aunty. I also stopped acting for a while when I got an admission into Federal Polytecnic, Oko, in Anambra State. When I was in Oko, I did a bit of modelling because modelling was a lot easier than acting. While acting takes you from one place to place, you can do modelling within the area you are based.

After my education and the National Youth Service Corps in 2006, I came back to Lagos and since then, I have been doing one job or the other.

Now, I am an actress and a C M Y K

producer.

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here is a belief that some stars worked their way through; while others either slept their way through or simply got lucky. What worked for you?

Right now I wouldn’t even call myself anything. Whatever happened to anyone in this life God must have allowed it

Sex has the real pleasure when you are doing it without any form of fear to happen. I only thank God for taking me where I am today. When I was growing up in the industry I had friends that are now bigger than I am.

Someone like Genevieve Nnaji, we all grew up together in the industry and we were like friends, moving around from one place to another, looking for jobs but today she is everywhere in the world. That is how God has decided to bless her. Because I am not like her today doesn’t mean anything

Cynthia to me.

To me, the way I am now is the way God wants me to be.

Whatever anybody is in the industry; whether you worked your way, slept your way or got lucky it is the destiny God has fashioned for you.

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ne actress once told me that it is impossible to go through the industry without being sexually harassed.

How true is that?

Yes, it is not exactly untrue but it all depends on how you conduct yourself. Sexual harassment is always there, not only in the movie industry but everywhere. Even though it is

always there it is not a must that everyone must experience it. Maybe, she was unlucky to have met those randy producers and directors but there are decent people also.

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n your own case, did you ever encounter such ugly incident?

Well, in those days when we were growing up in the industry there is no lady or young girl that would say she didn’t encounter sexual harassment in one form or another.

Even me, I had my experience but I shrugged it off and made the person understand I didn’t come into the industry

for that. When the person wouldn’t budge I left that production for another production where I knew they were decent people. Thank God, I met some decent producers and directors who featured me without harassing me.

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s a well-endowed woman, would you say that has helped your career?

(Laughing) I really don’t know but judging from some of the roles I have played it could be as a result of my endowment. Like the recent movie I did the producer actually wanted me to show off my boobs, he said to really compliment the role of a husband snatcher.

Even the one I’m doing right now

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in Ibadan I’m playing the role of a seductress. Anyway, most producers have featured me in roles that portrays me as a sexy character. But really I don’t know, maybe if I’m not well-endowed they wouldn’t have been starring me in such roles.

What do you really think enriches one as an actress, beauty and talent?

I will choose talent over beauty or appearance. There’s no way you will look as a human being that you will not have a role to play. Regardless of your looks, if you are very talented they might create a role for you, from there you can be a big star. And I will not call appearance into it now and I will not say beauty because there are many beautiful girls out there who are not talented and they are just there, not making it. And there are some ladies who are disadvantaged by their looks but are making it because of their talents.

Have you ever had a romantic relationship within the industry?

No. why?

I just don’t want to.

So, you have never been approached or what?

Of course, I have had several approaches but in the film industry where we are I see everybody as my brother. Maybe, it’s a principle, I just don’t want to date anybody within the industry.

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here

has

been

many scandals about you. How have they affected your career?

At first, when I started reading untrue, scandalous things about me, as a human being I was depressed. I would feel so bad that I would want to know the person who wrote the piece but at a point when I realised it wouldn’t just stop , it just didn’t bother me any more.

I am who I am and whoever knows me know who I am. It has not affected my career in any way and I am consoled by the fact that God knows the truth.

There was a rumour some time ago that you fought with Cossy Orjiakor in public and got yourselves stripped?

That was a very big lie but then what do I do. I heard it but had to overlook it because that was a very big lie. Even at the end of the day, the person that wrote the story came to apologise to me. The journalist said she just wanted to make noise. For me, it’s a bygone, I wouldn’t do that with anyone let alone Cossy. Cossy is my friend. I never had a fight with even my enemy.

The report was trying to paint a picture that you and Cossy were in competition with each other over whose boobs are bigger and finer

(laughing): I never knew that.

I think I am hearing that for the first time. Cossy is my friend.

We never quarrelled even during the time we lived together.

At a time, she was staying with me and later moved into her own house. When some people see two people being friends they just imagine things and write stuffs about them. Me and Cossy are still friends till date.

Can you marry a married man like some of your colleagues in the industry are doing?

Oh, what a question! I wouldn’t marry a married man because the man is married. I can only marry such a man if he is divorced. If the man is divorced he is no longer married, then I can marry him with or without children. There is nothing wrong in a man having children. If the person is nice and we are compatible, why not? I don’t mind

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o, what will attract you to a man?

First, the man has to be very humble, Godfearing and truthful. I don’t see why two people in a rela-

I don’t see why two people in a relationship should lie to each other, I like people to always tell me the truth regardless of the situation. I think that is the major thing that attracts me to a man, I like surprises tionship should lie to each other. I like people to always tell me the truth regardless of the situation. I think that is the major thing that attracts me to a man. I like surprises. Instead of telling me things to elevate yourself let me find out and be surprised. I love men who are humble.

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hat

do you first consider before picking up a role?

The story. I love good storylines. If the story is not so good I can call the producer and make suggestions because I am a writer too. If the person doesn’t want to take corrections I could drop the script. I really love doing something very interesting. It is not all about mon-

ey all the time, sometimes, it is just about giving people something to remember you by.

What’s your idea of sex generally. How often should it be done?

I think sex is good when someone is married. You know, you do it without fear of committing a sin or committing adultery. Sex is something every couple , married couple, should do, probably, everyday, I don’t know, probably every time they are moved to do it.

Sex has the real pleasure when you are doing it without any form of fear. I’m not saying unmarried people should not engage in sex because there is nothing I will say that will make them stop but somebody like me, every time I do it I always feel bad that I’m sinning against God. Even before sex I feel frigid because there is always that looming fear that I’m not doing what is right. That is for me, I don’t know about any other person. If I’m married to the man then I will feel very free and enjoy it very well.

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ou and E l v i s Lamptey, a Ghanaian producer, you are reportedly dating, what went wrong, they said you dumped him for another lover?

Yeah, I have never reacted to that story! Who will believe me if I say I don’t know anybody called ‘Elvis Lamptey ’. I don’t know how they came up with that, maybe because I went to Ghana to shoot a couple of films.

Please, I don’t know anyone by that name. The only Elvis I know is Elvis Chuks, a Nigerian director and actor. He has been my friend for years and there has never been any romantic involvement between us.

When I read the story online, I was shocked.

The only Elvis I know I haven’t seen for a long time. Even at that, I don’t feature in his film because we don’t even get to see each other. The last time, I saw him was at an event and he was like “Cynthia, where have you been all these years?”.

That day he introduced me to the girl he wanted to marry.

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he report said you dumped the Elvis Lamptey for one Udofia Ugoo, who is a US based entertainment promoter...

(Cuts in): honestly, that is another big lie. I don’t know anybody by that name too. What is bad about the whole thing is that I am in a big relationship and if the man doesn’t know me very well, he might be thinking I am doing something else somewhere. It is not fair. It is very wrong for people to just concoct things that never happened and slam it online to tarnish your image and disturb your life. The only Udofia I know is Cornel, the publicist. I have never known any other person by that name.

You once dated a White guy and there was an interview where you said you regretted dating a White guy...

(Cuts in) that was years ago.

Did I ever say I regretted dating the guy? That was a long time ago and now that I am more mature I will say White guys are better. For one, they wouldn’t break your heart unnecessarily. If you want me to compare I will say White guys are better lovers because of their truthfulness.

What if we look at the difference between the two in bed.

Which would you say is better?

(Laughing) oh, what a question! Well, it depends on how you go about it. A man is a man.

I am not saying that Black men are not blessed naturally more than the whites. They seem to be more endowed but then it still depends on how you go about it. You can get whatever you want from the white man depending on how you go about it.

So, what are you working on now?

I am still working on a soap opera that will be finished soon.

Five episodes have already been shot. Season one is already out, we are working on season two and three and we are planning to release them together. We are also planning another movie that will be screened in cinemas. I have a partner I am working with.

Those are the ones I am doing on my own. I am also working with other producers on variety of jobs.

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Nigerians don't seem to value human life —‘Yemi Adamolekun

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emi Adamolekun is the Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EIE), a coalition of individuals and youth-led organisations committed to instituting a culture of good governance and public accountability in Nigeria through advocacy, activism and mobilization of the youth population as responsible citizens. Leveraging on technology especially social media, EIE has continued to mobilize significant participation from citizens. The coalition includes: The Future Project, EME, Chocolate City, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) and Education as a Vaccine against AIDS (EVA), among many others.

Birthed in 2010 out of the numerous issues that were affecting the country, EIE alongside other organisations is determined to make a change in Nigeria.

In this chat with Esther Onyegbula, she talks about corruption, Baga crisis and other sundry issues.

Talking about corruption We keep talking about corruption in Nigeria like Nigeria is the only corrupt country. There is corruption in China, the US and many other countries, but they still function. Now they function because when people are caught, they pay a price, which rarely happens here. Our own brand of corruption has stifled development.

For instance they say Ibori bribed his way out of a conviction in Nigeria but got caught in the UK. In an average church, if an usher steals from the offering basket, I can guarantee that at least ten people will call the pastor by evening begging for mercy. We beg, Ibori bribed, what is the difference? The usher didn’t go to jail, Ibori didn’t go to jail. Who paid the price? Nobody! So unless we look beyond corruption simply as the receiving and taking of bribes and begin to look at the resulting impunity, we’ll miss the real issue. If it is clear that if I commit X crime, I will spend twenty years in jail, it will affect my decision. But when I know that if I break any law, all I need to do is to settle someone and go free, where’s the disincentive?

One of our most celebrated convictions in the fight against corruption, DSP Alamesiagha, just got pardoned. What message does that send? What drives corruption here is that people know when they commit crimes, there won’t be a price to pay and this is showcased daily in government institutions and it has become a fabric of our society; a way of life. So it is the function of both the judiciary and Nigerian citizens. We talk about corruption as something that is out there, but it is the way that we live our lives. We beg, we plead, and just expect people to look over things. And when they put their foot C M Y K

down, people think that they are hard or being mean. Our institutions

What drives corruption here is that people know when they commit crimes, there won’t be a price to pay and this is showcased daily in government institutions and it has become a fabric of our society; a way of life continue to fail, but institutions do not create themselves; they need people. So until we demand more of our governance structures and there’s increased accountability in all sectors, corruption will continue to hamper development.

Current security issues The unfortunate thing is that we are now normalizing violence and the deaths of innocent people. We debate the casualty figures and then move on as if the lives don’t matter, and that is a very scary place to be. Take the incidence in Baga, news reports and human rights agencies say at least 185 people died, but the presidency say it’s about 25 people. Can the presidency tell us the names of each person that died? With real names and stories, you can’t argue about the death toll.

Apart from the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, in the other killings, I don’t believe the President has addressed a press conference solely on the state of insecurity in the nation. In other press conferences where he has referred to the issue, we have not heard him mention the names of the victims except the October bombing at the UN building, where the UN had records of all their

employees. That is the only reason we had records of the exact number of persons involved. The presidency doesn’t have the details of even the 25 person they claim died in Baga.

Map the issues from Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Abuja and a month ago, in Lagos, where an attempt to bomb some major landmarks was foiled. Do we have to wait till it gets to our back yards before we care? According to CFR, since May 29, 2011, over two thousand five hundred and eighty four people have died due to religious and sectional violence. Of these, only the names and stories of two people are in the public domain and that’s because they worked for the media.

One worked for Channels and the other for NTA. The names and stories of the others are unknown because even the media doesn’t report these stories. You guys just focus on the number of people that died!

Meanwhile in Boston, three people died and around the world, we knew their names, what they ate last, what they said last, and their favourite things!

No value on human life How much is a Nigerian life worth? the Nigerian Unfortunately, government and Nigerian people don’t seem to value human life. And

it’s not just about religious or sectional violence. Kidnappings and armed robberies have increased but we don’t see how these things connect.

Kidnapping is now a business because the kidnappers make lots of money from ransoms and nothing happens in most cases. The problem about this ugly trend is the culture that we have created around insecurity, because people don’t see action taken. Stories are under-reported; we don’t humanise the deaths so it all seems far away. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria, he therefore needs to command! We need to see more direction and forcefulness in his actions and body language as seen in the declaration of state of emergency in these three states.

Engaging the media towards 2015 The essence of our campaigns is to engage the media in a discussion around citizens’ responsibility as we prepare for the 2015 elections. With all the campaign posters of Amaechi and Kwankwanso; Amaechi and Lamido; and Fashola and Ribadu; Jonathan and Sambo showing up all over the country, it is important to remind Nigerians that there’s still the business of governing for two more years. So as politicians are politicking, we have a duty to ensure that we don’t get carried away focusing on 2015 that we forget 2013 & 2014!

The electoral process is really more about the four years in between that the election ‘event’ itself. For example, according to World Bank figures, there will be approximately 20 million new registered voters by 2015. This is huge! It is a significant number and they need to be educated and engaged government should deliver on the 6,000 MW promised and the five-month long fuel scarcity should end.

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The only advice I can give to our youths is that they should always believe in themselves and believe in what they do would be no tomorrow.

Just do all you can do today, if you see tomorrow, you continue.

In business, the beginning is not always rosy

Pranks I played as a child I can’t really remember now. But I know I did so many stupid things as a child that I cannot really remember now. I don’t think I can say it now because, if I say that, people would start seeing me as a very wicked person. I know as a child, I used to play with this rat trap and I did some silly stupid things with them.

Then, my family used to think that I would grow up to be a very wicked man. But look at me now, I can’t even hurt a fly.

— Yomi Casual

By ANOZIE EGOLE

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he saying that every disappointment is a blessing could be said to have come to reality in the life of this young and talented designer, Makun Olorunyomi omoniyi, a.k.a, “Yomi Casual”, as the mistake his sister did during his JAMB registration has changed his fortune for good. The designer could not help it but thank God for that mistake. In this interview, the young dude has this to say about his life, career and challenges.

My background My name is Makun Olorunyomi Omoniyi. I am a fashion designer and the CEO of Yomi Casual Designer Limited. I am from Ondo State though I was born in Delta State and stayed there for a very long time.

My growing up was fun because, I am the last child.

I got all the support I needed from my parents before they passed on. You know the benefit of the last child in a family of seven?

So, I enjoyed everything a child could think of. Sincerely speaking, growing up was very sweet and rosy for me.

Passion for fashion designing No, fashion was never in my mind when I was a little child. Though I was a very fashionable person while growing up and I love to look good, but I never had in mind of going into fashion to this level. As a child, my friends knew me to be good whenever it comes to dressing fine. So, often times, they come to me for advice on what to wear and what not to wear. If we want to go for any event, even my sisters would normally come to me for advice on what to wear.

Talking about how I delved into fashion, I would tell you that it was all a mistake but I am not regretting the mistake. When my elder sister was filling my JAMB form then, she mistakenly filled fashion designing for me instead of the fine arts I wanted to do. That was how I found myself into fashion. It was not easy at all in the beginning, but I thank God for where I am right now. Sometimes, I tell God

thank you for the mistake.

Challenges So far, I would say there has never been much challenges. What I always tell myself is that, I refuse to be among the people that complain about the economy of Nigeria because, I know inside this same Nigeria, a lot of people are making it big. But back then as a young man in the industry, the major challenge I had was finance to some extent.

Then, the capital was not there, and I am this kind of person that doesn’t know how to beg for money from my elder ones.

Back then, I was staying with my brother in his house.

In the bedroom I used to stay then, I used it for my workshop, showroom, everything you can think of because there was no money to rent a shop. Right now, my major challenge is working with my female customers. It is really not easy to work for them. Some of them are really hot tempered. They can flare up and shout at you at a very small mistake. Some of them dont have patience. They would always want you to do it as they said, they would not want to listen to you and hear what you want to say. You know one thing with ladies is that they like designs that will bring out all the curves in them. So when they come and the cloth is not as fitted as they want, they will start shouting and they would find it difficult to listen to your own explanations. It has not really been easy for me handling them.

A man can listen to you and hear you out but not ladies.

But I thank God I have

Yomi Casual...Fashion was never in my mind when I was a little child

been coping pretty well with them. Funny enough, they are the largest customers I have. So, I must cope with them. One thing about ladies is that, they make clothes almost every week. When they see what they like, they go for it without procrastinating unlike men that will keep thinking of how to raise the money. Ladies are still my best customers so far.

Life outside fashion designing Presently, I focus on my job because it is now a real business for me. I used to think before that I can do something else but now, I have planted my two legs on this business because, I am following the footsteps of my mentor, Mudi. All he does is just fashion designing and he is like the biggest fashion designer we have presently in Nigeria. I am also sorry to say this but for me, I think he is also the richest we have in the country. Judging from his office, he has the biggest

show room in his office here in Lagos. He has so many branches in many parts of the world. He is really doing well.

Working with Mudi No, I have never worked with him. When I relocated to Lagos, I was opportuned to see one of his lovely outfit in my brother’s wardrobe (AY). And I was like, this out fit is very fine, who made it?

And he told me it was Mudi that made it. He told me that the outfit was for N50,000 as at 2007. You can imagine how much the outfit would cost now.

My educational background I studied fashion designing and clothing in Auchi Polytechnic. After schooling I moved to Lagos.

My philosophy about life I just take life the way it is.

Live your life to its fullest today and let tomorrow take care of itself. Live as if there

My advice for our youths The only advice I can give to our youths is that they should always believe in themselves and believe in what they do. Whatever you want to do in this life, try as much as possible to develop passion for it. Try and develop that thing that sets you apart, that makes you unique. Make your own things to be different. If you don’t have anything that makes you unique, you would be like others. They should also know that in whatever business you are doing, you don’t make all the gains in the beginning.

The first 1-2 years might not be all that rosy. Just develop that passion for the job and you would see that the sky would be your limit.

The unique thing about my brand Well, I like to hear people’s comment about me. Sometimes, I hear people say that I like Yomi casual’s design because, they are always very smart. I don’t make clothes for oversize people.

I enjoy making cloth for smart people. The biggest size I have in my office is 16. I design my embroidery myself and I make new designs every three months.

My kind of woman Well, every man needs a woman that is God fearing and that would help his life and I am lucky I have one. Though I am not married yet, I am not single either.

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he great achievements, impact, and investment opportunities that abound in the Nigeria Film Industry were re-echoed at an interactive forum on Film Funding and Collective Management Organization of the 66th edition of the Cannes International Film Festival n France.

At the well attended forum, filmmakers from around the world, including potential investors averred that the Nigeria Film Industry was indeed ripe for a concerted and sustained investment inflow to enable it attract foreign and domestic investment and promotion of the sector.

The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) is leading other government agencies which includes, the National Film and Video Census Board (NFVCB), NEXIM Bank and the Lagos State Government (Film & Video Censors Department) to this year ’s Cannes International Film Festival, which is also being attended by several other Nigerian Film makers, Film critics and Journalists.

NEXIM Bank representative at the forum, Technical Advis-

Kunle Afolayan flanked by Yomi and Umar at last year's Casnnes er to the Managing Director, Mr Hope Yango, said that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the agencies for film matters, should be encouraged to position “Nollywood” as an international brand that would attract investment to match the estimated N120 billion assessments envisaged for the industry.

A Collective Management

I'm not a porn sstt ar ar,, Uche Ogbodo replies Afrocandy

Uche Ogbodo

Following last week's offer by American based Nollywood actress, Judith Okpara Mazagwu popularly known as Afrocandy to feature Uche Ogbodo and two other Nollywood actresses in her next soft porn flick, the fast rising actress has replied the former, stating that she 's not a porn star.

Afrocandy recently disclosed her plans to star Ogbodo in her next porn flick on her facebook page.

She recently released the trailer of her latest soft-porn movie, Destructive Instinct where she was completely nude in sexually explicit positions.

Reacting to the offer, Ogbodo warned the controversial porn flick producer, stating emphatically that she is an actress and not a porn star.

A statement, she released reads, ‘I'm an actress and not a porn star.

The fact that I was just experimenting and having fun with the ‘Lady Gaga’ red hair photo shoot is not an excuse for the likes of AfroCandy to insult me.’

‘If I ever decide to strip in a movie, trust me, it’d be worth it like Halle Berry did in Monster’s Ball and Swordfish. Right now, I'm in talks with a reputable artiste management outfit to represent me and re-invent myself,’ she stated emphatically.

Organization for the Nigerian Film Industry, the forum was informed, was being established in Nigeria to address copyright and residual value management from film production activities for film makers, just as participants averred the need for the setting up of more Cineplex’s and Theatres in Nigeria.

Mr Tekena Benibo (NFC), Madam Patricia Bala (Ag DG,

NFVCB), Mr Hope Yongo, NEXIM Bank; Alex Eyengho (President, ANCOP),Mr Afolabi Adesanya, (Immediate past MD, NFC), among other Nigerians who are attending the festival.

The Nigerian pavilion at the festival is said to have recorded over eight hundred footfalls since the festival began.

Yoruba speaking American actor debuts in Nollywood

BY CHARLES MGBOLU

A

ward winning Yoruba actor, Saide Balogun may be revealing the story of his life in a new movie, ‘You or I’ which is due to be released soon.

The movie tells the story of love, marriage and the catastrophic effects of divorce. The story is weaving in very powerful narratives played by lead American actor Kevin Barry who is predicted to hold viewers spellbound as he delivers his lines throughout the movie entirely in Yoruba language.

Kevin was not born in Nigeria, neither did he spend his growing-up years in the country. He told HVP that he spent only a year in Ibadan and that was it. “I also watched tones of Yoruba movies” he added.

According to him, “Saide and I met at an event in America, and that’s where we established a relationship. It took a couple of months and then he asked if I would do this movie with him.

I looked at the scripts very carefully and assured myself that it’s going to be a very good movie.’

Kevin did not understand the fascination from people that he speaks Yoruba fluently.

You or I; a movie written and directed by Saide Balogun tells the story similar to the life of Saide himself; love, marriage and a very tragic Kevin Barry end... divorce.

Kevin Barry plays Kayode in this movie and Saide informed that the film asks a most vital question, who is responsible for a break down in marriage.“What makes marriage?”

He asks “Is it gender? Is it age? Is it good looks? Personality? What makes a marriage and what breaks a marriage? What can keep your house?”

According to him, “It’s the lesson in this movie; we have a lot of broken homes and I am a living example. What can keep our home? We should watch it and learn from it” Saide Balogun and ex-wife Fatia Balogun who is also a Yoruba actress had a highly publicized divorce escalated to a certain degree by the media. Though the marriage produced children both have since moved on with their lives.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013—41

AFRIFF 2013 goes to Tinapa O

rganisers of Africa Interna the Federal Government tional Film Festival (AFwould support the State RIFF), have announced prepaGovernment efforts at prorations for the third edition, moting this film festival and holding between the 10th and other film festivals, taking 17th of November 2013, at the them to greater heights. popular TINAPA resort in CalChioma Ude thanked the abar, the Cross River state Governor, Government and capital. people of Cross River State Founder and Project Director, for believing in her vision Chioma Ude noted that the synergy created by experiencing the festival in Calabar will be something to cherish for a lifetime. She said it will be the ultimate experience for all participants from home and abroad.

The unveiling of this year ’s edition which held at the Rhapsody Lounge, Victoria Island, Lagos, was attended by His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke, Governor of Cross River State and his wife, Her Excellency, Mrs Obioma Imoke.

Also at the event was the Special Adviser to the President on Strategy and Documentation, Mr Oronto Douglas and the cream of the Nigerian Film Industry including several Nollywood guild heads and notable stars.

Governor Imoke in his speech expressed pleasure at the union between his State and AFRIFF saying, “The Africa International Film Festival is a natural inclusion in the colorful yearlong calendar of world class activities held in Cross River State.” Attesting to this development, Mr Oronto Douglas said that Chioma Ude, founder of AFFRIF

and partnering with the festival to deliver this exceptional experience in their state. She explained that the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) was a platform that seeks to give expression to players in the African film industry by recognizing and rewarding excellence in the sector.

Crystal Okoye

Cr y s t al Ok Okoo y e sstt ar arss in ‘Widows Cot’ AYO ONIKOYI

C

rystal Okoye is just a rookie but a rookie with a big dream. She hasn’t been more than a year in the industry and already her profile is rising with an attitude. Her latest exploit is her involvement in the much-talked about ‘Widows Cot’ where she plays the role of one of 14 widows who had to go bald for the movie.

Though still a 300-level student of Nnamdi Azikwe University, the Nnewi-born actress is already pitching her wits and talent with the best in the industry. She isn’t playing the lead role in the movie, not with the likes of Ebube Nwagbo, Chita Agwu, Angela Okorie and many others taking the front row but Crystal has done right by herself by interpreting her role with the dexterity

of Genevieve and the panache of Omotola.

Widows Cot’ is a yet-to-be released movie which is being shot in Owerri but it is already causing a stir. Apart from the power-packed cast which parades notable Nollywood damsels the story-line is also a thrilling prospect sure to have movie lovers thrilled and entertained. The plot was simple; kill your husband and be rich but the suspense will be in the audacity of the act and the consequence to follow thereafter. For Crystal, her role in the movie may not be her calling card to fame but her ebony beauty coupled with her youthful vulnerability is sure to get her noticed. She has featured in several other movies. Among them are ‘Ritual war’, ‘Wild Heart’, ‘Body of the King’, ‘My Blood, My Sweat’, ‘Hour of Mercy’, ‘Release Me O Lord’ and recently ‘Widows Cot’.

ANCOP president elected as VP of FIAPF A

Alex Eyengho

Nigerian filmmaker and President of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), Mr. Alex Eyengho has been elected as the Vice President of the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). With his election, Mr. Eyengho made history as the first African to occupy the high office in FIAPF. Created in 1933, FIAPF is the only existing global trade organization dedicated to the defense and promotion of the legal, economic and creative interests of film producers throughout the world.

FIAPF is to film producing at global level what Federation of International Football Associations

(FIFA) is to the game of football.

The election of Eyengho came during the General Assembly of FIAPF held in Cannes, France on May 18, 2013. It would be recalled that through the efforts and platform of ANCOP, Nigeria was in May 2011 officially admitted into the membership of FIAPF during the Cannes International Film Festival in France.

While addressing international journalists shortly after his election, Mr. Eyengho who thanked FIAPF members from over 28 countries of the world for the confidence reposed in him with the election, stated that his victory was not for ANCOP alone but for Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

“The outcome of the election is not about me or ANCOP. It is about deepening the Nollywood brand.

It is about attracting maximum respect to Nigerian film producers at the international level. It is about Nigeria. It is about Africa. This is a confirmation and testimony to the fact that we are on the right track in Nollywood. The election is over. We must get to work immediately. Because of my humble experience in the industry, I know I shall hit the ground running with a view to ensuring that value is added to Nollywood and the African film community as a whole within the ambit of the lofty aims and objectives of FIAPF. This is the dawn of a new beginning for our film industry”, Eyengho stated.

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

zSome of the victims of the crisis

BY PETER DURU, Makurdi

F

ew days ago, Otukpo the traditional head quarters of the Idoma kingdom and the home town of the Senate President, David Mark, was engulfed in a major crisis that shook the very foundation of the town.

The crisis which started as a protest by the irate youths who were protesting the citing of a private university by the Senate President, at Asa 111 area of the town, led to the alleged shooting of five Police men and six others by the protesting youths.

Saturday Vanguard reliably gathered from an eyewitness that the armed irate youths had last week barricaded the Otukpo/Oju federal highway in protest of the decision of their leaders to allot parcels of land for the establishment of the new institution.

According to the eyewitness, “While Akpegede and Otobi communities gave the Senate President the go ahead to use their land for the institution given its attendant benefits to their communities, some youths in Asa 111, an area which is a renown hotbed for opposition politics in Benue South senatorial district and mostly dominated by people from Okpiko in Ohimini local government, for whatever reasons renounced the decision of the leaders and elders of the community to have the institution domiciled in their community.

“In their protest, they went as far as barricading the road for some days which prompted the decision of the Police to intervene with the use of

How five Police officers were shot by irate mob The people behind the crisis are redundant individuals who would prefer that the pot is broken rather than have the people eat from it tear-gas canisters to disperse the resilient youths in order to allow motorists and pedestrians the use of the road.

“But unfortunately, the action of the Police was resisted by the youths who responded with gunshots, injuring five of the Police men and six others,” he said.

The ugly development

z Spokes man of Asa 111 community, 78 year-old retired Army Captain, Reuben Anyebe

prompted an emergency meeting of the Otukpo Area Traditional Council convened by the Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye and attended by district heads, elders, stakeholders as well as opinion leaders of Otukpo.

The leaders at the end of the meeting frowned at the action of the youths which was con-

sidered to be militant and anti developmental and they requested that the perpetrators of the dastardly act be brought to book.

In his reaction, spokesman of the Asa 111 community and 78 year-old retired Army Captain, Reuben Anyebe described the action of the youths as ‘barbaric and unfortunate’ and he wondered why anybody would protest against a developmental initiative which he said is laced with several opportunities.

Anyebe pointed out that the elders of Asa had unanimously conceded the parcel of land for the establishment of the proposed institution after assurances had been given that necessary compensation would be paid to the original owners.

He disclosed that necessary documentation was already going on pending the commencement of the payment of compensation and benefits to every genuine owner of land within the earmarked area before the outbreak of the crisis. He also added that aside the financial benefits accruable to individuals, it was also agreed that the community as a whole would also be compensated adequately.

“That is the more reason why we are baffled at the actions of these few individuals who instigated the crisis.

Perhaps, their action may be political, because the world over, no one would genuinely kick against the citing of an institution in his land considering that such a gesture will greatly enhance the social and economic life of the people.

“Honestly, my pain is that we parents are failing in our responsibilities of ensuring that our children and wards do not fall into the hands of self-seeking individuals who would rather use them to achieve selfish agenda to the detriment of the collective interest of the people.

“In fact, the people behind the crisis are redundant individuals who would prefer that the pot is broken rather than have the people eat from it.

That is the vivid description of what has happened”, he stressed.

On his part, the chairman of Otukpo local government council, Dr Innocent Onuh who lamented the ugly development and attack on the police commended the security operatives for their restraint even in the face of the attack.

Onuh maintained that the crisis was the “handiwork of

some dissidents who have no stake in the parcel of land, and because no benefit is expected to accrue to them, they choose to thwart efforts that are aimed at bringing development to the area.

“Every discerning mind knows that the location of a university in a community comes with tremendous benefits to the inhabitants of the area outside the socio-economic benefit the people stand to enjoy from the students’ community.

“That is the more reason why everybody in Otukpo and Idoma land is pained by the action of the few persons behind the shameful act. Those of us in Otukpo are bothered because we wouldn’t want this opportunity to slip away since other council areas are also willing to provide enough land to the Senate President so as to have the institution sited in their area.”

In his reaction, the Benue state liaison officer to the Senate President on media, Chief Adakole Elijah wondered why a people would kick against the citing of a developmental project like a higher institution in their community.

Adakole insisted that the crisis was instigated by political foes and detractors “who are ready to deny their people mouth watering benefits just for political reasons”.

However, Saturday Vanguard gathered from some of the irate youths of Asa 111 who craved anonymity that they embarked on the protest to demand better compensation for their farmland which would be used for the proposed institution. “Infact, the way they are going about the whole thing, it’s as if they do not want to carry us along.

Moreover, many of us have been beaten and molested by security agents in our community because of our stand point on the issue. We are aware of the fact that the proposed university will certainly open up our community but outside that, we’re also entitled to other benefits and good compensation because we are giving away our land f o r e v e r ” .

When contacted on the issue, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO in the state, DSP Daniel Ezeala said the command was still investigating the matter while the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, for Otukpo, Francis Obinwa appealed to the people of Asa 111 to desist from further acts that could threaten the security of the entire area.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013—43

Robbers on rampage in Kwara •kill 3, sack police station, shut down banks

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI, ILORIN

T

HE sporadic gun shots from men of the under world Tuesday, rattled residents of the ancient town of Omuaran in Irepodun Local Government area of Kwara State. The robbers, numbering over 20 and armed with sophisticated weapons, attacked three banks and killed three persons: a member of a vigilante group and two others.

Investigation by Crime Guard revealed that the robbers apparently struck with a laid down plan. For instance, they were discovered to have arrived the town 24-hours before the operation.

Findings by Crime Guard revealed that they lodged in a nearby hotel, in preparation for their deadly mission, Monday. The following day (Tuesday) they reportedly left the hotel. Their first port of call as gathered, was a Police division in Alakata, not too far from Aperan Road where some banks are situated. The bandits reportedly attacked the policemen at the station, deflated every mobile vehicle in the premises and seized some of their riffles.

While this was going on, other members of the gang were attacking some banks around the area. They reportedly broke into First Bank vault, carting away an unspecified amount. But they could however,reportedly not gain access into the vaults of Union Bank and Eco Bank during the operation said to have taken close to 20 minutes.

While the operation lasted unchallenged, a member of a vigilante group in Omuran, identified as Dapo Awoyale, reportedly attempted to face the robbers but was shot dead.

An eye witness told Crime Guard that “ Dapo attempted to challenge the robbers before they started the operation. We learnt that he was warned earlier by the gang members who obviously knew his intention and capability.

We learnt they told him that they didn’t come for him, that he should stay out of their way. Dapo quickly left the scene only to be seen later.

But he had barely disembarked from his motorbike apparently to engage the robbers in a shoot out than he was felled by volleys of bullets from the gang.

“The robbers thereafter, entered First Bank, where they gained access into the vault with the use of grenades and dynamites. At the end of the operation, two persons from the raided banks were killed” eye witnesses said.

After the robbers exit, youths of the town reportedly besieged

Omuaran Police Division, blaming the policemen for not rising to the occasion. They reportedly hurled stones at the policemen, in the process of which some of them sustained injuries. Their action was however contained following the use of teargas by the policemen.

The body of the slain vigilante member, Dapo, was committed to mother earth Friday with the villagers coming out en mass to give him a historic burial for what they described as his rare display of bravery.

The Kwara State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Olufemi Fabode, confirmed the incident in an interview with journalists in Ilorin.

He however, said that one AK 47 rifle and two explosive devices were recovered after the robbers were repelled.

He said,”Three people

died,including two staffers of Union Bank and one civilian.

Also, four police officers including the Area Commander, Olatunji Ayodele, who sustained serious injuries on his shoulder were receiving treatment in the hospital”.

He added that various security measures had been taken by the command to beef up security in the town. “Already, a team of mobile police officers have been deployed to the town, likewise a team of intelligence officers, to get useful information that would help arrest criminals in the area.”

However, since the robbery attack, banks in the entire town have been shut down while residents are still gripped with trepidation,despite the presence of scores of mobile police men and intelligence officers deployed by the Kwara State Police Command.

•Late Dapo

My lif e is in danger ,w oman de tained b life danger,w ,woman detained byy bank manager over loan cries out •as Gender group threatens legal action

BY ONOZURE DANIA

M

RS Rose Abbey, the petty trader who was allegedly beaten and detained in a Micro Finance Bank at Ipaja area of Lagos, last month, following her inability to offset N17,000 loan, has raised alarm over threat to her life and that of members of her family.

Currently, the petty trader and members of her family are living in fear following strange telephone calls.

The mother of four was allegedly detained for three days in the micro finance bank located on 170/172 Ipaja Road, after she defaulted in the weekly payment of N2,000 to offset the N17,000 loan. The Edo State born housewife was however released after a friend reportedly paid the weekly deposit.

After her release, her illegal detention was reported at the Gowon Estate police division where both parties were invited.

However along the line, she said, “ the Divisional Crime Officer gave me a medical report to go to the hospital for treatment.

While I was under duress, I was asked to write and sign an undertaking that I was going to withdraw the case and resolve it amicably with the bank. To my surprise, I discovered that the bank manager who had earlier

•Mrs. Rose Abbey admitted in her statement that she actually detained me for three days, later denied ”.

Since her release, she told Crime Guard that she had been receiving telephone calls from an unknown caller threatening to kill members of her family if she failed to pay the money owed.

She further said she recently received a call from a police woman who informed her that the Divisional Crime Officer, Gowon Estate Police Station would like to have a round table discussion with

her, Tuesday.

A day before the appointment, she disclosed that manager of the micro finance bank accompanied by another staff went into the station and came out to where she was selling, bragging that she had got the needed information on her.

When Crime Guard visited the Police Station, Tuesday, the Divisional Crime Officer, DCO, stated that he was not aware that the victim was being threatened by the bank manager, adding also that she ( victim) did not sign the undertaking under duress. The DCO asserted that the woman cannot withdraw the undertaking since she had already signed it, threatening that if she attempts to withdraw the matter, he would begin investigations into the illegal detention afresh.

When Crime Guard also contacted the bank manager on phone, someone who simply identified himself as Tayo, picked, informing that the manager was not around.

Gender group intervenes, threatens legal action Meanwhile, the country representative, Gender Justice and Equity Initiative and event convener, Nigerian Women Transformation Awards Conference And Exhibition, Nana

Modupe Onwodi has described the incident as an act of jungle justice, calling for an urgent need for justice to prevail.

Onwodi in a press statement said, “it has come to our attention that a Nigerian woman from Edo State was abducted by a micro finance bank in Lagos,recently.

The story clearly stated that the victim, one Mrs Rose Abbey who borrowed seventeen thousand naira from a micro finance bank at Ipaja, Lagos to pay back two thousand naira every week and has been paying, defaulted once due to poor sales. She was allegedly kept in the bank premises for three days without food or water. She was battered and was not permitted to talk to her husband or children. Can this happen in Lagos state? a corporate body? a woman? a mother? a wife ? a Nigerian?

These questions are indeed, begging for answers and we say its unacceptable. We, as a gender justice body, have therefore, decided to engage the services of a lawyer and will make sure social justice is done to the people who perpetrated this injustice to Mrs. Abbey.

We want the world to know that this kind of thing can no longer be tolerated irrespective of whose ox is gored. Proper social conduct and due process must be practised in Nigeria.” she stated.

44—SATURDAY

Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

leader Chief Anenih, they abandoned the party for the ACN. Sadly, when they started portraying elements of failure, they reasoned that they will not be given the ticket of the PDP again, they ran to the market square to decamp to the broom party. By their recent conducts, they are afraid that Edo People will use the same broom to sweep them out of the state, and the umbrella will not accommodate them because they are hypocrites. But you will see them coming back again very soon because they are not principled politicians. On the 2015 presidential election, the PDP will rely substantially on the overall performance of President Goodluck Jonathan to succeed.

Interestingly, the president has not officially announced his intentions. If infrastructural development and inclusive leadership is what makes a leader, Jonathan would be re-elected come 2015.

In Edo State for instance, we are enjoying Federal presence and Edo people will vote for Jonathan again.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

M

r Sunny Aguebor (Bibi) is a chieftain of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state and a well known business man and philanthropist. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard, he commends the decision by the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in three troubled Northern states. Bibi who is celebrating his 50th birthday, also spoke on the politics of Edo state and other national issues.

Excerpts: You have always been known as a quiet person, but you just celebrated your 50th birthday in a grand style, how do you feel being 50?

You know, fifty years of existence is generally regarded as golden jubilee, so after reasoning through all my experience in life from where I started in life to the level I am today, I and my wife decided to give great honour to God and appreciate the society by marking my 50th birthday in four parts. First, we give immense thanks to God and bless his work on earth. Then as a philanthropist, I had to visit again and celebrate with the less privileged members of our society. Thirdly, as a sports enthusiast and a good tennis player I sponsored the 1st Annual BIBI Open Tennis Tournament as the Benin Recreation Club. And the fourth part was to recognize the BIBI annual lecture series to reflect on the wellbeing of Edo State and Nigeria as a country.

You just mentioned the well being of your state (Edo) and Nigeria as part of the issues you reflect on, what is your assessment of the level of insecurity as we have it now under the Jonathan Presidency?

For me, as much as insecurity is multi faceted, the most precarious one is the insecurity of life and property.

A constructive examination of this dimension of insecurity would suggest that its manifestations and symptoms may appear sudden, but it is a creation of years of decadence, maladministration, corruption, ineptitude and disregard for democratic values by the military and politicians alike. From the overthrow of the Shagari regime in December 1983 till May 1999, we never had a democratically elected and inaugurated president. The attendant nuisance and corruption have seriously affected the citizenry, especially when their rights are trampled upon with impunity by successive civilian and military administrations. The cumulative effect has now reared its head in the form of organized crimes against the state. So cases of kidnapping, armed struggles by Boko Haram sect in the North, wanton cases of armed robbery in the South East, and militant threats in the South South are connected to misrule. So when Dr. Goodluck Jonathan assumed office as the elected president of Nigeria, he inherited these situations and has been tackling them headlong. I am also happy with his decision to declare state of emergency in Borno,Yobe and

* Aguebor

PDP will bounce back in Edo in 2015 —Aguebor

Adamawa because we cannot sit down and allow miscreants take over the affairs of this nation. They were granted amnesty and if they don’t want to accept it they should be flushed out for the interest of the nation. We must avoid what happened in Mali where militants took over some parts of the country and I am sure that was why the President declared emergency in those affected states.The loss of life or death of any Nigerian by an act of crime is something that disturbs Godly minded people including Mr President.So his offering of amnesty to the Boko Haram insurgents is thus necessitated. I know the clamour of the Northern elite also encouraged Mr. President to toe this line. But it is sad that the offer is being rejected by those who ordinarily should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. It is indeed very unfortunate.

What is your assessment of the ACN- led government in Edo State as a chieftain of the PDP? As a democrat and proud member of the largest party in Africa the PDP, I must say that Edo State is suffering under a heavy weight of deceit and insincerity of the ACN -led Government. All we have in the state as we speak is the elevation of mediocrity, ineptitude, lies, tribalism, diabolism and use of brute force to a new level in governance. You know the ACN is very good at cheap and desperate propaganda, and window dressing development, but the people of Edo State are wiser now because they

can easily compare the genuine, sincere approach of the PDP to the deceit of ACN evil administration.

But your party the PDP is still in comatose, is there any hope for the party in the state?

I have always maintained that the only true party in Edo State and Nigeria is the PDP, all those who voted against our party in the last gubernatorial election have come to terms now with the reality of deception and jaundiced political propaganda of the ACN. They have seen that in the last local government elections. The whole sing-song of ‘one man, one vote’ is after all a ruse and political mischief. We have received back over ten thousand of our hitherto defect or members especially at the grassroot who were lured by the carrot of the state. With utmost humility, I sincerely commend the indefatigable national leader of our great party, my political mentor and father, Chief Tony Anenih, an enigma with uncommon courage, long tempered, compassionate and consummate grassroot politician. He is the focal point and the quiet foundation of the party in the state.

Members decamping from PDP to ACN I make bold to say that most of those who left the party in 2007 were ungrateful politicians who never had the party in mind. They are not party men but only looking for positions and after they went to the House of Reps, senate and even House of Assembly through the assistance of our National

What are those those you feel has changed in the PDP to make the people want to vote for them in the state?

Today, the party in the State enjoys about 70 percent of the sympathy and support of the general electorate. This is because under the present chairman of the party Chief Dan Orbih, the party is being proactive in generating awareness against the wicked policies of the ACN government. For instance, a lot of businesses are folding up in the state and new ones are not being established because of the heavy tax burden by way of multiple and arbitrary taxation policy. Also, the unprecedented mode and level of corruption, stealing of local government funds and selling of state government property across the country to the members of ACN are all issues Chief Dan Orbih has exposed to the public. The people now see PDP as providing a sincere, genuine, transparent leadership and have thus vowed to return the party to power in Edo State.But the PDP leadership must only identify and engage other very vibrant persons who will be able to work with the same zeal and vision of Chief Dan Orbih in reclaiming power. These must be people whose loyalty and sincerity to the party is unquestionable. The truth is if we all work with the same spirit of our national leader Chief Anenih, we cannot miss victory.

Are you not scared that the formation of APC will lead to the end of PDP at the Federal level?

Expectedly, the so called coalition is dead on arrival. Politicians with eagle

eyes have clinically analyzed the insurmountable challenges that lie ahead of the party. For instance, in Edo State, during the last local government election, one of the most formidable stalwarts of the alliance Chief Solomon Edebiri of the ANPP was assaulted with impunity by thugs of the ACN, his vehicles, four of them were brazenly vandalized. Till date, no one has bothered to apologize to the easy going politician. The squabble for control and dominance of the new coalition will be the first litmus test, which they will not likely survive.

SATURDAY, Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013—45

Erelu bags ‘P er sonality of the Y ear’ a ward ‘Per ersonality Year’ aw

E

relu Abiola Dosumu, the Erelu of Lagos is a woman whose impeccable reputation is without blemish. She has brought her royal elegance and influence to bare on several laudable causes that honours have continued to trail her all her wonderful life.

It was therefore no surprise that she was honoured as the ‘Personality of the Year’ during the World Dance Day organised by the Dance Guild of Nigeria at University of Lagos, UNILAG, recently. Photos

by Diran Oshe

L- R:Prof. Duro Oni , DVC , Admin, UNILAG, Presenting the Award to Erelu of Lagos , Erelu Abiola Dosumu as ‘Personality of the Year’

L-R: The Erelu of Lagos, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, the Guest of Honour being Welcomed by Prof. Duro Oni DVC Admin , UNILAG

R

L- R: Mr. Steve James, National President of Dance Guild of Nigeria ,Prof. Duro Oni DVC L- R: Mrs Bernadette Rosemary Ebuwa, Admin . Unilag , Presenting the Award to Chief Mrs Caroline Ibru, the Erelu of Lagos, Erelu Abiola Dosumu and Prof. Duro Oni Erelu of Lagos , Erelu Abiola Dosumu

Pull-out ceremony for Olufunke Davies-Jones

etiring Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, Mrs Olufunke Davies-Jones was given a special send-forth treat when the Immigration Service held a pullout ceremony in her honour at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, recently. Top guns of the Immigration Service were also there to bid her farewell. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele

L-R:DCG of Immigration,Tamuno Mologe; Asst. Commandant General of NSCDC, Lugard Osaro Osawenge and Oba Edward Jaiyeola, Arajaka of Igbara-Odo Ekiti

Philip and Comf or Comfor ortt

L-R:Mrs Olufunke Davies-Jones, retiring Dep. Comptroller of Immigration and DCG Demin Akaa

Dinner

Dr Arnold Shola Davies-Jones, MD, DTM&H and husband of the celebrant with Mr Muyi Opaleye, CEO, Muyopal Nig. Ltd

Mr and Mrs Enikhagbuye

PHILIP Ojisua on March 27th took his bride, Comfort to the alter to be joined as man and wife in Abuja

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Evelyn Oputu and Tony Elumelu during the exclusive dinner reception in honour of the Managing Director of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, Mr. Uche Orji, hosted by Tony Elume, May 6, 2013

MR and Mrs Enikhagbuye were joined by family and friends after their union at t St Michael’s Catholic Church, Otovwodo-Ughelli

The couple; Mr Philip Ojisua & Comfort Ojisua

L-R; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Evelyn Oputu and Tony Elumelu

Mr and Mrs Elvis Enikhagbuye flanked by the parents of the bride; Mr and Mrs Emmanuel Shikaleke

46 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

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CHAMPIONS!!! LEAGUE FINAL CHAMPIONS!!! LEAGUE FINAL CHAMPIONS!!! LEAGUEFINAL

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nyone who put money on an all-German champions league final at the start of the season will be rubbing their hands with glee now.

Few predicted Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich would be the two sides running out at Wembley on today, but it gives English fans the perfect chance to cast their eye over players they may be less familiar with.

The focus was set to be on Mario Gotze, with the Dortmund midfielder facing the tricky task of attempting to beat his future employers having already agreed a • 37 million (£31.5m) move to Bayern at the end of this season. With Gotze ruled out through injury, however, there are a number of other players hoping to steal the show on the biggest stage.

While the likes of Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Robert Lewandowski are already household names in this country, Sports Extravaganza has picked out

BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS BAYERN MUNICH

Players to watch out for in today's final five lesser known players to watch out for in the Champions League final this evening.

Marco Reus

— Borussia Dortmund he former Dortmund youth player is a relatively late developer at the highest level, and made a name for himself at Borussia Monchengladbach last year when his 18 Bundesliga goals saw him named Germany’s Footballer of the Year.

He has continued where he left off since moving to Westfalenstadion, where his direct style has been one of

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the main contributors to sealing a place in this final, scoring against Real Madrid, Manchester City, Ajax and Malaga in this season’s competition.

Javi Martinez

—Bayern Munich pain coach Vicente del Bosque has described Martinez as “the complete player”, and Bayern were definitely hoping that was the case when they signed him from Athletic Bilbao for • 40 million (£33m) last summer to make him the most expensive player in Bundesliga history. Martinez has described himself as the

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most German of all Spanish footballers and is now firmly ingrained as the backbone of the Bayern side. He may well be the key man at Wembley, allowing the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger to enjoy freedom while acting as the rock in the centre of the pitch.

Ilkay Gundogan

— B o r u s s i a Dortmund anchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid are reportedly keeping a close eye on the German central midfielder after a brilliant season for Jürgen Klopp’s side.

Playing alongside Sven Bender in the heart of the Dortmund midfield, Gundogan’s passing game is second to none, outplaying his opponents in tight areas with ease.

Signed from Nurnberg for just • 4 million (£3.3m) in May 2011, Klopp has described Gundogan as “an extraordinary player” and his work-rate will need

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to be as high as ever if he is get one over on Martinez and co.

Mario Mandzukic

—Bayern Munich trong, powerful and technically astute, the Bayern striker possesses all the attributes needed in a successful front man.

Already,a 27-year old, Mandzukic has blossomed late in his career after leaving Croatia for the Bundesliga, where he spent two seasons at Wolfsburg before moving to the Allianz Arena last summer.

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Kevin Grosskreutz

—Borussia Dortmund ithout Gotze, Dort mund will have to rely on their strength in depth and they can do worse than Grosskreutz filling that gap.

The German performed admirably when tasked with replacing Dortmund’s injured star man in the second leg of the semi-final against Real Madrid and is the man most likely to start at Wembley.

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Europa League winners to get champions league spot from 2015

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he governing body has confirmed that the winner of Europe's second competition will be rewarded with a place among the continent's finest. Uefa has announced that the winner of the Europa League will be rewarded with a place in the champions league the following season from 2015. The winner of the 2014-15 edition of the competition will be the first team to take advantage of the change as they will enter the 2015-16 champions league following the decision. The governing body had long been

looking for ways to make the Europa League more attractive, and they are confident that awarding the winner a ticket for the top competition will prompt teams to take the tournament more seriously.

"We must do something to improve the Europa League and one way is to have a sporting incentive for the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League," Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino said.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013 —47

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TRANSFERS!TRANSFERS!TRANSFERS! TRANSFERS!TRANSFERS!TRANSFERS!TRANSFERS

Tottenham prepare £36m double strikers

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OT TENHAM are ready to launch a £36million double bid to bring strikers Leandro Damiao and Roberto Soldado to White Hart Lane, as Andre Villas-Boas begins his efforts to build a team around superstar Gareth Bale. Chairman Daniel Levy is being urged by manager Villas-Boas to spend big and early this summer to beat Tottenham’s rivals to the signings.

Di Matteo in Stoke City’s sight

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toke City are compiling a shortlist of targets as they step up their search for a manager following the departure of Tony Pulis.

Peter Coates, the Stoke City chairman, was locked in talks with his son, John, and technical director Mark Cartwright to discuss potential contenders and are hopeful of agreeing a list over the weekend.

Roberto Di Matteo, Roberto Martínez, Gus Poyet and Mark

Inter sack Stramaccioni The Serie A giants have parted company with their young coach after a disappointing ninth place finish in a season that fell well below expectations. Inter have sacked coach Andrea Stramaccioni after just 14 months in charge.

Sporting director Marco Branca broke the news to the 37-year-old via a telephone call yesterday, following the Nerazzurri's disappointing ninth-place finish in a campaign that included 16 league defeats.

Atletico line up Benteke to replace Falcao

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ston Villa striker Christian Benteke could be the subject of a summer bid from Atletico Madrid. Los Colchoneros seem to have come to terms with losing Radamel Falcao Garcia in the summer and they are actively searching for his replacement.

A number of high-profile forwards have been linked with a switch to Vicente Calderon of late, with Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke also on their wish list.

Benitez is the new coach of Napoli

Chelsea manager has been confirmed by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis as the replacement to Walter Mazzarri at the Stadio San Paolo Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that Rafa Benitez has been hired as the new coach at the Serie A club.

The former Chelsea boss - who helped the Blues lift the Europa League trophy this season - will step into Mazzarri's shoes in a two-year deal. "Benitez is the new coach of Napoli. I made myself a birthday present. He'll be our new coach for the next two years."

Mourinho agrees 4-year £250,000-a-week deal

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ccording to sources, Jose will fly to Lon don on June 2 – and sign a four-year contract at Chelsea worth £250,000 a week.Mourinho will jet in the day after his final game in charge of Real Madrid to seal his mega deal. That is a commitment of around £50m from owner Roman Abramovich for the second coming of The Special One.

Sampdoria lead Emeghara chase Sampdoria are said to be preparing an offer for Siena sensation Innocent Emeghara. The Swiss-Nigerian striker arrived during the January transfer window on loan from FC Lorient with an option to buy for • 3m. He made an immediate impact, scoring seven goals in

GOLF

Tiger Woods

Sergio Garcia’s ‘fried chicken’ comment was ‘hurtful and inappropriate’

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iger Woods has described the racist jibe made by Sergio Garcia as “ wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate”.

The world No 1, who usually steers clear of stoking fires, displayed his fury at Garcia with a series of tweets this afternoon, following the Spaniard’s comments at the European Tour ’s annual dinner.

In front of more than 300 guests, Garcia was jokingly asked on stage by the compere whether he and his countrynman would be inviting Woods over for dinner. “Yeah, we will have him around every night,” Garcia replied. “We will serve fried chicken.” The slur was an echo of Fuzzy Zoeller ’s

“fried chicken and collard greens or whatever else they serve” at the following year ’s Champions Dinner.

Garcia and Woods have been involved in a verbal spat since The Players a fortnight ago, following an incident in which Garcia was distracted by what he claims was his playing partner ’s disrespect.

Garcia later issued a statement through the European Tour, saying: “I apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my comment on stage during The European Tour Players’ Awards dinner.

“I answered a question Tiger that was clearly made Woods towards me as a joke with a silly remark, but in no way was the comment infamous comments at the 1997 Masters, when Woods became meant in a racist manner. the first black player to win a Major.

When asked about Woods’ victory, Zoeller said he would serve

48 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

— 49

C M Y K

50 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013—51

My feeding habit is unquestionable— Adediji proportion of fish in the evening. One truth is that my body system doesn’t permit eating heavily for supper. And anytime, I disobey it, I will feel the consequences the following morning reflecting in sluggishness, inability to wake-up from bed and so on. The basic thing is that my dinner is selective. My dinner must be light and must be taken a minimum of one hour before going to bed.

How often do you observe this feeding ethics or are there

Bode Adediji is the National President, Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers. He is the Managing Director, Bode Adediji Partnership incorporating Estate Surveyors, Valuers and Property, Nigeria’s pioneer multi-disciplinary professional estate firm. He is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk. He speaks on his feeding habit as a guiding light to his lifestyle. Excerpt

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hat is the major staple food of your people and how do you prepare it?

I left my village, in Ada, Boripe local government of Osun State about 32 years ago. But, I know that we were used to hard pap (eko), amala yam flour, ewedu and vegetable soup.

What was food to you growing up?

I grew up in an environment where cow skin (pomo) and frozen fish (oku-eko) were the major food of the people because it was very difficult to have access to cow meat, except for few families. Most people live their lives on produces from farms. Pomo used to be the cheapest but for majority of the family, it used to be a weekend treat. And rice which is the staple food of most Nigerians now, used to be available either during Christmas period or Easter period.

As an estate surveyor, how do you define your feeding habit?

I watch my food, leisure and work.

I look at human beings from a systemic perspective. A man must choose what he eats based on certain fundamental principles either in age and job, if it is physical or mental. The kind of sport should also be put into consideration.

Perhaps, it is a leisurely sport or

highly aggressive muscular kind of exercises as well, an individual should watch the time he eats.

I grew up in a village where carbohydrate was the key food throughout the day. But, with the intervention of education, I’ve switched over from being a highly carbohydrate consumer to eating healthy and convenient food. I also eat very light protein derivable from fish and other sources. Once a man or a woman clocks 40 years of age, he is expected to base his diet on a dietician’s advice. This is coming on the heels that people indulge in excessive eating and drinking which hitherto reflects on their lifestyle. But an immediate intervention of a doctor would guide on what to do.

So, how often do you go for check-up?

Twice a year. Both in Nigeria and beyond. All my family members do the same.

So, what’s on your menu list?

In the morning I take fruits including paw-paw, orange, water melon as well as my cup of green tea in their proportions. In the afternoon, I eat very light depending on my ability. I might eat a little proportion of rice or rather go for salad. Essentially, I dwell on vegetable salad and a little

times you go out of your way to eat African dishes?

I only eat African dishes in social gatherings especially with my friends but amazingly, we do more of talking than eating. The basic thing is that I take cognisance of the measurement. I can eat pounded yam in the night but it mustn’t be more than two to three morsels. I will descend heavily on the vegetable (efo riro) if it doesn’t contain much palm oil.

What particular food would make you salivate?

Any reasonably good food is excellent for me once I know I’m hungry. Unfortunately, people still eat when the body system doesn’t request for it just because they must conform to the regular three meals. That is why, we must learn from either dogs or lions. A lion eats ones or twice a week despite the fact that it has the power to consume any animal, but, it wouldn’t eat unless it’s hungry.

What is your choice of exercise and how often do you exercise?

I engage in all sorts of exercises. It is mandatory in my house that we must do gym everyday unless circumstances make it impossible. Secondly, I play golf.

And whenever I’m out of the country, I make use of any available sporting facility in those hotels including swimming, jogging and walking round the compound. I also engage in boating as well.

Today’s Menu

Egusi Soup

Insects to help combat hunger—Study

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ating farming insects may help to combat food insecurity and reduce pollution worldwide. This is a new study by the United Nations recently suggesting that eating insects may help combat hunger worldwide.

According to the study, this new development may be the solution to world poverty that have been under our noses all along.

The UN acknowledges that “consumer disgust” remains “one of the largest barriers to the adoption of insects as viable sources of protein in many Western countries”.

Over two billion people worldwide already regularly eat insects as part of their diets. Their high fat, protein and mineral contents make them a nutritious alternative to meat, fish and other common dietary.

Recipe Melon Palm oil Bitter Leaf Crayfish Dried pepper Seasonings Salt Fresh or smoked fish or stock fish Goat meat Assorted meat Fresh pepper, tomatoes and onions Preparation If you are using stock fish, be sure to have soaked the stock fish in water to make it soft and cook faster.

Put your goat meat and or assorted meat into a pot. Add cooking salt, onion, and a small amount of water (about 2cups), seasonings to taste and leave to boil for about 30 minutes until soft and tender to taste.

While that is cooking, blend tomatoes, pepper and onions together until it gives a smooth paste Take 1 to 2 cups of grounded egusi and put in a bowl, add two parts of

water to a part of grounded egusi in the bowl and stir to form a paste. Some people may prefer to leave the grounded egusi dry and stir- fry it instead in palm oil.

Get a big pot. Place it on the cooker and allow it to be hot, with all residue of water drying out. Pour red palm oil in the pot. Allow the oil to warm for about 1 minute. Pour the blended tomatoes, fresh/dried pepper, onion paste into the oil and stir- fry for about another 10 to15 mutes.

Now add the cooked meat to this base of stew and cover the pot and allow to simmer for about 3 minutes. Stir intermittently to prevent burning.

The egusi paste (or fried) can now be added to the stew with meat in it. Add your vegetables , salt and one or two cubes of maggi if still required to taste and bring to boil for about 10 minutes. Stir intermittently.

Power Pasta Spaghetti Risotto with Baby Spinach and Mushrooms Prep time: 30 min Cook time: 30 min Ingredients: 1 package dried shitake mushroom, rehydrated in warm water for 30 minutes 1 cup sliced fresh white mushrooms.

1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil.

1 medium onion, chopped 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped.

Salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste.

1 PackPower Pasta spaghetti, strands broken into thirds 1/2 cup dry white wine 2 cups chicken stock.

Additional hot water, if needed 2 tablespoon butter 1/2 cup freshly-grated ParmigianoReggiano cheese.

2 cups baby spinach leaves Juice of 1/2 lemon.

Preparation: Drain shitakes mushroom of water, gently squeeze the water out, remove the stems, and slice into medium-thick slices.

Wipe off any dirt from the white mushrooms and slice into medium-thick slices. Set mushrooms aside.

Heat a medium-size frying pan or sauté pan with olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until almost soft.

Add garlic and sauté a few additional minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add broken spaghetti pieces and toast, tossing several times while toasting, approximately 6 to 7 minutes or until they turn golden in color and smell nutty. Stir in wine and let cook, stirring, until the wine is almost evaporated.

Ladle in chicken stock every few minutes, stirring for a minute with each addition of chicken stock. Evaporate almost all of the liquid before each addition of chicken stock.NOTE: You may need to use additional hot water to continue until the pasta is al dente. When you are down to the last ladle of chicken stock or water needed, stir in the prepared mushrooms and continue cooking.

After a few minutes, check your Power pasta. If it is al dente, stir in butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, spinach leaves, and lemon juice.

Taste and add additional salt and pepper, if desired. Toss well and serve.

Makes 3 to 4 servings.

Did You Know?

Carbohydrates enhance performance The fastest muscle glycogen replacement occurs within the first two hours after exercise.

What athletes eat to recover after a hard workout is critical to their continued performance. The muscles “stock up” on glycogen for the next exercise session. For this reason, it is advantageous to eat and drink high-carbohydrate foods or drinks soon after exercise.

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

STATE OF EMERGENCY

Sofar,sogood?(2)

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

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he current full scale military campaign to restore normalcy in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa overwhelmed

by Boko Haram insurgency and to protect the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, which began 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday May 14, 2013 declared state of emergency in the most troubled areas of the north, seemed yielding results in various aspects.

For several years now, Boko Haram terrorists have been disturbing the peace of some NorthEast states, unleashing mayhem on innocent people, recklessly destroying human lives and properties, threatening national unity without serious challenge from anywhere. The presidential proclamation of emergency rule dramatically changed the tide, forcing the insurgents into disarray, now scampering for safety in the wake of heavy combined military bombardments.

First to fall were camps of the terror merchants located in the thick forests of Sambisa Game Reserve in Borno State used as recruiting and training base which, ordinarily, security operatives dared to reach but known to the Northern political leadership, influential traditional rulers and elders.

While the insurgents were enjoying the killing spree in which nobody was spared including military and police personnel falling victims almost on daily basis, the northern elders and prominent traditional rulers were busy putting pressure on President Jonathan to grant amnesty to the terrorists – a request that Mr. President finally succumbed to, against his initial objection.

With thousands of soldiers deployed to the troubled areas supported by armoured tanks, fighter jets and gunships on a scale not seen ever since the insurgency started, people are getting to know that the Federal Government really meant to forcefully resolve this lingering problem once and for all by taking such extraordinary measures.

According to Saturday Vanguard search, relative peace is gradually returning to the

People are getting to know that the Federal Government really meant to forcefully resolve this lingering problem once and for all by taking such extraordinary measures affected areas. A trader who just returned from Borno (pleading anonymity) told this reporter at Alaba-Rago, on the outskirt of Lagos, that peace and tranquillity were slowly coming back mainly because of the state of emergency. He expressed gratitude to President Jonathan for his bold and courageous action to save the unity of Nigeria.

“Emergency option I believe is the best when things are getting out of control. This action is overdue and you need to stay in Maiduguri and surrounding villages to know how terrible life has become since Boko Haram came into existence.

They’ve thrown the North into chaos. You see that so many efforts at peace had been carried out, but none worked until this state of emergency. I pray the peace will continue till the end.”

Musa Yerima, a second-hand clothes dealer who claimed to have come to Lagos from Damaturu, Yobe State, welcomed the military onslaught to dislodge the terrorists, saying it’s better to be late than never.

“Since the operation began, there had been no communication but those few that I saw here who fled, expressed support for emergency rule which is bringing hope for peace. I believe this military action is the best way for lasting peace. My fear is that Boko Haram may go underground because of the bombardment and then return when soldiers have gone,” he said.

From all indications so far, the frequency of kill-

ings, bombings, abduction and suicide attacks have drastically reduced, pointing to the obvious fact that emergency rule is yielding some slow but positive results. It is most likely that if the momentum is sustained at least for six months when emergency may last, then the bloody insurgency would be a thing of the past.

It was reliably gathered that so many villages captured by Boko Haram sect have been liberated and recovered. Several of the insurgents have fled to neighbouring states and countries bordering Nigeria showing that the military is getting it right.

With this development, more troops are being sent to the borders to prevent escape of terrorists from the embattled states. Border security has been beefed up aimed at checking the influx of undesirable elements into the country as our borders had been porous before the declaration of emergency, making criminals to enter at will.

The need for medical presence side-by-side with the military assaults seemd to be gaining consideration so as to cater for people caught in possible cross-fire. Defence Headquarters had announced the arrest of 120 Boko Haram terrorists as the military seemed determined to crush them.

According to the Director of Defence Information, BrigGeneral Chris Olukolade, terriorists fleeing Nigeria towards Chad and Niger Republic are being contained by multi-national Joint Task Force in various locations towards the border.

Also villages and environs now liberated were named as New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa, Wulgo and Chikun Ngulalo, an area said to be under the full authority of Boko Haram, just as all the terrorists camps sited in those environs have been sacked.

Civilian/military interaction now enhanced to promote peace as citizens and local population are being assured of their safety and freedom from frequent terrorist attacks which had always kept people on their toes without peace of mind.

The 24-hour curfew imposed in some parts of Borno, Yobe states have been relaxed. Areas in Maiduguri capital city like Bakin Kogi, Kasuwan Shamu-Kofar Biyu, Gamboru customs Area, Mari Kuwait Area of University of Maidiguri, while other areas and wards such as Ruwan Zafi customs, 202 Housing Estate, Bama Road, 303 Housing Estate also in Bama Road and Dikwa Low-cost Housing Estate had the curfew relaxed from 6 a.m to 7pm, according to a reported statement issued by JTF spokesman, Lt-Col Sagir Musa.

Also affected are Simari-Zannari-Kwanan Yobe Area, 505 Abba Gana Terab Housing Estate, Muna Garage Road, Chad Basin Muna Garage Road, Baga Road Federal Lowcost Area, Bolori, Jajeri and Umamari Area.

In Damaturu, Yobe Capital and its environs, due to return of relative peace, the curfew has now been relaxed from 6am to 6pm.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013—53

Nigeria on Edge: Killing with impunity

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

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ne can only wonder what was go ing through the mind of President Goodluck Jonathan since about three years on the saddle as the killing mainly by Islamic insurgents went from bad to worse.

Not until May 14th, 2013, when it dawned on him to declare state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, hotbeds of the Boko Haram deadly insurrection that have claimed thousands of lives, now being followed by cult groups and other militias, kidnappers, robbers, miscreants and criminals who seemed to be making the country ungovernable.

Nigeria has become a killing field which needed extraordinary means to effectively tackle. Although security agencies have been reinforced and several arrests made, but unfortunately, there had been no conviction.

The strategy of dialogue probably made by sympathisers of the insurgency was gradually replacing security alternatives while more terrorists were emerging because those on rampage cannot be subdued. Killings were becoming almost daily affair making rivalry with Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Mali, Congo DR, Somalia, Central African Republic, CAR in terms of insecurity. To compound matters, military and police personnel are now victims of terror attacks, not to mention thousands of innocent people killed intermittently.

From what was believed to be a peaceful Islamic splinter group propagating a controversial ideology against western education and civlisation, Boko Haram which in 2002, attracted national attention when its leader, Muhammed Yusuf, a onetime commissioner in Borno State pronounced that Boko (western education) was Haram (sacrilegious). Among the reasons given by Yusuf who was later arrested and executed summarily in questionable circumstances by the police, were the theory of human evolution enunciated in Western books which frowned at the divine hands of God in creation of humanity and the universe. Yusuf contended that this theory of evolution was contrary to the fundamental principle of Islam that holds God as the Omnipotent creator of the universe and all it contained.

It must be noted also that Christianity absolutely does not subscribe to the theory of evolution which was the brain wave of some European scientists, offensive to Christian religious belief.

But above all, Yusuf denounced western education as being deficient in solving problem of youth unemployment but rather denies them opportunities to acquire entrepreneurial skills to become self-employed. The Boko Haram sect continued to propagate their belief against the terrible escalating poverty and joblessness in the land which the youths are being subjected to.

The sect also called for creation of an Islamic state in the Northern part of Nigeria and continued to operate as “a benign and non-violent group,” until when the Police killed a number of its members during a funeral procession on the ground of not using helmet.

According to Saturday Vanguard check, when all pleas for compensation of the family killed fell on deaf ears severally to the police high command and the erstwhile Yar’Adua administration to intervene, the sect leadership became critical of the Nigerian government. Thereafter, its leaders began to send threats and warnings to the government and police.

This, in a nutshell, was how the sect began its confrontation declaring the Federal Government as unjust and calling

From what was believed to be a peaceful Islamic splinter group propagating a controversial ideology against western education and civlisation, Boko Haram which in 2002, attracted national attention President Musa Yar’Adua an oppressor.

They began to arm themselves and getting support from the bulk of Northerners of Islamic stock who sympathised with them.

So started their recourse to deadly attacks and became so blood thirsty and violent.

Since 2009, over 10,000 people have been killed in violent deadly, sometime suicide attacks,s targeting Christian churches, police stations, few mosques, ultra conservative traditional rulers, prisons, and even the military including western type educational institutions and innocent students, school children and teachers.

The sect members have used suicide bombings, gun fire, explosives, especially Improvised Explosive Device, IED, to eliminate people in churches who were worshiping, schools, markets, police stations, public buildings, mosques, residential places, military barracks, etc.

Since the emergence of Boko Haram which many people believed was politically contrived because the presidency no longer in the hands of Northern/Muslim oligarchy, but now under the control of Christian South with an Ijaw in the person

of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as President, the country had been virtually at war within.

Social critic, human rights defender and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka once declared: “I believe Nigeria is at war, the war is between forces of light and darkness, intellect and retrogressive thinking, forces of hatred against humanism,” adding, “I believe that if we surrender to these forces, we cease to be human.”

In declaring state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, President Jonathan stated clearly that these terrorists and insurgents seem determined to establish control and authority over parts of our beloved nation and to progressively overwhelm the rest of the country.

“They have attacked government buildings and facilities. They have murdered innocent citizens and state officials. They have set houses ablaze and taken women and children as hostages.

These actions amount to a declaration of war and a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the Nigerian state and threaten her territorial integrity.”

A glossary of Boko Haram and criminally interrelated killings could be frightening and horrific in the past three years which had decimated particularly the Christian population in the North.

Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor was reported as saying that the total number of people killed by the sect members is far more than it is reported in the media since the insurgency began, casualty figures kept rising monthly from 300 to 500 and then to over 1,000 at the peak of every month, with countless others seriously injured or deformed for life, some burnt beyond recognition.

Several churches were burnt or forced to close down as attacks in Maiduguri, Yola, Damaturu, Kano, Kaduna, Madalla, Dutse, Potiskum, Lafia and other major northern cities and towns intensified with thousands of Christians fleeing to safer

states and neighbouring countries.

At one point, the Islamists resorted to physical slaughtering using knives and silent weapons in their senseless and mindless killings, often moving from house-to-house in search of Christians to massacre.

According to Human Rights Watch, the sect members have lost all sense of humanity with complete disregard for human lives. So far, over 3,000 deadly attacks have been launched in the past three years, resulting in thousands killed.

Kano recorded some of the deadliest attacks including that at Bayero University in one of the lecture theatres used as worship centre by the Christian community in which scores were killed as Islamists threw home-made bombs into the theatre, shooting at fleeing worshipers with two professors among 19 dead on a Sunday. Even the revered traditional ruler of this ancient city, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero managed to survive an attack in which three of his body guards died. A luxury bus bound for the South fully loaded with passengers mainly Igbo traders was bombed and all the passengers killed at Sabon Gari motor park in Kano.

On Independence day, October 1, 2012, three tertiary institutions in Mubi, Adamawa State were attacked by Boko Haram terrorists, killing 40 students of Southern origin, while on November 22, 2012, 20 ladies on miniskirts were slaughtered in Maiduguri, just 24 hours after 10 people were killed in the same city. There was a bomb explosion on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012, near a church in Kaduna, killing about 36 people, while a car full of explosives driven by a suicide bomber into a church at Yelwa, Kaduna State, during Sunday service killed at least 12 people.

A church congregation in Biu town, Borno State, was sprayed with bullets by gunmen and several persons died, just as 24 people were killed in an attack by insurgents in Dongo Dawa village, Gwari L.G.A, Kaduna, on October 24, 2012.

On Sunday, 24th Novem Islamists bombed St. Andrew’s Anglican Church at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, killing 15 people.

A suicide bomber struck at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Angwar Yero, Kaduna State, in which eight people lost their lives.

Three persons were killed on March 11, 2012, when a suicide bomber attacked a Catholic Church, while another 10 died during reprisal attacks by Christian youths.

On January 6, 2012, Christian mourners at hall in Mubi, Adamawa State, were attacked by terrorists in which 18 were killed as they gathered to mourn three people killed the previous day.

About 80 people were killed on Christmas eve 2010 bombings of churches around Jos, Plateau State. On November, 2011, at least 65 persons were killed in Damaturu when terrorists bombed churches, mosques and police stations, while in December 2011, bomb attacks were reported across the country on Christmas Day targeting churches with one near Abuja that killed about 37 people and injured 57.

Gunmen opened fire at a church service in Nasarawa, Gombe states on January 5, 2012, killing six people and wounding 10.

In Minna, Niger State, two police men, were shot dead by insurgents while on November 26,2012, gun men attacked the headquarters of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Abuja, killing two officers leading to the escape of 30 detainees.

54 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25 , 2013

State of Emergency: We have taken over all Boko Haram camps in Northern, Central Borno & other places — DDI •Camps had hospitals, dormitories, arms depot & fuel dumps.

•Troops liberate six children, three women held hostage in Sambisa forest By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, ABUJA.

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S the military continued its quest to dislodge the Boko Haram terrorists from the north eastern part of the country, the Defence Headquarters yesterday said that soldiers have taken over all the camps where the insurgents operated from in Northern and Central parts of Borno State.

This was even as the military said yesterday that soldiers would soon carry out a military exercise codenamed Operation Thunderstorm ‘on the AbujaJere-Kaduna expressway.

Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade who spoke in an interview with newsmen, also said that troops on the special operations, stormed the notorious Sambisa forest area and rescued six children and three women kidnapped by the terrorists about three weeks ago.

According to Brig-General Olukolade who was part of a seven- man Assessment Team led by Maj-General Lawrence Ngubane, that visited the operation areas in the last three days, the troops were currently combing the vast Sambisa forest which is about 16 square kilometres.

Olukolade said that the team discovered during the assessment visit, that most of the Boko Haram camps contained dormitories where the terrorists slept, hospitals, fuel dumps, vehicles, materials for manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDS, and vehicles either stolen or snatched.

Explaining that the operation to rid Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states of terrorists was being carried out in phases, he further noted that the exercise was being carried out in accordance with the rules of engagement, as there had been no civilian casualty since the terrorists camps were located either at the outskirts of town, or the Sambisa forest and bushes.

Olukolade said that civilians running across the borders or elsewhere were free to do so provided they were not terrorists, armed or carrying IEDS or ammunition.

Hiswords,“During our visit to the operational areas, we

confirmed that our troops have taken over all the camps where Boko Haram terrorists operated from in the northern and central parts of Borno State. Our soldiers did a thorough and professional job.

“Efforts by the troops, after overrunning three terrorists camps in the notorious Sambisa forest area of Central Borno led to the freeing of nine persons, six children and three women.

“The women and children who were kidnapped from police barracks and environs during the May 7 attack on

Bama, had been held in the camp since their abduction and were featured in the video by Abubakar Shekau recently who said they will not be freed. Troops combing the forest are however yet to locate one woman and her two children. As for people crossing to the border, if civilians run across the border and they are not terrorists, we do not have any problem with that.

“The operation is solely targeted at terrorist camps and enclaves in the forests, bushes and other outskirts.

If you are found in a camp or

enclave or you are found with arms, ammunition or IED, you cannot tell us that you are a civilian.”

Describing the response of Boko Haram terrorists to the military onslaught as ‘’feeble,’’ Olukolade said however that going by the weaponry recovered after the camps were overrun, “They have graduated from light weapons to heavy weaponry like anti-aircraft guns, antitank guns, mounted long range guns and sophisticated explosives”.

On the response of the people of the areas that have

so far been liberated from the terrorists, Olukolade said, “The people spoken to described Boko Haram as invaders. They said most of them are not Nigerians; that they are from Chad, Niger.

They expressed joy at seeing Nigerian soldiers come to their rescue. Our troops have complied with the rules guiding the operation. We went there out of concern to be sure there are no violations of any kind. There is no civilian casualty. The society is isolated from any form of crisis except at the camps and they are located at the outskirts.

Meanwhile, a statement signed yesterday by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Army Headquarters Garrison, Lt. Col. A. Ochagwuba said that the ‘’Operation Thunderstorm exercise will mark the end of a six-weeks rigorous training that began on April 8.’’

The exercise which involvesmovementofmilitary

equipment and troops, as well as military demonstrations will be conducted in the area of Sabon Wuse along the Abuja-Kaduna road.

Consequently, the Army has appealed to residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to bear with it, as it conducts its operations in the area.

“The exercise which is in line with Chief of Army Staff ’s, COAS, vision is designed to teach young soldiers skills and techniques required to deal with contemporary security challenges in a counter terrorism setting such as urban and rural operation, identification and handling of IEDs. “The general public is advised not to panic when firing is heard in the exercise area or see troops’ movement in the area. The exercise will end up with battle inoculation in Kachia May 29,” the statement added.

Remains of Azeez Arisekola-Alao’s wife buried in Ibadan

By OLA AJAYI Ibadan Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu (left) commiserates with the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar during a condolence visit by the Senator to the Force Headquarters , Abuja on Friday over the killing of police officers in Nassarawa. PHOTO: OFFICE OF DSP

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EMAINS of the wife of a business mongul, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola-Alao were

Kema Chikwe calls for support for Jonathan’s second tenure

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HE National Women Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Kema Chikwe has called on members of PDP Core Supporters Network to mobilize Nigerians to ensure through their votes that President Goodluck Jonathan completes his two term tenure, just as his American counterpart Barak Obama. She reminded her party supporters of the universality of politics and to learn from the American democracy which returned President Obama for a second tenure.

Addressing members of the Network during their Award of Good Governance event recently, Dr. Chikwe

observed that democracy without opposition is a failed democracy, but the bitter and dirty opposition practices of Nigeria’s opposition parties must be

discouraged especially as members of these parties were originally PDP members who defected from PDP in search of ‘greedier pastures’. She

called for support of Nigerians for the President’s pursuit of transformation and sustainable democracy for all Nigerians

18,426 Youths from South South, so far employed under SURE-P scheme — Labour Minister By AUSTIN OGWUDA, Asaba

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VER eighteen thousand youths have so far been recruited under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Employment (SUREP) scheme from the South-South geopolitical zone of the country,

Minister of Labour and Productivity, C h i e f Emeka Wogu has said.

Wogu who stated this in Asaba yesterday during the sensitization and appraisal tour named the South- South states that benefited from the SURE-P recruitment project as Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom , Rivers and

Delta, while 3000 persons benefited from each state.

His words, “the need to appraise the field work content of the project so far, through official visits to six states selected on geopolitical zone basis taking into cognizance states’ implementations status has been very compelling.

interred yesterday in Ibadan.

Alhaja Risikat Arisekola-Alao, the first wife of the Islamic leader died on Thursday in Ibadan at the age of 68.

The late Alhaja Arisekola-Alao who was born on January 4, 1945 was buried according to Islamic rites at the residence of Alhaji Arisekola-Alao in Ibadan.

Among the important dignitaries that attended the burial include the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Adeyemo, Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Haruna Suara Waheed Olajide, the Secretary to Oyo State Government and the Iyalode of Ibadanland, Alhaja Aminat Abiodun.

Others included Chief Oba Otudeko, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Gen. Raji Rasaki (Rtd), Chief Sharafadeen Alli, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, former Minister of Sports, Elder Wole Oyelese, former Minister of Power and Steel and Chief Bayo Oyero.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

— 55

56 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

Our efforts to woo Mimiko back to PDP — Adegoke CHIEF Segun Adegoke is a Chieftain of the PDP in Ondo State. He has been in Politics since the days of the Action Group. He was one of the aides to the late sage and Leader of the Action Group, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He was a Special Adviser on Political Matters to two former governors in the state, the late Chief Adebayo Adefarati and Dr Olusegun Agagu. He spoke on the factions in the PDP in the state, possibility of Gov Mimiko joining the PDP, the recent verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal and other national issues.

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HE PDP in Ondo state has been factionalised for years now, what are the leaders doing to reconcile the two factions?

The national chairman is doing a lot, few weeks ago a committee came from the southwest to hear the opinions of the two factions, they met with us and also met with the Agagu faction. They are preparing their report and we don’t know what their report will be, so there are a lot of efforts, we attended one meeting in Abuja with about four governors in attendance, we have held series of meetings and I’m sure they will discover that it is necessary for us to unite because 2015 is nearby. In 2015, there will only be two tendencies, any of the tendencies that its members are in disarray will have to bear the burden of losing election. So, it is compulsory and imperative that we unite, we are for unity but we want to unite under good umbrella, not an umbrella that covers half of the people under it and exposes the other half to rain and sunshine, we want an umbrella that will cover everybody and will make all members have a sense of belonging.

Are you saying efforts are on to bring back all the aggrieved leaders of the party that left because of their ambition or disagreement? Is Dr. Mimiko inclusive?

Yes, bringing Dr Mimiko is our major task. Long ago before the election, we met at an open meeting and Dr Olusegun Agagu, the former governor himself was there, we said this party had been

battered beyond panel beating and that it was not possible for us to win this election that we were about to enter into. We suggested that we should talk to Mimiko and form an alliance with him so that our party members will not again be at a loss completely for another four years and then we could ask him if he could concede certain positions to us like the deputy governor, like some commissioners and some parastatals. Mimiko was willing to do this and his condition is that we will not field any candidate for the election. We tried to convince the leaders. At that time, Oke had not come in and Oke later came in long after, then they believe because Oke was a legal adviser, because he was OSOPADEC chairman, because he was in NDDC, because he contested to be Senator all through the instrumentality of

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BY DAYO JOHNSON Akure

•Adegoke: The problem with Agagu is that he is a non forgiving person ACN and it was their talk with ACN that led to Saka Lawal being made a running mate even when there were PDP leaders who lost out in the primary.

Olabimtan could have been a deputy governorship candidate, Bada was there, they could have picked one of those who wanted to be governor and they were deprived, so they were negotiating with ACN already, they have forgotten that Jonathan promised electoral transformation, that there will be no federal might, that there will be security, that INEC is now competently headed by Prof. Attahiru Jega, they did not take all these into consideration, but we were vindicated, they lost woefully. The reason why we said we should talk to Mimiko is because he is more approachable, more accessible and more politically friendly than Akeredolu. If one sees what

The reason why we said we should talk to Mimiko is because he is more approachable, more accessible, more politically friendly than Akeredolu

Agagu can make a change. But you cannot resurrect a dead person unless you are Jesus Christ.

The party was and it is still structurally bad. How can the party win in two local government areas out of 18, a party that was in control of this state? Mimiko had 13, look at ACN that had no structure in this state before, they had 3, then is what we have said not true? Is this a matter of money?

At the time we were talking to Mimiko and unknown to us because they did not disclose it publicly, they were also talking to

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Jagaban and his cohorts are doing ,you will find it difficult to say you wanted to approach them to work together. Mimiko a secretary to government under PDP, Mimiko was a minister under PDP. To all intents and purposes, he is more friendly. It was more reasonable for us to approach Mimiko and say you are strong on the ground, you have performed creditably, we have assessed that these Ondo people like you, you are likely to win this election, we want us to work to-

gether, at least that will minimise his struggle. Mimiko was willing to do that but those who want to be masters in hell rather than servants in heaven did not want hear that.

Is the National Secretariat of the party aware that you made moves to collaborate with Mimiko before the last election?

Yes, we communicated it to Abuja because when we prepared the document and we gave it to Mimiko to look at it, a copy was given to Senator Bode Olajumoke and it was sent to Abuja. We did not do anything on our own, they were even aware in Abuja that PDP is in a mess in Ondo state, that for us to win again, it has to be 2015 and that we should restructure the party for future election but in election, it is difficult to call a candidate and say you probably may not win the election. They will not want to say that. It would have been different if the President had not said that the election was free and fair, for the president of a country to say that the election was free and fair against his party, it means Nigeria is moving forward.

Why is it pretty difficult for Dr Mimiko and Dr Agagu to work together?

I have no idea and I have not said it is difficult but the problem with Agagu is that he is a non forgiving person, Agagu did not like the way he left government and I doubt if he will ever forgive Mimiko for pursuing his own ambition to that extent. That may be a reason. You will discover that all the activities of Agagu are centred to anybody he preferred but not Mimiko and that should not be.

Now to the recent judgment of the Election Petition tribunal in the state. What is your comment?

I have gone through the judgment from the serialisation of a particular newspaper, I did not only read, I went into the reasons why the petitions were thrown away, I must confess that the judgment was so thorough, so meticulous and the judge was so strenuous in putting out some facts. If one looks at it, you will see that there was no point in going to the tribunal in the first instance, but we Nigerians, we have refused to accept defeat when it comes to election. Going through what the judge wrote, I consider it to be the best judgment I have ever read.

All arguments canvassed that were thrown out were backed by current legal authorities. There is no issue about begging the question. Also we are in this country together, we know that that election was thorough, was devoid of irregularity. The security on the ground was so strong that nobody could play any game. They have their constitutional rights to go to the tribunal and the result I am not surprised, I am only happy that Nigeria is advancing, that judges are becoming more truthful and honest.

Do you subscribe to the general opinion that the judgment was a reflection of what happened on Election Day or you think otherwise?

Exactly, we were all here in the state, we saw what happened.

There was no snatching of ballots as it used to happen in previous elections, there was no stuffing of ballot papers into balContinued on page 57

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013 — 57

essarily when there is a better cause, whatever Mimiko is saying he is saying it like a nationalist, like a politician of note that wants his party to develop and he has done that. The party has developed, they have left a legacy in this state that PDP for years will continue to remember because those legacies are not perishable no matter what his enemies are saying.

Continued from page 56

But Oke is insisting that he would still challenge the verdict.

Can’t the leader’s advise him against this?

I’m not in a position to dissuade him, but I must say this sincerely and this is what my faction of the PDP is fighting against, that Oke went to the tribunal at all besides the fact that it is his constitutional right is a sign of indiscipline in PDP. If the president of the country, who is the leader of the party in his own wise counsel adjudged an election held against his party to be free and fair and somebody sponsored by that party decided to go to tribunal, if the party is well disciplined and wants to enforce discipline, they should call him to order, the party’s pronouncement should be supreme, that is how to run a party. I am not in a position to tell Oke not to go to appeal, he will meet the same fate, the judgement is unassailable, it is unassailable because I am saying that from the point of law and not about anything that goes under the table because we have seen a lot of experience in this country, besides any undercut, that judgment is unassailable.

As usual in Nigerian politics, the losers at the tribunal are alleging that the judgment was cash and carry.

Some of us that believe that PDP has to be restructured to fight a future battle were labelled PDPGbasibe just because we said we cannot put this party under one man’s umbrella, no man can turn a political party into his own estate and field anybody he feels will win election. We are saying that, I have been in this game for

•Adegoke..PDP is dying in Ondo State

‘PDP has to be restructured to fight a future battle ’ quite a while. As a politician, if I belong to a party, that party must be as good as what we expect that party to be but they did not believe that the party needs to be restructured, we said it sometimes ago that PDP is dying in Ondo state and that we need a political surgical operation for it to survive.

But our people said we want to support Mimiko because he gave us money, because in a situation where a political party that held sway in this state for seven years and lost all House of Assembly seats, all the senate seats, all House of Representatives seats and even a former governor contesting senatorial election and lost, you must know that some-

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lot box as it used to happen, violence was reduced to the minimum, it was a free and fair election, the president of Nigeria must have received a report on that election, the president of the Senate must have received a report of that election, the Speaker of the House of Representatives must have received report, all these people congratulated Mimiko and testified to the fact that the election was free and fair.

Forget that, the tribunal now confirmed it than anybody else that the election was perfect. For instance, the issue of injection of names into the vosters register, look at what the judge wrote, apart from the fact that law does not aid indolent, they had 30 days to the time, they did not complain, they could have complained that the list is not proper, they didn’t do that. What is even worse was that the sworn evidence of the witnesses was at variance with the petition.

I only see it as an attempt by Oke to keep the people together; we are more concerned with the progress of the state and that of the country.

...” and he puts the case there and says the evidence given by the witness is watery and will not rely on that ,we can’t say that judgment is bought. A judgment that is bought is watery judgment that even if a layman reads it , he will say, how can these Judges arrive at this conclusion? Secondly, the Court of Appeal will only see the documents, they will not see the witnesses again, whereas the tribunal saw them physically, they assessed them, they weighed them, they looked at what they said, they compared it with their statements on oath and they arrived at a conclusion and the conclusion they arrived

Some of us that believe that PDP has to be restructured to fight a future battle were labelled PDPGbasibe

thing is wrong with that party, that the headship of that party should be changed or restructured but they said Mimiko has given us money. That is the attitude of Nigerians. They will say the judgment is faulty, any knowledgeable Nigerian does not have to be a lawyer to know that the judgment is sound.

When a judge said “ I disbelieve this man for this reason, I believe this one for this reason, because of these reasons and as decided in a case of this nature

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at was not perverse, it was readable, it was great jurisprudence.

Also the A C N candidate Rotimi Akeredolu ,SAN, has said that the Court of Appeal will rely heavily on forensic analysis which was jettisoned by the lower Tribunal?

That is Akeredolu’s version.

You will see what the man said about a forensic analysis, a forensic analysis will only be acceptable if it is genuine and there are laws that do make forensic analysis inadmissible in law. You see

the problems with our politics are many. Instead of Akeredolu who did not register in Ondo state, who did not have the intention of voting in Ondo state, who registered in Ibadan and wants to be our governor in Ondo state, that is part of the so called injection, you will see that Akeredolu was not prepared to contest election but he came suddenly and wanted to be our governor. Oke also came to be our governor, Oke who wanted to be national secretary of the party, later a minister and then, he discovered that probably we are short of rich people who want to be governor, so he ran back and the thing was stage- managed, that is why the Director General of his campaign organisation said he was foisted on us and that is what we are fighting in PDP. Let’s go back to your efforts to bring back Dr Mimiko to the PDP. He was quoted recently to have said that he was not contemplating leaving the Labour Party.

That is what you expect a good leader to say, he won’t tell his people that they will leave their party, Mimiko is clever enough to know that to work with PDP will pay him more because he will still be able to push his followers to a bigger sea and he will still be in control. It will be like Labour Party expanding rather than trying to develop the party in other states. He does not even has the resources and he will not dissipate energy unnec-

Going by the crises within the PDP, both in the state and the national level do you think the party can still remain under the same umbrella before the 2015 election?

All these are in the realm of speculations, this is always a prelude to election. Tell me who of the people fighting Jonathan is better than him. Is it Buhari? Is it Tambuwal that they are trying to punch out? Is it Ameachi? Is it Lamido? Who among them is better? Which of them will have the experience that Jonathan has acquired over the years? This Jonathan matter is a matter of methodology. When you are driving a vehicle on a good road, your style of driving may be different from mine. If you are driving on a bad road, you may want to avoid the pot holes by swinging to the right and I may want to do the same by swinging to the left . Jonathan is a coolheaded young man. He is calculative and he is steering the car of the nation clearly and cleverly dodging many potholes and the largest of the pot holes is Boko Haram. There was no Boko Haram when Obasanjo was there. We would have been able to test his reaction to that. So instead of us to give praises to Jonathan for being cool headed, an irrational president could have set this country ablaze longest time. The situation would have been like foreign countries where people are suffering, being killed like Somalia, but I’m surprised that professional critics have been criticising him just to make them relevant. Many of them have been using vulgar and irresponsible languages to describe the president. You are talking about PDP breaking into two, ACN will break into pieces before 2015.

The rancour that is going on underneath them is worse than the one going on in PDP. Our solution is to support Jonathan and get him back as President in 2015 because we don’t have a better person at least for now.

Is it Tinubu that made his wife a senator and make his in-law a member of House of Representatives? In what sense will they be better? Is it Buhari who does not even believe in democracy from the onset? People say he is honest but there is no evidence to show that he is honest, somebody that contested election three consecutive times and he lost. Do we know how much he spent on the elections? Where did the money come from?

58 — SATURDAY Vanguard,MAY 25, 2013

Chief Edwin Clark: Celebrating a Nigerian treasure at 86

By FELIX AYANRUOH

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t was a calm Sunday morning in northwest London, having breakfast with Chief E.K. Clark (Daddy) and his beautiful and caring wife Dr. (Mrs.) Bisola Clark (Mommy) just a few weeks ago, and I’ve seldom had more fun while talking about so many matters that were unreservedly pleasant and unpleasant: Family, Politics, Boko Haram, and the need for a united Nigeria.

Daddy, one of Nigeria’s great good men, could talk about all of that and more without losing his candidness and sense of humor. He is an historian sometimes with a big, engaging smile that seemed everpresent and other times with seriousness. His greatest concerns are with the moral corruption brought on by veering one’s ideals to societal pressure, buying into the values of a group when they conflict with the voice of personal

conscience.

The elder statesman is troubled by the present state of our politics and the grab all syndrome, but undaunted. If there is going to be change, indubitable change, he said, “It will have to be from self decency and the spirit of brotherliness. That’s how change happens.” His modest rented apartment will tell you the caliber of this humble man. One will assume that Chief E.K Clark would own several palatable homes abroad.

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apa Clark is an unbelievably decent man who felt obliged to challenge injustice and unfairness wherever he found it. He once said, “…and it has remained a guiding principle, is that, when you are 70 years and over, you are at the departure lounge awaiting your boarding pass. Therefore, you should be courageous enough to speak the truth and condemn all that is evil.” He is not afraid to say what he wants to say, against the backdrop corruption

and injustice. He is often taken to task for peeling back the rosy veneer of much of Nigerian history to reveal sordid realities that had remained hidden for too long.

Papa as some call him would protest peacefully for important issues he believed in - against corruption, oppression, equality, and fairness among others. He is a man of exceptionally strong character. He was born on May 25th 1932 in Eriawvarien in the present Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State by the late Chief Bekederemo Clark of Kiagbodo (Burutu Local government Area).

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hief Clark’s affection for our country developed over time, who as a young man worked hard as a headmaster and community development office contributing to the development of education and the mobilization of the people for community development. He has held various local regional and

national positions, including commissioner for Education, Finance and Establishment, Federal Minister for Information and National Orientation, and Senator among others. Also, he is senior colleague at the bar; an alumnus at the Holbom College of Law, London, who was later, called to the Bar in England as a member of the Honorable Society of the Inner Temple and as solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

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he devotion of his life to total service and the cause of the minority tribes are legendary. Today, anyone who doubts the ability of Papa Clark in leading and influencing a fair and egalitarian Nigeria should look back at our challenges and renewed confidence in the eyes of that young boy from otukpo in Benue State or girl from Jeddo in Delta State. I will end with the words of scripture – “I will satisfy him with a long life and show him my salvation,” (Psalm 91:16).

Osun and value of encyclopaedic electronic tablet

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n 2009, out of Nigeria’s 36 states, Osun State came 35th in NECO examinations results.

This was at the zenith of People’s Democratic Party-led government in Osun State. In 2010, the state managed to crawl up the rungs to the 32 nd position. After one year of Aregbesola’s government in 2011, Osun State shot up to number eight.

The results of NECO attracted gratitude from the students in the state, and their parents. The performance of Osun State students in NECO was even more significant because the benefits of the fundamental changes which the Aregbesola-led administration had started to make in the education sector.

This background is important in responding to a gale of disinformation, mischief-making and crass ignorance being spread about the unprecedented changes in modern learning, among other measures, which are being implemented by the Aregbesola government in Osun State. One of such is a recent piece by one Ayo Aluko-Olokun. Left to the likes of Aluko-Olokun and his confederates, teachers and school authorities in Osun State would still be shoving their list of nine books per student at the faces of Senior Secondary students mired in insolvency.

What is his grouse? In Osun, the government was looking for the most cost-effective means of delivering top quality education to pupils in their public schools. One of their main thrusts was a computer tablet (Opon Imo), distributed free to the pupils.

Each tablet is preloaded with all the textbooks they need, 56 in all, not to mention seven extra volumes like the Bible and Quran, personal health, sex education etc. The tablet also comes with ten years of WAEC and JAMB past questions in 17 subjects. The

state government reckons it has spent about N57, 000 per child. There is nothing in this that a child cannot understand, but the likes Ayo AlukoOlokun are looking for an elephant in the room with a magnifying lens. The state government has not issued a decree that the parents should not buy physical books for their children to complement the e-device if they so desire.

It is evident some of the ignorance in some quarters around this revolutionary project comes from the fact that they are totally unaware that it is one of the products of a thorough process of an education summit convened by the state government in February 2011 and chaired by

One of their main thrusts was a computer tablet (Opon Imo), distributed free to the pupils

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By JOHN OGUNLELA

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Professor Wole Soyinka. When I read Aluko-Olokun’s estimation that an SS student will normally have nine books and his rage at a governor who provided them with 63, I was disappointed.

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hen I went to Ilesa Grammar School in the 80s, Governor Bola Ige administration had a free education programme through which it supplied all schools with every educational materials: textbooks, notebooks, pencils etc. The only thing our parents contributed was their taxes and our school uniforms because we paid no tuition fees too.

In my own school, we had good library with quality books on all areas of learning. We were being raised to be thoroughly knowledgeable so we can contribute to the progress of our nation. Kids raised that way grow to adults who are hard-boiled and unflinching in their vision but flexible in their approach. I have no doubt whatsoever that what will come out

of the efforts of the governor of Osun State in this Opon Imo innovation is what comes out of a kid that grew up around a rich library.

We should soberly ask ourselves how has it come to this in Nigeria that someone who poses as a ‘public affairs analyst’ would recommend one book per subject for a Senior Secondary school student and reproach a governor who says they should have much more at no cost.

Have the standards plummeted so abysmally around here? The next thing Aluko-Olokun(a media aide of a PDP gubernatorial aspirant) would do is to whine and squeal endlessly about the cost of this laudable project, while contesting how much has been saved by the state government by embarking of this innovative project. I bet every kid with an Opon Imo in Osun can tell that 63 books at N1,000 apiece for 150,000 students will mean 9 billion naira.

Imagine a state where the public schools pupils go about with a minilibrary, and a hard stuff examination cracker of 20 years past question papers (WAEC and JAMB, ten years each) in their backpacks. That is positively taking on the future indeed, for those students. They can haul less baggage around for more educational value and key into a world that has gone digital in all aspects.Yet, those who want a return to the visionless, incompetent and inefficiency of the PDP years in the state see nothing commendable in this initiative, but to discredit the idea.

One of the questions raised is how students will power the tablets given the epileptic power supply. The simple answer to this distracting question is to ask the likes of AlukoOlokun, how do Nigerians power the 50 million-plus mobile phones that they use? Surely, a 150,000Osun students are likely to be able to find a way around charging their

computer tablets too if Nigerians can keep their mobile phones working despite the problem of constant power supply. However, the Aregbesola administration is making arrangements for communal solar chargers in remote rural High School locations.

This year’s JAMB examination was done on the computerized format. The signs that the digital direction is the way to the future are everywhere and plain for all to see. The PDP ran this state for seven and a half years and they couldn’t figure out a thing as simple as computerizing salary payments.

Apparently, Ayo Aluko-Olokun and his PDP crowd would have been more at peace with kids using chalk and black slates because there is no electricity for computers. They are people who will buy handheld phones for a hundred thousand bucks and squirm at a government spending N57, 000 on a computer for a twenty-first century child. Osun manages its resources judiciously, and it is not in the list of CBN’s bad-debt states. Contrary to the lies about the state borrowing N280, Osun State only raised a long-term facility of N22 billion in the form of bonds through the capital market, which is a healthy thing in public finance. If you borrow on long-term basis for specific value-adding development projects like Osun State has done, by the time you have to start repaying, you would have grown your economy and IGR so your debts have become cheaper and mush easier to pay. That is what Osun State is doing and it agrees with development economics anywhere in the world.

Only recently, the National Bureau of Statistics announced that Osun State now has the lowest unemployment figure of all Nigeria’s states. This is the consequence of the vision, planning and shrewdness of the Aregbesola administration.

Ogunlela writes from Osogbo, Osun State

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013 — 59

How armed youths razed Delta community zThey’re oil thieves, pirates – Egbema Voice zWhy we burnt Jero-Zion – Egbema Radical Change

By Emma Amaize

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RMED youths recently set ablaze Sunny Jero-Zion, an Ijaw com munity in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, alleg ing that its leader, Apostle Sunny Jero, gave information to the Joint Task Force, JTF, on the modus operandi of their group.

The audacious action by the terror group has sparked a new wave of fear among Ijaw leaders in the area and security agents were working to restore law and order. Saturday Vanguard gathered that the counter attack by the youths was sequel to the recent incursion on the hideouts of suspected sea pirates and oil bunkerers in the area by JTF. Reaction/counter-reaction owever, the spokesperson of the Egbema Radical Change, ERC, an arm of Egbema Positive Change, Ami Dada, who confirmed that the group burnt Sunny Jero-Zion community, said the members were neither sea pirates nor oil bunkerers, but activists fighting for freedom of their people.

According to him, the group had information that some Ijaw leaders collaborated with JTF to attack seven Ijaw communities when they knew the group was fighting for the rights of Ijaw people in Warri North, adding, “That is why our people went to burn the community.”

However, an Ijaw group, Egbema Voice, in a statement by Chief Wilfred Elebiri and three others, said the Egbema Positive Change was a group of sea pirates and oil thieves. He debunked the claim by the group that soldiers invaded Ijaw communities, saying the task force only raided hideouts of oil thieves in the area and lawabiding persons in the area know the truth of what happened.

Dada, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on phone a day after Sunny Jero-Zion was burnt said, “What we want is equity in the sharing of political power in Warri North, we are not oil bunkerers, we are not criminals, those who are labeling us are criminals know we are not criminals, we are fighting for justice.

“We have passed a vote of no confidence on our leaders in Warri North, who are betrayers. They no longer speak for us. If government wants to dialogue with Ijaws of Warri North , they should take the matter to Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, who will summon us and others to proffer solution,” he said.

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Group accuses JTF

Besides, The Egbema Positive Change in a statement signed by its president, Mr. P.E.Fetimi and three others accused JTF of raiding Egbema communities and arresting their leaders.

Those arrested included Chief Solomon Ogomogo, Mr Benedict Miebi, a councillor in the Warri North

What the JTF did was a call to duty by burning down the pirate camp of Egbema for Positive Change, which was used to commit these illegalities Local Government Area, Mr. Kenneth Odibo, Special Adviser to Mr. Godwin Ebosa, former Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area, Mr. Kalawei Wowei and Mr. Peter Ogomogo.

“This mass arrest is the continuous act of provocation and the persecution of our people because of their peaceful and lawful agitation against years of political marginalization, economical and environmental despoliation by the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Chevron Nigeria Limited operating on our land.

“The Joint Task Force has also resorted to blackmail by labelling peaceful agitators as arsonists and oil thieves so as to provide legitimate reasons for their illegal and unlawful actions on behalf of Chevron Nigeria Limited,” the group stated.

JTF did the right thing

– Egbema Voice ismissing the EPC and ERC charges, Egbema Voice said, “We wish to properly inform Nigerians that the above allegations are unfounded just as they are fallacious. We wish to assert that Egbema for Positive Change is a sea pirate’s organization with a base in the Egbema area of Warri-North Local Government Area.

“Some weeks ago, this pirate group made a publication in an online News

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Network called ‘Urhobo Today’ calling for bloodshed and violent confrontations if government does not address the marginalization of Egbema kingdom within 14 days. True to their threat, close to the expiration of the 14 days, this group started attacking fellow innocent Ijaw people with guns, some of their victims are even pregnant women and all these crimes were aptly reported to the security agencies.

“What the JTF did was a call to duty by burning down the pirate camp of Egbema for Positive Change, which was used to commit these illegalities.

And we must say that in the course of the operation, JTF acted very professionally and without any collateral damage on any nearby communities.

“Even after the destruction of their camp, this same Egbema for Positive Change led by their sponsors have attacked a whole community belonging to Apostle Sunny Jero, which they burnt down completely,” it said.

SOS to Uduaghan ccording to the statement, “We, the Egbema Voice, being the voice of majority of the Egbema youth, hereby dissociate ourselves from and refute these unfounded allegations of burning of communities by the JTF. We wish to make it abundantly clear that we are a peace-loving and lawabiding people who are desirous of resolving this age-long marginalization of Ijaws in WarriNorth without any resort to violence.

“The Coordinator of the Federal Character Commission in Delta State is surprised by the matter of the marginalization of the Ijaws in WarriNorth. Even as we speak, the Coordinator of the Federal Character Commission in Delta State is still making frantic efforts to see that this matter is settled amicably.

“We are really bothered that a few criminal elements in Egbema have formed themselves into a pirate group known as Egbema For Positive Change , calling for bloodshed and violent confrontations and actually unleashing terror on their own people over an in an issue that we believe

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should be pursued intellectually.

“We however want it to be noted that youths are the engine room of every society and advise that Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan should do all to give us the youths a place of pride in resolving this matter,” the organization said.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that Governor Uduaghan, who hails from Warri North, had met with Ijaw and Itsekiri leaders in the area to fashion out means of peaceful coexistence between the two ethnic groups and arising from the dialogue, Ijaw leaders constituted a security monitoring committee to go round their communities and preach the need for peace to their people.

These boys are heartless

– Ijaw leader n Ijaw leader, who preferred anonymity, said Apostle Jero is among the leaders on troubleshooting mission, adding, “To burn his community and claim that he is a betrayer of Ijaw cause in Warri North is unfair to him and other Ijaw leaders, who are working for peace in the area. These boys are callous.

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“The truth is that some youths, who are also sea pirates are being sponsored by oil thieves to cause confusion in Warri North to enable them continue with their oil bunkering, as their business thrives more in atmosphere of crisis. While the leaders are calling for patience, they are saying no, we must fight, we must fight, they are strongheaded and they do not take to instructions.

“That is the reason they attacked Apostle Sunny Jero village. They said he was the one that led soldiers to the affected communities last week, which is false. Now that they said Chief Clark should mediate, I hope they will listen to him, let us see if Clark is going to ask them to burn houses and attack people, instead of dialogue.

“They are taking this matter too far. To redress alleged political marginalization is not by force. It is negotiation and we are talking politics. People have to meet and agree on certain things.”

60 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, MAY 25, 2013

I’ll do better with Germany, Sidney Sam tells Nigeria

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World Cup qualifier:

BY BEN EFE

IGERIAN born Sid ney Sam explained that his decision to shun the Super Eagles was because he will do better playing for his motherland Germany.

The Bayer Liverkusen midfielder was a long

Pressure mounts on Kenya coach K

ENYA coach, Adel Amrouche is worried that his preparations for the crucial June 5 World Cup qualifier against the Super Eagles is not up to a full speed as some club coaches have refused to release their players for training.

Besides, he foresees his team struggling against the Super Eagles as Kenya has not played any friendly since their 1-1 draw against the Eagles in Calabar.

“Harambee Stars have a very tough task ahead of them and we all want to see them succeed. We should therefore work together toward realizing that objective because this team belongs to the Kenyans.

“Since we played against Nigeria, we have not had a single friendly match and we need to work with players for a few hours each week in order to gauge our preparedness,” lamented the coach.

The Kenyans were hoping to play the Black Stars of Ghana on May 29 in a friendly that will prepare them for the

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ROSS River State contingent has come first in the just concluded 2013 Agoma Martial Arts Festival held in Umuahia, the Abia State capital with 11 gold medals, four silver and four bronze as well as the Most Valuable Trophy by Ann Odemigbo.

Welcoming the contingents in his office, the State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Ugbe said the superlative performance of the state contingents in the festival was an encouragement in the preparation for the National Sports Festival tagged Canaan 2014 which the state will be hosting.

play against Ecuador on May 29 and the US on June 2. Sam is not so sure of being selected by Joachim Loew for the matches. However, he stated that there is no turning back to Nigeria if he wasn’t considered by the coach.

“I don’t think about that at all. I was born in Germany, have been through the selection of teams here, I want to prove myself here.”

Sam had expressed his desire to play for Nigeria last year and this made Keshi to urge the NFF to start with the paper work and every hope having the player was dashed on Monday when he was called by the German coach.

Beach Eagles: Issa Akor turns down invitation

By EDDIE AKALONU

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•Amrouche match but the Ghanians pulled out leaving the Harambee stars stranded. The Algeria-born Belgian coach also revealed his frustration on the interference by Kenya football officials

in the selection of his team. “I am in charge of the national team and as such, I have the last word on who gets called up and who does not. When I call up any player—foreign or home-based – I do that by

C/River tops in martial arts competition

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

time target for coach Stephen Keshi in his attempt to booster his midfield options particular with the likely absence of key players from his crucial World Cup qualifier tie against Kenya. Sam stated as he went on a playing tour of the USA with the German Machines, that his heart has always been with Germany despite the strong interest shown by Nigeria to have him.

“The Nigerian federation worked very hard to get me. But for me it was very clear that I want to play for Germany,” the the 25-year-old player told Kicker on Wednesday as the German team left for the USA. They are scheduled to

While presenting medals to the athletes in what he called their victorious expedition, he said that the state will begin preparation for the sports festival in

good time in all the sporting activities it will be taking part in and urged the athletes to ensure that they dominate in the sports of Kungfu during the festival.

MasterCard holders win trips to Wembley

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OUR lucky Master Card cardholders have been rewarded with an all-expensepaid trip to Wembley, England to watch this year’s UEFA Champions League (UEFA CL) final match between FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund Idowu Obasa, Obiora Oke, Temple Wenah and Adebola Diya; top customers who used their MasterCard cards

regularly during the promotion period, emerged winners of the fabulous trips to London.

Omokehinde Ojomuyide, Vice President and Area Business Head, West Africa, MasterCard, said: “MasterCard is moving at this time to connect with its cardholders at their passion point. The game of football has a mass followership across the world just like MasterCard is in use everywhere in the world.”

confirming through an email signed by me and my two assistants, James Nandwa and Ken Odhiambo.

Anything else just causes confusion,” Amrouche explained.

IGERIA Premier Football League top scorer, Isar Akor of Heartland FC Owerri says he would not honour his invitation to be part of the nation’s Beach Eagles in the belief that that aspect of football does not flow within him.

“I have pleaded with the coaches and NFF to leave me out of this beach football and I will continue to plead that they leave me out because I don’t know anything about beach football. I don’t want to be associated with it,” he said, adding “they have continued to call me to report to national camp but I have told them I don’t want to play beach football.”

Players have been invited for preparation ahead of the 2014 championship in South Africa with Nigeria drawn to face Ivory Coast in a first round eliminator in June with the return leg tie billed for the first week of July.

However, the former Eko United and Crown FC Oshogbo attacker told Vanguard in an exclusive interview that he would make his services available for the home-based Eagles if given an invitation ahead of the next African Nations Championship, CHAN in South Africa.

“That’s where I know I can exhibit my talent to the fullest and not in beach football that they want me to play,” he said.

Champions League: Akpoborie, Iroha, Eguavoen enliven Heineken Champions Planet

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HE UEFA Champi ons League 2012/13 season comes to a glorious climax tonight at the Heineken Champions Planet with the final match of the competition.

Over a span of three months, visitors to the Heineken Champions Planet witnessed the proceeding of all the 44 matches in the knock out stage of the competition.

Today, the first ever allGerman final in the Champions League will hold between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dormund. It will be a special night to remember given the series of activities lined up for the visitors attending the premium viewing experience at the upscale venue in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Senior Brand Manager Heineken, Jacqueline van Faassen, disclosed that the event is expected to bring together approximately 350 guests including celebrities from the entertain-

ment world, and prominent former football stars namely; Jonathan Akpoborie, Ben Iroha and Austin Eguavoen who have all confirmed their intention to grace the occasion.

WEMBLEY BOUND...Five Champions League fans on the sponsorship of Heineken on Thursday night at the departure hall of Murtala Mohammed International airport in Lagos for the final match of the UEFA Champions League in Wembley, London.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

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62 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

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Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

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SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 25, 2013

Flying Eagles: NFF backpedals on 5 dropped players T HE five Flying Eagles players Nigeria Football Federation, NFF officials dropped from the Germany training camp may still join their team mates

By PATRICK OMORODION with Agency report

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ONDON’S Wembley Stadium will today make history as it stages the first all-German final in the UEFA Champions League with FC Bayern Munich seeking to make up for last year ’s disappointment at the expense of Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern inspired by French international, Franck Ribery lost in the final of the same competition last year to Ivory Coast international, Didier Drogba and his Chelsea gang after a grueling penalty shootout on their home turf.

They will be determined to erase the pain of that loss, having also lost the 2010 showpiece, by hoping to get the better of a Dortmund team they have already beaten to this season’s Bundesliga title.

With Borussia Dortmund’s playmaker Mario Gotze ruled out of the match because of a hamstring injury, Bayern who have remained unbeaten against Dortmund in four meetings this season may just ride to victory.

Bayern and their coach, Jupp Heynckes are seeking to etch their names in history books.

While Bayern are seeking to join Liverpool FC on five European Cup wins and become the joint-third most successful club in the competition’s history behind Real Madrid CF and AC Milan, coach Heynckes, if his side wins, would become the 19th coach to have won the European Cup twice, after his success with Real Madrid in 1998.

He would also become only the fourth to have triumphed with two different clubs after Ernst Happel (Feyenoord 1970, Hamburger SV 1983), Hitzfeld (Dortmund 1997, Bayern 2001) and José Mourinho (FC Porto 2004, FC Inter Milan in 2010).

Heynckes’ counterpart, Jurgen Klopp however, cannot boast of very rich records in the UEFA Champions League and therefore may not find the answer to breakdown a

in Europe.

Lukman Dimiyo, Moses Epele, Bobby Ikpeazu, Ozioma Maduako and Ezeugo Samson were on the list coach John Obuh

Champions League Final:

Head or tail, Germany wins •As Dortmund battle Bayern •Kick Off 7.45 pm •Venue: Wembley Stadium

•Robert Lewandowski Bayern side that is fired up for victory after a consecutive final appearance.

Klopp has faced a Bayern side 20 times as coach of first FSV Mainz 05 and now Dortmund. He fell 11 times to Bayern with only four draws and five wins.

However, in Robert Lewandowski, Klopp has a destroyer who singlehandedly eclipsed Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in the semi final to depend on to unsettle Bayern and probably turn the table.

Today’s match is the seventh European Cup final at Wembley, and the second since the stadium was rebuilt.

•Franck Ribery

submitted for the training tour of Germany. But top officials of the Football Federation removed their names from the list without the consent of the coach who is said to be highly disappointed by such unprofessional act by the officials.

The players, we gathered, are among the key players in the team and Obuh has said he should not be blamed in case of failure.

Following the exposure of this unprofessional decision by Vanguard Newspapers and the condemnation by top football stakeholders, the Sports Committee in the House of Representatives, we gathered, has intervened and insisted that the five players be allowed to join the team in Germany. The House Committee on Sports was said to be outraged by the action of the federation and directed that visas be secured for the players to join the team.

Obuh and his players have been training for more than two weeks now in Germany and the final list will be submitted to FIFA on June 7. It is doubtful if the players will measure up to the fitness level others had attained if they travel next week, few days to the FIFA deadline for the submission of team lists.

And it is against this background that one of the players, Moses Epele, from Sharks, has opted out, calling the bluff of the federation. He is pained and never expected the Football Federation to behave so u n p r o f e s s i o n a l l y. ’’The Federation has asked for the passports of the players to secure their visas after the House of Representatives Committee on Sports intervened early this week,’’ a football source said yesterday, adding ‘’Vanguard reports changed the situation.’’

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 France National President, Francois – (8) 5 Kazakhastan Currency Unit – (4) 7 Flamingoes (U-17) Goalkeeper, Amina – (3) 8 Couple – (4) 9 German “Bundesliga” Premiership Club – (4) 10 L.G.A in Borno State – (5) 12 Romania Capital City – (9) 16 Country in Africa – (5) 18 Respond – (5) 19 Former United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi – (5) 21 England Premiership Club Side – (9) 24 Muslim Religion – (5) 27 L.G.A in Niger State – (4) 28 Egg-Shaped – (4) 29 Deity – (3) 30 L.G.A in Abia State – (4) 31 Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun – (8) Down

1 L.G.A. In Adamawa State – (4) 2 Young Sheep – (4) 3 Former Super Eagles Striker, Jonathan – (9) 4 Our Planet – (5) 5 P.D.P National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga – (5) 6 Number – (8) 11 Akwa-Ibom State Capital – (3) 13 Loud Noise – (5) 14 Former Ghanaian President, John – (9) 15 L.G.A in Edo State – (5) 16 Mali “Les Aigles”National Coach, Patrice – (8) 17 Bird’s House – (4) 20 Town in Abia State – (3) 22 NYSC Director-General, Maharazu – (5) 23 Former Enugu State Governor, Okwesilieze – (5) 25 France “Ligue 1” Club-Side – (4) 26 Former Super Falcons Coach, Ismaila – (4)

SOLUTION on page 12

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